The goal of my research is to understand how executive control is mediated by the cortex and how these functions are impaired in neurodevelopmental insult and neuropsychiatric disorders.
I completed my undergraduate training at Loyola University Maryland, my PhD at The George Washington University with Lawrence Rothblat and my postdoctoral fellowship at NIAAA with Andrew Holmes. I joined the Department of Neurosciences in 2011, was promoted to Associate Professor in 2017 and Professor in 2023. I currently serve as the President of the FASD Study Group (president@fasdsg.org)
The main aim of my current projects is to characterize how the Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (PAE) affects the cognitive control and flexibility by combining behavioral tasks with in-vivo and ex-vivo electrophysiology. I am also working on the characterization of molecular mechanisms underlying the poor response inhibition observed in PAE offspring. Lastly, I am a Pilot PI in the NMARC, investigating how PAE modulates sleep architecture in adolescent offspring using EEG recordings.
I completed my PhD in Neuroscience at University of Cagliari (Italy) in May 2015. From October 2015 to September 2018, I worked as postdoctoral fellow at University of Gothenburg (Sweden), where I conducted several studies to characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying nicotine, amphetamine and alcohol addiction in different brain regions using ex-vivo electrophysiology. I joined the Brigman Lab in 2019.
jachandrasekaran@salud.unm.edu
My projects focus on how NMDA receptors help modulate efficient learning and behavioral flexibility. We have previously shown that PAE impairs OFC mediated behavioral flexibility and alters connectivity between cortical and striatal aras of the brain. My current projects utilize both depth recording and optogenetics coupled with touchscreen behavior to investigate if NMDA alterations may underly these changes, and whether stimulation of OFC-dS projections can rescue the in flexibility seen following PAE.
I completed medical school at the PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, India in August 2008. I worked in phase 3 clinical trials as a study coordinator from 2008 - 009, and then as co-investigator for a clinical trial in the Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India. From 2014-2016, I was a resident physician and helped establish a preventive cardiology program at the PSG Institute of medical sciences. I joined the Graduate program at the University of New Mexico in 2017.
As an MD PhD student, my research goals are to emulate disease processes in animal models for translation into clinical research. I am interested in the impact of prenatal substance exposures on neurodevelopmental outcomes, with my PhD research revolving around Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Executive Dysfunction. I utilize the 5 Choice Continuous Performance Task with in vivo electrophysiology and computational methods.
I completed my undergraduate training at the University of New Mexico as part of the Combined BA/MD program. I received a BS in Biology with a minor in Statistics alongside a BS in Psychology with a minor in Chemistry.
As a third-year medical student I am interested in how results from preclinical models of prenatal neurodevelopmental insults and neuropsychiatric disorders can be translated directly into improving patient outcomes and patient care. Currently, I am working on projects examining how alterations in cell differentiation, migration and integration caused by exposure to alcohol during development can lead to long-term changes in cognitive functions.
I completed my undergraduate studies at New Mexico State University where I studied Kinesiology and Biochemistry with the end goal of serving future underserved communities as a physician.
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Amber Zimmerman, PhD |
Postdoctoral Fellow |
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Sarah Olguin, PhD |
Postdoctoral Fellow |
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Belkis Jacquez, MPH |
Health Program Manager |
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Johnny Kenton, PhD |
Clinical Research Scientist |
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Kristin Marquardt, PhD |
Electrophysiology Sales Engineer |
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Davey Gregg, BS |
Research Technician III, Mckenzie Lab |
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Victoria Castillo, BS |
RN Student |
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Julianna Guerin, MSW |
Clinical Social Worker |
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Rebecca Kicker |
Software Engineer |
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Shannon Thompson, MS |
Research Coordinator |
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Jeremy Dyke, PhD |
Assistant Professor |
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Monica Saha, PharmD |
Clinical Pharmacist |