Dr. Sandhya Kumari M. V.
Assistant Professor
Department of Clinical Embryology
CURRENT ACADEMIC ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Teaching theory, practical and clinical aspects of Reproductive Biology to M.Sc. graduates.
- Guiding postgraduate and PhD students thesis, applying for projects and grants in the field of Reproductive Biology.
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
| Degree | Specialisation | Institute | Year of passing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ph.D | Reproductive Biology | Kasturba Medical College, Manipal | 2021 |
| MSc | Physiology | Kasturba Medical College, Manipal | 2011 |
| BSc | CBZ | Canara College, Mangalore | 1993 |
Experience
| Institution / Organisation | Designation | Role | Tenure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kasturba Medical College, Manipal | Assistant Professor | 30/07/2021 to till date | |
| Kasturba Medical College, Manipal | Senior Grade Lecturer | 01/09/2018 to 30/07/2021 | |
| Kasturba Medical College, Manipal | Lecturer | 10/08/2012 to 01/09/2018 |
Research Projects - 2
Project 1: Elucidating the cryosusceptibility and mitochondrial dynamics of oocytes and embryos under maternal metabolic conditions.
PI: Dr. Sandhya Kumari M V
Co.PI: Dr. Guruprasad Kalthur
Co.PI 2Dr. Shama K Prasada
Fund: ICMR
Brief Overview of this Project: The metabolic disorders namely obesity, PCOS and diabetes occurring at epidemic rates worldwide. In India, the incidence of obesity is expected to raise by 2040 and this is majorly due to the lifestyle and environmental factors. The prevalence rate of obesity and PCOS is high among Indian women (Bharati et al., 2022). As there is association between obesity and diabetes, and the burden of diabetes is high in India due to increasing prevalence of overweight/obesity and unhealthy lifestyles. These metabolic disorders have detrimental effects on their reproductive health of women, which is mainly due toto poor oocyte quality and poor endometrial receptivity. Mitochondria are the most abundant organelles in mammalian oocytes and mitochondrial dysfunction in commonly seen oocytes from obese or diabetic mice is associated with poor fertilization rates and abnormal embryo development (Wang et al., 2009). Further, due to altered metabolic conditions due to obesity/PCOS and diabetes, oocyte mitochondria produce less ATP and more reactive oxygen species (ROS) and damage the multiple components of the cell including DNA, RNA, proteins, and lipids. This may perturb diverse biological processes—such as cell metabolism and apoptosis. Refinement of cryopreservation procedures is essential to improve success of ART in these women whose oocyte are with poor quality due to disturbed maternal metabolic conditions. Until today no available data to show the impact vitrification and mitochondrial dynamics of oocytes and embryos derived from women with various metabolic disorders. Based on the result, the study will elucidate the cryotolerance of oocytes and embryos under maternal metabolic conditions when they are subjected for vitrification and thawing process during cryopreservation. This study also help us in understanding effect of mitochondrial dysfunction on oocyte and their cryosurvival which may be the causative factor for poor oocyte function, poor embryonic development and implantation. This study may will help us in better understanding the causes for poor ART outcome in women suffering form metabolic disorders which in turn may help us in improving the protocols of vitirification of oocytes and embryos. Thus finally improving success of assisted reproductive treatments.
Project 2: Elucidating the influence of the GLP-1 agonist liraglutide on oocyte functional competence and the gamete function in progenies of mice with maternal obesity – an experimental study.
PI: Dr. Sandhya Kumari M V
Co.PI: Dr. Guruprasad Kalthur
Co.PI 2Dr. Shama K Prasada
Fund: Intramural fund, MAHE
Brief Overview of this Project: Weight loss is one of the most common strategy either by using pharmaceutical agents or by diet control and excise in improving reproductive potential of obese individuals. Due to disappointing side effects, clinical use of some of the anti-obesity drugs has been discontinued. One of the drugs targeted in reducing body weight is by using of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) namely Liraglutide. Since majority of the obese individuals have gonadal dysfunction and compromised functional competence of the gametes, it will be interesting to understand the consequences of long term effect of liraglutide practice on these aspects, which is not studied hitherto, with the following key questions-i) whether the liraglutide helps in restoring the obesity-induced metabolic and endocrine changes ?; ii) whether the liraglutide helps in improving the obesity-induced ovarian dysfunction?; iv) What are the consequences of liraglutide on mitochondrial dynamics in oocytes of obese females. To address these key questions, the proposed investigation intends to conduct a detailed study using obese mice model. Until today no available data to show the effect of liraglutide on mitochondrial dynamics of oocytes derived from women with obesity. This study also help us in understanding effect of liraglutide on mitochondrial dysfunction on oocyte from maternal obesity. In this study we are trying to understand the short term and long term effect of liraglutide on metabolic, endocrine changes, and on ovarian function in obese female mice model.
AREAS OF INTEREST, EXPERTISE AND RESEARCH
Area of Interest
Reproductive biology, Reproductive toxicology, Assisted reproduction techniques (ART)
Area of Expertise
Infertility, In vitro fertilization, Andrology, Cryopreservation of gametes and embryos, Environmental and Occupational Exposures: Male and female Reproductive Impairment, Fertility preservation using natural extracts
Area of Research
Obesity and reproductive function, Role of diet in reproductive function, Sperm motility enhancement, therapeutic approaches for preventing premature ovarian ageing
Professional Affiliations & Contributions
Membership of Professional Organizations:
- Society for Reproductive Investigations (SRI)
- Society of Reproduction and Fertility (SRF), UK
- Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE)
- Manipal Academy of Clinical Embryologists (MACE)
- Society for Biotechnologists India (SBTI)
Awards:
1) Received SERB travel Award for presenting at 70th Annual Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI), Australia, 2023" on Effect of maternal dyslipidaemia on cryotolerance of oocytes and in vitro derived embryos from obese mice” at Brisbane, Australia.
2) Received Kusumlatha Award for presenting at 70th Annual Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI), 21 March, 2023 to 25 March, 2023" on “Effect of maternal dyslipidaemia on cryotolerance of oocytes and in vitro derived embryos from obese mice” at Brisbane, Australia.
3) Received best embryology paper award for the oral presentation titled “Cryotolerance of oocytes and in vitro derived embryos from high fat diet (HFD) fed obese mice” at 16th Annual conference FUSION 2022 and 1st virtual global congress of Indian Fertility Society on December, 4th to 6th, 2020.
4) Received KD Nayar best embryology paper award for the oral presentation titled “Modified pentoxifylline superior to pentoxifylline in enhancing sperm motility and fertilizing ability” at 16th Annual conference Fertivision and 1st virtual global congress of Indian Fertility Society on December, 4th to 6th, 2020.
5) Received Bursary award from “Society of Reproduction and fertility”, UK to attend and to present research titled “Structural modification of pentoxifylline as an approach to reduce the gamete toxicity” at Fertility 2019, Bharmingam, UK, on January 2019
6) Received third price at KISAR 2019, Belgaum for presenting poster “Structural modification of Pentoxifylline to improves the fertilization rate and embryo development” in 2019.
7) Received Travel Award to attended conference “The 33rd Annual Meeting of ESHRE” at Switzerland, Geneva to present on “Structural modification of pentoxifylline to improve the sperm function and reduce embryo toxicity” from Society of reproduction and fertility”.
8) Awarded best for best post presentation for “Structural modification of pentoxiphlline to enhance the sperm function and reduces embryo toxicity” at Indian Society for the study of Reproductive and Fertility held at Haryana.
9) Receive travel fellowship from “Center for International Co- operation in Science (CICS)” towards accommodation to attend conference at“18th World Congress of In vitro Fertilization held in Copenhagen, Denmark to present my research findings on “Mitomycin C induced testicular toxicity and fertility preservation using Indian Propolis”.
10) Received travel award from ICMR attending conference at“18th World Congress of In vitro Fertilization to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark to present my research findings on “Mitomycin C induced testicular toxicity and fertility preservation using Indian Propolis”.
11) Won Travel Award under poster category titled “Protective effect of Indian propolis against mitomycin C induced gonadotoxicity “at 7th International conference on “Stem Cells & Cancer (ICSCC-2016) Proliferation, Differentiation & Apoptosis, at Pune, India.
Link for full list of publications:
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57226628185
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3589-3289
https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=eKJeu8oAAAAJ
Key publications: -
1. Satish M, Kumari S, Nitin K, et al. Computational, biochemical and ex vivo evaluation of xanthine derivatives against phosphodiesterases to enhance the sperm motility. J Biomol Struct Dyn. 2023;41(11):5317-5327.
2. Satish M, Kumari S, Deeksha W, Abhishek S, Nitin K, Adiga SK, Hegde P, Dasappa JP, Kalthur G, Rajakumara E. Structure-based redesigning of pentoxifylline analogs against selective phosphodiesterases to modulate sperm functional competence for assisted reproductive technologies. Sci Rep. 2021 Jun 10;11(1):12293.
3. Kumari S, Dcunha R, Sanghvi SP, et al. Organophosphorus pesticide quinalphos (Ekalux 25 E.C.) reduces sperm functional competence and decreases the fertilisation potential in Swiss albino mice. Andrologia. 2021;53(8):e14115.
4. Kumari S, Salian SR, Rao A, et al. Quinoline Derivative Enhances Human Sperm Motility and Improves the Functional Competence. Reprod Sci. 2021;28(5):1316-1332.
5. Kumari S, Nayak G, Lukose ST, et al. Indian propolis ameliorates the mitomycin C-induced testicular toxicity by reducing DNA damage and elevating the antioxidant activity. Biomed Pharmacother. 2017;95:252-263.
Books published • Assessment of Sperm DNA damage. Kalthur G, Kumari S, Adiga SK (2023). In: Atlas of Assisted Reproductive Technologies, Ed: Surveen Ghumman, Springer Nature, Singapore. • Semen Banking. Kalthur G, Kumari S, Adiga SK (2018). In: Principles and Practice of Assisted Reproductive Technology.