In this first-person narrative, Anirudh Praveen, undergraduate researcher, tells Nevada Today about his experience researching neurological and neurodegenerative disorders in the ÍƼöÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ School of Medicine.
Imagine waking up one day and forgetting where you put your keys, only to realize you’ve forgotten aspects of your whole life. Or suddenly, your own body feels foreign, as if it’s moving without you, no longer responding the way you expect. Moving out of bed seems like the day after a brutal leg day at the gym, with every step feeling harder to place than the last. For some, this isn't just a bad day, but the gradual breakdown of both mind and body, a process that feels like it never stops.
Neurodegenerative diseases, or neurological disorders in general, affect one in three people1. Statistics often feel like distant numbers – until they become personal. For me, that reality came when my grandaunt was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease and became one of those three affected. Watching her struggle and seeing the limited educational and treatment resources available to her, inspired me to dive into neuroscience, with the hope of contributing to breakthroughs that could help patients like her. Over time, this personal connection has fueled my drive to explore the complex mechanisms behind neurological disorders and work toward solutions that can improve lives.
Throughout college lectures and readings at the ÍƼöÐÓ°ÉÔ´´, I’ve been captivated by a profound question: How can a collection of neurons and molecules, so small and seemingly insignificant, hold the power to shape our thoughts, actions, and very sense of self? It's as if the smallest misalignment –like a tiny slip in the gears of a watch – can unravel everything, turning the reality we know into something unrecognizable.
After my first semester at the University, with my prerequisite courses completed and knowledge in hand, I knew it was time to turn theory into practice. As the University is an R1 research institution, numerous opportunities for research await. I was incredibly fortunate to join an amazing group of researchers at the , despite only having preliminary research experience in high school. The Dagda Lab, under Associate Professor of Pharmacology , studies the molecular mechanism that lead to mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in Parkinson’s disease – research that resonated with my passion.
Anirudh examines SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell slides after antibody treatment with his mentor, Ruben Dagda, as part of the Dagda Lab's research on neurogenerative disease mechanisms. After two years of contributing to various projects, learning new biomedical techniques and growing into a researcher who understands the importance of the scientific method and collaboration, I decided to embark on my own independently designed research project. Fortunately, Dr. Dagda and (postdoctoral associate at the Dagda Lab) provided me with guidance throughout this process. Furthermore, I decided to apply for the NURA (Nevada Undergraduate Research Award), which is an amazing award that pays undergraduate students to create, pursue and present original research projects. With my project being about investigating potential therapeutic pathways for Parkinson's disease, focusing on whether activating PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1), a mitochondrial protein involved in cellular stress responses, could enhance tissue plasminogen activator (protein utilized in stroke treatment) activity to reduce inflammation in the brain and support brain health.
What I initially thought would be a smooth-sailing endeavor quickly ran into major issues regarding experimental feasibility, animal models, protocol changes and data analysis. I severely underestimated the difficulty, and the amount of troubleshooting required when experiments don’t go as planned. No project, big or small, comes without hurdles. Being in the driver’s seat of my own experiment – calling the shots and critically analyzing the setbacks – was an entirely different experience. However, navigating these obstacles pushed me to think critically, adapt quickly and take initiative in problem-solving, strengthening my ability to tackle scientific challenges. With the guidance of Dr. Dagda and Dr. Soman, what once felt like a towering mountain to climb became a small hill I needed to overcome.
Throughout the weeks of my project, I stayed resilient and relied on my newfound capabilities of accurately problem solving whenever trials or experiments didn’t go to plan. Additionally, NURA provides students with the ability to present their research at Wolf Pack Discoveries where I got the opportunity to present my work to faculty and students. Even though my research project didn’t yield statistically significant results yet – it has shown me what opportunities and knowledge I’ve obtained by dedicating myself to something that I’m passionate about. Why wait for the next big breakthrough when a solution could be hiding in plain sight, waiting to be revealed?
ÍƼöÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ the author:
Anirudh Praveen is an undergraduate researcher and NURA awardee at the ÍƼöÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ School of Medicine, working under Ruben Dagda. His research interests are on neurological and neurodegenerative disorders. As a third-year student, he is pursuing a degree in neuroscience and minoring in molecular biology and biochemistry.
References:
1. World Health Organization. (n.d.). . World Health Organization.
