VP Research & Development

Babu L. Tekwani Ph.D. Tekwani has amassed over 35 years of experience in education and research, specializing in the discovery and development of innovative therapeutics. His primary research focus revolves around infectious diseases, particularly tropical parasitic diseases, vector-borne infectious diseases, and major global health threats. Through his work in new drug discovery for infectious diseases, Tekwani has identified potential new targets and sources for therapies against these ailments. His recent endeavors included pioneering a targeted drug delivery approach for a safer and more effective antimalarial therapeutic, specifically tailored for U.S. troops and global travelers. Additionally, he recently spearheaded the efforts to target the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of the influenza virus for new drug discovery initiatives under the UAB-Antiviral Drug Discovery and Development Consortium (AD3C). Tekwani's research has received funding from esteemed institutions such as the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the World Health Organization (WHO), Medicines for Malaria Venture, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command. Currently, Tekwani serves as the Chief Scientific Officer at GlobaCure USA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing sustainable solutions for health challenges through innovative research and collaboration across public and private sectors. Prior to this role, he held positions such as the Chair of Infectious Diseases Drug Discovery at Southern Research USA from 2018 to 2023 and Principal Scientist and Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Mississippi's School of Pharmacy's National Center for Natural Products Research for 18 years (2001-2018). Before joining the University of Mississippi in 2001, Tekwani served as a Senior Scientist in the Biochemistry Division at the Central Drug Research Institute in Lucknow, India (1983-2001). His dedication to advancing scientific knowledge led to an international fellowship awarded by the Fogarty International Center National Institute of Health, where he completed post-doctoral research training at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Penn State College of Medicine (1989-1992).