Prof. Dr. Sarika Saxena | Biochemistry | Best Researcher Award

Professor at Amity University Uttar Pradesh, India

Prof. Sarika Saxena is a distinguished academician and molecular scientist with a profound commitment to biochemical research and education. With a vibrant academic journey beginning at Delhi University and culminating in a Ph.D. in Biophysical Chemistry, she has extended her expertise through postdoctoral research at the prestigious FIBER institute in Japan. Prof. Saxena’s pioneering investigations focus on the structural dynamics of nucleic acids and their relevance in oncological biochemistry. Her work has led to innovative discoveries, including a patented peptide library for G-quadruplex targeting in cancer therapy. Garnering accolades like the Gilbert Ling Poster Award and multiple research fellowships, she has consistently demonstrated scientific leadership. Her guidance has fostered the growth of five Ph.D. scholars. As a Principal Investigator, she has successfully led projects funded by DST and DBT. Prof. Saxena embodies a rare blend of academic rigor, global research insight, and dedication to therapeutic innovation. 🌐🧬📚

Professional Profile

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Education

Prof. Saxena’s academic voyage reflects a deep-seated zeal for the life sciences. She commenced her scholarly path with a B.Sc. from Delhi University (1992–1995), establishing a strong foundation in general sciences. Fueled by an innate curiosity for biochemical mechanisms, she pursued her M.Sc. in Biochemistry from Jamia-Hamdard (1996–1998), where she began shaping her niche in molecular studies. Her intellectual trajectory soared further with a Ph.D. in Biophysical Chemistry from Delhi University (1998–2002), where she delved into the complex interplay between biomolecules. To broaden her international exposure and deepen her molecular expertise, she completed a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship at the Frontier Institute of Biomolecular Engineering and Research (FIBER), Konan University, Japan (2008–2010). This enriching experience equipped her with advanced biochemical engineering perspectives and collaborative research insights. Her academic journey is a mosaic of excellence, discipline, and global outlook. 🎓🌏📖

Professional Experience 

At the helm of molecular innovation and biotechnology education, Prof. Saxena currently serves at the Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida. With a remarkable blend of teaching, mentoring, and leading research, she bridges academic scholarship with applied biosciences. Her role as a Principal Investigator on projects funded by DST and DBT has been instrumental in exploring nucleic acid dynamics and peptide interactions relevant to cancer biology. Prof. Saxena’s pedagogical reach includes guiding five Ph.D. students through rigorous research frameworks, instilling in them the values of scientific integrity and discovery. Her scientific engagements extend to national and international platforms, collaborating with molecular biophysicists and interdisciplinary scholars. Her experience at Konan University further deepened her exposure to cutting-edge biomolecular engineering. Through visionary academic stewardship and an unrelenting passion for biochemical sciences, Prof. Saxena continues to shape future scientists and contribute meaningfully to molecular medicine. 🧫💡🧑‍🔬

Research Interests 

Prof. Saxena’s research canvas is painted with themes of nucleic acid architecture, molecular crowding, and anticancer biochemistry. She is particularly intrigued by the structural behavior of G-quadruplexes—four-stranded DNA or RNA motifs implicated in gene regulation and oncogenesis. Her exploration into how natural biomolecules influence nucleic acid stability under crowded environments has led to novel insights in DNA structural biology. A central thrust of her research lies in identifying peptide inhibitors that selectively bind to G-quadruplex regions in telomeric and proto-oncogenic sequences, opening new therapeutic windows in targeting cancer stem cells. These groundbreaking efforts have culminated in a provisional patent, highlighting her translational research impact. Prof. Saxena’s approach is deeply interdisciplinary, bridging biophysics, molecular biology, and drug discovery. Her commitment to advancing therapeutic strategies against cancer via structural biochemistry makes her research both impactful and timely. 🧠💊🔍

Awards and Honors 

Prof. Saxena’s contributions have earned her numerous accolades reflecting her dedication and excellence in biochemical sciences. She is a double NET qualifier—recognized by CSIR-UGC and the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ICAR)—underscoring her academic brilliance in plant and molecular biochemistry. Early in her research career, she was awarded the Senior Research Fellowship by the prestigious Lady Tata Memorial Trust. Her international impact was affirmed when she became the only Indian from Asia to win the Gilbert Ling Poster Award, accompanied by a travel grant from noted U.S. scientist Gerald Pollack. She also received an additional travel grant from Steven Sedmeyer (USA), enabling her global participation and collaboration. These honors affirm her pioneering contributions to molecular biophysics and her ability to resonate with global scientific communities. Her awards highlight not just past achievements, but a continuing promise of research excellence. 🌟🌍🏆

📚 Publications Top Note 

1. Monomorphic RNA G-quadruplex and polymorphic DNA G-quadruplex structures responding to cellular environmental factors

• Authors: DH Zhang, T Fujimoto, S Saxena, HQ Yu, D Miyoshi, N Sugimoto

• Year: 2010

• Citations: 189

• Source: Biochemistry, Vol. 49 (21), pp. 4554–4563

• Summary: This study compares the structural behavior of RNA and DNA G-quadruplexes. It reveals that RNA G-quadruplexes exhibit monomorphic (uniform) structures, whereas DNA G-quadruplexes show polymorphism (multiple structural conformations), with both types responsive to physiological conditions such as molecular crowding and ionic strength.

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2. Structural diversity and specific recognition of four stranded G-quadruplex DNA

• Authors: M Kaushik, S Kaushik, A Bansal, S Saxena, S Kukreti

• Year: 2011

• Citations: 123

• Source: Current Molecular Medicine, Vol. 11 (9), pp. 744–769

• Summary: This review discusses the structural diversity of G-quadruplex DNA and highlights how specific sequences, loop lengths, and cations influence their topology. It also examines the biological relevance and therapeutic potential of targeting G-quadruplex structures.

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3. Structural polymorphism at LCR and its role in beta-globin gene regulation

• Authors: S Kukreti, H Kaur, M Kaushik, A Bansal, S Saxena, S Kaushik, R Kukreti

• Year: 2010

• Citations: 105

• Source: Biochimie, Vol. 92 (9), pp. 1199–1206

• Summary: The paper focuses on the locus control region (LCR) of the beta-globin gene cluster. It investigates how G-rich sequences in the LCR adopt multiple conformations and how these structures may regulate gene expression by modulating chromatin accessibility and transcription factor binding.

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4. Possibility of an antiparallel (tetramer) quadruplex exhibited by the double repeat of the human telomere

• Authors: M Kaushik, A Bansal, S Saxena, S Kukreti

• Year: 2007

• Citations: 44

• Source: Biochemistry, Vol. 46 (24), pp. 7119–7131

• Summary: This research explores the folding pattern of double-repeat telomeric DNA. It demonstrates the formation of a stable antiparallel tetrameric G-quadruplex and investigates its structural features under different ionic conditions, contributing to the understanding of telomere biology.

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5. Magnesium and molecular crowding of the cosolutes stabilize the i‐motif structure at physiological pH

• Authors: S Saxena, S Joshi, J Shankaraswamy, S Tyagi, S Kukreti

• Year: 2017

• Citations: 43

• Source: Biopolymers, Vol. 107 (7), e23018

• Summary: The study shows that i-motif DNA structures, typically unstable at physiological pH, can be stabilized by magnesium ions and crowding agents. This has implications for understanding the in vivo relevance of i-motif structures in gene regulation.

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6. Conformational flexibility influences degree of hydration of nucleic acid hybrids

• Authors: S Pramanik, S Nagatoishi, S Saxena, J Bhattacharyya, N Sugimoto

• Year: 2011

• Citations: 34

• Source: The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, Vol. 115 (47), pp. 13862–13872

• Summary: This paper explores how the structural flexibility of nucleic acid hybrids affects their hydration properties, which in turn influences thermodynamic stability and recognition processes, relevant to DNA/RNA hybrid functions in cells.

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7. Structural polymorphism exhibited by a homopurine· homopyrimidine sequence found at the right end of human c-jun protooncogene

• Authors: S Saxena, A Bansal, S Kukreti

• Year: 2008

• Citations: 24

• Source: Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Vol. 471 (2), pp. 95–108

• Summary: This study examines a homopurine·homopyrimidine DNA sequence in the c-jun gene, revealing its ability to adopt diverse non-canonical structures such as triplexes and G-quadruplexes. These may play roles in gene regulation or chromatin architecture.

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8. Thermodynamic stability of Hoogsteen and Watson–Crick base pairs in the presence of histone H3-mimicking peptide

• Authors: S Pramanik, K Nakamura, K Usui, S Nakano, S Saxena, J Matsui, …

• Year: 2011

• Citations: 19

• Source: Chemical Communications, Vol. 47 (10), pp. 2790–2792

• Summary: This communication evaluates how a peptide mimicking histone H3 affects DNA base pairing. It finds differential stabilization of Hoogsteen versus Watson–Crick base pairs, providing insight into histone–DNA interactions and epigenetic regulation.

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9. Sole and stable RNA duplexes of G-rich sequences located in the 5′-untranslated region of protooncogenes

• Authors: S Saxena, D Miyoshi, N Sugimoto

• Year: 2010

• Citations: 12

• Source: Biochemistry, Vol. 49 (33), pp. 7190–7201

• Summary: The paper highlights the formation of stable G-rich RNA duplexes in the 5′-UTR of proto-oncogenes. It suggests that these structures can play regulatory roles in translation and may serve as novel drug targets.

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10. Folate conjugates: a boon in the anti-cancer therapeutics

• Authors: S Tyagi, S Rawat, S Saxena

• Year: 2016

• Citations: 7

• Source: International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, Vol. 7 (11), p. 4278

• Summary: This review discusses the role of folate-receptor targeting for selective delivery of anti-cancer drugs. It evaluates folate-drug conjugates as promising agents in targeted cancer therapies due to their high specificity and low toxicity.

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11. Metal sensitive and DNA concentration dependent structural rearrangement of short oligonucleotide into large suprastructures

• Authors: J Shankaraswamy, S Tyagi, A Singh, D Miyoshi, S Saxena

• Year: 2019

• Citations: 3

• Source: Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, Vol. 37 (9), pp. 2211–2218

• Summary: This study reports the metal ion and concentration-dependent self-assembly of short oligonucleotides into large suprastructures, with implications for nanotechnology and biomolecular engineering.

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12. HEPNet: A knowledge base model of human energy pool network for predicting the energy availability status of an individual

• Authors: A Sengupta, M Grover, A Chakraborty, S Saxena

• Year: 2015

• Citations: 3

• Source: PLOS ONE, Vol. 10 (6), e0127918

• Summary: The HEPNet model integrates various physiological and biochemical parameters to simulate and predict energy availability in humans. It aims to support personalized nutrition and metabolic research.

Conclusion 

Prof. Sarika Saxena stands as a beacon of scientific excellence, academic mentorship, and biomedical innovation. Her journey—from foundational studies in India to international research in Japan—embodies a blend of discipline, vision, and pioneering spirit. Her work on nucleic acid structures and peptide-based cancer therapies is at the cutting edge of molecular medicine. Beyond her technical contributions, her mentoring of doctoral students and engagement in funded projects reflects her commitment to shaping future researchers. With multiple recognitions and a growing intellectual footprint, Prof. Saxena remains a valuable contributor to global biosciences. Her trajectory is not just a chronicle of past achievements but a harbinger of future breakthroughs in therapeutics and molecular biology. Her dynamic blend of research, innovation, and leadership continues to inspire peers and protégés alike. 🌺🧬🚀