Dr. Pallavi Asthana, a Research Assistant Professor at the School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University
|
Degree / Role |
Institution |
Field of Study |
Period |
|
Post-Doctoral Fellow |
City University of Hong Kong |
Neuroscience |
2018 – 2021 |
|
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) |
City University of Hong Kong |
Neuroscience |
2013 – 2018 |
|
Master of Technology (M.Tech) |
Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) |
Biotechnology |
2010 – 2012 |
|
Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) |
Maharshi Dayanand University |
Biotechnology |
2006 – 2010 |
Her work is centered on the mechanisms of axon regeneration in both the peripheral (PNS) and central nervous systems (CNS). Notably, she has contributed to the discovery of small molecules, such as M1, which stimulate mitochondrial transport and fusion to promote long-distance nerve regrowth. This has significant implications for treating conditions like glaucoma and optic nerve crush
Neuroprotection: Investigated the role of Heat Shock Protein 27 (Hsp27) in extending the window for motor recovery in autoimmune neuropathies like Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Brain Aging: Identified MT1-MMP as a key driver of cognitive decline, showing that its inhibition can "rejuvenate" the aging brain and restore memory in obese and elderly models.
Motor Recovery: Explored how deep brain stimulation and the cerebellar glutamatergic system impact the recovery of fine motor coordination in ataxia
Neuroregeneration: Investigating ways to promote nerve repair and functional recovery, particularly in the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Metabolic Disorders: Exploring the mechanisms of obesity, insulin resistance, and Type 2 diabetes.
Drug Repurposing: Identifying new therapeutic uses for existing drugs, such as using the anti-malarial drug artesunate for treating obesity.
Molecular Neuroscience: Studying the role of specific proteins like MT1-MMP in aging brains and cognitive deficits.
| Research Topic | Key Finding |
| Obesity Treatment | Demonstrated that artesunate can effectively reduce body weight and fat in non-human primates without common side effects like nausea. |
| Brain Aging | Found that inhibiting the protein MT1-MMP may help "rejuvenate" the aging brain and rescue cognitive deficits related to obesity. |
| Nerve Repair | Contributed to studies on small molecules that promote optic nerve regeneration to restore visual function. |
MT1-MMP inhibition rejuvenates ageing brain and rescues cognitive deficits in obesity
Artesunate treats obesity in male mice and non-human primates through GDF15/GFRAL signalling axis
Preventing obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes by targeting MT1-MMP
A small molecule M1 promotes optic nerve regeneration to restore target-specific neural activity and visual function
Cerebellar glutamatergic system impacts spontaneous motor recovery by regulating Gria1 expression
Heat shock protein is a key therapeutic target for nerve repair in autoimmune peripheral neuropathy
Ciguatoxin Induces Excitotoxicity and Neurodegeneration in the Motor Cortex via Caspase-3 Activation