Hi Y’all! My name is Sarvesh Acharya and I am a neuroscience major with minors in chemistry and religious studies. One interesting thing about me is that I absolutely love to be outdoors. If it is nice outside and I am free, you will find me doing something or another outside. Some of my favorite outdoor activities include hiking, stargazing, and playing basketball, football, and spikeball with my friends.

My Research Focus

I have an infatuation with the brain and its expansive circuitry. I struggle to understand how such organization can lead to the intricate mechanisms that underlie our most basic senses. Following this passion, I joined and began my research training in the laboratory of Dr. Bradley K. Taylor (Taylor Lab) in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh under the mentorship of Dr. Kenneth Roman. The Taylor Lab investigates the central mechanisms that drive chronic pain in mouse models of neuropathic and post-operative pain in hopes of discovering novel non-opioid therapeutic targets. Specifically, my mentor Dr. Kenneth Roman focuses on teasing out the mechanisms that underlie chronic visceral pain, which is pain that derives from the internal system. Under his guidance, my research project focuses on studying a non-invasive mouse model of endometriosis to investigate both the peripheral mechanisms underlying chronic pelvic pain in endometriosis as well as identifying the central regions of the brain that become hypersensitive as a result of this chronic condition.

This begs the question:

What is endometriosis, and why is it important to understand the pain mechanisms of this disease?

Endometriosis is a disease where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus, forming lesions which trigger inflammation and pain. Alarmingly, this chronic disease affects roughly 10% (190 million) of reproductive age women globally. Furthermore, there is presently no cure for endometriosis, therefore treatment options consist of management of inflammation and chronic pain, often with opioids, which are highly addictive and potent. Despite the prevalence of endometrial pain in women of reproductive age, the scientific community has not reached a consensus regarding the mechanistic pathways that underlie the development of endometrial pain. Therefore, by developing a stronger understanding of these mechanisms, I hope to identify specific molecules/cells within the pain pathway that can be inhibited to develop safe and effective therapeutics for endometrial pain.

Interestingly, a review of the scientific literature regarding endometrial pain suggests that immune cells known as mast cells may play a role in the development of chronic pelvic pain. Mast cells are immune cells that undergo a process known as mast cell degranulation (i.e eruption) that releases inflammatory molecules such as histamines and cytokines when activated by endometrial lesions. Interestingly, some of these inflammatory molecules, such as IL-6, trigger pain receptors called TRPV-1 receptors which cause neurons within the pelvic nerve to send pain signals to the brain.

I predict that mast cells contribute to chronic pelvic pain in endometriosis and that the administration of a mast cell inhibiter will alleviate endometrial pain. I have designed my experiment to administer the mast-cell inhibitor nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) for this study because it is a non-addictive antioxidant that reduces oxidative levels in allergic inflammation. Thus, I hypothesize that the administration of the mast-cell stabilizer NMN will inhibit endometrial pain in a mouse model of endometriosis.

Future Plans

I am a firm believer that whatever work I do, whether in the laboratory or in life, should have a practical and positive impact on others because I believe the improvement of the community allows me to invest my time most effectively. Therefore, I plan to attend medical school so I can combine my passion for the sciences with my desire to provide social impact within my community. In the future, I see myself working as both a practicing clinician and a researcher. I am determined to contribute to the unveiling of scientific knowledge at the forefront of neurological understanding so I can use this knowledge to provide my patients with more effective and educated treatment options. I have not decided whether I will pursue an MD-PhD or a physician-scientist (MD) path, however I hope that the Health Sciences Research Fellowship program will help me better understand which path is best suited for me to pursue my interests. I am excited to learn from my peers in the program concerning their areas of focus as well as engage in the workshops this fellowship provides in order to improve my communication as a researcher.