Mayur Vadhvani

EDUCATION

College / University

TATA Institute of Fundamental Research

Highest Degree

Master of Science in Biology

Major Subjects

Neurosciences

Country

India

Lab Experience

Basic molecular biology techniques such as plasmid isolation, restriction digestion, etc. Protein analysis using immunohistochemistry, Western Blotting and ELISA. Gene expression analysis using in-situ hybridization (radioactive and nonradioactive) and RT-PCR. Animal handling and behavior paradigms including electroconvulsive seizure treatment, anxiety tests (Open Field Test, Morris water-maze Test). Surgical skills including stereotaxic surgeries for intra-hippocampal infusions and transcardial perfusions. Maintaining Drosophila stocks, setting up crosses, brain and imaginal disc dissections, drug injections (both in pupae and in adults). Microscopy techniques such as Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy and Apotome Microscopy.

Projects / Research

Jan 2006 - July 2007: Role of norepinephrine in regulation of structural plasticity in adult rodent piriform cortex / Activity mediated regulation of sonic hedgehog pathway in adult mammalian brain
Aug 2004 - Dec 2005: Role of hedgehog pathway in regulating the structural plasticity in the Drosophila brain
May - July 2003: Transient expression and isolation of chimeric recombinant antibody against human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in various plant species

Scholarships / Awards

2007 – 2008:	Stipend by the International Max Planck Research School
Aug 2004 – July 2007:	Junior Research Fellowship funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), India

SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS AND GOALS

My scientific interests mainly lie in understanding the stem cell biology. I am interested in studying various aspects of mechanisms underlying cell fate specification and function of the neural stem cells. There are many questions in the field that excite me such as: How at each cell division is a stem cell able to pass on its "stem" properties to at least one of its daughters (asymmetric division)? What determines whether stem cell divisions will be self-renewing, or differentiating? How does the local environment of the stem cell niche determine its multi-lineage differentiation? What makes them remain quiescent under normal physiological condition? All the above are open questions subjected to research, along with the questions concerning the clinical application of stem cells in various neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease etc and in brain injury or trauma. I see myself pursuing the questions in the field of stem cell biology as my career goal, thus helping unravel some aspects of mechanisms underlying cell-fate specification and function. In future, I hope to work at the interface of basic science and applied medicine and would like to devise ways to translate the knowledge of stem cell biology to clinical applications.