Dr. Kavita Sharma, Ph.D
Assistant Professor (BMS)
Office: Leonard Hall 253, Pocatello
Bioanalytical Chemistry • Natural Products • Pharmaceutical Sciences • Fundamentals of
Pharmacology and Biological Assays
Kavita Sharma is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the College of Pharmacy, Idaho State University. She earned her PhD in Molecular Biotechnology from Konkuk University in South Korea.
An experienced researcher specializing in mass spectrometry, Dr. Sharma is deeply involved in metabolomics and proteomics studies. She has pioneered methodologies and workflows for analyzing complex metabolites and peptides from diverse matrices, including tissues, blood, serum, plasma, drugs, medicinal plant extracts, and intracellular and extracellular microbial cultures. She teaches PharmD and graduate students about Physicochemical Basis of Drug Action, Musculoskeletal Module, Endocrine Module, Critical Literature Review, and Principle of Biopharmaceutical Analysis. Dr. Sharma is an active advisor to the molecular research and core facility at ISU. Her specific research interests include identifying, isolating, and characterizing bioactive compounds from natural products. Additionally, Dr. Sharma is interested in conducting molecular-level studies to identify the impact of GABA-producing microbiota on healthy aging and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Specifically, her research focuses on identifying biomarker metabolites and proteins to gain mechanistic insights into the underexplored role of probiotics in aging-associated risk factors.
Dr. Sharma's research involves using advanced mass spectrometry techniques to identify and quantify metabolites and proteins that are associated with the beneficial effects of GABA-producing probiotics. She is also investigating the molecular mechanisms by which these probiotics exert their effects, such as by modulating inflammation, oxidative stress, and neurotransmitter levels. By understanding these mechanisms, Dr. Sharma hopes to develop novel probiotic therapies for the prevention and treatment of age-related diseases.