Dr. Ketan Thorat is a scientist specialising in biosafety, biosecurity, bioethics, science diplomacy, and the ethics of stem cell research. He heads the Regulatory Compliance Office at inStem, where he oversees institutional biosafety systems, research ethics processes, and governance of advanced life science research. His work focuses on dual-use risk assessment, biocontainment compliance, ethical oversight of human stem cell research, and strengthening responsible research cultures across the life sciences.

He leads capacity-building efforts in biosafety and biosecurity, conducts regulatory training for researchers and industry, and teaches biosafety, biosecurity, stem cell ethics, and health research ethics. His regulatory work is complemented by policy experience at the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, where he managed an international cooperation portfolio across AMR, vaccine development, high-containment research, bioengineering, global health, and One Health partnerships. He contributed to major strategic frameworks, including the India–EU Strategic Partnership Roadmap 2025 and the India–UK Roadmap 2030. His work strengthened coordination between key science ministries, supported large-scale global collaborations, and advanced India’s role in responsible life sciences governance.

Dr. Thorat’s scientific contributions include patented technologies in pesticide-exposure mitigation and drug delivery, alongside work on governance challenges associated with emerging biotechnologies. He is a UN Youth for Biosecurity Fellow (2024), India Biosecurity Fellow (2024), member of several Institutional Biosafety Committees, and contributor to national guideline-drafting efforts for ethical and regulatory oversight of life science research. His current work examines India’s biosafety preparedness, climate-related risks to high-containment laboratories, and regulatory frameworks for equitable and secure biotechnology development.

Peer-Reviewed Research Articles  

• Mohan MK, Thorat, K. et al. Oxime-functionalized anti-pesticide fabric reduces pesticide ex posure through dermal and nasal routes, and prevents pesticide-induced neuromuscular-dysfunction and mortality. Nature Communications, 2024, 15, 4844
• Thorat, K. et al. “Prevention of pesticide-induced neuronal dysfunction and mortality with nucleophilic poly-Oxime topical gel”. Science Advances, 2018, 4, eaau1780
• Asymmetric cationic lipid based non-viral vectors for an efficient nucleic acid delivery RSC Adv., 2016,6, 77841-77848
• B Balakrishnan, N Joshi, K Thorat, et. al, A tumour-responsive self healing prodrug hydrogel enables synergistic action of doxorubicin and miltefosine for focal combination chemotherapy, Journal of Materials Chemistry B 7 (18), 2920-2925

Policy, Ethics & Commentary  

• Thorat, K. et al. Building the Future from the South: Technology, Diplomacy, and Global Health Under review- AAAS Sci. & Diplo.
• Thorat, K. Indian Stem Cell Research Governance after the dissolution of the National Apex Committee for Stem Cell Research and Therapy (NAC-SCRT), Indian Journal of Medical Ethics, March 21, 2025.
• Op-ed: Not Just Catching Up: How India Can Democratize Gene and Cell Therapies, July 2025, Science Chronicles
• Yuhan B, Kirsten A, Delfina H, Ketan T, et al Paving New Approaches for the BWC in the Era of Emerging S&T: Enhancing Future Biosafety and Biosecurity Through Scientific Communities and Networks of New Actors, Accepted Health Security

 Books, Chapters & Academic Contributions

• Book chapter on ‘Securing the Life Sciences– The Role of Biosafety and Biosecurity in the Biological Weapons Convention’ for an edited book on the 50th anniversary of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) by the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA)(www.idsa.in), New Delhi, India.
• Co-authored the ‘Global Youth Declaration for Biosecurity 2024‘
• Thorat, K. “Physical abuse of the Young”. Matrix of Comparative Anthropogeny.

 Educational & Public Engagement Outputs

• Comic Book on “Mirror Biology”
• Research Ethics and Regulations learning and teaching resource for India link
• Awareness poster on “Ethical Principles of Biomedical Research” in partnership with the Indian Council for Medical Research

Patents

• Vemula PK, Chandrashekharappa S, Thorat K, and Pandey S. “A conjugate, a composition, an article, process of preparation and applications thereof” IPP Application No: 201841006678. (Product Available in Indian Markets)
• Vemula PK, Thorat K, Chandrashekharappa S, Pandey S. “Compositions, materials, and methods for deactivating toxic agents” Sri Lankan Conventional Patent Application Number: 20419
• Vemula PK, Thorat K, Chandrashekharappa S, Pandey S. “Compositions, materials, and methods for deactivating toxic agents” International PCT Application: PCT/IB2019/052296
• Thorat, K., Joshi, N. and Banerjee, R. “Targeted and Triggered Chitosan lipid core shell nanoparticles for combination chemotherapy”. Indian Patent Application No. 2469/Mum/2013.