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About Vidya Chandrasekaran

ACTIVE RESEARCH PROJECTS

Dendritic growth regulation during embryonic development and injury
Neurons have two main processes : axons for transmitting information and dendrites for receiving signals. Axons and dendrites differ in length, morphology and in the signals that control their growth. During neuronal injury, it is known that loss of axons results in dendritic retraction. Therefore, it is important to understand the signals that are involved in extension and retraction of dendrites. One of the molecules that is known to induce dendritic growth belongs to a class of growth factors known as Bone Morphogenetic Proteins or BMPs.
My lab currently focuses on three main research projects :
  • understanding post-transcritional control of dendritic growth in embryonic sympathetic neurons mediated by microRNAs
  • Interactions between BMP signaling and other signaling pathways during dendritic growth regulation
  • Examining the changes to the proteome during dendritic growth regulation in these neurons.
 
Cell and Developmental Biology, Genetics
Organ formation is a fascinating process during embryonic development. Among the many organs in the body, there is a preponderance of tubular organs, including stomach, intestine, heart and blood vessels, several glands, lungs in humans, trachea in lower vertebrates. I am also interested in understanding the cell biological processes underlying formation these organs as well as the genes that help differentiate cells forming one organ from cells forming another organ. I have been examining the evolutionary conservation of genes required for salivary gland formation in Drosophila.

Positions

2017 - Present Chair, Rank and Tenure Committee, Saint Mary's College of California
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2015 - Present Member, Rank and Tenure Committee, Saint Mary's College of California
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2014 - Present Chair, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Saint Mary's College of California
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2007 - Present Faculty Development Fund, Saint Mary's College of California
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Present Faculty Member, Saint Mary's College of California School of Science
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Present Faculty Member, Saint Mary's College of California Biology
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Present Faculty Member, Saint Mary's College of California Biochemistry
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2013 - 2016 Chair, Department of Biology, Saint Mary's College of California
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2009 - 2012 Core Curriculum Implementation Committee, Saint Mary's College of California
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Disciplines


Grants

2017 - Present NIH AREA grant
National Institute of Health - Pending
Role: PI
$330,000
2016 - Present HSI-STEM grant
Department of Education
Role: Co-PI
$2,700,000
2017 - 2018 Faculty Research Award
Saint Mary's College of California
$9,000
2014 - 2017 NSF-S-STEM grant
National Science Foundation
Role: Co-PI
$613,477
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Professional Service and Affiliations

Present Member, ASCB
Present Member, ASPET
Present Member, Genomics Education Partnership
Present Reviewer, Neurotoxicology
2007 Reviewer, Developmental Biology
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Courses

  • Bio 001 : Introduction to Cell Biology, Molecular Biology and Genetics
  • Bio 25: Human Physiology
  • Bio 102: Developmental Biology
  • Bio 105 : Genetics
  • Bio 127: Systemic Physiology
  • Bio 130: Microbiology
  • Bio 132: Cell Biology
  • Bio 135: Biochemistry

Education

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May 2005 PhD, University of California, Berkeley ‐ Postdoctoral Research Molecular and Cell Biology - Genetics of organ formation in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster)
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August 1999 PhD, Pharmacology and Toxicology, State University of New York at Buffalo ‐ Regulation of dendritic growth in rat sympathetic neurons
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Contact Information

Office
Brousseau Hall - 208

Contact:
Phone: (925) 631-4251

Email:


Publications (20)

Presentations (13)