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Research Health Science Administrator, IHPT

Ashima Saxena, Ph.D

Biography:

Dr. Ashima Saxena, Ph.D., currently serves as the Research Health Science Administrator for the Department of International HIV Prevention and Treatment (IHPT). In this role, Dr. Saxena supports MHRP and host countries PEPFAR program implementation including the development and monitoring of PEPFAR-related government contracts and awards, the establishment of international arrangements and MOUs, the management of PEPFAR funds, and the development and submission of reports.

Dr. Saxena has worked for the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research for over 30 years. She was previously Chief of IHPT, Chief of the Department of Structural & Molecular Biology, Chief of the Department of Molecular Pharmacology, a Research Chemist, and a Visiting Scientist.

Dr. Saxena has been an author on 95 publications, 125 oral/poster presentations, 72 conference proceedings, 33 invited presentations, has written 3 book chapters, and is listed on 7 patents. She has received numerous awards including two Army Research and Development awards, two Army Commanders awards for Civilian Service, and an Army Superior Award for Civilian Service.  She is a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit.

Dr. Saxena received her M.S. and Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Georgetown university. She also obtained a M.S. in Chemistry from the Indian Institute of Technology.

Publications:

Naik, R. S., Belinskaya, T., Vinayaka, CR., and Saxena, A. (2020). Monoclonal antibodies to fetal bovine serum acetylcholinesterase distinguish between acetylcholinesterases from ruminant and non-ruminant species. Chem.-Biol Interact. 330, 109225.

DiTargiani, R.C., Belinskaya, T., Tipparaju, P., Lockridge, O. and Saxena, A. (2020). Proline 285 is integral for the reactivation of organophosphate-inhibited human butyrylcholinesterase. Chem-Biol Interact. 324, 109092.

Rosenberg, Y. and Saxena, A. (2020). Acetylcholinesterase inhibition resulting from exposure to inhaled OP can be prevented by pretreatment with BChE in both macaques and minipigs. Neuropharmacology 174, 108150.

Saxena, A., Belinskaya, T., Schopfer, L. M., and Lockridge, O. (2018). Characterization of butyrylcholinesterase from porcine milk. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 652: 38-49.

Saxena, A., Belinskaya, T., Schopfer, L. M., and Lockridge, O. (2018). Tetramer organizing polyproline-rich peptides identified by mass spectrometry after release of the peptides from Hupresin-purified butyrylcholinesterase tetramers isolated from milk of domestic pig (Sus scrofa). Data in Brief 20:1607–1619.

Saxena, A., Hastings, N. B., Sun, W., Dabisch, P. A., Hulet, S. W., Jakubowski, E. M., Mioduszewski, R. J., and Doctor, B. P. (2015). Prophylaxis with human serum butyrylcholinesterase protects Göttingen minipigs exposed to a lethal high-dose of sarin vapor. Chem Biol Interact. 238:161-169.

Chambers, C., Luo, C., Tong, M., Yang, Y., and Saxena, A. (2015). Probing the role of amino acids in oxime-mediated reactivation of nerve agent-inhibited human acetylcholinesterase. Toxicol In Vitro. 29:408-414.

Butini, S., Brindisi, M., Brogi, S., Maramai, S., Guarino, E., Panico, A., Saxena, A., Chauhan, V., Colombo, R., Verga, L., De Lorenzi, E., Bartolini, M., Andrisano, V., Novellino, E., Campiani, G., and Gemma, S. (2013). Multifunctional cholinesterase and amyloid Beta fibrillization modulators. Synthesis and biological investigation. ACS Med Chem Lett. 4:1178-1182.

Chandrasekaran, L., Belinskaya, T., and Saxena, A. (2013). In vitro characterization of organophosphorus compound hydrolysis by native and recombinant human prolidase. Toxicol. In Vitro 27(1):499-506.

Myers, T.M., Sun, W., Naik, R.S., Clark, M.G., Doctor, B.P., and Saxena, A. (2012). Characterization of human serum butyrylcholinesterase in rhesus monkeys: Behavioral and physiological effects. Neurotoxicol. Teratol. 34(3):323-330.