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Biography
CURRENT
Dr Veeren Chauhan is an Assistant Professor in Whole Organism Analytics in the Advanced Materials & Healthcare Technologies (AMHT) division at the School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham. He conducts multidisciplinary research at the interface of analytical, biological and medical sciences. This research endeavours to produce analytical and biologically inspired therapeutic solutions for global challenges that will cure, prevent and alleviate the symptoms of disease.
He has a strong track record early in his career, evidenced through high impact peer reviewed scientific publications (>25 articles, citations >700, H-index 15), awards for leadership, entrepreneurship, and research grants (>£640K). Veeren is also a member of the Royal Chemistry Society (MRSC), British Society for Parasitology, Genetics Society of America (GSA) and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).
For a detailed up-to-date history of Veeren's experience, education and accomplishments please see his personal website.
BACKGROUND
Veeren is a General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) registered Pharmacist, having completed his undergraduate education at the University of Manchester (MPharm) and training at University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire. He has held lead pharmacist roles in academic, industrial and commercial settings working as part of multidisciplinary healthcare teams. He undertook his postgraduate education (PhD) at the School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Veeren has graduated with a master's in Bioinformatics Scientist (MRes) from the University of Nottingham. He also completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE), becoming a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).
As a postdoctoral research fellow, Veeren has partnered and attracted funding for an InnovateUK Knowledge Transfer Partnership with TBG Solutions Ltd. Here, he applied his diagnostic & nano-formulation expertise to conceptualise and manufacture gold-aptamer based nano-constructs, capable of transducing chemical signals into an electronic output in the presence of specific viral nucleic acid. He has also worked as part of the EPSRC Future Targeted Healthcare Manufacturing Hub, aiming to develop transformative solutions for healthcare precision in the biotherapeutics sector.
He was awarded a Nottingham Fellowship to advance his analytical methods to improve the understanding of how microscopic whole organisms could provide an important insight into fundamental biological phenomena of structure, communication, behaviour and pharmaceutical performance.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Veeren's research has focused on the innovation and application of novel analytical tools to determine the fundamentals of biological mechanisms that improve the understanding of life.
This has included the development of fluorescent nanosensors, to elucidate fundamental biochemical processes in model systems, such as the nematodes Caenorhabditis elegans & Pristionchus pacificus, human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices.
Veeren has applied his diagnostic and nano-formulation expertise to conceptualise and manufacture gold-aptamer based nano-constructs, capable of transducing chemical signals into an electronic output in the presence of specific viral nucleic acid. Veeren has also applied his interest in early diagnosis of disease to determine the physicochemical fingerprint of Necator americanus, or 'American Murderer,' a parasitic hookworm that infects ~10% of the world's population. It is anticipated, that these methods findings will lead to the development of treatments, such as vaccines, not only for N. americanus but also other globally important infectious diseases.
Veeren takes a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to academic and industrial research, which has enabled him to develop excellent leadership, teamwork and communication skills across a broad range of scientific disciplines. This has enabled him to establish strong long-term collaborative partnerships with national and international institutes that have produced impactful research. He endeavours to continue to develop these skills to lead projects at the forefront of medical and pharmaceutical research.
PUBLICATIONS
For an up-to-date record of Veeren's publications please see Google Scholar.
TEACHING
Veeren teaches Conjugation & Bioconjugation for the Advanced Drug Delivery module which he also convenes, for Pharmaceutical Sciences (MSci) students, at School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham. He describes how the conjugation toolbox, a key component for innovative drug delivery systems, could be used to improve pharmaceuticals to enhance their therapeutic performance. Students are engaged in lectures; problem sets and interactive workshops to augment their learning and understanding.
He also leads Pharmaceutical Calculations for first year Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) students, equipping them with essential quantitative skills vital for accurate drug dispensing, dosage calculations, and patient safety, thus laying a foundational understanding critical for their future roles as pharmacists.