Biography

Dr. Ganesh received her Ph.D. under the supervision of Dr. Michael Blaut from the German Institute of Human Nutrition-Potsdam Rehbruecke (DIfE), Leibniz institute, Germany from 2010 to 2014. Shortly thereafter, she relocated to Houston, TX for her post-doctoral training where she was trained by Dr. James Versalovic in the Department of Pathology and Immunology at Baylor College of Medicine from 2014 to 2017. She in-between held a visiting scientist position at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge from 2014-2016 where she was trained by Dr. James Fox. After post-doctoral training at Baylor, she joined the department of Neurology (BRAINS lab) led by Dr. Louise McCullough at University of Texas Health Science Center Houston (UTHSC) as a senior postdoctoral fellow, Texas, USA from 2017 to 2018. In 2018, she was promoted to Assistant Professor in the department of Neurology, and in 2024, was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure. Currently, her primary interest lies on investigating signaling mechanisms involved in gut-brain axis interactions in aging-associated cerebrovascular diseases especially, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy, Neonatal Hypoxic encephalopathy at UTHSC.

Education

Bachelors Degree
Life Sciences and Bio-Informatics, ADU, India (2004-2007)
Masters Degree
Biotechnology, University of Ulster, United Kingdom (2007-2009)
Doctorate Degree
Gastrointestinal Microbiology, DlfE-Potsdam, Leibniz Institute, Germany. Mentor: Prof. Michael Blaut (2010-2014)
Postdoctoral Training
Department of Immunology and Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. Mentor: Dr. James Versalovic (2014-2017)
Postdoctoral Training
Department of Neurology, UTHealth, Houston, TX, USA. Mentor: Dr. Louise McCullough (2017-2018)

Areas of Interest

Clinical Interests

Intrinsic connection between vascular diseases and exacerbation of gut inflammation

Research Interests

My research primarily focuses on exploring the intricate relationship between the microbiome and a range of health conditions, including stroke, hypertension, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, Alzheimer’s disease, and other age-related ailments. The overarching objective of my research endeavors is to shed light on how the intestinal microbiome influences the delicate balance of intestinal epithelial homeostasis, ultimately leading to the onset and exacerbation of chronic inflammation in the context of neurodegenerative diseases associated with aging.

Throughout my career, I have dedicated my efforts to investigating the role of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, particularly emphasizing intestinal inflammation. Furthermore, I harbor a deep interest in discerning ways in which the microbiota can be harnessed to yield beneficial health outcomes.

Presently, my research is laser-focused on the intriguing ” GUT-BRAIN Axis”. Our research team is delving into the intricate interplay between the microbiome and its secretory products, examining how these interactions impact the physiological processes of the brain, particularly in the context of age-related diseases. A notable aspect of our work involves the development of innovative germ-free rodent models, which serve as invaluable tools in unraveling the effects of individual or multiple known bacterial species and their secretions on the shaping of the intestinal epithelium and beyond.

My extensive utilization of germ-free mouse models has enabled me to investigate the consequences of both pathogenic and beneficial (probiotic) bacteria, further elucidating the multifaceted role of different bacteria in maintaining gut homeostasis. Additionally, I am conducting research into how the microbiome and its secretory products impact the physiology of goblet cells, specifically focusing on mucus synthesis. I aspire to identify changes in mucosal modifications, including immune responses, in relation to a dysbiotic gut microbiome, with the ultimate goal of identifying potential biomarkers for predicting age-related diseases at an earlier stage.