About Chakravarthy Lab

“Right now we absolutely have everything in our hands to revolutionize medicine. I can imagine in 20 years being able to cure all diseases at the genetic level with nanotechnology. It’s mind-boggling. The industry is now at the cutting edge”  Dr Krishnan Chakravarthy

The primary goals of the Chakravarthy Lab are to investigate the pathophysiology and mechanisms of chronic pain in the context of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), diabetic neuropathy, persistent postsurgical pain and neuropathic pain.  Further, our lab focuses on how volatile anesthetics and various pain modulators affect host immunity to viral and bacterial infections.

The four core areas of active investigation include:

1. Basic Mechanisms of Chronic Pain

At present we are specifically studying the role of caveolins, inflammatory cytokine mediators (TLR4), and mitochondria in the pathogenesis of chronic pain in settings of complex regional pain syndrome, neuropathic pain, persistent post-operative pain, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and diabetic neuropathy.

2. Infectious Diseases

We focus here on the effects of volatile anesthetics toward the mitigation of susceptibility to secondary bacterial pneumonia in post-influenza viral infection: Our laboratory is studying, via a mouse model, the impacts of volatile anesthetics and their ability to down-modulate the type 1 interferon (IFN) response to influenza infection, which results in an increased antibacterial response to secondary bacterial pneumonia.

Based on the deduced mechanisms of how volatile anesthetics function, we are currently working to develop small molecule candidates as alternative vaccine and antibiotic treatments against seasonal and pandemic influenza.

This project is currently being done in conjunction with the US Center for Disease Control.

3. Nanomedicine

Currently, our laboratory is working to employ various nanomaterials and biodegradable nanosystems to create novel point of care diagnostics and targeted drug delivery strategies, for the treatment of various chronic pain states, and in infectious disease applications. To these ends we are actively collaborating with the UCSD Department of Nanoengineering.

4. Neuromodulation

The Chakravarthy Lab is also collaborating with the UCSD Integrated Electronics and Bio Interfaces Laboratory to develop new and advanced spinal cord neuromodulation devices for the management of chronic pain.