Get to know PETAL Consortium’s Co-investigator, Khyati Maulik Kariya, PhD!
Get to know PETAL Consortium’s Co-investigator, Khyati Maulik Kariya, PhD!
Get to know PETAL Consortium’s Co-investigator, Khyati Maulik Kariya, PhD!
Khyati Maulik Kariya, PhD
Khyati Maulik Kariya, PhD
Khyati Maulik Kariya, PhD is a Co-investigator at PETAL Consortium. She holds a bachelor's degree in Biotechnology from Maharaja Shree Mahendrasinhji Science College. She then completed a master's degree in Microbiology and a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Baroda.
Khyati Maulik Kariya, PhD is a Co-investigator at PETAL Consortium. She holds a bachelor's degree in Biotechnology from Maharaja Shree Mahendrasinhji Science College. She then completed a master's degree in Microbiology and a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Baroda.
In this Q&A, meet PETAL Consortium’s Co-investigator, Khyati Maulik Kariya, PhD!
In this Q&A, meet PETAL Consortium’s Co-investigator, Khyati Maulik Kariya, PhD!
In this Q&A, meet PETAL Consortium’s Co-investigator, Khyati Maulik Kariya, PhD!
What drew you to studying biotechnology?
What drew you to studying biotechnology?
When I was in high school, I was always fascinated by biology, which brought me to study biotechnology for undergrad. My studies gave me a sense of how biology and technology connect and how I can use this knowledge to understand health and disease.
When I was in high school, I was always fascinated by biology, which brought me to study biotechnology for undergrad. My studies gave me a sense of how biology and technology connect and how I can use this knowledge to understand health and disease.
Why did you want to transition from biotechnology to microbiology for your master’s?
Why did you want to transition from biotechnology to microbiology for your master’s?
During undergrad, I had common classes between microbiology and biotechnology. I wanted to explore different areas and then decide what fascinates me. I was more fascinated with understanding health and disease better, and microorganisms affect your health significantly. So, that's why I transitioned to microbiology.
During undergrad, I had common classes between microbiology and biotechnology. I wanted to explore different areas and then decide what fascinates me. I was more fascinated with understanding health and disease better, and microorganisms affect your health significantly. So, that's why I transitioned to microbiology.
What inspired you to go into medical research?
What inspired you to go into medical research?
I wanted to contribute to society using my own skills to help improve the outcome for cancer patients. Also, one of my friends was diagnosed with cancer when I was in undergrad. I watched her fight cancer and recover. It was a beautiful journey to witness.
I was always interested in learning how biology affects health and disease, but having this personal experience brought me to the lab where I was able to research cancer and innate immunity–the body's non-specific, immediate defense mechanisms that protect against infections and foreign substances.
I wanted to contribute to society using my own skills to help improve the outcome for cancer patients. Also, one of my friends was diagnosed with cancer when I was in undergrad. I watched her fight cancer and recover. It was a beautiful journey to witness.
I was always interested in learning how biology affects health and disease, but having this personal experience brought me to the lab where I was able to research cancer and innate immunity–the body's non-specific, immediate defense mechanisms that protect against infections and foreign substances.
What drew you to PETAL Consortium? What is your research about?
What drew you to PETAL Consortium? What is your research about?
I got interested in PETAL because it's a large consortium that brings together different sites and investigators around the world. T-cell lymphoma is very aggressive and needs extensive research, but since the disease is so rare, we’re usually limited by small sample sizes in our clinical trials. However, since PETAL is global, we have access to hundreds of patients, helping us advance our research and get access to different patient samples, which ultimately helps us get closer to curing this disease.
I study how T-cell immunity can be adjusted to treat T-cell lymphoma. In collaboration with the Broad Institute, we have screened 7,000 drugs to see which drugs enhance the body’s natural ability to clear tumor cells. From those 7,000 drugs we’ve screened, I've narrowed it down to the three top-performing drugs. Currently, I'm studying how different drug combination treatments affect patient outcomes.
I got interested in PETAL because it's a large consortium that brings together different sites and investigators around the world. T-cell lymphoma is very aggressive and needs extensive research, but since the disease is so rare, we’re usually limited by small sample sizes in our clinical trials. However, since PETAL is global, we have access to hundreds of patients, helping us advance our research and get access to different patient samples, which ultimately helps us get closer to curing this disease.
I study how T-cell immunity can be adjusted to treat T-cell lymphoma. In collaboration with the Broad Institute, we have screened 7,000 drugs to see which drugs enhance the body’s natural ability to clear tumor cells. From those 7,000 drugs we’ve screened, I've narrowed it down to the three top-performing drugs. Currently, I'm studying how different drug combination treatments affect patient outcomes.
What does a day-in-your-life at PETAL Consortium look like?
What does a day-in-your-life at PETAL Consortium look like?
Every day is different, but my focus is on planning and executing experiments that test how drugs affect cancer cells. This process includes techniques like cell culture (growing and maintaining cells outside their natural environment in a controlled laboratory setting) and flow cytometry (a lab technique that counts and analyzes single cells or particles). Then I analyze the data and make sense of what the data is telling me about what is happening in patients’ bodies. My analysis informs how I design my next set of experiments.
I also discuss and have meetings with different collaborators to discuss my research. I also train new people joining the lab by teaching them lab techniques like cell culture.
Every day is different, but my focus is on planning and executing experiments that test how drugs affect cancer cells. This process includes techniques like cell culture (growing and maintaining cells outside their natural environment in a controlled laboratory setting) and flow cytometry (a lab technique that counts and analyzes single cells or particles). Then I analyze the data and make sense of what the data is telling me about what is happening in patients’ bodies. My analysis informs how I design my next set of experiments.
I also discuss and have meetings with different collaborators to discuss my research. I also train new people joining the lab by teaching them lab techniques like cell culture.
Any interests/hobbies?
Any interests/hobbies?
I like walking in nature and reading books. I love suspense novels. I also like motivational books and science fiction.
I like walking in nature and reading books. I love suspense novels. I also like motivational books and science fiction.
What’s your perfect meal?
What’s your perfect meal?
Indian vegetarian food like dal (a type of lentil soup) and rice.
Indian vegetarian food like dal (a type of lentil soup) and rice.
Favorite movies?
Favorite movies?
On Friday evenings, my daughter and I like to watch movies together. We’ve watched the Harry Potter series, and our all-time favorite is Home Alone. We also like The Santa Clause and Elf.
On Friday evenings, my daughter and I like to watch movies together. We’ve watched the Harry Potter series, and our all-time favorite is Home Alone. We also like The Santa Clause and Elf.
Dream vacation destination?
Dream vacation destination?
I want to go see the Northern Lights with my husband, which has been on my bucket list for a long time.
I want to go see the Northern Lights with my husband, which has been on my bucket list for a long time.
Since we’re PETAL Consortium, favorite flower?
Since we’re PETAL Consortium, favorite flower?
Lotuses! They remind me to look inward, not at my surroundings, to bloom 🪷
Lotuses! They remind me to look inward, not at my surroundings, to bloom 🪷
@2025 PETAL Consortium • All rights reserved
@2025 PETAL Consortium • All rights reserved
@2025 PETAL Consortium • All rights reserved