|Metabolic networks | Sensing & signaling | Biochemical evolution | Synthetic and systems biology | Information transfer | Form & function | Cell factories | Cellular resource allocation | Economy of a cell
"Do. Or do not. There is no try." - Yoda
"Around here we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we're curious......and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." - Walt Disney
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Welcome to our lab at the Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), Bangalore.
Mission statement: The underlying goal of our research is to look for the rules and chemical logic in metabolism, and understand organizational principles of metabolic networks within and between cells. How does metabolism functions as an ultimate form of biological information flow, to drive the chemical processes required for life? For this, we study how some metabolites are formed, and are sensed within and between cells. We also study systems level principles of metabolic network organization, build frameworks to understand metabolic exchange between cells, and how the evolution of metabolic pathways might have determined these resource allocation strategies. Finally, we are excited by synthetic-systems bioengineering that combines metabolic engineering with toggling signaling systems, to create new molecules and strains for regenerative biology, food and environmental biotechnology.
Beyond our scientific discoveries, we are passionate about training the next generation of scientists. Past members have gone on to successful careers in research, teaching, industry, policy and entrepreneurship (see people). The lab has exciting opportunities for cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research at the interface of biology and engineering, and we are always interested in hearing from prospective students and postdocs who want to join our team.
Values: We are committed to fully open science: we preprint our studies, all published papers are either open access or shared, and all strains, reagents and methods are available upon request (see here for more on how to request). We emphasize quality, reproducible research to advance science, and benefit society. Our lab is inclusive, welcoming, and collaborative, with researchers from diverse backgrounds and career destinations.
Our research:
Our research broadly spans the following areas (see our research page for more):
(1) Logic and organizational principles of metabolic regulation and networks.
(2) "Special" metabolites that drive multiple cell states, fates, form and function, and act as information transfer currencies within and between cells (metabolic sensing and signaling).
(3) The evolution of metabolic pathways.
(4) How metabolism enables specialization, division of labor, cooperation and conflict in cell groups.
These address fundamental questions, and our research has implications for diseases (cancer, metabolic diseases), inter-microbial/ inter-cell interactions, and metabolic engineering in microbial systems.
You can learn more about our work on our research page, read our publications, join us, and explore our resources.
Collaborations with industry:
We are happy to consult or collaborate with industry with our expertise in systems and synthetic biology, metabolic microbial (yeast) engineering, food microbiology, mass spectrometry based metabolomics, and cellular research. Collaborations/partnerships include strategic consulting as well as research collaborations. Our approach is consultative and customizable. Please read more about all we have to offer here.
Funding and support:
We are grateful for grants and institutional support from inStem, the Dept. of Biotechnology (GoI), the Dept. of Science and Technology (SERB)(GoI).
Upcoming support (2022): DBT-Wellcome Trust India Alliance senior fellowship, DBT-DFG collaborative grant.
Past support- DBT-Wellcome Trust India Alliance intermediate fellowship, Dept. of Biotechnology CoE grant.
We also receive support from the EMBO global/young investigator network.
Other:
I wrote a science column (archive) (note: this does not reflect the views of my employer) on the scientific method, history of science, and the process of discovery.
In addition, here are some of my other articles in the mainstream media:
1) On Scaling Indian science
2) On Effectively starting up a new lab (in the Wellcome Trust -DBT IA newsletter)
3) "Who moved my science", a science policy discussion on the Pragati podcast
Popular science lectures on youtube:
Science communication (on amazing fungi, what we've learned from them, a bit of history about biochemistry and more): Breaking bread, and other breakthroughs (on youtube)
Science cafe: Life in the extreme (on extreme metabolism and cell survival in conditions that should not support life).
Videos of lectures (undergrad level) on youtube
Metabolic basis of emergent multicellularity (SRM biology series)
Biological oscillators: The yeast metabolic cycle Part I (with Sandeep Krishna)
Biological oscillators: The yeast metabolic cycle Part II (with Sandeep Krishna)
"Around here we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we're curious......and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." - Walt Disney
***********************************************************************************************
Welcome to our lab at the Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), Bangalore.
Mission statement: The underlying goal of our research is to look for the rules and chemical logic in metabolism, and understand organizational principles of metabolic networks within and between cells. How does metabolism functions as an ultimate form of biological information flow, to drive the chemical processes required for life? For this, we study how some metabolites are formed, and are sensed within and between cells. We also study systems level principles of metabolic network organization, build frameworks to understand metabolic exchange between cells, and how the evolution of metabolic pathways might have determined these resource allocation strategies. Finally, we are excited by synthetic-systems bioengineering that combines metabolic engineering with toggling signaling systems, to create new molecules and strains for regenerative biology, food and environmental biotechnology.
Beyond our scientific discoveries, we are passionate about training the next generation of scientists. Past members have gone on to successful careers in research, teaching, industry, policy and entrepreneurship (see people). The lab has exciting opportunities for cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research at the interface of biology and engineering, and we are always interested in hearing from prospective students and postdocs who want to join our team.
Values: We are committed to fully open science: we preprint our studies, all published papers are either open access or shared, and all strains, reagents and methods are available upon request (see here for more on how to request). We emphasize quality, reproducible research to advance science, and benefit society. Our lab is inclusive, welcoming, and collaborative, with researchers from diverse backgrounds and career destinations.
Our research:
Our research broadly spans the following areas (see our research page for more):
(1) Logic and organizational principles of metabolic regulation and networks.
(2) "Special" metabolites that drive multiple cell states, fates, form and function, and act as information transfer currencies within and between cells (metabolic sensing and signaling).
(3) The evolution of metabolic pathways.
(4) How metabolism enables specialization, division of labor, cooperation and conflict in cell groups.
These address fundamental questions, and our research has implications for diseases (cancer, metabolic diseases), inter-microbial/ inter-cell interactions, and metabolic engineering in microbial systems.
You can learn more about our work on our research page, read our publications, join us, and explore our resources.
Collaborations with industry:
We are happy to consult or collaborate with industry with our expertise in systems and synthetic biology, metabolic microbial (yeast) engineering, food microbiology, mass spectrometry based metabolomics, and cellular research. Collaborations/partnerships include strategic consulting as well as research collaborations. Our approach is consultative and customizable. Please read more about all we have to offer here.
Funding and support:
We are grateful for grants and institutional support from inStem, the Dept. of Biotechnology (GoI), the Dept. of Science and Technology (SERB)(GoI).
Upcoming support (2022): DBT-Wellcome Trust India Alliance senior fellowship, DBT-DFG collaborative grant.
Past support- DBT-Wellcome Trust India Alliance intermediate fellowship, Dept. of Biotechnology CoE grant.
We also receive support from the EMBO global/young investigator network.
Other:
I wrote a science column (archive) (note: this does not reflect the views of my employer) on the scientific method, history of science, and the process of discovery.
In addition, here are some of my other articles in the mainstream media:
1) On Scaling Indian science
2) On Effectively starting up a new lab (in the Wellcome Trust -DBT IA newsletter)
3) "Who moved my science", a science policy discussion on the Pragati podcast
Popular science lectures on youtube:
Science communication (on amazing fungi, what we've learned from them, a bit of history about biochemistry and more): Breaking bread, and other breakthroughs (on youtube)
Science cafe: Life in the extreme (on extreme metabolism and cell survival in conditions that should not support life).
Videos of lectures (undergrad level) on youtube
Metabolic basis of emergent multicellularity (SRM biology series)
Biological oscillators: The yeast metabolic cycle Part I (with Sandeep Krishna)
Biological oscillators: The yeast metabolic cycle Part II (with Sandeep Krishna)
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Contact us
email: sunil@instem.res.in office phone: +91-80-23666580 Snail mail/physical address: Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (inStem) National Center for Biological Sciences campus, GKVK, Bellary Road, Bangalore 560065 India Institute (official/other) website: https://www.instem.res.in/sunil-laxman 
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Lab news
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