Sachin Bhagchandani is a postdoctoral fellow at the Yale School of Medicine where his research focuses on vaccine development. During his Ph. D., he worked on HIV vaccines, specifically examining the importance of dosing kinetics and its impact on antibody and memory responses.
In his current research, Bhagchandani focuses on mucosal vacciness. As observed during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, intramuscular vaccinations do not provide strong protection in the nasal and oral mucosa. His work aims to uncover the mechanisms of mucosal immunity. He hopes this will help to develop more effective mucosal vaccines to complement existing systemic vaccines.
Vaccination remains one of the most successful achievements in immunology for preventing infectious diseases. However, understanding gaps in vaccine effectiveness—particularly why mucosal vaccines have not been as successful—remains a critical challenge. By integrating intramuscular and mucosal vaccines, he believes it may be possible to improve protection against diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Sachin Bhagchandani’s recent research has been exploring the connectivity of mucosal surfaces. The concept of a common mucosal immune system suggests that immunizing one mucosal site can elicit immune responses at another. Although researchers have not yet fully understood this idea, Bhagchandani finds it a fascinating area of study.
Unconventional Background
His academic background is in chemical engineering, and during his Ph. D. at MIT, he focused primarily on synthetic chemistry with limited exposure to immunology. Attending conferences such as the AAI Annual Meeting has provided him with valuable insights into the breadth of immunology research and its applications in improving health outcomes. He has been particularly interested in how immune responses can be enhanced or regulated, especially in the context of autoimmune diseases.
Additionally, Bhagchandani has developed a growing interest in the connections between the immune system and other physiological systems, such as the gut-brain axis. These diverse research areas, which were not initially on his radar, have now become important considerations in his work. Bhagchandani says that this highlights the vast roles the immune system plays beyond traditional immunology.
For individuals coming from non-traditional backgrounds in immunology or biology, Sachin Bhagchandani emphasizes the importance of perseverance. He believes immunology benefits from diverse perspectives and interdisciplinary approaches. Even without a conventional background, he asserts that anyone passionate about the field can acquire the necessary knowledge and make meaningful contributions.
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