Pragya Komal

Dr. Pragya is an experienced neurobiologist/electrophysiologist with more than fifteen years of experience in the field of neuroscience. She has established a track record in neurobiology, nicotine addiction, electrophysiology, and cell culture techniques. In her Ph.D. at the University of Victoria, Canada, she deciphered the functions of brain resident immune proteins mediated regulation via protein kinases on the expression and function of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the mouse cortex. During her postdoctoral research at the Hospital of Sick Children, Toronto, Canada, she successfully showed the role of NMDA receptors in the pathophysiology of Schizophrenia in mouse models. She also worked on the YAC128 mouse model of Huntington’s disease (HD) at McGill University, Montreal, Canada. She is an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology & Science Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, India. She presently serves as an editorial board member of Nature Scientific Reports journal, Neuroscience Journal, and an editor for Research & Reviews: A Journal of Life Sciences (STM journal). She also serves as a key member of World Women in Neuroscience. Her recent insights into the atypical function of immune protein receptors (the T-cell receptor beta subunit) were recognized by the United Nations and included under the sustainable development goal for better health and well-being for all (UN-SDG). She has received several awards and grants from the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO). PI has already published her research in several high-impact journals, including the Journal of Neurosciences, Journal of Physiology, and Neuroscience, with an H-index of 12. Dr. Komal’s laboratory focuses on the neurological benefits of Vitamin D3-Vitamin D receptors (VD-VDR) mediated signaling in the adult mammalian brain, primarily focusing on cholinergic systems. Our lab explores how the cross-talk among the myriad downstream signal molecules activated affects nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expression and function in difficult neuropathological conditions. The broad area of research includes the role of ion channels in synaptic homeostasis. Synaptic impairment underlies a common detrimental effect observed under most neurotoxic conditions, where her research group has shown an antioxidant and neuroprotective property of nutraceutical, Vitamin D3 in a mouse model of Huntington’s Disease. Her specific research interests include ionotropic receptor modulation in mental disorders such as schizophrenia, Huntington’s disease, and nicotine addiction so that better drug therapies can be devised to help patients with their debilitating conditions.

EDUCATION:  Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, Hyderabad, India (2023-continued).  Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, Hyderabad, India (2017-2023).  Post-Doctorate Research Fellow, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Canada (2017).  Post-Doctorate Research Fellow, The hospital of sick children, Toronto, Canada (2016).  Ph.D. in Neuroscience, University of Victoria, Canada, (2015) Thesis Title: “Tyrosine Kinase and Protein Kinase A Modulation of α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Function on Layer 1 Cortical Interneurons”.  M.Sc. in Biochemistry, Patna Science College, Patna University, India-2007.  B.Sc. in Biotechnology, Vellore Institute of Technology, India-2005. AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS:  Offered the editorial board membership of STM Journals and an editor for Research & Reviews: A Journal of Life Sciences, 2025.  Offered the editorial board membership of “Neuroscience ”Journal, 2025.   Offered the editorial board membership of Scientific Reports, 2024.  Offered the editorial board membership of The Geek Chronicles, 2024.  Facilitated with a certificate by Elsevier journal for the invited review (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667242122000653) as it was undertaken by the United Nations under sustainable development goal for better health and wellbeing for all (UN-SDG), 2023.  Recipient of young paternity/parenthood grant award; International Brain Research Organization (IBRO), October 2021.  Scholarship awardee for e-poster presentation to attend “Vitamin D workshop” at virtual keynote symposium, United States, October 13-14th, 2021.  Recipient of “Women Researcher Award” in “International Scientist Awards on Engineering, Science, and Medicine” by VDGOOD professional association India, September 2021.  Project leader from the Department of Biological Sciences, for the Department of Biotechnology builder grant (DBT-Builder grant-2020) worth 1.5 crores (Indian rupees) towards the setup of patch-clamp electrophysiology at BITS-Pilani, Hyderabad, India, January 2021.  Recipient of Early Career Award; International Brain Research Organization (IBRO), September 2020.  Recipient of International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) world congress travel grant award for IBRO-meeting, Daegu, South Korea, 2019.  Recipient of an independent postdoctoral fellowship called “Restracomp”, at Sick Kid’s Hospital, Toronto, 2015-17.  Offered independent postdoctoral fellowship, The Hospital of Sick Children, Toronto, Canada, 2015-17.  Offered Postdoctoral fellowship, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, U.S.A 2016.  Offered Postdoctoral fellowship, National Institute of Health (NIH), Washington D.C, U.S.A 2015.  Offered Postdoctoral fellowship, The University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMASS), Boston, U.S.A 2015.  The University of Victoria, Canada, Faculty of Science, James A. Laurette Agnew Award, 2014.  The University of Victoria, Canada, Faculty of Science, James A. Laurette Agnew Award, 2013.  The University of Victoria, Canada, William Wowchuk Memorial Graduate Scholarship 2013.  The University of Victoria, Canada, William Wowchuk Memorial Graduate Scholarship 2011.  The University of Victoria, Canada, Faculty of Graduate Studies Travel Grant 2011/2012.  Received Honorable Mention Award for the Canadian Student Health Research National Health Research (CSHRF) poster presentation competition, June 13, 2012, Manitoba, Canada.  Nominated by University of Victoria among the top 5% of doctoral students for presentation in Canadian Student Health Research Forum (CSHRF) 2012, in Winnipeg, Canada.  Junior Research Fellowship, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR/JRF) 2007.  Gold-Medalist at post-graduation, Patna University, Department of Biochemistry, India 2007.  Qualified Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, (GATE), India 2007.  Gold-Medalist at graduation, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Department of Biotechnology, India 2005.