Dr. Nagu began his career in 2003 as a Medical Laboratory Technician and completed his graduate studies with a focus on Microbiology. His research encompasses diverse therapeutic approaches, including the development of novel antibacterials, repurposing of FDA-approved molecules, and synthesis of hybrid compounds targeting pathogenic bacterial agents. His primary research interest lies in infectious diseases and the development of innovative therapeutics against bacterial pathogens.

Dr. NT received his academic and professional training in India, South Korea, and the United States. He is a trained microbiologist specializing in medical bacteriology and biomedical sciences. He earned his Ph.D. from Yonsei University, South Korea (ranked #3 nationally and #76 globally) and completed his postdoctoral research at Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital, where his work in the Mylonakis Laboratory focused on antibacterial therapies.

Following his postdoctoral studies, Dr. Nagu joined Brown University (ranked #60 globally) as an Instructor of Medicine and Research Scientist at The Miriam Hospital, where he received his first NIH pilot grant as Principal Investigator. Since March 2024, he has been serving as an Assistant Research Professor of Medicine at the Houston Methodist Academic Institute and an Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology Research at Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University.

His research has been published in international peer-reviewed journals, including high-impact titles such as Nature Communications, ACS Nano, Carbohydrate Polymers, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, mBio, Future Medicinal Chemistry, Frontiers in Microbiology, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, and Scientific Reports.

Dr. Nagu's ongoing research spans multiple domains, including high-throughput screening, compound discovery, target validation, and exploration of lead compounds against Helicobacter pylori, Staphylococcus aureus, and major Gram-negative pathogens using in vivo murine infection models.

Dr. Nagu mentors students at various levels, from high school to graduate and MD students, and he enjoys meeting them once a week and discussing science.  

1. Drug repurposing. Dr. Nagu discovered that niclosamide, an antihelminthic compound, could inhibit Helicobacter pylori (PMC5829259) and patented it (US11419834B2). Although H. pylori previously developed resistance against standard antibiotics such as clarithromycin and metronidazole, niclosamide resistance was not found after continuous exposure.

Dr. Nagu reported mefloquine against A. baumannii (PMID: 39998211), auranofin agasint S. aureus (PMID: 31298580), diflunisal agasint F. tularensis (PMID: 28652232), auranofin-coated catheters (PMID: 30873389), determined to deter biofilm formation and bacterial accumulation. 

2. Antibacterial activity of natural compounds against Helicobacter pylori: Dr. Nagu investigated the utility of some of those bioactive compounds against the H. pylori bacterium, such as piperine from black pepper (PMID: 27158376; PMC4290101), and studied their effectiveness at inhibiting H. pylori. This study revealed for the first time that piperine acts as an effective H. pylori inhibitor, thereby counteracting processes that lead to gastric cancer from that pathogen. 

3. Antimicrobial compounds that inhibit ESKAPE pathogens. Dr. Nagu seeks novel therapeutic compounds against ESKAPE pathogens, and we found several molecules that can potentially be repurposed as antimicrobial agents. 

Dr. Nagu enjoys mentoring students around the globe and students are encouraged to contact him via email. 

Patent: "METHODS FOR TREATING DISEASES OR INFECTIONS CAUSED BY OR ASSOCIATED WITH H. PYLORI USING A HALOGENATED SALICYLANILIDE" 20200268693- A1, August 27, 2020.

Status- Approved. The patent covers the repurposing drug niclosamide to combat Helicobacter pylori.