AM

Asha Martin

Also known as: Asha John, John A, John Asha

CSIR - Central Food Technological Research Institute, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University

ORCID iD 0000-0001-6751-5162
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About

Dr. Asha Martin has had a brilliant academic career and is the recipient of National merit scholarship for securing high marks in Senior Secondary Certificate examination, University Grants Commission - Junior and Senior Research fellowship for pursuing Ph.D. She obtained her MSc and Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Nagpur University, Nagpur. Her doctoral study was on understanding the properties and interactions of food macromolecules. She joined CSIR-CFTRI in 2002 and is currently Chief Scientist at the Department of Biochemistry, CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore a premier research Institute. From Aug 2014 till Dec 2017 she served as the Head of the Department of Food Safety & Analytical Quality Control Laboratory, a leader in contributing to food safety and quality through excellence in research and science based analytical services to Indian food industries and entrepreneurs towards their product development, quality assurance and regulatory compliance. During this period, she was also Director of Referral Food Laboratory Mysore, an appellate laboratory notified by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Food Safety and Standards Act and contributed in the development as well as implementation of standards.
Research interests:
1. Molecular nutrition:
There is a renewed interest in nutrients which are well known to protect the body through various mechanisms in traditional knowledge. My research group works on unravelling the molecular mechanisms behind the health benefits of key nutrients. We are investigating natural food based inhibitors of PCSK9 gene and natural modulators of SIRT1 gene with a view to combat hypercholesterolemia, obesity, PCOS, etc. This research includes invitro cell culture studies, animal model and in silico studies.
2. Application of biotechnology, bioengineering for the production of tailored wax esters
Wax synthases are critical enzymes for wax ester (WE) biosynthesis. WEs are high value products having several industrial applications. For instance, WE serve as substrates for lubricants, food coatings, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. There is a demand for alternate renewable resource of WEs. We have successfully isolated a putative wax synthase (HaWS) gene from Sunflower, cloned and functionally expressed it in yeast. HaWS represents an alternate source of WE for commercial applications and for biotechnological production of tailored WE in eukaryotic expression systems.
3. Molecular methods for the detection of genetically modified foods, pathogens and allergens
More than 18 years of experience in the area of GMO detection, food biotechnology and food safety

Employment

  • CSIR - Central Food Technological Research Institute Chief scientist
    2002 - Present

Education

  • Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University Ph.D. (Biochemistry)

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (39)