Welcome to Bhandare lab

Dr Amol Bhandare

Assistant Professor

ERUK Emerging Leader Fellow

My research focuses on communication between neurons and non-neuronal brain cells called glia in healthy brain and how it is altered in different neurological disorders. We are specifically interested in the role of microglia and astrocytes in epilepsy and how these cells either help to protect neurons in epilepsy or deteriorate neuronal function that might lead to drug-resistant seizures and other comorbidities in epilepsy such as memory dysfunction and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). We use range of laboratory techniques such as in vivo neuroglial imaging using miniscope cameras, behavioural testing, in vitro slice recording, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and transcriptomics.

I completed my undergraduate in pharmacy and master’s in pharmacology from India, followed with the first position at University of Virginia (USA). Then I joined Macquarie University, Australia for my PhD and demonstrated dual (beneficial and detrimental) role of microglia in epilepsy. At Warwick, as a postdoc, I was the first across the world to establish an in vivo endoscopic brainstem imaging technique and image brainstem neuroglial activity in freely behaving mice. From August 2023, I am appointed as an Assistant Professor and received “Epilepsy Research Institute (ERI) Emerging Leader Fellowship” award.

• Early Career Lead on Epilepsy Research Institute’s Mortality, Morbidity and Risk Theme
• Warwick Neuroscience Cluster Lead
• ILAE British Branch Young Epilepsy Section Board member
• British Neuroscience Association (BNA) Local Group Representative for Warwick
• STEM ambassador
• Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in the UK and Institute of Advanced Study (IAS) at Warwick.