For more than a decade, Chetan Aware, PhD, has pursued excellence in medical research. The journey began in Aware’s home country of India, where he earned both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, concluded by a Doctor of Philosophy in 2022 from Shivaji University. His path then took him to mid-Missouri after being named a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Missouri.
In affiliation with the Mizzou School of Medicine Department of Radiology and NextGen Precision Health, and under the mentorship of Ai-Ling Lin, PhD, professor of Radiology, Aware’s current research project, “Stroke-induced gut microbiome dysbiosis accelerates Alzheimer’s disease progression,” continues to garner recognition.
Support and funding for the research kickstarted after Aware was selected for a coveted two-year American Heart Association (AHA) Postdoctoral Fellowship. Over that span, he will carry out the proposed research and training filed to the AHA, submit progress reports, and follow the research and ethical guidelines of both the AHA and Mizzou.
“Earning this AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship will support my continued research and training at the Mizzou School of Medicine and NextGen Precision Health under Dr. Lin’s mentorship,” said Aware. “This will give me the opportunity to further develop this project, strengthen my research skills, and work toward becoming an independent investigator studying stroke and Alzheimer's disease.”
Aware’s current research investigates the human body’s gastrointestinal tract which consists of trillions of tiny microbes, mostly helpful bacteria, that help complete critical tasks throughout the body. This includes helping digest food, to sending chemical signals to the brain.
When someone suffers a stroke, this healthy bacterial community is severely disrupted. Aware’s research team examined if that imbalance could then lead to stroke survivors facing an elevated risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
In August, Aware’s project was designated an “Editor’s Choice Hot Topic” by the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism, a monthly peer-reviewed medical publication that spotlights basic and clinical neurovascular research.
“This was a recognition of our team’s hard work and the importance of understanding the connection between stroke, gut health and Alzheimer’s disease,” said Aware. “Beyond increasing visibility, this can help highlight our findings and bring them to researchers in different fields, opening opportunities for further collaboration and studies.”
For Aware and other active fellows across the Mizzou School of Medicine, the ability to receive direct mentorship from faculty members is vital to enhancing their skillset. Behind Dr. Lin’s expertise in brain aging and guidance throughout the research process, Aware has experienced exceptional growth in his scientific and professional development.
“I’ve particularly appreciated that Dr. Lin has encouraged me to take ownership of my ideas while providing thoughtful guidance at each stage,” said Aware. “Working with her has strengthened my confidence as a scientist and helped me keep the broader purpose of our research in mind: understanding how our findings could eventually improve people’s health and quality of life.”
Highlighting the promise of personalized health care and the impact of large-scale interdisciplinary collaboration, the NextGen Precision Health initiative is bringing together innovators from across the University of Missouri and the UM System’s three other research universities in pursuit of life-changing precision health advancements. It’s a collaborative effort to leverage the research strengths of Mizzou toward a better future for the health of Missourians and beyond. The Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building at MU anchors the overall initiative and expands collaboration between researchers, clinicians and industry partners in the state-of-the-art research facility.
