Saravanabhavan Thangavel
Centre for Stem Cell Research, A unit of BRIC-InStem, Christian Medical college Vellore: Vellore, TAMILNADU, IN, Centre for Stem Cell Research, A unit of BRIC-InStem, Christian Medical college Vellore
0000-0001-6760-4106
About
Dr. Saravanabhavan Thangavel is Scientist F and Head of the Genome Editing Lab at the Centre for Stem Cell Research (CSCR), a unit of BRIC-InStem, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India. His research sits at the intersection of genome editing and hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) biology, with a translational focus on developing curative cell and gene therapies for blood disorders and immunological diseases.
Dr. Thangavel earned his PhD from the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Italy, where he developed a rigorous foundation in molecular and cell biology, in particular human DNA replication and repair. He subsequently pursued postdoctoral training at ICGEB-Trieste and the Edward A. Doisy Research Centre, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, USA.
His laboratory's primary focus spans the development of genome editing strategies — for the treatment of hemoglobinopathies including beta-thalassemia and sickle cell anemia, as well as primary immunodeficiencies and HIV. His work encompasses the full translational arc from molecular design to preclinical validation in clinically relevant HSC models.
Dr. Thangavel is a recipient of several prestigious national and international awards, including the Wellcome Trust–DBT India Alliance Team Science Grant, the DST-SERB Early Career Research Award, and the ICGEB Postdoctoral Fellowship. These recognitions reflect both the scientific rigor and the therapeutic promise of his research program.
Employment
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Centre for Stem Cell Research, A unit of BRIC-InStem, Christian Medical college Vellore: Vellore, TAMILNADU, IN Scientist F/ Associate professor2026 - Present
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Centre for Stem Cell Research, A unit of BRIC-InStem, Christian Medical college Vellore Scientist E / Assistant Professor2015 - 2026
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Saint Louis University Edward A Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Post doctoral fellow2011 - 2015
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International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Post doctoral fellow2010 - 2011
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International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology PhD2007 - 2010
Education
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International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology PhD2007 - 2010
Projects & Funding
Projects & funding information is unavailable.
Publications (37)
- Advancing Precision Medicine: Recent Innovations in Gene Editing Technologies Save
- Engineering biomimetic bone marrow niche with gene modified mesenchymal stromal cells for ex vivo culture of human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells Save
- Endocytosis as a critical regulator of hematopoietic stem cell fate —implications for hematopoietic stem cell and gene therapy Save
- SMART-lipid nanoparticles enabled mRNA vaccine elicits cross-reactive humoral responses against the omicron sub-variants. Save
- Base editing of key residues in the BCL11A-XL-specific zinc finger domains derepresses fetal globin expression. Save
- Editing of highly homologous gamma-globin genes by nickase deficient Base Editor mitigates large intergenic deletions Save
- Current approaches and potential challenges in the delivery of gene editing cargos into hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Save
- Correlating the differences in the receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike variants on their interactions with human ACE2 receptor. Save
- Editing the core region in HPFH deletions alters fetal and adult globin expression for treatment of β-hemoglobinopathies. Save
- Diosgenin enhances liposome-enabled nucleic acid delivery and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing by modulating endocytic pathways. Save