About Me

Girish Melkani acquired a Ph.D. degree from Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India (A CSIR premier Drug Institute) & Kumaun University, Nainital, India. For his Ph.D. dissertation, he studied lipoproteins under oxidative stress (in vitro and in vivo) and their cardiovascular implication in humans. After acquiring his Ph.D., he became interested in naturally occurring defense mechanisms involving heat shock proteins, which play a critical role in maintaining protein structure and function during cellular processes and stresses. He drew from his background in oxidative stress in lipoproteins for his postdoctoral position (at the Cal State San Marcos, CA) which focused on how GroEL (heat shock protein HSP-60 analog of E. coli) performs its chaperone function under multiple stress conditions.  At the San Diego State University (SDSU), he then went on to further study the role of chaperones in vivo, particularly in the regulation of cardiac and skeletal muscle as well as in protein folding diseases. For these purposes, he used Drosophila as a model system using genetics, molecular biology, cell biology, cardiac physiology, and gene transfer techniques. 

For his Independent faculty career at SDSU, he used the Drosophila model to explore the mechanism of cardiac failure associated with amyloid accumulation in the cardiomyocytes (referred to as cardiac amyloidosis). He continued his faculty tenure at SDSU before joining the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Oct 1^st, 2020, and with multiple collaborations over the years, his research projects are currently supported by Four R01 grants. During this tenure, his research group has been at the forefront of developing and using clinically relevant Drosophila models to address the pathophysiological basis of human circadian/metabolic disorders linked to cardiometabolic disease, myofibrillar-myopathies, proteinopathies neuropathies, sleep, and aging disruptions. He also integrates physiological, cell-molecular, genetics, and nutritional approaches to understanding how lifestyle (including, chrono-nutrition, circadian rhythms, and eating/sleeping patterns) and genetic factors act to maintain the structural integrity of cells, tissues, and organs that in turn dictates organismal physiology. Additionally, using strategic collaborations, he applies the findings to higher mammals or even humans to develop therapies for human metabolic and myofibrillar and misfolding protein disorders.  

In addition to my vigorous involvement with multiple research projects, I am profoundly dedicated to fostering the academic growth of all students and postdocs. I have been actively involved in numerous committees related to the students which cover roles in thesis evaluation, admission, student advisory, and evaluations for pre-professional health students.

Additionally, as a faculty and faculty senator (Associate Chair), I am serving in several leadership roles on several University-wide committees, including the Research Committee, Graduate Curriculum Committee, Institutional Biosafety Committee, Faculty Advisor Council (Chair), and Faculty Search Committee. I served/serving as an Associate Editor/Academic Editor for four journals.  Over the course of several years, I have been involved as both a member and Chair/Co-Chair in various study sections and grant review panels, including those for organizations like NIH and AHA. Furthermore, I have shared my insights through presentations at various universities, and conferences/symposiums, even taking on the responsibilities of chair in some instances. My involvement extends to being a member of the Scientific Committee for the World Aging and Rejuvenation and Reviewing Committee and, the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms.