In the labyrinth of life, where challenges often loom like insurmountable mountains, Dr. Shilpi Agrawal (LinkedIn) emerged not just as a researcher but as a beacon of resilience and inspiration. Her journey, etched with determination and unwavering perseverance, holds a valuable lesson for those navigating their paths.
Originating in India, her middle-class background collided with societal norms, making education beyond city borders seem improbable. Undeterred, she redirected her aspirations from becoming a medical doctor to biotechnology, a field that became the canvas for her impactful work.
Dr. Agrawal’s Career Honors have included the following:
2023 – Women’s Giving Circle (WGC) Award
2016-2020 – Graduate Teaching Assistantship Award
2018 – 3 Minutes Thesis Presentation Award
2014 – Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – NET with 34th All India Rank
2012 – Joint Graduate Entrance Examination for Biology and Interdisciplinary Life Science
2012 – Poster presentation at the XXXIII National Conference in Plant Tissue Culture
2012 – Fellowship Award (Gold Medal) for outstanding performance in research
Her path led her to the United States, where she immersed herself in protein biochemistry, focusing on fibroblast growth factors crucial for wound healing. Dr. Agrawal’s pivotal decision not to succumb to setbacks resonates throughout her story, emphasizing that failures should not signal the end of one’s journey.
Dr. Agrawal’s original patents include the following:
1. Iyer, S., Rao, R., Agrawal, S. (2023) Biomarkers for mitochondrial and metabolic disorders. Application number 63/441,710.
2. Chen, J., T. Wang, I. Niyonshuti, T, K, S. Kumar, R. K. Gundampati, S. Agrawal, K. Quin, and J. Jones (2019) Biocompatible and biodegradable anionic hydrogel system. US Provisonal patent: US PCT 20190343959.
3. Kumar, T. K. S., S. Agrawal, R. K. Gundampati, S. Jayanthi, T. Wang, J. Jones, O. Kolenc, N. Lam, I. Niyonshuti, K. Balachandran, K. Quin, J. Chen (2018) Engineered FGF1 and FGF2 compositions and methods of use thereof. US Provisonal Patent: US PCT- 5965-00085.
Despite initial setbacks, her unwavering interest in biology fueled her pursuit through bachelor’s and master’s degrees. This resilience bore fruit as she embarked on a Ph.D. journey, aiming to make fibroblast growth factors resilient to higher temperatures—a groundbreaking effort in wound healing, especially in resource-challenged environments.
Continuing her evolution, Dr. Agrawal’s current focus on lipid nanoparticles opens new avenues in disease research, standing as a beacon of hope for those grappling with illnesses. Her pride extends beyond research achievements to the transformative journey that took her from setbacks to a driving force in scientific exploration.
Dr. Agrawal’s publications include the following: (Google Scholar)
1. Sonnaila, S.; Agrawal, S. CRISPR-Cas9 Unleashed: Gene-Slicing Adventures in the Cancer Battlefield. Cancer Insight, 2023, 2, 33.
2. Padmaswari, M. H., Agrawal, S., Jia, M. S., Ivy, A., Maxenberger, D. A., Burcham, L. A., & Nelson, C. E. (2023). Delivery challenges for CRISPR—Cas9 genome editing for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Biophysics Reviews, 4(1), 011307.
3. Govind Kumar, V., Polasa, A., Agrawal, S., Kumar, T. K. S., & Moradi, M. (2022). Binding affinity estimation from restrained umbrella sampling simulations. Nature Computational Science, 1-12.
4. Agrawal, S., Govind Kumar, V., Gundampati, R.K. et al. Characterization of the structural forces governing the reversibility of the thermal unfolding of the human acidic fibroblast growth factor. Sci Rep 11, 15579 (2021).
5. Govind Kumar V, Agrawal S, Kumar TKS, Moradi M. Mechanistic Picture for Monomeric Human Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 Stabilization by Heparin Binding. J Phys Chem B. 2021 Nov 25;125(46):12690-12697. Epub 2021 Nov 11. PMID: 34762427.
6. Phan, P., Saikia, B. B., Sonnaila, S., Agrawal, S., Alraawi, Z., Kumar, T. K. S., & Iyer, S. (2021). The Saga of Endocrine FGFs. Cells, 10(9), 2418.
7. S. Agrawal., S. Maity., Z. AlRaawi., M. Al-ameer., T. K. S. Kumar (2020) Targeting Drugs Against Fibroblast Growth Factor(s) – Induced Cell Signaling. Current drug targets.
8. Al-Ogaili, A.S., Liyanage, R., Lay, J.O., Jang, T., Vuong, C., Agrawal, S., et al. DNA aptamer-based rolling circle amplification product as a novel immunological adjuvant. Sci Rep 10, 22282 (2020).
9. Wang, T., J. Jones, I. Niyonshuti, S. Agrawal, T. K. S. Kumar, K. Quin, and J. Chen. (2019) Biocompatible, Injectable Anionic Hydrogels based on Poly(acrylic acid)-co-poly(oligoethylene glycol monoacrylate) for Protein Controlled Release. Advanced Therapeutics.
10. Kerr R, Agrawal S, Maity S, Koppolu B, Jayanthi S, Kumar GS, Gundampati RK, McNabb DS, Zaharoff DA, Kumar TK. Design of a thrombin-resistant human acidic fibroblast growth factor (hFGF1) variant that exhibits enhanced cell proliferation activity. Biochemical and biophysical research communications. 2019 Oct 15;518(2):191-6.
Dr. Shilpi Agrawal’s narrative transcends academic accomplishments, serving as an ode to relentless pursuit and a reminder that dreams, even when rerouted, can lead to destinations fostering transformative change. Through her story, she encourages others not to falter at obstacles but to view them as stepping stones toward a future illuminated by triumphs and positive impact.
More info:
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=2jQuinwAAAAJ&hl=en
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shilpibiochemistry/
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Website: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=2jQuinwAAAAJ&hl=en