FAST FACTS: Ravindran, who hails from Mumbai, India, earned her Master of Science in Biochemistry degree and Ph.D. in Life Sciences from the University of Mumbai. She serves as a senior research scientist in the NSU Cell Therapy Institute and as a clinical assistant professor in the NSU MD Department of Medical Education. Her area of focus is on the application of pluripotent stem cells for neurodegenerative disease modeling and therapy. RESEARCH RIGOR: Ravindran began her research career in the Regenerative Medicine Group of Reliance Life Sciences (RLS)—a biotech industry in Mumbai. She also worked as a visiting scientist in the Department of Biological Sciences at the National University of Singapore, where she conducted research on the functional role of the nuclear receptor superfamily in stem cell renewal, pluripotency, and reprogramming. ACADEMIC SHIFT: Ravindran soon moved to academia and joined the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, where she collaborated with leading researchers in the field of stem cells and neurobiology. In the ensuing years, she led safety and efficacy studies for proofof-concept testing in preclinical models of degenerative diseases. NSU INITIATIVE: Her current research, in collaboration with Deborah Mash, Ph.D., an NSU MD research professor, focuses on the in vitro disease modeling of ALS—a progressive neuromuscular disease—using pluripotent stem cells derived from ALS patients. Their long-term goal is to fully optimize this cell-based platform for ALS biomarker discovery. DID YOU KNOW? Ravindran has mentored and trained undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students about stem cells and their potential applications to neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, she has played a pivotal role in initiating various technological advances that have contributed to the development and validation of several proprietary methodologies/granted patents/publications that study the regenerative capability of pluripotent and adult stem cells. GEETA RAVINDRAN PH.D. FACULTY SPOTLIGHTS LEXI FRANKEL CLASS OF 2023 STUDENT LOCAL ROOTS: Although she was born in upstate New York, Frankel grew up in Davie, Florida, earning her undergraduate degree in biology at the University of Miami, where she spent a few years working as a research assistant in a surgical oncology lab before realizing she was more interested in clinical research. MASTERFUL MENTORING: Once she began her NSU MD education, Frankel searched for a clinical oncology research position. She was soon introduced to her mentor—Omar Rashid M.D., J.D., a surgical oncologist whose research focused on clinical oncology and its relationship with several other fields, including surgery, gastroenterology, and dermatology. FOCUS AREAS: In her research assistant role, Frankel’s work centered on dermatologic cancers and their associations with commonly prescribed medications, including aspirin, beta-blockers, and ACE inhibitors. She also studied how several infectious diseases were associated with the prevention or causation of certain cancers. OB-GYN INTEREST: Frankel, who was eventually promoted to the role of senior research fellow, gained a passion for obstetrics-gynecology (OB-GYN) while participating in her clinical clerkships. As a result, she chose to merge the oncology-based research she was conducting with OB-GYN. With the help of a junior fellow, Frankel designed several projects that linked endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and gynecologic cancers to various infectious and environmental risk factors. PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE: The projects Frankel has collaborated on this year, such as “Oral Contraceptives Decrease Risk of Colorectal Cancer” and “Endometriosis and Leukemia: An Inflammatory Modulator as a Potential Diagnostic Target,” are close to her heart as someone who was diagnosed with endometriosis. “These projects are especially meaningful to me, because in doing this research, I hope to contribute to research that will help others obtain timely diagnoses, access treatments, and further understand pathophysiology and risk factors,” Frankel explained. Nova Southeastern University admits students of any race, color, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, military service, veteran status, and national or ethnic origin. • Nova Southeastern University degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Nova Southeastern University may be directed, in writing, to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southe
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