I am an early-career physician-scientist studying mechanisms that regulate neuroinflammation in the brain in neurodegenerative diseases and stroke. My laboratory uses traditional in-vitro and in-vivo models coupled with transcriptomics, proteomics and systems-biology approaches to identify novel regulators of neuroinflammation with the ultimate goal of identifying new therapeutic approaches and biomarkers of neurologic disease. Most recently, we have established pre-clinical proof of concept and efficacy of Kv1.3 potassium channel blockers to inhibit microglial pro-inflammatory activation and limit neuropathology in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
We have also used an integrated systems-pharmacology approach to identify a complex transcriptomic framework of microglial activation and state transitions in AD that is relevant to other neurodegenerative disorders as well. Based on these exciting findings, we are also developing a high-throughput high-content screening system in primary microglia to identify novel regulators of microglial activation and state transitions in AD. I have a track record of academic research productivity at all stages of my early academic career and am a recipient of competitive early career training awards (American Brain Foundation, Alzheimer’s Association and NIH K08), R21 as well as several intramural pilot grants.