AS

Dr. Abhik Sen

ICMR-National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Calcutta, University of Rhode Island

ORCID iD 0000-0003-4048-0566
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About

Dr. Abhik Sen is an accomplished biomedical researcher and currently serves as Scientist E at the ICMR-National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections (NIRBI), Kolkata, and as Associate Professor at the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR). He holds a Ph.D. in Zoology (Molecular Biology) from the University of Calcutta, earned through research at ICMR-NICED, Kolkata. His academic journey has laid a strong foundation in molecular and cell biology, with later specialization in genomics and neurobiology.

Early in his career, Dr. Sen demonstrated pioneering work in the field of parasitology. He developed a whole-genome shotgun DNA microarray library using an Indian strain of Leishmania donovani, enabling comparative studies of gene expression between promastigote and amastigote forms. His research revealed that lesion-derived amastigotes express about 20% more genes compared to macrophage-derived ones, suggesting that in vivo conditions provoke unique gene regulation under host immune pressure.

Dr. Sen has also made significant contributions to neurobiology, especially during his tenure at leading neuroscience institutes in the United States. At the George & Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience (University of Rhode Island) and the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (West Virginia University), he investigated the molecular underpinnings of Alzheimer’s disease. His most notable work established a link between Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) isoforms, protein kinase C epsilon (PKCε), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), uncovering new targets for therapeutic intervention.

Currently, Dr. Sen's research is focused on Post Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL), a major public health concern in endemic regions of India. He is Principal Investigator on multiple nationally funded research grants, including two from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and a prestigious Early Career Research Award from the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB). His team is engaged in transcriptomic and microbiomic studies on blood and skin samples to identify specific biomarkers and unravel the disease mechanism underlying the conversion of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) to PKDL.

Dr. Sen has authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications, accumulating more than 1,800 citations, and has an h-index of 23. He also serves on editorial boards and as a reviewer for several reputed scientific journals. He actively mentors doctoral and postdoctoral researchers and is committed to advancing translational science for neglected diseases.

Employment

  • ICMR-National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections Scientist E
    2026 - Present
  • Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences Scientist E
    2023 - 2025
  • Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences Scientist D
    2019 - 2023
  • University of Rhode Island Assistant Professor
    2018 - 2019
  • Blanchette Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute Assistant Professor
    2013 - 2018
  • Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute Research Fellow
    2009 - 2013

Education

  • University of Calcutta PhD
    2003 - 2009
  • University of Calcutta M.Sc
    2000 - 2002

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (53)