Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sandip Kaledhonkar | Drug Discovery and Development | Research Excellence Award

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay | India

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sandip Kaledhonkar is a distinguished scientist whose work spans biophysics, structural biology, cryo-electron microscopy, and molecular microbiology. He currently serves in the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, where he contributes to cutting-edge research, innovative teaching, and academic mentorship. Prior to his current role, he progressed through key academic and research appointments, including his tenure as Assistant Professor at IIT Bombay, a scientific role at the Haffkine Institute for Training, Research and Testing in Mumbai, and an impactful post-doctoral fellowship at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. These experiences collectively shaped his expertise in structural dynamics, cryo-EM methodologies, and molecular interactions critical to understanding biological systems.Dr. Kaledhonkar earned his Ph.D. in Physics from Oklahoma State University, where he conducted foundational work on the Structural Dynamics of Photoactive Yellow Protein under the guidance of Dr. Aihua Xie. He further strengthened his academic foundation with an M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Physics from the University of Pune. His teaching portfolio reflects his multidisciplinary strengths, covering subjects such as Mathematics for Biologists, Experimental Techniques in Biomedical Engineering, Computational Biology, cryo-Electron Microscopy, and core undergraduate biology.His research contributions have significantly advanced the field, with notable publications including titles such as In Silico Identification of Potential Inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA Gyrase from Phytoconstituents of Indian Medicinal Plants, Cryo-EM Reconstruction of the phiK601 Jumbo Phage Head, VCP/p97, a Host AAA-ATPase Exhibits Bacteriolytic Activity for Clearance of Microbial Infection, Conformational Flexibility Associated with Remote Residues Regulate the Kinetic Properties of Glutamate Dehydrogenase, and Application of Bio-Layer Interferometry for the Analysis of Ribosome-Protein Interactions. Other influential works include Physiochemical Characterization of a Potential Klebsiella Phage MKP-1, Not All Photoactive Yellow Proteins Are Built Alike, and landmark cryo-EM studies such as Late Steps in Bacterial Translation Initiation Visualized Using Time-Resolved Cryo-EM and Key Intermediates in Ribosome Recycling Visualized by Time-Resolved Cryo-Electron Microscopy. His scholarly record also features important methodological contributions, including Single Particle Cryo-Electron Microscopy and A Fast and Effective Microfluidic Spraying-Plunging Method for High-Resolution Single-Particle Cryo-EM.Dr. Kaledhonkar’s excellence has been recognized through numerous honors, including prestigious microscopy, teaching, and research awards, as well as membership in India’s premier scientific academies. His work continues to influence modern bioscience research, inspiring new advancements in structural biology and biomedical innovation.

Featured Publications

Feng, X., Fu, Z., Kaledhonkar, S., Jia, Y., Shah, B., Jin, A., Liu, Z., Sun, M., & Chen, B. (2017). A fast and effective microfluidic spraying‑plunging method for high‑resolution single‑particle cryo‑EM. Structure, 25(4), 663‑670.e3.

Chen, B., Kaledhonkar, S., Sun, M., Shen, B., Lu, Z., Barnard, D., & Lu, T. M. (2015). Structural dynamics of ribosome subunit association studied by mixing‑spraying time‑resolved cryogenic electron microscopy. Structure, 23(6), 1097‑1105.

Fu, Z., Indrisiunaite, G., Kaledhonkar, S., Shah, B., Sun, M., & Chen, B. (2019). The structural basis for release factor activation during translation termination revealed by time‑resolved cryogenic electron microscopy. Biophysical Journal, 116(3), 574a‑575a.

Fu, Z., Kaledhonkar, S., Borg, A., Sun, M., Chen, B., Grassucci, R. A., & Ehrenberg, M. (2016). Key intermediates in ribosome recycling visualized by time‑resolved cryoelectron microscopy. Structure, 24(12), 2092‑2101.

Horst, M. A., Stalcup, T. P., Kaledhonkar, S., Kumauchi, M., Hara, M., & Xie, A. (2009). Locked chromophore analogs reveal that photoactive yellow protein regulates biofilm formation in the deep‑sea bacterium Idiomarina loihiensis. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 131(47), 17443‑17451.

Kaledhonkar, S., Fu, Z., White, H., & Frank, J. (2018). Time‑resolved cryo‑electron microscopy using a microfluidic chip. In Protein Complex Assembly: Methods and Protocols (pp. 59‑71).

Kaledhonkar, S., Hara, M., Stalcup, T. P., Xie, A., & Hoff, W. D. (2013). Strong ionic hydrogen bonding causes a spectral isotope effect in photoactive yellow protein. Biophysical Journal, 105(11), 2577‑2585.

Michael Swedberg | Drug Discovery and Development | Best Researcher Award

Dr Michael Swedberg, Swedberg Preclinical Partner, Sweden

Dr. Michael Swedberg is a distinguished pharmacologist with extensive expertise in safety pharmacology, CNS pharmacology, gastrointestinal pharmacology, and drug abuse assessment. He has held key leadership roles, including Associate Director at AstraZeneca and founder of Swedberg Preclinical Partner AB. His global impact includes contributions to regulatory compliance, developing novel animal models, and mentoring future researchers. With a Ph.D. in discrimination learning and postdoctoral training at NIDA, Dr. Swedberg has collaborated internationally and received numerous accolades for his innovative research and leadership. His career embodies excellence in pharmacology and preclinical drug discovery. 🌍💊🔬

Publication Profile

scopus

Education

Dr. Michael Swedberg is a distinguished academic and researcher, having earned his Ph.D. in 1985 from the University of Uppsala, Sweden. His doctoral dissertation focused on “A Model of Discrimination Learning with Interoceptive Stimuli.” He completed his postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specializing in addiction research at the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Preclinical Pharmacology Branch in Baltimore, Maryland (1985–1988). Additionally, Dr. Swedberg holds a Bachelor of Social Science (B.S.Sc.) from Uppsala University, with a comprehensive background in psychology, sociology, and law. 🧠📚🎓

Professional Appointments

Dr. Michael Swedberg has had an extensive and distinguished career in pharmacology and drug discovery. From 2014 to 2021, he was the Founder and CEO of Swedberg Preclinical Partner AB in Sweden. Prior to that, he was a Partner and Consultant at The Research Network (TRN) from 2014 to 2016. His earlier career includes key roles at AstraZeneca R&D, where he served as Associate Director in Safety Pharmacology and Preclinical Development. He also held senior leadership positions at Novo Nordisk and Ferrosan. Dr. Swedberg’s journey began as a Lecturer at Mälardalen University in 1981. 🧑‍🔬💉📚

Academic Service

Dr. Michael Swedberg has made significant contributions to the field of pharmacology and neuroscience through various roles. He served as a board member for the Department of Psychology at the University of Uppsala and the Faculty of Social Sciences from 1980 to 1985. His leadership extended to chairing the Council of Graduate Students. Recognized for his service, Dr. Swedberg received awards from the Drug Abuse Liability Ad Hoc Committee and for his work with the Lilly–Novo Nordisk Muscarinic Research Collaboration. He has also been a grant evaluator for the European Union and Poland’s National Centre for Research and Development. 🌍🔬🧠

Presentations

Dr. Michael Swedberg has made significant contributions to the field of drug safety and abuse liability assessment. His research, presented at multiple prestigious meetings, includes the role of drug discrimination studies in evaluating novel compounds’ abuse potential. Notably, his work at the Safety Pharmacology Society, American College of Toxicology, and the Swedish Pharmaceutical Congress has advanced methodologies like rat self-administration and drug discrimination for psychoactive effects. His work on the interaction between mGluR5 antagonists and benzodiazepines also stands out. Swedberg’s contributions to safety pharmacology have had a lasting impact on CNS drug development and regulatory guidelines. 🧠💊

Lecturing and teaching

Dr. Michael Swedberg has delivered extensive lectures and seminars on safety pharmacology, drug abuse, and CNS risk assessment. His contributions include lectures at the American College of Toxicology, Safety Pharmacology Society, and the European Congress of Toxicologic Pathology, focusing on drug dependence, abuse liability, and CNS safety. Additionally, Swedberg has provided in-depth training on the regulatory and industrial challenges in drug development at AstraZeneca and other global platforms. His teaching spans from the biomedical program at Karolinska Institute to the University of Uppsala, covering neuropharmacology, psychopharmacology, and drug addiction. His educational materials are widely respected in the field. 🧠📚💊

Academic Supervision

Dr. Michael Swedberg has mentored numerous students at various stages of their academic careers, including graduate, Ph.D., and postdoctoral researchers. He supervised students at Umeå University, University of Uppsala, and Karolinska Institute, guiding experimental work in fields such as cannabinoid tolerance, dopamine release, and nicotine’s effects on learning. His postdoctoral supervision included projects on visual and auditory discrimination in drug testing. Swedberg’s research has been supported by multiple prestigious grants, such as the Clas Groschinsky Memorial Foundation and the Swedish Medical Research Council. His contributions have significantly advanced brain and behavior research. 🎓🧠💡

Committee Service

Dr. Michael Swedberg held several key roles at AstraZeneca, including membership in the Safety Knowledge Group for CNS and leadership in CNS GLP Safety Pharmacology Harmonization. He was also a part of multiple committees, such as the AstraZeneca Expert Advisory Group on Abuse Liability and the Cross Company Abuse Liability Consortium. Dr. Swedberg contributed to international organizations like PhRMA and CPDD, focusing on drug abuse liability. He attended professional courses in safety pharmacology, project management, and leadership, further enhancing his expertise. Additionally, he completed a teaching course at Karolinska Institute, strengthening his academic influence. 🧠💊🎓

Research Focus

Dr. Michael Swedberg’s research focuses on the pharmacology of muscarinic receptors and their potential therapeutic applications, particularly in relation to neurological and psychiatric disorders. His work has delved into muscarinic receptor agonists, with significant contributions to the understanding of their antipsychotic and antinociceptive properties. Additionally, he has explored the role of nicotinic compounds and their reinforcing effects. His research has implications for treating conditions like schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. 🧠🔬💊 His studies on receptor-ligand interactions and pharmacological profiles contribute to the development of novel drugs for various neurological and gastrointestinal conditions.

Publication Top Notes

Approaches for early identification of abuse potential liability

Drug discrimination: A versatile tool for characterization of CNS safety pharmacology and potential for drug abuse

Drug Discrimination: Use in Preclinical Assessment of Abuse Liability

AZD9272 and AZD2066: Selective and highly central nervous system penetrant mGluR5 antagonists characterized by their discriminative effects

Prediction and modeling of effects on the QTc interval for clinical safety margin assessment, based on single-ascending-dose study data with AZD3839

A multi-site comparison of in vivo safety pharmacology studies conducted to support ICH S7A & B regulatory submissions

Establishment of auditory discrimination and detection of tinnitus induced by salicylic acid and intense tone exposure in the rat

Sandip Kaledhonkar | Drug Discovery and Development | Research Excellence Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sandip Kaledhonkar | Drug Discovery and Development | Research Excellence Award

Featured Publications