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Dr. Athira K. V.

Associate Professor, Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Kochi

Qualification: B. Pharm., M. Pharm., Ph.D
athirakv@pharmacy.aims.amrita.edu
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Research Interest: Chemotherapeutics, Epigenetics, Neurobiology and Behavior

Bio

Dr. Athira K. V. joined in the Department of Pharmacology at Amrita School of Pharmacy in July 2018. She pursued graduation in Pharmacy from College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Keralam and post-graduation as well as Ph. D. from National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Guwahati, Assam.

She has won several awards and fellowships during her studies and has published several papers in reputed journals.

  • 2006-2011: B.Pharm from College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
  • 2011-2013: M.S.(Pharm) Pharmacology & Toxicology from NIPER-Guwahati, Assam, India
  • 2013-2019: Ph.D in Pharmacology & Toxicology from National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)-Guwahati, Assam, India
  • 2018-2019: Research Scientist, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham
  • 2020-2026: Assistant Professor, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham
  • 2026-Present: Associate Professor, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham
Publications

Journal Article

Year : 2026

Annexin A1 as a Molecular Bridge Between Stress Signaling and Brain Homeostasis: Neuroprotective Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential

Cite this Research Publication : Anju Jose, Aishwarya Laxmi Krishnan, K. P. Lakshmi, Lalitha Biswas, Bindu Menon, K. V. Athira, Annexin A1 as a Molecular Bridge Between Stress Signaling and Brain Homeostasis: Neuroprotective Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential, Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2026, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10571-026-01825-4

Publisher : Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Year : 2026

OpenFieldAI – new open-source AI based software for tracking rodents and training open field test models

Cite this Research Publication : Muzammil Kabier, Shamili Mariya Varghese, K.V. Athira, Mohamed A. Abdelgawad, Mohammed M. Ghoneim, Hailah M. Almohaimeed, Sunil Kumar, K.P. Sreekumar, Ashok R. Unni, Bijo Mathew, OpenFieldAI – new open-source AI based software for tracking rodents and training open field test models, Journal of Neuroscience Methods, Elsevier BV, 2026, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2025.110667

Publisher : Elsevier BV

Year : 2025

Shogaol: A Natural Treasure from Ginger with Promising Therapeutic Applications

Cite this Research Publication : Sathianarayanan Sankaran, Archana Vellingiri, Shamili Mariya Varghese, Athira Kaipuzha Venu, Amitha Shetty, Manohar Mahadev, Akhilesh Dubey, Rekha Thiruvengadam, Baskar Venkidasamy, Benod Kumar Kondapavuluri, Muthu Thiruvengadam, Shogaol: A Natural Treasure from Ginger with Promising Therapeutic Applications, Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-025-3843-8

Publisher : Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Year : 2024

NUTRITIONAL AND THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS FROM MELONS: A MINI REVIEW

Cite this Research Publication : Lakshmi Narayanan, Deepthi S Manisha, Athira K V, Sathianarayanan S, Baskar Venkidasamy, Rekha Thiruvengadam, Muthu Thiruvengadam, Maksim Rebezov, Prashant Sadanandan, Mohammad Ali Shariati, NUTRITIONAL AND THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS FROM MELONS: A MINI REVIEW, Journal of microbiology, biotechnology and food sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, 2024, https://doi.org/10.55251/jmbfs.11877

Publisher : Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra

Year : 2024

Pharmacogenetics of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI): A serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT)-based approach

Cite this Research Publication : V. Sreeja, Anju Jose, Shashikant Patel, Bindu Menon, K.V. Athira, Sumana Chakravarty, Pharmacogenetics of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI): A serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT)-based approach, Neurochemistry International, Elsevier BV, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuint.2023.105672

Publisher : Elsevier BV

Year : 2024

Decoding the role of the gut microbiome in gut-brain axis, stress-resilience, or stress-susceptibility: A review

Cite this Research Publication : Ranjay Kumar Sah, Amritasree Nandan, Athira KV, Prashant S, Sathianarayanan S, Asha Jose, Baskar Venkidasamy, Shivraj Hariram Nile, Decoding the role of the gut microbiome in gut-brain axis, stress-resilience, or stress-susceptibility: A review, Asian Journal of Psychiatry, Elsevier BV, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2023.103861

Publisher : Elsevier BV

Year : 2024

Unraveling the Role of the Blood-Brain Barrier in the Pathophysiology of Depression: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives

Cite this Research Publication : Shamili Mariya, Shashikant Patel, Amritasree Nandan, Anju Jose, Soumya Ghosh, Ranjay Kumar Sah, Bindu Menon, Athira KV, and Sumana Chakravarty, "Unraveling the Role of the Blood-Brain Barrier in the Pathophysiology of Depression: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives.", Molecular Neurobiology, 2024.

Publisher : Springer

Year : 2023

Advanced drug delivery and therapeutic strategies for tuberculosis treatment

Cite this Research Publication : Ayushi Nair, Alosh Greeny, Amritasree Nandan, Ranjay Kumar Sah, Anju Jose, Sathish Dyawanapelly, Vijayabhaskarreddy Junnuthula, Athira K. V., Prashant Sadanandan, Advanced drug delivery and therapeutic strategies for tuberculosis treatment, Journal of Nanobiotechnology, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-023-02156-y

Publisher : Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Year : 2022

Bacopa monnieri for Disorders Affecting Brain: Current Perspectives

Cite this Research Publication : Adithya Vinod, Sankaran Sathianarayanan, Anju Elizabath Babu, Prashant Sadanandan, Athira Kaipuzha Venu, Baskar Venkidasamy, Bacopa monnieri for Disorders Affecting Brain: Current Perspectives, Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry, Bentham Science Publishers Ltd., 2022, https://doi.org/10.2174/1568026622666220119111538

Publisher : Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.

Year : 2021

Differential modulation of GR signaling and HDACs in the development of resilient/vulnerable phenotype and antidepressant-like response of vorinostat

Cite this Research Publication : Athira K V, Abhipradnya Bipin Wahul, Kalyani Soren, Tapatee Das, Sandeep Dey, Pavan Kumar Samudrala, Arvind Kumar, Mangala Lahkar, Sumana Chakravarty, Differential modulation of GR signaling and HDACs in the development of resilient/vulnerable phenotype and antidepressant-like response of vorinostat, Psychoneuroendocrinology, Elsevier BV, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.105083

Publisher : Elsevier BV

Year : 2021

Repurposing Vorinostat for the Treatment of Disorders Affecting Brain

Cite this Research Publication : Athira, K.V., Sadanandan, P., Chakravarty, S., "Repurposing Vorinostat for the Treatment of Disorders Affecting Brain," NeuroMolecular Medicine, 2021, 23(4), pp. 449-465, doi: 10.1007/s12017-021-08660-4. Epub 2021 May 4.

Publisher : NeuroMolecular Medicine

Year : 2020

Cognitive improvement by vorinostat through modulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress in a corticosterone-induced chronic stress model in mice

Cite this Research Publication : A. KV, Madhana, R. Mohanrao, Bais, A. Kumar, Singh, V. Bahadur, Malik, A., Sinha, S., Lahkar, M., Kumar, P., and Samudrala, P. Kumar, “Cognitive improvement by vorinostat through modulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress in a corticosterone-induced chronic stress model in mice”, ACS Chemical Neuroscience, vol. 11, no. 17, pp. 2649–2657, 2020.

Publisher : ACS Chemical Neuroscience, ACS Publications,

Year : 2020

Rapid acting antidepressants in the mTOR pathway: current evidence

Cite this Research Publication : K. V. Athira, Mohan, A. S., and Chakravarty, S., “Rapid acting antidepressants in the mTOR pathway: current evidence”, Brain Research Bulletin, vol. 163, pp. 170-177, 2020.

Year : 2020

An Overview of the Heterogeneity of Major Depressive Disorder: Current Knowledge and Future Prospective

Cite this Research Publication : Athira Kaipuzha Venu, Bandopadhyay, S., Samudrala, P. Kumar, V.G.M. Naidu, Mangala Lahkar, and Chakravarty, S., “An Overview of the Heterogeneity of Major Depressive Disorder: Current Knowledge and Future Prospective”, Current Neuropharmacology, vol. 18, no. 3, 2020.

Publisher : Current Neuropharmacology

Year : 2018

Antidepressant activity of vorinostat is associated with amelioration of oxidative stress and inflammation in a corticosterone-induced chronic stress model in mice

Cite this Research Publication : Athira KV, Rajaram Mohanrao Madhana, Indu Chandran JS, Mangala Lahkar, Swapnil Sinha, V.G.M. Naidu, Antidepressant activity of vorinostat is associated with amelioration of oxidative stress and inflammation in a corticosterone-induced chronic stress model in mice, Behavioural Brain Research, Elsevier BV, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2018.02.009

Publisher : Behavioural Brain Research

Year : 2016

Alternative mechanisms of inhibiting activity of poly ADP-ribose polymerase-1

Cite this Research Publication : Chandra Shaker Sriram, Alternative mechanisms of inhibiting activity of poly ADP-ribose polymerase-1, Frontiers in Bioscience, IMR Press, 2016, https://doi.org/10.2741/s452

Publisher : IMR Press

Year : 2016

Morin Hydrate Mitigates Cisplatin‐Induced Renal and Hepatic Injury by Impeding Oxidative/Nitrosative Stress and Inflammation in Mice

Cite this Research Publication : Athira K V, Rajaram Mohanrao Madhana, Eshvendar Reddy Kasala, Pavan Kumar Samudrala, Mangala Lahkar, Ranadeep Gogoi, Morin Hydrate Mitigates Cisplatin‐Induced Renal and Hepatic Injury by Impeding Oxidative/Nitrosative Stress and Inflammation in Mice, Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology, Wiley, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1002/jbt.21817

Publisher : Wiley

Year : 2016

Flavonoids, the emerging dietary supplement against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity

Cite this Research Publication : Athira K.V., Rajaram Mohanrao Madhana, Mangala Lahkar, Flavonoids, the emerging dietary supplement against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity, Chemico-Biological Interactions, Elsevier BV, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbi.2016.02.005

Publisher : Chemico-Biological Interactions

Year : 2015

Resveratrol ameliorates depressive-like behavior in repeated corticosterone-induced depression in mice

Cite this Research Publication : Syed Hamid Ali, Rajaram Mohanrao Madhana, Athira K.V., Eshvendar Reddy Kasala, Lakshmi Narendra Bodduluru, Sathish Pitta, Jalandhar Reddy Mahareddy, Mangala Lahkar, Resveratrol ameliorates depressive-like behavior in repeated corticosterone-induced depression in mice, Steroids, Elsevier BV, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.steroids.2015.05.010

Publisher : Steroids

Year : 2015

Hesperidin and Silibinin Ameliorate Aluminum-Induced Neurotoxicity: Modulation of Antioxidants and Inflammatory Cytokines Level in Mice Hippocampus

Cite this Research Publication : Ashok Jangra, Prajapati Kasbe, Surya Narayan Pandey, Shubham Dwivedi, Satendra S. Gurjar, Mohit Kwatra, Murli Mishra, Athira K. Venu, Kunjbihari Sulakhiya, Ranadeep Gogoi, Nitul Sarma, Babul K. Bezbaruah, Mangala Lahkar, Hesperidin and Silibinin Ameliorate Aluminum-Induced Neurotoxicity: Modulation of Antioxidants and Inflammatory Cytokines Level in Mice Hippocampus, Biological Trace Element Research, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-015-0375-7

Publisher : Biological Trace Element Research

Year : 2015

Chemopreventive and therapeutic potential of chrysin in cancer: mechanistic perspectives

Cite this Research Publication : Eshvendar Reddy Kasala, Lakshmi Narendra Bodduluru, Rajaram Mohanrao Madana, Athira K. V, Ranadeep Gogoi, Chandana C Barua, Chemopreventive and therapeutic potential of chrysin in cancer: mechanistic perspectives, Toxicology Letters, Elsevier BV, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2015.01.008

Publisher : Toxicology Letters

Book Chapter

Year : 2023

Pharmacological Potential of Plant-Derived Alkylamides

Cite this Research Publication : Anju Jose, Chenmala Karthika, KV Athira, Md. Habibur Rahman, Shrouq H. Sweilam, Pharmacological Potential of Plant-Derived Alkylamides, Strigolactones, Alkamides and Karrikins in Plants, CRC Press, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003224525-17

Publisher : CRC Press

Year : 2023

8 – Cyclodextrin in drug delivery

Cite this Research Publication : Anju Jose, V. Sreeja, Prashant Sadanandan, K.V. Athira, 8 - Cyclodextrin in drug delivery, [source], Elsevier, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-98827-8.00008-4

Publisher : Elsevier

Year : 2021

Cardiovascular disease comorbidity in major depressive disorder

Cite this Research Publication : Anju Jose, Anju E B, Prashant S, Athira K V, Chapter 15: "Cardiovascular disease comorbidity in major depressive disorder” in “Recent Advancements and Research in Biological Sciences”, ISBN: 9788195252916, 2021

Year : 2018

Molecular mechanism of the flavonoids against kidney disorders

Cite this Research Publication : Athira K V, P K Samudrala and M Lahkar; Chapter 10: “Molecular mechanism of the flavonoids against kidney disorders” in “Recent advances in the molecular mechanism of flavonoids”, ISBN: ‎ 9789385046216, 2018

Publisher : Recent advances in the molecular mechanism of flavonoids

Research

Research Areas

  • Omics‑Guided Pharmacology and Mechanistic Evaluation
  • Translational Neuroscience and Biological Psychiatry
  • Precision Steroid Therapy and Corticosteroid Signaling
  • Integrative Wellness, Nutraceuticals, and Preventive Health

Training:

  • IBRO-APRC School on Brain–Immune Interactions 2026, Centre for Neuroscience, Department of Biotechnology, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Kochi (17th – 24th Sep 2026).
  • IBRO APRC School of Neuroscience 2017: “Epigenetic Regulation of Neuronal Gene Expression”, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi (1st – 16th April 2017).
  • Practical training at Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia (27th Aug – 8th Sep 2016)
  • Basics of Good Clinical Practice by Clinical Development Services Agency (CDSA), Ministry of Science & Technology, at NEIGRIHMS, Meghalaya, India (28th – 29th Mar 2014)
  • Industrial training at Krti Life Science Ltd., Kerala (Sep and Oct 2009)

Extramural grants:

  • Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Investigator-Initiated Research Proposals for Small Extramural Grants 2024
  • International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) Parenthood Grants 2024
  • Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) student project grant 2021

Industry project:

  • Mane Kancor Ingredients Pvt. Ltd, Ernakulam – 683 573, Kerala, India
Awards and Honors
  • Certificate of appreciation- Amrita Research & Innovation Awards (AIRA) 2021, 2022, 2023-2024
  • First prize in oral presentation at Inter-NIPER scientific, sports & cultural meet SPARDHA-2018, NIPER S.A.S. Nagar, Punjab, India
  • Second prize in oral presentation at North East Pharmaceutical Convention (NEPC)-2017 at Guwahati, Assam, India
  • INSA-CSIR-DAE/BRNS-CICS Travel Fellowship to attend International Congress of Immunology (ICI)-2016, Melbourne, Australia
  • Category 1 list, Biotechnology Eligibility Test (BET)-2014, Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India
  • First prize in oral presentation, Association of Oncologist of North East India (AONEI)-2014 at Guwahati
  • All India Rank 5 in NIPER Ph.D Joint Admission Test 2013
  • All India Rank 322 in Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT)-2013
  • All India Rank 826 in GPAT-2011
  • All India Rank 1 in MANIPAL M.Pharm entrance examination 2011
  • 1 Certificate of Merit in Social Science and 20th rank in All India Secondary School Examination (AISSE)-2003 by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
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