Nesar Akanda, M.D., Ph.D.

Biography

Dr. Nesar Akanda brings expanded knowledge from both basic and medical science to the NIA/NIH. He achieved his Medical Degree (M.D.) and Ph.D. in Neuroscience. He has discovered an ion channel named “voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) in the plasma membrane of apoptotic neurons.” After completing his Ph.D., at Karolinska and Linkoping University, Sweden he joined the University of Central Florida (UCF). Before joining NIA/NIH, he was an Associate Professor (Research track) at the University of Central Florida (UCF). He has diversified knowledge in a variety of therapeutic areas including cell biology and neuroscience. One of his research projects at UCF focused on the investigation of neuronal cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) for the development of in vitro human models to study neurological diseases including Alzheimer’s disease and aging. He utilized advanced technologies including electrophysiology (e.g., patch-clamp, MEA) for the investigation of a variety of diseases through human models. Dr. Akanda mentored many post-doctoral fellows, Ph.D. students, and technicians at UCF. He has published over 15 research papers in reputed journals including several in Nature Publishing Group and received awards for his contribution in the advancement of science.