President’s research vision My research vision and interest is in the field of Pharmaceutical/Food/Environmental/Analytical chemistry, Secondary metabolites, Flavonoids, Fermentation, Biochemical engineering and Industrial biotechnology including biofuels. Technically my skills are in genome mining, gene isolation using PCR, cloning and protein purification, biochemical and metabolic engineering, metabolic co-factor channeling, synthesis using enzyme biocatalysts, bioprocess-fermentation technology, phytochemicals, post-translational modifications and testing biological activities, methanogenesis optimization, biogas/biodiesel from waste, UASB reactor, HPLC, ESI-MS, GC-MS, and NMR. My research works have been collaborated with the American, Canadian, Mexican, Vietnamese, Chinese, Iranian, Portuguese, Egyptian, Romanian, Indian, Nepalese, Korean and several groups till date and its expanding more as I learn to move ahead in my research as the opportunities knock me.
Research works I have completed till date have been cited by the international research community (Citation: 1200; h-index: 17; i10-index: 22, as indexed by Google Scholar). My works have been published in internationally reputed journals like Journal of Biotechnology, Frontiers in Pharmacology, Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, Enzyme and Microbial Technology, World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, Food Frontiers to name a few selected ones. Significantly my works on post-translational modifications of secondary metabolites like flavonoids, iso-flavonoids and anthraquinones by glucosylation and methylation has significantly modified the natural products into more effective as a pro-drug with increased water solubility, bioavailability and metabolic stability. Metabolic engineering, genetic engineering, biotransformation, bioprocess optimization, etc. approaches were applied to carry out these research works. These techniques proved to be significant as the methylated compounds were found to be more stable metabolically and biological activities increased significantly. Moreover, most of my Ph.D. works have been granted patents rights by Korean Intellectual Patents Office, South Korea. I like to work on research projects producing high-quality publications and patents.
After my PhD, I have worked as a Principal investigator in projects which were more dedicated to pharmaceutical/medicinal chemistry. Medicinal plants and herbs like Pogostemon benghalensis, Hordeum vulgare, Tinospora cordifolia, Reinwardtia indica, Vitex negundo Lynn, Mimosa rubicaulis, Trichosanthes dioica, Curcuma longa, Bulbophyllum species, Hyssopus species, Cinnomomun secies and several wild vegetables from Nepal were investigated for their phenolic contents, flavonoid contents, antioxidant potential, RBC membrane stabilization activity, cytotoxic actions, wound healing, antipyretic, antinociceptive, anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-inflammatory activities and many more. Significant results providing the evidences for their possible use in pharmaceutical industries were elucidated by our research team. Most of the research projects done in Nepal in the area of medicinal chemistry (aayurvedic chemistry) were in collaboration with educational institutions and our private research institute. As Nepal is home to thousands of medicinal and aromatic plants, I am interested to work more in this specific area in future too. I also have my high interest to work in the field of environmental chemistry and solve the problems of future energy crisis using biotechnology tools.
I have been awarded the best oral presentation awards and best poster presentation awards in the International conferences; Nepal Bidhya Bhushan “A” medal from the hon. President of Nepal; Young Science and Technology Award from the hon. Prime minister of Nepal, Dean’s Choice award by Sun Moon University, South Korea; BRICPL Young Scientist award by Biologix Research and Innovation Center, India; Captain Sir Tom Moore Memorial Medal for the Covid 19 Hero, USA to name a few selected ones. I am the member of Phytochemical Society of Asia, International Association of Dietetic Nutrition and Safety, International Chemical Biology Society and a lifetime member of Biotechnology Society of Nepal. Professionally, I have experiences in supervising undergraduate and graduate students of biotechnology, biochemistry and pharmaceutical chemistry majors. I am serving in several peer reviewed international journals as an editorial board member, guest associate editor, and reviewer. Further, I have been invited and participated in several national and international conferences and workshops.
Finally, I believe that multidisciplinary innovation oriented research in science and technology can be made feasible in a developing country like Nepal which can encourage and support the research and Innov