Aakriti Gangwal, MSc, PhD

Viruses like dengue and COVID-19 hijack our cells’ machinery to spread, making it difficult to treat them with traditional drugs that target only one virus at a time. My research explores a smarter approach: blocking key human proteins — called kinases — that many viruses need to survive. We’ve discovered that targeting certain kinases can protect mice from deadly viruses without harming healthy cells. I’m now testing a new drug that precisely blocks one such kinase family called Numb-associated kinases (NAKs) and shows strong promise against dengue virus. I’m also working to map the signaling pathways that NAKs regulate to better understand how they help viruses so we can develop safer, more effective antiviral drugs. This work could lead to improved broad-spectrum antiviral drugs and better prepare us for future outbreaks. With this fellowship, I aim to turn these discoveries into effective treatments and grow as an independent scientist focused on fighting infectious diseases.