Amit Kumar Yadav | Biosensors and Point-of-Care Devices | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Cognitive Scientist Awards

Dr. Amit Kumar Yadav | Biosensors and Point-of-Care Devices | Best Researcher Award

Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGn) | India

Dr. Amit Kumar Yadav, Ph.D. (PMRF, AMRSC), is an accomplished researcher specializing in electrochemistry, nanomaterials engineering, DNA nanotechnology, conducting hydrogels, and biosensor development. Currently serving as an Early Career Fellow at the Department of Biological Sciences and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IIT-Gn), he focuses on developing DNA aptamer-based biosensing platforms for diagnostic applications. His research integrates nanobiotechnology, functional nanomaterials, and molecular biology to design innovative biosensors for early disease detection and therapeutic monitoring. Dr. Yadav’s academic and professional journey spans premier Indian institutions, where he has contributed to projects on cancer biomarkers, bacterial resistance, and cytokine detection. His commitment to translational nanotechnology research is reflected in numerous awards, including multiple Young Scientist Awards and recognition for his Ph.D. thesis. With a vision to advance healthcare diagnostics, Dr. Yadav aspires to pursue impactful postdoctoral research that bridges laboratory innovation with real-world medical applications.

Profile

Googlescholar

Education

Dr. Amit Kumar Yadav pursued his Ph.D. in Nanoscience at Jawaharlal Nehru University, where his doctoral work focused on fabricating electrochemical nanodiagnostic platforms for detecting cancer biomarkers. Guided by Prof. Partima Solanki, his research emphasized translational nanotechnology for biomedical applications. He obtained his Master of Science in Biotechnology from Vinoba Bhave University, where his thesis explored the antimicrobial properties of bioactive peptides under Prof. Kanwaljeet Kaur’s supervision. Earlier, he completed his Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology at St. Columba’s College, Vinoba Bhave University, where he built a strong foundation in molecular biology and bioengineering under Dr. Gautam Kumar. His academic journey began with strong performance in science at Inter Science College, Jharkhand Academic Council, followed by secondary education at High School Bishnugarh. His education reflects a steady progression from fundamental biotechnology to advanced nanobiotechnology and biosensor development, enabling him to integrate multidisciplinary insights into applied healthcare research

Experience

Dr. Amit Kumar Yadav has diverse academic and industrial research experience across leading Indian institutes. Currently an Early-Career Fellow at IIT Gandhinagar under Prof. Dhiraj Bhatia, he is working on the development of DNA aptamers for cytokine biosensing. Alongside, he serves as a Senior Scientist at QnanoSol BioTech, driving translational biosensor technologies. Prior to this, he worked as Research Associate at IIT Gandhinagar, contributing to nano-bioengineering projects. During his Ph.D. as a Prime Minister’s Research Fellow at Jawaharlal Nehru University, he developed aptasensors for gastric cancer biomarker detection and electrochemical diagnostic platforms. He also contributed as a Junior Research Fellow at JNU and the University of Delhi, studying cancer drug resistance and bacterial resistance mechanisms. His early training included thesis research at the National Institute of Immunology and a summer fellowship at Delhi Technological University. Collectively, his experience highlights innovation in nanobiotechnology, biosensing, and diagnostic device development.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Amit Kumar Yadav’s scientific excellence has been recognized through multiple national and international honors. He received the Young Scientist Award at the International Conference on Viksit Bharat 2047: Reaching the Unreached Through Chemical and Biological Sciences, acknowledging his contributions to nanobiotechnology and biosensors. His impactful research in cancer diagnostics earned him another Young Scientist Award at Parul University’s National Conference on Cancer Research and Therapy. He was also honored with the Young Scientist Award at the National Conference on Cancer Biology, Institute of Advanced Research, Gandhinagar, for pioneering biosensor advancements. In addition, his doctoral work received the Outstanding Ph.D. Thesis Award from the Society for Biomaterials and Artificial Organs-India, marking his innovative approach to electrochemical nanodiagnostics. His international recognition includes the ICMR International Travel Grant Support Award, enabling global exposure and collaboration. These accolades reflect his commitment to pushing scientific frontiers and addressing global healthcare challenges through nanotechnology-driven solutions.

Research Focus

Dr. Amit Kumar Yadav’s research lies at the intersection of nanobiotechnology, electrochemistry, and translational diagnostics. His primary focus is on developing nano-biosensors for early disease detection, particularly aptamer-based and DNA nanostructure-enabled biosensing platforms. His expertise includes designing electrochemical aptasensors for cancer biomarkers, fabricating conducting hydrogels for biosensing applications, and engineering functional nanomaterials for enhanced sensitivity. He has extensively worked with tetrahedral DNA nanostructures (TDNs), antibody-aptamer recognition systems, and SELEX-driven aptamer selection, enabling specific and reliable biomolecule detection. Beyond cancer diagnostics, his research explores antimicrobial resistance monitoring, food toxin detection, and cytokine sensing for immunological applications. He also investigates two-dimensional materials, nano-bioengineering, and material sciences for cross-disciplinary applications in healthcare and biotechnology. His vision is to bridge laboratory-scale innovations with real-world clinical use by creating low-cost, highly sensitive, and portable diagnostic tools that can significantly impact early-stage disease management and global public health.

 

Publications

 

Title: Emerging role of trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) in colorectal cancer
Year: 2021
Citation: 291

Title: Internet of things (IoT) in nano-integrated wearable biosensor devices for healthcare applications
Year: 2022
Citation: 273

Title: FRET based biosensor: principle applications recent advances and challenges
Year: 2023
Citation: 118

Title: Strategies and perspectives to develop SARS-CoV-2 detection methods and diagnostics
Year: 2020
Citation: 115

Title: Gut microbiota-derived metabolites in CRC progression and causation
Year: 2021
Citation: 98

Title: Gut microbiota derived trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) detection through molecularly imprinted polymer based sensor
Year: 2021
Citation: 85

Title: A highly sensitive label-free amperometric biosensor for norfloxacin detection based on chitosan-yttria nanocomposite
Year: 2020
Citation: 84

Conclusion

Dr. Amit Kumar Yadav is a dynamic early-career researcher whose expertise in nanobiotechnology, biosensors, and electrochemical diagnostics reflects a deep commitment to advancing low-cost, sensitive, and translational healthcare technologies for early disease detection and global health improvement.

Milana Frenkel-Morgenstern | Liquid Biopsy | Women Researcher Award

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Dr. Milana Frenkel-Morgenstern | Liquid Biopsy | Women Researcher Award

Dr. Milana Frenkel-Morgenstern is an Israeli scientist and Principal Investigator at the Scojen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Reichman University. She specializes in bioinformatics, systems biology, and synthetic biology. With a rich background spanning molecular genetics, computer science, and structural biology, she has held key positions in institutions such as Bar-Ilan University, Weizmann Institute of Science, and the Spanish National Research Centre. She is renowned for her pioneering work in liquid biopsies, chimeric RNAs, and non-invasive diagnostic tools. Dr. Frenkel-Morgenstern has published extensively, served on prestigious evaluation panels, and received numerous fellowships and awards, including the Miguel Servet Fellowship and the Rector Prize for Scientific Innovation. Her leadership in both academic and public scientific communities, combined with a strong record of mentorship and university service, highlights her influential presence in biomedical research. She is also the founder of the “Art in Science” session at ISMB, reflecting her commitment to interdisciplinary innovation.

Profile

🎓 Education

Dr. Frenkel-Morgenstern earned her PhD in Molecular Genetics at the Weizmann Institute of Science under Prof. Shmuel Pietrokovski, specializing in bioinformatics and systems biology. Prior to that, she completed her MSc in Mathematics and Computer Science with a thesis in molecular biology from Bar-Ilan University, mentored by Prof. Ron Unger and Prof. Amihood Amir. Her undergraduate studies were also at Bar-Ilan University, where she earned a BSc in Mathematics and Computer Science. Her multidisciplinary education seamlessly blends life sciences, computational modeling, and mathematical analysis, forming the foundation for her later innovations in biomedical research. This strong computational background, coupled with a deep understanding of molecular biology, positioned her to excel in complex systems analysis, machine learning, and genomics, leading to a distinguished academic and research career. Her training has enabled her to lead translational biomedical projects, particularly in the fields of cancer research, structural bioinformatics, and synthetic biology.

🧪 Experience

Dr. Milana Frenkel-Morgenstern has over two decades of academic and research experience. She is currently Principal Investigator and Senior Lecturer at Reichman University. Prior to this, she was a senior faculty member at Bar-Ilan University’s Azrieli Faculty of Medicine for a decade. Internationally, she served as a staff scientist at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) and was a postdoctoral fellow in the labs of Prof. Alfonso Valencia and Prof. Uri Alon. She has also been a scientific advisor and educator at the Weizmann Institute’s Davidson Institute. Dr. Frenkel-Morgenstern has taught a range of graduate-level courses in genomics, bioinformatics, and computational biology. She has been deeply involved in institutional governance, serving on data science boards, senate committees, and multiple departmental leadership roles. Her professional journey reflects a blend of research excellence, teaching dedication, and scientific outreach, including organizing the “Art in Science” initiative for ISMB/ECCB.

🏅 Awards and Honors

Dr. Frenkel-Morgenstern has received numerous prestigious awards recognizing her research and innovation. She was awarded the Rector Prize for Scientific Innovation by Bar-Ilan University in 2021, and the Bioinfo4Women Fellowship by the Barcelona Supercomputing Center from 2016–2019. Her work on RNA sequencing earned her the Miguel Servet Fellowship (2011–2015), and she received international postdoctoral fellowships from Caja Navarra Foundation and Horvitz Foundation. Her academic contributions have been recognized through several Travel Awards from ISMB, ECCB, and RECOMB, and she earned Outstanding Poster Awards in international conferences. As a guest editor for leading journals and evaluator for major funding bodies (ERC, ISF, GIF, etc.), her influence extends beyond research to shaping the global scientific agenda. She also received the Excellent Lecturer Award (2017) at Bar-Ilan University and serves as an academic reviewer and thesis evaluator for institutions across Israel, Europe, and Asia, demonstrating global academic leadership.

🔬 Research Focus

Dr. Frenkel-Morgenstern’s research centers on liquid biopsy technologies, cell-free nucleic acids (cfDNA/cfRNA), and systems and synthetic biology. Her lab investigates molecular biomarkers for cancer, arthritis, and prenatal diagnostics, developing computational platforms that utilize next-generation sequencing, AI, and machine learning. She explores chimeric RNAs, chromosomal translocations, and non-optimal codon usage, linking genetic regulation with disease mechanisms. Her interdisciplinary work bridges microbiome analysis, metagenomics, genome profiling, and protein-protein interaction networks, with translational applications in personalized medicine. In addition, she applies big data analytics to understand the cell cycle, identify druggable targets, and improve early diagnostics using non-invasive methods. Dr. Frenkel-Morgenstern is also investigating novel areas such as the relationship between melanin, Vitamin D, and mRNA technologies, relevant to both clinical and cosmetic science. Her research is both hypothesis-driven and data-intensive, aiming to convert large-scale biological data into practical medical insights and biotechnology solutions with significant societal impact.

✅ Conclusion

Dr. Milana Frenkel-Morgenstern is a leading scientist in bioinformatics and synthetic biology whose interdisciplinary research in liquid biopsies, systems biology, and AI-driven genomics continues to impact cancer diagnostics and translational medicine globally.

Publications

  • Applications for Circulating Cell-Free DNA in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Non-Invasive Approach for Detecting Structural Variants, Fusions, and Oncoviruses

    Cancers
    2025-06 | Journal article | Author
    DOI: 10.3390/cancers17121901
    CONTRIBUTORS: Mahua Bhattacharya; Dan Yaniv; Dylan P. D’Souza; Eyal Yosefof; sharon tzelnick; Rajesh Detroja; Tal Wax; Adva Levy-Barda; Gideon Baum; Aviram Mizrachi et al.

  • ChiTaRS 8.0: the comprehensive database of chimeric transcripts and RNA-seq data with applications in liquid biopsy

    Nucleic Acids Research
    2025-01-06 | Journal article
    DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae1126
    CONTRIBUTORS: Dylan DSouza; Lihi Bik; Olawumi Giwa; Shahaf Cohen; Hilit Levy Barazany; Tali Siegal; Milana Frenkel-Morgenstern

  • The applications of circulating cell-free DNA for oral squamous cell carcinoma patients as non-invasive diagnostics of structural variants, fusions and oncoviruses

    2023-11-30 | Preprint
    DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.29.23299177
    CONTRIBUTORS: Mahua Bhattacharya; Dan Yaniv; Eyal Yosefof; Sharon Tzelnick; Rajesh Detroja; Dylan P. D’Souza; Gidi Baum; Aviram Mizrachi; Gideon Bachar; Milana Frenkel Morgenster