Postdoctoral Training - Molecular Neurobiology
Washington University in St. Louis - 2021
Professional Preparation
Ph.D. - Developmental Neurobiology
State University of New York, Buffalo - 2014
State University of New York, Buffalo - 2014
M.Sc. - Microbiology
Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal - 2003
Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal - 2003
Research Areas
Neuroscience, Neurodegenerative diseases, Molecular biology
We study the regulation of mRNA translation in brain function and disease. Of particular interest is alternative translation, where ribosomes use noncanonical start and stop codons and generate N- and C-terminal protein variants. Two key questions guide us: i) What roles do atypical protein variants play in the central nervous system?, and ii) How is translation impacted in neurological diseases? We have found that a C-terminally elongated variant of the water channel protein AQP4 is involved in the clearance of amyloid-beta from the brain. Current research focuses on AQP4 as well as additional protein variants and utilizes molecular biology, transcriptomics, translatomics, mouse genetics, stereotaxic surgeries, pharmacology, MRI, and behavioral assays. By studying previously uncharacterized protein variants, we aim to illuminate brain health and neurological disease from a new molecular perspective.Publications
Evaluation of gliovascular functions of AQP4 readthrough isoforms 2023 - Journal Article
Activity-dependent translation dynamically alters the proteome of the perisynaptic astrocyte process. 2022 - Journal Article
Single cell transcriptomics reveals lineage trajectory of retinal ganglion cells in wild-type and Atoh7-null retinas. 2021 - Journal Article
An inducible Cre mouse line to sparsely target nervous system cells, including Remak Schwann cells. 2020 - Journal Article
Cell-Type-Specific Profiling of Alternative Translation Identifies Regulated Protein Isoform Variation in the Mouse Brain. 2019 - Journal Article
Quantitative Nucleotide Level Analysis of Regulation of Translation in Response to Depolarization of Cultured Neural Cells. 2017 - Journal Article
Awards
Rockford Draper Early Career Development Award - UT Dallas [2021]
Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) - National Institute on Aging [2019]
McDonnell Center for Neurobiology Postdoctoral Fellowship - Washington University in St Louis [2016]
Biochemistry Dissertation Research Recognition Award - State University of New York, Buffalo [2014]
Gold Medal (for ranking nationally top in MSc examination) - Government of Nepal [2003]
Appointments
Assistant Professor
The University of Texas at Dallas [2021–Present]
The University of Texas at Dallas [2021–Present]
Lecturer
Yichun University School of Medicine, Xianxi, China [2007–2008]
Yichun University School of Medicine, Xianxi, China [2007–2008]
Lecturer
Universal College of Medical Sciences, Lumbini, Nepal [2003–2007]
Universal College of Medical Sciences, Lumbini, Nepal [2003–2007]