Centre for Virus Research, Therapeutics and Vaccines

The centre is dedicated to understand how the tools, technologies platforms and knowledge can be harnessed to translate innovations in developing effective intervention strategies against viruses of biomedical importance

The centre primarily works on the following viral pathogens:

  • Dengue
    Dengue infections have become epidemic in many southeast countries of Asia with an increase in its severity. There is an urgent need for interventions that can help mitigate or curb the Dengue infections. THSTI has discovered three repurposed drugs for dengue that have shown immense potential in vitro and in vivo. These drugs are likely to enter into Phase-2 and 3 clinical trials in the near future.
  • Hepatitis E
    Hepatitis E infection, caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV), is the commonest cause of acute viral hepatitis among adults in India and, in many cases, leads to acute liver failure if not diagnosed and treated timely. The centre has developed recombinant virus-like particle based HEV vaccine candidate.
  • HIV
    THSTI in partnership with IAVI (https://www.iavi.org) established in 2012 has been working towards designing efficacious antibody-based interventions against circulating HIV-1. The lab also has established partnerships with a large network with local and global institutions, particularly in Africa to understand how circulating HIV diversity across geography, risk groups and key population can define, identify, prioritize and develop broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (bnAb) as products for prophylaxis and treatment over and above exisiting antiretroviral therapy. The lab also focuses on how understanding of allelic diversity with particular reference to bnAb precursor frequency and diversity using genomics and functional analysis can better inform strategies to design and develop germline targeting immunogens that would best serve for targeted population in India and Africa. The partnership program having a multidisciplinary team of scientific staffs and through strategic collaborations has enabled setting up newer technologies, assays, and platforms to not only building enhanced capacties but also facilitating indigenous scientific innovation in and between LMICs.
  • Influenza
    THSTI has been working on developing vaccine candidates against Influenza virus. In collaboration with European Union, THSTI is working to develop next-gen influenza vaccines.
  • SARS-CoV-2
    During the COVID-19 pandemic, THSTI played a key role in basic, clinical and translational research. It was involved in developing diagnostics, assays and contributed immensely in vaccine research and development. THSTI was involved in the development of Sputnik, Covaxin, ZyCoVD and Corbevax. The institute has been working towards developing an indigenous SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. THSTI in collaboration with Panacea Biotec is working towards developing a pan-beta coronavirus vaccine for which the funding has been received from Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

    The centre has also discovered and developed novel human broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies by antigen-specific single B cell cloning and mouse hybridoma technology against the SARS-CoV-2 circulating variants which have now been transferred to industry.
  • Chikungunya
    The centre is working towards developing an affordable vaccine against Chikungunya and has developed a potential immunogen as a probable vaccine candidate. The immunogen has promising data and is under further development.
 

Name of faculty members and Scientists

DR. JAYANTA BHATTACHARYA,  DEAN
DR. MILAN SURJIT, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
DR. SANKAR BHATTACHARYYA, SCIENTIST E
DR. SWEETY SAMAL, PRINCIPAL SCIENTIST-II
DR. SUPRATIK DAS, PRINCIPAL SCIENTIST-I
DR. SUPRIT DESHPANDE, PRINCIPAL SCIENTIST-I
DR. TRIPTI SHRIVASTAVA, PRINCIPAL SCIENTIST-I
DR. SHAILENDRA MANI, SENIOR RESEARCH SCIENTIST
DR. TANVI AGRAWAL, RESEARCH SCIENTIST

The centre/facility is open to providing services to academia and industry. For any queries, contact the following

Contact Details
 

Dr. Jayanta Bhattacharya
 jbhattacharya@thsti.res.in
 0129- 2876301

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