BIOSKETCH

Dr. Sheethal Suresh Kumar is an Assistant Professor and Scientist at the Christ Biological Research Centre (CBRC), specializing in molecular biology, phytochemistry, and translational biomedical research. Her research focuses on oxidative stress, inflammation, redox signaling, and the therapeutic potential of bioactive natural compounds, with particular emphasis on elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying cytoprotection and inflammation-associated diseases.

She completed her PhD in Botany with a research focus on the cytoprotective mechanisms of flavonoids isolated from Carica papaya L. cultivar 'Red Lady' and their regulation of the Nrf2 and NF-κB signaling pathways. Her work integrates molecular biology, phytochemical analysis, in vitro cell-based assays, computational biology, and biochemical approaches to investigate the pharmacological potential of plant-derived bioactive compounds.

Dr. Sheethal has significant expertise in mammalian cell culture, human PBMC isolation, molecular docking, RT-PCR, ELISA, Western blotting, HPLC, UPLC-QToF-MS/MS, flow cytometry, and animal models. Her research has contributed to understanding the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective activities of phytochemicals and their molecular interactions involved in cellular stress responses and disease pathogenesis.

She is a recipient of prestigious national fellowships and competitive examinations, including the CSIR Junior Research Fellowship (CSIR-JRF), GATE, ICAR-NET, and the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) Student Project Fellowship. She has authored several peer-reviewed publications in internationally reputed journals and has presented her research at national and international scientific conferences.

With a strong interdisciplinary background in molecular biology, phytochemistry, and translational life sciences, Dr. Sheethal is committed to advancing natural product-based therapeutics through mechanistic research, biomarker discovery, and the integration of experimental and computational approaches to develop innovative strategies for combating oxidative stress, inflammation, and chronic diseases.