DT

Deepak B. Thimiri Govinda Raj

Also known as: Raj DB, Deepak Balaji TG, Thimiri Govinda Raj DB, Raj DBTG

CSIR, NCMM-European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Oslo Universitetssykehus, National University of Singapore

ORCID iD 0000-0002-9328-449X
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About

Deepak is an Award Winning Innovator, Researcher, and Stanford University Igniter. Deepak is currently Centre Manager for Synthetic Biology and Precision Medicine Centre at CSIR Pretoria South Africa. Deepak was also an Acting Impact Area Manager for Medical Devices and Diagnostics Impact Area at CSIR Pretoria South Africa. Deepak was a recipient of Singapore MIT Fellowship, Marie Curie EIPOD Fellowship, Helse Sorost Fellowship, Marie Curie Global Fellowship and ICGEB Early Career Grant. Deepak was awarded FEBS Young Scientist Forum to attend FEBS Congress and IUBMB Young Scientist Forum to attend IUBMB Congress.

Deepak holds international patent on nanoparticles and synthetic microbes that has been commercialized through spin-off companies.

Deepak has demonstrated track record in nanobiotechnology, synthetic biology, biomedical sciences and precision medicine. Deepak did his Master of Engineering in Biotechnology from BITS Pilani India. Deepak did his MS in Molecular Engineering of Biological and Chemical Systems at Singapore-MIT Alliance (National University of Singapore and Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Deepak did PhD in biomedical sciences with focus on nanobiotechnology from KU Leuven Belgium.

Deepak established 4 Technology platforms in 5 countries.
1. Deepak established Nanobiotechnology methods for cell surface proteomics at IMEC Leuven, Belgium (patent granted).
2. At EMBL as a Marie Curie Fellow, Deepak designed and developed synthetic baculovirus genome (SynBac™) which is used in University of Bristol UK and sold as a product by Geneva Biotech, Switzerland.
3. At Oslo University Hospital, Norway and NCMM-EMBL, Deepak established the drug sensitivity platform for blood cancer precision medicine using Norwegian patient cohort.
4. As Centre Manager at CSIR South Africa, Deepak and Team developed:
a) directed evolution process at Technology Readiness Level (TRL6);
b) synthetic bacterial genome currently at TRL3;
c) established drug sensitivity screening platform for South African cancer patient cohorts (leukemia and ovarian cancer) at TRL5.

Deepak has secured funding to establish 1st CSIR-National Research Foundation (NRF) Innovation Chair in South Africa.
Deepak was the main lead of the team that developed the South African Synthetic Biology Roadmap and implementation plan.

Deepak has published research papers in journals like Leukaemia (IF: 11.5), Scientific Reports (IF: 3.8), Molecular Systems Biology (12.7), Molecular Oncology (IF: 6.6), and Nanoconvergence (IF:11.7). Deepak established a startup called Envirotransgene Bio-solutions for the period of 2004-18.

Deepak is experienced in General Management, Operations Management ( Healthcare, medical devices and Biopharmaceuticals), Cutting-edge Research, and Health-Safety Management. Deepak has 20+ years of Biotech, LifeTech and MedTech Industry experience. Deepak has worked in several international research labs and companies. Deepak has lived, studied and worked in 10 countries (India, Singapore, USA, Belgium, France, Germany, Norway, Ethiopia, UK, South Africa). Deepak speaks fluently in multiple languages.

Deepak is a trained karate practitioner - with a holder of a Brown belt in Karate dojo.

Employment

  • CSIR Centre Manager
    2019 - Present
  • NCMM-European Molecular Biology Laboratory Visiting Senior Scientist
    2016 - 2019
  • Oslo Universitetssykehus Senior Scientist
    2016 - 2019
  • European Molecular Biology Laboratory Marie Curie EIPOD Postdoctoral Fellow
    2011 - 2015
  • Vlaamse Interuniversitaire Raad Doctoral Researcher in Nanobiotechnology
    2007 - 2011
  • Envirotransgene Biosolutions Technology and Innovation Manager
    2004 - 2016

Education

  • Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Doctor of Philosophy
    2007 - 2011
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology Associate Degree: Singapore MIT alliance Professional Certificate in Molecular Engineering
    2005 - 2006
  • National University of Singapore Master of science in Molecular Engineering
    2005 - 2006
  • Birla Institute of Technology and Science Master of Engineering
    2003 - 2005

Projects & Funding

  • CeCa for Precision Medicine SAMRC
    2025 - 2028
  • Lactochassis: Synthetic Microbes for recombinant protein production South African Medical Research Council
    2024 - 2027
  • CSIR-NRF Innovation Chair in Synthetic Biology Innovation National Research Foundation
    2023 - 2035
  • DSI ERA Synthetic Biology funding for SynBio Centre Department of Science and Innovation
    2023 - 2028
  • Synthetic Microbes South African Medical Research Council
    2022 - 2024
  • Ovarian Cancer Precision Medicine National Research Foundation
    2021 - 2023
  • OvCa for Precision Medicine: Personalized Ovarian Cancer Treatment using High-Throughput and Microfluidic Drug Screening. European Commission
    2021 - 2024
  • EMBL Interdisciplinary Postdocs 2 European Commission
    2012 - 2017

Publications (104)