Devika Manickam Lab
Devika Manickam, PhD – Associate Professor
Education & Training
BTech Chemical Engineering, University of Madras – Chennai, India
MSc Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wayne State University – Detroit, MI
PhD Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wayne State University – Detroit, MI
Postdoctoral Training University of Nebraska Medical Center – Omaha, NE
Areas of Interest
Research interests: bioengineering for drug delivery to the BBB and other nervous system targets, extracellular vesicle-mediated delivery of mitochondria and therapeutic proteins, re-engineering of lipid nanoparticles using ionic liquids
Research
The goal of our laboratory is to develop cell-derived and lipid-based carriers for safe and efficient delivery of biotherapeutic drugs such as organelles (mitochondria), polypeptides and nucleic acids to treat brain diseases. Our laboratory is developing engineering extracellular vesicles (EVs) for the delivery of mitochondria as a platform technology for treating a wide range of diseases associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Our laboratory has championed the idea of harnessing the innate EV mitochondrial load as a therapeutic cargo, in addition to engineering EVs for the delivery of exogenous therapeutic proteins. We also are re-engineering the FDA-approved lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) using ionic liquids to redirect drug delivery to extra-hepatic tissues such as the brain and heart. Our research is currently supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense.
We are on a constant lookout for motivated undergraduate students/RAs/MS and PhD graduate students (with a background in any of the following: Chemistry, Biology, Chemical/Biomedical Engineering) to join our group. If interested, please send your CV and a brief paragraph describing your interests to Dr. Manickam ([email protected]).
Hobbies & Interests
Outside of the lab, I enjoy cooking, working out, and I am training as a South Indian classical vocalist.
Balaji Govindaswamy – GSBS Graduate Student Research Assistant
Education & Training
BS Biotechnology, University of Madras – Chennai, India
MS Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University – Tiruchirappalli, India
Areas of Interest
Research interests: BBB targeted Nanocarriers, Extracellular vesicle therapeutics, and Neuro-disorders.
Research
– (Undergraduate Research) Guru Nanak College – Studied isolation, extraction, and characterization of bioactive marine crustacean compounds with therapeutic potential.
– (Undergraduate Research) University of Madras – Studied water quality parameters and microbial contamination in Tamil Nadu lakes with implications for public health.
– (Postgraduate Research) SRM University – Examined the biological impact of gamma irradiation on fish models (Pangasius sutchi), focusing on DNA damage, oxidative stress, and neurological responses. Employed COMET assay, flow cytometry, and confocal microscopy to assess genotoxicity and cellular alterations, providing insights into radiation-induced tolerance mechanisms.
– (Senior Project Associate) IIT Madras – Engineered biomaterial hydrogels and therapeutic microemulsions for cancer research, integrating structural characterization with bioprinting and microfluidic platforms to model tumor microenvironments.
Hobbies & Interests
Exploring culinary arts with cooking recipes, Anime as a source of creative perspective and relaxation, and experiencing diverse cultural practices.
Kristen Rebeles– GSBS Graduate Student Research Assistant
Education & Training
BS Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi – Corpus Christi, TX
Areas of Interest
Research interests: Ischemic Stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, BBB function, Extracellular vesicle therapeutics
Research
– (Undergraduate Research) Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi – Riccardo Mozzachiodi Lab – Studied the effects of aversive stimuli on the siphon withdrawal reflex as a measure of long-term sensitization in the context of feeding suppression and food deprivation
– (Clinical Research Assistant) – HD Research – Assisted on clinical trials focusing on post-operative pain and reducing the need for opiates during surgical recovery
– (Research Assistant) UTHealth McGovern Medical School – Louise McCullough Lab – Studied the effects of maternal dysbiosis caused by advanced maternal age on offspring health, behavior, and ability to recover from ischemic injury
Hobbies & Interests
Baking, sewing, swimming, embroidery, and playing with my cats
Chia-Chen (Elva) Lu – Research Assistant II
Education & Training
BS Life Sciences, National Central University
MS Biotechnology, National Taiwan University
Areas of Interest
Molecular biology
Stem cell biology
Epigenetics
Neuroscience
Research
Prior to joining the Manickam Lab, I conducted behavioral analysis to evaluate the role of lncRNA Zeb2os knockdown in spinal cord injury mouse models. I also investigated Zeb2os-related molecular mechanisms, including co-binding proteins and miRNA interactions in primary astrocytes, and characterized candidate miRNAs derived from human cerebrospinal fluid exosomes.
Master’s in Biotechnology
Established a human in vitro model to study Parkinsonism patient plasma–related microRNAs by developing an inducible α-synuclein–expressing oligodendrocyte cell line for multiple system atrophy (MSA). Optimized differentiation conditions and analyzed α-synuclein expression along with RNA profiling to investigate disease-related molecular mechanisms.
Bachelor in Life Sciences
Examining the Effect of a Catalase Promoter Repetitive Sequence Deletion on Its Expression Level
Hobbies & Interests
Badminton, swimming, board games, animation, and drama