Dr. Sourav Banerjee

Dr. Sourav Banerjee

Assistant Professor
Qualification : Ph.D. in Molecular Parasitology
Email : souravb@srmist.edu.in ; souravbanerjee@cantab.net

Dr. Sourav Banerjee joined as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Medical Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, SRM Medical College Hospital & Research Centre at SRMIST following his postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge where he investigated cell surface composition and survival strategies of African trypanosomes and trichomonads. His doctoral research at IISER Kolkata uncovered mechanisms by which Leishmania parasites acquire host iron and cause anaemia. He has received multiple national and international fellowships such as Newton-Bhabha Fellowship, DST-INSPIRE Fellowship. Recently he contributed as Researcher Co-Lead to a major UKRI–BBSRC-funded collaborative project and has also secured a DHR, Govt. of India Grant as Principal Investigator at SRMIST. His current research integrates cutting-edge molecular cell biology and spatial proteomics to understand how human-infective parasites, such as Trichomonas vaginalis (leading cause of parasitic infection mediated male and female infertility) and Leishmania donovani (causing visceral leishmaniasis), evolved mechanisms to avoid host immunity, drug resistance and acquire nutrients with the long-term goal of identifying novel vaccine candidates and developing diagnostics.

  • Ph.D. in Molecular Parasitology- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata.
  • M.Sc. in Microbiology and Microbial Technology- University of Kalyani, India; First Class First.
  • B.Sc. (Hons.) in Microbiology- West Bengal State University, India.
  • Mid 2026- Onwards: Assistant Professor, Division of Medical Research, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, SRMIST Kattankulathur, India.
  • 2022- April 2026: Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, UK. 
  • 2021- 2021: Newton Bhabha Fellow at the Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, UK.
  • 2014- 2015: Research Assistant at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, India.
  • 2013- 2013: Summer Research Fellow at the Genome Research Centre, MS University of Baroda, India.
  • 2012- 2012: Research Intern at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.
  • Molecular Parasitology
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Innate Immunity
  • Diagnostics

Currently my laboratory is focused on understanding: (A) How does Trichomonas vaginalis avoid host immune detection within the host mucosal environment? (B) How do different kinetoplastid parasites such as Leishmania, Trypanosoma survive within their mammalian hosts?

We use cutting-edge molecular cell biology tools and techniques including spatial proteomics approach to identify novel parasite factors as potential vaccine candidates.

Research & Publications

Nicola Minshall, Sourav Banerjee, Olivia Macleod, Helena Webb, Alex Cook, Matthew Higgins, Mark Carrington. A Trypanosoma brucei gambiense gene variant confers human serum resistance. bioRxiv 2026.06.16.732631; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.06.16.732631 

Sourav Banerjee, Nicola Minshall, Alexander D Cook, Olivia Macleod, Helena Webb, Matthew K Higgins, Mark Carrington. Cell surface localisation of GPI-anchored receptors in Trypanosoma brucei. eLife. 2026;14:RP107191. PMID: 42153621. doi: https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.107191.3 

Suman Samanta, Sourav Banerjee, Rupak Datta. A secreted Leishmania metalloprotease manipulates host iron regulation by targeting the DICER1-miRNA pathway. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2025 Oct 22;301(12):110851. PMID: 41135672. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2025.110851 

Sourav Banerjee*, Nicola Minshall, Helena Webb, Mark Carrington*. How are Trypanosoma brucei receptors protected from host antibody-mediated attack? BioEssays. 2024: e2400053. PMID: 38713161. (*Corresponding author). doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/bies.202400053 

Sourav Banerjee, Mandip Pratham Gadpayle, Suman Samanta Priyanka Dutta, Swagata Das, Rupak Datta, Sankar Maiti. Role of Macrophage PIST Protein in Regulating Leishmania major Infection. ACS Infectious Diseases, 2024. PMID: 38556987. doi: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c00156 

Sourav Banerjee, Rupak Datta. Localized Leishmania major infection disrupts systemic iron homeostasis that can be controlled by oral iron supplementation. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2023 Aug;299(8):105064. PMID: 37468101. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105064 . Featured in ASBMB Today: https://www.asbmb.org/asbmb-today/science/041624/iron-key-to-treating-global-parasitic-disease 

Sourav Banerjee, Rupam Paul, Samarpita Sen, Pratiksha Dubey, Saptarshi Maji, Anand K. Bachhawat, Rupak Datta, Arnab Gupta. A novel leishmanial copper P-type ATPase plays a vital role in parasite infection and intracellular survival. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2022 Feb;298(2):101539. PMID: 34958799. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101539

Sourav Banerjee, Rupak Datta. Leishmania infection triggers hepcidin-mediated proteasomal degradation of Nramp1 to increase phagolysosomal iron availability. Cellular Microbiology, 2020 Dec;22(12): e13253. PMID: 32827218. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/cmi.13253

Funded Projects

  • 1) Project: Investigating the role of macrophage intrinsic innate immune factors in determining Leishmania donovani infection. 
    Role: Principal Investigator.
    Funding Agency: Department of Health Research, Govt. Of India.
    Year: 2026-2029
    Sanctioned Amount: Approx. 30 lakhs
  • 2) Project: Understanding the mechanisms of evolution of parasitism in kinetoplastid parasites.
    Role: Researcher Co-Lead, in a collaborative project between the University of Cambridge and the University of Liverpool.
    Funding Agency: UK Research and Innovation- BBSRC, UK.
    Year: 2026
    Sanctioned Amount: Approx £2 million.
  • 3) Project: Understanding the kinetics of uptake and trafficking of host macromolecules in Trypanosoma brucei.
    Role: Lead Researcher.
    Funding Agency: Newton Fund, UK and Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India.
    Year: 2021; Completed.
    Sanctioned Amount: Approx. 15 lakhs
  • 2026- Onwards: Life Member of University of Cambridge, UK Alumni Society. 
  • 2025: DBT- IndiaBioscience Young Investigator Meeting, (YIM) 2025 Postdoctoral Fellow. 
  • 2021:  Newton-Bhabha Fellowship (The Newton Fund, UK and the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India). 
  • 2016- 2021: DST, Government of India INSPIRE Fellowship for full-time Doctoral research. 
  • 2020: Best Poster Award at the Frontiers in Modern Biology (FIMB) conference, IISER Kolkata, India. 
  • 2018: Best Poster Award at the Frontiers in Modern Biology (FIMB) conference, IISER Kolkata, India.  
  • 2013: Summer Research Fellowship from the Indian National Science Academies (IASc-INSA-NASI). 
  • 2012: Recipient of Academic Proficiency Award, 2012.

Ph.D. Scholars

  • Name: Fareedhul Fahmitha
    Email: ff6692@srmist.edu.in
    Education: M.Sc. in Microbiology
  • Name: Esha Raychaudhuri
    Email: er0914@srmist.edu.in
    Education: M.Sc. in Microbiology
  • Availability: Available

Research Area: Understanding the survival strategies of Trichomonas vaginalis.

Number of Positions: 1; Full-time.

Eligibility / Preferred Background: Candidates with M.Sc. in Microbiology/ Biotechnology/ Biochemistry/ Bioinformatics/ Life Sciences or related subjects qualified for any independent Doctoral (Ph.D.) fellowships such CSIR-UGC/ DBT/ ICMR can contact Dr. Banerjee directly by email.