[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/chemeng.iisc.ac.in\/telab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/hero_v1.png” width=”100%” min_height=”327px” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px|2px|||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”RESEARCH INTERESTS” image=”https:\/\/chemeng.iisc.ac.in\/telab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/icon.png” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”18px” _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”|600|||||||” border_width_bottom=”1px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_orientation=”justified” width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
\u00a0– Modeling infectious diseases<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Our group develops mathematical models and simulations of the dynamics of infectious diseases with the goal of improving interventions. We have focussed on HIV, COVID-19 and TB, which pose major global healthcare challenges today. With HIV infections, we are interested in understanding how the immune system can be stimulated to control disease progression without the need for lifelong treatment. With COVID-19, we have developed models to predict the efficacies of vaccines and are interested in understanding the causes of the diverse severity of disease across individuals and the emergence of variants. With TB, we are interested in understanding pathogen evolution and the development of drug resistance. Our models span a wide range of length and time scales, from the molecular to the population level. We integrate descriptions of host-pathogen interactions, immune responses, pathogen evolution, drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and epidemiology. We employ both mechanistic and statistical learning approaches and work closely with experimentalists and clinicians.<\/p>\n \u00a0– Engineering microbial communities<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Multispecies microbial communities are central to human health and disease and have applications in biotechnology. A major challenge is to elucidate principles for the design of stable synthetic microbial communities. Working closely with industry, we have developed mathematical models and algorithms to predict the structures of such communities. We are interested in devising strategies to tune the interactions between the underlying species and engineer community structures. The studies will aid the design of interventions targeting specific microbiomes, such as the use of probiotics or faecal transplants to restore our gut microbiomes.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”LATEST NEWS” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||fa||400″ icon_color=”#E02B20″ icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”18px” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”|600|||||||” border_width_bottom=”1px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_orientation=”justified” hover_enabled=”0″ border_width_bottom=”1px” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n 05 Feb 2026:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Akshay’s commentary on a recent advance in T cell signaling is out in Journal of Biosciences<\/a>. Cheers!\u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_orientation=”justified” border_width_bottom=”1px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n 30 Jan 2026:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Our first paper for 2026 is out in Ecological Modelling. Aadhil, along with our alumni Gayathri and Kartikeya, has developed a generalization of EPICS (gEPICS) to handle species extinction in leave-one-out subcommunities. Way to go! Read more about his work here.<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_orientation=”justified” border_width_bottom=”1px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n