Dr. Lakshmi Rao Thota obtained his PhD in Immunology from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (India), where he studied the immune modulation and atherosclerosis in mice models by oral administration of multi-antigenic protein molecule.

He joined Dr. Andreia’s lab in 2021 at the University of Arizona for his postdoctoral work where he studied the role of Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans (HSPG’s) in endothelial cell dysfunction in acute lung injury (ALI) and Myocardial Infraction (MI). He recently joined Dr. Simon Hogan’s lab as a Research Fellow where he is focusing on identifying molecular mechanisms underlying endothelial barrier dysfunction during anaphylactic food allergy.

Outside of the lab he enjoys farming and landscaping, spending time with his little baby girl, cooking and playing cricket.