We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sushant Kumar. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sushant below.

Sushant, appreciate you joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

I come from a small town in Bihar, and both my parents had studied only till high school. Their exposure to career options was very limited, just like most families around us. In our town, success usually meant becoming a government officer, and yes, my parents also had that dream for me at one point. But the most important thing they did right was they never forced their dream onto me.

We lived in a big joint family of more than 20 people in one house and there was only one earning member. Financially, things were always tight. Still, my parents made sure I studied in the best school in our town. I didn’t understand it then, but now I realize how big a sacrifice that was.

As I grew older, they gave me something even more valuable than money, that was freedom. From middle school onward, I was allowed to choose my subjects and later my career path. There was guidance, but no pressure. They would explain what society considers “right” or “wrong,” but the final choice was always mine. That built a sense of responsibility in me very early.

I remember during my B.Tech, my father reduced his own personal expenses so he could buy me one of the best laptops available at that time. For him, that wasn’t just a gadget, it was an investment in my dreams. Later, during my M.Tech, when I developed an interest in research instead of taking up a job immediately, many people advised my parents to make me earn. But they stood by me and said, “Let him study if that’s what he wants.” That trust changed my life.

They also allowed me to play, roam and explore. I wasn’t restricted out of fear. Because of that, I learned to explore the world and make decisions on my own. Another small but powerful thing they did was they appreciated me in front of others. That quiet encouragement built my confidence more than any lecture ever could.

Unfortunately, my father passed away during my first year of PhD. That was one of the hardest phases of my life. But even today, I carry his lessons with me.
Looking back, my parents may not have had big degrees or corporate exposure, but they got the fundamentals of parenting absolutely right. That foundation shaped not just my career, but the person I am today.

Sushant, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a scientist and currently leading R&D at ImmunoACT, a cell and gene therapy company with a clear mission to make advanced cancer therapies accessible, not just available.

My journey into this field began with a deep interest in how the immune system functions in cancer and autoimmune diseases. During my PhD and postdoctoral research, I worked on immune regulation and T-cell biology. That scientific foundation naturally led me into CAR-T cell therapy, where we genetically engineer a patient’s own T cells to recognize and eliminate cancer.

At ImmunoACT, we translate cutting-edge immunology into real therapies. We are the first groups in India to take CAR-T from academic research to commercial treatment. Our CD19 CAR-T therapy (NexCAR19) for B-cell cancers has demonstrated that high-quality, clinically effective cell therapy can be developed and delivered at a fraction of global costs. Being part of that journey is one of my biggest professional milestones.

My role focuses on developing next-generation CAR-T programs including therapies for solid tumors, in vivo CAR-T and improving CAR design for better affinity. We solve not only biological challenges like tumor resistance and immune suppression, but also systemic barriers such as cost, scalability, and infrastructure.

What sets us apart is our dual focus: deep science with an access-driven mindset. We are building platforms designed to work in real-world, resource-constrained settings while meeting global standards. For me personally, this work aligns science with purpose, using advanced immunotherapy to bridge gaps in cancer care.

ImmunoACT represents a new wave of biotech from India: innovation that is globally competitive, clinically impactful, and built with affordability in mind. Our goal is simple but powerful- to ensure breakthrough therapies don’t remain a privilege but become a possibility for many more patients.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

For me personally, what helped most in this field went far beyond degrees or technical skills. Learning to think translationally changed everything for me. During my initial years of PhD, I was focused mainly on mechanisms. But over time, my supervisor Prof. Rahul Purwar taught me to started asking different questions: Can this be made consistently? Can a hospital realistically use this? Will a patient in a resource-limited setting ever access this? That shift in thinking is what shaped my work at ImmunoACT today.

Independence in decision-making also helped a lot. I was given freedom early in life to choose my path, and that reflects in how I work. I’m comfortable taking responsibility for scientific decisions, even when outcomes are uncertain. In R&D leadership, that confidence matters.

Another big factor has been the ability to work across disciplines. I had to learn to speak not just “immunology,” but also the language of manufacturing, clinicians, and regulatory teams. Some of my biggest progress happened not at the bench, but in discussions where science meets real-world constraints.

And finally, a sense of purpose matters more than people realize. When you know your work could directly impact patients with life-threatening diseases, it changes how you approach problems, setbacks, and long hours.

In short, succeeding here requires not just being a good scientist, but being persistent, collaborative, systems-oriented, and mission-driven.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

For me, team management is deeply influenced by how I grew up and how my own mentors treated me.

I come from a background where opportunities were limited but trust and encouragement made a huge difference in my journey. So in my team, the first thing I focus on is trust. I try not to micromanage. Scientists perform best when they feel ownership over their work. I give clear goals, but also the freedom to decide how to reach them.

Second, I normalize failure. In R&D, failure is not a sign of incompetence, it’s part of discovery. I make it clear that negative data is still data. When people aren’t afraid of being blamed, they think more creatively and honestly.

Recognition is another big factor. I make it a point to appreciate team members openly in meetings, in front of collaborators, or with leadership. A small acknowledgment can dramatically boost confidence, especially for young researchers who may be doubting themselves.

Communication matters more than hierarchy. I keep my door open for both scientific discussions and personal concerns. Sometimes morale drops not because of workload, but because someone feels unheard or stuck.

Contact Info:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sushant-kumar-phd/
• Twitter: @Dr_SushantK