Kathiresh K. Mani, PhD

Research Interests

• My research program focuses on understanding how ischemic stroke and aging disrupt gut–brain communication, leading to systemic inflammation, and long-term cognition deficits. I investigate the role of intestinal epithelial barrier injury and intestinal stem cell dysfunction as critical peripheral contributors to secondary brain injury and impaired recovery following stroke.
• A central theme of my work is defining how stroke induced alterations in gut permeability, epithelial regeneration, and intestinal stem cell signaling pathways amplify peripheral inflammatory responses, thereby compromising blood brain barrier integrity and impairing functional and cognitive recovery following ischemic stroke. To mechanistically dissect these processes, I utilize intestinal organoid models to model stroke-associated gut epithelial injury, impaired regeneration, and barrier repair in a controlled and translationally relevant system.
• In parallel, my research develops regenerative and cell free therapeutic strategies, including intestinal epithelial stem cell transplantation and stem cell derived secretome, to restore gut barrier integrity, suppress systemic and neuroinflammation, and enhance behavioral recovery after ischemic stroke. Using clinically relevant rodent models, my work integrates molecular, cellular, vascular, and behavioral approaches with the goal of identifying novel peripheral therapeutic targets that improve long-term outcomes in stroke survivors.

Awards, Recognition and Service

• American Heart Association (AHA)-Career Development Award 2025-2028
• American Heart Association (AHA)- Postdoctoral award 2021-2023