Akshata A. Almad

B.S. in Life Sciences, University of Mumbai
M.S. in Life Sciences, University of Mumbai

Thesis Advisor:  Dana McTigue

E-Mail:  almad.1@osu.edu

Research:

I am currently working on two projects.  My first project involves the study of a family of transcription factors called PPAR-gamma, known to be involved in a number of important functions including carrying out anti-inflammatory functions.  I am trying to see the effect of feeding PPAR-gamma agonists to animals undergoing spinal cord injury to 1)determine if there is any amelioration in the tissue morphology; 2) look at tissue sparing; and 3) see if there are any behavioral outcomes.

My second project focuses on studying the role of gap junctions in spinal cord injury and whether the function of the gap junction is affected after injury.  If the function is affected, then I will look at whether it is beneficial or detrimental.  I am focusing on the astrocytic gap junction particularly, connexin 43, and how its connectivity possibly affects oligodendrocytes survival, proliferation, and differentiation.

Awards:

• 2007    Travel Award, 12th ISNR
• 2008    Alumni Grant for Graduate Research and Scholarship, OSU
• 2008    Edward Ray Travel Award, OSU

Publications:

Gensel JC, Almad AA, Alexander JK, Schonberg DL, Tripathi RB (2008)  Does chronic remyelination occur for all spared axons after spinal cord injury in mouse? J Neurosci. 28(34):8385-6.

Lee B, Almad A, Butcher GQ, Obrietan K. (2007) Protein kinase C modulates the phase-delaying effects of light in the mammalian circadian clock. Eur J Neurosci. 26(2):451-462.