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Translational Glycomaterials and Neural Repair Lab
Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia


Lohitash Karumbaiah, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Primary Investigator
Dr. Karumbaiah joined the University of Georgia’s Regenerative Bioscience Center in 2013, where he is currently Associate Professor of Regenerative Medicine and director of the Translational Glycomaterials and Neural Repair Laboratory. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia in 2007, after which he went on to conduct postdoctoral research in neuroscience and neural tissue engineering in Professor Ravi Bellamkonda’s lab in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine. Research in the Karumbaiah lab is focused on developing interventional therapies for traumatic brain injuries and invasive brain tumors. His laboratory has developed novel glycomaterial implants that can facilitate brain tissue repair, therapeutic approaches to block brain tumor invasion and enhance the efficacy of standard-of-care therapeutics, and in vitro diagnostic tumor-on-chip platforms to evaluate the potency of tumor-targeting therapeutics. Prior to joining academia, Dr. Karumbaiah worked in product development and new product launch projects at Monsanto Company, and served as study director for a medical device company. He is the recipient of young investigator awards from the International Brain Injury Association and the Southern Translational Education and Research Conference. His research is funded by research grants from federal funding agencies and nonprofit foundations.

Our Team

Nathan Gonsalves
PhD student in Neuroscience
Joined Summer 2021
Current Project:
Immunotherapeutic Glycomaterials for Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
Education:
Master of Science in Life Science, St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, India, 2017 - 2019
Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, SIES College, Mumbai, India, 2013-2017
Hobbies:
Cricket, Music, Automobiles

Shanmathi Ramasubramanian
PhD student in Neuroscience
Joined Fall 2021
Current Project:
Investigating the role of aberrant glycosylation in GBM
Education:
Master by Research in Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cells, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK, 2020 - 2021
B. Tech in Biotechnology, SRM University, Chennai, India, 2012-2016
Hobbies:
Reading books, traveling, photography, and dancing


Ruiping Tang
PhD student in Animal Science
Joined Fall 2021
Current Project:
in vitro TBI model
Education:
Master of Science in Geobiology, Inst. of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, 2016-2020
Bachelor of Science in Earth Information Science and Tech, Sun Yat-Sen University, China, 2011-2015
Hobbies:
Gaming and Cooking


Amin Davarzani
PhD student in ECE
Joined Fall 2021
Current Project:
Testing the therapeutic potency of CAR T cells against Glioblastoma using microfluidic devices
Education:
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, IR, 2016 - 2019
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, IR, 2012-2016
Hobbies:
Cycling, Badminton, and Hiking


Md Marzan Sarkar
PhD student in Neuroscience
Joined Fall 2021
Current Project:
Investigating the dysregulated molecular signaling pathways related to Glioblastoma pathogenesis to identify novel targets for drug development and improve drug delivery.
Education:
Master of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh, 2015-2016
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh, 2011-2015
Hobbies:
Travelling, Cricket, and Tennis
Lab Alumni
Meghan Logun
PhD in Neuroscience (2014-2021)
Meghan joined the University of Pennsylvania as a Postdoctoral Researcher
Min Kyoung Sun
PhD in Neuroscience (2016-2021)
Min joined Unchained Labs as a Field Application Scientist
Chaitanya Tondepu
MSc in Animal and Dairy Science (2018-2021)
Chaitanya joined Xyphos Biosciences as a Research Associate
Charles-Francoise Latchoumane
Postdoctoral Researcher (2019-2021)
Charles joined NeuroRestore as the Head of Stroke Division & Translational Division
Undergradute Researchers
Rohan Pise, Cellular Biology, Class of 2025, Since Fall 2022
Deniz Mamaghani, Cellular Biology, Class of 2025, Since Fall 2023
Khush Patel, UW-Madison, CMaT REU, Summer 2023
The Translational GlycoMaterials and Neural Repair Lab also offers research opportunities to undergraduate students motivated to learn more about regenerative bioscience, traumatic brain injury, or biomaterial development. Our students get hands-on training to perform brain surgeries on rats and we work closely with the University of Georgia's Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities. We also participate in national REU programs for visiting student researchers.

The Regenerative Bioscience Center (RBC) at the University of Georgia is a leading research institute in regenerative medicine and stem cell therapies. The RBC promotes cross-discipline and multi-institutional research within the Georgia Research Alliance with the Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State, the Medical College of Georgia, and Emory University. The center increases knowledge, facility, and technology resources to gain external funding. In addition to research, the RBC provides education to national and international researchers, graduate and undergraduate classes taught by the faculty, and a Young Scholar program for high school students interested in biomedical science careers.
The Birthplace of Public Higher Education in America
As the birthplace of public higher education in America, the University of Georgia is inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs, researchers, and informed citizens who will change the world. For over 235 years, UGA has been engaged in a mission of leadership and service to our state. A land-grant and sea-grant university, the University of Georgia is the state's oldest and most comprehensive institution of higher education. Its motto, “to teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things,” reflects the University’s integral role in the state and nation’s intellectual, cultural, and environmental heritage.

Room 330, Edgar L. Rhodes Center For Animal and Dairy Science 425 River Rd, Athens, GA 30602