Dr. Richa Yadav – Life Sciences Researcher | Antimalarial & Medicinal Plant Therapeutics Specialist

Dr. Richa Yadav is an accomplished researcher in the field of Life Sciences, Microbiology, and Parasitology, with more than 9 years of research and training experience across leading institutes in India and abroad. She specializes in antimalarial drug discovery, phytochemical screening, medicinal plant therapeutics, and nanoparticle-based drug development, with a strong emphasis on developing novel therapeutic interventions against parasitic infections.

Dr. Yadav completed her Ph.D. in Life Sciences (2019–2023) from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, under the supervision of Prof. Rakesh Sehgal. Her doctoral thesis focused on “In-vitro antiplasmodial activity and in-vivo toxicity of Chlorophytum borivilianum and Uraria picta extract for the effective treatment of malaria.” The project encompassed phytochemical identification, secondary metabolite analysis, antioxidant activity assessment, toxicity studies, and advanced spectroscopic techniques including FTIR, TLC, Column Chromatography, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy in collaboration with Punjab University.

Previously, she obtained her M.Sc. in Biotechnology (2010–2012) and B.Sc. (Hons) in Biotechnology (2007–2010) from Bundelkhand University, Jhansi.

Research Interests

  • Development and standardization of small animal models to evaluate bioactives/plant extracts for toxicity profiling.

  • Prospection of molecules from medicinal plants with antibacterial and antimalarial properties.

  • Evaluating antimalarial activity of medicinal plants through in-vitro and in-vivo approaches.

  • Development of nanoparticle-based drugs and naturally derived therapeutic agents.

Professional Experience

  • Research Associate (Dec 2023 – May 2024), Aarupadai Veedu Medical College & Hospital, Puducherry

    • Wrote project proposals, mentored Ph.D. students in manuscript preparation (one published).

    • Conducted antibacterial and antioxidant studies.

    • Organized the International Pharmacoparasitology Conference 2024 and GCP/GLP/GCLP Workshop.

  • Ph.D. Research Scholar (2019–2023), PGIMER, Chandigarh

    • Carried out in-vitro/in-vivo antimalarial studies of plant extracts.

    • Performed toxicity analyses (cell lines, hemolysis, animal models) and identified active compounds.

  • ICMR Independent SRF (2018–2021), PGIMER, Chandigarh

    • Studied synergistic effects of C. borivilianum and U. picta extracts.

    • Conducted parasite culture, fluorescent staining, and in-vivo studies.

  • Research Associate (2015–2017), PGIMER, Chandigarh

    • Project on Molecular Epidemiology of Malaria in India and Qatar.

    • Expertise in parasite culture, PCR-based diagnosis, and drug resistance analysis.

  • Project Assistant-II (2013–2014), CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow

    • Studied seed germination potential of Artemisia annua under abiotic stress.

  • Entomology/Data Assistant (2012), SGPGIMS, Lucknow (PHFI-funded project)

    • Fieldwork on Japanese Encephalitis vectors; mosquito collection, RNA extraction, PCR, and vector species identification.

  • WHO Polio Project (2010–2012), SGPGIMS, Lucknow

    • Isolation, culture, and RT-PCR analysis of polioviruses from clinical samples.

Awards & Recognitions

  1. First Prize Oral Presentation – IPC 2024 (Malaysia).

  2. APCCMI 2023 Outreach Grant, Seoul, Korea.

  3. Travel Bursary, Immunology Foundation & Chuttani Trust (2023).

  4. Sakura Student Exchange Fellowship, University of Nagasaki, Japan (2023).

Conference Presentations

  • International: ICTMM 2024 (Malaysia), APCCMI 2023 (Korea), IPC 2024 (Malaysia), Qatar Foundation Annual Research Conference (2016).

  • National: NIPER-Mohali (2022), ACM-SCTIMST (2020), ISST National Seed Seminar (2013), among others.

Workshops & Trainings

  • Organizer: International Pharmacoparasitology Conference 2024 and GCP/GLP/GCLP Workshop.

  • Training in Pre-Clinical Development of Medicinal Plant-Derived Compounds (CSIR-CIMAP, 2022).

  • Short-term training on malaria parasite cultivation & antimalarial testing (NIMR, 2019).

  • Multiple summer training programs in microbiology, virology, and biotechnology (2008–2012).

Publications & Research Output

  • 14 Research Articles | 2 Review Papers | 131 Citations | h-index: 8 | i10-index: 5

  • Published in Nanoscale, Spectrochimica Acta Part A, Journal of Molecular Structure, BioMetals, Tropical Medicine & International Health, among others.

  • Notable works include:

    • Phytochemical and toxicity evaluation of Uraria picta (Next Research, 2025).

    • Biogenic silver nanoparticles for cryptosporidiosis (BioMetals, 2025).

    • Antimalarial efficacy of medicinal plants (multiple studies, 2019–2025).

📖 Full list of publications available on ResearchGate

Technical Expertise

  • Molecular Biology: DNA/RNA isolation, PCR, Nested PCR, RT-PCR, gel electrophoresis.

  • Cell & Parasite Culture: Malarial parasite cultivation, bacterial culture (E. coli, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Salmonella), virus isolation (Polio, Dengue, Chikungunya, JE).

  • Analytical Techniques: ELISA, Spectrophotometry, FTIR, TLC, NMR, SEM, fluorescence microscopy.

  • Animal Studies: In-vivo toxicity, small animal models for bioactive evaluation.

Personal Information

Dr. Richa Yadav – Best Researcher Award in Microbiology & Medicinal Plant Research