Hareesh Nair | Drug Discovery and Development | Outstanding Scientist Award

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Dr. Hareesh Nair | Drug Discovery and Development | Outstanding Scientist Award

Texas Tech University Health Science Center | United States

Dr. Hareesh B. Nair, Ph.D., is a distinguished biochemist and translational scientist whose career spans academia, biotechnology innovation, and advanced research leadership. He completed his academic training in life sciences and biochemistry in India, followed by specialized research fellowships in oxidative lipidomics and hormonal carcinogenesis at leading U.S. institutions. These early experiences laid the foundation for his lifelong commitment to understanding disease mechanisms and developing targeted therapeutic solutions.Dr. Nair’s professional journey reflects a rare blend of deep scientific expertise and strategic research leadership. Over the course of his career, he has held progressive roles ranging from instructor and assistant professor to senior scientist, director, and senior director of translational research and external innovation. His contributions at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and the Texas Biomedical Research Institute significantly advanced the fields of breast cancer biology, hormonal carcinogenesis, melanoma signaling pathways, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and targeted drug delivery. His work also includes pioneering estrogen-dependent cancer research, mechanistic studies on aromatase pathways, development of innovative cancer detection strategies, and creation of non-human primate models for reproductive disorders.At Evestra, Inc., Dr. Nair led multidisciplinary teams driving the translational development of oncology and women’s health therapeutics. He spearheaded multiple preclinical programs, established strategic collaborations, guided biomarker discovery, contributed to regulatory submissions, and supported business development through scientific due diligence. His leadership also resulted in the advancement of first-in-class and best-in-class therapeutic candidates, expansion of oncology pipelines, and successful acquisition of non-dilutive federal funding. His contributions include numerous publications, patents, and project management of large-scale contraceptive development initiatives supported by major global health foundations.In his current academic role at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, Dr. Nair is establishing a cutting-edge research laboratory at the chemistry–biology interface. His group focuses on identifying novel drug targets, decoding disease mechanisms, and transforming molecular insights into preclinical therapeutic strategies for cancers and other complex diseases. He remains deeply engaged in collaborative clinical and translational research, particularly in gynecologic oncology, triple-negative breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer. His expertise also extends to long-acting contraceptive technologies, anti-HIV formulations, and experimental therapeutics for endometriosis and uterine fibroids.Beyond research, Dr. Nair has served extensively as a scientific review officer, facilitating numerous peer-review panels for federal biomedical research programs. His work has been recognized through multiple competitive honors, travel awards, and scientific achievement distinctions. With a strong commitment to innovation, mentorship, and multidisciplinary collaboration, Dr. Hareesh B. Nair continues to shape the future of translational medicine through impactful research, strategic leadership, and unwavering dedication to improving patient health outcomes.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Aller, E. J., Nair, H. B., Vadlamudi, R. K., & Viswanadhapalli, S. (2025). Significance of midkine signaling in women’s cancers: novel biomarker and therapeutic target. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(10), 4809.

Blankenship, L., Pratap, U. P., Yang, X., Liu, Z., Altwegg, K. A., Santhamma, B., … Lai, Z. (2022). Inhibition of LIFR blocks adiposity‑driven endometrioid endometrial cancer growth. Cancers, 14(21), 5400.

Nair, H. B., Ford, A., Dick, E. J., Jr., Hill, R. H., Jr., & VandeBerg, J. L. (2014). Modeling sunscreen‑mediated melanoma prevention in the laboratory opossum (Monodelphis domestica). Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research, 27(5), 822‑830.

Nickisch, K., Nair, H. B., Kesavaram, N., Das, B., Garfield, R., Shi, S. Q., … Edwards, D. P. (2013). Synthesis and antiprogestational properties of novel 17‑fluorinated steroids. Steroids, 78(9), 895‑902.

Bhaskaran, S., Dileep, K. V., Deepa, S. S., Sadasivan, C., Klausner, M., Krishnegowda, N. K., … Nair, H. B. (2013). Gossypin as a novel selective dual inhibitor of V‑RAF murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 and cyclin‑dependent kinase 4 for melanoma. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, 12(4), 567‑576.

Budrys, N. M., Nair, H. B., Liu, Y. G., Kirma, N. B., Binkley, P. A., Kumar, S., … Tekmal, R. R. (2012). Increased expression of macrophage colony‑stimulating factor and its receptor in patients with endometriosis. Fertility and Sterility, 97(5), 1159‑1165.e1.

Sandip Kaledhonkar | Drug Discovery and Development | Research Excellence Award

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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.

Profile: Google Scholar

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.