Aswini GnanasekaranDepartment of Pharmacology,
Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine,
The University of Iowa,
Iowa City,
IA 52242,
USA
Biography
My research interests are Calcium (Ca2+) signaling pathways and its biochemical regulation in neurons. During my doctoral studies I was interested on molecular mechanisms regulating Purinergic P2X3 pain receptors and its modulation by intracellular calcium in trigeminal neurons of migraine-model mice. My keen interest towards Ca2+ molecules in neurons moved me to do my Post-Doctoral research in Prof. Yuriy Usachev?s Lab in University of Iowa. My Post-Doctoral studies help me to study Calcium (Ca2+) signaling pathways in various aspects, including learning calcium imaging techniques, working on neurodegenerative models of Stroke and Epilepsy. Here mainly interested on mitochondrial calcium regulation by studying mitochondrial calcium channel. I have also got Prestigious Post-Doctoral Fellowship grant from American Heart Association (AHA) to study ?The role of mitochondrial Ca2+ signaling and mitochondria fission and fusion in the control of synaptic plasticity and neurotoxicity on Stroke model?.
Education
Ph.D., Neuroscience (October 2008 ? October 2012)
SISSA (International School of Advanced studies), Trieste, Italy.
Thesis Title: Molecular mechanisms regulating P2X3 receptors in trigeminal ganglia of wild type and R192QKI migraine-model mice.
Supervisor: Prof. Andrea Nistri
M.Phil., Endocrinology, (August 2007 ? August 2008)
University of Madras, IBMS, Taramani Campus, Chennai, India.
Weighted character average ? (65/100 Scale)
M.Sc., Animal Biotechnology, (August 2004 ? August 2006)
Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirapalli, India
Weighted character average ? (79/100 Scale)
B.Sc., Zoology, (July 2001 ? July 2004)
Madurai Kamaraj University, India.
Weighted character average ? (80/100 Scale)
University Rank holder (VI Rank)
Honors and Awards
American Heart Association Post Doctoral fellowship Award- Midwest Affiliate
Memberships / Societies
Federation of European Neuroscience Society
American Heart Association Member.
Research Interest
Neurotoxicity, Migraine, Neurology