Abhishek D. Garg
Prof. Garg is currently (since 2018) Research Assistant Professor at Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine and head of the Laboratory for Cell Stress & Immunity (since 2020) at KU Leuven (Belgium). He did his post-doctoral training at KU Leuven (2012-2018), combined with research visitations at University of Helsinki, Finland (2013) and De Duve Institute, Belgium (2017-18), after receiving his PhD from KU Leuven (2012). During his PhD-postdoc, he played an instrumental role in elucidating novel mechanisms that make cancer cell death immunogenic in the context of anticancer therapy. He worked on uncovering the links between endoplasmic reticulum stress, autophagy, apoptosis/necroptosis and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) or danger signals in dying cancer cells i.e., immunogenic cell death (ICD). This resulted in creation of innovative dendritic cell (DC) vaccines against glioblastoma.
​
His lab focusses on studying the cell stress-immunity cycle in cancer by applying novel reverse translational approaches (i.e., human data to pre-clinical validation), to create innovative immunotherapy or biomarker solutions against hard-to-treat tumours. His lab strives to constantly pave the way for the forward translation of these solutions toward the clinic. For this, his lab is working closely with oncologists (at hospitals, both home & abroad), biotech entrepreneurs, research valorization managers and various biotech or pharma companies.
​
More than 70% of Prof. Garg's publications have been published in the top 25% journals and/or are amongst the top 25% most cited articles world-wide (Scopus, 2023). This has contributed to his ranking amongst: world's top 1% highly cited researchers (Clarivate 2023), world's top 2% scientists every year since 2020 (Stanford/Elsevier 2020-24), top 5 most-cited researchers for ICD research (Zhou et al. Front Pharmacol 2022), and world’s best scientists in 'Biology & Biochemistry' (Research.com). His research contributions have been recognized by: 41st Prix Galien award for Pharmacological Research (2023), KU Leuven Research Council Award (2016), European Society of Photobiology (ESP) Young Investigator Award (2013), European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) ST Fellowship (2013), FWO Postdoctoral Fellowship (2013-18), FWO-McKinsey & Company Scientific Prize (2012), KU Leuven Post-doctoral Mandate (2012-13), and Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme (2007-08).
EDUCATION
RESEARCH PROFILE
Research Metrics:
>120 articles in multi-disciplinary as well as specialized peer-reviewed scientific journals including several with high-impact.
>26,000 total citations at a h-index of >59
>50 invited presentations or thematic/keynote lectures at national, international, company or institutional conferences/ seminars/ symposia.
2008-2012
KU Leuven, Belgium
PhD in Biomedical Sciences (Cancer)
2007-2008
University of Leeds, United Kingdom (UK)
M.Sc. in Biosciences (Human Genetics)
2004-2007
Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University (India)
B.Sc. Biotechnology
2006-2007
Bioinformatics Institute of India (BII, India)
Diploma in Bioinformatics (D/L)
Editor-in-Chief: Genes & Immunity (Springer-Nature)
​
Other Editorial Memberships (including Guest Editorships):
J Cell Mol Med, Front Immunol, Cells, Genes & Immunity, Front Oncol, Front Dev Cell Biol, Mol Cell Oncol, Faculty Opinions.
Peer-review activities:
>180 referee reports for >50 scientific journals, including several high-impact journals, from publishers like Springer-Nature, AAAS, Cell Press, Elsevier, AACR, Taylor & Francis, Wiley.
​
Ad-hoc reviewer for various research grant agencies from UK, Netherlands, Poland, France, India, Qatar, Switzerland & others.