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About
Current Research Interests
Diabetic Wound Healing
RNA-Targeting Therapeutic for T2D
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA molecules larger than 200 nucleotides. Gas5 (growth arrest specific 5) is a lncRNA of particular interest to our lab due to its importance in insulin signaling, tau phosphorylation, neuronal survival, and neuroinflammation. We were the first to identify it’s decreased expression in Type II Diabetes, making it a suitable biomarker for disease onset and progression. We designed a drug, NPC86, that is a Gas5 targeting small molecule that effectively increases Gas5 expression levels counteracting T2D metabolic sequelae. NPC86 is a pioneer in its field of RNA-targeted drug discovery.
Exosomes in Regenerative Medicine
Exosomes (sEV: small extracellular vesicles) are nano-sized lipid vesicles that play a role in intercellular communication. In our lab, we have shown that sEV derived from human adipose stem cells accelerate the healing of brain injuries. These sEV are a biological therapeutic and need to be stored at -20°C or -80°C, limiting their use in clinics and first-aid kits for immediate application after injury. We have developed a method that allows storage of these sEV at room temperature to enable its use in first aid kits, clinics, and on the field. We validated its use with in vitro studies mimicking traumatic brain injury.
Funding
Funding
This research is funded by the Cell-free Regenerative Approach to Wound Healing grant (I0 BX005591) and Research Career Scientist grant (IK6BX005387) awarded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Location of Our Lab
Business address: 3802 Spectrum Blvd., Suites 300 & 303 Tampa, FL 33612
Email: Niketa@usf.edu, Niketa.Patel@va.gov, Tel: +1 (813) 972 2000 X 7283
Labs: +1 (813) 972 2000 X 7121; X 7443; X 6964; X 7120