RESEARCH SUMMARY

Mahesh earned his Ph.D. at the Indian Institute of Technology in Guwahati in 2018. His doctoral work focused on developing a therapeutic protein based on Diphtheria toxin for the treatment of cancer. During his time as a postdoctoral fellow at the National Cancer Institute, Mahesh has worked on developing DNA-based vaccines for COVID-19 and exploring the durability of antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 following infection or vaccination. He is now investigating mechanisms by which retroviruses, including HIV-1, antagonize the antiviral protein IFITM3. In addition to his research, Mahesh is passionate about teaching, mentoring, and communicating science.

Areas of Expertise