Sanjay S Kumar Ph.D.
Professor
Biosketch
Dr. Kumar's research focuses on the cellular mechanisms of neocortical function and plasticity. He also studies pathophysiological mechanisms underlying Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, the most common type of epilepsy in adults.
Dr. Kumar's initial training is in Electrical Engineering. After finishing college in India, he came to the U.S. to pursue his M.S. in Electrical Engineering, specializing in robotics & artificial neural networks, followed by a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Pennsylvania. He then moved to Stanford University on a postdoctoral research fellowship. Dr. Kumar joined the faculty of the Department of Biomedical Sciences at FSU in Fall 2007. [Neurotree]
Member, Program in Neuroscience, FSU
Video Link: Kumar Lab – Who We Are; What We Do
Education
Research Associate, Dept. of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University (2002-2006)
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dept. of Neurology & Neurological Sciences, Stanford University (1997-2002)
Ph.D. in Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1997)
M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1989)
B.Eng. in Electrical Engineering, Andhra University, India (1986)
Service
University:
Animal Care and Use Committee (2013–2015)
Department:
By-Laws & Policy Committee (2007–2009; 2012–2013; Chair, 2015-present); Space Committee (2013–present); Library Committee (2012–present);
Promotion & Tenure Committee (2011–2012); Faculty Recruitment Committee (2009–2011);
Graduate Program Committee (2008–2009); Graduate Program Admissions Committee (2007–2008)
Program in Neuroscience:
Executive Committee (2020–2022); Graduate Recruitment Committee (2016–2018; 2008–2009); Neuroscience Program Publicity Committee (2008–2009)
The Profession:
Frequent (2004–2005) / Ad hoc Reviewer for the Journal of Neuroscience (1999–Present)
Invited Reviewer (2006-Present) for: Cerebral Cortex ♦ Synapse ♦ BMC Neuroscience ♦ Epilepsia ♦ Neurobiology of Disease ♦ Journal of Neurophysiology ♦ Neuroscience ♦ PLOS ONE ♦ Neuroscience Letters ♦ EBioMedicine
♦ Member of the Editorial Board, Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience (Review Editor; 2016-Present)
Peer Review:
National Institutes of Health CNNT Study Section (02/2019)
National Institutes of Health ZRG1 F01A-F20 (06/2017-Present)
National Institutes of Health NTRC Study Section (06/2016)
Honors/Awards
Awards:
Fifteen Year Service Award, College of Medicine, Florida State University (2022)
Innovator Award, Florida State University (2012, 2015)
Outstanding Junior Faculty Educator, Florida State University, College of Medicine (2012)
Outstanding Junior Faculty Researcher, Florida State University, College of Medicine (2011)
Consistent honoree of the Offices of Research & Commercialization for contributions to Intellectual Property development, FSU (since 2011)
First-Year Assistant Professor (FYAP) Award, Council on Research & Creativity (CRC), Florida State University (2008)
A Pathways of Excellence Faculty Scholar, Florida State University (2007)
The American Epilepsy Society Research Fellowship Award, AES and The Milken Family Foundation (awarded twice, 1998 & 1999)
The Elliot Stellar Award for Neuroscience Research, Society for Neuroscience (Philadelphia Chapter) (1996)
Tau Beta Pi, National Engineering Honor Society USA (1989); Eta Kappa Nu, Electrical Engineering, Drexel University (1989)
The DuPont Research Fellowship in Electrical Engineering, The Moore School of Electrical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania (1989)
Patents & Disclosures:
US Patent 8,722,403 Specimen Preservation Chamber and Method, Kumar, S.S. (5/14)
US Patent 9,040,581 B1 Methods of Treatment using D-serine, Kumar, S.S. (05/17)
US Patent 9,925,159 D-Serine treatment for neurological disorders that cause seizures, Kumar, S.S. (03/18)
US Patent 10,307,387 D-Serine treatment for neurological disorders that cause seizures, Kumar, S.S. (05/19)
US Patent 10273442 Device and method for concomitant ejection and suction of perfusate (CESOP), Kumar, S.S. (04/19)
Memberships
Member, Society for Neuroscience, since 1997
Member, American Epilepsy Society, since 1998
Member, American Physiological Society, since 2014
Courses
Inaugural Course Director: Systemic Physiology and Pathophysiology-I (PAS5028)
Bioregulation (BMS5525)
Research techniques (BMS5186C)
Advanced topics in Biomedical Sciences (BMS5935)
Medical Biochemistry & Genetics (BMS6204)
Systemic Physiology (BMS6520)
Clinical Neuroscience (BMS6706C)
Research Focus
Basic Research:
♦ Synaptic physiology underlying neocortical function & plasticity
♦ Glutamatergic AMPA and N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptors
Translational Research:
♦ Pathophysiological mechanisms underlying Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
♦ Isolation of ictogenic cells & circuits within the parahippocampal region
Expertise:
♦ Electrophysiology
♦ Receptor biophysics
Funding:
♦ National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
♦ Epilepsy Foundation
♦ Council on Research and Creativity (CRC), Florida State University
The Engines of Discovery: click on this to learn more about my team!
Click HERE to know more about our Laboratory & Research Program
Publications
Recent Peer-reviewed Journal Articles From the Laboratory:
(Click HERE for a more comprehensive listing of publications or to navigate to ORCID)
{KEY: • Basic Research ° Translational Research}
• Beesley S, Kumar SS (2023) The t-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor: Making the case for d-Serine to be considered its inverse co-agonist. Neuropharmacology. Jul 10:109654. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109654. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37437688. [Link] new!
• Beesley S, Gunjan A, Kumar SS (2023) Visualizing the triheteromeric N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit composition. Front. Synaptic Neurosci. 15:1156777. [Link] new!
° Beesley S, Sullenberger T, Lee C, Kumar SS (2022) GluN3 subunit expression correlates with increased vulnerability of hippocampus and entorhinal cortex to neurodegeneration in a model of temporal lobe epilepsy. J Neurophysiol. 127:6 1496-1510. [Link] new!
• Kumar S and Kumar SS (2021) A model for predicting cation selectivity and permeability in AMPA and NMDA receptors based on receptor subunit composition. Front. Synaptic Neurosci. 13:779759. [Link] new!
° Beesley S, Sullenberger T, Ailani R, D'Orio C, Crockett MS, Kumar SS (2021) D-serine intervention in the medial entorhinal area alters TLE-related pathology in CA1 hippocampus via the temporoammonic pathway. Neuroscience 453:168-186. [Link] new!
° Beesley S, Sullenberger T, Crotty K, Ailani R, D'Orio C, Evans K, Ogunkunle EO, Roper MG, Kumar SS (2020) D-serine mitigates cell loss associated with temporal lobe epilepsy. Nature Commun. 11:4966. [Link]
• Beesley S, Sullenberger T, Kumar SS (2020) The GluN3 subunit regulates ion selectivity within native N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors. IBRO Reports 9: 147-156. [Link]
° Sullenberger T, Don H, Kumar SS (2019) Functional Connectivity of the Parasubiculum and its Role in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. Neuroscience 410: 217-238. [Link]
• Beesley S, Sullenberger T, Pilli J, Abbasi A, Gunjan A, Kumar SS (2019) Colocalization of distinct NMDA receptor subtypes at excitatory synapses in the entorhinal cortex. J Neurophysiol. 121: 238-254. [Link]
° Abbasi S, Kumar SS (2015) Layer-specific modulation of entorhinal cortical excitability by presubiculum in a rat model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. J. Neurophysiol. 114:2854-2866. [Link]
° Abbasi S, Kumar SS (2014) Regular-spiking cells in the presubiculum are hyperexcitable in a rat model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. J. Neurophysiol. 112:2888-2900. [Link]
• Pilli J, Kumar SS (2014) Potentiation of convergent synaptic inputs onto pyramidal neurons in somatosensory cortex: Dependence on brain wave frequencies and NMDA receptor subunit composition. Neuroscience 272:271-285. [Link]
Book Chapters:
• Kumar SS (2016) Functional detection of novel triheteromeric NMDA receptors. In: Neuromethods: Ionotropic Glutamate Receptor Technologies (Wolfgang Walz series ed., Gabriela K Popescu, ed.), Springer (ISBN: 978-1-4939-2811-8).
• Budde T, Pape H-C, Kumar SS, Huguenard JR (2004) Thalamic, thalamo-cortical and cortico-cortical models of epilepsy with an emphasis on absence seizures. In: Models of seizures and epilepsy (Pitkanen A, Moshe S, Schwartzkroin PA eds), Elsevier (ISBN: 0-12-088554-9 August 2005).
Dr. Kumar's research focuses on the cellular mechanisms of neocortical function and plasticity. He also studies pathophysiological mechanisms underlying Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, the most common type of epilepsy in adults.
Dr. Kumar's initial training is in Electrical Engineering. After finishing college in India, he came to the U.S. to pursue his M.S. in Electrical Engineering, specializing in robotics & artificial neural networks, followed by a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Pennsylvania. He then moved to Stanford University on a postdoctoral research fellowship. Dr. Kumar joined the faculty of the Department of Biomedical Sciences at FSU in Fall 2007. [Neurotree]
Member, Program in Neuroscience, FSU
Video Link: Kumar Lab – Who We Are; What We Do
Research Associate, Dept. of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University (2002-2006)
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dept. of Neurology & Neurological Sciences, Stanford University (1997-2002)
Ph.D. in Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1997)
M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1989)
B.Eng. in Electrical Engineering, Andhra University, India (1986)
University:
Animal Care and Use Committee (2013–2015)
Department:
By-Laws & Policy Committee (2007–2009; 2012–2013; Chair, 2015-present); Space Committee (2013–present); Library Committee (2012–present);
Promotion & Tenure Committee (2011–2012); Faculty Recruitment Committee (2009–2011);
Graduate Program Committee (2008–2009); Graduate Program Admissions Committee (2007–2008)
Program in Neuroscience:
Executive Committee (2020–2022); Graduate Recruitment Committee (2016–2018; 2008–2009); Neuroscience Program Publicity Committee (2008–2009)
The Profession:
Frequent (2004–2005) / Ad hoc Reviewer for the Journal of Neuroscience (1999–Present)
Invited Reviewer (2006-Present) for: Cerebral Cortex ♦ Synapse ♦ BMC Neuroscience ♦ Epilepsia ♦ Neurobiology of Disease ♦ Journal of Neurophysiology ♦ Neuroscience ♦ PLOS ONE ♦ Neuroscience Letters ♦ EBioMedicine
♦ Member of the Editorial Board, Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience (Review Editor; 2016-Present)
Peer Review:
National Institutes of Health CNNT Study Section (02/2019)
National Institutes of Health ZRG1 F01A-F20 (06/2017-Present)
National Institutes of Health NTRC Study Section (06/2016)
Awards:
Fifteen Year Service Award, College of Medicine, Florida State University (2022)
Innovator Award, Florida State University (2012, 2015)
Outstanding Junior Faculty Educator, Florida State University, College of Medicine (2012)
Outstanding Junior Faculty Researcher, Florida State University, College of Medicine (2011)
Consistent honoree of the Offices of Research & Commercialization for contributions to Intellectual Property development, FSU (since 2011)
First-Year Assistant Professor (FYAP) Award, Council on Research & Creativity (CRC), Florida State University (2008)
A Pathways of Excellence Faculty Scholar, Florida State University (2007)
The American Epilepsy Society Research Fellowship Award, AES and The Milken Family Foundation (awarded twice, 1998 & 1999)
The Elliot Stellar Award for Neuroscience Research, Society for Neuroscience (Philadelphia Chapter) (1996)
Tau Beta Pi, National Engineering Honor Society USA (1989); Eta Kappa Nu, Electrical Engineering, Drexel University (1989)
The DuPont Research Fellowship in Electrical Engineering, The Moore School of Electrical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania (1989)
Patents & Disclosures:
US Patent 8,722,403 Specimen Preservation Chamber and Method, Kumar, S.S. (5/14)
US Patent 9,040,581 B1 Methods of Treatment using D-serine, Kumar, S.S. (05/17)
US Patent 9,925,159 D-Serine treatment for neurological disorders that cause seizures, Kumar, S.S. (03/18)
US Patent 10,307,387 D-Serine treatment for neurological disorders that cause seizures, Kumar, S.S. (05/19)
US Patent 10273442 Device and method for concomitant ejection and suction of perfusate (CESOP), Kumar, S.S. (04/19)
Member, Society for Neuroscience, since 1997
Member, American Epilepsy Society, since 1998
Member, American Physiological Society, since 2014
Inaugural Course Director: Systemic Physiology and Pathophysiology-I (PAS5028)
Bioregulation (BMS5525)
Research techniques (BMS5186C)
Advanced topics in Biomedical Sciences (BMS5935)
Medical Biochemistry & Genetics (BMS6204)
Systemic Physiology (BMS6520)
Clinical Neuroscience (BMS6706C)
Basic Research:
♦ Synaptic physiology underlying neocortical function & plasticity
♦ Glutamatergic AMPA and N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptors
Translational Research:
♦ Pathophysiological mechanisms underlying Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
♦ Isolation of ictogenic cells & circuits within the parahippocampal region
Expertise:
♦ Electrophysiology
♦ Receptor biophysics
Funding:
♦ National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
♦ Epilepsy Foundation
♦ Council on Research and Creativity (CRC), Florida State University
The Engines of Discovery: click on this to learn more about my team!
Click HERE to know more about our Laboratory & Research Program
Recent Peer-reviewed Journal Articles From the Laboratory:
(Click HERE for a more comprehensive listing of publications or to navigate to ORCID)
{KEY: • Basic Research ° Translational Research}
• Beesley S, Kumar SS (2023) The t-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor: Making the case for d-Serine to be considered its inverse co-agonist. Neuropharmacology. Jul 10:109654. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109654. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37437688. [Link] new!
• Beesley S, Gunjan A, Kumar SS (2023) Visualizing the triheteromeric N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit composition. Front. Synaptic Neurosci. 15:1156777. [Link] new!
° Beesley S, Sullenberger T, Lee C, Kumar SS (2022) GluN3 subunit expression correlates with increased vulnerability of hippocampus and entorhinal cortex to neurodegeneration in a model of temporal lobe epilepsy. J Neurophysiol. 127:6 1496-1510. [Link] new!
• Kumar S and Kumar SS (2021) A model for predicting cation selectivity and permeability in AMPA and NMDA receptors based on receptor subunit composition. Front. Synaptic Neurosci. 13:779759. [Link] new!
° Beesley S, Sullenberger T, Ailani R, D'Orio C, Crockett MS, Kumar SS (2021) D-serine intervention in the medial entorhinal area alters TLE-related pathology in CA1 hippocampus via the temporoammonic pathway. Neuroscience 453:168-186. [Link] new!
° Beesley S, Sullenberger T, Crotty K, Ailani R, D'Orio C, Evans K, Ogunkunle EO, Roper MG, Kumar SS (2020) D-serine mitigates cell loss associated with temporal lobe epilepsy. Nature Commun. 11:4966. [Link]
• Beesley S, Sullenberger T, Kumar SS (2020) The GluN3 subunit regulates ion selectivity within native N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors. IBRO Reports 9: 147-156. [Link]
° Sullenberger T, Don H, Kumar SS (2019) Functional Connectivity of the Parasubiculum and its Role in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. Neuroscience 410: 217-238. [Link]
• Beesley S, Sullenberger T, Pilli J, Abbasi A, Gunjan A, Kumar SS (2019) Colocalization of distinct NMDA receptor subtypes at excitatory synapses in the entorhinal cortex. J Neurophysiol. 121: 238-254. [Link]
° Abbasi S, Kumar SS (2015) Layer-specific modulation of entorhinal cortical excitability by presubiculum in a rat model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. J. Neurophysiol. 114:2854-2866. [Link]
° Abbasi S, Kumar SS (2014) Regular-spiking cells in the presubiculum are hyperexcitable in a rat model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. J. Neurophysiol. 112:2888-2900. [Link]
• Pilli J, Kumar SS (2014) Potentiation of convergent synaptic inputs onto pyramidal neurons in somatosensory cortex: Dependence on brain wave frequencies and NMDA receptor subunit composition. Neuroscience 272:271-285. [Link]
Book Chapters:
• Kumar SS (2016) Functional detection of novel triheteromeric NMDA receptors. In: Neuromethods: Ionotropic Glutamate Receptor Technologies (Wolfgang Walz series ed., Gabriela K Popescu, ed.), Springer (ISBN: 978-1-4939-2811-8).
• Budde T, Pape H-C, Kumar SS, Huguenard JR (2004) Thalamic, thalamo-cortical and cortico-cortical models of epilepsy with an emphasis on absence seizures. In: Models of seizures and epilepsy (Pitkanen A, Moshe S, Schwartzkroin PA eds), Elsevier (ISBN: 0-12-088554-9 August 2005).