Experience

Scintillon Institute

• United States
• Research Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Postdoctoral Scientist

  • Sep 2021 - Present

  ● To establish iPSCs derived human blood brain barrier model in a microfluidics chip device and characterize role of microRNA in strengthening tight junction proteins as a therapeutic against stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. ● Established astrocytes culture by differentiating iPSCs derived NPCs into astrocytes. ● Established pericytes culture by differentiating iPSCs to pericytes. ● Working on different protocols to derive human brain microvascular endothelial cells with greatest TEER.



Boston Children's Hospital

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• Postdoctoral Researcher

  • May 2019 - Jul 2021



Mass General Research Institute

• United States
• Research
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellow

  • Dec 2014 - Dec 2016

  My research in Hyman-lab was focused on Calcineurin, the only Calcium dependent protein phosphatase, and its role in neurodegeneration in AD. In order to fine tune a phosphatase, it is highly desirable to know context based activation of its catalytic isoforms and mechanism of endogenous inhibition. Hence, I began the project by comparing expression and localization of both catalytic and regulatory isoforms of the Calcineurin in the frontal cortex of AD brains. This work led me to the recognition that the regulatory isoform, RCAN2 of Calcineurin was significantly downregulated in the cytosol of AD frontal cortex. Thus, as a parallel project, I over-expressed Rcan2 in primary cortical neurons and neuroblastoma cell line N2A. My data demonstrated RCAN2 as a neuronal protein which is a modulator of γ-secretase activity.



Nanyang Technological University

• Singapore

• Doctor of Philosophy

  • Jul 2005 - Aug 2010

  • Characterized and reported for the first time cognitive and neuroprotective effects of p60TRP (transcription regulator protein; a novel protein discovered from a cDNA subtractive hybridization screen between brains from Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) patients and control subjects) and its corrective potentials in AD-related deficits. • Characterized the effect of neuronal expression of p60TRP on brain and cardiac capacities exploiting p60TRP transgenic mouse model. • Demonstrated Mani (Myelin associated neurite outgrowth inhibitor protein, p20) to be a neuronal, heavily N-glycosylated transmembrane protein that regulates axonal growth through the Mani-CDC27-APC pathway. My data also suggested that Mani-transfected NSCs could be employed in replenishing the loss of catecholaminergic neurons in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). • Characterized a novel protein p33 Monox discovered from a cDNA subtractive hybridization screen of AD and control subjects. • Worked with a graduate student to characterize pro-apoptotic protein p17. Our data demonstrated p17 to be a mediator of amyloid beta induced cell death. P17 is also an inhibitor of BDNF-TrkB pathway. • Demonstrated cognitive abilities of Tianma, a traditional Chinese Medicine, for the first time in N2a and recombinant PC12-TAF (Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 1B-App-fusion) cell line as well as in mice. My data demonstrated pharmacotherapeutic potentials of Tianma as a novel drug in treatment of AD. • Worked with other postdoctoral researcher and graduate student on the role of Tianma in blood vessel tonicity and reported its vasorelaxative nature.



Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research

• Bangalore, India

• R & D Assistant

  • Apr 2004 - Jun 2005

  • Study of Fatty acid Biosynthesis in malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum as a target for developing novel anti-malarial drug. • cultured Plasmodium falciparum in-vitro and maintained Plasmodium yoelii strain of the parasite in Balb/c mouse. • expressed and purified five mutants of β-ketoacyl-ACP reductase (FabG) protein, an enzyme in the fatty acid biosynthesis of Plasmodium falciparum to study the effect of point mutation on the activity of protein FabG using enzyme assay. • Study of Fatty acid Biosynthesis in malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum as a target for developing novel anti-malarial drug. • cultured Plasmodium falciparum in-vitro and maintained Plasmodium yoelii strain of the parasite in Balb/c mouse. • expressed and purified five mutants of β-ketoacyl-ACP reductase (FabG) protein, an enzyme in the fatty acid biosynthesis of Plasmodium falciparum to study the effect of point mutation on the activity of protein FabG using enzyme assay.



Banaras Hindu University

• M.Sc

  • 2001 - 2003

• B.Sc

  • 1998 - 2001