Priya Kunapuli
Papers
2
Total Citations
55
H-Index
2
About
Priya Kunapuli is a leading figure in the advancement of high-throughput screening (HTS) technologies, with a particular focus on cell-based functional assays and G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) drug discovery. Her work has been instrumental in overcoming a critical bottleneck in HTS: the reliable supply of live cells for consistent, day-to-day screening operations. Her seminal 2005 paper on "Division Arrest Technology" (33 citations) demonstrated a novel method to halt cell division, enabling the use of a single, frozen cell batch for weeks of screening—a breakthrough that dramatically improved assay reproducibility and logistical efficiency. Building on this, Kunapuli pioneered ultra-high-throughput screening methods for GPCRs, a key target class in therapeutics. Her 2008 study (22 citations) detailed a 1,536-well [³⁵S]GTPγS scintillation proximity assay for orphan Gαi-coupled receptors, setting a new standard for sensitivity and throughput in GPCR drug discovery. By solving practical challenges in cell supply and assay miniaturization, Kunapuli’s contributions have directly accelerated the pace of pharmaceutical research, enabling more robust and scalable screens for novel drug candidates.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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