Pragya Saxena, Ph.D.

EDUCATION

  • 2019: B.S., Pharmacy, University of Delhi, India
  • 2024: Ph.D., Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University
    • Dissertation Title: “Mas-Related G Protein-Coupled Receptor B2 Activation Mediates Bladder Wall Biomechanics”

RESEARCH TRAINING

  • 2019-2024:   Doctoral Candidate, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University
    • Determining the relationship between bladder wall mechanical properties and bladder dysfunction.
      • Supported by NIH P01-HL152951 (SR&NT), P20-DK12755 (SR&NT), and R01DK119615 (NRT).
      • Successfully defended dissertation proposal in October, 2021.
      • Mentor: Dr. Nathan R. Tykocki.
  • May 2023 – Aug 2023: Molecular Pharmacology Intern, Zoetis inc.
    • Contributed to franchise defense by using immunoassays to compare the efficacy and potency of small molecule inhibitors and protein degraders against the target of interest.
  • Oct 2019 – Dec 2019:   Graduate Assistant Research Rotation, BioMolecular Science Program, Michigan State University
    • Tested the hypothesis that HDAC inhibitor, valproic acid would protect rat brains from white matter damage.
    • Mentor: Dr. Anne Dorrance.
  • 2018:   Research Intern, Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, University of Delhi, New Delhi
    • Studied fructose induced metabolic disorders (FIMD).
    • Derived an association between aging pathways and active transport of glucose across jejunal membrane.
    • Successfully learnt Ussing chamber handling.
    • Devised a UV assay for fructose estimation without the intervention of glucose.
    • Mentor: Dr. Rajani Mathur.
  • 2017:   Research Intern, Sriram Institute of Industrial Research, New Delhi
    • Performed an acute toxicological study on a new drug substance for dermal toxicity on rabbits.
  • 2016-2017:   Research Intern, Shaheed Rajguru College of Applied Sciences for Women, University of Delhi, New Delhi
    • Performed oyytochemical testing on fresh extracts of minnow and pomegranate peels.
    • Estimated anti-amylase activity on crude extracts dissolved in water for potential use as nutraceutical.
    • Correlated anti-amylase and antioxidant activity to flavonoid content in extract.
    • Mentor: Dr. Sadhna Jain.
  • 2016:   Research Intern, Shaheed Rajguru College of Applied Sciences for Women, University of Delhi, New Delhi
    • Extracted crude Justicia adathoda in ethanol and hexane solvents.
    • Cultured samples to test anti-tubercular properties of the extract and performed comparisons between different solvents.
    • Mentor: Dr. Versha Mehra.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

  • March 2022 – Present:   Course Coordinator, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University
    • PHM 480 (History of Pharmacology)
    • Formulating and structuring a new PHM undergraduate minor course on ‘History of Pharmacology’, to be introduced in Spring 2023.
  • Spring 2022:   Teaching Assistant, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University
    • PHM 819 (Principle of Drug-Tissue Interactions)
    • Assisting Dr. Jamie Alan with grading assignments and exams.
    • Edited sections of the course materials and prepared exam questions.
  • August 2021 – Present:   Tutor, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University
    • Tutoring 4-5 students as a faculty assigned tutor.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AND SERVICE

  • Student Representative for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. (2020-2022).
  • Pharmacology and Toxicology representative for the Graduate Recruitment Initiative Team (GRIT), Michigan state University. (2021-2022).
  • Vice President for Graduate Student Organization, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. (2022-2023).
  • Member of the American Physiological Society (APS).
  • Member of the Indian Pharmacy Graduates’ Association (IPGA).

PRESENTATIONS

  • ATP-mediated effects on bladder wall mechanics. Poster, CAIRIBU Annual Meeting, Kansas City, MO. 2023.
  • Compound 48/80 increases bladder wall mechanical compliance via activation of MMP-2. Poster, ASPET Annual Meeting, St. Louis, MO. 2023.
  • Effects of mast cell activator compound 48/80 persist in juvenile mouse bladders. Poster, APS Annual Meeting, Long Beach, CA. 2023.
  • Mechanism of increased detrusor contractility induced by Mast Cell activator Compound 48/80 in murine urinary bladder. Lightning talk, NIDDK Neurology Meeting. 2022.
  • Mechanism of increased detrusor contractility induced by Mast Cell activator Compound 48/80 in murine urinary bladder. Poster & oral presentation, CAIRIBU Annual Meeting, North Bethesda, Maryland. 2022.
  • Mechanism of increased detrusor contractility induced by Mast Cell activator Compound 48/80 in murine urinary bladder. Poster, 52nd Annual Meeting of the International Continence Society, Vienna, Austria. 2022.
  • ‘How to we know we need to go?‘. 3 minutes thesis presentation. Graduate Academic Conference conducted by the Council of Graduate Students; Michigan state University, East Lansing, MI. 2022.
  • Compound 48/80 increases bladder wall compliance independent of mast cells. Poster, Experimental Biology. 2022.
  • Analysis of bladder wall biomechanics: A methodical study. Poster, AGEP Student Success Conference. 2021.
  • Mast cell activator compound 48/80 increases bladder compliance through metric metalloprotease release. Poster, 47th Annual Pharmacology Colloquium; University of Michigan. 2021.
  • Mast cell activator compound 48/80 increases bladder compliance through metric metalloprotease release. Poster & oral presentation, Experimental Biology. 2021.
  • Smooth Muscle Tone Contributes to Bladder Wall Stiffness during Filling. Poster, ISTP 2020 Annual Retreat. 2020.
  • Smooth Muscle Tone Contributes to Bladder Wall Stiffness during Filling. Poster, CURE-UAB 5.0: 5th Congress of Urologic Research and Education on Underactive Bladder; East Lansing, MI. 2019.
  • Estimation of phenolic content, flavonoid content, anti-amylase activity and antioxidant property of kinnow and pomegranate peels. Poster, 5th International Conference Drug Discovery India; Bangalore, India. 2018.

PUBLICATIONS

  • Hennig G, Saxena P, Broemer E, Herrera GM, Roccabianca S, Tykocki NR (2023) Quantifying whole bladder biomechanics using the novel pentaplanar reflected image macroscopy system. Biomech Model Mechanobiol. PMID: 37249760
  • Saxena P, Broemer E, Herrera GM, Mingin GC, Roccabianca S, Tykocki N (2023) Compound 48/80 increases murine bladder wall compliance independent of mast cells. Scientific Reports, 13(1):62, PMID: 36635439
  • Saxena P, Jain S, (2018) Estimation of phenolic content, flavonoid content, anti-amylase activity and antioxidant property of kinnow and pomegranate peels, World journal of Pharmaceutical research Volume 7 Issue 2, DOI 10.20959/wjpr20182-10673

HONORS AND AWARDS

  • Best Overall (1st place) 3 minute-thesis presentation award, Graduate Academic Conference-2022, COGS, Michigan State University. 2022.
  • Best Poster Award (1st place), AGEP Student Success Conference, Michigan state University. 2021.
  • Popular Choice Award (2nd place), AGEP Student Success Conference, Michigan state University. 2021.
  • Honorable Mention (Poster Award), 47th Annual Pharmacology Colloquium, University of Michigan. 2021.
  • Award Finalist, Renal Section Predoctoral Excellence in Research, Experimental Biology. 2021.
  • Poster Award, CURE-UAB 5.0: 5th Congress of Urologic Research and Education on Underactive Bladder. 2019.

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