Autoimmunity and Autoimmune Diseases
15th November 2025
Auditorium, Campus 11, KIIT Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar
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About the Sun Pharma Science Foundation (SPSF)
The Sun Pharma Science Foundation (SPSF) is dedicated to advancing science and healthcare in India by recognizing excellence in medical and pharmaceutical research, encouraging young scientists, and fostering scientific exchange. Through symposia, awards, and collaborative initiatives, SPSF has been at the forefront of promoting knowledge that drives innovation and aimproves patient care.
About The Symposium
Autoimmune diseases represent a significant global health challenge, affecting millions of people and leading to chronic conditions with profound personal, social, and economic consequences. This symposium will bring together leading researchers, clinicians, and young scientists to highlight the latest advancements in the field and foster collaborative innovation. This pivotal event is organized in proud collaboration with KIIT Deemed to be University. Under the esteemed patronage of Prof. (Dr.) Achyuta Samanta, Founder of KIIT, KISS & KIMS, the symposium is guided by the expertise of Organizing Chairmen Prof. G.C. Kundu (Director R&D, KIIT) and Prof. B. Ravindran (CEO, Imgenex).
Significance & Focus Areas
- Chronic Conditions: Impact and potential for improved treatments.
- Immune System Insights: Relevance to broader medical applications.
- Genetics & Environment: Interplay in autoimmune diseases.
- Targeted Therapies: Latest advancements.
- Public Health Impact: Economic and societal implications.
- Scientific Breakthroughs: Cross-disciplinary advancements.
Patron & Organizing Committee
Patron: Prof. (Dr.) Achyuta Samanta
Organizing Chairman: Prof. G.C. Kundu & Prof. B. Ravindran
Advisory Committee:
- Prof. Saranjit Singh
- Prof. V.S. Chauhan
- Dr. Satyananda Misra
- Prof. J.R. Mohanty
Program Schedule
Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025
Venue: Auditorium, Campus 11, KIIT, Bhubaneswar
| Time | Program |
|---|---|
| 08:30 AM – 09:30 AM | Registration |
| Inaugural Session | |
| 09:30 AM – 09:35 AM | Welcoming of Guests and Lighting of the traditional lamp |
| 09:35 AM – 09:45 AM | Welcome Address by Prof. Gopal C. Kundu, Director R&D, KIIT |
| 09:45 AM – 09:50 AM | Address by Prof. B Ravindran, CEO, IMGENEX |
| 09:50 AM – 09:55 AM | About the SPSF by Mr. Satyananda Misra, Member Secretary SPSF |
| 09:55 AM – 10:00 AM | Address by Prof. Saranjit Singh, Vice Chancellor, KIIT |
| 10:00 AM – 10:10 AM | Felicitation of Guests |
| 10:10 AM – 10:20 AM | Address by Prof. (Dr.) Achyuta Samanta, Hon’ble Founder, KIIT, KISS & KIMS |
| 10:20 AM – 10:25 AM | Word of Thanks by Prof. J.R.Mohanty, Registrar, KIIT |
| Session-I | |
| Session Chairs: Prof. Mrutyunjay Suar, CEO, KIIT-TBI & Dr. Debasis Dash, Director, BRIC–ILS. | |
| 10:25 AM – 10:55 AM | Lecture 1: Fueling the flame in Colitis - Succinate-SUCNR1 axis by Dr. Amit Awasthi, THSTI, Faridabad |
| 10:55 AM – 11:15 AM | Tea Break & Photo Session |
| 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM | Lecture 2: Immune dysregulation and challenges in treatment of Systemic Lupus Eryhtematosis by Dr. Liza Rajasekar, NIMS Hyderabad |
| 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM | Lecture 3: Understanding endophenotypes of systemic lupus: pathways, natural histories and therapeutic response heterogeneities by Dr. Dipyaman Ganguly, Ashoka University |
| 12:15 PM – 12:45 PM | Lecture 4: Biological basis of targeted therapy for small vessel Vasculitis by Dr. Ruchika Goel, CMC, Vellore |
| 12:45 PM – 2:00 PM | Lunch Break |
| Session II | |
| Session Chairs: Prof. Suresh C. Satapathy, Director (Doctoral Research & Publications) KIIT & Prof. Srinivas Patnaik, Dean, KSBT | |
| 02:00 PM – 02:30 PM | Lecture 5: Gut-wrenching conversation between cellular pathways: A tale of the NF-kB system by Dr. Soumen Basak, NII, New Delhi |
| 02:30 PM – 03:00 PM | Lecture 6: Car T cell therapy and beyond for treatment of autoimmune disease by Dr. Ramnath Misra, KIMS, Bhubaneswar |
| 03:00 PM – 03:30 PM | Lecture 7: Recent Trends in Theraupeutics for Rheumtoid Arthritis by Dr. Pradeepta S. Patro, SUM & IMS Hospital, Bhubaneswar |
| 03:00 PM – 03:30 PM | Tea & Snacks |
| Session III | |
| Session Chairs: Prof. R. C. Das, Principal KIMS & Prof. A. K. Kar, Principal, KIDS | |
| 03:30 PM – 04:00 PM | Lecture 8: Fevers to Infarction: How Autoinflammation set Immunology Ablaze by Dr. Sakir Ahmed, KIMS, Bhubaneswar |
| 04:30 PM – 05:00 PM | Lecture 9: Neuroimmune communication in gut inflammation and autoimmunity by Dr. Girdhari Lal, NCCS, Pune |
| 05:00 PM – 06:00 PM |
Concluding Remarks By Prof. N. K. Mehra, Advisor (Research), KIIT, Prof. B. Ravindran, CEO, IMGENEX, Mr. Satyananda Misra, Member Secretary SPSF & Prof. Gopal C. Kundu, Director R&D, KIIT |
| 06:00 PM onwards | Departure |
Invited Speakers
Meet our esteemed panel of experts and researchers.
Dr. Soumen Basak
NII, New Delhi
Dr. Soumen Basak is a leading immunologist and head of the Systems Immunology Laboratory at the National Institute of Immunology (NII) in New Delhi, where he investigates the crosstalk between signal-activated intracellular pathways like canonical and non-canonical NF-κB signaling using biochemistry, genetics, and computational modeling. His work focuses on the role of these mechanisms in inflammation-related diseases such as cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases, and antiviral immunity against viruses like Chandipura and Chikungunya. A recipient of the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in Biological Sciences (2019) and fellowships from the Indian National Science Academy (2022), Indian Academy of Sciences (2021), and National Academy of Sciences India (2021), he has significantly advanced therapeutic strategies for immune disorders.
Prof. Dipyaman Ganguly
Ashoka University
Prof. Dipyaman Ganguly is a physician-scientist and Head of the Department of Biology at Ashoka University's Trivedi School of Biosciences, specializing in human immunology with a focus on plasmacytoid dendritic cells in autoreactive inflammation and mechanical cues in immune functions. Holding MBBS from Medical College Kolkata, PhDs in Biotechnology from Indian Institute of Chemical Biology and Immunology from UT MD Anderson Cancer Centre, and postdoctoral experience at Columbia University, he returned to India in 2013 to lead research at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology before joining Ashoka in 2024. His contributions include multi-omics studies on COVID-19 immune responses and awards like the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in Medical Sciences (2022), NASI-Scopus Young Scientist Award (2017), and fellowships from the Indian Academy of Sciences and Royal Society of Biology (2024).
Dr. Amit Awasthi
THSTI, Faridabad
Dr. Amit Awasthi is a Senior Professor at the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) in Faridabad, with expertise in T cell differentiation and cytokine signaling in autoimmunity, inflammation, and infections. Trained as an Instructor at Harvard Medical School and with postdoctoral work at Brigham and Women's Hospital, his research explores Th9, Th17, and regulatory T cells in diseases like multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, and COVID-19, alongside immunotherapy and vaccine development using nanoparticles. Notable achievements include the GN Ramachandran National Bioscience Award (2021), DBT-Wellcome India Alliance Intermediate Fellowship (2012), and an Indian patent for chitosan oligosaccharide nanoparticles (2020); he currently serves as President of the Indian Immunology Society.
Prof. Ramnath Misra
KIMS, Bhubaneswar
Prof. Ramnath Misra is Professor Emeritus and former Head of the Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology at Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) in Bhubaneswar, renowned for his expertise in diagnosing and managing autoimmune and musculoskeletal disorders like systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatic diseases. With an MBBS and MD from SCB Medical College, Cuttack, and FRCP from the UK, he has pioneered clinical immunology training and research in India, contributing to flow cytometry, autoantibodies, and inflammation studies. His accolades include the APLAR Masters Award (2021) and American College of Rheumatology Masters Award (2024), reflecting his vast impact on rheumatology education and patient care.
Prof. Pradeepta S. Patro
SUM and IMS Hospital
Dr. Pradeepta Sekhar Patro is one of the very few doctors from ODISHA to complete DM in clinical immunology and Rheumatology from prestigious Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Medical Science (SGPGIMS, Lucknow). He also successfully finished 2 years online course on “Muskuloskeletal Ultrasound Course” and “Rheumatic Disease” conducted by EULAR (Eular League Against rheumatism, Switzerland). He also got sponsored form DBT(Department of Biotechnology, India) to present his research topic at American College of Rheumatology (ACR) at San Francisco in the year 2015. He had completed his MD in Internal Medicine from VSS medical college, Burla (2009-2012) and MBBS from the most elite SCB Medical College Cuttack in 2007. Since 2016,for the love of his own state Odisha, presently he is working as Associate professor in department of Immunology and Rheumatology of IMS & SUM hospital, BBSR.
Dr. Liza Rajasekhar
NIMS, Hyderabad
Dr. Liza Rajasekhar brings over 25 years of rich experience as both a teacher and clinician in the field of rheumatology. She has been an integral part of the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad throughout her career, following her training in Internal Medicine at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, and in Laboratory Immunology at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. A distinguished professor and the Head of the Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology at NIMS, Dr. Rajasekhar has earned several prestigious awards that highlight her contributions to the discipline. She is also deeply respected as a mentor and guide, shaping the expertise and professional growth of countless students and colleagues.
Dr. Girdhari Lal
NCCS Pune
Dr. Girdhari Lal is a Senior Scientist at the National Center for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune. He earned his Ph.D. in Immunology from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and later served as an Assistant Professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York before returning to India in 2010. His laboratory explores the cellular and molecular choreography of immune tolerance, with a focus on chemokine receptor signaling and neuroimmune communication in inflammation and autoimmunity. Dr. Lal has been recognized with several prestigious national and international honors, including the Ramalingaswami Fellowship, the Innovative Young Biotechnologist Award from the Department of Biotechnology, and the Swarna Jayanti Fellowship from the Department of Science and Technology. He is also a founding member of the Executive Council of the Society of Inflammation Research and the Immuno-Oncology Society of India.
Dr. Sakir Ahmed
KIMS, Bhubaneswar
Dr. Sakir, a specialist in DM (Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology), is an accomplished and widely respected Professor of Rheumatology. He serves as Chief Editor of Immunologic Research, a leading Springer journal, and leads the Digital Health Special Interest Group of the Indian Rheumatology Association while also acting as Co-Convenor for APLAR. With more than 100 research publications, he is frequently invited to speak at global forums, including Washington DC, Singapore, and Japan.
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Venue Details
Auditorium, Campus 11, KIIT Deemed to be University
Bhubaneswar, Odisha