Laxmikant Deshpande, Ph.D.

Professor

Laxmikant Deshpande, Ph.D.Division of Neuroscience Research

Department: Department of Neurology

Phone: (804) 828-7929

Email: laxmikant.deshpande@vcuhealth.org

Undergraduate Education

  • M.Pharm., Pharmacology and Toxicology
    1998-2000
    Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, RTM Nagpur University, Maharashtra, India.
    Thesis: "Serotonergic Modulation of the Neurosteroid 3-alpha-OH-5-alpha-pregnan-20-ONE Induced Catalepsy in Mice: Dr. Chandrabhan T. Chopde, Thesis mentor
    Awards and Honors:
    - Vali Memorial Gold Medal, First-class-First, RTM Nagpur University
    - Junior Research Scholarship, University Grants Commission, Govt. of India
    - G. Achari Award: Best Oral Presentation at International Congress on Frontiers in Pharmacology and Therapeutics in 21st Century (IPS/ICPT-21), New Delhi, India
    - Servier Young Investigator Award: by Institutet de Recherches Internationales Servier, France for IPS/ICPT-21, New Delhi, India
  • B.Pharm., Pharmacy
    1994-1998
    Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, RTM Nagpur University, Maharashtra, India.
    Major Subjects: Pharmaceutics, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacognosy, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence
    Awards and Honors
    - State Merit Scholarship

Graduate Education

  • PhD, Pharmacology and Toxicology
    2001-2006
    Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond VA
    Thesis: "Glutamate Excitotoxicity Activates a Novel Calcium Permeable Ion Channel in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons" Dr. Robert J. DeLorenzo, Thesis mentor.
    Awards and Honors:
    - Lauren A. Woods Award
    - Anthony Ambrose Award
    - John C. Forbes Honors Colloquium Award
    - VCU Graduate Student Association Travel Award for attending 35th Annual Society for Neuroscience meeting at Washington, DC
    - Best Paper Award, Medical Sciences Section, 83rd VA Academy of Sciences Meeting, May 17-19’ 2005, Harrisonburg, VA
    - Best Paper Award, Medical Sciences Section, 82nd VA Academy of Sciences Meeting, May 25-27’ 2004, Richmond, VA

Post Graduate Education

  • Post-Doctoral Fellow, Neurology
    2006-2008
    Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond VA
    Project: Endocannabinoids and Neuronal excitability
    Awards and Honors:
    - Eli-Lilly SfN Post-doc Travel Award
    - Investigator workshop presentation at 61st Annual Meeting of American Epilepsy Society, Nov 30th - Dec 4th, 2007, Philadelphia, PA. This session highlights the most outstanding papers on topics related to basic science and research.

Faculty Bio:

  • Under the auspices of NIH’s CounterACT program we are identifying novel countermeasures to prevent mortality and morbidity following organophosphate intoxication. DOD’s Gulf War Illness Research Program focuses on mechanisms underlying neurological problems in the First Gulf War Veterans who may have been exposed to organophosphate nerve agents. Our translational research is geared towards finding effective treatment for neurological morbidities following such exposures. We welcome students and investigators who would like to partner with us on this mission.

Research Expertise

  • 1. Gulf War Illness Syndrome: Research is aimed at developing rodent model of Gulf War Illness Syndrome. Studies also include deciphering molecular mechanisms underlying neurological morbidity associated with Gulf War Illness. The laboratory is also dedicated in translational research for finding novel pharmacological therapies for the effective treatment of Gulf War Illness syndrome.
    2. NIH CounterACT translational research program aimed at the discovery and/or identification of better therapeutic medical countermeasures against chemical threat agents

Keywords & Interest Areas

  • Gulf War Illness: Model development, mechanistic studies, drug screening
  • Organophosphate neurotoxicity: mechanisms and treatment options
  • Mechanisms of Acquired Epilepsy (Status Epilepticus, Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke)
  • Epilepsy Co-morbidities (Depression, Cognitive impairment)
  • Anti-epileptic drug screening
  • Calcium homeostasis: Ratiometric imaging and Patch clamp electrophysiology
  • Cannabinoids and Excitability

Professional Affiliations

  • Society of Toxicology
  • New York Academy of Sciences
  • American Epilepsy Society
  • Society for Neuroscience

Selected Peer Reviewed Publications:

  • Phillips KF, Deshpande LS. Chronic Neurological Morbidities and Elevated Hippocampal Calcium Levels in a DFP-Based Rat Model of Gulf War Illness. Mil Med. 2018 Mar 1; 183(suppl_1):552-555. PMID: 29635560
  • Phillips KF, Deshpande LS, DeLorenzo RJ. Hypothermia Reduces Mortality, Prevents the Calcium Plateau, and Is Neuroprotective Following Status Epilepticus in Rats. Front Neurol. 2018; 9:438. PMID: 29942282
  • Deshpande LS, Blair RE, Huang BA, Phillips KF, DeLorenzo RJ. Pharmacological blockade of the calcium plateau provides neuroprotection following organophosphate paraoxon induced status epilepticus in rats. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 2016 Jul-Aug; 56:81-6.
  • Phillips KF, Deshpande LS. Repeated low-dose organophosphate DFP exposure leads to the development of depression and cognitive impairment in a rat model of Gulf War Illness. Neurotoxicology. 2016 Jan; 52:127-33.
  • Deshpande LS, Phillips K, Huang B, DeLorenzo RJ. Chronic behavioral and cognitive deficits in a rat survival model of paraoxon toxicity. Neurotoxicology. 2014 Sep; 44:352-7.
  • Deshpande LS, Carter DS, Phillips KF, Blair RE, DeLorenzo RJ. Development of status epilepticus, sustained calcium elevations and neuronal injury in a rat survival model of lethal paraoxon intoxication. Neurotoxicology. 2014 Sep; 44:17-26.
  • Phillips KF, Deshpande LS, DeLorenzo RJ. Hypothermia reduces calcium entry via the N-methyl-D-aspartate and ryanodine receptors in cultured hippocampal neurons. Eur J Pharmacol. 2013 Jan 5; 698(1-3):186-92.
  • Deshpande LS, Blair RE, DeLorenzo RJ. Prolonged cannabinoid exposure alters GABA(A) receptor mediated synaptic function in cultured hippocampal neurons. Exp Neurol. 2011 Jun; 229(2):264-73.
  • Carter DS, Deshpande LS, Rafiq A, Sombati S, DeLorenzo RJ. Characterization of spontaneous recurrent epileptiform discharges in hippocampal-entorhinal cortical slices prepared from chronic epileptic animals. Seizure. 2011 Apr; 20(3):218-24.
  • Ziobro JM, Deshpande LS, Delorenzo RJ. An organotypic hippocampal slice culture model of excitotoxic injury induced spontaneous recurrent epileptiform discharges. Brain Res. 2011 Jan 31; 1371:110-20.

Books, Book Chapters, & Monographs:

  • Deshpande LS and DeLorenzo RJ, Ion channels, membranes, and molecules in epilepsy and neuronal excitability, in Pediatric Epilepsy: Diagnosis and Therapy 4th edition, J.M. Pellock, et al., Eds. 2016, Demos Medical Publishing. p. 31-46.
  • Blair RE, Deshpande LS and DeLorenzo RJ, Endocannabinoids and Epilepsy, In: Cannabinoids in Neurologic and Mental Disease, L. Fattore, Editor. 2014, Elsevier/ Academic Press, San Diego, CA. p. 125-172.
  • Nagarkatti N, Deshpande LS and DeLorenzo RJ, The Role of Calcium in Mediating Neuronal Plasticity in Epileptogenesis, in Encyclopedia of Basic Epilepsy Research, P.A. Schwartzkroin, Editor. 2009, Academic Press: Oxford. p. 1181-89.
  • Deshpande LS and DeLorenzo RJ, Basic Mechanisms of Neuronal Injury from Seizures and Status Epilepticus, in Encyclopedia of Basic Epilepsy Research, P.A. Schwartzkroin, Editor. 2009, Academic Press: Oxford. p. 105-114.
  • Deshpande LS and DeLorenzo RJ, Ion channels, membranes, and molecules in epilepsy and neuronal excitability, in Pediatric Epilepsy: Diagnosis and Therapy 3rd edition, J.M. Pellock, et al., Eds. 2008, Demos Medical Publishing. p. 31-45.

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