I am Ajai Dsilva. I joined Dr. Smita’s Kulkarni lab as Postdoctoral Scientist 1 on January 2023. I have completed my Master’s degree and Ph.D. in Animal Biotechnology from ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India. I have previously worked with three important viruses-Avian Influenza virus, Newcastle disease virus, and Porcine Circo virus type 2 in BSL 2 to BSL 3+ Lab facilities. Dr. Kulkarni's research aims to unveil host factors and molecular mechanisms that affect disease outcomes.

My current research focus:

1. Functional studies of various Long non-coding RNA -mediated regulation and its contribution to type I interferon responses and disease pathogenesis in viral infections such as SARS-CoV 2.
2. The study of functional mechanisms and underlying associations of lncRNA LENG8-AS1 and FCAR gene with two SNP variants linked with Pemphigus, a life-threatening autoimmune skin disease that causes blisters.