Ashok Kumar

Professor Ashok Kumar is a distinguished faculty member in the Department of Biological Sciences & Bioengineering at Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. His research program bridges engineering principles with biological applications, focusing on innovative biomaterial solutions for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine challenges.

Dr. Kumar earned his PhD from IIT Roorkee in 1993, following his M.Sc. and B.Sc. from University of Kashmir in 1984 and 1981 respectively. His academic journey has established him as a leading researcher in cryogel-based biomaterials with significant contributions to the field.

His research interests center on cryogel biomaterials and smart polymers for applications in cartilage, bone, skin, and neural tissue engineering, along with drug delivery systems. His lab develops cryogel bioreactor systems for therapeutic protein production, extracorporeal bioartificial liver support, and affinity-based monolithic cryogel systems for cell separation. Recent work incorporates smart polymeric materials to establish intelligent drug delivery systems and animal models for rheumatoid arthritis, while also exploring cryogel matrices for water and air purification applications.

Analysis of his publication record shows consistent high-impact contributions in tissue engineering, with a particular focus on cryogel technology applications. His work spans fundamental biomaterial development to translational applications, appearing in prestigious journals like Nature Protocols and PLoS ONE, with one article featured on the cover page of Nature Protocols.

• TATA Innovation Fellowship award by DBT (2013)
• Madhav Rao Scindia Memorial award in Science and Technology (2013)
• Samsung-GRO International research award for health systems research (2012)
• International Brainpool Fellow, Korea (2012)
• Executive Board Member for Federation of Asian Biotechnology (FAOB) (2008)

Professor Kumar's research program demonstrates strong external funding support through various national and international collaborations. His work on cryogel bioreactors and affinity-based separation systems has significant translational potential for therapeutic applications and bioprocessing. The laboratory environment fosters interdisciplinary research training for students across engineering and life science disciplines.

His research group operates specialized facilities for cryogel synthesis, characterization, and biological testing, with focus areas including tissue scaffold development, bioreactor design, and smart delivery systems. Current projects address critical challenges in regenerative medicine and environmental biotechnology through innovative material solutions.