Vijayasree V Giridharan, M.Pharm, PhD

Biography

Dr. Vijayasree V Giridharan, an Assistant Professor at the Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, is a dedicated translational researcher specializing in Neuropsychiatry. Her work focuses on elucidating cognitive dysfunction in experimental models of dementia and infection. Specifically, her laboratory explores the intricate interplay of neuroinflammation, vascular markers, and the gut microbiome in the context of Alzheimer’s disease and neuropsychiatric complications. Dr. Giridharan also brings a wealth of expertise in animal behavioral models, particularly in memory, depression, and anxiety. Her recent work extends to investigating neuropsychiatric complications arising from COVID-19 clinical samples.

Dr. Giridharan holds a Master’s degree in Pharmacology from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, India, and completed her Ph.D. in Life Sciences at Niigata University of Applied Life Sciences, Niigata, Japan. Her academic journey also included a role as an Assistant Professor in the College of Pharmacy, Erode, India. With a rich academic background, she has authored approximately 71 peer-reviewed articles in reputable journals and contributed to 11 book chapters. Currently serving as an Assistant Professor, Dr. Giridharan engages in collaborative efforts with both basic and clinical researchers, with a focus on cognitive and depressive disorders. Her contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including travel awards and abstract awards. Furthermore, she actively participates as a reviewer on several awards committees within the American Heart Association. Notably, Dr. Giridharan has been recognized for her achievements and received funding support from Career Development and Research Excellence (CaDRE) funding from UTHealth, the American Heart Association’s Second Century Science Implementation Award, and the Institute of Aging’s UTHRO (The University of Texas Houston Retiree Organization) Endowment for Healthy Aging Award.