Sowmya Yelamanchili, PhD, a researcher in the UNMC Department of Anesthesiology, has been awarded a Lieberman Research Pilot Grant for her innovative work exploring the role of mitochondrial vesicles, or mitovesicles, in methamphetamine use disorder.
Dr. Yelamanchili said her research, which integrates the fields of neuroscience and addiction, will increase the understanding of the biological mechanisms behind substance use disorders and their impact on the brain.
Dr. Yelamanchili’s fascination with neuroscience and behavior traces back to her early career, where she focused on the intricate relationship between the brain and behavior.
“Drug addiction has always been a major line of work for me. Neuroscience is my passion, and studying the brain and how it influences behavior is one of the most critical areas in science,” she said. “I’m exploring the environmental cues that shape human behavior, ranging from social influences to external factors such as drugs and toxins.”
The inspiration for her work isn’t merely academic. After publishing a paper on extracellular vesicles linked to methamphetamine use disorder, Dr. Yelamanchili received emails and phone calls from people whose loved ones were affected by addiction. She said these interactions reminded her of the profound impact her work could have on the lives of those battling addiction, adding “When people reach out like this, it ignites the fire within me to continue pushing forward.”
Mitovesicles are a specific type of extracellular vesicle derived from mitochondria. “Extracellular vesicles act as delivery systems, transporting proteins, microRNAs and even DNA between cells,” Dr. Yelemanchili said. “These vesicles serve as a means of communication between cells, and when a cell is under stress or damage, these vesicles carry signals that alert neighboring cells.”
Dr. Yelamanchili’s research has shown that mitovesicles hold key information about the metabolic state of cells, especially in brain function. She said the vesicles released by mitochondria during stress could potentially serve as indicators of disease, providing insight into the brain’s response to chronic drug use, particularly methamphetamine.
There are technical difficulties that come with isolating mitovesicles. “The isolation process is very challenging,” she said. “We have to carefully extract pure mitovesicles from cells, avoiding contamination from other cell structures. This requires rigorous biochemical techniques, and perfecting these methods is key to the success of our research.”
With the Lieberman funding, Dr. Yelamanchili hopes to overcome these challenges. The grant, she said, will help refine the isolation techniques, making them available for broader use in other laboratories. It also will allow her team to gather essential data that could lead to potential therapeutic interventions for methamphetamine use disorder.
Dr. Yelamanchili said next steps will involve applying these findings to translational work. “If the data is promising, we’ll look into developing targets for drug therapy, whether that means inhibitors, activators, or repurposing existing drugs,” she said. “The ultimate goal is to move from basic science to clinical applications, offering hope for new treatment avenues for individuals suffering from addiction.”
Dr. Yelamanchili’s research is an example of how small seed grants can lead to big advancements in science. “I encourage early-career investigators to apply for pilot grants like this one,” she said. “These grants are a stepping stone that can help you take risks and test new ideas. With careful planning and a clear strategy, these small investments can turn into breakthrough discoveries.”