Dr. Varun Ahuja

RESUME

Dr. Varun Ahuja
Study Director, In vivo
BSL Bioservice Scientific Laboratories GmbH,
Munich, Germany
Email: drvarunahuja@gmail.com

EDUCATION
PhD in Toxicology (2009)
Institute of Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, Charité Medical Univerity, Berlin, Germany.
Master of Pharmacology & Toxicology (M.V.Sc.) (2004)
College of Veterinary Sciences, G.B.Pant Univ. of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar.
Bahelor in Veterinary Sciences (B.V.Sc.)  (2001)
College of Veterinary Sciences, G.B.Pant Univ. of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar.


WORK EXPERIENCE
May’09 onwards:    Study Director in vivo, at BSL Bioservice Scientific Laboratories GmbH, Munich, Germany.
2008-2009:    Post-doc at Department of Toxicology, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, CBF, Charité Medical Univerity, Berlin, Germany.
2006-2008    Research Associate at Department of Toxicology, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, CBF, Charité Medical Univerity, Berlin, Germany.
2003-2006:    Senior Research Fellow at Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Veterinary Sciences, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar.
2001-2003    Junior Research Fellow at Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Veterinary Sciences, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar.

THESIS TITLE
Ph.D. Thesis: Investigation of the sensitisation potential of various textile dyes using a biphasic mice local lymph node assay (LLNA) and an in vitro Loose-fit coculture-based sensitisation assay (LCSA)
MVSc Thesis: Pharmacokinetics of cefazolin in goats


JOB RESPONSIBLITIES
Design of experimental plans, SOPs, assessment of the pharmacological and toxicological profiles of tested substances, preparation of reports
Client liaison, Responsibility for scientific and technical personnel
Control and monitoring of the work in accordance with GLP, GMP, ISO guidelines
Experience in the field of regulatory toxicology according to OECD, EPA, ICH
AWARDS
2009    Travel support from SOT, 2009, Baltimore, USA
DAAD (German Academic Exchange Services) research fellowship, Germany
2006    Nominated for Commonwealth Research Scholarship (U.K.) by UGC, India.
2005-2006    Senior Research Fellowship, NMPB, New Delhi, India
2003-2005    Senior Research Fellowship, ICAR, New Delhi, India
2001-2003    Junior Research Fellowship, ICAR, New Delhi, India


PUBLICATIONS
Ahuja V, Schreiber C, Platzek T and Stahlmann R. (2009). Investigation of the sensitising and cross-sensitising potential of textile dyes and ß-lactam antibiotics using a biphasic mice local lymph node assay. Archives of Toxicology. 83(7): 691-699. PMID: 19212757
Ahuja V, Wanner R, Platzek T and Stahlmann R. (2009). Appraisal of the sensitising potential of orally and dermally administered Mercaptobenzothiazole by a biphasic protocol of the local lymph node assay. Archives of Toxicology. 83: 933-939. PMID: 19381614
Ahuja V, Eisenblätter M, Ignatius R and Stahlmann R. (2009). Ammonium perfluorooctanoate substantially alters phenotype and cytokine secretion of human dendritic cells in vitro. Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology PMID: 19572782
Ahuja V, Platzek T and Stahlmann R. Assessment of the sensitising potential of various textile dyes using a biphasic local lymph node assay. Contact Dermatitis (Under preparation)
Hore SK, Ahuja V, Pandey SK, Pardeep K, Mehta G, Sachan A and Ahmad AH. In vivo efficacy of Euphorbia hirta aqueous leaf extract on gastrointestinal motility.  Fitoterapia, 77(1): 35-38. PMID: 16257136
Rahal A, Kumar A, Ahmad AH, Malik JK and Ahuja V. Pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin in sheep following intravenous and subcutaneous administration. Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Aug;29 (4):321-4. PMID: 16846471
Varma R, Ahmad AH, Sharma LD, Agarwal P and Ahuja V. (2003) Pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin and its active metabolite ciprofloxacin in cows following single dose i.v. administration. Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 26: 1-4. PMID: 12887614
Varma R, Ahmad AH, Ahuja V, Gautam V, Pardeep K and Singh KP (2006). Pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin and their interaction with diclofenac sodium in cows. Indian Journal of Animal Science. 76(1): 6-9.
Sharma PK, Ahmad AH, Ahuja V, Pardeep K and Singh KP. (2005) Disposition kinetics of enrofloxacin in mastitic cows following multiple dose intramuscular administration. Indian Journal   of Veterinary Medicine. 25(1): 10-15.
Sachan A, Hore SK, Mehta G, Ahmad AH, Ahuja V, and Jayakumar K. (2003) Safety Evaluation of Euphorbia hirta in male rats. Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology. 3(1&2): 112-113.
Varma R, Ahmad AH, Sharma LD, Agarwal P and Ahuja V. (2002) Disposition kinetics of enrofloxacin and its interaction with sulfadiazine + trimethoprim combination in laying poultry birds. Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology. 2 (1& 2): 77-81.
Kumar S, Sharma LD, Ahmad AH, Ahuja V, Pardeep K and Singh, K.P. (2006). Effect of hepatic impairment on the concentration of sulfadimidine in plasma, blood and erythrocytes of buffalo calves. Indian Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 26(1): 58-61.
Ahuja V, Hore SK, Mehta G, Pandey SK and Pardeep K. (2002). Drugs contraindicated during pregnancy (Review). Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology. 2 (1& 2): 1-20.
Presentations
Ahuja V, Sonnenberg A, Platzek T, Stahlmann R. Investigation of the sensitising potential of textile dyes using a biphasic protocol of the local lymph node assay. 46th Congress of the European Society of Toxicology, EUROTOX, Sept. 13-16, 2009, Dresden, Germany.
Ahuja V, Eisenblatter M, Ahuja V, Ignatius R and Stahlmann R. Investigation of the immunomodulatory effects of perfluorinated fatty acids (PFCA) in vitro. 48th Annual Meeting of the Society of Toxicology, March 15-19, 2009, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Sonnenberg A, Ahuja V, Stahlmann R, Reinhard W. Assessment of the sensitising potential of textile dyes and some of their metabolites by Loose-fit Coculture-based Sensitisation Assay (LCSA). 50th Annual Conference of German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT), March 10-12, 2009, Mainz, Germany.
Ahuja V, Wanner R, Platzek T and Stahlmann R. Appraisal of the sensitising potential of orally and dermally administered Mercaptobenzothiazol by a biphasic protocol of the local lymph node assay. 50th Annual Conference of German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT), March 10-12, 2009, Mainz, Germany.
Ahuja V, Wanner R, Platzek T and Stahlmann R. Assessing the senstitising potential of textile dyes using a sensitive biphasic local lymph node assay. 50th Annual Conference of German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT), March 10-12, 2009, Mainz, Germany.
Ahuja V, Eisenblatter M, Ignatius R and Stahlmann R. Effects of ammonium perfluorooctanoate (APFO) on human dendritic cells in vitro. 1st International Conference on Dermatotoxicology. October 22-25, 2008, Vaalsbroek, Netherlands.
Ahuja V, Fialkowski O., Platzek T and Stahlmann R. Investigation of the sensitising potential of Mercaptobenzothiazol (MBT) using a modified protocol of the murine local lymph node assay. 1st International Conference on Dermatotoxicology. October 22-25, 2008, Vaalsbroek, Netherlands.
Ahuja V, Eisenblatter M, Ahuja V, Baumann-Wilschke I, Ignatius R and Stahlmann R. In vitro study of immunomodulatory potential of perfluorinated fatty acids (PFCAs). 19th European Student's Conference, Sept. 29 - Oct. 3, 2008, Charite Medical University, Berlin, Germany.
Ahuja V, Eisenblätter M, Vaishali Ahuja, Baumann-Wilschke I, Ignatius R and Stahlmann R. Effects of perfluorinated fatty acids (PFCAs) on lymphocytes and dendritic cells in vitro. 49th Annual Conference of German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT), March 11-13, 2008, Mainz, Germany.
Ahuja V, Ahmad AH, Singh KP, Hore SK, Singh V and Tripathi AK. Phytochemical studies of Emblica officinalis and Withania somnifera. Poster presented at VI annual conference of ISVPT, 23-25th Nov. 06, Bihar Veterinary College, Patna, India. (Best Poster Award)
Ahuja V, Pardeep K, Bhandari P, Sachan A and Ahmad AH. Pharmacokinetics of cefazolin in goats subsequent to intravenous, intramuscular and subcutaneous administration. 35th Annual conference of Indian Pharmacological Soicety (Nov. 2002), Gwalior, India.
Mehta G, Hore SK, Singh SP and Ahuja V. Proinflammatory activity of Pedilanthus tithymeloides in rabbits and rats. III Annual conference of Indian Society of Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology, Oct. 24th-26th, 2002. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary Sciences, Pantnagar, India. (Best Poster Award)
Singh KP, Ahmad AH, Ahuja V, Pardeep K, Zafar A, Pranvendra K and Hore SK. Pharmacokinetics of ceftriaxone in plasma following intravascular and intramuscular routes of administration in febrile goats. Paper presented in IV annual conference of Indian Society of Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology, Dec, 2004, Durg, India.
Pranvendra K, Ahmad AH, Ahuja V, Singh KP, Pardeep K, Zafar A, and Hore SK. Pharmacokinetics of ketoprofen in plasma following intravascular and intramuscular routes of administration in buffalo calves. Paper presented in IV annual conference of Indian Society of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Dec 2004, Durg, India.
Ahmad AH, Ahuja V, Pardeep K, Singh KP and Pranvendra K. (2003) Toxicodynamics and Toxicokinetics of Pentachlorophenol: an industrial toxicant. Winter school on: Recent approaches in Risk Evaluation, Detoxification, Toxicodynamics and Therapeutic strategies with special reference to Environmental and Industrial toxicants, Nov 4th-24th 2003, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India.
Ahmad AH, Ahuja V, Srivastava S, Pardeep K and Singh KP. Hexavalent Chromium: A potential toxicant in the tannery affluent. Winter school on: Recent approaches in Risk Evaluation, Detoxification, Toxicodynamics and Therapeutic strategies with special reference to Environmental and Industrial toxicants, held from Nov. 4th-24th, 2003, at Indian Veterinary Reasearh Institute, Izatnagar, India.
Ahmad AH, Sachan A, Ahuja V, Pardeep K and Singh KP. Disposition Kinetics of toxicants. Symposium on: Pesticides & Risk Appraisal, Oct. 2002, Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Pantnagar, India.
Rai A., Ahmad A.H, Singh SP, Ahuja V and Pardeep K. Biochemical alterations induced by acute oral toxicity of carbaryl in chicks. In: III Annual Conference of ISVPT, 2002, Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, C.V.A.Sc., Pantnagar, U.A., India.


TRAINING COURSES ATTENDED
Training on “Excel Spreadsheets-Step by Step Instructions for Compliance”, 16th Oct. 2009, at BSL Bioservice Scientific Laboratories, Munich, Germany.
Training course on “Reproductive and developmental toxicology”, 3rd-7th Nov. 2008, at Institute of Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, Charite Medical University, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany.
“International workshop on Contact Dermatitis”, Oct. 27-28th, Federal Institiute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany.
Workshop on “Dosimetric extrapolation of in vitro data on the in vivo situation”, 14th Oct. 2008, Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin.
Symposium on “Alternatives to Animal Testing”, 7th Oct. 2008, Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin.
Training course in "Basic principles of the safety evaluation of cosmetics - General and systemic toxicology including risk assessment", Sept. 21-23, 2008, at Institute of Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, Charite Medical University, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany.
Seminar on “SPSS for Windows”, 9-10th July 2007, Charite Centre for Therapy Research, Institute for Biometry and Clinical Epidemiology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany.
Training course on “Immunotoxicology and Allergy to Xenobiotics” Feb. 19-23, 2007, at Institute of Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, Charite Medical University, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany.




RESEARCH EXPERIENCE SUMMARY
My research interests in the field of Pharmacology & Toxicology motivated me to undertake M.V.Sc. studies, after finishing my B.V.Sc. from G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar. During my thesis work, I was involved in studying the pharmacokinetics of pharmaceutical agents in animal models. After completing my M.V.Sc., I worked as a research fellow in various projects for few years. I was involved with pharmacological screening of medicinal plants and toxicity studies of chemicals using in vivo models along with residual analysis in various biological matrices.

I did my PhD research from Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Charité Medical University, Berlin, Germany. During my PhD, I have worked with studying the immunomodulatory effects of chemicals using in vivo and in vitro models. I studied the sensitisation potential of chemicals using mouse local lymph node assay (LLNA). I also investigated the sensitisation potential of chemicals using an in vitro model, loose-fit coculture based sensitisation assay (LCSA), which involved co-culture of keratinocytes and dendritic cells. In addition, I used in vitro models to study the immunotoxic effects of chemicals. Therefore, I got quite good understanding of the in vitro systems. Afterwards, I was involved as a post-doc in the same department for about one year.

Presently, I am working in a preclinical CRO in the field of Sensitization/Local Tolerance/Biocompatibility. I am handling various systems like Local Lymph Node assay, Guinea Pig Maximisation Assay, Buehler Assay, Acute Dermal and Eye Irritation, HET-CAM, Bovine Corneal Opacity and Permeability Assay, Photosensitization, Acute Systemic Anaphylaxis, USP-Plastic class tests, Intracutaneous reactivity, Systemic toxicity, Implantation studies etc.