Nara Parameswaran, BVSc, MS, PhD
- Senior Associate Dean for Research
- Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Bio
Nara Parameswaran, BVSc, MS, PhD, is the senior associate dean for research in the College of Human Medicine and a professor in the Department of Physiology.
Dr. Parameswaran completed training in Veterinary Medicine (1994) in India. He then obtained a master’s degree in veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology (1995) from The Ohio State University and a PhD in Physiology (1999) from Michigan State University. Following a postdoctoral fellowship at Kimmel Cancer Center (Thomas Jefferson University), Dr. Parameswaran joined MSU in 2006, as an assistant professor in the tenure stream in the Department of Physiology. He has rose through the ranks and is currently a full professor in the department.
Dr. Parameswaran’s research is focused on understanding the mechanisms involved in innate immunity, inflammation and disease, as well as identifying potential therapeutic targets. His research program has consistently received funding through NIH and other agencies. More recently his work has focused on how gut bacteria influence gut and bone immune system and how they eventually influence bone health. Along with collaborators, his lab uses a variety of methods to manipulate gut bacteria to understand physiological function.
In addition to extensive classroom teaching, Dr. Parameswaran has mentored undergraduate, graduate and professional students. He also serves as an associate editor, and reviewer for several journals as well as serves on several national and international grant review panels including the NIH. Prior to his current role, he served as the associate dean for faculty affairs and staff administration in the College of Human Medicine and oversaw faculty and staff life cycle for the college, including hiring, development and promotion. He was involved nationally through the AAMC Group on Faculty Affairs. In this current role, he is involved nationally through the AAMC Group on Research and Development. He has also served in a variety of leadership roles in the department, college and the university and has received the College of Human Medicine Distinguished faculty award in 2018.