The major area of research carried out in Prof. Das’s laboratory is based on three
heavy metals like nickel, chromium, cadmium and lead. Currently Prof.Das’s
laboratory is engaged in doing research on lead induced cellular hypoxia or
simultaneous exposure of Chronic Sustained Hypoxia AND Chronic Intermittent
Normobaric hypoxia. The study is also carrying out to understand the heavy metal
activated hypoxia inducible pathway and facilitate selection of cells with altered
transcriptional activity of hypoxia inducible genes by evaluating HIF-1 alpha and HIF-
1 alpha target genes by evaluating i-NOS pathway or VEGF . Studies are also going
on to evaluate the role of L-ascorbic acid and O-tocopherol to provide vascular
endothelial stability against such metal insult. In this context the lab has
standardized the quantitative assessment of blood nitric oxide (nitrite and nitrate)
concentration and vascular endothelial growth factor which are the essential
component to understand heavy metal induced epithelial damage either directly or
through inducing cellular hypoxia.