India, Dec. 22 -- Could you explain your award-winning research in simple terms? How is it relevant for the life sciences sector in India?

At the most basic level, my research asks a simple question: how do cells protect and repair their DNA? DNA carries the instructions for life, but it is constantly damaged by normal cellular processes and environmental stresses. Cells must therefore repair this damage efficiently to survive, grow, and pass on accurate genetic information. If this damage is not repaired correctly, it can lead to mutations or cell death and is the underlying cause for many pathologies.

My lab studies how microbes detect DNA damage and repair it with remarkable efficiency. By watching these processes in real time inside...