BHATT RESEARCH LABSKIN BIOLOGY · HOST DEFENSE · BIOLOGICAL STANDARDS

PEOPLE

Different backgrounds.
Connected questions.

Meet the researchers and students who contribute to our work across collaborating institutions.

Tanay Bhatt

GROUP LEAD

Tanay Bhatt

Skin biology, host defense
and biological measurement.

Tanay’s research spans epithelial repair, antimicrobial peptide biology, viral infection and biological reference standards. His work connects investigations of tissue function and host defense with the development of reference materials and assays for reproducible biomedical measurement.

Affiliations & disclosures

Project associates

Sarang Gajare

Sarang Gajare

Project Associate

M.Sc. Molecular Medicine student

Sarang’s interests span mitochondrial health, skin biology and the molecular mechanisms of disease. He also explores connections with regenerative medicine and neurobehavioral science, linking cellular processes with wider questions about health and disease.

G. Kaviya

G. Kaviya

Project Associate

Kaviya works in virology and molecular diagnostics, with experience in cell culture, dengue neutralisation assays and biological reference reagents. Her master’s dissertation research at NCBS was undertaken in Prof. L. S. Shashidhara’s laboratory under the mentorship of Tanay Bhatt. She is interested in infectious disease biology and diagnostic development.

Akarsh B

Akarsh B

Project Associate

Akarsh has an academic background in biotechnology and business administration. His current research focuses on virology and cell culture, with a broader interest in translating biological research into practical applications. Outside research, he enjoys reading, fitness and video games.

Sanyukta Bholay

Sanyukta Bholay

Project Associate

Sanyukta has an M.Sc. in Disease Genetics and works across skin biology and virology. Her interests include skin barrier integrity, host defense and the molecular basis of disease. She has also contributed to biological reference reagents for SARS-CoV-2 and dengue. Outside research, she enjoys reading and music and is a Hindustani Vocal Visharad.

Zidhan Subair

Zidhan Subair

Project Associate

Zidhan’s work focuses on circadian skin biology and its connections with barrier function, repair and metabolism. He also contributes to research on lumpy skin disease virus and biological reference materials. His experience spans cell biology, virology and vascular regeneration, with an interest in how cellular mechanisms shape tissue function and disease.

Collaborating researchers

Harshini Suresha

Harshini Suresha

Collaborating Project Associate

M.Sc. Applied Bioinformatics, King’s College London

Harshini is pursuing an M.Sc. in Applied Bioinformatics following a B.Tech. in Biotechnology with a minor in Computer Science. Her interests span single-cell biology, computational modelling, machine learning and RNA therapeutics. She enjoys developing computational approaches to biological questions and connecting methods across disciplines.

Madan Kumar D

Madan Kumar D

Collaborating PhD Student

Department of Microbiology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre

Madan’s research spans medical microbiology, phytochemistry, biogenic nanotechnology and virology. He studies biologically derived nanomaterials and their antiviral activity, including work involving dengue. Alongside research, he is active in yoga teaching and has an interest in investigations of yoga therapy in respiratory health.

Dissertation students

Shravani B

Shravani B

Dissertation Student

B.E. Biotechnology student

Shravani studies cellular and mitochondrial health in relation to skin biology. She is also interested in bioinformatics and gut virology, and is developing experience across experimental and computational biology. Outside research, she enjoys hockey and badminton.

H. M. Amrutha Sharma

H. M. Amrutha Sharma

Dissertation Student

Biotechnology undergraduate, RV College of Engineering

Amrutha is developing practical experience in molecular biology and genotyping. Her interests include skin biology, cellular health, microbiology and neuroscience. She is building her experimental research skills while exploring the biological questions she would like to pursue further.

Alumni

Asmi Ashish Mehta

Asmi Ashish Mehta

Former Research Intern

M.Sc. Neurobiology, Navrachana University, Vadodara

During her research internship at NCBS under Tanay Bhatt, Asmi worked on virus reference materials and temperature-stability studies involving dengue and lumpy skin disease viruses. Her broader interests connect neurobiology, engineering and neurological wearable devices.

Jeel Dasondi

Jeel Dasondi

Former Research Intern · May–July 2026

Integrated B.Sc.–M.Sc. Biomedical Sciences, Navrachana University, Vadodara

Jeel is specialising in neuroscience. During her internship at NCBS, she worked on cell-based approaches to studying cellular and mitochondrial health. Her interests include oxidative stress, cellular homeostasis and their connections with neurodegenerative disease.