Rohit Mantena
It's my passion to contribute to new knowledge via Scientific Research.
I'm a student enrolled in the University of Pittsburgh's 8-year BS/MD program at the School of Medicine and Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences, with an expected graduation in May 2030.
Throughout my academic career, I've been fortunate to receive numerous honors and awards, including the 2023 Academy Award from the American Academy of Neurological Surgeons and a $15,000 prize as the winner of the University of Pittsburgh Randall Family Big Idea Competition. I've also been recognized as a Regeneron Science Talent Search Top 300 Scholar and received the National Merit Scholarship.
My passion for research and healthcare has led me to engage in various projects and experiences. I'm currently a researcher at the Cerebral Aneurysms Research Lab within the Department of Neurological Surgery at UPMC, where I've made significant contributions to the field. I'm also the Founder and CEO of ScOAPe, a startup company focused on nasal endoscope cleaning attachment innovation.
In addition to my research endeavors, I've gained hands-on experience as a Medical Assistant at Dr. Nesochi, LLC Primary Care Office. I also serve as an EMT at the Saddle Brook Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
My commitment to making a difference extends beyond the lab and clinic. I've volunteered as a math tutor at Common Denominator, supporting underserved middle school students in NY City. I've also actively participated in political campaigns, including my role as a campaign volunteer for Josh Gottheimer for the U.S. House of Representatives.
I'm passionate about research, innovation, and contributing to improving healthcare. I look forward to continued growth and collaboration in these fields as I progress through my academic and professional journey. Please feel free to contact me to explore potential opportunities -or- discuss shared interests.
Research
Research Student
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, and it plagues millions of people worldwide. PD presents with the loss of dopaminergic neurons, associated with increased oxidative stress due to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The formation of ROS is facilitated by Lewy bodies and α-synuclein neurofibrillary tangles, which lead to PD progression. In healthy neurons, oxidative stress is countered by cellular antioxidant defense systems, a prominent one being glutathione (GSH), however in PD, GSH levels are typically diminished. A precursor for GSH is the amino acid glutamine, which is converted intracellularly from glutamine to glutamate to GSH. The carrier for glutamine uptake is a transport membrane protein, named ASCT2, and this protein regulates glutamine levels in the cell. In various forms of cancer, inhibition of ASCT2 has led to oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis.
This research looked to elucidate the role ASCT2 can play in PD progression by using α-synuclein transfected SH-SY5Y neurons as an in vitro model of PD. V-9302 is a competitive inhibitor of ASCT2 and was used to diminish ASCT2 transport and glutamine uptake to examine the in vitro hallmarks of PD progression. To assess PD progression, cell viability, cell proliferation, α-synuclein levels and ROS were measured. To assess the significance of ASCT2 in the glutamine to GSH conversion process, glutamine uptake, glutamate levels, and GSH levels were measured. Data suggests that increasing V-9302 concentrations (decreased ASCT2 activity) led to lower cell viability and proliferation and higher ROS levels and α-synuclein levels. Also, increasing V-9302 concentrations led to a decrease in intracellular glutamine, glutamate, and GSH levels. In addition, a power regression model was generated for each of glutamine, glutamate, and GSH vs α-synuclein to test the biomarker potential of each of these molecules for PD progression in this model, and it was found that each of these molecules fit the regression model extraordinarily. This further supports the role of ASCT2 in altering PD progression.
These results suggest that ASCT2 has the potential to play a significant role in PD progression. Results suggest that inhibition of ASCT2 lead to the heightened hallmarks of PD progression. Future research could examine the potentially therapeutic effects of upregulating ASCT2 on PD progression.
My Research Paper
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Education
Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences, University Of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Major in Biological Sciences
Cumulative GPA: 4.00/4.00
Bergen County Academies, Hackensack, NJ
High School Graduated in June 2022
GPA: 3.99/4.00
SAT: 1570/1600 (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 770; Math: 800)
SAT II: Biology: 800/800
SAT II: Math: 800/800
ACT: Superscore 36/36; Composite: 35/36 (English: 35; Reading: 35; Math: 35; Science: 36)
AP Calculus BC 5; AP Chemistry 5; AP Biology 5; AP Psychology 5; AP Statistics 5
High Honor Roll: 2018 - 2022
Skills
- Basic Life Support (BLS) card provided by American Heart Association - Aug 2019
- Essential laboratory skills in cell culture
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro, and in movie editing
- Proficiency in Python, JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS; Built my website in AWS using HTML5 & CSS
- Independence – being able to work without close supervision, managing my own time and projects
- Critical thinking – being able to evaluate my work and that of others, making judgments about the value of information and drawing conclusions from data.
- Problem solving – working without “a right answer” and devising strategies to work towards a solution
- Contributing as a professional – presenting work to my peers, managing discussions and defending my position, having the confidence to put forwards ideas to my mentors
- Initiative – having the confidence to make decisions and act on them, not waiting for approval to do basic tasks, but reporting back responsibly at appropriate times
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, & ABSTRACTS
Kamil W Nowicki, Aditya Mittal, Michael D’Angelo, Catherine Cao, Rohit Mantena, Rachel Jacobs, Joseph Hudson, Michael McDowell, Robert M Friedlander. Targeting CXCR1 Rather Than CXCR2 Receptor in CXCL7-CXCR1/2 Pathway Prevents Cerebral Aneurysm Formation. Presented at: AANS. 2023. Los Angeles, CA. Podium Lecture Presentation.
Kamil W Nowicki, Aditya Mittal, Michael M McDowell, Robert Dembinski, Ahmed Habib, Catherine Cao, Rohit Mantena, Michael J. Lang, Pascal O. Zinn, Bradley A. Gross, Robert M Friedlander. A Whole Blood Mini-Proteomic Assay to Detect Cerebral Aneurysm Formation and Progression. Presented at: AANS. 2023. Los Angeles, CA. Poster Presentation
Aditya Mittal, Kamil W Nowicki, Rohit Mantena, Catherine Cao, Michael J. Lang, Bradley A. Gross, Robert M Friedlander. A Novel Murine Cerebral Vasospasm Model Reveals Inflammatory Temporal Dynamics of Vasospasm. Presented at: AANS. 2023. Los Angeles, CA. Poster Presentation.
Jason Lofters, Marwa Elsheikh, Rohit Mantena, Minaxi Jhawer. An approach to the management of recurrent metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the anus: A case report. Journal of Case Reports and Images in Oncology, 2023..
Awards & Certifications
- American Academy of Neurological Surgeons - 2023 Academy Award - Co-author - October 2023
- University of Pittsburgh XProjects Chancellor’s Fund Grant Recipient - May 2023
- University of Pittsburgh Randall Family Big Idea Competition - $15,000 Winner - April 2023
- Carnegie Mellon University McGinnis Venture Challenge - $2,500 Winner - March 2023
- Regeneron Science Talent Search 2022 - Top 300 Scholar - January 2022
- Society For Science ISEF 2022 Finalist - ISEF 2022 Finalist - May 2022
- National Merit Scholar Finalist - February 2022
- National Honor Society & National Spanish Honor Society Member - 2020 to 2022
- The E.C. Hallbeck Memorial Scholarship - $8,000 Winner Award Winner - June 2022
- James & Pauline Hackbarth Foundation Scholarship - Rotary Club of Maywood - $5,000 Winner - June 2022
- The Maywood Police Officers' Association Scholarship Award Winner - $1,500 Winner - June 2022
- The American Legion Post 142 Scholarship Award Winner - $1,500 Winner - June 2022
- Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) - Medical Math, 2nd place, NJ State level - April 2021
- Bergen County Academies Research Expo - Biochemistry Category, 3rd place - March 2021
- Outstanding Citizenship - American Legion, Post 142, Maywood NJ - September 2018
- Basic Life Support - CPR an AED - September 2019
- Completed 240 hours Basic EMT course at Bergen County EMS Training Center and passed NREMT - July 2021
