Dr Asheeta Prasad
Neurosciences
I am interested in the wiring of the brain, how neurons grow and form neural circuits and their functions. My research focuses on neural circuitry underlying complex behaviors such as learning, memory, reward related behavior and movement. Disturbances in the neural circuitry of these behaviourscontribute to pathophysiology of several neurological disorders such as drug addiction, depression, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease andMultiple sclerosis. I apply unique and interdisciplinary research tools of molecular biology, optogenetics, chemogenetics and behavioral neuroscience.
PhD project: Novel dopamine pathways in reward processing
PhD project: Role of astrocytes in Parkinson's disease
Honours project: Changes in endocannabinoid system inParkinson's disease
Masters project: Pathology of the Subthalamic nucleus inParkinson's disease
2015 Career Advancement Award, UNSW $10K
2016 Parkinson NSW grant $40K
2016 Young Researcher of the Year, finalist, 2016 Parkinson's NSW
2017 Parkinson NSW grant $40K
2017 Discover Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) 2017-2020 $388K
2017 Travel Award, APSAAR USD $500
2018 Silver star award, UNSW $20,000
2018 Vice Chancellor’sChidcare Fund $1600
| Project title | Research student |
|---|---|
| A better cell therapy for Parkinson's disease | Laura ANCELLOTTI |
| Development of advanced stem cell models of dementia and Tau-related pathologies | Alex JOHNSON |
| Astrocyte dysfunction in genetic models of Parkinson’s disease | Cormac PEAT |
Publications
Book Chapters
- Prasad, A., McNally, G. (2019). Ventral pallidum and alcohol addiction. In Victor R. Preedy (Eds.), Neuroscience of alcohol : mechanisms and treatment, (pp. 163-170). London: Academic Press. [More Information]
Journals
- Prasad, A., Wallén-Mackenzie, Å. (2024). Architecture of the subthalamic nucleus. Communications Biology, 7(1). [More Information]
- Watzlawik, J., Fiesel, F., Fiorino, G., Bustillos, B., Baninameh, Z., Markham, B., Hou, X., Hayes, C., Bredenberg, J., Prasad, A., et al (2023). Basal activity of PINK1 and PRKN in cell models and rodent brain. Autophagy. [More Information]
- Kwakowsky, A., Prasad, A., Pena-Ortega, F., Lim, S. (2023). Editorial: Neuronal network dysfunction in Neurodegenerative disorders. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 17, 1151156. [More Information]
2024
- Prasad, A., Wallén-Mackenzie, Å. (2024). Architecture of the subthalamic nucleus. Communications Biology, 7(1). [More Information]
2023
- Watzlawik, J., Fiesel, F., Fiorino, G., Bustillos, B., Baninameh, Z., Markham, B., Hou, X., Hayes, C., Bredenberg, J., Prasad, A., et al (2023). Basal activity of PINK1 and PRKN in cell models and rodent brain. Autophagy. [More Information]
- Kwakowsky, A., Prasad, A., Pena-Ortega, F., Lim, S. (2023). Editorial: Neuronal network dysfunction in Neurodegenerative disorders. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 17, 1151156. [More Information]
2022
- Xie, C., Power, J., Prasad, A. (2022). Bidirectional Optogenetic Modulation of the Subthalamic Nucleus in a Rodent Model of Parkinson’s Disease. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 16, 848821. [More Information]
- Mazumder, S., Bahar, A., Shepherd, C., Prasad, A. (2022). Post-mortem brain histological examination in the substantia nigra and subthalamic nucleus in Parkinson's disease following deep brain stimulation. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 16. [More Information]
2021
- Cornish, J., Prasad, A. (2021). Sex Differences in Substance Use Disorders: A Neurobiological Perspective. Frontiers in Global Women's Health, 2, 778514. [More Information]
- Kupchik, Y., Prasad, A. (2021). Ventral pallidum cellular and pathway specificity in drug seeking. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 131, 373-386. [More Information]
2020
- Prasad, A., Xie, C., Chaichim, C., Nguyen, J., McClusky, H., Killcross, S., Power, J., McNally, G. (2020). Complementary roles for ventral pallidum cell types and their projections in relapse. Journal of Neuroscience, 40(4), 880-893. [More Information]
- Xie, C., Prasad, A. (2020). Probiotics treatment improves hippocampal dependent cognition in a rodent model of parkinson’s disease. Microorganisms, 8(11), 1-13. [More Information]
- Liu, Y., Jean-Richard-dit-Bressel, P., Yau, J., Willing, A., Prasad, A., Power, J., Killcross, S., Clifford, C., McNally, G. (2020). The mesolimbic dopamine activity signatures of relapse to alcohol-seeking. Journal of Neuroscience, 40(33), 6409-6427. [More Information]
2019
- Prasad, A., McNally, G. (2019). Ventral pallidum and alcohol addiction. In Victor R. Preedy (Eds.), Neuroscience of alcohol : mechanisms and treatment, (pp. 163-170). London: Academic Press. [More Information]
2018
- Gibson, G., Prasad, A., Jean-Richard-dit-Bressel, P., Yau, J., Millan, E., Liu, Y., Campbell, E., Lim, J., Marchant, N., Power, J., et al (2018). Distinct Accumbens Shell Output Pathways Promote versus Prevent Relapse to Alcohol Seeking. Neuron, 98(3), 512-520.e6. [More Information]
2017
- Khoo, S., Gibson, G., Prasad, A., McNally, G. (2017). How contexts promote and prevent relapse to drug seeking. Genes, Brain and Behavior, 16(1), 185-204. [More Information]
2016
- Prasad, A., McNally, G. (2016). Ventral pallidum output pathways in context-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking. Journal of Neuroscience, 36(46), 11716-11726. [More Information]
2015
- Morello, F., Prasad, A., Rehberg, K., de Sá, R., Antón-Bolaños, N., Leyva-Diaz, E., Adolfs, Y., Tissir, F., López-Bendito, G., Pasterkamp, R. (2015). Frizzled3 controls axonal polarity and intermediate target entry during striatal pathway development. Journal of Neuroscience, 35(42), 14205-14219. [More Information]
- Khoo, A., Gibson, G., Prasad, A., McNally, G. (2015). Role of the striatopallidal pathway in renewal and reacquisition of alcohol seeking. Behavioral Neuroscience, 129(1), 2-7. [More Information]
2014
- Prasad, A., McNally, G. (2014). Effects of vivo morpholino knockdown of lateral hypothalamus orexin/hypocretin on renewal of alcohol seeking. PloS One, 9(10). [More Information]
2013
- Blakely, B., Bye, C., Fernando, C., Prasad, A., Jeroen Pasterkamp, R., MacHeda, M., Stacker, S., Parish, C. (2013). Ryk, a receptor regulating wnt5a-mediated neurogenesis and axon morphogenesis of ventral midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Stem Cells and Development, 22(15), 2132-2144. [More Information]
Selected Grants
2024
- Moyira Elizabeth Vine and Tim Haire Endowment Fund for Research into Schizophrenia 2024, Prasad A, Faculty of Medicine and Health/Moyira Elizabeth Vine and Tim Haire Endowment Fund for Research into Schizophrenia
2022
- Equity Prize: Thompson, Prasad A, DVC Research/Equity Prize: Thompson
- Novel dopamine pathways underlying motivated behaviours, Prasad A, Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP)
Further Grants
2023
- Thompson Equity Prize $15K
2019
- Neurobiological mechanism of deep brain stimulation of Parkinson’s disease,Prasad A, National Health and Medical Research Council/Project Grant $507,000
2017
- Mapping ventral pallidal circuits for relapse to appetitive motivation,Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA)
In the media
Pint of Science, Beautiful Mind 2017:https://pintofscience.com.au/about/
Where Science Meets Art - Dr Asheeta Prasad Collaborates With Two Sydney Artists For Exhibition
Brain Mechanisms In Drug Addiction - New Pathways Revealed
Parkinsons Scientific Exhibition :https://www.scienceweek.net.au/parkinsons-scientific-art/
In Conversation’: Artists & Scientists, Manly Art Gallery & Museum 19/02/17
Panelist for UNSW STEMM Symposium 17/08/2016 Part of Bluestockings/Women in Higher Education Week, providing perspective and inspiration to current students
AAS EMCR Forum - Science Pathways 2016: Future Leaders 26-27th September, 2016 Sponsored by School of Psychology, UNSW