
Dr Mohit Sharma
Postdoctoral Fellow
Office - DVC (Research and Innovation)
- Email:mohit.sharma@newcastle.edu.au
- Phone:(02) 4055 3340
Career Summary
Biography
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)
Qualifications
- PHD IN Bio Medical Sciences, University of Ulster
- Masters in Biotechnology, University of Ulster
Keywords
- Animal behaviour
- Anxiety
- Cell signalling
- Cytokine profiling
- Early life Inflammation
- Immunohistochemistry
- Kynurenine
- Lipopolysaccharide
- Microglial activation
- Neuroinflammation
- Rodent models of disease
Languages
- English (Fluent)
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
Title | Organisation / Department |
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Postdoctoral Fellow | University of Newcastle Office - DVC (Research and Innovation) Australia |
Professional appointment
Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
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15/7/2014 - 14/7/2016 | Post doctoral Research Associate | Lancaster University Biomedical and Life Sciences United Kingdom |
1/1/2011 - 31/12/2012 | Tutor | The University of Ulster Biomedical Sciences United Kingdom |
1/7/2009 - 30/6/2010 | Research Scholar | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio United States |
Awards
Award
Year | Award |
---|---|
2012 |
Alzheimer's Research UK Travel Award Alzheimer's Research UK |
2011 |
Alzheimer's Research UK Travel Award Alzheimer's Research UK |
Scholarship
Year | Award |
---|---|
2010 |
Vice Chancellor's Research Scholarship The University of Ulster |
2005 |
Commonwealth Master's Scholarship The University of Ulster |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Journal article (6 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | |||||
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2017 |
Jalewa J, Sharma MK, Gengler S, Holscher C, 'A novel GLP-1/GIP dual receptor agonist protects from 6-OHDA lesion in a rat model of Parkinson's disease', NEUROPHARMACOLOGY, 117 238-248 (2017)
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2016 |
Jalewa J, Sharma MK, Holscher C, 'Novel incretin analogues improve autophagy and protect from mitochondrial stress induced by rotenone in SH-SY5Y cells', JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, 139 55-67 (2016)
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2015 |
Liu W, Jalewa J, Sharma M, Li G, Li L, Hoelscher C, 'NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF LIXISENATIDE AND LIRAGLUTIDE IN THE 1-METHYL-4-PHENYL-1,2,3,6-TETRAHYDROPYRIDINE MOUSE MODEL OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE', NEUROSCIENCE, 303 42-50 (2015)
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2014 |
Sharma MK, Jalewa J, Hoelscher C, 'Neuroprotective and anti-apoptotic effects of liraglutide on SH-SY5Y cells exposed to methylglyoxal stress', JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, 128 459-471 (2014)
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Show 3 more journal articles |
Research Collaborations
The map is a representation of a researchers co-authorship with collaborators across the globe. The map displays the number of publications against a country, where there is at least one co-author based in that country. Data is sourced from the University of Newcastle research publication management system (NURO) and may not fully represent the authors complete body of work.
Country | Count of Publications | |
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United Kingdom | 4 | |
China | 1 |
Dr Mohit Sharma
Position
Postdoctoral Fellow
Office - DVC (Research and Innovation)
Research and Innovation Division
Contact Details
mohit.sharma@newcastle.edu.au | |
Phone | (02) 4055 3340 |
Office
Room | SR-265 |
---|---|
Building | Behavioural Sciences Building |
Location | Callaghan University Drive Callaghan, NSW 2308 Australia |