Ruchita Kothari


Stroke is caused by a lack of oxygen delivery to the brain due to blood vessel blockage, leading to neuronal death and long-term disability. Current lifesaving therapies focus on restoring blood to the brain; however, they do not address the consequence of brain injury in stroke. Specifically, brain inflammation following ischemic stroke is known to exacerbate neuronal injury and long- term functional outcomes. Early infiltration of immune cells into the brain after ischemia is correlated with increased risk of subsequent stroke, post- stroke depression and higher three-month mortality rates in stroke patients. Despite decades of awareness of neurogenic inflammation in stroke, clear inciting events in this inflammatory cascade remain unclear, preventing the development of successful therapeutic interventions.

This study sought to identify inciting events that drive brain inflammation after stroke. We show that a mast cell receptor is activated early after stroke injury and mediates immune cell infiltration into the brain. Collectively, our study identifies the Mrgprb2 mast cell receptor as a critical meningeal gatekeeper for immune cell migration from bone marrow reservoirs into the brain, and it provides a specific and druggable target to attenuate post-stroke brain inflammation.

Questions & Answers

Why did you choose Johns Hopkins for your work?

I chose Johns Hopkins for my clinical and scientific training because of the exceptional faculty and students within the Hopkins community. I find that the students here are not only incredibly curious and passionate about their science, but also happy and enthusiastic about Hopkins and Baltimore. It was clear that being here for training would push me to match the caliber of the students I met with and to also focus on leading a happy life during graduate

training. The Hopkins community is truly one of a kind, and I am so grateful to be a part of it.

What does receiving this award mean to you personally and professionally? Do you have any connection with the particular award you received?

I am honored to be receiving the Martin & Carol Macht Award. I have known and been inspired by several of the previous recipients of this award, and am honored to be considered among them. I hope to continue to push science forward as these previous awardees continue to do in their successful careers.

What contributed to your project’s success?

I have been lucky to have had immense support and mentorship throughout my time at Hopkins. I attribute the success of this project to those who have taught me how to think critically and creatively in science. My journey in science began with my mentors Chirag Vasavda and Solomon Snyder, and

now continues with the guidance of Xinzhong Dong, Risheng Xu and my thesis committee: Michael Caterina, Luiz Garza, Michael Kornberg and Alan Scott. I feel incredibly grateful to learn from these giants in science and medicine, and to have the opportunity to decipher small but hopefully significant questions in science alongside them.

One of my mentors once told me that those who earn a Ph.D. earn a  Doctor of Philosophy, and that the purpose of graduate training is not just to answer scientific questions, but to develop a philosophy of how we approach science from different approaches and angles. I’ve tried to keep this in mind throughout my Ph.D., and I know that I will keep adjusting and updating my philosophy of science as I continue in my career.

What thoughts do you have about Young Investigators’ Day itself,  as a celebration of the roles students and fellows play in research at Johns Hopkins?

Graduate school training can be both fulfilling and sometimes grueling. Even though we are taught that failure is a major, and even crucial, aspect of science, it can be difficult to see the bigger picture all the time. Celebrating our achievements as students and trainees via the Young Investigators’ Day program is an important way that we can be reminded that the work we do is important and has impact. It is always exciting to see colleagues across departments, working on a large breadth of science, come together to support each other and celebrate the work they have been doing for the past several years.

What has been your best/most memorable experience while at Johns Hopkins?

While there have been many memorable moments both inside and outside of the lab, one of my favorite moments was our lab white-water rafting trip. It was a great time for us all to connect outside of science and really kickstarted the collaborative and light-hearted atmosphere we have in our lab today.

What are your plans for the next year or so? Graduating, looking for faculty positions, etc.?

I hope to complete my Ph.D. within the year and return to the medical school portion of my training. I have had such a fulfilling and inspiring experience in the lab pursuing science and am excited to remind myself back on the wards of how we as M.D./Ph.D.s can be critical in the clinical environment, to push science forward for our patients.

 

 

 

Tell  me something interesting about yourself that makes you unique. Do you have any special hobbies, interests or life experiences?

Outside of science, I am, like most graduate students, an avid rock climber. I also love dancing and have grown close to the social dancing community in Baltimore through salsa and bachata events.