Aakanksha Singhvi, PhD
Associate Professor
Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutch
Dr. Aakanksha Singhvi studies glial cells, which are critical to the correct functioning of our nervous system. Every time a neuron connects to another neuron, a glial cell is there to make sure that signals transmit properly between them. Glia themselves also communicate with neurons and influence their shape and activity. Disruptions in communication between neurons and glia underpin many neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s and autism. Dr. Singhvi seeks to understand the molecules involved in glia-neuron communication, and how glia influence neuron shape and function, and, ultimately, animal behavior.
Education
Postdoctoral, Glia-neuron interactions, The Rockefeller University
Developmental Neurobiology, University of California, Berkeley
MSc Fellow, National Center for Biological Sciences, India
Biochemistry, St. Xavier’s College, Gujarat University, India
Research Interests
Molecular mechanisms of glia-neuron interactions in the nervous system.
Current Projects
How glia and neurons communicate with each other to regulate sensory perception, neuronal physiology, neural circuit activity, memory formation and animal behavior
To map glia-neuron interactions at a molecular and mechanistic level, in health and disease
"New data is the best thrill ever! I will drop everything for that. And if it’s not something we expected, that’s even more exciting!"
— Dr. Aakanksha Singhvi