Komal Sodhi, M.D.
Associate Professor 
sodhi@marshall.edu

Research Interest 

My principal research focus is to investigate the contributions of chronic oxidative stress to cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, neurodegeneration, obesity, and metabolic syndrome, as well as their associated long-term complications. My laboratory focuses on the regulation of the cellular antioxidant defense system in pathophysiological states associated with chronic redox imbalance, specifically caused by Na/K-ATPase-mediated Src signaling. Studies from our group have shown that oxidative stress is an important component in the activation of Na/K-ATPase-mediated Src signaling and subsequent feed-forward ROS amplification. Based on these studies, my laboratory used Na/K-ATPase mimetic peptide, pNaKtide or NaKtide to restore cellular redox balance and suppress oxidative stress in various disease conditions. My previously published studies have extensively shown the role of Na/K-ATPase/Src signaling in several clinical conditions like obesity, atherosclerosis, uremic cardiomyopathy, cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. Furthermore, my lab conducts clinically relevant, basic science research in close collaborations with basic scientists and clinicians in human samples to establish the molecular mechanisms of various pathophysiological alterations associated with obesity, cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney diseases and dementia, with great translational applicability and potential to establish prevention and treatment strategies. My research projects have been diverse and incorporated techniques such as cell culture, animal models, molecular and cell biology. My laboratory has extensive experience with experimental model systems, including animal models of atherosclerosis, chronic kidney disease and metabolic syndrome, as well as various in vitro models of human and mouse cells. Further, we are well-versed in tissue-specific lentiviral gene expression in vivo. As a clinical research scientist, my goal is to develop novel prognostic and therapeutic strategies that can combat chronic pathological conditions to improve clinical outcomes.

The approaches applied in my laboratory include molecular, cellular, and integrative methodologies. These methods include west blot, real-time PCR, mass spectrum, microRNA sequencing, nanosight tracking analysis (NTA), flow cytometry, etc. Animal surgery methods (MCAO, telemetric probe, osmotic minipump, microinjection) are also used in my research. The animal models used in my research include a spontaneous hemorrhagic stroke model induced in the rennin/angiotensinogen double transgenic (R+A+) hypertensive mice, collagenase-induced focal hemorrhagic stroke model, middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced ischemic stroke, the db/db and STZ-induced diabetic mouse models. Additionally, I use clinical samples from translational studies of diabetes and stroke patients through collaboration with clinicians.