Research

The major goal of my lab is to understand the regulatory role of Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) ion channel proteins in the pathophysiology of pain, neurodegenerative, neuromuscular and metabolic diseases.

We investigate the mechanisms of regulation of TRP channel proteins by phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate, synaptojanins, neurotoxins and lipid microdomains to advance TRP channels as therapeutic targets for metabolic and degenerative diseases.

Currently,research projects in Baskilab focus on the role of TRP proteins in obesity, fatty liver disease, pain, and neurotransmission.

We employ electrophysiological, intracellular Ca²⁺ imaging, optogenetics, confocal microscopy, biochemical, cell and molecular biological techniques and in vivo approaches to investigate the roles of PIP2 and TRP channels in physiology and pathophysiology. We use in vivo animal models, isolated nerve-muscle preparations, primary and cultured cell lines and unrestrained worms (C elegans) to study and discover novel mechanistic pathways as well as drugs to treat degenerative diseases.

RESEARCH PROJECTS:

☼ Molecular mechanisms of pain signaling and nociception

☼ TRPV1: A drug target to counteract metabolic syndrome

☼ Role of TRPV1 in the maintenance of mitochondrial quality control in adipose tissues and neurons

☼ Role of TRP channels and PIP2 rich lipid microdomains in neurodegenerative & neuromuscular diseases

☼ Therapeutic potentials of Botulinum Neurotoxins

☼ Botulinum neurotoxin antidotes to counteract botulism

☼ NEUROPHARMACEUTICS: Magnetic nanoparticles for site-specific targeted drug delivery to neurons and adipose tissues

☼ Preparation and Evaluation of Pharmaceutically Important Cell Permeable Nanobodies