Interview with Dr. Kunj Bihari Gupta—Winner of the Current Issues in Molecular Biology Travel Award
We are extremely honored to announce that Dr. Kunj Bihari Gupta has been awarded the Travel Award by Current Issues in Molecular Biology (CIMB, ISSN: 1467-3045)!
This Travel Award will cover the expenses for Dr. Kunj Bihari Gupta to attend the AACR Annual Meeting 2026 held in USA, where he will present his latest research findings and engage in in-depth exchanges and cooperation with foreign experts.
Name: Dr. Kunj Bihari Gupta
Affiliation: Augusta University, USA
Research interests: cell death pathways; oncogenic signaling networks; tumor microenvironment interactions
Dr. Kunj Bihari Gupta is a cancer biologist with a strong research focus on urogenital malignancies. He earned his PhD from the Central University of Punjab (CUPB), India, where he was honored with the prestigious “Chancellor’s Award for Best PhD Student” in recognition of his academic excellence. Since 2022, he has been working as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Georgia, USA, where he is actively engaged in translational cancer research. His current research is centered on managing multidrug-resistant bladder cancer using bioactive natural products and their chemically optimized derivatives.
Dr. Gupta’s work involves elucidating the molecular mechanisms of action, with particular emphasis on cell death pathways, oncogenic signaling networks, and tumor microenvironment interactions. During his postdoctoral tenure, he has demonstrated exceptional research productivity and scientific rigor, which was formally recognized by the Postdoctoral Office of Augusta University with the honor of the “Outstanding Accomplishments in Postdoctoral Research” in 2025. His long-term goal is to develop effective and innovative therapeutic strategies to overcome drug resistance and improve clinical outcomes in bladder cancer.
The following is a short interview with Dr. Kunj Bihari Gupta:
1. Congratulations on your award! Could you briefly introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a little bit about yourself and your fields of interest?
Thank you so much. My name is Kunj Bihari Gupta, I am a cancer biologist with a primary focus on translational cancer research. I completed my PhD in 2021 from the Central University of Punjab (CUPB), India and since 2022, I joined Augusta University, Georgia, USA, as a Postdoctoral Fellow, where my research interests broadly encompass urogenital malignancies, with a particular emphasis on drug‑resistant bladder cancer. My work focuses on identifying and characterizing bioactive natural products and their chemically optimized derivatives as novel anticancer agents. Specifically, I am interested in elucidating their molecular mechanisms of action, including modulation of cell death pathways, signaling networks, and tumor microenvironment interactions, with the long‑term goal of developing effective therapeutic strategies to overcome multidrug resistance in cancer.
2. How did you hear about this award and how supportive might this kind of award be for researchers?
I am one of the active reviewers of CIMB, so I am familiar with the journal and its initiatives. In addition, I received an email related to this award and after discussing it with my advisor I decided to apply.
These kinds of awards are really important as they provide essential support for early-stage researchers to attend and present research findings to the scientific meeting/conference. Beyond financial assistance, such awards enhance professional visibility, facilitate networking with leading scientists and peers, and offer meaningful recognition of research contributions, all of which are highly motivating and instrumental in career development.
3. Could you briefly describe the conferences you plan to attend through the funding of this award, and discuss the significance of participating in such conferences for your research?
Through the support of this award, I plan to attend the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2026 in San Diego, which is one of the premier international conferences in the field of cancer research. The AACR Annual Meeting will allow me to share my research findings with the global community of leading scientists and clinicians, receive critical feedback, and build collaborations that can advance preventive strategies and therapeutic interventions. This opportunity directly supports my long-term goal of developing effective therapeutic strategies in managing drug-resistant bladder cancer.
4. Do you have any other suggestions on how our journal could further support young researchers and the academic community?
In my opinion, this journal is doing great to support young researchers through its various initiatives. That said, there is always room for further improvement. One potential approach could be to increase the visibility of journal initiatives, such as awards, Special Issues, mentored program, etc., through social media platforms like LinkedIn and X (Twitter), which can help reach a broader and more diverse research community. These platforms can play a significant role in improving engagement and awareness. Additionally, if feasible, expanding the number of awardees each year could further encourage and support early-career researchers by recognizing a wider range of high-quality contributions.
5. Do you have any advice for aspiring young researchers looking to make a meaningful impact in their respective fields?
My advice to aspiring young researchers is to think creatively and pursue novel ideas that go beyond what is already established in the literature, as originality is essential for making meaningful scientific contributions. At the same time, it is crucial to uphold the highest ethical standards and keep social welfare and environmental sustainability at the center of all research activities.
I would also encourage young scientists to strive for excellence and rigor in their work, maintain regular discussions with their advisors, and communicate their findings in a timely manner, as scientific progress depends on the rapid and transparent sharing of knowledge. In today’s fast-moving research landscape, where ideas travel quickly, being both innovative and timely is critical for creating a lasting impact in one’s field.
6. What research directions do you think will receive more attention from the academic community in the coming years?
In the coming years, I believe the research community will place increasing emphasis on interdisciplinary and translational research aimed at addressing major global challenges such as human health, sustainability, and climate change. Within cancer biology, research areas including precision medicine, therapeutic resistance, and cancer immunotherapy are likely to receive significant attention, driven by advances in genomics, single-cell and spatial technologies, and artificial intelligence-based data analysis. In addition, RNA-based therapeutics, gene editing technologies such as CRISPR, and systems biology approaches will continue to expand, enabling the development of more targeted, personalized, and effective cancer therapies.
7. Have you encountered any difficulties during your research process? How did you overcome them?
Like most researchers, I have encountered numerous challenges throughout my research journey, as scientific discovery is never a smooth or linear process. These moments of difficulty are not setbacks but opportunities for growth and deeper understanding. When I face such challenges, I remind myself to stay calm, reflect carefully, and approach the problem with patience. I take time to analyze the issue, revisit assumptions and experimental design, and engage in open discussions with my mentors and research advisory group. Diving deeply into the literature and understanding the problem at its core often reveals new perspectives and solutions. Persevering through these challenges is incredibly rewarding—when a solution finally emerges, it brings a profound sense of accomplishment and clarity. Such experiences not only strengthen scientific rigor but also renew enthusiasm, curiosity, and confidence, reinforcing the joy of research and the motivation to keep pushing the boundaries of knowledge.