Meharry Medical College has appointed Dr. Menaka Thounaojam as an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences in the School of Graduate Studies, effective Jan. 6, 2025.
Dr. Thounaojam brings expertise in cellular biology, anatomy and ophthalmology, along with a strong record of federally funded research and student mentorship. She is an NIH R01-funded investigator whose work has advanced understanding of bile acid receptor signaling in ocular diseases. Her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals, and she has presented her findings at national and international conferences.
Dr. Pamela Martin, chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences, said Thounaojam’s appointment will strengthen the department’s academic and research mission.
“I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Thounaojam for more than a decade,” Martin said. “She brings a deep commitment to training the next generation of scientists, and her instruction and mentorship will help position our students at the forefront of scientific discovery.”
Dr. Thounaojam has received multiple honors for her contributions to research and education, including the Medical College of Georgia’s Exemplary Teaching Award and several awards at national and international scientific conferences. She has mentored undergraduate, graduate and medical students, many of whom have earned competitive awards and fellowships.
She earned her Ph.D. in zoology from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, where her research focused on the role of microRNAs in neuroinflammation. She completed postdoctoral fellowships in biochemistry, cancer biology, neuroscience and pharmacology at Meharry Medical College, as well as in cellular biology, anatomy and ophthalmology at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University.
“I am honored to join the School of Graduate Studies at Meharry Medical College,” Thounaojam said. “The institution’s commitment to health equity and training future scientific and health care leaders aligns closely with my own values. I look forward to contributing through research, student mentorship and collaborative scholarship.”
Written by Jazmine Norwood, senior administrative assistant in the School of Graduate Studies