Aashish, an alumnus of AIIMS Delhi, completed his MD in Microbiology from the institute in the year 2007. He is currently in-charge of the virology laboratory of the department.

His areas of interest include congenital viral infections (HCMV), viral hepatitis (HBV, HCV, HEV, HAV, etc.), infections in SOT/HSCT recipients (HCMV, EBV, etc.), viral STI’s (HPV, Human adenoviruses, HSV 1&2, etc.), viral haemorrhagic fevers (Dengue fever), cell culture, and molecular virology.

Academic Qualifications

• AAHIVM Expert- American Association of HIV Medicine, USA, 2021
• CIC- Certification Board of Infection Control & Epidemiology, USA, 2020
• FCCM- Canadian College of Microbiologists, Vancouver; Canada, 2019
• D (ABMM) - American College of Microbiology, Washington; USA, 2018

Dr Urvashi B Singh’s research interests include adult and pediatric tuberculosis, Drug resistant TB, TB treatment and novel regimens, TB epidemiology, TB diagnostics, novel biomarkers, HIV-associated TB, Non-tubercular mycobacteria and Mycobacterium avium-paratuberculosis. The research work includes multiple domains in Mycobacterium tuberculosis including understanding the epidemiology and pathogenesis of tuberculosis, molecular insights into spread of multidrug resistant tuberculosis, designing of novel rapid detection method for multidrug resistant tuberculosis, rifampicin resistance, molecular typing and whole genome sequencing. Her research has expanded knowledge of drug resistance mutations and molecular epidemiology of TB in India. Her pioneering work for detecting viable TB bacteria in treatment failure patients and subsequent work on therapeutic drug monitoring in this group of patients have direct policy relevance. She has ongoing research for newer drug regimens for Rifampicin sensitive and resistant TB. Her collaborative work on therapeutic use of the Indian vaccine against TB (MIP) paved the way for a Prevention of Disease vaccine trial. Her research on Biomarkers has yielded new molecules, which hold promise. Her work in the field of MDR contact tracing has yielded novel data and some novel hypothesis for relapse and reinfection TB and disease transmission. Her research has led to several patents, which are in different stages of translation to companies. One novel cost effective diagnostic tests for rapid detection of MDR and XDR TB has been validated by ICMR and will be taken up by a manufacturer shortly.

Tuberculosis laboratory is NABL accredited, fully equipped to offer complete diagnostic services for diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB), Non-tubercular Mycobacteria (NTM), and drug resistance to various anti-tubercular drugs by molecular as well as conventional methods. The laboratory offers microscopy, culture (both liquid and solid), PCR, Truenat, and Gene-Xpert for diagnosis of TB and NTM. In addition, the conventional drug sensitivity testing in liquid and solid culture media, Gene-Xpert, Truenat, Line Probe Assay are available for detecting resistance to both first line and second line drugs. The laboratory is equipped with state of art molecular typing techniques for TB. All the techniques are quality assured. The laboratory carries out research under several funded schemes (Extramural funding support for Whole Genome Sequencing, Early Bactericidal Activity, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Point of Care tests (Aptamer based), Novel biomarkers, Rapid molecular drug resistance detection, Molecular Epidemiology of MDR-TB).

She is a Member, National TB Expert Group, National TB Elimination Program, GoI; Member, Subject Expert Committees, CDSCO (DCGI), GoI; Member, Diagnostic Committee, India TB Research Consortium, ICMR; Member, Operational Research Committee, National TB Elimination Program, GoI; Member, Project Review Committees of DBT, ICMR, TDB, GoI; Member, ICMR Task Force on Genital Tuberculosis; Member Editorial Board, Associate Editor, Frontiers in Medicine, Frontiers in Public Health and Frontiers in Microbiology; Scientific Collaborations with Several International and National Institutes; Reviewer for International and National Journals; More than 150 peer-reviewed Publications; Over 50 funded Research studies; Five patents Publications:~150; Citations: 4386; H index: 32; I10 index: 67

Dr. Seema Sood has made significant contributions to the advancement of diagnostic technologies for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), with innovations such as DNA Biosensors, Aptamers, and various other cutting-edge methods. She has fourpatents to her credit. Presently, her focus is on creating a Point-of-Care Test (POCT) for Bacterial Vaginosis, a polymicrobial infection. Additionally, she is actively involved in exploring alternative treatment approaches for gonorrhoea and conducting STI testing among high-risk populations, specifically men who have sex with men (MSMs).

In the past, Dr. Sood established a National Network for the surveillance of AMR for Neisseria gonorrhoeae with centres across India with financial assistance from ICMR. Her laboratory has been participating in the EQAS programme of WHO GASP since 2005 with excellent results. Furthermore, Dr. Sood's laboratory has played an active role in contributing to molecular epidemiology studies of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, aiming to establish its correlation with prevailing antimicrobial resistance profiles.

She has also been involved in formulation of Guidelines for Screening and Testing for STIs in Asia-Pacific Region. Furthermore, she has contributed to the publication of four NACO documents and served as a resource person for WHO workshops.

She is the author of textbook of Microbiology for Nurses (3rd ed.), published by Elsevier. Currently she is Elected committee member of IUSTI World Executive Committee (July 2021 onwards), Faculty National Board of Examination (NBE), formerly Assistant Editor, Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology, formerly member of editorial board of GASP newsletter (SEAR).

In addition to the STD laboratory, Dr. Sood has been working in the general Bacteriology Division where her research interest includes enteric fever, ICU infections particularly, VAP.

Patent: Four