Dr. Khyobeni (Beni) Mozhui
Khyobeni (Beni) Mozhui, Ph.D. is Assistant Professor in the Departments of Preventive Medicine and Genetics, Genomics, and Informatics in the College of Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC).
Beni’s overarching research interest is understanding how multiple genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors interact to define complex traits. Much of her research has been on the genetics of neuropsychiatric conditions related to stress response, depression, and addiction. Another area of research is on the genetics and epigenetics of development and aging using animal models and human cohorts.
She considers the joint use of human populations and model organisms, particularly isogenic inbred mouse strains, as a key aspect of her work.
Her current primary research areas are genetic epidemiology and epigenetics. She is also interested in researching theories of consciousness.
She has been Assistant Professor at the College of Medicine on Genetics, Genomics, and Informatics since 2016 and on Preventive Medicine since 2013 at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Previously she was Research Associate on Anatomy and Neurobiology at UTHSC between 2011 and 2013, and Research Assistant in the School of Life Sciences at Jawaharlal Nehru University between 2002 and 2003.
Beni was Awarded a $418,000 Grant to Study the Epigenetics of Aging from the National Institutes of Health in 2017. The two-year award supported the “DNA Methylation and Gene Expression Study of Aging and Lifespan Differences.” Read Genetic Analyses of Epigenetic Predictors that Estimate Aging, Metabolic Traits, and Lifespan, Universal DNA methylation age across mammalian tissues, DNA Methylation and Health Outcome in an Aging Cohort, and Genetic loci and metabolic states associated with murine epigenetic aging.
Beni was, together with her colleague, the recipient of the 2019 UTHSC/UofM CORNET Award in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Research for their project A Combined Environment and Epigenetics Study (ACES): Impact of Neurofeedback Therapy on the Health and Behavior of Adolescents.
Beni examined the EEG brain wave patterns and functioning of adolescents exposed to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and investigated the impact of neurofeedback training. ACEs are traumatic events before the age of 18 and include various types of abuse and neglect, as well as parental mental illness, substance use, divorce, incarceration, and domestic violence.
With her colleagues, she is researching whether their innovative brain training can improve physical health, decrease mental health symptoms, improve cognitive functioning, and reduce the risk of unfavorable social, emotional, and developmental health outcomes in affected adolescents. Read Scientists Report Gains In Treating Kids Suffering Chronic Trauma.
Beni earned her Ph.D. in Anatomy from The University of Tennessee Health Science Center in 2009 with her dissertation Multiscale Genomic Analysis of the Corticolimbic System: Uncovering the Molecular and Anatomic Substrates of Anxiety-Related Behavior. Her research was in the area of neurogenetics with a focus on neuropsychiatric conditions related to stress response, depression, and addiction.
This continues to be an area of interest for her. As an independent investigator, her research has become increasingly focused on the genetics and epigenetics of aging and age-related diseases such as cancers and cognitive decline.
She is fascinated by how our epigenome changes over time, what it can tell us about our health status, and how environmental and lifestyle factors can influence the ticking of the “epigenetic clock”.
She earned her Master’s Degree of Science in Life Sciences from Jawaharlal Nehru University in 2002 and her Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Biochemistry from Delhi University in 2000.
Beni did her Special Volunteering Internship at the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH in Rockville in 2007.
She was Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center on Anatomy and Neurobiology in Memphis between 2009 and 2011.
Beni is a Member of the American Aging Association since 2021 and Appointed Reviewer of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research (2021-), Epigenetics (2020-), Scientific Reports (2020-), Associate Editor, Frontiers in Neurogenomics (2017-), European Neuropsychopharmacology (2017-), Genetics (2017-), Alcohol (2016-), Behavioral Brain Research (2016-), Journal of Neurology and Psychology (2015-), Journal of Psychiatric Research (2015-), and Physiological Genomics (2013-).
Previously she was Reviewer at the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (2020), Epigenomics (2017–2020), Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (2018–2019), Frontiers in Neuroscience (2012–2019), International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (2018), American Journal of Reproductive Immunology (2015), PLoS One (2014–2015).
Watch Genetics of epigenetics, entropy increase, and aging.
Visit her Academic page, Homepage, and Neurotree page. Follow her on Facebook, IEEE Xplore, Loop, and Instagram.
