Microbial Biofilms and Cancer - Part A

Dr. Dibyajit Lahiri is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biotechnology at the University of Engineering & Management, Kolkata, India, where he conducts advanced interdisciplinary research in microbiology, biofilms, antimicrobial resistance, and microbial biotechnology. His scholarly work emphasizes understanding the mechanisms of microbial biofilm formation and inhibition, particularly on medically relevant surfaces and environmental substrates, and exploring innovative strategies for combating biofilm-associated antimicrobial resistance.

Dr. Lahiri has authored and co-authored a substantial body of scholarly work, with over 100 publications including high-impact journal articles, book chapters, and reviews. His research portfolio covers topics such as biofilm-mediated degradation of environmental pollutants, novel antibiofilm agents (including nanoscale and natural compounds), and biotechnological applications of microbial systems, with an h-index around 38 reflecting significant citation impact and academic influence.

He has contributed to major scientific discussions on microbial biofilms in diverse contexts, including their roles in chronic infections, environmental microplastic degradation, and biofuel production, demonstrating both fundamental and applied research orientations. His collaborative research outputs also include contributions to antimicrobial peptide studies and microbial electrochemical systems.

Moupriya Nag is presently working as Associate Professor in the Department of Biotechnology, University of Engineering & Management, Kolkata. Her research interests includes single molecule Biophysics of protein unfolding/refolding and protein aggregation kinetics and its mechanism of action especially the amyloid proteins in neurodegenerative disorders. Recently, her research focuses on functional amyloids in bacteria and their relation in forming biofilms. Her work deals with developing novel antimicrobial and anti-biofilm compounds from natural sources including plants, microbes and green synthesized nanoparticles. She has about seven years of teaching experience in Biophysics, Bioinformatics, Bioprocess and Biotechnology, Enzyme Technology, Computing, Molecular Modelling and Drug Design. She has also published many research articles in the peer-reviewed international journals and authored/edited or co-authored/edited numerous books/book chapters. She is also a member of many scientific societies like Indian Biophysical Society and Indian Science Congress Association.

Dr. Debasmita Bhattacharya obtained her Masters and Doctoral degree in Cellular, Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Faculty of Health from York University. She did her Post-Doctoral fellowship in Dr. David Hood’s lab at York University. At present, her research focusses on the functional outcome of mitochondrial transplantation in stem and progenitor cells. She is also investigating the implications of lysosomal malfunction in cellular model and finding strategies to mitigate it in order to improve health. She has proven expertise in stem cell biology, cellular physiology, cancer biology, mitochondrial biology and exercise physiology. One of her studies entitled “p107 mediated mitochondrial function controls muscle stem cell proliferative fates” has been published in Nature Communications and has been appreciated by eminent scholars in the field. Bhattacharya has disseminated her research through peer reviewed journal articles, as well as poster and oral presentations at top tier academic conferences. She worked as Professor at Humber College, Canada in Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences Department. Currently she is the Professor in the Department of Basic Science and Humanities, Institute of Engineering and Management, University of Engineering and Management, Kolkata

Dr. Gargi Bhattacharya is a Microbiologist with over nine years of post-MD professional experience in clinical microbiology, serology, molecular biology, and infection control. She completed her MBBS from North Bengal Medical College and MD in Microbiology from the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine, where she was a Gold Medalist, followed by DNB in Microbiology. She is currently associated with Ruby General Hospital and has previously worked with Ashok Laboratory and Nursing Home and Medinova Diagnostic Services. Her expertise includes NABL-accredited laboratory quality systems and infection control, with specialized training from JIPMER, Puducherry. Her research interests include antimicrobial resistance, bacterial persistence, biofilm-associated infections, and antimicrobial stewardship. She has published research and case reports on multidrug resistance, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus cohnii, anthrax, and urinary tract infections. She is a member of IAMM and the Antimicrobial Stewardship Society, India.