Dr Mohit Sharma

Background

Dr Mohit Sharma completed his PhD (Biomedical Sciences) at Ulster University, Northern Ireland, UK, where he investigated the neuroprotective properties of incretin gut peptide hormones, glucagon-like-peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). He found the involvement of MAPK ERK signalling pathways as an underlying mechanism of the neuroprotective and anti-apoptotic role of incretins in human neuroblastoma cells against methyl glyoxal stress. A part of his PhD thesis work including dose-dependent cytotoxicity and cell viability studies contributed towards a patent for the use of incretins in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. To further explore the bench to bedside potential of these gut peptides, Mohit decided to undertake post-doctoral research in the field of translational medicine.

In July 2014, Mohit relocated to Lancaster University, UK, to work on a Cure Parkinson’s Trust funded project investigating the neuroprotective effects of a novel incretin dual-agonist in a 6-hydroxy dopamine unilateral-lesioned rat model of Parkinson’s disorder. He found that this novel incretin analogue holds promise as an effective treatment for Parkinson’s disorder and demonstrated an involvement of pAkt/CREB cell signalling along with a significant improvement in the motor impairments and preventing loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra.

Following his relocation to Australia with family in 2017 and after a period of parental leave, Dr Sharma was recruited as a post-doctoral research fellow in the Laboratory of NeuroImmunology at the University of Newcastle in 2019 recognising his expertise in generating animal models of neurodegenerative disorders, drug development both in-vivo and in-vitro, animal behavioural research and proteomics. Here, he continues to build on the concepts of Perinatal programming and study neonatal inflammation in the developing brain and its systemic links in a rat model to decipher the role of kynurenine pathway in anxiety during adulthood. 

Current research interests

Understanding the role of kynurenine pathway in the neonatal inflammation-induced anxiety like behaviour in adulthood.

Dr Sharma is interested in investigating the underlying mechanisms involved in the early life inflammation-induced anxiety. The developing brain is highly susceptible to environmental variations because of the developmental plasticity of neuronal networks during childhood. To understand the role of kynurenine pathway, Mohit will utilise a lipopolysaccharide rat model that displays anxiety-like behaviour in adulthood. He is interested in mapping the kynurenine metabolites and performing gene expression studies and cytokine profiling across the key developmental stages of life in response to a neonatal immune challenge.

Collaborators: Dr Adam Walker (Neuroscience Research Australia, UNSW), Dr Edwin Lim (Macquarie University, NSW)