Patna: The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) of the Government of India has awarded a research grant of Rs 64 lakh to Central University of South Bihar (CUSB) faculty member Saptarshi Ghosh for conducting a study on the development of therapeutic strategies against genetic diseases.
Research Details
Ghosh, an assistant professor in the chemistry department, will complete his study over a period of three years in collaboration with scientists from the biotechnology and life sciences departments at CUSB.
Focus on Nucleic Acid Alteration
Providing details of his proposed research work titled “Structural alteration of nucleic acids using chemical modulators,” Ghosh explained that genetic diseases such as cancer and other neurodegenerative disorders are primarily caused by structural changes in DNA and RNA. The project aims to control disease-related structural changes in nucleic acids using chemical modulators like small molecules and ligands.
Mechanism Against Cancer
He noted that altering the structure of nucleic acids using chemical modulators helps mitigate cancer by correcting abnormal epigenetic marks (such as DNA methylation), interfering with cancer cell proliferation, blocking the translation of oncogenic proteins, and making tumors more vulnerable to the immune system. Cancer relies on the overproduction of specific proteins that promote tumor growth. Chemical modulators structurally modify or mimic functional nucleic acids to prevent this, he added.
Expected Outcomes
The proposed research is likely to generate an indigenous knowledge base, and the findings will be protected as patents, which will provide CUSB a global status in the area of biophysical and nucleic acid research, Ghosh concluded.
