Team

PI: Savani Anbalagan (Tamil: சவானி அன்பழகன்) PhD

E-mail: savanb [at] amu.edu.pl

ORCID ID  0000-0003-4839-9439 | Google Scholar profile.

Academic lineage tree.

Bio: Savani received his Masters from SASTRA University in India. He did his PhD research in Prof. Maria Pia Longhese’s group at Univ. of Milano-Bicocca (Italy) on mechanisms protecting telomeres using budding yeast. He was awarded his PhD degree in 2014. After his PhD, he moved to Israel for a post-doctoral fellowship (2013-2019) in Prof. Gil Levkowitz’s group at the Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel). Using zebrafish as vertebrate model organism, he studied how glial pituicytes promote neurohypophyseal oxytocin content and the neurohypophyseal endothelial decision to form blood-brain barrier (BBB)-less permeable capillaries. At AMU, he established the first zebrafish facility and his group continue to explore the role of glial pituicytes on neurohypophyseal neurovascular morphogenesis.

PhD student: Naveen Nedunchezhian

Duration:  10.2022 -

Bio: Naveen received his MSc degree in Biotechnology from VIT University in India. After gaining experience in Apollo Diagnostics in Chennai, he joined our group as doctoral student. He’s an ambivert and likes playing Chess and Cricket. His hobbies are writing short stories and making short films.

Lab tech: Sebastian Pęcherz

Duration:  10.2023 -

Bio: Sebastian did his master's thesis on human pluripotent stem cell differentiation in Borowiak lab in IBMIB, UAM Poznan before joining our lab. In his free time, he hikes mountain trails and looks for new places for future travels.

Master thesis student & Student intern: Weronika Pielak

Duration:  12.2024 -

Bio: Weronika is a neurobiology and psychology student working on her master's thesis, which explores the effects of stress on the behavior of zebrafish. She is actively involved in projects that connect neuroscience with mental health awareness. Her scientific interests include understanding how chronic stress contributes to cognitive decline and the development of neurodegenerative disorders.

PhD student: Athul R. Ramesh

Duration:  10.2023 -

Bio: Athul is a dynamic scientist with a comprehensive academic background from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali. Armed with a major in Life Science, Athul conducted innovative research on retina regeneration using mouse and zebrafish models under the guidance of Dr. Rajesh Ramachandran. His proficiency in experimental design and data analysis blossomed during this period. Post-master’s, Athul joined Prof. Karina Yaniv’s lab at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel. Here, he explored endothelial cell differentiation in zebrafish brain, liver, and gills, showcasing his versatility across various model systems. Athul’s journey is characterized by a passion for unraveling biological complexities, backed by hands-on experience and a keen analytical mind. Outside the realm of scientific inquiry, Athul finds joy in diverse pursuits. He indulges in travel, seeking cultural immersion through culinary exploration, and embraces the exhilaration of sports.