Biographical note

Dr. Indumathi Somasundaram is working as an Associate Professor in the Kolhapur Institute of Technology’s College of engineering in Dept of Biotechnology. She is a Researcher and an academician, who has completed PhD in the field of Medical biotech (stem cell) in 2012 and Postdoc in 2014, joined D.Y. Patil University, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India, as Asst. Prof in 2014 to 2020. She started her career in 2008, joining as Junior Researcher in a Pvt. Hospital from 2008 until her PhD. She has overall 14 years of teaching and research experience till now. So far, she has authored technical 4 books, 8 book chapters & have written more than 40 Research articles with. She has handled more than five Govt and Intramural funded research projects. She has been awarded Young Scientist in 2018 by anti-aging foundation in a regenerative medicine conclave

She is also an entrepreneur, leading Indu’s Academy of Biology and Medicine (IABM), smart online learning platform for the students and an aspiring public speaker. Her vision is to impart knowledge, skills and the importance of the branches of life science to the society in all possible ways, thereby creating an impact in the field of all branches of basic sciences. Besides, she is also actively working on the booming research areas of stem cell, cancer biology, anti-aging.

Dr. Pankaj Kaingade is a Founder & Director, ReproHelix Labs - An ultra-modern and vibrant facility specialized in Reproductive Genetics & Fertility Solutions. It offers an academic forum, centre for cutting-edge research with innovations and fertility solutions to the IVF Clinics. He is also, the Scientific & Laboratory Director, Sunanda IVF & Fertility Clinic, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India. Dr. Pankaj is a Consultant Embryologist with over 14 years of experience in human assisted reproductive technologies and research. Dr. Pankaj earned his Ph.D. from Charotar University of Science & Technology (CHARUSAT), Gujarat, India on reproductive stem cells, focusing mainly on endometrium and breast milk.  His dissertation explored the potential of stem cells of human breast milk and endometrium for their implications in child and women’s healthcare. He was awarded with the Young Scientist Award for his research work on “Breast milk Stem cells” by Charotar University of Science & Technology (CHARUSAT), Gujarat, India (2017). He has a total 14 peer reviewed publications to his credit. He has also authored 1 book chapter on Surrogacy and IVF. He recently co-authored and published one book with Evincepub publishing on Stem cell biology - A practical laboratory manual. He is also an ad-hoc reviewer for several scientific journals. Dr. Pankaj is the recipient of Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction - ISAR Dr. Gautam Khastgir Best Young Embryologist Research Award (2022) for best research papers, presentations and publications. and ISAR Dr. Manish Banker Young Achievers Embryologist Award (2023) for excellent research work done in Reproductive Medicine.

Dr. Ramesh Bhonde joined Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth, (DPU) Pune, as Director (Research) in September 2016.  He was instrumental in establishing Regenerative Medicine Lab at DPU in March 2018. Currently he is an Emeritus Scientist at DPU.  Earlier, he served as Professor & Dean, at the School of Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore for the last 5 years. He superannuated from National Center for Cell Science Pune as Scientist ‘F’ and joined Stempeutics Research Pvt. Ltd. Bangalore as Technical Director and then moved to Stempeutics Research Malaysia branch in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He has been working in the field of pancreatic regeneration in diabetes for the past 30 years. His work on human Mesenchymal stem cell as platform for screening Ayurvedic rsayanas and homeopathic preparations has opened doors for evidenced based research. He has extensively worked on in vitro generation of isletsfrom pancreatic and non- pancreatic stem cells.

His pioneering work on stem cells in breast milk is well appreciated by scientific community. He has published more than 320 research articles and has authored 10 book chapters. He is a recipient of Dr. TMA Pai Endowment Chair in Islet Engineering & Banking in October 2013 and Dr C.M. Habubullah Annual Oration Award in January 2014. Subsequently he is awarded Dr TMA Pai Endowment chair second time to work on Stem cell solution to Insulin resistance (2015-16). Recently he has been inducted as an Editorial Board Member of the Journal “Medical Hypotheses”.