Pavan Asalapuram

Pavan Asalapuram

Affiliated to Research
Visiting address: Widerströmska huset Tomtebodavägen 18 A, plan 3, 17165 Solna
Postal address: K9 Global folkhälsa, K9 GPH Stålsby Lundborg, 171 77 Stockholm
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About me

  • I am a global health-focused biotech entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in developing and scaling diagnostic technologies that address some of the world’s most pressing socio-economic health challenges — particularly drug resistance in zoonotic infections, oral health, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

    As an entrepreneur, I have led the development of scientifically rigorous, commercially viable, and globally deployable diagnostic and hygiene solutions such as mfloDx™, RAR-ELISA™, SelektaDx™, SteriPOC™, InstaCoat™, and OralAura™. These platforms enable rapid, accurate, and affordable detection of MDR-TB, AMR, cancer, and veterinary infections across diverse healthcare settings. I have established strategic academic, R&D, and commercial partnerships across Asia, Africa, and Europe.

    I combine scientific innovation with operational execution — translating concepts into regulated, market-ready products integrated within real-world health systems. I am actively open to collaborations and partnerships with academicians and researchers in global health, and remain committed to scaling high-impact solutions in diagnostics, life sciences, health systems, and policy implementation in diagnostics and drug resistance.

Research

  • My core research and innovation interests include the development of novel and impactful diagnostic solutions, with a strong focus on antibiotic resistance in tuberculosis and zoonotic infections, as well as biofilm-mediated resistance in oral hygiene. I specialize in antigen–antibody-based technologies such as lateral flow assays and ELISA, and actively explore the socio-economic dimensions of global public health interventions.

Teaching

  • Supervised around 20 Bachelors and Masters thesis students/projects.

    Conducted laboratory practical classess for Bachelor and Masters degree students. 

Articles

All other publications

  • Patent: 2025
    Portable and adaptive modular sterilization and lubrication system and applications
    Asalapuram P
  • Patent: 2025
    One-Step Intercepting polymerase chain reaction (IntPCR) for simultaneous detection of wildtypes and selective point mutations and applications thereof
    Asalapuram P; Nikhil S
  • Patent: 2025
    Analytical, clinical and interdisciplinary applications utilizing Shigella flexneri apyrase
    Asalapuram P
  • Patent: 2024
    Novel coating and immobilization buffer for antigens and antibodies and uses thereof
    Asalapuram P; Nikhil S; Krishnan S
  • Patent: 2022
    Modified Shigella apyrase and uses thereof
    Asalapuram P; Nikhil S
  • Patent: 2017
    Diagnostic device and related method
    Asalapuram P; Mats NB
  • Patent: 2016
    Analytical and diagnostic methods utilizing Shigella flexneri apyrase
    Asalapuram P; Aman R
  • Patent: 2009
    A method to detect the microbial resistance to antibiotics using fluorescence
    Asalapuram P; Krishnan S; Alagumaruthanayagam A
  • Review: FOOD TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY. 2008;46(2):125-145
    The Need and New Tools for Surveillance of Escherichia coli Pathogens
    Asalapuram P; Krishnan Sankaran
  • Report: 2005;:26
    Characterization of diarrhoeagenic E. coli (EPEC and EHEC) from incidences of infantile diarrhoea
    Asalapuram P

Grants

  • Exploring mlfoDx MDR-TB diagnostic platform in Africa and Latin American markets
    Business Sweden
    1 November 2023
  • Rapid Affordable Reliable-ELISA (RAR-ELISA) platform for the diagnosis of important helminthic infections
    Department of Biotechnology , Ministry of Science and Technology
    1 June 2023 - 31 December 2024
  • Multiplex Diagnostic Platform for Accurate and Rapid Detection of MDR & pre-XDR-TB
    IPE Global
    1 January 2023
  • Adaptable multi-flow diagnostics for multidrug-resistant TB using tongue swabs
    Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
    1 November 2022
  • AdvanceTB: Towards an improvement in diagnostics and treatment strategies for tuberculosis control
    1 September 2022 - 30 September 2026
    Tuberculosis (TB) was the leading cause of mortality from an infectious disease globally before Coronavirus Disease 19. The unprecedented pandemic is a major setback for TB programmes and its impact has been tremendous in terms of disruption of timely diagnostic and intervention services, drop in notification numbers, treatment interruptions, inadequate patient’s treatment follow-up and increase in mortality. In order to mitigate this impact more efforts and resources have to be allocated. Currently, no COST Action exists to address the complexity of TB management, offering an advantage to this proposal. The ADVANCE-TB is a research network that offers opportunities for collaboration between clinicians, academic researchers from interdisciplinary backgrounds, industry and non-governmental organizations to achieve breakthroughs difficult to obtain by individual partners, allowing a better understanding of the underlying host-pathogen mechanisms, enabling the transfer of basic science into innovative applications and allowing product development and clinical validation. The Action focuses on 1).developing best clinical practices and experimental standardization protocols, including harmonized biobanking procedures
    2).stimulating the development and optimization of products for diagnostic and therapy/monitoring
    3).disseminate knowledge and allow capacity-building through different types of workshops, training schools and short-term scientific missions, prioritizing early career investigators. The tasks are distributed in 4 working groups (WG). Briefly, WG1 will be focused on the characterization of patient’s cohorts, WG2 will be devoted to the development and evaluation of novel diagnostic methods, WG3 will be centred on the design of novel therapeutical strategies and WG4 will be responsible for dissemination and communication activities.
  • mfloDx: An Adaptable Multiflow Diagnostic Platform to Genetically Identify Drug Resistant Infection
    European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation
    1 January 2020 - 30 June 2024
  • mfloDx: An Adaptable Multiflow Diagnostic Platform to Genetically Identify Drug Resistant Infection
    European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation
    1 October 2019 - 29 February 2020
  • RCA-ADT diagnostic platform for the rapid detection of enteric pathogens
    EPSRC grant
    1 January 2016 - 31 December 2017
  • A multiplex diagnostic test for multi-drug/extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis
    VINNOVA
    1 November 2013 - 30 September 2016
  • Integrated fluidic-array-microsystem for rapid screening of extended spectrum β-lactamases and multidrug resistant pathogens.
    KTH - Life Science Platform
  • Real-time wireless biosensor networks for the surveillance of microbes and pollutants in drinking water supply lines
    KTK Life Science Technology Platform
  • INNOVA4TB: Innovative development to enable individualised tuberculosis treatment
    European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation

Employments

  • Affiliated to Research, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, 2022-
  • Affiliated to Research, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, 2024-2026
  • CEO, Mitti Lifetek AB, 2019-2024
  • Founder & CEO, EMPE Diagnostics AB, 2016-2024
  • Postdoctor, Stockholm University, 2013-2016
  • Researcher, Biothema AB & KTH, 2012-2013
  • Postdoctor, Molecular Diagnostics, Royal Institute of Technology, 2010-2011

Degrees and Education

  • PhD, Clinical Biotechnology, Anna University, Chennai, 2010
  • M.S. (res), Clinical Biotechnology, Anna University, Chennai, 2006
  • EPGD in Hospital & Health Care Management, Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA), 2002
  • B. Pharmacy, Pharmacy, Madras Medical College, Dr MGR Medical University, 2001

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