Dr. Debdeep Dutta earned his M.Sc. and Ph.D. from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Subsequently, in 2019, he joined Dr. Hugo J. Bellen's laboratory as a postdoctoral fellow at the Duncan Neurological Research Institute and the Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, USA. After finishing his postdoctoral tenure in 2024, he joined the faculty of BSBE.

Dr. Dutta’s lab is focused on genetic diseases that lead to developmental and/or neurological impairments including neurodegeneration. These diseases, caused by mutations in specific genes, affect more than 300 million people worldwide and pose a significant burden on healthcare systems. In India alone, over 50 million individuals suffer from rare or undiagnosed genetic conditions. A major challenge in tackling these disorders is the limited understanding of their underlying mechanisms. Dr. Dutta's lab will use next-generation sequencing data, 'humanized' fruit flies, and cellular models to address this gap in understanding disease biology. In this context, the lab's research will concentrate on key areas such as mitochondrial biology, metabolism, and cellular signaling pathways. Using techniques like CRISPR-based gene editing, molecular biology, advanced microscopy, electrophysiological, biochemical and genetic assays, the team will assess the pathogenicity of gene variants, investigate gene functions, and uncover disease-driving molecular mechanisms. Deeper insights into the biology of genetic diseases will accelerate the development of targeted therapies and the improvement of management strategies for these conditions. It will also help in understanding the mechanisms of more common diseases.