Dr. K Sony Reddy

Associate Professor 

Dr. K. Sony Reddy is an Associate Professor at KIIT School of Biotechnology with over ten years of post-Ph.D. research and teaching experience in molecular parasitology and biotechnology. His research focuses on malaria biology, protein trafficking, host–parasite interactions, and next-generation antimalarial development, integrating cell biology, proteomics, metabolomics, and immunobiology. A recipient of the INSA Medal for Young Scientist and DST-INSPIRE Faculty Award, he has led multiple nationally funded projects and published extensively. Dr. Reddy mentors doctoral and master’s students and currently focuses on identifying novel antimalarial strategies and drug targets to advance translational research. He also serves as a reviewer for funding bodies and international journals.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION

PhD in Biotechnology from ICGEB, New Delhi

COURSE EXPERTISE

Immunology, Biochemistry, Omics,

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Malaria parasitology

Administrative Responsibilities

IMTH-5 Batch Coordinator, Faculty Incharge- Academic Instruments, Faculty Incarge- School Fluorescence Microscopy Facility, Member- SLRC committee, Member-R&D committee, Member- School Purchase committee, Member- Exam Committee

Awards and Achievements

  • Recipient of DST-INSA Young Scientist Medal (2022).
  • Invited panel member to FINE 2023 at Rashtrapati Bhavan, graced by Hon’ble President of India.
  • Awarded INSPIRE Faculty, DST (2015).
  • Honored with Best Oral (2015) and Best Poster Awards (2014, 2015) at International conferences.
  • Secured DST-Inernatinal Travel Support to present at Gordon Research Conf., Italy (2013).
  • Qualified CSIR/DBT-JRF (2009).
  • Qualified National Biotech exam (AIR-22, 2007), with DBT fellowship during Master’s.

Outreach Activity

  • Invited speaker at conferences like the International Conference on Green Alternatives & Biological Sustainability (2025, Odisha), Global Summit for Malaria
  • Eradication (2019, JNU), Molecular Basis of Disease (2019, CURaj), and INSPIRE CAMP (NIST 2016, 2017, 2018).
  • Panelist at Rashtrapati Bhavan Roundtable on Innovation & Sustainability (2023).
  • Co-organized the Chemical Biology conference (2023, KIIT).
  • Reviewer for BIRAC grants, DST-SERB, Yenepoya-TBI and multiple scientific journals.

Professional Membership

  • Life Member for Indian Society of Parasitology
  • Life Member for Bioinformatics and Drug Discovery Society

Projects & Consultancies

  • Identification and functional characterization of novel P. falciparum exported proteins (DST-INSPIRE; 2016–2021; INR 97 lakhs). Role: PI.
  • Role of PEXEL-positive P. falciparum Hsp40 proteins in parasite protein trafficking and host cell remodeling (DST-SERB Early Career; 2016–2019; INR 42 lakhs). Role: PI.
  • Validate the efficacy of traditional herbal healing produce as anti-malarial (DST-NIF; 2019–2020; INR 10.8 lakhs). Role: PI.
  • Role of Estrogen Related Receptor (ERR-α) on self-renewal of breast cancer stem cells and chemoresistance (ICMR-EMR; INR 53 lakhs). Role: Co-PI.
  • Decrypting the functional role of human erythrocyte HSP70 chaperones (HSPA1, HSPA8) in intraerythrocytic development of P. falciparum (DST-SERB Core Grant; 2022–2025; INR 38 lakhs). Role: PI.
  • Senior Research Fellowship to Ms. Welka Sahu (ICMR-SRF; 2022–2025). Role: PI.
  • A Novel multi-targeting approach to develop immune anti-malarial (ICMR-Intermediate; 2024–2028; INR 2.3 Cr; INR 50 lakhs to KIIT). Role: PI.

Patents and Innovations

Method for treating Plasmodium falciparum malaria. (K Sony Reddy, 2025, Published Patent)