Nirmala Parajuli
Associate Professor
Also affiliated: Arkansas Children's Hospital (2018); Innsbruck Medical University (2008–2013); Universität Innsbruck (2008–2013); University of Arkansas Medical Center (2010–2025); Elmhurst Hospital Center (2011); Arkansas Children's Research Institute (2018–2019)
Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Medicine
Research Areas
Biomedical Subjects
Links
Biography and Research Information
OverviewAI-generated summary
Nirmala Parajuli's research focuses on improving the viability of kidneys during cold storage for renal transplantation, aiming to enhance long-term transplant survival. Her laboratory investigates how cold storage affects protein quality and renal function post-transplantation, seeking potential therapeutic targets. Current investigations utilize rat models to explore the roles of the proteasome, heat shock proteins, and the complement pathway in this process.
Parajuli is a Principal Investigator on a $429,560 NIH/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases grant to study the targeting of heat shock protein 72 for improved renal function after transplantation. Her work has resulted in 67 publications with an h-index of 16 and over 6,900 citations. She has established collaborations with researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, including Dinesh Bhattarai, Seongok Lee, Amod Sharma, and Neriman Gökden, with whom she shares multiple publications.
Research Overview
My primary research priority is to identify strategies to enhance the viability of kidneys during prolonged cold storage in order to ensure the long-term survival of renal transplants. My research focuses on exploring novel mechanisms by which cold storage alters protein quality and renal function after transplantation, and importantly, to identify a possible therapeutic target that could lead to improved renal outcomes after transplantation. Specifically, my laboratory investigates the roles of the proteasome, heat shock proteins, and the complement pathway during cold storage followed by transplantation using rat models.
Metrics
- h-index: 16
- Publications: 68
- Citations: 6,895
Positions
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Associate Professor publications 2010–2026University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Medicine Institutional directory
Selected Publications
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Effect of complement 3/5 knockout on renal proteomics landscape after ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats (2026)
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Impaired Renal Mitochondria and Bioenergetics During Obesity-Associated NAFLD (2026)
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Mitochondria: The Crossroads of Complement Activation and Kidney Injury Progression (2026)
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Heat shock protein 72 is a druggable target during cold storage to improve graft outcome after kidney transplantation (2026)
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Novel interactions between the C5 ‐ C5aR 1 Axis and IF 1: Implications for kidney mitochondrial physiology and ischemia–reperfusion injury (2026)
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Influence of Hypothermic Machine Perfusion on Markers of Oxidative Stress and Early Tubular Injury in Rat Donor Kidneys Before Transplantation (2026)
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Metformin Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Responses in Obesity-Associated Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) (2025)
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Complement 5's Role in Mitochondria During Kidney Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats (2025)
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Compared with Static Cold Storage, Hypothermic Machine Perfusion Mitigates Oxidative Stress and Tubular Injury in Rat Kidneys (2025)
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Post‐ischemia and reperfusion kidney injury is mitigated in a novel complement 5 knockout rat (2025)
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Obesity-Associated NAFLD Coexists with a Chronic Inflammatory Kidney Condition That Is Partially Mitigated by Short-Term Oral Metformin (2025)
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Cold Storage-Induced Proteasome Dysfunction in Rat Kidney Transplants: A Plausible Role of p38MAPK Signaling (Abstract ID: 161861) (2025)
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Mechanism of Impaired Protein Homeostasis in Kidney Grafts Following Cold Storage and Transplantation (Abstract ID: 162640) (2025)
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Ischemia and Reperfusion (IRI)-Induced Kidney Injury Is Attenuated by Complement 5 Gene Deletion (Abstract ID: 161749) (2025)
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Unrecognized Effects of Metformin to Reduce Proteasomal Stress and Macrophage Infiltration in Kidneys of Obese Rats with NAFLD (Abstract ID: 166383) (2025)
Federal Grants 1 $429,560 total
Targeting heat shock protein 72 to improve renal function after transplantation
Research Interests
Long-term interest of my laboratory is to understand molecular mechanisms responsible for cold storage (CS)-induced renal damage. My research focuses on exploring novel mechanisms by which CS alters protein quality and renal function after transplantation, and importantly, to identify a possible therapeutic target that could lead to improved renal outcome after transplantation. Specifically, I plan to investigate the roles of proteasome, heat shock proteins and complement pathway during CS plus transplantation. We have established a rat kidney transplantation model, which will be fundamental in studying my independent research project on CS mediated renal damage. In addition, I’m also collaborating with Dr. MacMillan-Crow to study the molecular mechanisms that disrupt mitochondrial dynamics during renal CS and transplantation using our rat kidney transplant model. https://www.archildrens.org/research/researchers-at-acri/nirmala-parajuli-phd https://pharmtox.uams.edu/faculty/primary-faculty/nirmala-parajuli-ph-d/
Grants & Funding
As listed on this researcher's institutional profile. Federal awards with verified records are shown above.
- Ubiquitin Proteasome System, Mitochondria, and Renal Cold Storage - Continuation American Heart Association Principal Investigator
- Novel role of immunoproteaseome during renal cold storage and transplantation UAMS College of Medicine Principal Investigator
- Mitochondrial injury and repair in sepsis-induced acute kidney injury NIH Co-Investigator
- Targeting renal immunoproteasome during cold storage to improve transplant-associated cardiovascular health - Continuation American Heart Association Principal Investigator
- Manganese Superoxide Dismutase and Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion NIH Co-Investigator
Collaboration Network
Top Collaborators
- Inactivation of renal mitochondrial respiratory complexes and manganese superoxide dismutase during sepsis: mitochondria-targeted antioxidant mitigates injury
- Role of mitochondrial-derived oxidants in renal tubular cell cold-storage injury
- MitoQ Blunts Mitochondrial and Renal Damage during Cold Preservation of Porcine Kidneys
- Role of reduced manganese superoxide dismutase in ischemia-reperfusion injury: a possible trigger for autophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis?
- Generation and characterization of a novel kidney-specific manganese superoxide dismutase knockout mouse
Showing 5 of 22 shared publications
- Cold Storage Followed by Transplantation Induces Immunoproteasome in Rat Kidney Allografts: Inhibition of Immunoproteasome Does Not Improve Function
- Post‐ischemia and reperfusion kidney injury is mitigated in a novel complement 5 knockout rat
- Normal Proteasome Function Is Needed to Prevent Kidney Graft Injury during Cold Storage Followed by Transplantation
- Cold Storage Disrupts the Proteome and Phosphoproteome Landscape in Rat Kidney Transplants
- Novel interactions between the C5 ‐ C5aR 1 Axis and IF 1: Implications for kidney mitochondrial physiology and ischemia–reperfusion injury
Showing 5 of 15 shared publications
- Cold Storage Followed by Transplantation Induces Interferon-Gamma and STAT-1 in Kidney Grafts
- Post‐ischemia and reperfusion kidney injury is mitigated in a novel complement 5 knockout rat
- Ischemia-Reperfusion-Mediated Kidney Injury Is Attenuated in a New Complement 5 Knockout Model
- Cold Storage Exacerbates Complement Pathway Activation in Kidneys following Transplantation
- Ischemia and Reperfusion (IRI)-Induced Kidney Injury Is Attenuated by Complement 5 Gene Deletion (Abstract ID: 161749)
Showing 5 of 8 shared publications
- Post‐ischemia and reperfusion kidney injury is mitigated in a novel complement 5 knockout rat
- Ischemia-Reperfusion-Mediated Kidney Injury Is Attenuated in a New Complement 5 Knockout Model
- Mechanism of Cold Storage-Mediated Regulation of Heat Shock Proteins in Renal Grafts After Transplantation
- Cold Storage-Mediated p38MAPK Activation: A Potential Contributor of Proteasome Dysfunction and Kidney Damage After Transplantation
- Mechanism of Impaired Protein Homeostasis in Kidney Grafts following Cold Storage and Transplant
Showing 5 of 8 shared publications
- Renal cold storage followed by transplantation impairs proteasome function and mitochondrial protein homeostasis
- Aberrant activation of the complement system in renal grafts is mediated by cold storage
- Cold Storage Increases Albumin and Advanced Glycation-End Product-Albumin Levels in Kidney Transplants: A Possible Cause for Exacerbated Renal Damage
- The BK activator NS11021 partially protects rat kidneys from cold storage and transplantation-induced mitochondrial and renal injury
- Cold Storage Followed by Transplantation Induces Interferon-Gamma and STAT-1 in Kidney Grafts
Showing 5 of 6 shared publications
- Obesity-Associated NAFLD Coexists with a Chronic Inflammatory Kidney Condition That Is Partially Mitigated by Short-Term Oral Metformin
- Unrecognized Effects of Metformin to Reduce Proteasomal Stress and Macrophage Infiltration in Kidneys of Obese Rats with NAFLD (Abstract ID: 166383)
- Compared with Static Cold Storage, Hypothermic Machine Perfusion Mitigates Oxidative Stress and Tubular Injury in Rat Kidneys
- Heat shock protein 72 is a druggable target during cold storage to improve graft outcome after kidney transplantation
- Impaired Renal Mitochondria and Bioenergetics During Obesity-Associated NAFLD
Showing 5 of 6 shared publications
- Post‐ischemia and reperfusion kidney injury is mitigated in a novel complement 5 knockout rat
- Obesity-Associated NAFLD Coexists with a Chronic Inflammatory Kidney Condition That Is Partially Mitigated by Short-Term Oral Metformin
- Unrecognized Effects of Metformin to Reduce Proteasomal Stress and Macrophage Infiltration in Kidneys of Obese Rats with NAFLD (Abstract ID: 166383)
- Complement 5's Role in Mitochondria During Kidney Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats
- Metformin Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Responses in Obesity-Associated Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
Showing 5 of 6 shared publications
- Renal cold storage followed by transplantation impairs expression of key mitochondrial fission and fusion proteins
- The first direct activity assay for the mitochondrial protease OMA1
- The BK activator NS11021 partially protects rat kidneys from cold storage and transplantation-induced mitochondrial and renal injury
- MitoBK Channels as a Therapeutic Target in Renal Cold Storage and Transplantation
- Role of MitoBK Channels in Renal Cold Preservation
- Cold Storage Followed by Transplantation Induces Immunoproteasome in Rat Kidney Allografts: Inhibition of Immunoproteasome Does Not Improve Function
- Cold Storage Disrupts the Proteome and Phosphoproteome Landscape in Rat Kidney Transplants
- Mechanism of Impaired Protein Homeostasis in Kidney Grafts Following Cold Storage and Transplantation (Abstract ID: 162640)
- Heat shock protein 72 is a druggable target during cold storage to improve graft outcome after kidney transplantation
- Effect of complement 3/5 knockout on renal proteomics landscape after ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats
- Post‐ischemia and reperfusion kidney injury is mitigated in a novel complement 5 knockout rat
- Cold Storage Disrupts the Proteome and Phosphoproteome Landscape in Rat Kidney Transplants
- Novel interactions between the C5 ‐ C5aR 1 Axis and IF 1: Implications for kidney mitochondrial physiology and ischemia–reperfusion injury
- Complement 5's Role in Mitochondria During Kidney Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats
- Metformin Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Responses in Obesity-Associated Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
- MitoQ Blunts Mitochondrial and Renal Damage during Cold Preservation of Porcine Kidneys
- Generation and characterization of a novel kidney-specific manganese superoxide dismutase knockout mouse
- Manganese Superoxide Dismutase Knockdown and Subsequent mtDNA Damage
- Cold Storage Disrupts Renal Mitochondrial Homeostasis; Mitoqunione Restores Renal Cell Mitochondrial Function
- Renal cold storage followed by transplantation impairs expression of key mitochondrial fission and fusion proteins
- Cold Storage Disrupts the Proteome and Phosphoproteome Landscape in Rat Kidney Transplants
- Mechanism of Impaired Protein Homeostasis in Kidney Grafts Following Cold Storage and Transplantation (Abstract ID: 162640)
- Heat shock protein 72 is a druggable target during cold storage to improve graft outcome after kidney transplantation
- Cold Storage Followed by Transplantation Induces Immunoproteasome in Rat Kidney Allografts: Inhibition of Immunoproteasome Does Not Improve Function
- Post‐ischemia and reperfusion kidney injury is mitigated in a novel complement 5 knockout rat
- Obesity-Associated NAFLD Coexists with a Chronic Inflammatory Kidney Condition That Is Partially Mitigated by Short-Term Oral Metformin
- Effect of complement 3/5 knockout on renal proteomics landscape after ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats
- Post‐ischemia and reperfusion kidney injury is mitigated in a novel complement 5 knockout rat
- Cold Storage Disrupts the Proteome and Phosphoproteome Landscape in Rat Kidney Transplants
- Mechanism of Impaired Protein Homeostasis in Kidney Grafts Following Cold Storage and Transplantation (Abstract ID: 162640)
- Heat shock protein 72 is a druggable target during cold storage to improve graft outcome after kidney transplantation
- Obesity-Associated NAFLD Coexists with a Chronic Inflammatory Kidney Condition That Is Partially Mitigated by Short-Term Oral Metformin
- Unrecognized Effects of Metformin to Reduce Proteasomal Stress and Macrophage Infiltration in Kidneys of Obese Rats with NAFLD (Abstract ID: 166383)
- Metformin Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Responses in Obesity-Associated Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
- Impaired Renal Mitochondria and Bioenergetics During Obesity-Associated NAFLD
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