Dr. Sabhya Rana, a Research Assistant Scientist at the BREATHE Center, has accepted a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in the Department of Neuroscience and the Belford Center for Spinal Cord Injury at The Ohio State University. Her independent research program will officially launch on August 1st, 2025, where the Rana lab will study fundamental mechanisms of neural control of breathing, with a primary emphasis on the impact of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) on this life-sustaining motor function. Dr. Rana’s research is driven by an urgent clinical need to address respiratory failure, the leading cause of morbidity and mortality following SCI. Currently funded by a K99/R00 grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Dr. Rana is developing a suite of therapeutic approaches that include both pharmacological and non-invasive neuromodulation techniques to improve respiratory outcomes following SCI. The Rana Lab will employ a highly interdisciplinary approach, incorporating in vivo neurophysiological recordings in awake animals, advanced non-invasive spinal stimulation techniques, pharmacological interventions, genetic gain-and loss-of-function strategies, and targeted rehabilitation protocols. These diverse methodologies enable a comprehensive understanding of respiratory neural circuits and the development of innovative therapeutic strategies for improving breathing in SCI models.
Reflecting on this next step, Dr. Rana shared: I’m grateful for this next chapter and can’t wait to build a team that pushes the frontiers of spinal cord injury research, empowers trainees, and advances life-changing therapies. If what we do sounds exciting, get in touch! Congratulations, Dr. Rana!