Zebrafish are very important for scientific research. It has many characteristics make it a valuable model for studying human genetics and disease. The Zebrafish is a tropical fish native to Southeast Asia. It has already been used to help unlock many biological processes and is an essential model for understanding the mechanisms of development and diseases.

In this workshop, participants will learn how a small fish, native to the rivers of India and South Asia, becomes an essential tool for solving the mysteries of life. Join us at a fun and engaging workshop at KNMA to learn more about Zebrafish and their role in scientific research. And that's not all – combine your learning with art to express your ideas and share the fascinating world of Zebrafish with everyone!

Workshop Facilitator

Dr Anil Challa obtained his bachelor's degree in Agricultural Sciences from the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University (Varanasi, India), and a PhD in Molecular Genetics from The Ohio State University (Columbus, OH, USA). His doctoral research involved the identification and characterization of receptor proteins involved in embryonic development, especially axon guidance during neuronal development, using the Zebrafish as a vertebrate model system. He received postdoctoral training in glycobiology at the University of California at San Diego, RNA biology at The Ohio State University and Vascular Biology at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

He co-founded a start-up biotechnology company in Hyderabad, India (Indigenèse Biotechnology), where he set up the laboratory and directed the education and outreach activities. He then did a short stint as a Senior Research Scientist at the Institute of Life Sciences (now Dr. Reddy's Institute of Life Sciences) at the University of Hyderabad Campus, where he established the zebrafish facility to support research in drug discovery and testing.

As a Visiting Scientist at the Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, UT Health Sciences Center (San Antonio, TX, USA) and Dr. Reddy's Institute of Life Sciences (Hyderabad, India), he was involved with generating genetic models of Zebrafish to study human disorders.

As the Assistant Director of the Transgenic and Genetically Engineered Models (TGEMs) Core facility at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, he initiated in vivo gene manipulation using TALEN and CRISPR technologies. He continues as an Adjunct Professor of Biology, engaged with collaborative research projects in redox biology, pulmonary biology, juvenile diabetes, and undergraduate biology teaching.

As a Senior Scientist at the Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence in Delhi NCR he contributes to the research and teaching activities.