Graduated in Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry in 2009 from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir, and completed post-graduation in Veterinary Microbiology in 2011 from SKUAST-Jammu, securing the 1st rank and a meritorious certificate in the subject. Earned a PhD in Veterinary Microbiology as a DST-Inspire SRF from Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner, where he was a subject topper and was awarded the Gold Medal during the 2nd Convocation in 2017. His core expertise lies in preclinical studies using large animal models, OECD-compliant studies, and GLP-aligned research, with a strong focus on the health monitoring of lab animals, ethical research, research oriented towards development of rodent and NHP models for communicable and non communicable diseases. He has worked extensively on genotyping, virulence characterization, and AMR gene determinants in major pathogens. Recipient of the Young Scientist Award at the 3rd National Seminar on Translational Research in Biotechnology (2015). He joined the National Center for Laboratory Animal Sciences, ICMR-NIN, in January 2017 and is presently the In-Charge of the Primate Experimentation Facility at ICMR-NARFBR, leading non-human primate studies for drug and vaccine development. He has handled several regulatory preclinical studies, GLP-aligned projects, and OECD-compliant toxicology and safety assessments, contributing to translational research capacity in India. He has attended numerous national and international conferences and has authored more than 20 scientific publications.