Spotlight on the Kumar Lab

Dr. Sudhir Kumar
Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences

Research Area
Dr. Sudhir Kumar has been researching human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum for almost two decades. His research group studies mechanisms of parasite transmission from humans to mosquitoes and disease spread as well as the mechanism of antimalarial drug resistance.

Origins
Kumar was trained in reproductive biology of animals, plants and reproduction in Plasmodium from his undergraduate studies to completing his PhD. His training provided the background necessary to establish a research program in reproduction in Plasmodium in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Funding

$425,000, 2-year R21 grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/National Institutes of Health investigating regulation of gamete fusion in the malaria parasite
$600,000, 3-year grant from the Warren Alpert Foundation investigating gamete interactions and fertilization in Plasmodium falciparum
$152,000, 4-year grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/National Institutes of Health investigating the role of mosquito immune system in targeting Plasmodium development inside the midgut
$3,000,000, 5-year grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/National Institutes of Health investigating mechanism axoneme assembly and male gametogenesis during parasite transmission to mosquitoes

Publications

“A FANCJ-like protein is dispensable for erythrocytic stage development in Plasmodium falciparum,” Cellular Microbiology. 2026
“An MKT1 domain protein is dispensable for erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum,” Frontiers in Microbiology. 2026
“P. falciparum PEBP protein is dispensable during asexual and sexual stages of development,” Frontiers in Cell and Infection Microbiology. 2026
“Genetic crosses using fluorescent labelled malaria parasites indicate advantages of outcrossing in Plasmodium falciparum,” Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 2026

Results
“We have identified regulators of gametogenesis and fertility that regulate parasite transmission,” Kumar says. “Targeting these regulators would help block parasite transmission. Our findings can help design strategies to block transmission of related protozoan parasites that infect animals and humans such as Cryptosporidium.”

Research Team
Sudhir Kumar
PhD Students: Baishali Chakraborty, Addison Danenhauer, Samantha McGee
Undergraduate Students: Naomi Johnson

September 2026