I am a postdoctoral associate in Dr Kuhn’s lab. I completed my PhD from Purdue University, IN. For my PhD thesis (2018-2024) at Purdue University, I studied the mechanisms of interaction between CaMKII and barrestins, two important effectors of badrenergic signaling in heart failure. I used biochemical methods to identify key regulatory mechanisms involved in the interaction between CaMKII and barrestins, CaMKII interaction sites on barrestins, and CaMKII-dependent phosphorylation on barrestins. In addition to my dissertation research, I participated in collaborative work that led to 3 published papers. The first was identifying the effects of CaMKII on Nav1.6 function, the second was identifying substrate motifs for PRDM9, and the third was identifying the effect of Calmodulin N98S mutation of K+ channels in the heart. Prior to my PhD, I completed my medical school (MBBS, India) in 2012, followed by an MD in Pharmacology in 2017 from JIPMER, India. For my MD pharmacology thesis, I studied the pharmacology of two toxic compounds, Cleistanthins A and B, derived from a poisonous plant that causes hypotension during suicidal poisoning in South India. I identified that both Cleistanthins A and B cause an irreversible blockade of a-adrenergic receptors in guinea pig aortic tissues, which might cause hypotension. I received extensive animal handling and research training during my MD pharmacology training. I also received training in designing clinical trials during my MD pharmacology. I have broad expertise in biochemical, pharmacological, animal, and clinical research. My current interest is in identifying molecular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of cardiac disorders. Specifically, I am interested in the molecular determinants lying at the interface of calcium signaling and cell fate signaling that contribute to cardiac failure pathophysiology and inhibit cardiac regeneration.
Education
- PhD, Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, USA, 2024
- MD, Pharmacology, JIPMER, India, 2017
- MBBS, JIPMER, India, 2013