Outstanding Faculty Researcher Award

Award Winners for year 2006
Associate Professor Alirio J Melendez
Dept of Physiology

Assoc Prof Alirio J Melendez was awarded the University Award – Outstanding Young Researcher Award 2007.

Assoc Prof Melendez’s Major Research Interests are as follows:

1. Immunology
2. Intracellular Signalling
3. Gene Profiling
4. Functional Genomics

Assoc Prof Melendez’s Major Research Achievements are as follows:

1. Identification of SPHK1, a novel sphingosine kinase which serves as a potential target for drug development against allergic and inflammatory diseases.
2. His research on SPHK1 has also paved the way for therapeutic strategies against immune-related diseases such as bronchial asthma.
3. Has filed five patents, one of which was granted for methods and compositions for screening modulators of lipid kinases.