Research Interest, Education and Publications

 

photo of Raghavan Pillai Raju, PhD

Raghavan Pillai Raju, PhD

  • Professor
  • Pharmacology & Toxicology

706-443-4138

Carl Sanders Research and Education Building, CB2601
 
Office phone icon:  706-443-4138
Lab phone icon: 706-446-0019
 
 

Members of the Lab

Lun Cai, PhD

  • Postdoctoral Fellow

Parmita Kar, PhD

  • Postdoctoral Fellow

Rupa Lavarti, PhD

  • Research Associate

Swetha Mundanattu, PhD

  • Postdoctoral Fellow

Bhavishyu Mundlura

  • Graduate Student

Ashok Sivasailam, PhD

  • Postdoctoral Fellow
 

RESEARCH INTEREST

Dr. Raju's laboratory is focused on the study of molecular basis of organ function changes following injury and influence of aging using a multidisciplinary approach. His research utilizes both in vivo and in vitro models. In one of the major projects in his laboratory, he investigates mitochondrial alterations and immune regulation following hemorrhagic shock. His laboratory has identified age-associated changes in mitochondrial gene expression following hemorrhagic shock and has found SIRT1 as a potential target. The sirtuin family of proteins is associated with longevity and regulates mitochondrial biogenesis factors. His continued studies demonstrate a key role for mitochondria in the outcome following hemorrhagic shock. His research led to the identification of several small molecules in improving organ function and survival following hemorrhagic shock in rodent models.  Mitochondrial dysfunction is a common denominator for both aging and injury. His laboratory uses a number of genetically modified mouse models to understand the regulation of mitochondrial function in aging and injury.  His research group is also interested in understanding how mitochondria regulate inflammation.  His long term goal is to understand the role of cellular energetics and the influence of aging in the outcome following injury. Dr. Raju has authored over 70 peer-reviewed articles, and his research is currently funded by the National Institutes of Health. 


EDUCATION AND POST-DOCTORAL TRAINING

2000       Research Associate                Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

1995       Postoctoral Training              University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN

1993       PhD                                          All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

 

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

2013 - Present    Professor, Augusta University, Augusta, GA

2007 - 2013         Associate Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL

2001 - 2007         Senior Staff Fellow, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD



EDITORIAL BOARD

2014 - present    BBA - Molecular Basis of Disease

2013 - present    PLOS ONE, Academic Editor

2010 - present   Aging and Disease

2017                    Guest Editor: BBA Mol Basis of Dis

2014                    Guest Editor: Aging and Injury (Special Issue of Aging and Disease)

2006 - 2010        Journal of Immunology, Associate Editor

Frontiers in Intensive Care Medicine and Anesthesiology

 


GRANT REVIEW PANELS

Dr. Raju has served on several grant review panels including study sections of the National Institutes of Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, and American Heart Association. Dr. Raju has also served on an NIH study section as a Chartered member.

 


SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Cai L, Arbab AS, Lee TJ, Sharma A, Thomas B, Igarashi K, Raju RP. BACH1-Hemoxygenase-1 axis regulates cellular energetics and survival following sepsis. Free Radic Biol Med. 2022 Jun 9;188:134-145.

Chu X, Raju RP. Regulation of NAD+ metabolism in aging and disease. Metabolism. 2021 Oct 28;126:154923.

Chu X, Wen J, Raju RP. Rapid senescence-like response after acute injury.  Aging Cell. 2020 Aug 2:e13201.  Science News Story.

Chu X, Schwartz R, Diamond MP and Raju R.  A combination treatment strategy for hemorrhagic shock modulates autophagy. Frontiers in Medicine. 2019;6:281.Chu X, Wu S and Raju R. NLRX1 regulation in acute mitochondrial injury. Frontiers in Immunology, 2019;10:2431.

Subramani K, Chu X, Warren M, Singh N and Raju R. Deficiency of metabolite sensing receptor HCA2 impairs the salutary effect of niacin in hemorrhagic shock BBA Mol Basis Dis. 2019; 1865(3):688-695.

Subramani K, Raju SP, Chu X, Warren M, Pandya DC, Hoda N, Fulzele S and Raju R. Effect of plasma-derived extracellular vesicles on erythrocyte deformability in polymicrobial sepsis. International Immunopharmacology 2018; 65:244-247.

McMenamin M, Kvirkvelia N, Warren M, Jadeja R, Sharma A, Raju R and Madaio MP. Kidney targeted inhibition of protein kinase C-α ameliorates nephrotoxic nephritis by restoring mitochondrial dysfunction in endothelial cells. Kidney International.2018; 94(2):280-291.

Ben H and Raju R. Mitochondria in hypoxic ischemic injury and influence of aging. Progress in Neurobiology. 2017; 157:92-116.

Kumar S, Lu S, Warren M, Chu X, Haroldo, T, Caldwell, W, Diamond M, Raju R.  Mitochondrial targeting improves survival following hemorrhagic shock.  Scientific Reports 2017: 7(1):2671.Jian B, Yang S, Chaudry IH and Raju R. Resveratrol improves cardiac contractility following trauma-hemorrhage by modulating Sirt1. Molecular Medicine 2012 18(1):209-14.

 

 

 Complete list of publications