Skip to main content
Shami Kanekar

Shami Kanekar, PhD

Languages spoken: English

Academic Information

Departments Primary - Psychiatry

Divisions: Adult Psychiatry

Research Interests

  • Depression

Education History

Fellowship University of Utah, Department of Physiology
Postdoctoral Fellow
Postdoctoral Fellowship La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation
Postdoctoral Fellow
Doctoral Training University of Iowa Neuroscience Program
PhD
Graduate Training University of Bombay
MSc
Undergraduate University of Bombay
BSc

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Prescot A, Huber R, Kanekar S, Kondo D, Prisciandaro J, Ongur D, Renshaw PF (2021). Effect of moderate altitude on human cerebral metabolite levels: A preliminary, multi-site, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy investigation. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging, 314, 111314. (Read full article)
  2. Kanekar S, Ettaro R, Hoffman MD, Ombach HJ, Brown J, Lynch C, Sheth CS, Renshaw PF (2021). Sex-Based Impact of Creatine Supplementation on Depressive Symptoms, Brain Serotonin and SSRI Efficacy in an Animal Model of Treatment-Resistant Depression. Int J Mol Sci, 22(15). (Read full article)
  3. Kanekar S, Sheth C, Ombach H, Brown J, Hoffman M, Ettaro R, Renshaw P (2021). Sex-based changes in rat brain serotonin and behavior in a model of altitude-related vulnerability to treatment-resistant depression. Psychopharmacology (Berl), 238, 2867-2881. (Read full article)
  4. Ombach HJ, Scholl LS, Bakian AV, Renshaw KT, Sung YH, Renshaw PF, S Kanekar (2019). Association Between Altitude, Prescription Opioid Misuse, and Fatal Overdoses. Addict Behav Rep, 9, 1000167.
  5. Kanekar S, Sheth CS, Olson PR, Bogdanova OV, Ombach H, M Petersen, Renshaw CE, Sung YH, DAnci KE, Renshaw, PF (2018). Hypobaric Hypoxia Exposure in Rats Differentially Alters Antidepressant Efficacy of the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Escitalopram and Sertraline. Pharmacol Biochem Behav, 170, 25-35.
  6. Sheth CS, Ombach HJ, Olson PR, Renshaw PF, Kanekar S (2018). Increased Anxiety And Anhedonia In Female Rats Following Exposure To Altitude. High Alt Med Biol, 19(1), 81-90.
  7. Kanekar S, Bogdanova OV, Olson PR, Sung YH, DAnci KE, Renshaw PF (2015). Hypobaric Hypoxia induces Depression-like Behavior in Female Sprague Dawley Rats, but not in Males. High Alt Med Biol, 16(1), 52-60.
  8. Bogdanova OV, Abdullah O, Kanekar S, Bogdanov VB, Prescot AP, Renshaw PF (2014). Neurochemical Alterations in the Frontal Cortex of the rat after one week of hypobaric hypoxia. Behav Brain Res, 263(263), 203-209.
  9. Hartmann JS, Thompson H, Wang H, Kanekar S, Huang W, Budd SJ, Hartnett ME (2011). Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and pigment epithelial-derived factor in a rat model of retinopathy of prematurity. Mol Vis, 17, 1577-87. (Read full article)
  10. Kanekar S, Gandham M, Lucero MT (2010). PACAP protects against TNFalpha-induced cell death in olfactory epithelium and olfactory placodal cell lines. Mol Cell Neurosci, 45(4), 345-54. (Read full article)
  11. Kanekar S, Jia C, Hegg CC (2009). Purinergic receptor activation evokes neurotrophic factor neuropeptide Y release from neonatal mouse olfactory epithelial slices. J Neurosci Res, 87(6), 1424-34. (Read full article)
  12. Sun Y, Kanekar SL, Vetter ML, Gorski S, Jan YN, Glaser T, Brown NL (2003). Conserved and divergent functions of Drosophila atonal, amphibian, and mammalian Ath5 genes. Evol Dev, 5(5), 532-41. (Read full article)
  13. Tucker P, Laemle L, Munson A, Kanekar S, Oliver ER, Brown N, Schlecht H, Vetter M, Glaser T (2001). The eyeless mouse mutation (ey1) removes an alternative start codon from the Rx/rax homeobox gene. Genesis, 31(1), 43-53. (Read full article)
  14. Brown NL, Kanekar S, Vetter ML, Tucker PK, Gemza DL, Glaser T (1998). Math5 encodes a murine basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor expressed during early stages of retinal neurogenesis. Development, 125(23), 4821-33. (Read full article)
  15. Perron M, Kanekar S, Vetter ML, Harris WA (1998). The genetic sequence of retinal development in the ciliary margin of the Xenopus eye. Dev Biol, 199(2), 185-200. (Read full article)
  16. Kanekar S, Perron M, Dorsky R, Harris WA, Jan LY, Jan YN, Vetter ML (1997). Xath5 participates in a network of bHLH genes in the developing Xenopus retina. Neuron, 19(5), 981-94. (Read full article)
  17. Kanekar S, Ritchie TC, Coulter JD (1993). Spinal cord afferent systems containing the nerve terminal protein NT75. J Comp Neurol, 332(2), 198-212. (Read full article)

Review

  1. Kanekar S and Renshaw PF (2019). The Impact of Living at Altitude on Depression and Antidepressant Function in Utah Women: The Need for Novel Antidepressants. [Review].
  2. Gould TD, Georgiou P, Brenner LA, Brundin L, Can A, Courtet P, Donaldson Z, Dwivedi Y, Guillaume S, Gottesman II, Kanekar S, Lowry C, Renshaw PF, Rujescu D, Smith E, Turecki G, Zanos P, Zarate CA, Zunszain PA, Postolache TT (04/11/2017). Animal Models to Improve our Understanding and Treatment of Suicidal Behavior. [Review]. Transl Psychiatry, 7(4), 1-22.
  3. Bogdanova OV, Kanekar S, DAnci K, Renshaw PF (2013). Factors influencing behavior in the forced swim test. [Review]. Physiol Behav, 118, 227-239.

Book Chapter

  1. Kanekar S (2024). Creatine in Neuroprotection and Neurotoxicity. . In Marcos Roberto de Oliveira (Ed.), Natural Molecules in Neuroprotection and Neurotoxicity. Elsevior Academic Press.

Conference Proceedings

  1. Kanekar S, R Ettaro, MD Hoffman, HJ Ombach, J Brown, CS Sheth, K Jessing, P Sebahar, and PF Renshaw (2021). Cyclocreatine: a bioenergetic molecule which improves depression-like and anxiety-like behaviors in an animal model of SSRI-resistant depression at altitude. American College of Neuropsychopharmacology meeting, San Juan, PR. Neuropsychopharmacology, 46, 255.
  2. Kanekar S (2020). An Animal Model for SSRI-Resistant Depression at Altitude: Brain Serotonin and Antidepressants Based on Bioenergetics. Talk for Panel on “Sex Differences in Depression: focus on factors that differentially affect females or males” session. American College of Neuropsychopharmacology virtual meeting. Neuropsychopharmacology, 45, 1-67.
  3. Kanekar S, Sheth CS, Ombach HJ, Olson PR, Bogdanova OV, Petersen M, Renshaw CE, Sung YH, DAnci KE, Renshaw PF (2019). Improving Brain Bioenergetics may Improve Altitude-related Depression: Animal Model Studies. American College of Neuropsychopharmacology meeting, Orlando, FL. 44, M139.
  4. CS Sheth, HJ Ombach, J Brown, PF Renshaw, and S Kanekar (2018). Living at Moderate Altitude May Alter Brain Monoamines to Worsen Mood and Substance Use Disorders: A Sex-based Animal Model Study. American College of Neuropsychopharmacology meeting, Hollywood, FL. Neuropsychopharmacology, 43, S69.
  5. HJ Ombach, LS Scholl, AV Bakian, KT Renshaw, YH Sung, PF Renshaw and S Kanekar (2018). Living at Altitude is an Independent Risk Factor for Increased Prescription Opioid Misuse and Fatal Overdose by Prescription Opioids. American College of Neuropsychopharmacology meeting, Hollywood, FL. Neuropsychopharmacology, 43, S132.
  6. SE Smith, S Kanekar, J Lee, AD Plante, PF Renshaw, MB Scholand (2017). Characterization of shared molecular pathways in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and depression. American Thoracic Society, Washington DC.
  7. Kanekar S, Sheth CS, Olson PR, M Petersen, Bogdanova OV, Renshaw CE, Sung YH, DAnci KE, Renshaw, PF (2016). Differential Effects of the SSRIs Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Escitalopram and Sertraline in a Rodent Model of Hypobaric Hypoxia-related Depression. American College of Neuropsychopharmacology meeting, Hollywood, FL. Neuropsychopharmacology, 41, S163.
  8. Kanekar S, Bogdanova OV, Olson PR, Renshaw CE, Sung YH, DAnci KE, Renshaw, PF (2015). Antidepressant Efficacy in a Rodent Model of Hypoxia-Related Depression: Do SSRIs Lose Efficacy at Altitude? American College of Neuropsychopharmacology meeting, Hollywood, FL. Neuropsychopharmacology, 40, S334.
  9. Kanekar S, Bogdanova OV, Olson PR, Nizam H, Ombach HJ, Renshaw CE, Sung Y, DAnci KE, and Renshaw, PF (2015). Methamphetamine preference in female rats in the conditioned place preference test increases at altitude. American College of Neuropsychopharmacology meeting, Hollywood, FL. Neuropsychopharmacology, 40, S424.
  10. Lucero MT, Kanekar S (2008). PACAP reduces cytokine-induced apoptosis in olfactory neuronal cells via both AC and PLC pathways. XVth International Symposium on Olfaction and Taste, San Francisco, CA. International Symposium on Olfaction and Taste.
  11. Kanekar S, Hegg CC, Lucero MT (2007). PACAP-38 reduces cytokine-induced ROS production and apoptosis in the olfactory epithelium by a PAC1-receptor mediated mechanism. 8th International Symposium for VIP, PACAP and Related Peptides, Manchester, VT. Journal of Molecular Neuroscience.
  12. Lucero MT, Hegg CC, Kanekar S (2007). PACAP-38 reduces Ros production and apoptosis in the olfactory epithelium by a PAC1 receptor-mediated mechanism. Association of Chemoreception Senses Annual Meeting, Sarasota, FL.
  13. Kanekar S, Hegg CC (2007). Purinergic receptor activation evokes neurotrophic factor Y release from mouse olfactory epithelial slices. Society for Experimental Biology Annual Meeting, Washington DC.
  14. Kanekar S, Hegg CC (2006). Purinergic receptor activation evokes NPY release from mouse olfactory epithelial slices. Association of Chemoreception Senses Annual Meeting, Sarasota, FL.
  15. Brown NL, Kanekar S, Vetter ML, Tucker PK, Gemza DL, Glazer T (1998). Math5 encodes a murine basic helix -loop-helix transcription factor expressed during early stages of retinal neurogenesis. 14th In Congress of Developmental Biology, Palo Alto, CA. Developmental Biology.
  16. Vetter ML, Kanekar S (1997). Xath, a Xenopus Atonal homolog, is a positive regulator of retinal differenciation. Investigative Ophthamology and Visual Science meeting, Fort Lauderdale, FL. 38(4), 4330-4330.
  17. Kanekar S, Perron M, Dorsky R, Harris WA, Jan LY, Jan YN, Vetter ML (1997). Xath5, a Xenopus homolog of the Drosophila proneural gene atonal, functions with Xash3 and NeuroD to regulate neurogenesis.13th International Congress of Developmental Biology, Snowbird, Utah. Dev Biol.
  18. Kanekar S, Ranscht B (1992). Expression of T-cadherin in the floor plate correlates with commissural axon growth across the ventral midline of the spinal cord. Society for Neuroscience meeting, Anaheim, CA.
  19. Kanekar S, Ritchie TC, Coulter JD (1991). Peripheral inflammation induces expression of the nerve terminal protein NT75 in spinal neurons. Society for Neuroscience meeting, New Orleans, LA.

Abstract

  1. S Kanekar, R Ettaro, PF Renshaw (2024). Housing at moderate altitude induces depressive, anxiety and cognitive symptoms in a rodent model, with females particularly vulnerable. Meeting of the University of Utah's Women's Health Center of Excellence. [Abstract].
  2. S Kanekar, R Ettaro and PF Renshaw (2024). Hypobaric hypoxia induces depressive, anxiety and cognitive symptoms in rats, with females more vulnerable. Meeting of the Organization of the Study of Sex Differences. [Abstract].
  3. Kanekar S, R Ettaro and PF Renshaw (2022). Housing rats at moderate altitude causes systemic inflammation and alters cognitive behavior [Abstract].
  4. Ettaro R, Kanekar S, MD Hoffman, HJ Ombach, J Brown, CS Sheth, K Jessing, P Sebahar and PF Renshaw (2022). Cyclocreatine: a bioenergetic molecule which improves depression- and anxiety-like behaviors in an animal model of SSRI-resistant depression. [Abstract].
  5. Kanekar S, Ettaro R and PF Renshaw (2022). An Animal Model for Altitude-related Depression and Anxiety Disorders: Women may be more Vulnerable to Hypoxic Stress. [Abstract].
  6. PF Renshaw, R Ettaro and Kanekar S (2022). Housing rats at moderate altitude increases depressive symptoms, causes systemic inflammation and alters cognitive behavior. [Abstract].
  7. S Kanekar, RE Ettaro and PF Renshaw (2021). Sex-based animal model studies identifying effective therapeutics for SSRI-resistant depression at altitude. [Abstract]. National Networks of Depression Centers.
  8. S Kanekar, RE Ettaro, MD Hoffman and PF Renshaw (2021). Sex-based animal model studies identifying effective therapeutics for treatment-resistant depression at altitude [Abstract].
  9. S Kanekar, RE Ettaro, MD Hoffman and PF Renshaw (2021). Methamphetamine rewards and brain dopamine may increase with housing at moderate altitude in females: sex-based animal model studies [Abstract].
  10. S Kanekar, HJ Ombach, J Brown, MD Hoffman, RE Ettaro, CS Sheth, YH Sung and PF Renshaw (2020). Therapeutics Targeting Brain Bioenergetics may be Effective as Antidepressants in Altitude-related Treatment-Resistant Depression: Sex-based Animal Model Studies [Abstract].
  11. Kanekar S, Bogdanova OV, Olson PR, DAnci KE, Sung YH, Renshaw PF (2014). Hypobaric hypoxia induces DLB and alters SSRI efficacy in female Sprague Dawley rats. [Abstract]. Society for Biological Psychiatry.

Patent

  1. S Kanekar, PF Renshaw (2018). Tianeptine and tianeptine metabolites as atypical antidepressants for hypoxia-related mood disorders and substance abuse.
  2. S Kanekar, PF Renshaw, B Kious, A Prescot, D Kondo (2014). Novel therapeutics for hypoxia-related depression and other forms of treatment-resistant depression.