Meet Our Biome Lab Team Members

Bhanu Priya Ganesh, PhD

Associate Professor at UTHealth

Director of the Center for Gut-Brain Axis in Aging at UTHealth

I received my Ph.D. in Gastrointestinal Microbiology and Immunology at the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke (DIfE), a Leibniz Institute, Germany, from 2010 to 2014; Mentor: Prof. Michael Blaut. I then relocated to Houston as a post-doctoral fellow from 2014 to 2017 to complete my training in the Department of Pathology and Immunology at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) under the mentorship of Prof. Dr. James Versalovic. During my stay at BCM, I continued to work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) under the mentorship of Prof. Dr. James Fox.

After completing my postdoctoral training at BCM, I joined the Department of Neurology (BRAINS Laboratory) at the University of Texas Health Science Center Houston (UTHealth), led by Dr. Louise McCullough, as a senior postdoctoral fellow from 2017 to 2018. In 2018, I was promoted to tenured-track Assistant Professor. In 2024, I was promoted to Tenured Associate Professor. Currently, I serve as the Director of the Center for Gut-Brain Axis in Aging at UTHealth Houston.

UTHealth Faculty Page

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Meet the BIOME team

The Biome Lab at UTHealth is dedicated to investigating signaling mechanisms underlying gut-brain axis interactions in aging-associated diseases, including Stroke, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA), Gestational Diabetes (GD), and neonatal Hypoxic Encephalopathy (n-HIE). We are committed to conducting rigorous, transparent science and to fostering the growth and success of the next generation of scientists.

Current Lab Members

Maria Pilar Blasco-Conesa, PhD

Lab Manager

Email: Maria.P.BlascoConesa@uth.tmc.edu

My education and training include a BS in Biology from the University of Valencia (2004). I then received an MS in Environmental Health from the University Menéndez Pelayo (2009), followed by another MS in Biodiversity: Conservation and Evolution from the University of Valencia (2009). I later earned a PhD in Biodiversity: Conservation and Evolution from the University of Valencia (2017). Currently, I am a Research Scientist with a clinical interest in neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, and probiotic therapeutic manipulation of the microbiome. My research interests focus on the gut-brain axis, microbiome, microbiology, inflammation, and aging.

Tushar Kanti Das, PhD

Research Scientist

Email: Tushar.K.Das@uth.tmc.edu

My education and training include a BS in Chemistry from University of Calcutta (2005). I then received an MS in Biotechnology from Berhampur University (2008), followed by a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from Universiti Brunei Darussalam (2017). Currently, I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with clinical interests in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. My research interests focus on the gut-brain axis, microbiome science, infertility, and cell signaling.

Jennifer Maria Mendoza

Research Assistant

Email: Jennifer.M.Mendoza@uth.tmc.edu

My education and training include a BS in Biology from West Texas A&M University (2023). Currently I am a research assistant with a clinical interest in neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, and probiotic therapeutic manipulation in the microbiome. My research interest focus on the gut-brain axis, microbiome, microbiology, inflammation, and aging.

Visting Students

Noor Asif

Visiting Undergraduate Student

I am an undergraduate student pursuing a BS in Biology at the University of Houston. I am currently developing my research skills while exploring interests in the gut microbiome, women's health, and obstetric and gynecology (OB/GYN). I aspire to pursue an MD/PhD, where I hope to integrate clinical medicine with biomedical research.