Molecular tools for biology


We build modern tools for imaging and manipulating biological processes by integrating dye chemistry, click chemistry, and biomolecular labeling strategies.

Work in our lab encompasses organic chemistry, photochemistry, spectroscopy, enzymatic and chemical labeling, and imaging. We collaborate with a range of biologists to generate novel technologies for probing complex biological questions.

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News

Aug 29, 2026
Paper Update — August 2026

Aug 29, 2026
Team Update — August 2026

  • Oindrila went back to Shiv Nadar University after her summer internship with us!
  • Biswajit joins us from IISER Kolkata as Graduate Trainee.
  • Roshni has moved to IISER Pune for her PhD.

Jun 7, 2026
Team Update — June 2026

  • Oindrila joins us from Shiv Nadar University for her summer internship.
  • Rakhi joins us as Graduate Trainee.
  • Vaishakh has moved to Philipps-University Marburg for his PhD.

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Latest Publications

Mousumi Baruah, Hassan Rasiwala, Uma Vaidya, Pratik Kumar (2026). Small molecules for genetically encoded control and imaging of protein proximity. Current Opinion in Chemical Biology, 94, 102760.

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Pratik Kumar, Jason D. Vevea, Ariana N. Tkachuk, Kirby Campbell, Emma T. Watson, Anthony X. Ayala, Jonathan B. Grimm, Edwin R. Chapman, David J. Solecki, Luke D. Lavis (2025). Optimizing multifunctional fluorescent ligands for intracellular labeling. PNAS, 122(44), e2510046122.

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Motokazu Uchigashima, Risa Iguchi, Kazuma Fujii, Kaito Shiku, Pratik Kumar, Xinyi Liu, Mari Isogai, Chiaki Hoshino1, Manabu Abe, Motohiro Nozumi, Yosuke Okamura, Michihiro Igarashi, Kenji Sakimura, Ryoma Bise, Luke Lavis, Takayasu Mikuni (2025). Single-cell synaptome mapping of endogenous protein subpopulations in mammalian brain. Nature Communications, 16, 9705.

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