Dr. Lakshmi Rajagopal | Schizophrenia | Best Researcher Award
Dr. Lakshmi Rajagopal, an accomplished Indian researcher in Neuropsychopharmacology, has earned recognition with the Best Researcher Award for her groundbreaking work in schizophrenia. Holding a Ph.D. from the University of Bradford, UK, her dissertation focused on Neonatal Phencyclidine (PCP) induced deficits in rats, contributing to schizophrenia research. With expertise in behavioral testing and immunohistochemistry, Dr. Rajagopal has made significant contributions during her tenure at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago. Currently a Research Assistant Professor, she has excelled in her roles as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Research Associate. A recipient of the O1 visa, she is in the process of obtaining an EB1 visa. Dr. Rajagopal’s career showcases a commitment to advancing our understanding of neuropsychiatric disorders. šš§
Education
Dr. Lakshmi Rajagopal, an esteemed Neuropsychopharmacologist, earned her Ph.D. from the University of Bradford, UK, from 2008 to 2011. Her dissertation, “Neonatal Phencyclidine (PCP) induced deficits in rats,” showcased her expertise in behavioral testing and immunohistochemistry, under the guidance of Prof. Joanna Neill and Dr. Michael Harte at Manchester University. She furthered her academic journey with a Masters in Environmental Protection from Delhi University (1995-1997) and a B.Sc. in Zoology from Womenās Christian College, Chennai (1992-1995). Dr. Rajagopal, dedicated to scientific inquiry, has seamlessly blended her passion for neuroscience and environmental protection. Her academic odyssey is a testament to her commitment to understanding the intricacies of the brain and the environment. š§ š¬šæ
Experience
Dr. Lakshmi Rajagopal, a dynamic researcher, has played pivotal roles at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine since 2012. As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (2012-2019) and Research Associate (2019-2022), she excelled in behavioral neuroscience, establishing and managing the Behavioral Core of the laboratory. Dr. Rajagopal, currently a Research Assistant Professor, has expertise in diverse behavioral paradigms and techniques such as Western Blot and immunohistochemistry. Notably, she initiated and produced constitutive and conditioned 5-HT7 knock-out mice, contributing to four ongoing first-author research manuscripts. As the DEA liaison, she manages controlled substances, while overseeing IACUC protocols, grant applications, and supervising interns and candidates. In her prior role as Quality Manager at LG Medical Transcription, she efficiently led a team of 500+ editors/transcriptionists from 1999 to 2003. š§ š¬š©āš¬
Awards and Honors
Dr. Lakshmi Rajagopal is a distinguished researcher recognized with numerous honors. Acknowledged by the United States Army, Navy, and Air Force, she received a certificate for outstanding mentorship of a summer intern at the Junior Science & Humanities Symposium in 2016. Her commitment to excellence garnered the prestigious “Service Excellence Award” from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in 2017. Dr. Rajagopal’s international acclaim includes Travel Awards from the British Association of Pharmacology for poster presentations in 2009 and 2010, as well as full Travel Awards for abstract/poster presentations at CINP in Florence (2010) and ECNP in France (2008). Notably, she was nominated and featured in Marquis Whoās Who as one of the top researchers in America in 2017. ššš¬
Areas of Expertise
Dr. Lakshmi Rajagopal is a distinguished expert in Neuropsychopharmacology, Neuropharmacology, and Behavioral Pharmacology. Her multifaceted expertise encompasses cognition, psychosis, Major Depressive Disorder, Alzheimerās Disease, and the experimental design of animal behavior tests. Specializing in the pharmacology of preclinical models, she excels in statistical analyses, molecular and neuropathological investigations, and the study of neuroinflammation. Dr. Rajagopal’s comprehensive understanding spans the intricate interplay between pharmacological interventions and neural mechanisms, contributing significantly to the fields of neuroscience and psychiatry. š§ šš
Publications Top Notes
“The dopamine D1 receptor positive allosteric modulator, DETQ, improves cognition and social interaction in aged mice and enhances cortical and hippocampal acetylcholine efflux.”
“NU-1223, a simplified analog of alstonine, with 5-HT2cR agonist-like activity, rescues memory deficit and positive and negative symptoms in subchronic phencyclidine mouse model of schizophrenia.”
“Repeated Administration of Rapastinel Produces Exceptionally Prolonged Rescue of Memory Deficits in Phencyclidine-Treated Mice.”
“Pimavanserin augments the efficacy of atypical antipsychotic drugs in a mouse model of treatment-refractory negative symptoms of schizophrenia.”
“Depolarizing GABAA current in the prefrontal cortex is linked with cognitive impairment in a mouse model relevant for schizophrenia.”
“Systematic analysis of brain lactate and pH levels in 65 animal models related to neuropsychiatric conditions.”
“The D1 Positive Allosteric Modulator, DETQ, Improves Cognition in Aged Mice and Enhances Cortical and Hippocampal Acetylcholine Efflux.”
“Effects of NBI-98782, a selective vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor, on neurotransmitter efflux and phencyclidine-induced locomotor activity: Relevance to tardive dyskinesia and antipsychotic action.”
“The allosteric dopamine D1 receptor potentiator, DETQ, ameliorates subchronic phencyclidine-induced object recognition memory deficits and enhances cortical acetylcholine efflux in male humanized D1 receptor knock-in mice.”