Swathi Merugu | Immunoinformatics | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Computer Scientists Awards

Dr. Swathi Merugu | Immunoinformatics | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Swathi Merugu | Senior Research Scientist | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre | United States

Academic Background

Dr. Swathi Merugu holds a Ph.D. in Cancer Research from Newcastle University, U.K., focusing on clinical medicine and pediatric oncology. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship in Translational Cancer Research with a specialization in Precision Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Her foundational training includes a Master’s in Pharmacy in Pharmacology and a Bachelor of Pharmacy, both from Kakatiya University, India. Throughout her academic journey, she has authored multiple scientific documents and accumulated significant citations reflecting her impactful research contributions. Her Scopus profile shows 88 citations across 56 documents with an h-index of 4, while Google Scholar lists 382 citations from 259 documents, highlighting an h-index of 10 and an i10-index of 10, underscoring her scholarly influence in the field.

Research Focus

Dr. Merugu’s research is centered on precision oncology and immunotherapy, with particular expertise in pediatric cancers and hematologic malignancies. Her work emphasizes the development of non-invasive biomarker assays and immune-monitoring strategies to enhance patient-centered clinical trials and optimize therapeutic interventions.

Work Experience

Dr. Merugu currently serves as a Senior Research Scientist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, leading projects in immune-monitoring assays and biomarker discovery, fostering collaboration between clinical researchers and laboratory scientists. Her postdoctoral work at the same institution advanced the understanding of epichaperome inhibition in acute myeloid leukemia, translating preclinical findings into clinical applications. She has also held a position as Assistant Professor at Kakatiya University, mentoring graduate students in oncology and pharmacology, and guiding early-stage research projects.

Key Contributions

Dr. Merugu has pioneered the development of flow cytometry-based assays to detect targetable cancer populations, significantly contributing to personalized medicine. She led groundbreaking studies utilizing circulating tumor cells as predictive biomarkers in neuroblastoma, influencing early-phase clinical trial protocols internationally. Her research in acute myeloid leukemia demonstrated the immunomodulatory effects of epichaperome inhibition, opening new avenues for targeted precision therapies.

Awards & Recognition

She has received recognition for her outstanding presentations and research achievements, including a prestigious oral presentation award at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and a scholarship for her doctoral studies at Newcastle University.

Professional Roles & Memberships

Dr. Merugu is an accomplished research leader and mentor, known for her ability to manage cross-functional clinical research teams and coordinate complex trials. She collaborates with clinicians, regulatory bodies, and laboratory scientists to ensure high-quality translational research while fostering scientific mentorship and professional development for junior researchers.

Profile

Scopus | Google Scholar | Research Gate | LinkedIn

Featured Publications

Merugu, S., Chen, L., Gavens, E., Gabra, H., Brougham, M., Makin, G., Ng, A. Detection of circulating and disseminated neuroblastoma cells using the ImageStream flow cytometer for use as predictive and pharmacodynamic biomarkers. Clinical Cancer Research, 26, 122-134.

Merugu, S., Sharma, S., Kaner, J., Digwal, C., Sugita, M., Joshi, S., Taldone, T. Chemical probes and methods for single-cell detection and quantification of epichaperomes in hematologic malignancies. Methods in Enzymology, 639, 289-311.

Rodina, A., Xu, C., Digwal, C., Joshi, S., Seela, A., Bay, S., Merugu, S. Systems-level analyses of protein-protein interaction network dysfunctions via epichaperomics identify cancer-specific mechanisms of stress adaptation. Nature Communications, 14, 3742.

Sugita, M., Wilkes, D.C., Bareja, R., Eng, K.W., Nataraj, S., Jimenez-Flores, R.A., Merugu, S. Targeting the epichaperome as an effective precision medicine approach in a novel PML-SYK fusion acute myeloid leukemia. NPJ Precision Oncology, 5, 44.

Joshi, S., Gomes, E.D.G., Wang, T., Corben, A., Taldone, T., Gandu, S., Merugu, S. Pharmacologically controlling protein-protein interactions through epichaperomes for therapeutic vulnerability in cancer. Communications Biology, 4, 1333.

Impact Statement / Vision

Dr. Merugu envisions advancing precision oncology by integrating biomarker discovery and immune-monitoring innovations into clinical practice. She is committed to translating cutting-edge research into therapies that improve patient outcomes while mentoring the next generation of clinical scientists.

Mr. Muhammad Azhar Memon | Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Computer Scientists Awards

Mr. Muhammad Azhar Memon | Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

PhD Scholar, Nanjing Agricultural University, China, Pakistan

Dr. Muhammad Azhar, also known as Azhar Memon, is a dedicated veterinary professional and researcher specializing in veterinary parasitology 🦠. With an M.Phil. in Veterinary Parasitology from Sindh Agriculture University, he has actively contributed to animal healthcare, disease surveillance, and research in Pakistan. Currently, he serves as a Veterinary Doctor/Surgeon at Pet Village Animal Hospital, Karachi, and as a Veterinary Officer for the Government of Sindh. His expertise spans molecular parasitology, animal disease surveillance, and livestock management, making significant contributions to veterinary science.

Publication Profile

ORCID

🎓 Educational Background

Dr. Azhar holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) 🎓 from Sindh Agriculture University, Tando Jam (2013-2018). Pursuing his passion for research, he completed an M.Phil. in Veterinary Parasitology (2019-2020) from the same institution. His academic excellence earned him the Chancellor’s Gold Medal 🏅 in the Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences.

💼 Professional Experience

With extensive experience in veterinary medicine and research, Dr. Azhar has worked across various institutions. He currently serves as a Veterinary Officer at the Livestock and Fisheries Department, Government of Sindh and as a Veterinary Doctor/Surgeon at Pet Village Animal Hospital, Karachi. Previously, he contributed as a Research Associate at the Sindh Institute of Animal Health and as a Research Scholar at Sindh Agriculture University. His work spans animal healthcare, disease surveillance, livestock management, and vaccine development 🏥.

🏆 Awards and Honors

Dr. Azhar’s contributions to veterinary science have been recognized with prestigious accolades. He received the Chancellor’s Gold Medal 🏅 for academic excellence and was awarded the HEC Indigenous Scholarship 🎓 by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. His active membership in professional societies, including the Pakistan Society of Parasitology and Pakistan Veterinary Medical Practitioner, further highlights his commitment to the field.

🔬 Research Focus

Dr. Azhar’s research is centered on veterinary parasitology, zoonotic diseases, animal disease surveillance, and antimicrobial resistance 🔍. He has contributed to molecular diagnostics, vaccine development, and livestock disease management. His studies on Haemonchus contortus, beta-lactamase resistance in Escherichia coli, and cadmium toxicity in male reproduction have been published in reputed journals, reflecting his expertise in veterinary and biomedical sciences.

🔝 Top Publications

Effect of Chilling, Freezing and Freeze-Thaw Cycles on Quality Characteristics of Goat Meat (Chevon) – Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 2025. [DOI: 10.17582/JOURNAL.PJZ/20240129072937]

Research Progress of Cadmium Toxicity on Male Reproduction Health – ASK Publishers, 2024.

A Comprehensive Review on Haemonchus contortus Excretory and Secretory Proteins (HcESPs): Vaccine Development and Diagnostic Antigen – Acta Tropica, 2024. [DOI: 10.1016/J.ACTATROPICA.2024.107462]

Detection of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase genes among Escherichia coli isolates of buffalo mastitis mil – Ecological Genetics and Genomics, 2024. [DOI: 10.1016/J.EGG.2024.100297]

Babesiosis: Current status and future perspectives in Pakistan and chemotherapy used in livestock and pet animals – Heliyon, 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17172]

🔚 Conclusion

Dr. Muhammad Azhar is a distinguished veterinarian, researcher, and academic committed to advancing veterinary medicine 🐾. His contributions to animal healthcare, disease control, and biomedical research have earned him significant recognition. With a passion for veterinary science and parasitology, he continues to innovate and contribute to the well-being of animals and public health.