Dr.Bhavana
Sivakumar,PhD
Biomedical scientist investigating hemorrhagic myocardial infarction, mitochondrial bioenergetics, and air pollution–induced cardiotoxicity in advanced animal models.
Background
A translational researcher bridging molecular pharmacology, mitochondrial biology, and cardiac pathology.
Dr. Bhavana Sivakumar investigates how environmental insults and disease states drive cardiac injury at the mitochondrial level — and how pharmacological, epigenetic, and immunological interventions can reverse it.
She is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Indiana University Indianapolis, studying hemorrhagic myocardial infarction in large animal models. Previously at the University of Cincinnati, she examined neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation in diabetic cardiomyopathy. Her doctoral work at SASTRA University under Dr. Gino A. Kurian earned the Best PhD Thesis Award (Sciences) in 2024. Across roles, she has built whole-body PM2.5 exposure chambers, developed rat models of MI, diabetes, CKD, and uremic cardiomyopathy, and authored 27+ peer-reviewed papers.
Her scientific portfolio spans cardiovascular toxicology, mitochondrial bioenergetics, epigenetics, and cell-based pharmacology, with appearances in Frontiers in Pharmacology, Phytomedicine, Environmental Pollution, Cardiovascular Toxicology, Cells, and Chemico-Biological Interactions.
Focus areas
Six interconnected threads — from the mitochondrion to the whole heart — chasing cardioprotection.
Career journey
Research output
27+ peer-reviewed papers, 312 citations, h-index 11, i10-index 12 — across cardiovascular pharmacology, mitochondrial biology, and environmental cardiotoxicology.
Methylation of the Plant Flavonoid Fisetin to Geraldol Enhances Cardioprotective Efficacy via PI3K/Akt-Dependent Mitochondrial Preservation
Pre-Conditioning and Post-Conditioning of Ischemia Reperfused Rat Hearts
PM2.5 Induced Vascular and Myocardial Calcification Impairs Ischemia-reperfusion Tolerance via Mitochondrial Dysregulation
Sodium thiosulfate mitigates PM2.5-induced cardiotoxicity by preservation of mitochondrial function
Mitigating PM2.5 Induced Myocardial Metal Deposition Through Sodium Thiosulfate
Comparative evaluation of single and multiple exposure to PM2.5 in respirable air on cardiac physiology, structure and function in a Wistar rat model
Temporal dynamics of PM2.5 induced cell death: Emphasizing inflammation as key mediator in the late stages of prolonged myocardial toxicity
Mitochondrial Toxicity of PM2.5 Leads to Cardiac Failure: A Comparative Evaluation of PM2.5 from Ambient Air, Diesel Exhaust and SRM 2975
Mitochondrial proteases in cancer development and progression
The Worsening of Myocardial Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury in Uremic Cardiomyopathy is Further Aggravated by PM2.5 Exposure
Investigating the temporal link between PM2.5 exposure and acceleration of myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury
PM2.5 toxicity in blood impairs cardiac redox balance and promotes mitochondrial dysfunction in rat heart
Increased Susceptibility of Cardiac Tissue to PM2.5-Induced Toxicity in Uremic Cardiomyopathic Rats
DNA hypomethylation by fisetin preserves mitochondria functional genes and contributes to the protection of I/R rat heart
PM2.5 Exposure-Linked Mitochondrial Dysfunction Negates SB216763-Mediated Cardio-Protection against Myocardial Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury
Exposure to real ambient particulate matter inflicts cardiac electrophysiological disturbances, vascular calcification, and mitochondrial bioenergetics decline
PM2.5-Induced Cardiac Structural Modifications and Declined Pro-Survival Signalling Pathways
PM2.5 from diesel exhaust attenuated fisetin mediated cytoprotection in H9c2 cardiomyocytes
Long-term administration of fisetin was not as effective as short term in ameliorating IR injury in isolated rat heart
Consequential Impact of Particulate Matter Linked Inter-Fibrillar Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Fisetin Preserves Interfibrillar Mitochondria to Protect Against Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
PM2.5 Exposure Lowers Mitochondrial Endurance During Cardiac Recovery in a Rat Model of Myocardial Infarction
Inhalation of PM2.5 from diesel exhaust promotes impairment of mitochondrial bioenergetics
Diesel particulate matter exposure deteriorates cardiovascular health
Mitochondria and traffic-related air pollution linked coronary artery calcification
Fisetin Attenuates Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Activating the RISK Signaling Pathway
Awards
Workshops
Peer reviewer
Let's collaborate.
Open to research collaborations, speaking invitations, and mentorship in cardiovascular pharmacology, mitochondrial biology, and environmental cardiotoxicology.