Prashen Chelikani, PhD

Research summary

Over the past 15 years the focus of the Chelikani lab has been to explore bitter taste receptor (T2R) biology in oral and extraoral tissues. The long-term goal is to understand the basic mechanism(s) of taste signal termination, T2R mediated host-microbe interactions and pathophysiology in oral, autoimmune, airway and Cystic Fibrosis. 

To achieve this goal, we have undertaken a broad range of research activities that can be classified into three sub-themes:  

1. Taste proteins and oral health: The association between taste genetics, oral microbiome, and oral health, using a distinctions-based approach in different cohorts. 
2. Cystic fibrosis: Protein-protein interactions and signaling involving T2Rs, Gα proteins, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and adenylyl cyclases. T2R mediated host-microbe interactions and innate immunity in cystic fibrosis airways.
3. Taste proteins and food chemosensation: Biased taste signaling, mechanisms of taste signal termination and discovery of novel bitter taste modifiers.

These collective efforts have been reported in 45 peer-reviewed publications on T2R biology for a career total of over 80 peer-reviewed publications.

Keywords

• Cystic fibrosis
• G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs)
• Oral health
• Oral microbiome
• Taste signaling

Research affiliations

Scientist, Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba

Research groups

Director, Manitoba Chemosensory Biology (MCSB) Research Group

Dr. Prashen Chelikani is the associate dean (research) for the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry and a professor in the college’s Department of Oral Biology, at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba.

Education

• PDF, Department of Biology, MIT, USA
  PhD, Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Canada
  MSc, BSc (Biochemistry), Andhra University, India

Awards

• Fellow (elected), Royal Society of Biology, UK (2023)
• Exceptional Achievement in Microbiology, Alumni Award, Faculty of Science, University of Manitoba (2019)
• Ed Kroeger Mentorship Award, Health Sciences Graduate Students' Association, University of Manitoba (2015)
• Merit Award (Research, Teaching & Service), University of Manitoba (2013) 
• Allen Rouse Basic Science Career Award, Manitoba Medical Service Foundation (MMSF) (2013 – 2016)
• New Investigator Award, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC) (2008 – 2013)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, American Heart Association (AHA) (2006 – 2007)
• Graduate Fellowship, Manitoba Health Research Council (2002)