Pratheepa Kumari

About Me

Neurotrauma Researcher || Retinal Degeneration || Optical Stimulation of Nervous System

I am Pratheepa Rasiah, Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt Biophotonics Center, Vanderbilt University Currently working with Dr. Anita Mahadevan-Jansen, Department of Biomedical Engineering at Vanderbilt University. The goal of my research is to recognize and characterize several in vivo traumatic brain injury models.

My objective lies in utilizing real-life traumatic events and scenarios to construct preclinical trauma models with the intention of evaluating potential pharmaceuticals and therapies, as well as devising enhanced protective gear and armor. By comprehensively delineating the spectrum of trauma effects, we aim to facilitate the development of more efficacious treatments and protective equipment. I engage in collaboration with Dr. Tonia Rex, a distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, on these vital trauma projects.

My scientific career has been characterized by an unwavering commitment to understanding the intricate complexities of neurotrauma and employing this knowledge to contribute to translational research

To satisfy my need to discover new things, I made the decision to become a researcher. I am more intrigued with each new piece of information, and the quest never ends. Any academic success I've had has largely been a result of my outstanding mentors and peers. I am a fervent advocate for diversity, inclusivity, and women in STEM. I have a deep commitment to science, mentorship, competitiveness, leadership, innovation and diversity.

When I’m not hustling at work, you can catch me engaging in two equally thrilling pursuits: charmingly diving into the depths of a book’s world and nurturing my leafy green friends like a horticultural superhero! Saving the day, one chapter or plant at a time!

Work Experience

VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY (2022- till now)

As a Research Assistant Professor, my attention changed to learning in-depth information about various traumatic brain injuries so that I could simulate real-world situations on the lab bench. This strategy aims to create protective measures that lessen the impact of traumatic brain injury. I am currently performing real-time imaging on the brain and retina using cutting-edge technologies like nonlinear imaging.

UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER (2020 – 2021)

Working on stem cell based therapeutics to address neurotrauma associated retinal degeneration. Neurotrauma can occur during car accidents, war fronts, game activities or occasional fall. I am trying to understand how an injury to brain can transduce to the eye and further result in slow and progressive retinal defects. On the other hand, is it possible to regenerate the dying cells with stem cell therapies.

DUKE UNIVERSITY (2015 – 2017)

Worked on ocular lens development and optics. Generated conditional knockout lines to demonstrate the developmental regulation of lens proteins from embryonic to adult stages. The overall output demonstrated an essential protein Ankyrin G regulating the specific cell type, epithelial cells in the lens to form mature lens.

Social Network

Summer Intern

Danika Casa
BS in Biomedical Engineering, BS in Mathematics, Butler University

Research Title: Blast induced Neurotrauma in primary astrocytes

Research Publications

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Rasiah PK, Jha KA, Gentry J, Del Mar NA, Townsend T, Torgbe KE, Reiner A, Gangaraju R. A Long-Term Safety and Efficacy Report on Intravitreal Delivery of Adipose Stem Cells and Secretome on Visual Deficits After Traumatic Brain Injury. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2022 Oct 3;11(10):1.

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Jha KA, Rasiah PK, Gentry J, Del Mar NA, Kumar R, Adebiyi A, Reiner A, Gangaraju R. Mesenchymal stem cell secretome protects against oxidative stress-induced ocular blast visual pathologies. Exp Eye Res. 2022 Feb;215:108930.

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Agrawal M, Rasiah PK, Bajwa A, Rajasingh J, Gangaraju R. Mesenchymal Stem Cell Induced Foxp3(+) Tregs Suppress Effector T Cells and Protect against Retinal Ischemic Injury. Cells. 2021 Nov 4;10(11):3006.

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Rasiah PK, Geier B, Jha KA, Gangaraju R. Visual deficits after traumatic brain injury. Histol Histopathol. 2021 Feb 18:18315. doi: 10.14670/HH-18-315. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33599281

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Rasiah PK, Maddala R, Bennett V, Rao PV. Ankyrin-G regulated epithelial phenotype is required for mouse lens morphogenesis and growth. Dev Biol. 2019 Feb 1;446(1):119-131. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6570423

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Ramkumar S, Fujii N, Sakaue H, Fujii N, Thankappan B, Rasiah PK, Natarajaseenivasan K, Anbarasu K. Real-time heterogeneous protein-protein interaction between αA-crystallin N-terminal mutants and αB-crystallin using quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). Amino Acids. 2015 May;47(5):1035-43. PubMed PMID: 25694240

Molecular-Vision

Rasiah PK, Ramkumar S, Thankappan B, Natarajaseenivasan K, Balaji S, Anbarasu K.Transcriptional regulation of crystallin, redox, and apoptotic genes by C-Phycocyanin in the selenite-induced cataractogenic rat model. Mol Vis. 2015;21:26-39. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4301595.

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Rasiah PK, Ramkumar S., Thankappan B., Anbarasu K. (2015) Etiology and Prevention of Cataract. In: Babizhayev M., Li DC., Kasus-Jacobi A., Žorić L., Alió J. (eds) Studies on the Cornea and Lens. Oxidative Stress in Applied Basic Research and Clinical Practice. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1935-2_16

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Rasiah PK, Anbarasu K. Protective role of C-phycocyanin against secondary changes during sodium selenite mediated cataractogenesis. Nat Prod Bioprospect. 2014 Apr;4(2):81-9. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4004860.

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Rasiah PK, Sivakumar J, Thankappan B, Anbarasu K. C-phycocyanin modulates selenite-induced cataractogenesis in rats. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2013 Jan;151(1):59-67. PubMed PMID: 23086307

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Bavithra S, Selvakumar K, Rasiah PK, Krishnamoorthy G, Venkataraman P, Arunakaran J. Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs)-induced oxidative stress plays a critical role on cerebellar dopaminergic receptor expression: ameliorative role of quercetin. Neurotox Res. 2012 Feb;21(2):149-59. PubMed PMID: 21748531.

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Rasiah PK, Selvakumar K, Bavithra S, Zumaana R, Krishnamoorthy G, Arunakaran J. Role of quercetin on PCBs (Aroclor-1254) induced impairment of dopaminergic receptor mRNA expression in cerebral cortex of adult male rats. Neurochem Res. 2011 Aug;36(8):1344-52. PubMed PMID: 21472459.

Between the Lines

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Are patient derived stem cell organoids the next gen therapeutic for retinal degeneration.

There is an unmet need for therapies to restore vision in conditions like age related retinal degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa and progressive genetic conditions like Leber Congenital Amaurosis. ...

Read More 02/September/2021
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Stem cells generated from urine can protect from retinal diseases

Induced pluripotent stem cells are alternative source to obtain homologous population of Mesenchymal stem cells. To collect autologous MSC’s is a cumbersome invasive procedure.

Read More 02/November/2021
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My experience as a first timer in Photonics West 2023

Photonics West is a leading annual conference and exposition focused on the photonics and laser industries. It is organized by the SPIE (International Society for Optics and Photonics) and takes place in San Francisco, California.

Read More 01/February/2023
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