Nikhil Patil is the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Highlighted Trainee Author for the October 2022 issue. He is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in the laboratory of his mentor, Dr. Aditya Joshi. The JPET article that earned his selection as a Highlighted Trainee Author is titled “Cinnabarinic acid provides hepatoprotection against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease” and is available at https://doi.org/10.1124/jpet.122.001301.

Nikhil’s research is focused on understanding the pathophysiological role of liver aryl hydrocarbon receptors apart from its involvement in xenobiotic regulation and environmental toxicology. His work has specifically shown that an endogenous aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist, cinnabarinic acid confers protection against hepatotoxicity in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease models. His work utilizes contemporary molecular biology and proteomics techniques as well as cutting-edge next-generation sequencing and CRISPR-assisted gene editing methods. As a long-term goal, Nikhil is interested in identifying and characterizing novel aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands as therapeutic candidates against the plethora of liver diseases.

When not in the laboratory, Nikhil enjoys photography, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. He is also involved in public outreach of basic science.