Kushol Gupta

Kushol Gupta is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics (BMB) Graduate Group and serves as Director of the Johnson Foundation Structural Biology and Biophysics Core Facility. He is also affiliated with the Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), the Institute for Structural Biology, and the Institute for RNA Biology at Penn.

Education:

• B.A. in Biochemistry and Music, University of Pennsylvania, 1997
• Ph.D. in Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 2003

Dr. Gupta's research focuses on structural biology and biophysics, particularly in three main areas: inborn errors of metabolism (especially phenylketonuria), retroviral integrases and their inhibition by allosteric inhibitors (ALLINIs) for HIV therapy, and the biophysical characterization of therapeutic nanoparticles such as mRNA lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). His work integrates X-ray crystallography, small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering, light scattering, and analytical ultracentrifugation to study macromolecular structure and dynamics. He also contributes to collaborative projects in RNA splicing, chromatin, and site-specific recombination.

The recent publications highlight a consistent focus on structural mechanisms underlying metabolic and viral diseases, with a strong emphasis on protein quaternary structure, allostery, and drug-induced aggregation. His work bridges fundamental biochemistry with therapeutic development, particularly in rare diseases and antiviral strategies.

Scientific Awards:

• University Research Foundation Award (2021)
• NPKUA Research Award (2024)
• CTCB Pilot Award (2025)

Dr. Gupta mentors undergraduate researchers through programs such as CURF and Road2Research, and leads a core facility that supports structural biology and biophysics research across Penn. He has secured internal grants like the University Research Foundation Award to study phenylalanine hydroxylase activation pathways. His leadership in analytical ultracentrifugation and solution biophysics is evident through webinars, workshops, and facility development.

He is actively involved in multiple research cores and institutes, including the Johnson Foundation Biophysics and Structural Biology Core, the Penn Center for AIDS Research, and the Penn Institute for RNA Innovation. His lab collaborates widely across disciplines, leveraging advanced biophysical techniques to address complex biological problems in virology, metabolism, and nanomedicine.