About Me
Doctor - Physiologist - Neuroscientist - Carnatic vocalist
I am a medical doctor from India. After my training as a doctor (2000 - 2005), I worked in 4 different Medical hospitals (2006 - 2008) - 24 X 7. I then joined MD with Physiology as my Specialization (2006-2010). I later worked as an Assistant Professor (2010-2021) in a Medical College and Teaching Hopsital. Here, I taught Medical Physiology to different medical and paramedical courses.
Simultaneously, I studied Non-pharmacological modes of management of non-communicable diseases. The Indian Council of Medical Research and our University funded my research projects.
I always wanted to be a Neuroscientist. This dream came true over time, and I moved to France to pursue my goals further. I am currently a postdoc in University of Rennes, studying the effect of anthropogenic stimulants, including toxins on neuroplasticity and behavior using zebrafish and mouse models. For this, I use molecular biology approaches.
I am also a trained Carnatic classical vocalist, teacher of music, and founding trustee of Kalamshu, Bangalore www.kalamshu.org .
Overall, I am a keen academician interested in disseminating scientific knowledge. My research interest is to design preventive & treatment strategies for neuroendocrine & neurological disorders.
My dream is to contribute to this world scientifically and train the next-gen. Looking forward to a life full of learning and contributing to Neuroscience!!!
Curriculum Vitae
Education
Education:
MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) 2000 - 2006 - Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, India
Check my Institute's webpage: Dr B R Ambedkar Medical College
MD (Doctor of Medicine) 2007 - 2010 - Specialized in Physiology - Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, India
Check my Institute's webpage: Ramaiah Medical College
DNB 2010 - 2011 - Physiology - National Board of Examinations, India
NBE Webpage: NBE
Ph.D (Doctor of Philosophy) 2019 - 2023 - Neuroscience - Maastricht University, Netherlands
Check my Institute's webpage: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
Postdoctoral Fellow 2022 - 2024 - Neuroscience - University of Rennes, France
Check my Institute's webpage: IRSET
Postdoctoral Fellow 2024 to current - Neuroscience - Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Stockholm
Check my Institute's webpage: Karolinska Institute
Research Interests: Molecular Neuroscience, Neuroendocrinology, Autonomic Neuroscience, Stress Physiology, Auditory system, Translational Research
Publications: Google Scholar
Current Research
Postdoctoral Fellow:
Karolinska Institute - studying neuroendocrine effects of circadian rhythm changes and aggressive behavior Department of Medicine, Karolinska
Postdoctoral Fellow:
University of Rennes - funded by Stratégie d’Attractivité Durable RÉgion Bretagne
Effects of perinatal exposure to neonicotinoid Thiacloprid on the nervous system in zebrafish and mice using the qPCR approach across different brain regions (hippocampus, amygdala, cerebellum, and hypothalamus).
Effects of exposure to different concentrations of Ethinyl Estradiol (EE2) on markers of neurogenesis, proliferation, neuroendocrine and synaptic markers using the qPCR approach in the transgenic zebrafish model.
Short and long-term effects of Brain AroKO on zebrafish neuroplasticity, funded by ANR (French National Research Agency).
Poster Presented at FENS 2022, Paris
Poster Presented at SBN 2023, Tours, France
Research (2005-2021)
Research (2010-2021): My lab was named the Cognition and Music Perception (CAMP) Lab
Visit CAMP Lab Webpage!
I completed 3 funded projects (as Principal Investigator) - ~65k€
Funded by Indian Council of Medical Research and Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences.
The research broadly covered preventive strategies for non-communicable disorders.
I studied the effect of lifestyle modification versus added acoustic stimulation using Indian music to reduce hypertension/prehypertension among patients.
Later I studied over 400 healthy individuals for neuro and cardiovascular effects of acoustic stimulation with different melodic scales of music.
For this, I included biomarkers of stress and anxiety scales along with heart rate variability and electroencephalography as parameters.
See one of my Conference Presentations
Publications: Google Scholar!
MD Thesis (2007-2010):
In my experience of working as a shift worker (2005-2008), the stress involved in hospital settings during the night times was immense.
As a fresh MD student, I conceptualized the idea of probably impaired cardiovascular responses in shift workers and early detection of the same for my MD thesis.
I showed that insomnia for just 1 week in shift workers led to a reduction in heart rate variability (HRV), which is a precursor risk for future heart diseases
For this work, I won the Prof. N. Padmanabhan Memorial Award - best paper by any Postgraduate student in Cardiovascular Physiology – Instituted by Indian association of biomedical sciences (IABMS),India.
Check out the Publication!
My First Research Experience (2005-2006):
During my bachelor in Medicine, (residency training), I worked on one clinical trial and project studying the effect of meteorological fluctuation on asthma attacks in the emergency room, under the supervision of Dr. B V MuraliMohan (MRCP, UK).
Through data collection and analysis of 13 hospitals across the city, we identified that the average temperature, particulate matter (PM), and nitrogen dioxide play a major role in acute asthma admission, with PM and NO2 having a lag effect for 5 days.
This research was selected for an oral presentation at the National Pulmonologists Conference (NAPCON 2005) and was published later on.
Check out the Publication!
Awards
Siri Research Award for Best Paper in the category of Stress, instituted by IABMS, India.
Artist
My Music Education:
Junior in Carnatic Music – Under the tutelage of Guru Vid. Usha, Daughter of Kurudi Venkannachar, Carnatic Vocalist & composer
Senior in Carnatic Music - Under the tutelage of Guru Vid. Deepa Nataraj, Disciple of Vid. B V Laxman, a well known Carnatic Vocalist
Vidhwath (Poorva) in Carnatic Music – 1st Rank The Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB), Karnataka, India - Under the tutelage of Guru Vid. Srinath Chakravarthy, Disciple of Vid. M L Vasanthakumari & Guru Prof. Nagamani Srinath, Disciple of Ramnad Krishnan & Vid. Nagaveni Ramesh, disciple of Sukanya Prabhakar, Mysore.
Bhaavageethe (Light Vocal) – Vid. Deepa Nataraj & Raju Ananthaswamy
Devaranaama – Vid. Deepa Nataraj
Attended workshops conducted by – Vid. R K Srikantan, Vid. Nagamani Srinath & Raju Ananthaswamy
As a Performing Vocalist:
I performed several solo concerts since I was a child.
I regularly performed with Vid Deepa Nataraj and team at different venues.
I performed at several venues as part of Sunaada Cultural Center, Prof Nagamani Srinath Madam's Productions
I am the official vocalist for Kalamshu Dance Drama Productions.
As a Music Teacher and Assistant Director of Kalamshu:
Read details on www.kalamshu.org
My Productions:
South Indian Carnatic Medley – A unique theme based medley of about 20 carnatic composers of South India
Composed Tana Varnas – in different ragas
All Basic Carnatic (South Indian) Music lessons recorded by me are freely available on my YouTube Channel.
My YouTube Channel
Passion for Other Art Forms:
Photography: My passion for photography increased from 2008 onwards.
My photos have been featured in Newspapers.
This is Photography done voluntarily for SPICMACAY International School Convention held at DPS North, Bangalore – 25 – 31 Dec 2017
Published in various newspapers – Including The Hindu.
Won second place in CIREFE organized Photography Contest - Theme - "Cultures du monde" (Cultures of the World) in 2021.
I submitted a photograph clicked during Kudiyattam performance by Kapila Venu, Kerala, South India.
Rangoli making (A traditional art form of South India)
Graphic Designing
Designed the unique India Culture map – “Treasures of India” – A map covering the vast dance and music culture of India
Contact
Email: kirthana.rguhs@gmail.com
Address: IRSET (UMR_S 1085), 9 Av. du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35000 Rennes, France