Moorthi Ponnusamy
Research Associate C/o Prof. Gopal Thinakaran
Department of Molecular Medicine, USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Center, USA Link: https://www.thinakaranlab.org/moorthi-ponnusami Post-doctoral scholar (2019 Nov - 2022 Nov) Department of Molecular Medicine, USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Center, USA Post-doctoral Fellow (2018 Feb - 2019 Oct) Department of Neurobiology, The University of Chicago, USA Ph.D. (2011-2018 Feb) Department of Biochemistry, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India. M. Sc., Biochemistry (2009-2011) Department of Biochemistry, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India. |
Area of Research
Neuroscience (special reference to Alzheimer’s disease)
Summary of the Research Interests
Alzheimer’s disease (AD): Notably, sporadic AD (SAD) is the most common and it’s usually occurs after age of 65. If this is really the case, why it largely raids older people? What happens to the brain, when we get older and how it contributes to the formation of neurotoxins and neuronal injury as well as promoting AD? It is one of the vexing issues in the pasture. Also, it is unclear, why neuronal cells consider Aβ as apoptotic stimuli? Further, does aging promotes abnormal cleavage of APP which leads to high amount of Aβ generation thereby progressing SAD pathogenesis? If so, why the good proteins goes wrong and what really happens in the protecting mechanism during aging is still not fully understood. In addition, "which stage of life and which region of the brain facilitates the pathogenesis of AD" is not yet clear. This prompts me to intrude my research in revealing the biochemical mechanism behind SAD pathogenesis by analyzing AD related proteins in Post-natal-developmental (PND) stages of rat at various brain regions to determine the sensitive period and region.
Summary of the Research Interests
Alzheimer’s disease (AD): Notably, sporadic AD (SAD) is the most common and it’s usually occurs after age of 65. If this is really the case, why it largely raids older people? What happens to the brain, when we get older and how it contributes to the formation of neurotoxins and neuronal injury as well as promoting AD? It is one of the vexing issues in the pasture. Also, it is unclear, why neuronal cells consider Aβ as apoptotic stimuli? Further, does aging promotes abnormal cleavage of APP which leads to high amount of Aβ generation thereby progressing SAD pathogenesis? If so, why the good proteins goes wrong and what really happens in the protecting mechanism during aging is still not fully understood. In addition, "which stage of life and which region of the brain facilitates the pathogenesis of AD" is not yet clear. This prompts me to intrude my research in revealing the biochemical mechanism behind SAD pathogenesis by analyzing AD related proteins in Post-natal-developmental (PND) stages of rat at various brain regions to determine the sensitive period and region.
Memberships in Professional Bodies
- Associate Member, Indian Academy of Neurosciences
- Annual member, Alzheimer’s & Related Disorders Society of India
Research Experience
Title of the Ph.D. Thesis : Understanding Key events involved in Age-Dependent Brain Region-Specific Alterations of
Alzheimer’s disease Proteins that Influence Neurodegeneration and Dementia: Neuroprotective
Role of Resveratrol
Duration : 2011-2018
Name & Designation of Guide : Dr. M. Anusuyadevi Jayachandran, Assistant Professor & Head
Institution/University : Molecular Gerontology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Bharathidasan University,
Palkalaiperur, Tiruchirappalli-620 024, Tamil Nadu, India.
E-mail : [email protected] / [email protected]
Title of the Project : Role of exosomes in Alzheimer's Disease
Duration : 05th June – 25th July 2013 (2 months)
Name & Designation of Guide : Prof. Dr. Lawrence Rajendran, Co-Director
Institution/ University : Neurodegeneration, Division of Psychiatry Research, University of Zurich, August-Forel Str. 1
8008 Zurich, Switzerland
E-mail : [email protected]
Title of the Project : Are Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 (CDK4) inhibitors neuroprotector in Alzheimer's Disease
Duration : January 2011 - June 2011 (6 months)
Name & Designation of Guide : Dr. Subhas C. Biswas, Scientist E-1
Institution/ University : Cell Biology & Physiology Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB),
Kolkata-24, West Bengal, India.
E-mail : [email protected]
Title of the Project : Molecular Modeling of amyloid-beta A4 protein of Homo sapiens with Mus Musculus
(Mouse)
Duration : 20th May 2010 - 19th June 2010 (1 month)
Institution/ University : Sai’s Biosciences Research Institute Pvt. Ltd, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Alzheimer’s disease Proteins that Influence Neurodegeneration and Dementia: Neuroprotective
Role of Resveratrol
Duration : 2011-2018
Name & Designation of Guide : Dr. M. Anusuyadevi Jayachandran, Assistant Professor & Head
Institution/University : Molecular Gerontology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Bharathidasan University,
Palkalaiperur, Tiruchirappalli-620 024, Tamil Nadu, India.
E-mail : [email protected] / [email protected]
Title of the Project : Role of exosomes in Alzheimer's Disease
Duration : 05th June – 25th July 2013 (2 months)
Name & Designation of Guide : Prof. Dr. Lawrence Rajendran, Co-Director
Institution/ University : Neurodegeneration, Division of Psychiatry Research, University of Zurich, August-Forel Str. 1
8008 Zurich, Switzerland
E-mail : [email protected]
Title of the Project : Are Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 (CDK4) inhibitors neuroprotector in Alzheimer's Disease
Duration : January 2011 - June 2011 (6 months)
Name & Designation of Guide : Dr. Subhas C. Biswas, Scientist E-1
Institution/ University : Cell Biology & Physiology Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB),
Kolkata-24, West Bengal, India.
E-mail : [email protected]
Title of the Project : Molecular Modeling of amyloid-beta A4 protein of Homo sapiens with Mus Musculus
(Mouse)
Duration : 20th May 2010 - 19th June 2010 (1 month)
Institution/ University : Sai’s Biosciences Research Institute Pvt. Ltd, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Honors/Awards:
- Selected for the “Raise. Rural International Visiting Scholarship", University of Zurich, Switzerland (2013)
- Invited talk entitled “Cellular mechanisms of amyloid production in Alzheimer’s disease” in Zurich-Bangalore Exploratory Workshop on “Frontiers in Biology and Medicine” in Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, India (Feb 2014).
- School Second Rank in 10th standard (2004), Government high schools in Menallur, Tiruvannamalai district – 631 702.
- 1st Price in Speech Contest - Republic day (2004) - Government high schools in Menallur, Tiruvannamalai district – 631 702.
- 1st Price in drawing competition - Republic day (2004) - Government high schools in Menallur, Tiruvannamalai district – 631 702.
- 1st Price in Article writing - Independence day (2003) - Government high schools in Menallur, Tiruvannamalai district – 631 702.
- 1st Price in Drawing Competition Rainwater collection - independence day (2003) - Government high schools in Menallur, Tiruvannamalai district – 631 702.
- 1st Price in Recitation of Thirukural - Independence day (2003) - Government high schools in Menallur, Tiruvannamalai district – 631 702.
- 2nd Price in drawing competition - Independence day (2003) - Government high schools in Menallur, Tiruvannamalai district – 631 702.
- 2nd Price in Article writing - Rainwater collection - independence day (2003) - Government high schools in Menallur, Tiruvannamalai district – 631 702.
- 2nd Price in Speech Contest - Independence day (2003) - Government high schools in Menallur, Tiruvannamalai district – 631 702.
- 1st Price in Kho-Kho Contest in Republic day (2004) - Government high schools in Menallur, Tiruvannamalai district – 631 702.
- 2nd Price in Kabadi Competition in Republic day (2004) - Government high schools in Menallur, Tiruvannamalai district – 631 702.
- Participated kalai panpattu Painting - Jawahar Siruvar Mandram - kanchipuram district - Drawing and Painting Summer Camp (2004).
- 3rd Place (2001) -Appreciation certificate - district education selection committee – cheyyar, Tiruvannamalai district – 631 702.
Contact Information
Dr. Moorthi Ponnusamy
Research Associate
C/0 Prof. Gopal Thinakaran
Department of Molecular Medicine,
USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Center, ALZ
University of South Florida,
4001 E. Fletcher Ave
Tampa, FL 33613, USA.
E-mail:- [email protected]
[email protected]
Research Associate
C/0 Prof. Gopal Thinakaran
Department of Molecular Medicine,
USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Center, ALZ
University of South Florida,
4001 E. Fletcher Ave
Tampa, FL 33613, USA.
E-mail:- [email protected]
[email protected]