Dr. Sai Prasad Pydi obtained his Ph.D. (2009-2014) from the University of Manitoba – Canada, where he was introduced to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) by Prof. Prashen Chelikani. His doctoral research focused on the structural and functional characterization of bitter taste receptors, a subclass of GPCRs. In 2014, Dr. Pydi joined Dr. Jurgen Wess’s lab at the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) - NIH, USA as a postdoctoral fellow and trained on understanding the physiological role of GPCR signaling and beta-arrestins in diabetes and obesity. In February 2021, Dr. Pydi joined BSBE department at IIT-Kanpur.

The main target of our laboratory is to develop GPCR-based drugs for the treatment of obesity and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) by exploring metabolically important signaling pathways in immune cells and insulin-sensitive tissues (liver, pancreas, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and brain).

GPCRs are the largest group of membrane proteins and mediate many of the physiological responses to hormones, neurotransmitters, and external stimuli. Over 800 GPCRs are expressed in humans, and around 40% of commercially available drugs in the market target GPCRs. Our laboratory is interested in understanding the effect of immune cell GPCR signaling on glucose and energy homeostasis under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. We use knock-out and transgenic mouse models, along with different cell culture systems, to understand the role of immune cells and their cross-talk with other insulin-sensitive tissues regulating glucose and lipid metabolism. Finally, we will use this information to develop pharmacological interventions to treat metabolic disorders.