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	Gunasingh Jeyaraj PhD I was born in Nazareth, a small blessed city in Tamil Nadu, India. This city was developed by a Christian missionary by name Dr. Arthur Margoschis. I completed my masters and doctoral studies at the University of Madras, India. Through my postdoctoral training I became interested in the development of novel therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. I successfully executed several projects as a postdoctoral researcher. I approached this biomedical research using different biophysical techniques, molecular cloning, viral transfections, primary neuronal cultures and transgenic mouse models. Currently I am working in three major important cutting edge projects in Smith lab, focusing on neuroprotective and symptomatic therapy for Parkinson’s disease. Project 1: Neuroprotective Effects of mGluR5 Antagonists in the Nonhuman Primate Model of Parkinson’s Disease: The primary goal of this project is to assess the neuroprotective properties of a specific metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) antagonist called MTEP on MPTP-induced neurodegeneration of midbrain dopaminergic neurons in the nonhuman primate model of Parkinson’s disease. This work may lead to the development of novel neuroprotective therapeutic strategies for Parkinson’s disease in humans. Project 2: Characterization of Biomarkers for Parkinson’s Disease: The aim of this project is to identify biomarkers that can predict the future development of Parkinson’s disease before the appearance of motor symptoms and severe neurodegeneration of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal system. At present, there is no established diagnostic biomarker that can be reliably used to predict the development of Parkinson’s disease in humans except PET to visualize dopamine activity. However, because PET is too expensive, it cannot be widely used through the aged human population to screen potential candidates for Parkinson’s disease. The need for cost-effective and more accessible Parkinson’s disease biomarker is warranted. In this project, we use proteomics approach in the MPTP-treated monkey model of Parkinson’s disease to characterize such biomarker in the blood, cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue of these animals. Similar studies are also performed in parallel in human carriers of the LRRK2 mutation for Parkinson’s disease. The characterization of such biomarker will allow to intervene early with neuroprotective therapies to alter the course of the disease in potential patients with Parkinson’s disease. Project 3: Gene Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease: The goal of this project is to assess the efficacy of a novel gene therapy approach to alleviate the main motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. This work, done in collaboration with a biotech. Company in Oxford, UK-Oxford Biomedica, aims at restoring sufficient and therapeutically relevant levels of dopamine in the striatum of MPTP-treated monkeys through transfection of striatal neurons with a lentiviral vector packaged with enzymes and cofactors needed to synthesize dopamine in the CNS. The use of such therapy in patients may allow symptomatic recovery and slow down the appearance of side effects commonly seen in Parkinson’s disease patients chronically treated with dopamine replacement therapy. Peer-reviewed Publications and Book Chapters Gunasingh Masilamoni J, Bogenpohl, D Alagille, K Delevich, G Tamagnan, JR Votaw, V Reddy, T Wichmann , Y Smith. Neuroprotective effects of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 antagonist against dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems degeneration in MPTP-treated parkinsonian monkeys. Brain (under review). Arul V, Gunasingh Masilamoni J, Philip Jesudason E, James JP, Inayathullah M, Dicky John Davis G, Vignesh S and Jayakumar R. Glucose oxidase incorporated collagen matrices for dermal wound repair in diabetic rat models: A Biochemical study" J Biomaterials Applications 2010 (In press) Gunasingh Masilamoni J, John Votaw, Leonard Howell, Rosa M. Villalba, Mark Goodman, Ronald J Voll, Jeffrey Stehouwer, Thomas Wichmann, Yoland Smith. 18F-FECNT: Validation as PET Dopamine Transporter Ligand in Parkinsonism. Exp. Neurol. 2010, 226, 265–273. *Yoland Smith and Gunasingh Masilamoni J. Substantia nigra. Encyclopedia of Movement Disorders 2010, 3, 189-192.* Davis GD, Gunasingh Masilamoni J, Arul V, Kumar MS, Baraneedharan U, Paul SF, Sakthivelu IV, Jesudason EP, Jayakumar R. Radioprotective effect of DL: -alpha-lipoic acid on mice skin fibroblasts. Cell Biol Toxicol. 2009, 25, 331-40. Gunasingh Masilamoni J, E. Philip Jesudason, Ben S. Ashok, R. Kirubagaran, W. Charles E Jebaraj, G.Dicky John Davis, S. Vignesh, S.Dhandayuthapani, R. Jayakumar. Melatonin prevents amyloid protofibrillar induced oxidative imbalance and biogenic amine catabolism. Life Science 2008, 83, 96-102. Gunasingh Masilamoni J, E. Philip Jesudason, S.Dhandayuthapani, Ben S Ashok, W.Charles. E.Jebaraj, & R. Jayakumar. The neuroprotective role of melatonin against amyloid b peptide injected mice. Free Rad. Res. 2008, 42, 661-73. Jesudason EP, Gunasingh Masilamoni J, Ashok BS, Baben B, Arul V, Jesudoss KS, Jebaraj WC, Dhandayuthapani S, Vignesh S, Jayakumar R. Inhibitory effects of short-term administration of DL-alpha-lipoic acid on oxidative vulnerability induced by Abeta amyloid fibrils (25-35) in mice. Mol Cell Biochem. 2008, 311, 145-56. Philip Jesudason, Gunasingh Masilamoni J, CE. Jebaraj, SF. Paul & R. Jayakumar. Efficacy of DL-alpha lipoic acid against systemic inflammation-induced mice: antioxidant defense system. Mol Cell Biochem. 2008, 313, 113-23. Philip Jesudason, B’Joe Baben, Ashok BS, Gunasingh Masilamoni J, R. Kirubagaran, W. Charles E. Jebaraj & R. Jayakumar. Anti-inflammatory effect of melatonin on Aβ vaccination in mice. Mol Cell Biochem 2007, 298, 69-81. Gunasingh Masilamoni J, E. Philip Jesudason, Bjoe, Charles E. Jebaraj & R. Jayakumar. The molecular chaperone a-crystallin protects inflammation-induced neurodegeneration. Biochim Biophys Acta - Molecular Basis of Disease, 2006, 1762, 284 - 291. Gunasingh Masilamoni J, Vignesh, R. Kirubagaran, E. Philip Jesudason & R. Jayakumar. The neuroprotective efficacy of a-crystallin against acute inflammation in mice. Brain Res. Bull. 2005, 67 235-241. Gunasingh Masilamoni J, E. Philip Jesudason, S. Nirmala Bharathi and R. Jayakumar. The protective effect of a-crystallin against acute inflammation in mice. Biochim Biophys Acta - Molecular Basis of Disease, 2005, 1740, 411-420. Gunasingh Masilamoni J, E. Philip Jesudason, K. Samuel Jesudoss, J. Murali, Solomon FD Paul & R. Jayakumar. Role of fibrillar Ab25-35 in the inflammation induced rat model with respect to oxidative vulnerability. Free Rad. Res. 2005 39 603–612. Philip Jesudason, Gunasingh Masilamoni J, R. Kirubagaran, G. Dicky John Davis and R. Jayakumar. The protective role of DL-a-lipoic acid in biogenic amines catabolism triggered by Aß amyloid vaccination in mice. Brain Res. Bull. 2005, 65, 361-367. Philip Jesudason, Gunasingh Masilamoni J, K. Samuel Jesudoss, & R. Jayakumar The protective role of DL a-Lipoic acid in the oxidative vulnerability triggered by Ab amyloid vaccination in mice. Mol Cell Biochem. 2005, 270, 29-37. Gunasingh Masilamoni J, Jesudoss KS, Nandakumar K, Satapathy KK, Azariah J, Nair KV. Lethal and sub-lethal effects of chlorination on green mussel Perna viridis in the context of biofouling control in a power plant cooling water system. Mar Environ Res. 2002 53, 65-76. Gunasingh Masilamoni J, Nandakumar K, Jesudoss KS, Azariah J, Satapathy KK, Nair KV. Influence of temperature on the physiological responses of the bivalve Brachidontes striatulus and its significance in fouling control. Mar Environ Res. 2002 53:51-63. Gunasingh Masilamoni J, Azariah J, Nandakumar K, Jesudoss KS, Satapathy KK, Nair KV. Excretory Products of Green Mussel Perna viridis L. and their Implications on Power Plant Operation. Turk J Zool. 2001, 25 117-125. Gunasingh Masilamoni J, K. S. Jesudoss, K. Nandakumar, K. K. Satpathy, K. V. K. Nair and J. Azariah. Jellyfish ingress: A threat to the smooth operation of coastal power plants. Current Sci. 2000 79, 567-70. Abstracts Gunasingh Masilamoni J, D Alagille, V. Reddy, K. Delevich, J Bogenpohl, JR Votaw, G Tamagnan, T Wichmann, Y Smith. Potential Neuroprotective Effects of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor type 5 (mGluR5) Antagonist in MPTP-treated Monkeys. Abstract- Movement disorder society 13th International Congress. Paris, France. Gunasingh Masilamoni J, JR Votaw, L Howell, J Bogenpohl, T Wichmann, Y Smith: In Vivo Assessment of Degeneration of the Nigrostriatal Dopaminergic Tract in MPTPtreated Monkeys with 18F-FECNT Positron Emission Tomography. Abstract-Movement disorder society 13th International Congress. Paris, France. Gunasingh Masilamoni J, D Alagille, J Bogenpohl, K. Delevich, V. Reddy, JR Votaw, G Tamagnan. T Wichmann, Y Smith. Potential Neuroprotective Effects of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 Antagonist in MPTP-treated Parkinsonian Monkeys. Abstract- Society for Neuroscience, Oct. 17-21, 2009 Chicago. Yoland Smith, Gunasingh Masilamoni J, JR Votaw, L Howell, T Wichmann. Reproducibility and Validity of dopamine transporter PET imaging ligand - 18F-FECNT in MPTP-treated Monkeys. Abstract - Society for Neuroscience, Oct. 17-21, 2009 Chicago. Gunasingh Masilamoni, J Bogenpohl, D Alagille, K Delevich, G Tamagnan, JR Votaw, V Reddy, T Wichmann, Y Smith. Neuroprotective effects of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 antagonist against dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems degeneration in MPTP-treated parkinsonian monkeys. Uthyathas S, Gunasingh. Masilamoni, F. S. Menniti, C. J. Schmidt, Y. Smith, T. Wichmann, S. M. Papa. Effects of inhibition of phosphodiesterase 10A on motor behavior and brain metabolic activity in monkeys. Abstract submitted for society for neuroscience, Nov. 13-17, 2010 San Diego. Gunasingh Masilamoni, D Alagille, S Jenkins, G Tamagnan, T Wichmann, Y Smith. Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 antagonist protect dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurons against MPTP neurotoxin in parkinsonian monkey model. Abstract submitted for society for neuroscience, Nov. 13-17, 2010 San Diego.

Gunasingh Jeyaraj PhD

I was born in Nazareth, a small blessed city in Tamil Nadu, India. This city was developed by a Christian missionary by name Dr. Arthur Margoschis. I completed my masters and doctoral studies at the University of Madras, India. Through my postdoctoral training I became interested in the development of novel therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. I successfully executed several projects as a postdoctoral researcher. I approached this biomedical research using different biophysical techniques, molecular cloning, viral transfections, primary neuronal cultures and transgenic mouse models.

Currently I am working in three major important cutting edge projects in Smith lab, focusing on neuroprotective and symptomatic therapy for Parkinson’s disease.

Project 1: Neuroprotective Effects of mGluR5 Antagonists in the Nonhuman Primate
Model of Parkinson’s Disease: The primary goal of this project is to assess the
neuroprotective properties of a specific metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) antagonist called MTEP on MPTP-induced neurodegeneration of midbrain
dopaminergic neurons in the nonhuman primate model of Parkinson’s disease. This
work may lead to the development of novel neuroprotective therapeutic strategies for Parkinson’s disease in humans.

Project 2: Characterization of Biomarkers for Parkinson’s Disease: The aim of this
project is to identify biomarkers that can predict the future development of
Parkinson’s disease before the appearance of motor symptoms and severe
neurodegeneration of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal system. At present, there is no established diagnostic biomarker that can be reliably used to predict the
development of Parkinson’s disease in humans except PET to visualize dopamine
activity. However, because PET is too expensive, it cannot be widely used through
the aged human population to screen potential candidates for Parkinson’s disease.
The need for cost-effective and more accessible Parkinson’s disease biomarker is
warranted. In this project, we use proteomics approach in the MPTP-treated monkey model of Parkinson’s disease to characterize such biomarker in the blood,
cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue of these animals. Similar studies are also
performed in parallel in human carriers of the LRRK2 mutation for Parkinson’s
disease. The characterization of such biomarker will allow to intervene early with
neuroprotective therapies to alter the course of the disease in potential patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Project 3: Gene Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease: The goal of this project is to
assess the efficacy of a novel gene therapy approach to alleviate the main motor
symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. This work, done in collaboration with a biotech.
Company in Oxford, UK-Oxford Biomedica, aims at restoring sufficient and
therapeutically relevant levels of dopamine in the striatum of MPTP-treated monkeys through transfection of striatal neurons with a lentiviral vector packaged with enzymes and cofactors needed to synthesize dopamine in the CNS. The use of
such therapy in patients may allow symptomatic recovery and slow down the
appearance of side effects commonly seen in Parkinson’s disease patients
chronically treated with dopamine replacement therapy.

Peer-reviewed Publications and Book Chapters

Gunasingh Masilamoni J, Bogenpohl, D Alagille, K Delevich, G Tamagnan, JR Votaw, V Reddy, T Wichmann , Y Smith. Neuroprotective effects of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 antagonist against dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems degeneration in MPTP-treated parkinsonian monkeys. Brain (under review).

Arul V, Gunasingh Masilamoni J, Philip Jesudason E, James JP, Inayathullah M, Dicky John Davis G, Vignesh S and Jayakumar R. Glucose oxidase incorporated collagen matrices for dermal wound repair in diabetic rat models: A Biochemical study" J Biomaterials Applications 2010 (In press)

Gunasingh Masilamoni J, John Votaw, Leonard Howell, Rosa M. Villalba, Mark Goodman, Ronald J Voll, Jeffrey Stehouwer, Thomas Wichmann, Yoland Smith. 18F-FECNT: Validation as PET Dopamine Transporter Ligand in Parkinsonism. Exp. Neurol. 2010, 226, 265–273.

Yoland Smith and Gunasingh Masilamoni J. Substantia nigra. Encyclopedia of Movement Disorders 2010, 3, 189-192.

Davis GD, Gunasingh Masilamoni J, Arul V, Kumar MS, Baraneedharan U, Paul SF, Sakthivelu IV, Jesudason EP, Jayakumar R. Radioprotective effect of DL: -alpha-lipoic acid on mice skin fibroblasts. Cell Biol Toxicol. 2009, 25, 331-40.

Gunasingh Masilamoni J, E. Philip Jesudason, Ben S. Ashok, R. Kirubagaran, W. Charles E Jebaraj, G.Dicky John Davis, S. Vignesh, S.Dhandayuthapani, R. Jayakumar. Melatonin prevents amyloid protofibrillar induced oxidative imbalance and biogenic amine catabolism. Life Science 2008, 83, 96-102.

Gunasingh Masilamoni J, E. Philip Jesudason, S.Dhandayuthapani, Ben S Ashok, W.Charles. E.Jebaraj, & R. Jayakumar. The neuroprotective role of melatonin against amyloid b peptide injected mice. Free Rad. Res. 2008, 42, 661-73.

Jesudason EP, Gunasingh Masilamoni J, Ashok BS, Baben B, Arul V, Jesudoss KS, Jebaraj WC, Dhandayuthapani S, Vignesh S, Jayakumar R. Inhibitory effects of short-term administration of DL-alpha-lipoic acid on oxidative vulnerability induced by Abeta amyloid fibrils (25-35) in mice. Mol Cell Biochem. 2008, 311, 145-56.

Philip Jesudason, Gunasingh Masilamoni J, CE. Jebaraj, SF. Paul & R. Jayakumar. Efficacy of DL-alpha lipoic acid against systemic inflammation-induced mice: antioxidant defense system. Mol Cell Biochem. 2008, 313, 113-23.

Philip Jesudason, B’Joe Baben, Ashok BS, Gunasingh Masilamoni J, R. Kirubagaran, W. Charles E. Jebaraj & R. Jayakumar. Anti-inflammatory effect of melatonin on Aβ vaccination in mice. Mol Cell Biochem 2007, 298, 69-81.

Gunasingh Masilamoni J, E. Philip Jesudason, Bjoe, Charles E. Jebaraj & R. Jayakumar. The molecular chaperone a-crystallin protects inflammation-induced neurodegeneration. Biochim Biophys Acta - Molecular Basis of Disease, 2006, 1762, 284 - 291.

Gunasingh Masilamoni J, Vignesh, R. Kirubagaran, E. Philip Jesudason & R. Jayakumar. The neuroprotective efficacy of a-crystallin against acute inflammation in mice. Brain Res. Bull. 2005, 67 235-241.

Gunasingh Masilamoni J, E. Philip Jesudason, S. Nirmala Bharathi and R. Jayakumar. The protective effect of a-crystallin against acute inflammation in mice. Biochim Biophys Acta - Molecular Basis of Disease, 2005, 1740, 411-420.

Gunasingh Masilamoni J, E. Philip Jesudason, K. Samuel Jesudoss, J. Murali, Solomon FD Paul & R. Jayakumar. Role of fibrillar Ab25-35 in the inflammation induced rat model with respect to oxidative vulnerability. Free Rad. Res. 2005 39 603–612.

Philip Jesudason, Gunasingh Masilamoni J, R. Kirubagaran, G. Dicky John Davis and R. Jayakumar. The protective role of DL-a-lipoic acid in biogenic amines catabolism triggered by Aß amyloid vaccination in mice. Brain Res. Bull. 2005, 65, 361-367.

Philip Jesudason, Gunasingh Masilamoni J, K. Samuel Jesudoss, & R. Jayakumar The protective role of DL a-Lipoic acid in the oxidative vulnerability triggered by Ab amyloid vaccination in mice. Mol Cell Biochem. 2005, 270, 29-37.

Gunasingh Masilamoni J, Jesudoss KS, Nandakumar K, Satapathy KK, Azariah J, Nair KV. Lethal and sub-lethal effects of chlorination on green mussel Perna viridis in the context of biofouling control in a power plant cooling water system. Mar Environ Res. 2002 53, 65-76.

Gunasingh Masilamoni J, Nandakumar K, Jesudoss KS, Azariah J, Satapathy KK, Nair KV. Influence of temperature on the physiological responses of the bivalve Brachidontes striatulus and its significance in fouling control. Mar Environ Res. 2002 53:51-63.

Gunasingh Masilamoni J, Azariah J, Nandakumar K, Jesudoss KS, Satapathy KK, Nair KV. Excretory Products of Green Mussel Perna viridis L. and their Implications on Power Plant Operation. Turk J Zool. 2001, 25 117-125.

Gunasingh Masilamoni J, K. S. Jesudoss, K. Nandakumar, K. K. Satpathy, K. V. K. Nair and J. Azariah. Jellyfish ingress: A threat to the smooth operation of coastal power plants. Current Sci. 2000 79, 567-70.

Abstracts

Gunasingh Masilamoni J, D Alagille, V. Reddy, K. Delevich, J Bogenpohl, JR Votaw, G Tamagnan, T Wichmann, Y Smith. Potential Neuroprotective Effects of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor type 5 (mGluR5) Antagonist in MPTP-treated Monkeys. Abstract- Movement disorder society 13th International Congress. Paris, France.

Gunasingh Masilamoni J, JR Votaw, L Howell, J Bogenpohl, T Wichmann, Y Smith: In Vivo Assessment of Degeneration of the Nigrostriatal Dopaminergic Tract in MPTPtreated Monkeys with 18F-FECNT Positron Emission Tomography. Abstract-Movement disorder society 13th International Congress. Paris, France.

Gunasingh Masilamoni J, D Alagille, J Bogenpohl, K. Delevich, V. Reddy, JR Votaw, G Tamagnan. T Wichmann, Y Smith. Potential Neuroprotective Effects of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 Antagonist in MPTP-treated Parkinsonian Monkeys. Abstract- Society for Neuroscience, Oct. 17-21, 2009 Chicago.

Yoland Smith, Gunasingh Masilamoni J, JR Votaw, L Howell, T Wichmann. Reproducibility and Validity of dopamine transporter PET imaging ligand - 18F-FECNT in MPTP-treated Monkeys. Abstract - Society for Neuroscience, Oct. 17-21, 2009 Chicago.

Gunasingh Masilamoni, J Bogenpohl, D Alagille, K Delevich, G Tamagnan, JR Votaw, V Reddy, T Wichmann, Y Smith. Neuroprotective effects of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 antagonist against dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems degeneration in MPTP-treated parkinsonian monkeys.

Uthyathas S, Gunasingh. Masilamoni, F. S. Menniti, C. J. Schmidt, Y. Smith, T. Wichmann, S. M. Papa. Effects of inhibition of phosphodiesterase 10A on motor behavior and brain metabolic activity in monkeys. Abstract submitted for society for neuroscience, Nov. 13-17, 2010 San Diego.

Gunasingh Masilamoni, D Alagille, S Jenkins, G Tamagnan, T Wichmann, Y Smith. Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 antagonist protect dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurons against MPTP neurotoxin in parkinsonian monkey model. Abstract submitted for society for neuroscience, Nov. 13-17, 2010 San Diego.