Abhilasha Gupta, Senior Application Scientist
In this scientist-to-scientist Q&A, we sit down with Abhilasha Gupta, a Senior Application Scientist at Vector Biolabs, to talk about supporting gene-silencing projects, what “personal guidance” looks like in practice, and how pre-validated shRNA can save researchers time and risk without sacrificing rigor.
Q: For readers who haven’t met you yet, what does your day-to-day look like as an FAS?
“I work across academia, biotech, and pharma to understand what their project is really about—what promoter, route of administration, and how much payload makes sense. I communicate that with our lab team so we can provide their virus on time and in full.” She adds, “For some projects it might be a quick email; other times it’s a meeting to dig into questions. I also help with post-project technical support and data sheets once production is complete.”
Q: How did you come to join Vector Biolabs.
She begins with a laugh “I used to be a client!” As a client, she valued the “scientific colleague approach that Vector Biolabs takes,” and credits the Vector Biolabs team for helping her previous team advance their pipelines including one to IND and allowed it to be published. “We are here to help you- we were bench scientists, and we know the grind.”
Q: Vector Biolabs talks about ‘personal guidance to empower discovery.’ What does that mean in practice?
“It’s truly personal. Some scientists are brand-new to AAV or adenovirus; others are experts but are starting a new protein or system. I’m there to say, ‘maybe try this capsid—or let’s not, because here are the tradeoffs. It’s hands-on guidance to make the experimental path clearer.”
Q: You mentioned you’re excited about a gene-silencing workflow your team offers. Can you walk us through it—especially the pre-validated shRNA angle?
“We have over 100,000 pre-synthesized cDNAs for mouse and human—and, importantly for silencing, a whole set of shRNA sequences that are pre-validated for the U6 promoter.” She notes that many of these sequences originate from established consortia (e.g., Broad Institute) and have been used repeatedly. “Because they’re pre-validated, we can go right ahead and clone them. While for projects that need broader coverage, we’ll design multiple shRNAs, screen, and package a mini-panel so labs can assess in their own system.” Researchers can also bring a published shRNA: “If they find a published sequence, we’ll clone, package, and purify it.” Bottom line? “We can design, screen, and validate—or just design. If a team has already screened in-house, we’ll handle the cloning and production. It saves the researcher a lot of time.”
Q: Budgets are tight almost everywhere. How do you see teams valuing this kind of support?
“We understand what’s happening in today’s world. The justification is that you’re saving yourself a lot of time: strategy time, grant-writing time, the time you need to run your lab. There’s so much overhead just to start a project. For another lab, building all of this might take months. With us, you let us do the hard work.” She also points to skill gaps: “Not everyone has molecular cloning expertise—it’s a skill that’s being lost in some places. We step in so the science doesn’t stall.”
Q: Some researchers might wonder: why not price-shop overseas once you’ve got the guidance?
“Think of it like buying furniture—do you want someone who just started, or someone who’s been doing it for 25–30 years? We come with a lot of experience and a lot of technical support that many competitors don’t provide.” That support starts early and continues after delivery: “Before they even have a quote in hand and after they’ve received the virus.” She also emphasizes quality and pragmatism: “Teams want virus quickly and they want it to be high quality. Our preparations are highly homogeneous and very pure. We will work within your budget requirements.”
Q: Outside the lab and fieldwork, what keeps you balanced?
“I’m a trained South Indian classical dancer and also practice meditation and breathwork (Sudarshan kriya). Classical dancing is something I’ve done since I was a kid, and it’s stayed with me through every stage of my career. When I’m dancing, I completely disconnect from the analytical mindset—it’s about rhythm, movement, and flow.” She laughs, “It’s the opposite of data analysis! But it resets me in the way meditation and Sudarshan kriya does. After that, I can come back to work with a clear mind and fresh energy.”
Q: What keeps you motivated in this work?
“I’ve been fortunate with mentors—professors, supervisors—who were passionate about science. We come into science because we care. When you’re doing something you love, it isn’t a job; you don’t count the hours, you just do the work.”
About Vector Biolabs
Vector Biolabs’ cutting-edge viral vector technologies support a wide range of critical applications in biomedical research and therapeutic development. From advancing gene therapy treatments for genetic disorders to validating drug targets with precision, our vectors empower researchers to achieve reliable and impactful results.
If you want to know more about pre-validated shRNA contact us.