Ashutosh Dharap

E-mail: dharap@wisc.edu

Research Project:

My research in the Vemuganti lab involves the study of microRNAs in the ischemic brain. The spatio-temporal profiles of mRNAs are known to be controlled by a variety of factors such as enzymes, transcription factors and DNA modification. However, in the past decade a new set of molecules has been discovered that is thought to finely regulate gene expression by targeting mRNAs. These molecules, known as microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, non-coding RNAs that are known to be well conserved during evolution and are present in all organisms from plants to viruses to mammals. Although their mechanism of action is not entirely clear, they are thought to regulate gene expression by binding mRNAs resulting in translational repression or mRNA cleavage

Currently, I am working on elucidating the spatio-temporal relationship between miRNAs and mRNAs in the post-ischemic brain to better understand mechanisms of gene regulation after an ischemic attack. My primary goal is to identify and characterize the miRNAs that play a pivotal role in inflammation and apoptosis after Stroke.

Abstracts and Publications:

• Dharap, A., K. Bowen, and R. Vemuganti. 2007. Focal ischemia induces a rapid and sustained change in the cerebral microRNAome. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr.
• Dharap, A. and R. Vemuganti. 2007. Significance of miRNAs in post-ischemic gene regulation in brain. MicroRNAs Europe Abstr.
• Vemuganti, R., K. Bowen, and A. Dharap A. 2007. Type-2 diabetes exacerbates stroke-induced inflammation, edema and brain damage in rodents. Brain 07 Abstr.