RESEARCH INTEREST:

The prime focus of the laboratory is to understand the disease pathogenesis in model systems of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD) and develop new diagnostic and therapeutic targets based on cutting edge technology. My group uses primary cultures of cortical and hippocampal neurons, astrocyte, stereotaxic toxin-infused rodents for both AD and PD, and the latest transgenic model (5xFAD) to delineate pathologic mechanisms and to screen specific drug candidates. We have also established a state of the art facility for neuro-behavioural studies in which all kinds of cognitive behaviours can be computed.

 

Notably, we have identified several key signaling pathways and pro-apoptotic molecules which play a vital role in neurodegeneration in models of AD.

The main findings of my group are:

(a) Transcription factor FoxO3a is a major player that mediates the death of neurons by directly inducing pro-apoptotic genes such as Bim, Puma, and Bmf. 

(b) The intricate regulation of Puma expression by transcription factors c-Jun, FoxO3a, and p53.

(c) Tribbles pseudokinase 3 induces both apoptosis and autophagy and mediates neuron death in AD.

(d) Aberrant activation of Cell division cycle 25A (Cdc25A) and Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4) lead to neuron death and novel synthetic Cdk4 and Cdc25A inhibitors significantly protect neurons against insults relevant to AD and PD.

(e) Identification of several cytokines such as TIMP-1 and ICAM-1 released from activated astrocytes which confer neuroprotection and ameliorates cognitive behaviours in rodent models of AD.

(f) Value addition of Parker Robinson’s poly-herbal product, Medha-plus which ameliorates Alzheimer’s pathology and improved learning and memory of rodent models of AD.

CREDENTIALS:

Ph.D. (1998), Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
Post Doctoral Research (1998 – 2009), Columbia University, New York, USA