Health and Sustenance in Extreme Environment A Military Perspective

Dr. Swati Srivastava completed her Ph.D. in environmental studies from the University of Delhi, New Delhi, India, and her master's in environmental biology with a specialization in biotechnology from the department of environmental studies, University of Delhi, India. She is currently a senior scientist at the Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Delhi, India. Dr. Srivastava's research interests include the identification of biomarkers for susceptibility and genetic resistance to various high-altitude maladies, such as venous thrombosis (VT) and high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), under extreme environmental conditions. She has published several book chapters and papers in peer-reviewed national and international journals. Her research also includes multi-omics-based studies on high-altitude maladies, during which she has identified various potential miRNAs, genomic and exomic variants, and methylation patterns that could serve as early predictive and diagnostic biomarkers for high-altitude disease management. She has also worked on identifying biomarkers for COVID-19 susceptibility and severity. Dr. Srivastava has been a university topper and gold medalist and has received several awards and honors during her research career, including the Best Research Publication Award and the Technology Group Award, among others.

Dr Manish Sharma completed his Ph.D. in molecular biology and immunology from the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, India; post-doctoral studies from Mass General Cancer Center, Boston, USA. Currently, he is serving as a senior scientist heading a research group engaged in understanding the role of gas messengers in high-altitude illnesses at the Defense Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Delhi, India. Dr. Sharma has published several articles in peer-reviewed national and international journals. He has received awards including DRDO scientist of the year, Laboratory scientist of the year, Best publication, National Science Day, and Technology group award.

Dr. Rajeev Varshney completed his postgraduate in biochemistry from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India; and post-doctoral studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.  He served as the director of the Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Delhi, India. Dr. Varshney has contributed to the development of mechanism-based drugs for countering radiation injuries and understanding human responses to high altitude adaptation and maladies using ‘omics’ approaches. He started a program for the inclusion of human factors engineering for indigenously developed military platforms. Dr. Varshney has been awarded the DRDO Spin-off award, DRDO Lab-level Technology Group award, and the Young Scientist award (twice) for presenting his work in Japan and Italy. He has contributed towards the transfer of over 16 technologies developed at DIPAS through LA ToT agreements to approximately 132 industries for bulk production and the induction of products with users. Dr. Varshney used his experience and physiological understanding of high altitudes in establishing the COVID-19 research center at DIPAS. He has published several papers in peer-reviewed national and international journals.