 | Dr. Sashaina Fanibunda PhD., ICMR-NIRRH, Mumbai University Title: Assistant Professor- Medical Research Centre-Kasturba Health Society Other Affiliations: Vidita Vaidya Lab-TIFR, Mumbai |
| Sashaina received her undergraduate degree in Life Sciences from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai and her Master’s degree in Neuroscience from Sophia College. Her doctoral degree is from the Indian Council of Medical Research - NIRRH. She was part of the team representing India at the 57th Nobel Laureate meeting with students, in Lindau Germany. Sashaina’s postdoctoral work in Prof. Vidita Vaidya’s lab, at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research-Mumbai, unraveled the influence of serotonin on mitochondrial biogenesis and function in cortical neurons (Fanibunda et al., 2019, PNAS). Her research has uncovered a novel pathway linking serotonin, via the metabolism and longevity-associated sirtuin, SIRT1, to neuronal survival and the amelioration of mitochondrial dysfunction, with important implications for both neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases. . Sashaina’s current research at the Kasturba Health Society-Medical Research Centre, as an Assistant Professor, involves studying the influence of plant-based neuroactives on neuronal mitochondrial function. She uses pharmacological and genetic approaches, and tools spanning molecular, cellular and behavioral studies to delineate the mechanism of action of plant-derived neuroactives on emotional neurocircuitry in the brain, with a focus on stress and aging, in close collaboration with Prof. Vidita Vaidya at TIFR. |