Vasu Appanna

Dr. Vasu Appanna serves as Full Professor in Laurentian University's School of Natural Sciences, where he has held academic positions since 1989. Previously Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering and six-year Department Chair, his institutional leadership spans decades of service to the university.

Educational credentials include BSc Chemistry from University of Bombay, MSc Chemistry from University of Wales, and PhD Biochemistry from University of Waterloo. These foundations underpin his extensive research career focused on metabolic pathways and cellular stress responses.

His research program investigates environmental stress impacts on microbial and mammalian cells, yielding breakthroughs in biomining, bioremediation, and disease mechanisms. With over 150 peer-reviewed publications, his work bridges biotechnology, metabolism, and toxicology to address industrial and medical challenges including obesity and neurological disorders.

Recent publications (2007-2012) reveal consistent thematic focus on metabolic adaptation, with growing emphasis on translational applications for environmental remediation and disease biomarkers like homocysteine.

Dr. Appanna has mentored 135+ HQP including Laurentian's inaugural PhD graduate, while securing international funding from Russia, Vietnam, China, and France. His grant leadership extends to advisory roles for U.S. Department of Energy and Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation.

Current initiatives include commercializing biomining technology and homocysteine detection kits through partnerships with AMRIC and MIRARCO, alongside editorial duties for PLOS ONE and other journals.