Biography
Dr. Kothary is the Deputy Scientific Director and Senior Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI). He received a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of British Columbia and pursued postdoctoral research in the laboratories of Dr. Janet Rossant at the Mount Sinai Hospital Research Institute in Toronto and Dr. Azim Surani in Cambridge, U.K. It was during these formative years that Dr. Kothary developed his interests in pre-clinical models to study disease pathology. He has held the University Health Research Chair in Neuromuscular Disorders and is a Professor at the University of Ottawa. His current research focuses on investigating extrinsic and intrinsic factors important for oligodendrocyte mediated myelination and remyelination of the CNS (in the context of Multiple Sclerosis), and understanding Spinal Muscular Atrophy pathogenesis and identifying novel therapeutics for this devastating children’s disease. He currently sits on the CIHR IMHA advisory board, has served on the scientific advisory board for MDA and Cure SMA, and is a reviewer for the CIHR, NIH and Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Research Interests - Our laboratory is interested in understanding the mechanisms which maintain/alter muscle and nervous system integrity. In parallel, we are assessing ways to alleviate the pathology of neuromuscular diseases.