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राष्ट्रीय पशु जैव प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान
National Institute of Animal Biotechnology
An Autonomous Institute of the Department of Biotechnology,
Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India
राष्ट्रीय पशु जैव प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान
National Institute of Animal Biotechnology
An Autonomous Institute of the Department of Biotechnology,
Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India
Education and training:
Dr. Souvik Sen Sharma is a reproductive biologist with expertise in reproductive biology, endocrinology, and molecular cell biology. He obtained his B.Sc. (Honours) and M.Sc. degrees in Zoology from the University of Delhi. He completed his Ph.D. in Cellular Endocrinology at the National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi.
Prior to joining the National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB), Dr. Sen Sharma served as Assistant Professor of Zoology at Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi, where he was actively involved in undergraduate teaching and academic mentoring.
At NIAB, his research focuses on deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying pesticide-induced endocrine and metabolic dysfunction in livestock, with particular emphasis on liver-endocrine cross-talk, metabolic regulation, and reproductive health.
Awards:
University Gold Medal (B.Sc. Honours Zoology, Delhi University, 2011)
Srimati Usha Ganguli Gold Medal (MSc Zoology, Delhi University, 2013)
Zydus Lipaglyn Young Scientist Award at the International Conference on Molecular Signalling (2017)
Area of Specialization: Reproductive biology, Endocrinology, cell signalling, toxicology
Research Overview
Biological systems maintain physiological homeostasis through tightly coordinated interactions between metabolism and endocrine signalling. These regulatory networks undergo profound reprogramming during critical developmental transitions such as gestation, lactation, and puberty.
Developmental stages represent periods of heightened physiological plasticity. While adaptive metabolic reprogramming enables successful reproduction and growth, these same windows may also confer vulnerability to environmental stressors.
Our Laboratory investigates how environmental factors influence developmental metabolic programming, with a particular focus on the liver as a central metabolic-endocrine hub coordinating inter-organ communication. We also study how environmental toxicants including endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as agricultural pesticides perturb hepatic function, endocrine signalling, and inter-organ communication, ultimately influencing reproductive health, metabolic fitness, and livestock productivity.
Our long-term vision is to establish mechanistic links between environmental exposure, developmental physiology, and metabolic health.
Research Program:
Pregnancy requires large-scale reorganization of maternal metabolism to support foetal growth. The maternal liver plays a central role in nutrient allocation, glucose regulation, and hormone metabolism.
We aim to investigate:
This work aims to understand how environmental stressors alter developmental trajectories even before birth.
The timing of puberty is tightly linked to metabolic status and liver-derived endocrine signals.
Our research examines:
By integrating hepatic metabolism with reproductive endocrinology, we seek to understand how environmental factors influence lifelong reproductive health.
Lactation represents a coordinated metabolic state involving dynamic communication between the liver and mammary gland.
Key questions include:
This work connects fundamental physiology with translational relevance for dairy production systems.
Experimental Approach:
The laboratory combines integrative physiology, cell and molecular biology analyses, including:
Our approach bridges molecular mechanisms with organismal physiology.
Why This Work Matters:
Environmental exposures are increasingly recognized as major modifiers of metabolic and reproductive health. However, mechanistic understanding of how toxicants alter developmental physiology remains limited.
Our research addresses critical questions relevant to:
By identifying molecular pathways and biomarkers of toxicant exposure, we aim to enable early detection and mitigation of environmentally induced metabolic dysfunction. Our goal is to translate mechanistic biology into strategies that improve animal health, reproductive efficiency, and sustainable agriculture.
Present LAB Members:
PhD Student:
Prabhakar Vipul Singh
Research Interest: Regulation of gestational hepatic adaptations
Project Associate:
Ruqaiya Tasneem
Research interest: Toxicology, Epigenetics, and Metabolomics
MSc Dissertation trainee
Rugaiya Saaj
Past LAB Members:
Meenakshi Mansukhani, PhD Student
Navya Sree, Project Associate
Devika C, MSc Dissertation Trainee
Dr. Souvik Sen Sharma,
Scientist – C
Reproductive Endocrinology Lab
National Institute of Animal Biotechnology
Survey No. 37, Opp. Journalist Colony
Extended Q City Road, Near Gowlidoddy
Gachibowli, Hyderabad
Telangana – 500032
Email: souvik[at]niab[dot]org[dot]in
Tel: +91-(0)40-2312-0132
An Autonomous Institute of the Department of Biotechnology,
Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India
+91 40 2312 0103
admin[at]niab[dot]org[dot]in
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