Vini Tiwari | Glia cell biology | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Vini Tiwari | Glia cell biology | Best Researcher Award

PhD at Technical University Munich, Germany

Dr. Vini Tiwari is an emerging neuroscientist dedicated to advancing the understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and glial cell biology. Currently associated with the Institute of Neuronal Cell Biology at the Technical University of Munich (TUM-NCB) and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dr. Tiwari is making significant contributions to research on remyelination, neuroepigenetics, and neuroimmunology. With a strong academic foundation and a commitment to tackling complex neurological challenges, Dr. Tiwari has earned recognition for excellence in research presentations and contributions to prestigious neuroscience platforms worldwide. Her work reflects a dedication to developing innovative therapeutic approaches for neurological disorders.

Profile

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Education

Dr. Tiwari’s educational journey in neuroscience began with a Bachelor of Science in Botany, with minors in Zoology, Chemistry, and Industrial Microbiology, from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, where she graduated summa cum laude in 2016. She then pursued a Master of Science in Neuroscience at the National Brain Research Centre (NBRC) in Gurgaon, India, completing her degree in 2018 with top honors. Driven by a passion for unraveling the complexities of the human brain, she commenced her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig Maximilian University (GSN-LMU), Munich, in October 2018, completing it in February 2024. Throughout her academic journey, Dr. Tiwari maintained a consistent track record of academic excellence, earning several merit-based awards.

Experience

Dr. Tiwari’s research experience is rooted in the fields of neurodegenerative disease and glial cell biology. Her doctoral research at DZNE focused on mechanisms underlying remyelination, neuroimmunology, and neuroepigenetics, contributing significantly to understanding the role of glial cells in brain repair. Her expertise extends to primary cell culture, molecular biology techniques, microdissection, and advanced bioinformatics analyses using techniques such as ATAC-seq and RNA-seq. Dr. Tiwari has also demonstrated her skills in animal research, including conditional knockout models and stereotactic injections in mice, further underscoring her versatile research capabilities. She has been an invited speaker at various prestigious forums and has actively participated in neuroscience conferences globally, presenting her work on microglia and neuroimmune responses.

Research Interest

Dr. Tiwari’s research interests lie at the intersection of neurodegeneration, glial biology, and neuroinflammation. Her work aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms driving neurodegenerative disorders and develop strategies to enhance brain repair processes, especially remyelination. She is particularly focused on understanding the role of innate immune responses and epigenetic modifications in neurodegenerative disease progression and recovery. By investigating the cellular and molecular pathways involved in glial cell function, Dr. Tiwari aims to pave the way for innovative therapies that can alleviate or even reverse the effects of neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.

Awards

Dr. Tiwari has received numerous accolades throughout her career. These include travel grants from SyNergy (Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology) for international and European travel, reflecting recognition of her work in the neuroscience community. She was also honored with the People’s Choice award for her presentation at the Indo-Swiss Genetic Variant Analysis program. Earlier in her academic career, she secured the prestigious National Master’s Fellowship from India’s Department of Biotechnology for her master’s studies at NBRC. Her consistent academic performance has earned her several other awards, including multiple gold medals during her undergraduate studies at Banaras Hindu University.

Publications

Dr. Tiwari has published several impactful papers, showcasing her contributions to neurodegenerative research. Some of her notable publications include:

Vini Tiwari et al., Innate immune training restores myeloid responses to promote remyelination in the aged central nervous system, Immunity, 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2024.07.001.

Hao Ji, Beatrice Dalla Volta, Vini Tiwari, et al., Designed Macrocyclic Peptide Reduces Amyloid Deposition and Neurological Damage in Murine Alzheimer’s Disease Models, Nature Communications, 2024 (in revision).

Felicitas Selter, Tatiana Hetzel, Vini Tiwari*, et al., From Ethical Presumptions to conducting animal research to publishing results and back again – Towards a more complete account of Animal research Ethics, Animals, 2024. DOI: 10.3390/ani14192896.

Mar Bosch-Queralt, Vini Tiwari et al., A fluorescence microscopy-based protocol for volumetric measurement of lysolecithin lesion-associated de- and remyelination in mouse brain, Star Protocols, 2022. DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109898.

Horst Penkert, Alix Bertrand, Vini Tiwari, et al., Proteomic and lipidomic profiling of demyelinating lesions identifies lipid mediators as modulators in inflammation resolution, Cell Reports, 2021. DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109898.

K.G. Rolland, H. S. Pandey, V. Tiwari et al., Cytoprotective action of Griffonia simplicifolia (DC.) Baill. against the oxidative stress caused by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on neurons and astrocytes, GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2018. DOI: 10.30574/gscbps.2018.5.

Conclusion

Dr. Vini Tiwari’s impressive track record in research, presentations, and publications makes her a strong candidate for the “Best Researcher Award.” Her dedication to exploring the complex interplay between glial cells and neurodegeneration, coupled with her consistent academic excellence, positions her as an emerging leader in neuroscience. With ongoing projects that hold promise for significant therapeutic advancements, Dr. Tiwari is poised to continue making meaningful contributions to the field of neurodegenerative research.

Aki Takahashi | Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Aki Takahashi | Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Associate Professor at University of Tsukuba, Japan

Dr. Aki Takahashi is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan. He earned his Ph.D. in Biology from The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, National Institute of Genetics (NIG), Japan, specializing in behavior genetics of emotionality. With a background in comparative cognitive science and psychology from the University of Tsukuba, Dr. Takahashi has held academic positions and conducted research internationally, including at Tufts University, USA. His research focuses on understanding the genetic and neurobiological mechanisms underlying aggression and emotional regulation in animals. Dr. Takahashi is actively involved in professional societies and has received several awards for his contributions to behavioral neuroendocrinology and genetics.

Professional Profiles

Education

Dr. Aki Takahashi pursued his academic journey with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Tsukuba, Japan, completing his thesis on “Altered sensitivity to anxiolytics in mice selectively bred for open-field activity” under the guidance of Dr. Junshiro Makino. He furthered his studies with a Master of Science in Comparative Cognitive Science at the same institution, focusing on “Multivariate analysis of temporal descriptions of open-field behavior in wild-derived mouse strains,” supervised by Dr. Junshiro Makino and Dr. Tsuyoshi Koide. Dr. Takahashi earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Biology from The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, National Institute of Genetics (NIG), Japan in 2007. His doctoral research titled “Genetic analysis of emotionality using consomic mouse strains established from C57BL/6J and MSM/Ms,” was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Tsuyoshi Koide, exploring behavior genetics of emotionality.

Professional Experience

Dr. Aki Takahashi currently serves as an Associate Professor at the Institute of Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan, a position he has held since 2019. Prior to this role, he was an Assistant Professor at the same institution from 2014 to 2018. During his tenure as Assistant Professor, Dr. Takahashi also undertook visiting assistant professorships at the Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and the Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, The Rockefeller University, New York, USA from 2015 to 2017. Before joining the faculty at University of Tsukuba, he was an Assistant Professor at the Mouse Genomics Resource Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics (NIG), Japan from 2010 to 2014. Dr. Takahashi commenced his academic career as a Post-doctoral Fellow at the Department of Psychology, Tufts University, USA from 2007 to 2010, following a brief postdoctoral fellowship at the Mouse Genomics Resource Laboratory, NIG, Japan from April to October 2007.

Research Interest

Dr. Aki Takahashi’s research interests primarily focus on understanding the biological mechanisms underlying aggression, emotional regulation, and related behaviors in animals. His work spans across behavior genetics, neuroendocrinology, and neuroscience, exploring topics such as the genetic basis of emotionality using consomic mouse strains, the role of brain-gut interactions in aggression induced by social isolation, and the neural and molecular mechanisms involved in exercise-driven reduction of aggression. His research aims to elucidate how these mechanisms contribute to behavioral phenotypes and potential therapeutic implications for aggression-related disorders.

Award and Honors

Dr. Aki Takahashi has been recognized with several prestigious awards and honors throughout his career. In 2022, he was honored with the Aya Irisawa Memorial Promotion Award for Excellence by Women Physiologists from the Physiological Society of Japan. His contributions to the field were further acknowledged with the Young Faculty Award from the Faculty of Human Sciences at the University of Tsukuba in 2018. Dr. Takahashi received the Kazuo Moriwaki Award in 2014 from the Society for Molossinus for his significant research contributions. His oral presentation at the Japanese Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology earned him the Presentation Award in 2013. In 2007, he was recognized with the Nature Genetics Award for his poster presentation at the International Mammalian Genome Conference held in Kyoto, Japan. Earlier in his academic journey, Dr. Takahashi received the Kamitake Incentive Award in 2005 from the Institute of Psychology at the University of Tsukuba, Japan. These accolades underscore his excellence in behavioral neuroendocrinology and genetics, reflecting his impactful contributions to the field of human sciences.

Research Skills

Dr. Aki Takahashi possesses a robust set of research skills encompassing behavior genetics, neuroendocrinology, and neuroscience. His expertise includes genetic analysis of emotionality using consomic mouse strains, multivariate analysis of behavioral data, and studying the neural and molecular mechanisms underlying aggression and emotional regulation. He is proficient in conducting comprehensive experimental designs, utilizing advanced statistical analyses for behavioral studies, and applying bioinformatics tools in his research. Dr. Takahashi’s research also involves collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches, as evidenced by his involvement in international research projects funded by grants from organizations like JST and JSPS. His skills contribute significantly to advancing knowledge in understanding the biological bases of behavior and potential therapeutic implications for related disorders.

Research Grants

Dr. Aki Takahashi has secured several prestigious research grants to support his investigations in behavioral neuroendocrinology and related fields. His recent grants include the Astellas Foundation for Research on Metabolic Disorders 2023 Research Grant, focusing on the relationship between aggression escalation and microglia. He has also been awarded the JST Fusion Oriented Research for disruptive Science and Technology (FOREST JPMJFR214A), aiming to understand biological mechanisms to suppress the explosion of anger. Additionally, Dr. Takahashi has received funding from the JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) (KAKEN 22H02660) to explore the role of brain-gut interaction in escalated aggression induced by social isolation, and the JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research (KAKEN 15K12773), investigating neural and molecular mechanisms of exercise-driven reduction of aggression. These grants underscore his leadership in securing competitive funding for innovative research that contributes significantly to the understanding of behavior and its physiological underpinnings.

Publications

  1. Associations of the immune system in aggression traits and the role of microglia as mediators
    • Author: Takahashi, A.
    • Journal: Neuropharmacology, 2024
    • Citations: 0
  2. Toward understanding the neural mechanisms involved in early life stress-induced aggression
    • Author: Takahashi, A.
    • Journal: Journal of Neurochemistry, 2024
    • Volume: 168(6)
    • Pages: 957–960
    • Citations: 0
  3. Aggression modulator: Understanding the multifaceted role of the dorsal raphe nucleus
    • Authors: Mitsui, K., Takahashi, A.
    • Journal: BioEssays, 2024
    • Volume: 46(4)
    • Pages: 2300213
    • Citations: 0
  4. Lateral habenula glutamatergic neurons projecting to the dorsal raphe nucleus promote aggressive arousal in mice
    • Authors: Takahashi, A., Durand-de Cuttoli, R., Flanigan, M.E., Ogawa, S., Russo, S.J.
    • Journal: Nature Communications, 2022
    • Volume: 13(1)
    • Pages: 4039
    • Citations: 12
  5. Neuromodulatory effect of interleukin 1β in the dorsal raphe nucleus on individual differences in aggression
    • Authors: Takahashi, A., Aleyasin, H., Stavarache, M.A., McEwen, B.S., Russo, S.J.
    • Journal: Molecular Psychiatry, 2022
    • Volume: 27(5)
    • Pages: 2563–2579
    • Citations: 10
  6. The role of social isolation stress in escalated aggression in rodent models
    • Author: Takahashi, A.
    • Journal: Neuroscience Research, 2022
    • Citations: 10
  7. Social Stress and Aggression in Murine Models
    • Author: Takahashi, A.
    • Book: Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, 2022
    • Volume: 54
    • Pages: 181–208
    • Citations: 5
  8. Toward Understanding the Sex Differences in the Biological Mechanism of Social Stress in Mouse Models
    • Author: Takahashi, A.
    • Journal: Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2021
    • Volume: 12
    • Pages: 644161
    • Citations: 11
  9. Orexin signaling in GABAergic lateral habenula neurons modulates aggressive behavior in male mice
    • Authors: Flanigan, M.E., Aleyasin, H., Li, L., Clem, R.L., Russo, S.J.
    • Journal: Nature Neuroscience, 2020
    • Volume: 23(5)
    • Pages: 638–650
    • Citations: 85
  10. Serotonin and aggression—an update
    • Authors: Quadros, I.M., Takahashi, A., Miczek, K.A.
    • Book: Handbook of Behavioral Neuroscience, 2020
    • Volume: 31
    • Pages: 635–663
    • Citations: 8