Dr Kirat Chand
Research Fellow/Senior Research officer
UQ Centre for Clinical Research
Affiliate of Centre for Extracellular Vesicle Nanomedicine
Centre for Extracellular Vesicle Nanomedicine
+61 7 334 66016
Researcher biography
Dr Kirat Chand is a Research Fellow at the Perinatal Research Centre at The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR). His field of expertise include the establishment of synaptic connections, neurodevelopment and cellular changes associated with injury in the neonatal brain. His current work investigates the evolution of brain injury in fetal growth restricted newborns (FGR) with a particular interest in understanding mechanisms to develop better detection and treatment strategies for FGR newborns. FGR is the second leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality, with around 32 million babies born FGR globally each year. FGR is commonly caused by placental insufficiency, resulting in an inadequate supply of oxygen and nutrients to the foetus. The brain is particularly vulnerable to FGR conditions and adverse outcomes in these children range from mild learning difficulties, to neurobehavioral issues, and in some cases cerebral palsy. Currently there are no interventions available to protect the FGR brain. Using the pre-clinical pig model of FGR, we are able to examine perturbations to white and grey matter regions of the newborn brain, with the aim of developing appropriate therapeutic strategies to aid this vulnerable population.
| Featured projects | Duration |
|---|---|
| Long-term protection in the growth restricted newborn | 2021–2025 |
Journal Articles
Staehr, Christian, Hinkley, Victoria, Matchkov, Vladimir V., Rajanathan, Rajkumar, Hansen, Line Mathilde B., Eiby, Yvonne, Luque, Nathan, Wright, Ian, Bjorkman, Stella T., Miller, Stephanie M., Grimley, Rohan S., Dettrick, Andrew, Chand, Kirat, Nguyen, Hong L., Jones, Nicole M., Murphy, Tim V. and Sandow, Shaun L. (2025). Hypoxia and ischemic stroke modify cerebrovascular tone by upregulating endothelial BK(Ca) channels—Lessons from rat, pig, mouse, and human. Acta Physiologica, 241 (4) e70030, 1-12. doi: 10.1111/apha.70030
Xu, Nuo, Wixey, Julie, Chand, Kirat, Wong, Megan and Nance, Elizabeth (2025). Nano-formulated curcumin uptake and biodistribution in the fetal growth restricted newborn piglet brain. Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 1-15. doi: 10.1007/s13346-025-01830-y
Musco, Hannah, Beecher, Kate, Chand, Kirat K., Boyd, Roslyn N., Colditz, Paul B. and Wixey, Julie A. (2024). The search for blood biomarkers that indicate risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in fetal growth restriction. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 12 1396102, 1-7. doi: 10.3389/fped.2024.1396102
Adams, Rachael C., Carter-Cusack, Dylan, Llanes, Genesis T., Hunter, Christopher R., Vinnakota, Janaki Manoja, Ruitenberg, Marc J., Vukovic, Jana, Bertolino, Patrick, Chand, Kirat K., Wixey, Julie A., Nayler, Samuel P., Hill, Geoffrey R., Furlan, Scott N., Zeiser, Robert and MacDonald, Kelli P.A. (2024). CSF1R inhibition promotes neuroinflammation and behavioural deficits during graft-versus-host disease in mice. Blood Journal, 143 (10), 912-929. doi: 10.1182/blood.2023022040
Teo, Elliot J., Chand, Kirat. K., Miller, Stephanie M., Wixey, Julie A., Colditz, Paul B. and Bjorkman, S. Tracey. (2023). Early evolution of glial morphology and inflammatory cytokines following hypoxic-ischemic injury in the newborn piglet brain. Scientific Reports, 13 (1) 282, 1-14. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-27034-9
Chand, Kirat, Patel, Jatin, Matthews, Kate, Nano, Rachel, Musco, Hannah, Khosrotehrani, Kiarash, Colditz, Paul and Wixey, Julie (2023). Combined human endothelial colony-forming cells and mesenchymal stromal cells as a neuroprotectant in fetal growth-restricted newborns. IBRO Neuroscience Reports, 15, S171-S171. doi: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2023.08.249
Wu, Bing Anthony, Chand, Kirat K., Bell, Alexander, Miller, Suzanne L., Colditz, Paul B., Malhotra, Atul and Wixey, Julie A. (2023). Effects of fetal growth restriction on the perinatal neurovascular unit and possible treatment targets. Pediatric Research, 95 (1), 59-69. doi: 10.1038/s41390-023-02805-w
Malhotra, Atul, Thebaud, Bernard, Paton, Madison C. B., Fleiss, Bobbi, Papagianis, Paris, Baker, Elizabeth, Bennet, Laura, Yawno, Tamara, Elwood, Ngaire, Campbell, Belinda, Chand, Kirat, Zhou, Lindsay, Penny, Tayla, Nguyen, Timothy, Pepe, Salvatore, Gunn, Alistair J. and McDonald, Courtney A. (2023). Advances in neonatal cell therapies: Proceedings of the First Neonatal Cell Therapies Symposium (2022). Pediatric Research, 94 (5), 1631-1638. doi: 10.1038/s41390-023-02707-x
Musco, Hannah, Beecher, Kate, Chand, Kirat K, Colditz, Paul B. and Wixey, Julie A. (2023). Blood biomarkers in the fetally growth restricted and small for gestational age neonate: associations with brain injury. Developmental Neuroscience, 46 (2), 1-14. doi: 10.1159/000530492
Chand, Kirat K., Lee, Kah Meng, Lavidis, Nickolas A., Rodriguez-Valle, Manuel, Ijaz, Hina, Koehbach, Johannes, Clark, Richard J., Lew-Tabor, Ala and Noakes, Peter G. (2022). Author Correction: Tick holocyclotoxins trigger host paralysis by presynaptic inhibition. Scientific Reports, 12 (1) 20636, 1-1. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-24528-4
Chand, Kirat, Nano, Rachel, Wixey, Julie and Patel, Jatin (2022). Stem cell therapy for neuroprotection in the growth-restricted newborn. Stem Cells Translational Medicine, 11 (4), 372-382. doi: 10.1093/stcltm/szac005
Chand, Kirat K., Pannek, Kerstin, Colditz, Paul B. and Wixey, Julie A. (2022). Brain outcomes in runted piglets: a translational model of fetal growth restriction. Developmental Neuroscience, 44 (4-5), 1-11. doi: 10.1159/000523995
Chand, Kirat K., Miller, Stephanie M., Cowin, Gary J., Mohanty, Lipsa, Pienaar, Jany, Colditz, Paul B., Bjorkman, Stella Tracey and Wixey, Julie A. (2022). Neurovascular unit alterations in the growth-restricted newborn are improved following Ibuprofen treatment. Molecular Neurobiology, 59 (2), 1018-1040. doi: 10.1007/s12035-021-02654-w
Chand, Kirat K., Patel, Jatin, Bjorkman, S. T., Sim, Seen-Ling, Miller, Stephanie M., Teo, Elliot, Jones, Lara, Sun, Jane, Colditz, Paul B., Khosrotehrani, Kiarash and Wixey, Julie A. (2021). Combination of human endothelial colony-forming cells and mesenchymal stromal cells exert neuroprotective effects in the growth-restricted newborn. npj Regenerative Medicine, 6 (1) 75, 75. doi: 10.1038/s41536-021-00185-5
Wixey, Julie A., Sukumar, Kishen R., Pretorius, Rinaldi, Lee, Kah Meng, Colditz, Paul B., Bjorkman, S. Tracey and Chand, Kirat K. (2019). Ibuprofen treatment reduces the neuroinflammatory response and associated neuronal and white matter impairment in the growth restricted newborn. Frontiers in Physiology, 10 (MAY) 541, 541. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00541
Wixey, Julie A., Lee, Kah Meng, Miller, Stephanie M., Goasdoue, Kate, Colditz, Paul B., Bjorkman, S.T. and Chand, Kirat K. (2019). Neuropathology in intrauterine growth restricted newborn piglets is associated with glial activation and proinflammatory status in the brain. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 16 (1) 5, 5. doi: 10.1186/s12974-018-1392-1
Wixey, Julie A., Chand, Kirat K., Pham, Lily, Colditz, Paul B. and Bjorkman, S. Tracey (2018). Therapeutic potential to reduce brain injury in growth restricted newborns. Journal of Physiology, 596 (23), 5675-5686. doi: 10.1113/JP275428
Wixey, Julie A, Reinebrant, Hanna E, Chand, Kirat K and Buller, Kathryn M (2018). Disruption to the 5-HT7 Receptor Following Hypoxia-Ischemia in the Immature Rodent Brain. Neurochemical research, 43 (3), 711-720. doi: 10.1007/s11064-018-2473-3
Chand, Kirat K., Lee, Kah Meng, Lee, John D., Qiu, Hao, Willis, Emily F., Lavidis, Nickolas A., Hilliard, Massimo A. and Noakes, Peter G. (2018). Defects in synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction precedes motor deficits in a TDP-43Q331K transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. FASEB Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 32 (5), fj201700835R-2689. doi: 10.1096/fj.201700835R
Wixey, Julie A., Chand, Kirat K., Colditz, Paul B. and Bjorkman, S. Tracey (2017). Neuroinflammation in intrauterine growth restriction. Placenta, 54, 117-124. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2016.11.012
Lee, Kah Meng, Chand, Kirat K., Hammond, Luke A., Lavidis, Nickolas A. and Noakes , Peter G. (2017). Functional decline at the aging neuromuscular junction is associated with altered laminin-α4 expression. Aging, 9 (3), 880-899. doi: 10.18632/aging.101198
Chand, Kirat K., Lee, Kah Meng, Lavidis, Nickolas A. and Noakes, P. G. (2016). Loss of laminin-alpha4 results in pre- and postsynaptic modifications at the neuromuscular junction. FASEB Journal, 31 (4), 1323-1336. doi: 10.1096/fj.201600899R
Miller, Stephanie M., Sullivan, Susan M., Ireland, Zoe, Chand, Kirat K., Colditz, Paul B. and Bjorkman, S. Tracey (2016). Neonatal seizures are associated with redistribution and loss of GABAA α-subunits in the hypoxic-ischaemic pig. Journal of Neurochemistry, 139 (3), 471-484. doi: 10.1111/jnc.13746
Chand, Kirat K., Lee, Kah Meng, Lavidis, Nickolas A., Rodriguez-Valle, Manuel, Ijaz, Hina, Koehbach, Johannes, Clark, Richard J., Lew-Tabor, Ala and Noakes, Peter G. (2016). Tick holocyclotoxins trigger host paralysis by presynaptic inhibition. Scientific Reports, 6 (1) 29446, 29446. doi: 10.1038/srep29446
Chand, Kirat K., Lee, Kah Meng, Schenning, Mitja P., Lavidis, Nickolas A. and Noakes, Peter G. (2015). Loss of β2-laminin alters calcium sensitivity and voltage gated calcium channel maturation of neurotransmission at the neuromuscular junction. Journal of Physiology, 593 (1), 245-265. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2014.284133
Conference Papers
Adams, Rachael C., Carter-Cusack, Dylan, Llanes, Genesis T., Hunter, Christopher R., Vinnakota, Janaki Manoja, Ruitenberg, Marc, Vukovic, Jana, Bertolino, Patrick, Chand, Kirat K., Wixey, Julie A., Nayler, Samuel P., Hill, Geoffrey R., Furlan, Scott N., Zeiser, Robert and MacDonald, Kelli P. A. (2023). CSF1R inhibition promotes neuroinflammation and behavioural deficits during graftversus-host disease in mice. 65th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Hematology (ASH), San Diego, CA, United States, 9-12 December 2023. Washington, DC, United States: American Society of Hematology. doi: 10.1182/blood-2023-184841
Goasdoue, Kate, Chand, Kirat Kishore, Miller, Stephanie Melita, Lee, Kah Meng, Colditz, Paul Bernard, Wixey, Julie Anne and Bjorkman, Stella Tracey (2019). Seizures are associated with blood-brain barrier disruption in a piglet model of neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. 11th Hershey Conference on Developmental Brain Injury, Asilomar, CA, United States, 5-8 June 2018. Basel, Switzerland: S. Karger AG. doi: 10.1159/000499365
Sukumar, K., Chand, K., Miller, S., Goasdoue, K., Colditz, P., Bjorkman, S. T. and Wixey, J. (2017). Neuroinflammation in the IUGR piglet model. Queensland Perinatal Consortium, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, 20 July 2017.
Wixey, Julie, Sukumar, Kishen, Miller, Stephanie, Goasdoue, Kate, Colditz, Paul, Bjorkman, Stella Tracey and Chand, Kirat (2017). Anti-inflammatory treatment to reduce brain injury in the growth restricted neonate. 31st Annual Fetal and Neonatal Workshop of Australia and New Zealand, Canberra, ACT, Australia, 30-31 March 2017.
Goasdoue, K., Miller, S., Chand, K., Wixey, J., Colditz, P. and Bjorkman, S. T. (2017). Inflammation and blood-brain barrier disruption occurs rapidly following neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. Queensland Perinatal Consortium, Brisbane, Australia, 20 July 2017.
Goasdoue, Kate, Miller, Stephanie, Chand, Kirat, Wixey, Julie, Colditz, Paul and Bjorkman, Tracey (2016). Investigation of the impact of seizures on disruption to the blood-brain barrier following neonatal hypoxia-ischaemia. Queensland Perinatal Consortium, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia: University of Queensland, 15 July, 2016.
Eiby, Yvonne, Bjorkman, Tracey, Wixey, Julie, Chand, Kirat, Colditz, Paul and Lingwood, Barbara (2016). Pilot trial of early blood transfusions for supporting cardiovascular function and cerebral oxygen delivery in preterm piglets. 30th Annual meeting Fetal and Neonatal Workshop of Australia and New Zealand, Magnetic Island, QLD, Australia, 19-21 May 2016.
Wixey, Julie, Muller, Camille, Chand, Kirat, Sullivan, Susan, Colditz, Paul and Bjorkman, Stella Tracey (2016). Neuroinflammatory response in the growth restricted neonate. Australasian Neuroscience Society Annual Scientific Meeting, Hobart, TAS Australia, 4-7 December 2016.
Thesis
Chand, Kirat Kishore (2015). The functional role of laminins-α4 and -β2 in development of the neuromuscular junction. PhD Thesis, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2015.339