Research Programme · IISc

Exploring venom, biodiversity, and molecular evolution.

The Evolutionary Venomics Lab at the Indian Institute of Science explores venom, biodiversity, and molecular evolution. We study venomous animals to understand how ecology, geography, and genetics shape their diversity and evolution. Combining field research, genomics, venomics, electrophysiology, and AI, we investigate venom function, develop snakebite treatments and diagnostics, and discover molecules with potential therapeutic applications.

Research Themes Key Discoveries Publications Archive
01 Venom Evolution 02 Venom Diversity 03 Snakebite Therapeutics 04 Phylogenomics
In the Press

Featured media coverage on snakebite innovation

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Research Themes

Six interconnected research themes

Our research integrates macroecology, systematics, historical biogeography, population genomics, protein evolution, and translational medicine.

How diet, environment, and life history shape venom diversity.

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Developing antivenoms, diagnostics, and therapeutics from venom research.

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Reconstructing evolutionary relationships and uncovering hidden species diversity.

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Understanding how geography and Earth’s history shape species distributions and diversification.

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Exploring genetic diversity, gene flow, and evolutionary history through genomes.

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Investigating how genes and proteins evolve to generate new functions.

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Scientific Milestones

Key discoveries across four pillars

Selected peer-reviewed breakthroughs on the evolutionary dynamics of toxins, biogeographic venom variation, next-generation therapeutics, and phylogenomics.

Prof. Sunagar's Research Profile
Impact & Outreach

From venom research to new therapies

Through VISHAM and Venomics AI, we advance snakebite research, antivenom development, training, and education, while combining AI, high throughput venomics, and electrophysiology to discover venom molecules with therapeutic and diagnostic potential.

Snakebite Research & Education Facility VISHAM · Bengaluru

Venom Institute for Snakebite Health and Advanced Medicine

A dedicated 21,500 sq. ft. serpentarium and snakebite research facility being established in Bengaluru by EVL at IISc, in collaboration with IBAB and supported by the Government of Karnataka, to advance venom science, antivenom development and testing, frontline training, biotech incubation, and wildlife forensics.

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AI-Accelerated Biodiscovery Venomics AI · Venoms to Drugs

Venomics AI: AI-Accelerated Biodiscovery from Venoms

Combining machine learning, evolutionary genomics, and high-throughput venomics to mine animal venoms for bioactive peptides and proteins with therapeutic and diagnostic potential.

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