Using venoms to decode evolution,
biodiversity, and advanced therapeutics.

The Evolutionary Venomics Lab uncovers how ecology and environment shape animal venoms. These fundamental discoveries are translated into next-generation therapeutics, such as monoclonal antibodies and small-molecule inhibitors, to tackle the snakebite crisis in India and globally.

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Spectacled Cobra

Snakebite Statistics in India

2

Bites
per minute
58,000

Deaths
per annum
x3

Irreversible injuries
for every death
Venom Ecology What shapes venom?

Biogeography, Caste, Climate, Diet, Development, Environment, Predators, Sex?

Venom Evolution

Does venom change over time?

How much? How quickly? In what way? What drives it? Can we predict it? How does it affect the venomous animal and its predator/prey?

Therapeutics How do we tackle snakebites?

Monoclonal Antibodies, Small-molecule Inhibitors, Phytocompounds, and Next-generation Antivenoms?

Biodiscovery Can we discover drugs from venoms?

VenomicsAI

Funders
Latest News
Research

A broad venomics program with real-world impact.

Our research leverages venomous animals as model systems to explore core questions in evolutionary biology and genetics.​ Employing advanced, multidisciplinary technologies, we reconstruct the evolutionary histories of venoms and their source organisms. Concurrently, we translate these biological insights into novel therapeutic strategies for snakebite envenoming, aiming to develop treatments with greater efficacy, safety, and affordability.

01
Evolutionary Ecology of Venoms

Convergent evolution has driven the independent emergence of venom in over 100 distinct animal lineages. Our work examines the influence of ecological pressures, environmental variables, geographic isolation, and selective forces on the molecular composition and toxicity of venoms. This comparative research spans multiple taxa, including Serpentes, arachnids, hypmenopterans, and others, with a geographic focus on the Indian subcontinent and broader ecosystems.

Venom Diversity Ecology Environment Biogeography
02
Translational venomics

We aim to develop advanced therapeutics for medically important envenomings in India and globally. We reshape snakebite treatment by improving conventional antivenoms, engineering broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, evaluating repurposed small-molecule inhibitors, and medicinal plant-derived phytocompounds.

Monoclonal antibodies Small molecules Phytocompounds Diagnostics Preclinical research
03
Species phylogenetics

We reconstruct evolutionary relationships among venomous animals to resolve species boundaries, identify hidden diversity, and understand how lineages radiate across deep evolutionary time.

Phylogenetics Hidden diversity Species history Lineage radiation
04
Biogeography

We investigate how geography, habitat, and climatic history shape the distribution of venomous animals across India and beyond, revealing broad-scale patterns of diversification.

Biogeography Diversification Ecological gradients Distribution
05
Population & Phylogenomics

We use genome-scale datasets to resolve difficult evolutionary relationships, test deep-time hypotheses, and uncover the genomic basis of diversification in venomous animals.

Phylogenomics Genome-scale data Deep-time evolution Comparative genomics
06
Molecular evolution

We examine how toxin genes and venom systems evolve under natural selection, constraint, and functional innovation across ancient and recently diverged lineages.

Innovation Adaptive evolution Functional constraint Neutral evolution
Principal Investigator
Prof. Kartik Sunagar
Prof. Kartik Sunagar

An Associate Professor at the CES, IISc, Bangalore, and the founder of Evolutionary Venomics Lab, VISHAM and Venomics AI.


95

Publications
22

Awards
10

Recognitions
66

Invited Talks
Awards
India Alliance DBT Wellcome Trust Intermediate Fellowship, 2021.
Professor Har Swarup Memorial Award, Indian National Science Academy (INSA), 2023.
Ramanujan Fellowship, Science and Engineering Research Board, 2018.
INSA Medal for Young Scientists, Indian National Science Academy, 2020.
Merck Young Scientist Award, 2021.
INSPIRE Faculty Award, Department of Science and Technology, 2017.
Marie Curie Individual Fellowship, European Union, 2015.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award, Australian Research Council, 2015.
Deccan Herald Changemaker, 2026.
Gyandeep Award for excellence in scientific research, 2018.

Recognitions
Expert Advisory Committee, National Action Plan for prevention and control of snakebite envenoming, WHO, 2024
Expert Committee, National Programme for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming in India, 2024
Expert Advisory Committee, ICMR Centre for Advance Research of Excellence on Snakebite, 2022
Sectoral Expert Committee on “Biomanufacturing of Precision Biotherapeutics: Monoclonal Antibodies”, DBT, 2023
Advisory Committee, project by Department of Atomic Energy and Govt of Maharashtra to develop Haffkine Institute, 2022
Special Technical Advisory Committee on Aquaculture, Marine, Livestock and Animal Biotechnology, DBT, 2022
Snakebite Envenoming Roster of Experts and Technical Advisory Group, WHO, 2021
Technical Expert Committee, National Guideline on regional Venom Centres under NPSE, 2025
DBT BIRAC Joint Screening and Selection Committee on biomanufacturing of precision biotherapeutics, 2025
Project Selection Committee for Intermediate Grant and Small Grant scheme, ICMR, 2025
George Clinical, Key Opinion Leader on snakebite and antivenom, 2024
Jury Member, Kerala State Young Scientist Award, KSCSTE, 2025
Research profile Google Scholar ↗ Photography ↗
Flagship Work

Key discoveries across evolution, diversity, and translation.

Research Highlights

Landmark discoveries across venom evolution, biodiversity, and therapy.

Selected advances led or co-led by Kartik Sunagar that have reshaped how venom systems are understood and translated.

Prof. Kartik Sunagar representing flagship venom research
Prof. Sunagar's Research Profile
People

The lab.

A multidisciplinary team of evolutionary biologists, ecologists, biochemists, and translational researchers working across scales — from toxin molecules and venom glands to biodiversity patterns, diagnostics, and therapeutic design.

Evolutionary Venomics Lab Team
View all members — Project Staff, PhD, Postdocs, Admin, Alumni, Visitors, & Collaborators →
Publications

A living map of venom research.

Discover how our science moves from the field to the clinic. This collection of work tracks our continuous progress across evolutionary biology and toxin ecology, leading directly into the design and translation of next-generation snakebite therapeutics

Full publication archive ↗
Research pulse

Selected Publications

Representative articles mapping the progression of EVL research.

Open Positions

Join the lab.

We are always looking for motivated researchers to join our multidisciplinary team. Applications for internships, PhD positions, guest scientist appointments, and postdoctoral fellowships must go through the dedicated application portals below.

Postdoctoral Fellows

Prospective postdocs with a strong background in toxinology, biochemistry, evolutionary biology, cell culture, bioinformatics and/or immunology are encouraged to apply. Opportunities exist through national fellowships (N-PDF, DBT-RA, CSIR) or institutional (Raman Post-doc) mechanisms.

Application Form ↗

PhD Students

Students can join the lab through the standard IISc PhD and Integrated PhD admission programs. Candidates must clear national entrance exams and subsequent IISc interviews.

IISc Admissions ↗

Interns & Project Staff

The lab hosts short-term interns and Project Assistants. Applicants are expected to be highly motivated and willing to commit for at least six months for an internship or two years for a Project Assistant position.

Application Form ↗

Guest Scientists

Experienced researchers with exceptional CVs, interested in joining the group as Guest Scientists at an advanced postdoctoral level, may consider applying for the India Alliance Early Career Fellowship or the DST-INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship.

Application Form ↗
Partnerships

Funders & Collaborators.

We have active collaborations across India and internationally, partnering to advance biodiscovery, venom and antivenom research.

Our Network

Partner with us to advance biodiscovery, venom and antivenom research. We are currently open to new academic partnerships, clinical data-sharing, and industry-supported translational projects. Together, we can drive forward research in biodiversity, comparative evolution, diagnostics, and life-saving therapeutics.

Get in touch
Contact

Reach out.

For academic collaborations, media requests, speaking invitations, or general questions. Job applications should go through the dedicated application form — not this route.

Send a message

Compose email
Applications for internships, PhD positions, and postdoctoral fellowships must go through the lab's dedicated application process — not the general contact route.