Current Members | Shilpee Lab

Shilpee Lab Members

Shilpee Dutt, PI

Vipin Kumar, Lab manager

Ganesh Bejjanki, Lab technician

I earned my MSc in Zoology (Cell and Molecular Biology) (2017-2019) from Cotton University, Guwahati and worked as a MSc dissertation trainee at the DBT-AIST Laboratory for Advanced Biomedicine, Department of BSBE, IIT Guwahati. It is during this time at the Cancer Biology Laboratory, BSBE, IITG, that I developed this
intense curiosity to peek inside the tumor microenvironment and try to understand the many, many intricate mechanisms that regulate a tumor’s growth and ultimately the patient’s clinical outcome. This is what led me to my PhD (2020-2025), at the Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, where I worked to unravel the immune landscape of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma microenvironment, one of the most aggressive malignancies known.
During my current stint as an ANRF NPDF (2025-2027) at the Molecular Oncology and DNA Repair lab, SLS, JNU, I am aiming at understanding if therapy induced senescence has a role to play in modulating the Glioblastoma (GBM) immune microenvironment (IME). GBM remains the most aggressive primary brain malignancy, with only a limited subset of patients responding to the current treatment regime. A prime example of an immune ‘cold’ tumor, the resident immune cells in GBM are majorly immunosuppressive, meaning that they contribute instead to tumor growth and aggressiveness. Recently, Prof. Shilpee Dutt’s lab has shown that many molecular switches are responsible for reversal of senescence and ultimately, GBM recurrence, post radiotherapy. Whether or not these switches also play a role in modulating the GBM IME, is currently not known and is something that I am interested in looking into.
Outside of lab, I enjoy cooking, as I find it similar to planning and executing experiments. I am an aggressive journal keeper, enthusiastic flower arranger, occasional painter and a dedicated mother to my spoilt-to-the-core orange cat. I also enjoy listening to and reading political discussions and keeping up with the current affairs.

Monikongkona Boruah

ANRF-NPDF

Archisman Banerjee

PhD-SRF (CSIR)

Email ID: abanerjee[at]actrec[dot]gov[dot]in, archis1991[at]gmail[dot]com

I pursued Integrated M.Sc in Life Sciences from Central University of Jharkhand, Ranchi. I am working on the underlying mechanism behind the activation of Histone acetyltransferase-GCN5 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) using both bioinformatics and functional approach.

Other than coding and biology, I love being a photography enthusiast and a foodie.

Email ID: singhprachi3399[at]gmail[dot]com

Hello, I am Prachi Singh, a PhD scholar at the School of Life Sciences, JNU, where I am diving into the fascinating world of Glioblastoma and its recurrence in therapy induced senescent cells. With my Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Delhi, I have built a strong foundation in Cancer biology and therapeutics, which fuels my quest to unravel new ways to tackle this challenging disease.

Outside the lab you'll probably find me curled up with a book on fiction, philosophy or science.
I thrive on deep, meaningful conversations that spark new ideas and perspectives.

And here’s a fun fact: I laugh my way through horror movies, and I firmly believe ice cream is the ultimate fix for just about anything.

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Prachi Singh

PhD-JRF

Shiwangi Chandak

PhD-JRF (CSIR)

Email ID: shiwangichandak[at]gmail[dot]com

I have done my Bachelors and Masters in Biotechnology. Currently, I’m researching the unique role of DUSP6 in DNA damage repair of recurrent GBM.

Outside work, I love painting and watching science documentaries to keep my creativity and curiosity alive.

Email ID: swastikmajumdar99[at]gmail[dot]com

I pursued my B.Sc Hons. and M.sc in Zoology from University of Calcutta, where I grew my interest towards cellular interactions and disease biology, especially cancer. My research work in SLS, JNU focuses on understanding how tumor microenvironment orchestrates resistance to immunotherapy in glioblastoma, ultimately driving tumor recurrence. Beyond the lab bench, I enjoy trekking and reading, and I often turn to writing too, which provide a refreshing counterbalance to experiments and data.

Swastik Majumdar

PhD-JRF

Ravleen Kaur

PhD-JRF (CSIR)

Email ID: ravleensoni30[at]gmail[dot]com

Hello, I am Ravleen Kaur. I have pursued Masters in Animal Biology and Biotechnology from the University of Hyderabad (2022-2024). Currently, I am interested in understanding how GCN5 acetylates DNA-PK by identifying the specific acetylation sites and generating the site-specific antibodies for downstream functional studies. Outside of research, I enjoy travelling the world, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen and doodling.

Email ID: muneebwani[at]gmail[dot]com

I did my BSc with a specialization in Biochemistry and Bioinformatics from S.P. College, Srinagar, and MSc in Clinical Biochemistry from the University of Kashmir. The main focus of my project is to find the interaction of GCN5 with ATM in the DNA damage response pathway in glioblastoma.

Outside the lab, I enjoy playing and watching football, exploring new places through travel, and unwinding over a good cup of coffee or tea.

Muneeb

JRF (Project)

Omkar Ojha

JRF (Project)

Email ID: Omkarojha49[at]gmail[dot]com

I have completed my M.Sc. in Microbiology from Galgotias University, Greater Noida, and I am currently pursuing research in molecular and cell biology in a DNA Repair and Molecular Oncology laboratory. My research interests lie in understanding genome stability mechanisms, particularly DNA damage repair and replication stress responses in cancer cells. I am actively working on projects related to replication stress to explore how molecular pathways maintain integrity during tumor progression and therapy-induced stress.

Beyond the laboratory, I enjoy reading, which helps me stay curious and continuously expand my scientific perspective.