Senior Scientist,
Centre for Development and Aging Research- Molecular Biology(CDAR-Molecular Biology)
email: goutamchandra@mgu.ac.in, gchandra31@gmail.com
Mob: +91 9051152843
Our research team primarily focuses on investigating neurodegenerative diseases, with a major emphasis on Parkinson’s disease (PD). We aim to unravel the molecular underpinnings of PD by exploring its genetic basis, particularly the pathogenic mutations and associated cellular mechanisms contributing to disease onset and progression. By integrating molecular biology, genetics, and cellular models, we seek to gain a deeper understanding of how specific genetic alterations influence neurodegeneration. In addition to PD, our research is expanding into related neurological conditions such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke, with the objective of identifying shared and distinct molecular pathways involved in neuronal damage and recovery.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow (2015-2017)
Center for Genetic Medicine, Children’s National Medical Center (CNMC), Washington DC, USA.
Postdoctoral Fellow (2014-2015)
Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center (RUMC), Chicago, IL, USA.
Visiting Fellow (2009-2013)
Program on Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, NICHD, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Senior Research Fellow (2002-2008)
Division of Cell Biology and Physiology, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata.
Lecturer / Assistant Professor (2000-2002)
Department of Pharmaceutics, Himalayan Pharmacy Institute, Sikkim University, Sikkim.
Ph.D. in Neuropharmacology (2002-2008)
Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), Jadavpur University, Kolkata.
M.Pharm. in Pharmaceutics (1998-2000)
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata
B.Pharm. in Pharmaceutical Technology (1994-1998)
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata.
2018- Ramalingaswamy Re-entry Fellowship from Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.
2015- Postdoctoral Research Fellowship from Children’s National Medical Center, Washington DC, USA.
2014- Postdoctoral Fellowship from Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, USA.
2008- Visiting Fellowship from Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, USA.
2006- Senior Research Fellowship from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, GoI.
2004- IBRO Fellowship for attending the IBRO Summer School held in Hong Kong.
2002- Senior Research Fellowship from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Govt of India.
1998- Scholarship from University Grants Commission, Govt. of India during post-graduation.
–Life Member, Indian Academy of Neuroscience
–Member, International Brain Research Organization
–Member, Japan Neuroscience Society
–Member, Society of Biological Chemists (India)
–Member, International Society for Chemical Biology (ISBC) (2019-2021)
–Member, Society for Neuroscience (2009-2016)
-Revolutionizing Neural Regeneration: Developing a 4D Bioprinting Method for Neural Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Therapy (2025-2027) from the Indian Council of Medical Research, Government of India. (First-in-the-World Challenge grant from ICMR, Govt of India).
-Bioengineered microstrips of dopaminergic neurons as potential cell-based therapy for Parkinson’s Disease. (2022-2025) from the Indian Council of Medical Research, Government of India
-Bioengineered dendritic polyglycerol-based thermoresponsive microsheets for neural tissue transplantation in Parkinson’s disease (2025-2028) from the Indian Council of Medical Research, Government of India (Co-PI).
–In vivo biological evaluation of nanoformulated lysophosphatidylcholine-EPA for neuro-restoration following stroke in experimental animals (2021-2024) from the Department of Health Research, Government of India.
-Profiling in vivo substrates of palmitoyl-protein thiosterase-1 as a quest for novel therapies for Infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (2021-2024) from the Indian Council of Medical Research, Government of India.
-Safreena N, Nair IC, Chandra G. Therapeutic potential of Parkin and its regulation in Parkinson’s disease. Biochem Pharmacol. Published online November 3, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116600.
-Bittel DC, Sreetama SC, Chandra G, et al. Secreted acid sphingomyelinase as a potential gene therapy for limb girdle muscular dystrophy 2B. J Clin Invest. 2022;132(1): e141295. doi:10.1172/JCI141295.
-Chandra G, Sreetama SC, Mázala DAG, et al. Endoplasmic reticulum maintains ion homeostasis required for plasma membrane repair. J Cell Biol. 2021;220(5): e202006035 doi:10.1083/jcb.202006035.
-Bittel DC*, Chandra G*, Tirunagri LMS, et al. Annexin A2 Mediates Dysferlin Accumulation and Muscle Cell Membrane Repair. Cells. 2020;9(9):1919. Published 2020 Aug 19. doi:10.3390/cells9091919.
-Foley AR, Zou Y, Dunford JE, Rooney J, Chandra G, et al. GGPS1 Mutations Cause Muscular Dystrophy/Hearing Loss/Ovarian Insufficiency Syndrome. Ann Neurol. 2020;88(2):332-347. doi:10.1002/ana.25772.
© 2025 Mahatma Gandhi University. Priyadarsini Hills, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
