Question : Dr. Yogita K Adlakha, an INSPIRE faculty fellow has recently(August 2021) developed human-based models to study neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism. When INSPIRE(Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) scheme was approved ?
a. November 2008
b. July 2021
c. March 2012
d. June 2020
Ans. a.
Related facts —
- Dr. Yogita K Adlakha, an INSPIRE faculty fellow has recently(August 2021) developed human-based models to study neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.
- It is notable that since decades, animal models have been used to understand brain-related disorders, and the drugs which function in animal models have failed in clinical trials.
- The dearth of human models has led to lack of knowledge of the pathophysiology of such disorders, an essential requirement for designing their treatment strategies.
- Dr. Yogita K Adlakha filled this gap by generating human-based stem cell model to understand brain development and dysfunction at the National Brain Research Centre, Manesar, Haryana.
- Along with her research group, she established a protocol from India for the first time by generating and producing induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from human peripheral blood.
- They have further refined the protocol of differentiation of iPSCs into the brain-specific stem cells, i.e., neural stem cells (NSCs).
- Along with her group, she derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from human peripheral blood and differentiated them into neural stem cells (NSCs).
- Since levels of microRNA-137 are less in neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD and ID, her study demonstrates crucial roles of this miRNA during human NSC fate determination with an elaboration of underlying molecular mechanisms.
- This study was published in the journal “STEM CELLS”.
- Significance —
- Her study provides the first evidence that a brain enriched miRNA-137 induces neuronal differentiation and inhibits proliferation using human neural stem cells derived from iPSCs.
- During the study, it was observed that miRNA-137 not only accelerates mitochondrial (powerhouse) biogenesis but also induces oxidative phosphorylation, generating ATP or energy currency of the cell.
Link:
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1742164