Prof. K. Sankaran, after his doctorate in advanced molecular enzymology in 1985, he has begun his biomedical research on infectious diseases as Scientist at Astra Research Centre (India) and made pioneering contributions to molecular pathogenesis of Shigella through the discovery of Congored- or host-contact inducible secretion of large amounts of Invasive Plasmid Antigens and the discovery of periplasmic Apyrase, which is essential for its intracellular spread, and its patented diagnostic methods. Later he focused on infectious diseases diagnostics to molecular pathogenesis-based and specific chemical communication-based extracellular biochemical approaches to replace the time-consuming, labour-intensive, costly classical microbiological methods. Years of sustained research led to developing simple single-step, non-destructive and inexpensive pathogen detection methods amenable to even limited infrastructure as well as automation for Shigella, EIEC, Proteus, Staph, Pseudomonas and Salmonella and general bacterial detection using siderophores. He has also developed nanotech-based superiorly selective detection strategies including biosensors for whole bacteria, a challenging task.

Multidrug resistance is a major challenge to the efficacy of antibiotic therapy. Out-of-the-box thinking in providing results on the choice of the right antibiotic with quicker and more accurate antibiotic sensitivity test first followed by pathogen detection and the quest for a simple extracellular biochemistry, led to the discovery of Erucamide release by bacteria and the patented method of its quenching of a specific fluorophore in the medium within hours. This simple growth monitoring was converted to an inexpensive clinically validated instrumentation method, and manual, semiautomated and automated devices. This academic to market capability in University system led to his coordination of multi crore National Hub for Healthcare Instrumentation Development of Department of Science and Technology, Government of India and other such prestigious national programmes to the University.

He is considered a world leader in bacterial lipid modification of proteins owing to the discovery and pioneering molecular enzymology studies including the crystal structure of the first enzyme of the essential pathway, ProLiporptoein Diacylglyceryl Transferase (LGT), and identifying the pathway, intricacies and commercial applications. He has now developed a technique hailed as the first post-translational protein engineering tool for a range of biomedical applications of national and global importance like ELISA, Biosensors, next-generation antibiotic target, efficacious vaccines and targeted drug delivery. The rare combination of academic teaching and research, industrial R&D, international collaborations, coordination of multidisciplinary teams of scientists, engineers and clinicians with industries and government, and administrative experiences has made him a competent advisor for funding and other government agencies. Post retirement, from the last year he is dedicating himself to nation building through networking for aiding indigenous healthcare device manufacturing and marketing for affordable quality healthcare for bulk of the population.