Recent Positions:

Before moving to CMU College of Medicine he was the Professor and Head of Anatomy & Embryology Discipline and Director of Anatomy Laboratory at the Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, GA. Although he trained in traditional medical schools, he is a strong believer in PBL curriculum. It has been almost 20 years since he started teaching in the case-based and student-centered curriculum.


Teaching:

Dr. Rengasamy teaches gross anatomy, neuroanatomy, embryology and histology to MD students, as well as to students of other health professions such as DMD, PA, MSN, DPT, RT, etc.


Research Interest:

Dr. Rengasamy's primary research interest has always been neural tube defects (NTD). Although his collaboration with pediatricians and neonatologists has been both rewarding and productive, his lab has successfully developed animal models of NTD and investigated pathogenetic mechanisms of NTD at morphological and cellular levels. Contrary to the commonly held view that NTD arise as a result of arrest of closure of the neural tube, their early studies serendipitously discovered that a sub set of NTD cases are actually the result of secondary reopening of a closed neural tube. Hypertrophy of the choroid plexus, excessive production of CSF, enhanced intraventricular pressure, profound apoptosis in the neuroepithelium and paucity of cranial mesenchyme appear to contribute to reopening of the neural tube. Their lab has maintained a keen interest in craniofacial malformations and axial skeletal defects associated NTD in early somite-stage mouse embryos following maternal exposure to retinoic acid, acute doses of alcohol, anticonvulsant agent valproic acid, etc. Their lab also investigates the mechanisms of supplemental folate and α-lipoic acid on NTD prevention in mouse models. One of their parallel interests has been the study of diabetic embryopathy. Currently, they are studying the fetoplacental outcomes of maternal diabetes-antifungal drug interactions.


Memberships:

• Teratology Society
• American Association of Anatomists
• Fellow - Institute of Biology