Pratap Vydyam, PhD

I am profoundly interested in infectious diseases that severely impact the global economy, specifically in uncovering new antimalarial treatments and identifying untapped pathways crucial to protozoan parasites such as Plasmodium and Babesia, which can be targeted for therapeutic intervention. By identifying the molecular target(s) of active compounds, we can not only delve into the underlying biology of these parasites but also expedite the development of innovative medicines. Over the past ten years, my malaria research has revolved around investigating the role of P. falciparum recombinase in antigenic variation, providing a proof of concept for its potential as a drug target towards disease elimination. I have also studied how antimalarials and FDA-approved compounds function and how human babesiosis-causing parasites counteract their effects in vitro and animal models.