Staff Profile

Educational Qualification

M.Sc (BIOTECHNOLOGY)), Ph.D (BIOTECHNOLOGY)

Personal Statement

I am a laboratory scientist and public health researcher specializing in molecular diagnostics, disease surveillance, and translational research on infectious diseases. My expertise includes viral outbreak investigations and diagnostic algorithm development for Japanese encephalitis (JE), acute encephalitis syndrome (AES), scrub typhus, dengue, SARS-CoV-2, and respiratory infections. My research focuses on developing advanced molecular diagnostics and point-of-care (POCT) technologies, including CRISPR-Cas-based assays for tuberculosis. I also work on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance in tuberculosis and leprosy and whole-genome sequencing of Mycobacterium leprae. My goal is to develop affordable, high-impact diagnostics that strengthen disease surveillance and support India's disease elimination programs.

Research Focus

• • Molecular diagnostic development for TB and other respiratory co-infections.
• • CRISPR-Cas-based diagnostic assays for detection of viable and non-viable Mycobacterium tuberculosis in clinical samples.
• • Whole Genome Sequencing based molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium leprae & establishment of comprehensive database of Indian strains.
• • Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) surveillance in Tuberculosis and Leprosy.
• • Waste water based TB surveillance.

Ongoing projects as Principal investigator

Molecular surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and development of comprehensive database of Mycobacterium leprae from patients from nine states of India.

(Technically approved under ICMR-Intramural grant 2026)

Significant Publications

• Deval H, Srivastava M, Srivastava N, Kumar N, Agarwal A, Potdar V, et al. Hospital-Based Surveillance of Respiratory Viruses Among Children Under Five Years of Age with ARI and SARI in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. Viruses. 2024;17(1):27.

• Deval H, Kumar N, Srivastava M, Potdar V, Mehta A, Verma A, et al. Human metapneumovirus (hMPV): an associated etiology of severe acute respiratory infection in children of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. Access Microbiology. 2024;6(9):000829.

• Deval H, Misra BR, Srivastava N, Deoshatwar AR, Mittal M, Kumar N, et al. Co-infection of Japanese Encephalitis and Scrub Typhus in Acute Encephalitis Patients in North India. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. 2024;25(3):223–227.

• Deval H, Nyayanit DA, Mishra SK, Yadav PD, Zaman K, et al. Genome Sequencing Reveals a Mixed Picture of SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern Circulation in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. Frontiers in Medicine. 2022;8:781287.

• Bhardwaj P, Nanaware NS, Behera SP, Kulkarni S, Deval H, et al. CRISPR/Cas12a-Based Detection Platform for Early and Rapid Diagnosis of Scrub Typhus. Biosensors. 2023;13(12):1021.

• Behera SP, Bhardwaj P, Deval H, Srivastava N, Singh R, et al. Co-circulation of All Four Dengue Virus Serotypes During 2018–2019: First Report from Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. PeerJ. 2023;11.

• Deval H, Alagarasu K, Srivastava N, Bachal R, Mittal M, et al. Association of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the CD209, MMP9, TNFA, and IFNG Genes with Susceptibility to Japanese Encephalitis in Children from North India. Gene. 2022;808:145962.

• Mittal M, Bondre V, Murhekar M, Deval H, Rose W, Verghese VP, Mittal M et al. Acute Encephalitis Syndrome in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, 2016: Clinical and Laboratory Findings. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2018 Nov;37(11):1101-1106. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000002099. PMID: 29746378.

• Srivastava N, Deval H, Mittal M, Kant R, Bondre VP. The Outbreaks of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome in Uttar Pradesh, India (1978–2020) and Its Effective Management: A Remarkable Public Health Success Story. Frontiers in Public Health. 2022;9:793268.

• Deval H, Behera SP, Agrawal A, Singh R, Misra B, et al. Genetic Characterization of Dengue Virus Serotype 2 Isolated from Dengue Fever Outbreaks in Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Western Bihar, India. Journal of Medical Virology. 2021;93(6):3322–3329.

Awards and Honours

• Recognized as an Exceptionally Meritorious Scientist by the ICMR Assessment Board for outstanding performance during promotion from Scientist D to Scientist E (2023).

• Officially invited by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath to present the findings of the first dengue genomics study from Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Western Bihar (https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.26239) recognizing its impact on dengue surveillance and outbreak investigation (10th December 2022).

• Appreciation Award from the Director General, ICMR, for over 12 years of outstanding contributions to Japanese Encephalitis (JE)/Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) research at ICMR–NIV, Gorakhpur, presented during the inauguration of the new ICMR–RMRC building, Gorakhpur (7th December 2021).

• Granted Indian Patent (No. 280840, 2017): Probes and primers for identification of mycobacterial proteins as potential drug targets (Filed by ICMR–NJIL&OMD, 2007).

• CSIR Senior Research Fellow (SRF), ICMR–National JALMA Institute for Leprosy & Other Mycobacterial Diseases, Agra (2005–2008).

• CSIR Junior Research Fellow (JRF), ICMR–National JALMA Institute for Leprosy & Other Mycobacterial Diseases, Agra (2003–2005).

• CSIR–UGC NET–JRF Awardee (June 2002).

Research Profiles