He/Him/His
Pruthviraj’s research interests lie at the intersection of de novo protein design, mRNA therapeutics and cancer immunotherapy. He is particularly interested in using de novo protein design to engineer immunogens and functional proteins that can elicit robust and precisely directed immune responses against pathogens and cancer — along with engineering self-assembling protein nanostructures as programmable platforms for the targeted delivery of therapeutic molecules, and developing personalized medicines and exploring the emerging field of de novo genome design. Previously, Pruthviraj worked with Chandipura virus and Kyasanur Forest Disease Virus, both of which are highly fatal viruses endemic to India. He contributed to the development of a replication-incompetent, single-cycle vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-based pseudotyped vaccine expressing the Chandipura virus glycoprotein. He also contributed towards the establishment of a reverse genetics system for Kyasanur Forest Disease Virus. Pruthviraj earned a B.Sc. in Agriculture from Mahatma Phule Agricultural University and a M.Sc. Biotechnology from Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal.