Pandit Laboratory for Neurovascular Regeneration
Welcome to the Pandit Laboratory for Neurovascular Regeneration
Our Motto: Science for Humanity, Grounded in Scientific Evidence
We believe in science that’s built to last. It begins with sharp observations, sparks bold hypotheses, and thrives on rigorous testing. From there, we design experiments that deliver answers.
Scientific Objectives
- Identify the molecular mechanisms governing blood vessel formation and neurovascular interactions in the central nervous system (CNS).
- Target developmental pathways to stimulate CNS vascular, repair, growth and patterning.
- Evaluate angiogenic strategies for restoring neurovascular integrity after brain injury.
- Assess reactivated developmental programs as a therapeutic approach for post-stroke neural recovery.
Our Team
Peeyush Pandit, PhD
Principal Investigator
I believe science is a powerful tool for uncovering the mysteries of the universe revealing what exists, how it functions today, how it operated in the past, and how it might behave in the future. As a neuroscientist and vascular biologist, my research is driven by a passion for translational science, with a focus on vascular repair and regeneration. I am particularly dedicated to exploring ways to restore or enhance central nervous system vascular functions and promote neuroregeneration following brain injury.
Phone: (713) 500-6491
Email: [email protected]
Sithara Thomas, PhD
Postdoctoral fellow
Sithara earned her Bachelor’s degree in Medical Laboratory Technology from the Government Medical College, Trivandrum (India), followed by a Master’s degree in Medical Biochemistry from the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER, India). She pursued her doctoral studies as an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) fellow at the CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), where she obtained a PhD in Biological Sciences. After completing a one-year postdoctoral fellowship in Dr. Konstantinos Drosatos’ laboratory at Temple University, she joined Dr. Anilkumar Pandit’s lab at UTHealth Houston in 2021.
As a postdoctoral researcher in the Pandit Lab, Sithara investigates epigenetic regulation of brain endothelial cells in blood-brain barrier dynamics under physiological conditions and pathological states, including stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. Her work has been supported by grants from the Brain Aneurysm Foundation (BAF, 2023) and the Texas Alzheimer’s Research and Care Consortium (TARCC, 2024). Outside of research, she enjoys outdoor activities, spending time with her daughter, reading fiction, watching classic films, and exploring diverse cuisines.
Email: [email protected]
Lalit K Ahirwar, PhD
Postdoctoral fellow
Lalit earned his PhD in Ocular Microbiology in 2022 from the LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad (affiliated with Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India). His doctoral work on corneal host-pathogen interactions sparked a profound fascination with retinal architecture, vascular dynamics, and neurovascular crosstalk.
As a postdoctoral researcher in the Pandit Lab, Lalit now investigates how prenatal and postnatal CNS vasculature shapes cortical development—a critical determinant of cognitive function and memory. He seeks to unravel how newly formed blood vessels drive neurogenesis and cortical patterning. His research bridges vascular biology and neurodevelopment, exploring molecular mechanisms by which cerebral vessels regulate neuronal maturation. This work holds therapeutic potential for restoring neural circuitry in cerebrovascular diseases.
Beyond science, Lalit enjoys hiking, singing, and cricket.
Fun fact: He loves swimming but hasn’t quite conquered his fear of deep water!
Email: [email protected]
Cikesh Chandran
Research Assistant
I contribute to research efforts by managing the mouse colony and supporting the Principal Investigator with experiments. My responsibilities include assisting with mouse brain harvesting, sectioning, immunostaining, imaging, and data analysis. Additionally, I conduct neuro-behavioral experiments with mice, contributing to various projects in the lab.
In my free time, I enjoy listening to music and immersing myself in soccer—both playing the game and cheering on my favorite teams as a dedicated fan.
I aim to expand my expertise by learning and refining a wide range of laboratory skills. I look forward to actively participating in future scientific publications and contributing to exciting new discoveries.
Email: [email protected]
Selected Publications
Sadanandan J, Thomas S*, Mathew IE, Huang Z, Blackburn SL, Tandon N, Lokhande H, McCrea PD, Bresnick EH, Dash PK, McBride D, Harmanci A, Jose D, Dienel AC, Zeineddine HA, Hong S, Peeyush Kumar T. 2023. Establishing And Maintaining The Blood-Brain Barrier: Epigenetic And Signaling Determinants. eLife 12. doi:10.7554/eLife.86978.1- *Equal contribution
- Thomas S, Sadanandan J, Blackburn SL, McBride DW, Dienel A, Hong S, Zeineddine HA, Peeyush Kumar T. 2022. Glyoxal Fixation Is Optimal for Immunostaining of Brain Vessels, Pericytes and Blood-Brain Barrier Proteins. International journal of molecular sciences 23. doi:10.3390/ijms23147776
- Ihezie SA, Mathew IE, McBride DW, Dienel A, Blackburn SL, Thankamani Pandit PK. 2021. Epigenetics in blood–brain barrier disruption. Fluids and Barriers of the CNS. doi:10.1186/s12987-021-00250-7
- Peeyush Kumar T, McBride DW, Dash PK, Matsumura K, Rubi A, Blackburn SL. 2019. Endothelial Cell Dysfunction and Injury in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. Molecular Neurobiology 56:1992–2006. doi:10.1007/s12035-018-1213-7
- Shafeeque CM, Harmanci AO, Thomas S, Dienel AC, Mcbride DW, Peeyush KT*, Spiros LB*. 2025. Gene expression changes in human cerebral arteries following hemoglobin exposure: implications for vascular responses in SAH. Frontiers in Physiology 16:1529113. doi:10.3389/FPHYS.2025.1529113
*Corresponding Authors
Clinical collaborator
Past lab members
- Iny Elizabeth Mathew (Visiting Postdoctoral fellow)
- Jayanarayanan Sadananandan (Postdoctoral fellow)
- Dania Jose (Postdoctoral fellow)
- Stephanie A. Ihezie, MD (Medical student)
- Herrera, Arnold (Research Assistant)