The International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) has announced the recipients of its prestigious ICTP Prize for 2023, recognizing outstanding young researchers from developing countries who have made significant contributions to the field of physics. This year, the award honors Mohit Kumar Jolly, an alumni of CTBP for his innovative work in distinct areas of physics.
Mohit Kumar Jolly, an Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore, has been awarded the ICTP Prize “for innovative contributions to understanding the emergent dynamics of cellular transitions during cancer metastasis and therapeutic resistance, and for unraveling the latent design principles of cellular networks that can determine a cell’s fate.”
Matteo Marsili, a senior research scientist in ICTP’s Quantitative Life Science section and a member of the Prize committee, highlighted Jolly’s interdisciplinary approach. “Jolly works across different disciplines and applies a physics perspective to the understanding of cancer dynamics. His work has tackled cutting-edge biomedical problems through a first-principles approach to systems dynamics and the integration of mathematical modelling with experimental and clinical data,” Marsili explained.
Jolly’s academic journey is marked by excellence and dedication. He has been serving as an Assistant Professor at IISc Bangalore since 2018. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biological sciences and bioengineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur, India. Pursuing his passion for bioengineering, Jolly completed his PhD at Rice University in Texas in 2016. Following his doctoral studies, he continued his research as a postdoctoral researcher at Rice University for two years before returning to India to join IISc Bangalore.
What Attracted Mohit Kumar Jolly to Studying the Biology of Cancer?
Mohit’s interest in cancer biology began during his Master’s program at IIT Kanpur, where he focused on mathematical modeling of cell polarity. In the summer of 2012, just before embarking on his PhD at Rice University, he read “The Emperor of All Maladies” by Dr. Siddharth Mukherjee. He was surprised to discover how little research had been dedicated to understanding the systems-level dynamics of cancer, despite its increasing prevalence worldwide.
During my PhD, he began modeling the dynamics of biochemical networks involved in cancer metastasis under the guidance of Prof. Herbert Levine and other Professors at the Center for Theoretical Biological Physics (CTBP). Our work led to some initial predictions about cancer behavior. To validate these predictions, he initiated collaborations with various experimental cancer biology groups and clinicians, allowing us to collect extensive time-course experimental data on cell-state transitions. Many of these exciting collaborations continue to thrive today, further advancing our understanding of cancer dynamics.
The ICTP Prize celebrates researchers who originate from and work in developing countries, emphasizing the originality and importance of their scientific contributions. Alongside Jolly, Xinan Zhou from China was also recognized for his exceptional work, showcasing the diverse and impactful research emerging from these regions.
The ICTP Prize not only honors individual achievements but also underscores the vital role of developing countries in advancing global scientific knowledge. Jolly’s award highlights the potential of interdisciplinary research in addressing complex biomedical challenges, paving the way for future innovations in cancer treatment and therapeutic strategies.
CONGRATULATIONS! Mohit Kumar Jolly on this remarkable achievement and invaluable contributions to pioneering Cancer Research.