Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sandip Kaledhonka | Biomedical and Healthcare Applications | Research Excellence Award

Associate professor | Indian Institute of Technology Bombay | India 

Dr. Sandip Kaledhonka is an accomplished structural biologist whose research focuses on time-resolved cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), ribosome dynamics, and molecular mechanisms underlying protein synthesis. With 38 published research documents 775 citations, an h-index of 10, and an i10-index of 10, he has established a strong global research presence through high-impact publications and sustained collaborations with leading scientists across structural biology biophysics and molecular microbiology.Dr. Kaledhonkar’s research has significantly advanced the understanding of dynamic events in translation initiation, elongation, termination, and ribosome recycling. His landmark work Late steps in bacterial translation initiation visualized using time-resolved cryo-EM published in Nature revealed critical structural intermediates that define the kinetics of ribosomal assembly. He has also contributed foundational methods including the widely used microfluidic spraying-plunging technique for ultrafast sample preparation enabling real-time visualization of rapid biochemical reactions.A notable aspect of his research is the integration of mixing-spraying microfluidics with high-resolution cryo-EM an approach that has provided unprecedented insights into transient conformations of biological macromolecules. His studies on ribosome subunit association release-factor activation and ribosome recycling published in journals such as Structure and Biophysical Journalhave shaped current understanding of translation control and fidelity. His contributions extend to photobiology with influential work on photoactive yellow protein (PYP) focusing on chromophore isomerization protonation hydrogen bonding networks and signaling kinetics.Beyond ribosome biology Dr. Kaledhonkar has collaborated on impactful multidisciplinary research including bacteriophage characterization microbial biofilm reduction structural components of jumbo phages and mechanisms of innate antimicrobial defense involving AAA-ATPases. His recent works further explore methodological innovations in cryo-EM pose estimation extracellular vesicle isolation and enzyme conformational regulation highlighting his broad scientific influence.He has co-authored publications with leading researchers such as Joachim Frank Ziao Fu Bo Chen Måns Ehrenberg and Robert A. Grassucci underscoring a strong record of international collaboration. With expertise spanning structural dynamics microfluidics and time-resolved structural biology Dr. Kaledhonkar’s research continues to contribute to the global advancement of molecular and biomedical sciences offering foundational knowledge that drives future therapeutic and biotechnological innovations.

Profiles:  Googlescholar | Scopus

Featured Publications

1. Horst, M. A., Stalcup, T. P., Kaledhonkar, S., Kumauchi, M., Hara, M., & Xie, A. (2009). Locked chromophore analogs reveal that photoactive yellow protein regulates biofilm formation in the deep sea bacterium Idiomarina loihiensis. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 131(47), 17443–17451. Cited By : 61

2. Kaledhonkar, S., Fu, Z., White, H., & Frank, J. (2018). Time-resolved cryo-electron microscopy using a microfluidic chip. In Protein Complex Assembly: Methods and Protocols (pp. 59–71). Humana Press. Cited By : 52

3. Kumauchi, M., Kaledhonkar, S., Philip, A. F., Wycoff, J., Hara, M., Li, Y., & Xie, A. (2010). A conserved helical capping hydrogen bond in PAS domains controls signaling kinetics in the superfamily prototype photoactive yellow protein. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 132(44), 15820–15830. Cited By : 12

4. Das, S., & Kaledhonkar, S. (2024). Physiochemical characterization of a potential Klebsiella phage MKP-1 and analysis of its application in reducing biofilm formation. Frontiers in Microbiology, 15, 1397447. Cited By : 3

5. Ghosh, S., Roy, S., Baid, N., Das, U. K., Rakshit, S., Sanghavi, P., Hajra, D., Das, S., … & (include remaining authors if available). (2025). Host AAA-ATPase VCP/p97 lyses ubiquitinated intracellular bacteria as an innate antimicrobial defence. Nature Microbiology, 1–16. Cited By : 2

Dr. Kaledhonkar’s pioneering time-resolved cryo-EM work reveals molecular events in real time, advancing fundamental understanding of translation mechanisms. His innovations in microfluidic methodology continue to transform structural biology and accelerate discoveries in molecular medicine.