Dr. Pranav Kumar Prabhakar
Associate Professor, School of Allied Medical Sciences
Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
Dr Pranav Kumar Prabhakar has received his PhD in Biotechnology from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, India during the period of 2011 and he has completed his master in biochemistry from Patna University Bihar, India in 2003. Currently, he is working as Assistant Professor in Lovely Professional University Punjab, India. Dr. Prabhakar has excellent track record in Teaching, and Research for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Until now, he has currently guided 27 M.Sc and more than 40 B.Sc students. He is also guiding 6 doctorate students at present. He has also served various committee Members of Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences as well as University level. He has successfully completed his Administrative responsibilities as research coordinator of the school. His research has included synergy, Phytomedicine, metabolic disorders. He is serving as an editorial member of several reputed journals like Bioinfo-Drug Targets, Journal of Pharmacy and Phytotherapeutics, Asian journal of Phytomedicine and clinical research, Journal of Applied Pharmaceutics & expert Reviewers for journals like Biofouling (Taylor & Fransis), Phytomedicine (Elsevier), Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces (Elsevier), Journal of Applied Polymer Science (Wiley), Advances in Pharmacological Sciences (Hindawi), Journal of Microbial & Biochemical Technology (Omics). He have authored 40+ research articles, 2 books, and 9 book chapters. He is the life and regular member of various professional societies across the globe. He is a member of Royal Society of Chemistry and Asia-Pacific Chemical, Biological& Environmental Engineering Society (APCBEES).
Q1. Please share your educational and professional journey?
Basically, I am from Madhubani Bihar. My primary education till intermediate has been completed at Madhepur Madhubani. I came to Darbhanga for my graduation and I have got admission in Chemistry (H) at C. M. Science College Darbhanga, which is one of the best colleges in LNMU Darbhanga. After graduation I have taken admission in M.Sc Biochemistry at Science College, Patna University Patna. Fortunately, I have got a seat at IIT Madras for my PhD in the Biotechnology Department. There I worked Prof. Mukesh Doble and my word was on alternative therapy for Diabetes Mellitus.
I have seen my fate as teacher and due to him my inclination was towards teaching as profession. After completion of my PhD from IIT Madras I joined Lovely Professional University as Assistant Professor and now I am working as Associate Professor. I have learnt and developed a number of skills as teacher and mentors. Currently I am guiding six PhD scholars on different aspects of diabetes mellitus.
Q2. What did attract you towards Biochemistry?
Biology and biological sciences is one of the most lovingly subject for me. When I was thinking of cells, cellular biochemistry and biochemical reactions, its amazed me every times. Inside cell, which is invisible of necked eyes, there are many biochemical reactions takes places which are multistep reaction and involves many enzymes. These reactions are so amazingly regulated that in normal conditions never these enzymes or substrates are intermingled. The regulatory process and sophistication of these biochemical processes and reactions fascinated me mostly and to understand them and learn from closely I motivated towards biochemistry.
Q3. Who is your source of motivation?
My source of inspiration is my father. I have seen him since my childhood and the way he is living and his way to face challenges, all his acts motivated me. He is a great teacher, philosopher, motivator, leader for myself. After seeing my father only, I had decided to be a teacher and here I am.
Q4. Which one skill do you like most about yourself?
I am very open to students and students can ask me questions in any field at any time and if I am not sleeping, I am ready reply them for their query. Students like this quality of mine. Not only for students even for my department and university I am always ready to work.
Q5. Where do you want to see yourself after 10 years in career?
I hope to get at some position in next 10 years to make and change the policies for education system of India. I want to be a successful teacher in the next 10 year of my career. If I will be able to some issue and problem existing in our education system and society, I will be more than happy. I need to collaborate with some well-known scientist in my field and achieve my goal.
Q6. Which one thing do you want to change in yourself and why?
I am very much emotional and I trust person very easily. I cannot say no to anyone if I have an option to do so. Due to all these things I have faced many problems in my life.
Q7. What was your Research topic in Ph.D? Please share some brief about it?
My PhD thesis topic was, “Interaction of Pure Phytochemical with Commercial Oral Antidiabetic Drugs”. Diabetes imposes a very serious economic crisis as the diabetic drug market is growing very rapidly. Even after very path breaking scientific discoveries, availability of a better healthcare infrastructure, rise in literacy rates, the diabetes burden is continuously spreading in various sections all over the worlds but more especially in low- and middle-income countries. The recent development in scientific discoveries have given a number of new generations of antidiabetic medicines such as sulphonylurea, biguanides, thiazolidinedione, alpha glucosidease inhibitors. All these drugs have proved significant reduction in blood glucose level. If we regulate those genes with natural product which are effective, with fewer side effects and comparatively less costly, it will be a safe and easy way to manage diabetes. My work is to find out the hypoglycemic mechanism of action of some of the selected natural plant constituents and see the interaction of these natural compounds with oral hypoglycemic drugs.
I have used nine phytochemicals (Arecoline, berberine, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, cinnamic acid, coumaric acid, eugenol, ferulic acid and vanillic acid) have been selected for the current study based on the antidiabetic activity reported by their corresponding plant sources. The current research has shown that these phytochemicals increase 2DG uptake via translocation of GLUT4 which may be activated either by PI3K, PPARγ or AMPK. ADME calculation also suggests that these phytochemicals can be used as drugs. A reduction in the quantity of the use of OHD could lead to a reduction in the side effects and toxicity caused due to their excess usage. Proper precaution and care should be taken to avoid the severe hypoglycemia that may occur due to combination of these phytochemicals and OHD.
Q8. What do you do in your free time? Do you update yourself in terms of education?
In the free time I read and try to learn as much as I can so that whenever my student will ask me, I should have answer for that. I used to wright papers and articles. Whenever I het time I participate in certification courses as well to increase and advances my knowledge in the field.
Q9. What kind of new thing do you want to do in your Biochemistry Domain?
As we know, diabetes is one of the most common metabolic diseases and the fastest growing non communicable disease. Once we have got diabetes, we cannot cure it only we can manage our blood glucose level under control through different ways like medicines, insulin, physical activities and diet and daily activities. The cost of diabetes management is very high as we have to take medicine through out our life. Today also every diabetic does not not receive proper medicines and food as per their requirement. Mother nature has given our many things and many of them are still undiscovered. So, I wish one day I will have some herbal formula for the diabetes and its complication management which can be cheap, efficient, and effective.
Q10. How do you motivate students to excel in their academics and career?
In my regular classes I used to ask my students regarding their goal and what they want to be in their life. I always encourage students to analyses the use of time, money and resources and how to make them more effective and fruitful. Every student has some kind of qualities we need to understand and motivate them to excel in that area. I never pressurize students for any kind of work. I am always available for my students to help them in every manner to excel their career and guide them. Other than education students should be a good human being and understand moral and ethical values and respect everyone.
Get more information about Dr. Pranav Kumar Prabhakar at below links:
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/pkprabhakar/home?authuser=0
Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Dr_Pranav_Prabhakar
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pkprabhakar/
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=26028020600
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8130-1822
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX1TVFcyygZ3_UZAcVPi_Kw
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