Patna: The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) of the Government of India has awarded a research grant of Rs 64 lakh to Saptarshi Ghosh, a faculty member at the Central University of South Bihar (CUSB), for conducting a study aimed at developing 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 of CUSB.
Providing details of his proposed research work on “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 seeks to control disease-related structural alterations in nucleic acids using chemical modulators like small molecules and ligands.
Mechanism of Action
He stated that altering the structure of nucleic acids with chemical modulators can help 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 often depends on the overproduction of specific proteins that promote tumor growth. Chemical modulators structurally modify or mimic functional nucleic acids to prevent this process, he added.
Expected Outcomes
The proposed research is likely to generate an indigenous knowledge base, and the findings will be protected as patents. This, according to Ghosh, will provide CUSB a global standing in the field of biophysical and nucleic acid research.
