Pune: Krishanpal Karmodiya, faculty member in the department of biology at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune, earned a spot in the prestigious European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) global investigator network. This recognition highlights his groundbreaking contributions to understanding drug resistance in plasmodium falciparum, the malaria-causing parasite.
Karmodiya’s fascination with malaria began during his PhD at JNCASR Bangalore in 2003, where he explored the parasite’s enzymes. “The complexity of malaria—how the parasite survives in the human body, its drug resistance, and lack of effective vaccines—drew me in,” he said. Over the years, his focus narrowed to plasmodium falciparum and its drug resistance mechanisms, particularly artemisinin, the primary drug used to treat malaria.
Artemisinin resistance poses a significant threat to malaria treatment. Without understanding how resistance works, we risk losing one of our most effective treatments, he added.
A release by IISER Pune stated that Karmodiya’s team at IISER Pune made significant strides, notably in analysing over 2,000 parasite genomes to uncover resistance pathways. A recent genome sequencing project of isolates from Midnapur in India—where artemisinin resistance was first reported—identified novel mutations linked to resistance.
The complexity of plasmodium falciparum, with its genetic diversity, remains a challenge. “Resistance can manifest in different ways, making it hard to study. By leveraging advanced sequencing technology, we have been able to detect patterns and gain deeper insights,” Karmodiya said. Despite these advances, a definitive marker for drug resistance in Indian isolates remains elusive.
His research has practical implications for combating malaria, a significant public health concern in India. According to ministry of health and family welfare, there were 176,522 malaria cases and 83 deaths in 2022. In 2023, as per Maharashtra state health department’s state bureau of health intelligence vital statistics, a total of 109 deaths were certified to have been caused due to malaria, of which 69 were among men.
head: EMBO can advance scientist’s work
Karmodiya joins a group of 11 scientists from India, Singapore, Taiwan, and Uganda, and is one of the four from India
The scientist can share ideas, access cutting-edge technologies, and collaborate with experts globally, making his research more impactful
He will focus on alternative treatments, early detection of resistance, and uncover new ways to control the parasite by studying how its genes are regulated
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