The Health Research Institute (HRI) at Michigan Technological University is delighted to announce the hiring of Dr. Bapi Pahar as a new senior research scientist. He will be co-located with Michigan State in the Doug Meijer Innovation Center in Grand Rapids, MI. Dr. Pahar, an immunologist with extensive experience in infectious disease and vaccine development, is the first hire for the Translational Health Engineering Research Center (THERC), whose goal is to bolster the university’s growing health-focused research initiatives.
Dr. Pahar received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) and Ph.D. in Virology. He also holds an M.B.A. with a specialization in entrepreneurship. His distinguished career includes over 17 years at Tulane University, where he served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. He has also held positions at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and authored over 80 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals.
“We are delighted to have Dr. Pahar join our team,” said HRI’s Executive Director, Dr. Caryn Heldt. “His deep expertise in immunology and infectious disease aligns perfectly with THERC’s mission to accelerate research that improves health outcomes. His work will be invaluable as we continue to build a Michigan Tech presence in West Michigan and connect our engineering and science strengths with the Grand Rapids region’s robust health community.”
Dr. Pahar expressed his enthusiasm for the new role, stating, “This is a fantastic chance to bolster and promote biomedical research in partnership with Michigan State University, other academic entities, healthcare providers, and industry collaborators by developing and implementing cutting-edge medical solutions”.
In his new role, Dr. Pahar will focus on leveraging his expertise in mucosal immunology, vaccine development, and data analytics for immunological evaluation. His research is expected to create new opportunities for collaboration between Michigan Tech and MSU, Corewell Health, and other biomedical companies and entities in the Grand Rapids area.
“Dr. Pahar brings world-class immunological research to Michigan Tech to enhance the work we are already doing in this area,” says Dr. Andrew Barnard, Vice President for Research. “His cross-disciplinary expertise in entrepreneurship is an exciting opportunity for THERC to bridge the gap between basic research and applied solutions in the healthcare marketplace.”