Ramesh Chandra
Ramesh Chandra
Research Associate
  • :410 706 3309
    • :410 706 2043

Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology
University of Maryland School of Medicine
USA

Education

  2010 PhD (Zoology), Department Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, collaborated with Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
  2001 Master of Science (Zoology) Kashi Naresh PG College, Gyanpur, Sant Ravi Das Nagar –Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh, India
   1999 Bachelor of Science (Chemistry, Botany and Zoology) Kashi Naresh Post Graduate College, Gyanpur, Sant Ravi Das Nagar –Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh, India

 

Biography

Dr. Chandra is a Research Associate in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. He holds a B.S. (Zoology, Botany, Chemistry; 1999) and M.S. (Zoology; 2001) from KashiNaresh PG College, India, and a Ph.D. (Zoology; 2010) from the Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), registered at Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University, India. He joined Dr. Lobo’s lab to utilize his extensive Molecular Biology skills in the field of molecular Neuroscience.

Research Interest

His research interests focus on the neuropsychiatric disorders like cocaine addiction and social defeat stress. His current research project broadly investigates the cell type specific transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms in the two nucleus accumbens (NAc) projection Medium Spiny Neuron (MSN), those enriched in dopamine D1 vs. D2 receptors, due to their critical but antagonizing roles in cocaine abuse. He is using molecular approaches to manipulate gene expression in the two NAc projection neurons to determine their role in cocaine-mediated behaviors and social interaction.

Professional Activities:

Professional Society Memberships

Member of Society for Neuroscience since 2013

Honors and Awards

  • 1999 University Gold Medal - Secured First Rank in the order of merit in the B.Sc. Examination of KNPG College, Gyanpur, Sant Ravi Das Nagar – Bhadohi, (U.P.) India
  • 06/2002 Lectureship- NET - Qualified test of Eligibility for Lectureship conducted jointly by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and University Grants Commission, New Delhi
  • 2003 Qualified GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) examination 2003 in life science 85.7 percentile. (All India Rank 501)
  • 01/2004 - 31/2005 Junior Research Fellowship from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. (A very competitive prestigious fellowship awarded to selected fellows based on competitive exam on national level)
  • 01/2006 - 01/2009 Senior Research Fellowship from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. (A very competitive prestigious fellowship awarded to selected fellows based on competitive exam on national level)
  • 12/2014 Won the Best Poster Award (2nd prize) at The Greater Baltimore Chapter of Society for Neuroscience, Baltimore, MD, Dec 2, 2014.
  • 06/2015 Won the Best Poster Award (1st prize) at 18th Annual Neuroscience Retreat at Notre Dame of Maryland University, Baltimore, MD, Jun 26, 2015.
  • 2015 NARSAD Young Investigator Award

 

Publications

Peer-reviewed journal articles

  1. Puri SK, Chandra R. (2006). Plasmodium vinckei: Selection of a strain exhibiting stable resistance to Arteether. Experimental Parasitology. 114, 129–132.
  2. Babu GN, Kumar A, Chandra R, Puri SK, Kalita J and Misra UK. (2008). Oxidant-antioxidantimbalance in the erythrocytes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients correlates with the progression of disease. Neurochemistry International (52): 1284–1289.
  3. Babu GN, Kumar A, Chandra R, Puri, SK, Kalita, J and Misra UK. (2008). Elevated levels of inflammatory markers in a group of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients from northern India. Neurochemical Research 33(6):1145-9.
  4. Chandra R., Tripathi LM, Saxena JK and Puri SK (2011). Implication of intracellular glutathione and its related enzymes on resistance of malaria parasites to the antimalarial drug arteether. Parasitology International 60:97-100.
  5. Chandra R, Kumar S, Puri SK (2011). Plasmodium vinckei: infectivity of arteether-sensitive andarteether-resistant parasites in different strains of mice. Parasitology Research, 109(4): 1143-9.
  6. Cui L, Wang Z, Miao J, Miao M, Chandra R, Jiang H, Su XZ, Cui L. (2012) Mechanisms of in vitro resistance to dihydroartemisinin in Plasmodium falciparum. Molecular Microbiology, 86 (1): 111- 28.
  7. Dong Y, Cirimotich CM, Pike A, Chandra R, Dimopoulos G. (2012) Anopheles NF-κB-regulatedsplicing factors direct pathogen-specific repertoires of the hypervariable pattern recognition receptor AgDscam. Cell Host Microbe 12(4): 521-30.
  8. Chandra R*, Lenz J*, Gancarz A, Chaudhury D, Schroeder G, Han MH, Dietz DM, Lobo MK (2013). Optogenetic inhibition of D1R containing nucleus accumbens neurons alters cocaine cytoskeleton regulator Tiam1. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience (6): 1-8.
  9. Lobo MK, Zaman S, Damez-Werno DM, Koo JW, Bagot RC, DiNieri JA, Nugent A, Eric F, Chaudhury D, Chandra R, Riberio E, Rabkin J, Mouzon E, Cachope R, Cheer JF, Han MH, Dietz
    DM, Self DW, Hurd YL, Vialou V, Nestler EJ (2013). ΔFosB Induction in Striatal Medium Spiny Neuron Subtypes in Response to Chronic Pharmacological, Emotional, and Optogenetic Stimuli. The Journal of Neuroscience 33(47): 18381–95
  10. Thaipisuttikul I*, Hittle LE*, Chandra R*, Zangari D, Dixon CL, Garrett TA, Rasko DA, Dasgupta N, Moskowitz SM, Malmström L, Goodlett DR, Miller SI, Bishop RE, Ernst RK (2014) A divergent Pseudomonas aeruginosa palmitoyltransferase essential for cystic fibrosis-specificlipid A.
    Molecular Microbiology 91(1): 158-174
  11. Bahia AC, Dong Y, Blumberg BJ, Mlambo G, Tripathi A, BenMarzouk-Hidalgo OJ, Chandra R, Dimopoulos G (2014) Exploring Anopheles gut bacteria for Plasmodium blocking activity. Environmental Microbiology doi: 10.1111/1462-2920.12381
  12. Francis TC, Chandra R, Friend MD, Finkel E, Dayrit G, Miranda J, Brooks MJ, Iñiguez DS, O’Donnell P, Kravitz A, Lobo MK (2015) Nucleus Accumbens Medium Spiny Neuron Subtypes Mediate Depression-Related Outcomes to Social Defeat Stress. Biological Psychiatry 77(3):212- 22.
  13. Chandra R, Puri SK (2015) Arteether resistance reversal by Ketoconazole/Fluconazole in rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium vinckei. Parasitology Research 114(3):1239-43
  14. Chandra R, Francis TC, Prasad K, Amgalan A, Gancarz A, Dietz D, Lobo MK (2015) Opposing role for Egr3 in nucleus accumbens cell subtypes in cocaine action. The Journal of Neuroscience 35(20): 7927-7937

Web based journal articles

  1. Chandra R, Kumar S, Puri SK (2015) Buthionine sulfoximine increase the efficacy of arteether antimalarial activity in arteether resistant Plasmodium vinckei by glutathione depletion. Malarial World Journal 6:4

Books

  1. Shukla SK, Chandra R and Puri SK (2012). Heam Polymerization and its Inhibition by Antimalarial Drug. LAP Lambert Academic Publishing

Proffered Communications

Oral presentations

  1. Chandra R, Saxena JK, Puri SK (2005). Implication of intracellular glutathione and its related enzymes in resistance to antimalarial drug Arteether. 17th National Congress of Parasitology at RMRC, Dibrugarh. Oct.24 – 26, 2005
  2. Chandra R (2015). Cell subtype transcriptional profiling in the heterogeneous brain using RiboTag. 18th Annual Neuroscience Retreat at Notre Dame of Maryland University, Baltimore,MD

Abstract and Poster presentations

  1. Chandra R, Tripathi LM, Saxena JK and Puri SK (2006).Role of glutathione redox system in resistance to Antimalarial drug Arteether. 10th International Society of Chemists & Biologists Conference at CDRI Lucknow.
  2. Chandra R, Tripathi LM, Saxena JK and Puri SK (2007). Studies on biochemical basis of Arteether resistance in a rodent malaria model. 11th ISCB International Conference (2007) at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (BAMU), Aurangabad, India
  3. Chandra R, Kushwaha AK and Puri SK (2007) “Glutathione synthetase inhibitor reverses resistance to Arteether in rodent malaria model”. In 19th National Congress of Parasitology and International Symposium on Parasitic Diseases of Animals and Man at Department of Zoology, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam (India), October 26–28.
  4. Kumar A, Chandra R, Puri SK, Pathak N, Kalita J, Misra UK, Babu GN (2008). Neurochemical markers underlying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. International Symposium on Advances in Neurosciences & Silver Jubilee Conference of Indian Academy of Neurosciences. Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
  5. Tripathi A, Chandra R, Puri SK (2008) Isolation, cloning and over-expression of Glutathione S- Transferase from Plasmodium vinckei. 20th National Congress of Parasitology at North-EsternHill University, Shilong, India on November 3-5,
  6. Chandra R, Kumar S and Puri SK (2008) Characterization of a 27 kDa protein from rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium vinckei to elucidate its role in Arteether resistance. 20th National Congress of Parasitology at North-Estern Hill University, Shilong, India on November 3-5.
  7. Miao J, Cui L, Fan Q, Li X, Chandra R, Cui L (2009) The Function of Histone Acetytransferase PfMYST in Plasmodium falciparum. Molecular Parasitology Meeting, Woods Hole, MA September13-17, 2009.
  8. Dong Y, Cirimotich CM, Chandra R, Dimopoulos G (2011) The significance of a mosquito hyper- variable pattern recognition receptor, AgDscam, in the anti-Plasmodium defense, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 60th Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, Dec. 4-8, 2011.
  9. Francis TC, Chandra R, Brooks JM, Dayrit G, Finkel E, Lenz JD, Inguez A, O’Donnell P, Lobo MK (2013) Nucleus accumbens medium spiny neuron subtypes differentially mediate susceptibility and resilience to social defeat stress, ACNP 52rd Annual Meeting, Hollywood, FL, Dec 8-12, 2013
  10. Francis TC, Chandra R, Brooks JM, Finkel E, Lenz JD, O'Donnell P Lobo MK (2013) Behavioral outcomes of social defeat stress are mediated by specific nucleus accumbens neuronal subtypes, Society for Neuroscience 2013 Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, Nov 9-13, 2013.
  11. Chandra R, Lenz J, Finkel E, Francis C, Gancarz A, Schroeder G, Dietz D, Lobo MK (2013) Chronic cocaine alters the Egr3/Nab2 molecular program in nucleus accumbens neurons, Society for Neuroscience 2013 Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, Nov 9-13, 2013.
  12. Francis TC, Chandra R, Brooks JM, Finkel E, Lenz JD, O'Donnell P Lobo MK (2013) Behavioral outcomes of social defeat stress are mediated by specific nucleus accumbens neuronal subtypes, The Greater Baltimore Chapter of Society for Neuroscience, Baltimore, MD, Nov 20, 2013.
  13. .Chandra R, Lenz J, Finkel E, Francis C, Gancarz A, Schroeder G, Dietz D, Lobo MK (2013) Chronic cocaine alters the Egr3/Nab2 molecular program in nucleus accumbens neurons, The Greater Baltimore Chapter of Society for Neuroscience, Baltimore, MD, Nov 20, 2013.
  14. Chandra R, Lenz J, Finkel E, Francis C, Gancarz A, Schroeder G, Dietz D, Lobo MK (2014) Chronic cocaine alters the Egr3/Nab2 molecular program in nucleus accumbens neurons, 17th Annual PIN Retreat, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Baltimore, MD, June 6, 2014.
  15. Zhang H, Liu QR, Chandra R, Lobo MK, Bi GH, Gardner EL, Xi ZX (2014) Chronic cocaine self- administration up-regulates cannabinoid CB2 receptor expression in mice and rats, Society for Neuroscience 2014 Annual Meeting, Washington DC, DC, Nov 15-19, 2014.
  16. Engeln M, Lenz J, Chandra R , Gancarz AM, Francis T, Dietz DM, Lobo MK (2014) Cocaine- mediated epigenetic adaptations in the ventral pallidum, Society for Neuroscience 2014 Annual Meeting, Washington DC, DC, Nov 15-19, 2014.
  17. Francis C, Chandra R, Friend DM, Finkel E, Dayrit G, Miranda J, Brooks JM, Iniguez SD,O’Donnell P, Kravitz A, Lobo MK (2014) Nucleus accumbens projection neuron subtypes mediatedepression-related outcomes to social defeat stress, Society for Neuroscience 2014 Annual Meeting, Washington DC, DC, Nov 15-19, 2014.
  18. Chandra R, Francis C, Amgalan A, Jensen L, Konkalmatt P, Gancarz A, Golden S, Turecki G, Russo S, Dietz D and Lobo MK. (2014) Egr3 regulates mitochondrial biogenesis genes in nucleus accumbens neuron subtypes in cocaine abuse, Society for Neuroscience 2014 Annual Meeting, Washington DC, DC, Nov 15-19, 2014.
  19. Chandra R, Francis C, Lobo MK (2014) Transcriptional regulation of histone demethylases in nucleus accumbens cell subtypes by repeated cocaine, Neuroepigenetics | SFN Satellite meeting, Arlington, VA, Nov 14, 2014.
  20. Francis C, Chandra R, Friend DM, Finkel E, Dayrit G, Miranda J, Brooks JM, Iniguez SD, O’Donnell P, Kravitz A, Lobo MK (2014) Nucleus accumbens projection neuron subtypes mediatedepression-related outcomes to social defeat stress, The Greater Baltimore Chapter of Society for Neuroscience, Baltimore, MD, Dec 2, 2014.
  21. Chandra R, Francis C, Amgalan A, Jensen L, Konkalmatt P, Gancarz A, Golden S, Turecki G, Russo S, Dietz D and Lobo MK. (2014) Egr3 regulates mitochondrial biogenesis genes in nucleus accumbens neuron subtypes in cocaine abuse, The Greater Baltimore Chapter of Society for Neuroscience, Baltimore, MD, Dec 2, 2014.
  22. Engeln M, Chandra R, Ashely La, Lobo MK (2014) Juvenile onset of stereotypy with loss of BDNF signaling to D1R expressing striatal neurons, ACNP 53rd Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ, Dec 7-11, 2014.
  23. Francis C, Chandra R, Engeln M, Lobo MK (2015) Egr3 Expression in Nucleus Accumbens Medium Spiny Neuron Subtypes Alters Outcomes to Social Defeat Stress, 47th WCBR, Big Sky, MT, Jan 24–29, 2015.
  24. Engeln M, Chandra R, Ashely La, Francis C, Lobo MK (2015) Juvenile onset of stereotypy with loss of BDNF signaling in D1R expressing striatal neurons, 47th WCBR, Big Sky, MT, Jan 24–29,2015.
  25. Chandra R, Francis C, Konkalmatt P, Engeln M, Amgalan A, Jensen L, Ashely La , Gancarz A, Golden S, Turecki G, Russo S, Dietz D and Lobo MK. (2015) Cell subtype transcriptional regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis by chronic cocaine, 47th WCBR, Big Sky, MT, Jan 24–29,
  26. Chandra R, Francis C, Engeln M, Amgalan A, Jensen L, Konkalmatt P, Gancarz A, Golden S, Turecki G, Russo S, Dietz D and Lobo MK. (2015) Cocaine mediated molecular regulation of mitochondrial dynamics in nucleus accumbens projection neuron subtypes, 18th Annual Neuroscience Retreat at Notre Dame of Maryland University, Baltimore, MD, June 26, 2015.

 

Durg-research-flyer