Vartika Mishra, Ph.D.

• Generating and validating a conditional Bax KO mouse model for examining effect of prenylation in ALS model • Spearheading collaborative effort to establish motor-neuron prenylation signature in mouse ES-derived motor neurons • Co-leading a project with a colleague to study human astrocyte gene signature of ALS patients • Concluded a study on the role of DR6 activation in motor neuron cell death in ALS by coordinating and collecting data from multiple authors and managing communication with entire team about updates and reviews • Preparing and maintaining human astrocyte culture from post-mortem brain tissue • Writing, editing and submitting scientific manuscripts, NIH status reports • Mentoring Ph.D. students, visiting scholars and undergraduate students in the laboratory

• Investigated the mechanism of DJ-1 neuroprotection against Parkinson’s-like insult, methamphetamine by studying Nrf-2 activity and proteasome pathway using molecular techniques and designing cell-based assays • Established and improvised multiple autophagic endpoint techniques in the lab for examining role of DJ-1 protection against PD-related insults • Developed and investigated biochemical mechanism of DJ-1 and variants hypothesized to have potential ATPase activity • Revitalized rodent primary culture by adjusting parameters using meticulous note-taking • Prepared slideshows and posters for presentation at weekly lab meetings, journal clubs and international conference presentations.

• Examined the impact of adipose tissue on muscle by co-culturing human muscle stem cells with adipocyte-conditioned media and performing state-of-art multiplex array • Improved assay for glucose tolerance in human skeletal muscle stem cells by optimizing cell culture ingredients • Quickly balanced and adjusted to working with two bosses and multitasking couple of projects simultaneously • Established proficiency in high-throughput lentiviral delivery in adipocytes for further analysis by the team

• Investigated the mechanism of DJ-1 neuroprotection against Parkinson’s-like insult, methamphetamine by studying Nrf-2 activity and proteasome pathway using molecular techniques and designing cell-based assays • Established and improvised multiple autophagic endpoint techniques in the lab for examining role of DJ-1 protection against PD-related insults • Developed and investigated biochemical mechanism of DJ-1 and variants hypothesized to have potential ATPase activity • Revitalized rodent primary culture by adjusting parameters using meticulous note-taking • Prepared slideshows and posters for presentation at weekly lab meetings, journal clubs and international conference presentations.

Generated chimeric α7 nicotinic receptor with superfolder-GFP for tracking the assembly of nicotinic α7 receptor using fluorescence assay and assessed protein folding by examining receptor binding using 131I-labelled ligand binding assays