This profile is part of a series to highlight the researchers who will be honored at a ceremony on Nov. 14 for UNMC’s Scientist Laureate, Research Leadership, Distinguished Scientist and New Investigator Award recipients.
Distinguished Scientist
The Distinguished Scientist Award — which is sponsored by the chancellor — recognizes researchers who have been among the most productive scientists at UNMC during the past five years.
- Name: Keshore Bidasee, PhD
- Title: Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, UNMC College of Medicine
- Joined UNMC: August 2002
- Hometown: San Juan, Trinidad and Tobago
Describe your research focus in three words or less:
The dark side of glycolysis
Why is research important in the world today?
Research is crucial for making our lives better. Without roadmaps, we are forced to use our intellect to identify new foods to nourish our bodies, to discover new medicines to improve our health and to develop new or better understand old practices and traditions to gain spiritual enlightenment. Research ensures that those who come after us are in a better place in the continuum of life.
My research will make a difference because:
We think outside the “box.” Heart failure, kidney disease and dementia are major causes of morbidity and mortality in people with diabetes mellitus and HIV-1 infection. Each of these end-organ diseases currently are treated separately at enormous cost to the patient and health care system. Using a novel gene-transfer strategy, we recently discovered that these end-organ diseases are linked to a common mechanism: damage to their microvasculature arising from accumulation of toxic levels of the glycolysis byproduct methylglyoxal. Currently, we are synthesizing and testing novel cell penetrant drugs to lower methylglyoxal and blunted end organ deficits in preclinical models. A single pill would be better than multiple pills.
The best advice I’ve ever received is:
Keep calm and carry on, as the journey of life is not what you plan but what is written for you.
Three things you may not know about me are:
- I love vacationing in state and national parks.
- I love cooking all kinds of delicious foods.
- My friends from middle and high school and I have a WhatsApp chat group, and we talk daily.
Congratulations Dr. Bidasee for all you do in research and education in the Department and beyond.
Congratulations on your achievement, Dr. Bidasee! Well done and well deserved!
Congratulations, Dr. Bidasee!
Congratulations, Keshore!
Congratulations on your achievement, Dr. Keshore! Enjoy your journal club and teaching!