Team

Dr. Ankur Kumar Srivastava is a distinguished neurobiologist and systems toxicologist at CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, with a focus on molecular neurobiology, miRNA–proteome interplay, and stem cell-based disease models. His pioneering research explores mechanisms of neurodegeneration and therapeutic strategies using hiPSC-derived organoids and advanced toxicogenomic approaches. Beyond his scientific achievements, Dr. Srivastava is deeply committed to fostering the next generation of scientists. He actively mentors young researchers, delivers expert lectures, and participates in capacity-building workshops, contributing significantly to scientific education and inspiring budding minds to pursue research careers in biomedical sciences. 

Dr Ankita Srivastava is currently serving as a CSIR-Project Scientist-II at the CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), Lucknow. Her research focuses on the mechanistic understanding of neurotoxicity and neurodegeneration using cutting-edge in vitro models, including human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived 3D cortical and spinal organoids. With expertise in stem cell reprogramming, neuronal differentiation, bioenergetics profiling, and proteomics-based biomarker discovery. Dr. Srivastava is advancing translational neurotoxicology by integrating omics-based tools such as nLC-HRMS, high-throughput qPCR (OpenArray), and Seahorse XF analysis. She has contributed significantly to scientific literature and is actively involved in collaborative research, grant writing, SOP revision and peer review in international journals. Dr. Srivastava is also an associate editor in special issue of Journal Frontiers in Toxicology and a lifetime member of key neuroscience societies (ISN, IAN and WWN). Her ongoing work in generating and characterizing hiPSC-derived cortical, spinal organoids, and assembloids represents a critical advancement in India's efforts toward personalized and translational neuroscience.

  Mr Akash Singh is a PhD scholar in the Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment division at CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), Working on neurobiology, stem cell biology, and advanced in vitromodeling systems. He possesses technical proficiency in neuronal differentiation, Exosome isoloation, disease modelling, bioinformatics tools like Gorilla, Venny, String, and, Cytoscape supported by a robust foundation in molecular and cellular biology. His research focuses on the development and application of hiPSC-derived 3D cortical and motor organoids to investigate neurodegenerative disorders, particularly amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). His contributions to the field are reflected publications and presentations at national and international forums. Committed to translational neuroscience, Mr. Singh is a member of multiple global scientific societies such as ISSCR, ISN, IAN and SCSSR and actively engages in interdisciplinary collaborations to advance stem cell-based disease modeling and therapeutic discovery.

 Dr. Abhishek Pandeya is an experienced biotechnology researcher specializing in neurotoxicology, host-pathogen interactions at the miRNA level, immunology, and bioinformatics. As a Post Doctoral Fellow at CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, he has over 11 years of expertise, particularly in developing extracellular vesicle-based therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr. Pandeya’s doctoral research at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University explored the role of HCMV-encoded miRNAs in apoptosis and immune evasion. His technical skills include stem cell cultures, RNA interference, molecular biology techniques, and advanced microscopy.

A prolific scientific writer, Dr. Pandeya has authored multiple peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, contributing significantly to understanding neurotoxicity and viral-host interactions. He actively mentors research projects and excels in scientific communication, facilitating effective dissemination of complex research findings.