Basavaraju G. Sanganahalli, PhD
Assistant Professor of Radiology and Biomedical ImagingCards
About
Titles
Assistant Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging
Director, Small Animal MRI Core, Magnetic Resonance Research Center
Biography
I am a translational neuroscientist whose research integrates neurophysiology with advanced multimodal MRI to understand the biophysics of brain function and dysfunction. My expertise in combining fMRI, MRS, and DTI with electrophysiology and behavioral paradigms provides a unique framework to bridge neuronal activity, metabolism, and vascular responses across spatial and temporal scales. This integrative approach allows me to probe fundamental mechanisms of brain network organization and their disruption in disease.
My work focuses on uncovering the mechanistic basis of brain dysfunction and translating these findings into clinically relevant biomarkers. I apply this framework to study a broad spectrum of conditions, including healthy aging, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, early life stress, schizophrenia, stroke, mild traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury. Through these studies, I aim to identify quantifiable, non-invasive biomarkers that enable early diagnosis, track disease progression, and assess therapeutic efficacy.
As Director of the Small Animal MRI Core, I lead the development of cutting-edge imaging methodologies and collaborative translational neuroscience programs. My long-term goal is to bridge basic and clinical research by advancing the next generation of imaging biomarkers that precisely capture neural circuit dynamics underlying brain health and disease.
Appointments
Radiology & Biomedical Imaging
Assistant ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- PhD
- National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Neuroscience (2004)
- MPhil
- National Institute of Mental health and Neurosciences, Biophysics (1997)
- MS
- Bangalore University, Physics (1995)
Research
Publications
2026
Functional and Structural Connectivity in a Non-Transgenic Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
Herman P, Parent M, Wang H, Coman D, Gangasandra V, Verhagen J, Rothman D, Hyder F, Sanganahalli B. Functional and Structural Connectivity in a Non-Transgenic Model of Alzheimer’s Disease. Journal Of Dementia And Alzheimer's Disease 2026, 3: 32. DOI: 10.3390/jdad3030032.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThe microglial TREM2 receptor programs hippocampal development in a mouse model of childhood deprivation
Ahmed S, Bowers C, Munoz-Martin J, Jamwal S, Sanganahalli B, Chen K, Giuliano L, Kaswan Z, Hyder F, Yang X, Kaffman A. The microglial TREM2 receptor programs hippocampal development in a mouse model of childhood deprivation. Brain Behavior And Immunity 2026, 136: 106555. PMID: 41887542, PMCID: PMC13049556, DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2026.106555.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThis study investigates how early-life deprivation disrupts brain development by impairing microglial synaptic pruning via reduced TREM2, and shows that TREM2 restoration or enrichment rescues cognitive and connectivity deficits.Behavioral deficits and exacerbated neural and hemodynamic odor responses during lifespan of a mouse model of late onset Alzheimer’s disease expressing humanized APOEε4 and Trem2*R47H
Izydorczak M, Oumov M, Udhwani M, Fostok F, Coronas-Samano G, Sanganahalli B, Herman P, Hyder F, Verhagen J. Behavioral deficits and exacerbated neural and hemodynamic odor responses during lifespan of a mouse model of late onset Alzheimer’s disease expressing humanized APOEε4 and Trem2*R47H. Frontiers In Aging Neuroscience 2026, 18: 1622135. PMID: 41777674, PMCID: PMC12950773, DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2026.1622135.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThis study investigates age-related behavioral and brain activity changes in a mouse model of late-onset Alzheimer's disease, showing anxiety, memory deficits, and vascular hyperresponsiveness linked to genetic risk factors APOEε4 and Trem2*R47H.
2025
Multicenter Stroke Preclinical Assessment Network Analysis of Cardiovascular Risk Factor Subgroups Treated With the Poly(ADP‐Ribose) Polymerase Inhibitor Veliparib
Koehler R, Bedirian K, Chen M, Shi Y, Cao S, Avery B, Karuppagounder S, Akhter K, Bibic A, Dawson V, Dawson T, Diniz M, Lamb J, Nagarkatti K, Chauhan A, Aronowski J, McCullough L, de Morais A, Jin X, Ayata C, Kumskova M, Patel R, Chauhan A, Leira E, Kamat P, Khan M, Dhandapani K, Hess D, Boisserand L, Sanganahalli B, Sansing L, Lyden P, Lyden P, Lamb J, Nagarkatti K, Bedirian K, Chen M, Diniz M, Hess D, Kamat P, Khan M, Dhandapani K, Arbab A, Siddiqui S, Smith C, Nisar M, Leira E, Chauhan A, Dhanesha N, Patel R, Kumskova M, Thedens D, Wang K, Ayata C, de Morais A, Imai T, Qin T, Jin X, Erdogan T, Yu L, Mandeville J, Kimberly W, Whittier J, Lo E, Arai K, Van Leyen K, Sansing L, Hyder F, Mihailovic J, Sanganahalli B, Diaz‐Perez S, Velazquez S, Beatty H, Johnson C, Herman A, Immakavar E, Koehler R, Dawson T, Dawson V, Shi Y, Cao S, Avery B, Lannon S, Bibic A, Akhter K, Karuppagounder S, Aronowski J, McCullough L, Obertas L, Goh A, Huang S. Multicenter Stroke Preclinical Assessment Network Analysis of Cardiovascular Risk Factor Subgroups Treated With the Poly(ADP‐Ribose) Polymerase Inhibitor Veliparib. Journal Of The American Heart Association 2025, 14: e040914. PMID: 40996065, PMCID: PMC12684482, DOI: 10.1161/jaha.124.040914.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchFingolimod as a Potential Cerebroprotectant Results From the Stroke Preclinical Assessment Network
Herman A, Sanganahalli B, Mihailovic J, Johnson C, Diaz S, Velazquez S, Grutzendler J, Dela Cruz C, Zhou J, Sheth K, Matouk C, Zhan S, Morais A, Imai T, Chauhan A, Patel R, Kumskova M, Shi Y, Avery B, Lamb J, Nagarkatti K, Khan M, Kamat P, Dhandapani K, McCullough L, Aronowski J, Hess D, Koehler R, Lyden P, Leira E, Chauhan A, Ayata C, Chen M, Diniz M, Hyder F, Sansing L, Investigators O. Fingolimod as a Potential Cerebroprotectant Results From the Stroke Preclinical Assessment Network. Stroke 2025, 56: 3280-3293. PMID: 40899256, DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.125.050903.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMapping of neurovascular and neurometabolic couplings by multimodal optical imaging
Herman P, Sanggaard S, Akif A, Mishra S, Sanganahalli B, Verhagen J, Blumenfeld H, Hyder F. Mapping of neurovascular and neurometabolic couplings by multimodal optical imaging. Cerebral Cortex 2025, 35: bhaf165. PMID: 40624899, PMCID: PMC13070531, DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaf165.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMulticenter SPAN Trial of Fasudil in Ischemic Stroke
Imai T, de Morais A, Jin X, Qin T, Lamb J, Nagarkatti K, Chen M, Boisserand L, Patel R, Kumskova M, Chauhan A, Dhandapani K, Khan M, Kamat P, Shi Y, Cao S, Sanganahalli B, Mandeville J, Lyden P, Hess D, Leira E, Chauhan A, Aronowski J, McCullough L, Koehler R, Sansing L, Diniz M, Ayata C, Investigators O. Multicenter SPAN Trial of Fasudil in Ischemic Stroke. Stroke 2025, 56: 2306-2317. PMID: 40421536, PMCID: PMC12407252, DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.125.050977.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchUric Acid Stroke Cerebroprotection Transcended Sex, Age, and Comorbidities in a Multicenter Preclinical Trial
Patel R, Kumskova M, Kodali H, Budnik I, Kuznetsov V, Jain A, Jha A, Thedens D, Dhanesha N, Sutariya B, Nagarkatti K, Lamb J, Kamat P, Shi Y, Avery B, Imai T, Jin X, Chauhan A, Khan M, Dhandapani K, Sanganahalli B, Sansing L, Hess D, Koehler R, McCullough L, Aronowski J, Ayata C, Diniz M, Lyden P, Planas A, Chamorro A, Chauhan A, Leira E, Investigators O. Uric Acid Stroke Cerebroprotection Transcended Sex, Age, and Comorbidities in a Multicenter Preclinical Trial. Stroke 2025, 56: 965-973. PMID: 40091742, PMCID: PMC11932773, DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.124.048748.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2024
Transient impairment in microglial function causes sex-specific deficits in synaptic maturity and hippocampal function in mice exposed to early adversity
Ahmed S, Jamwal S, Sanganahalli B, Kaswan Z, Islam R, Kim D, Bowers C, Giuliano L, Biederer T, Hyder F, Kaffman A. Transient impairment in microglial function causes sex-specific deficits in synaptic maturity and hippocampal function in mice exposed to early adversity. Brain Behavior And Immunity 2024, 122: 95-109. PMID: 39134183, PMCID: PMC11402597, DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.08.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchmTOR inhibition enhances synaptic and mitochondrial function in Alzheimer’s disease in an APOE genotype-dependent manner
Sanganahalli B, Mihailovic J, Vekaria H, Coman D, Yackzan A, Flemister A, Aware C, Wenger K, Hubbard W, Sullivan P, Hyder F, Lin A. mTOR inhibition enhances synaptic and mitochondrial function in Alzheimer’s disease in an APOE genotype-dependent manner. Journal Of Cerebral Blood Flow And Metabolism : Official Journal Of The International Society Of Cerebral Blood Flow And Metabolism 2024, 44: 1745-1758. PMID: 38879800, PMCID: PMC11494852, DOI: 10.1177/0271678x241261942.Peer-Reviewed Original Research