Biju Balakrishnan

Biju Balakrishnan is a Lecturer in Dairy Medicine at the School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga. He holds qualifications including a BVSc, MVSc, PhD, and AVE (AVBC), with extensive cross-disciplinary experience spanning veterinary clinical practice, biomedical research, and industry roles across India, New Zealand, and Australia.

His academic qualifications include:

• AVE (Australasian Veterinary Boards Council) awarded December 2023
• PhD in Molecular Medicine from The University of Auckland (awarded June 2012), researching endocrine disruptors in the human placenta
• MVSc in Veterinary Immunology from ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (awarded September 2003), focusing on Foot and Mouth Disease vaccines
• BVSc & AH in Veterinary Medicine from Kerala Agricultural University (awarded August 2001)

Dr. Balakrishnan's research spans Veterinary Science, Immunology, and Nutrition, with emphasis on functional foods, gut microbiome modulation, and cancer immunology. His pioneering work on Astragalus and shiitake demonstrates their antiproliferative and immunomodulatory properties as novel functional foods. Additional research explores bovine mastitis therapeutics, sustainable protein recovery from marine byproducts, and epigenetic regulation in pregnancy.

Analysis of his publication record reveals a cohesive trajectory in translational nutrition science. The 2021-2022 studies on Astragalus/shiitake establish their dual anticancer/immunomodulatory mechanisms, while the 2020 gut microbiome review synthesizes nutrient-microbe interactions. The rock lobster protein recovery study (2020) exemplifies innovative food processing techniques. Collectively, his work bridges molecular biology, veterinary medicine, and sustainable food systems.

Dr. Balakrishnan has received significant recognition including:

• NRCGD Doctoral Scholarship during PhD studies at the University of Auckland
• Bayer Animal Health New Zealand Postdoctoral Fellowship for bovine mastitis research

He has mentored numerous postgraduate students at the University of Otago and Flinders University while serving as thesis examiner at the University of Auckland. His research program has been supported by competitive grants including the Lottery Health Research Grant and industry partnerships with Bayer Animal Health and Trajan Scientific & Medical.

Dr. Balakrishnan has collaborated with major research initiatives including the Bayer Centre for Dairy Animal Health (University of Otago), High Value Nutrition project (University of Auckland), and Flinders University's cancer immunology program. His current role at CSU integrates clinical veterinary practice with academic research in dairy medicine, focusing on translating laboratory findings to farm-level applications.