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to find the ultimate connect between the material signaling and functions. Membrane mechano-
energies and what is defined as living. My teachers sensing and early mechano-transduction (the
emphasized a lot on how our material body is an process of conversion of sensed physical forces
intricate design of physical forces which when into biochemical events) are both predominantly
set imbalanced, impacts both our conscious micro-nanoscale phenomena, hence in order to
and unconscious health. The rising curiosity record it at these time-scales, we cannot use static
for physico-chemical mechanisms that operate systems. Therefore, I took up further training on
living matter drove me to join a Bachelors degree how to record lipid-protein specialized domain
in Zoology (Honors) at the Sri Venkateswara responses to mechanical forces. This involved
College, Delhi University where I grew enormously design of biomimetic growth models, fabrication
interested in the physiology and biochemistry of of microfluidics based micromechanical devices
the nervous system. After, completing my post- and imaging tools to study the phenomena of
graduation in Biotechnology from the All India mechanosensation -mechanotransduction in live
Institute of Medical Sciences, I was fortunate to cells. I now look forward to soon communicate
join the National Brain Research Centre, Manesar, some of our exciting observations using this high-
for my PhD degree with Dr. Shyamala Mani and my end state of art detection tools. I hope that last
mentor. Dr. Shyamala Mani brought my focus to the six years of patiently and meticulously acquired
plasma membrane in which the primary sensors data will break many dogmas for good and will
and signal transducers of extracellular physical lead to resurgence of new understanding on
and chemical microenvironments resides. The pathogenesis.
loss of such sensing molecules and processes
notably led to loss of cell’s intrinsic polarized/ What my Laboratory Works on
organized physiology, thereby transforming it
into a pathological state. Interestingly, I found We have now well realized that imbalances in
that how cell keeps itself polarized and is much physical forces (stretch, shear, osmotic etc.) are the
attributable to sensors and signal relay centers root and direct cause of several chronic diseases.
located in specialized mechano-sensitive In order to find the specific therapeutically relevant
membrane domains called the lipid rafts. targets, which can modulate the extracellular
physical microenvironment to intracellular
In collaboration with Professor Pierre Gressens chemical communications, the plasma membrane
at INSERM France, I further made an important resident lipid rafts serve as the correct hot spots.
observation that specific lipid raft assemblies Hence, therapeutic manipulation of either these
are imperative for BDNF-PI3K surface signaling plasma membrane domains or associated
triggered neuro-protection of cortical neurons direct transduction processes, or both, hold
Rashmi Mishra, PhD and cerebellar granules cells. Our in vitro data promising potential in regulating and reversing
Scientist E-I indeed well corroborated with in vivo data in mice pathogenesis. We along with our collaborators
Mechanobiology Laboratory suffering from neonatal brain lesions giving new are now working on mechanical modulation
insights into augmenting regenerative potential in of brain and cerebrovascular/cardio-vascular
Explaining my work on the role of lipid rafts in mechano-sensitive neuronal polarity at Centre for neonate cortical injuries and neuro-inflammation. pathologies ranging from cancers, strokes to
Developmental Biology (CDB), RIKEN, Japan at the ‘Turning Neuron into The Nervous System’ Symposium PhD research exposure motivated me to explore heart failure. In these directions, we have already
held in 2008 the arena of lipid rafts, membrane lipid-protein shown that strategic mechanical modulation of
interactions and associated signaling modules oncogenic kinases by Indian traditional memory
even further for which I joined the laboratory of boosting medicine, Bhrami, represent the
Rafting through Mechanical Forces my 2 years of senior schooling at the Mother’s Professor Kai Simons at the Max Planck Institute, potential and powerful therapeutics for deadly
International School, a part of the Sri Aurobindo Dresden. Here, I took up a challenging research brain cancers - Glioblastoma multiforme. We have
My academic background, life philosophy and Ashram at New Delhi that had a strong influence project on how specific sugar code decoding further characterized that mechano- sensitive
motivation on my belief system and in formulating the art proteins, the galectins, assemble as well as interact pathways, which are utilized by deadly cancers
of living. The long morning hours of trained with lipid rafts and mechanically remodel them cells for their own survival, when potentiated in
I was born to a Physicist father and a humble meditation, mantra chanting and recitals of the to enable trafficking of specific cargo vesicles. early degenerating neurons, enable survival and
homemaker mother. I grew up in New Delhi and principles of the Bhagavad Gita nurtured the Any disturbance in this process was evidenced regeneration.
went to Carmel Convent School. However, it is cosmic consciousness and ignited my curiosity to have serious repercussions on cell polarity,