Dr. Renu Khasa | virology | Best Researcher Award |

University of Miami, United States

Professional Profiles:

👨‍🎓 Bio Summary:

Dr. Renu Khasa is a distinguished virologist and immunologist currently serving as an Assistant Scientist in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at the University of Miami. Her research centers on unraveling the complexities of viral mechanisms, particularly Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and other flaviviruses like Zika Virus (ZIKV) and Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV). With extensive expertise in molecular virology, she has contributed significantly to the understanding of virus-host interactions, viral pathogenesis, and therapeutic strategies.

🎓 Educational Background:

Dr. Khasa earned her Ph.D. in Biotechnology (2015–2019) from the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, affiliated with Symbiosis International University, India. She completed her Master’s in Biotechnology (2004–2006) from Allahabad Agricultural Institute, Deemed University, and her Bachelor’s in Science (2001–2004) from Hindu Girls College, Maharishi Dayanand University, Haryana, India.

🔍 Research Focus:

Dr. Khasa’s research delves into the interplay between viral proteins and host cellular mechanisms, with an emphasis on KSHV-driven sarcomagenesis and ZIKV infection pathways. Her expertise includes advanced molecular techniques like virus propagation, qRT-PCR, siRNA screening, and immunostaining. She has contributed to cutting-edge research on the development of mutant viruses and the identification of host factors critical to viral infections

🏆 Honors & Awards:

Dr. Khasa is a recipient of the prestigious ICMR-Senior Research Fellowship (2014–2018) for her work on JEV infection mechanisms. She was also awarded the Global Health Travel Award by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to present her research at the Keystone Symposium in Ireland (2019). Her accolades underscore her commitment to advancing virology research.

💼 Professional Experience:

Dr. Khasa has a rich professional background spanning roles as an Assistant Scientist and Postdoctoral Associate at the University of Miami, focusing on HIV/AIDS and KSHV research. She previously worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Florida State University, where she characterized a ZIKV mutant independent of AXL dependency. Her earlier roles as a Senior and Junior Research Fellow at THSTI, India, were pivotal in advancing research on JEV and clinical trials for oral rotavirus vaccines.

📚 Top Noted Publications :

Japanese encephalitis virus infects neuronal cells through a clathrin-independent endocytic mechanism

Authors: M Kalia, R Khasa, M Sharma, M Nain, S Vrati

Journal: Journal of Virology

Citations: 147

Index: 87 (1), 148-162

Year: 2013

Japanese encephalitis virus replication is negatively regulated by autophagy and occurs on LC3-I- and EDEM1-containing membranes

Authors: M Sharma, S Bhattacharyya, M Nain, M Kaur, V Sood, V Gupta, R Khasa, et al.

Journal: Autophagy

Citations: 122

Index: 10 (9), 1637-1651

Year: 2014

A screen for novel hepatitis C virus RdRp inhibitor identifies a broad-spectrum antiviral compound

Authors: A Madhvi, S Hingane, R Srivastav, N Joshi, C Subramani, R Muthumohan, et al.

Journal: Scientific Reports

Citations: 26

Index: 7 (1), 5816

Year: 2017

Valosin-containing protein/p97 plays critical roles in the Japanese encephalitis virus life cycle

Authors: S Sehrawat, R Khasa, A Deb, SK Prajapat, S Mallick, A Basu, M Surjit, et al.

Journal: Journal of Virology

Citations: 23

Index: 95 (11), 10.1128/jvi.02336-20

Year: 2021

Membrane trafficking RNA interference screen identifies a crucial role of the clathrin endocytic pathway and ARP2/3 complex for Japanese encephalitis virus infection in HeLa cells

Authors: R Khasa, A Vaidya, S Vrati, M Kalia

Journal: Journal of General Virology

Citations: 16

Index: 100 (2), 176-186

Year: 2019

Conclusion:

Renu Khasa is an outstanding candidate for the Best Researcher Award, with notable contributions to virology and infectious disease research. Her technical expertise, mentorship abilities, and impactful publications make her a strong contender. Strengthening her independent grant record and enhancing public engagement could further solidify her position as a top researcher in her field.