Debi Prasad Sarkar

{{Infobox scientist

| name = Debi Prasad Sarkar

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|1|15|df=y}}

| birth_place = India

| death_date =

| death_place =

| residence =

| nationality = Indian

| fields = {{ublist | Immunology | Virology | Membrane Biology }}

| workplaces = {{ublist | IISER Mohali | University of Delhi | University of Calcutta | National Cancer Institute }}

| alma_mater = {{ublist | Banaras Hindu University | University of Calcutta }}

| doctoral_advisor =

| doctoral_students =

| known_for = Development of reconstituted Sendai viral envelopes

| awards = 1998 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize
2005 SBC M. Sreenivasaya Memorial Award

}}

Debi Prasad Sarkar (born 15 January 1958) is an Indian biochemist, immunologist and virologist. Currently Prof Sarkar has been appointed (from 9th July 2024) as a Guest Professor in the Dept. of Biological Sciences and Engineering, IIT Gandhinagar, Palaj, Gujarat. Before joining IIT Gandhinagar, he worked as a Visiting Professor of Chemistry, Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana. He was the head of biochemistry department and dean FIAS, at the University of Delhi South Campus and served as the Director of IISER Mohali from 2017 to 2019. He then resumed his professorship and subsequently promoted to the post of senior professor of biochemistry, with effect from 18 July 2019 at the parent institute, University of Delhi. {{cite book|author=D. P. Burma|title=From Physiology and Chemistry to Biochemistry|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4CaQ3-x3LXMC&pg=PA184|year=2011|publisher=Pearson Education India|isbn=978-81-317-3220-5|pages=184–}}{{cite book|author1=Ameeta Gupta|author2=Ashish Kumar|title=Handbook of Universities|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZKgM7P5iGwgC&pg=PA210|date=1 January 2006|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist|isbn=978-81-269-0607-9|pages=210–}} Serving as joint director, DSSEED, IoE, University of Delhi. On the scientific front, he is renowned for his researches on Sendai virus and developing reconstituted viral envelopes.{{cite web | url=http://ssbprize.gov.in/content/Detail.aspx?AID=35 | title=Brief Profile of the Awardee | publisher=Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize | date=2016 | access-date=5 October 2016}} He is an elected fellow of Indian Academy of Sciences,{{cite web | url=http://www.ias.ac.in/describe/fellow/Sarkar,_Prof._Debi_Prasad | title=Fellow profile - Sarkar | publisher=Indian Academy of Sciences | date=2016 | access-date=6 October 2016}} National Academy of Sciences, India{{cite web|url=http://www.nasi.org.in/fellows.asp?RsFilter=S |title=NASI fellows |publisher=National Academy of Sciences, India |date=2016 |access-date=8 October 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316043224/http://nasi.org.in/fellows.asp?RsFilter=S |archive-date=16 March 2016 }} and Indian National Science Academy.{{cite web | url=http://insaindia.res.in/detail.php?id=P11-1556 | title=Indian fellow - Sarkar | publisher=Indian National Science Academy | date=2016 | access-date=11 October 2016}} The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the apex agency of the Government of India for scientific research, awarded him the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, one of the highest Indian Science Awards, in 1998, for his contributions to Biological Sciences.{{cite web | url=http://ssbprize.gov.in/Content/Detail.aspx?AID=201 | title=View Bhatnagar Awardees | publisher=Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize | date=2016 | access-date=5 October 2016}} Received Excellence Teacher Award on service by the University of Delhi (99th Foundation Day Celebration of the University of Delhi on 11 September 2021).

Biography

Debi Prasad Sarkar, born on 15 January 1958, graduated (Honors) in Chemistry in 1978 and obtained a master's degree in biochemistry in 1980 (secured highest marks and awarded BHU Gold Medal), both from Banaras Hindu University.{{cite web | url=http://www.du.ac.in/du/uploads/Faculty%20Profiles/2015/Biochem/Oct2015_Biochem_Debi.pdf | title=University Faculty Details Page | publisher=University of Delhi | date=2016 | access-date=12 October 2016}} His career started as a senior research fellow at the Biochemistry Department of University of Delhi South Campus in 1985, working on Liposomes as immunomodulators and drug delivery using Liposomes and he secured a PhD degree for his thesis, Immunogenicity of carbohydrate determinants mediated through Liposomes: Liposome-mediated drug delivery from the Calcutta University in 1986. His post-doctoral studies were at the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health where he spent two years (1986–88) as visiting fellow and returned to Delhi University to take up the position of a lecturer of Biochemistry (1988). He stayed at the university for the rest of his academic career, holding various positions as the senior lecturer (1993–96) and reader (1996–2002), superannuated as a senior professor in January 2023.

Legacy

Sarkar's researches on Sendai virus is known to have resulted in the development of reconstituted viral envelopes containing only the fusion protein{{cite book|author=D. P. Burma|title=From Physiology and Chemistry to Biochemistry|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4CaQ3-x3LXMC&pg=PA146|year=2011|publisher=Pearson Education India|isbn=978-81-317-3220-5|pages=146–}} and this is reported to have assisted in a more efficient gene delivery in therapeutic use.{{cite web | url=http://www.csirhrdg.res.in/ssb.pdf | title=Handbook of Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize Winners | publisher=Council of Scientific and Industrial Research | date=1999 | access-date=5 October 2016 | pages=34 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043957/http://www.csirhrdg.res.in/ssb.pdf | archive-date=4 March 2016 | url-status=dead }} Along with Vijay Kumar, he demonstrated for the first time that HBx protein stimulated Mitogen-activated signaling cascades in living animals.{{cite book|author1=D. P. Burma|author2=Maharani Chakravorty|title=From Physiology and Chemistry to Biochemistry|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4CaQ3-x3LXMC&pg=PA146|year=2011|publisher=Pearson Education India|isbn=978-81-317-3220-5|pages=146–}} He continued his researches while working as an academic and holds patents for his inventions.{{cite web | url=http://www.du.ac.in/du/uploads/research/Intellectual%20Property%20Rights/03052016_DU%20PATENT%20PORTFOLIO-app%20updated.pdf | title=Patent portfolio | publisher=Delhi University | date=2016 | access-date=13 October 2016}} Some of the inventions have resulted in Patent Cooperation Treaties (PCT) earning royalties for the university. He has also participated in clinical trials on behalf of the university, including a preclinical study with a Gunn rat model, in collaboration with National Research Development Corporation and AECOM. He has published his research findings in a number of articles{{cite web | url=http://www.pubfacts.com/author/Debi+Sarkar | title=Publications Authored by Debi Sarkar | publisher=PubFacts | work=Author profile | date=2016 | access-date=13 October 2016}}{{Refn|group=note|Please see Selected bibliography section}} and has delivered featured lectures on his work.{{cite journal | url=http://www.cdriindia.org/Newsletters/English%20April-September%202012.pdf | title=Distinguished Lecture Series | journal=CSRI-CDRI Newsletter | date=April 2012 | volume=4 | issue=1 | pages=17 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160730192853/http://cdriindia.org/Newsletters/English%20April-September%202012.pdf | archive-date=30 July 2016 | df=dmy-all }} He has also delivered several award orations including the Prof. B.K. Bachhawat Memorial Lecture of the National Academy of Sciences, India in 2011{{cite web | url=http://www.nasi.org.in/Lecture%20Awards%202011.htm | title=Memorial Lecture Awardees 2011 | publisher=National Academy of Sciences, India | date=2016 | access-date=13 October 2016}} and the Platinum Jubilee Lecture at the 102nd edition of the Indian Science Congress in 2015.{{cite journal | url=http://archive.mu.ac.in/ISC102%20BULLETIN.pdf | title=The Magic Touch of Biology | journal=Indian Science Congress Bulletin | date=January 2015 | pages=15 of 35}}

Awards and honors

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research awarded him the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, one of the highest Indian science awards, in 1998. He received the M. Sreenivasaya Memorial Award of the Society of Biological Chemists (India) in 2005{{cite web | url=http://www.iisc.ernet.in/sbci/smaward.html | title=M. Sreenivasaya Memorial Award | publisher=Society of Biological Chemists (India) | date=2016 | access-date=13 October 2016 | archive-date=10 October 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010214336/http://www.iisc.ernet.in/sbci/smaward.html | url-status=dead }} and the J. C. Bose National Fellowship in 2010.{{cite web | url=http://www.du.ac.in/du/index.php?page=inter-disciplinary-and-applied-sciences1 | title=Department of Biochemistry | publisher=Delhi University | date=2016 | access-date=13 October 2016}} The National Academy of Sciences, India elected him as their fellow in 1996 and the Indian Academy of Sciences and the Indian National Science Academy followed suit in 2007 and 2011 respectively. Received "Excellence Award for Teachers in service in University of Delhi" on 11 September 2021 in a function to celebrate 99th Foundation Day of University of Delhi from the Chief Guests Shri Amit Khare, Secretary, MoE, GOI and Shri Imtiaz Ali, renowned film director and producer.

Selected bibliography

{{cite journal | title=Initial stages of influenza hemagglutinin-induced cell fusion monitored simultaneously by two fluorescent events: cytoplasmic continuity and lipid mixing. |author1=Debi P Sarkar |author2=Stephen J Morris |author3=Ofer Eidelman |author4=Joshua Zimmerberg |author5=Robert Blumenthal | journal=Journal of Cell Biology | date=July 1989 | volume=109 | issue=1 | pages=113–122 | doi=10.1083/jcb.109.1.113|pmid=2745545 |pmc=2115478 |citeseerx=10.1.1.277.6857 }}
{{cite book|title=Membrane Fusion Technique|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K9LyXYS8IREC&pg=PA42|date=July 1993|publisher=Gulf Professional Publishing|isbn=978-0-12-182122-7|pages=42–}}
{{cite journal | title=Dilation of the influenza hemagglutinin fusion pore revealed by the kinetics of individual cell-cell fusion events. |author1=Robert Blumenthal |author2=Debi P Sarkar |author3=Stewart Durell |author4=Daniel E Howard |author5=Stephen J Morris | journal=Journal of Cell Biology | date=October 1996 | volume=135 | issue=1 | pages=63–71 | doi=10.1083/jcb.135.1.63|pmid=8858163 | pmc=2121025 }}
{{cite journal | title=Novel gene delivery to liver cells using engineered virosomes |author1=Komal Ramani |author2=Roop S Bora |author3=Mukesh Kumar |author4=Sandeep K Tyagi |author5=Debi P Sarkar | journal=FEBS Letters | date=March 1997 | volume=404 | issue=2–3 | pages=164–168 | doi=10.1016/s0014-5793(97)00120-8|pmid=9119056 | doi-access= |bibcode=1997FEBSL.404..164R }}
{{cite journal | title=Targeted cytosolic delivery of hydrogel nanoparticles into HepG2 cells through engineered Sendai viral envelopes |author1=Siddhartha S Jana |author2=Dhruba J Bharali |author3=Prashant Mani |author4=Amarnath Maitra |author5=Chhitar M Gupta |author6=Debi P Sarkar | journal=FEBS Letters | date=March 2002 | volume=515 | issue=1–3 | pages=184–188 | doi=10.1016/s0014-5793(02)02467-5|pmid=11943218 | doi-access= |bibcode=2002FEBSL.515..184J }}
{{cite journal | title=Targeted Gene Delivery by Virosomes |author1=Debi P Sarkar |author2=Komal Ramani |author3=Sandeep K Tyagi | journal=Liposome Methods and Protocols | year=2002 | pages=163–173}}
{{cite journal | title=Association between human leukocyte antigen class II alleles and human papillomavirus-mediated cervical cancer in Indian women |author1=Indu Kohaar |author2=Showket Hussain |author3=Nisha Thakur |author4=Pratibha Tiwari |author5=Vilas Nasare |author6=Swaraj Batra |author7=Veena Singh |author8=Suresh Bhambani |author9=Bhudev C Das |author10=Debi P Sarkar |author11=Mausumi Bharadwaj | journal=Human Immunology | date=April 2009 | volume=70 | issue=4 | pages=222–229 | doi=10.1016/j.humimm.2009.01.003|pmid=19272325 }}
{{cite journal | title=Sendai virus recruits cellular villin to remodel actin cytoskeleton during fusion with hepatocytes |author1=Sunandini Chandra |author2=Raju Kalaivani |author3=Manoj Kumar |author4=Narayanaswamy Srinivasan |author5=Debi P. Sarkar | journal=Mol. Biol. Cell | date=October 2017 | volume=28 | issue=26 | pages=3801–3814 | doi=10.1091/mbc.E17-06-0400|pmid=29074568 |pmc=5739296 }}

Notes

References

External links

{{cite web | url=https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=WJFEpbQAAAAJ&hl=en | title=Debi P Sarkar on Google Scholar | publisher=Google Scholar | work=Author profile | date=2016 | access-date=13 October 2016}}
{{cite web | url=http://www.mirandahouse.ac.in/mirandahouse/UserSpace/UserName/admin/DynamicFolder/2013-2014/news2/Miranda%20House%20NASI%20Award%20Lecture%2016sep2014.pdf | title=NASI Award Lectures | publisher=Miranda House | work=Photo feature | date=2014 | access-date=14 October 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018232140/http://www.mirandahouse.ac.in/mirandahouse/UserSpace/UserName/admin/DynamicFolder/2013-2014/news2/Miranda%20House%20NASI%20Award%20Lecture%2016sep2014.pdf | archive-date=18 October 2016 | df=dmy-all }}