Sanjeev Galande
Shiv Nadar University, Delhi
Galande obtained his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the Indian Institute of Science in 1996. As a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USA, from 1996–2001, he studied cancer biology. He joined the National Centre for Cell Science in Pune, India, in 2001 as a senior scientist. In 2010, he joined as a Professor at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER Pune). In 2021, he joined as the Dean of the School of Natural Sciences at Shiv Nadar University (SNU), Delhi NCR. He also leads the Centre of Excellence in Epigenetics (CoEE) and assembled a team of scientists to study the evolution of epigenetic mechanisms using multiple model systems. The CoE in Epigenetics focusses on epigenetic modifications underlying a variety of biologically important phenomena and their role in gene expression, regeneration, cancer, behavior, aging and evolution. He is a recipient of the International Senior Research Fellowship from the Wellcome Trust, UK, from 2005–2010, the National Bioscience Award in 2006, the Swarnajayanti Fellowship in 2007, the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in 2010, the GD Birla Award for Scientific Excellence in 2015, and the JC Bose Fellowship in 2019. He is an elected Fellow of the the Indian National Science Academy, and the National Academy of Sciences (NASI). He was an honorary associate faculty at the University of Sydney, Australia and a visiting faculty at the University of Turku, Finland. He also served as the Dean, Research and Development at IISER-Pune. He was elected Fellow of IASc in 2010.
Session 3C: Special Lecture
Chairperson: G C Kundu, KIIT, Bhubaneswar
Epigenetics: Where Nature Meets Nurture
The longstanding nature versus nurture debate has evolved into a more integrated perspective, recognizing that genes and environment are not distinct, competing forces but work together dynamically throughout life. While our genetic makeup (nature) forms a blueprint for potential traits, the environment (nurture) plays a critical role in modifying how these genes are expressed, often through epigenetic mechanisms. The past decade has witnessed the explosion of information in biomedical sciences due to the availability of genome sequences and the development of high-throughput techniques that assay ‘epigenetic’ modifications. These changes emphasize how the environment continuously influences gene expression, both daily and throughout a lifetime. Thus, both genetic and environmental factors are crucial for understanding human behaviour, health, and development. I will illustrate the technological breakthroughs and trans-disciplinary approaches that have enabled a deeper understanding of disease susceptibility, especially focusing on lifestyle disorders.