Auburn Pharmacy research could transform care for veterans, dementia patients

When Sampada Tamhankar arrived at Auburn University to pursue her passion for neuroscience, she never imagined her work would hold promise for thousands of military veterans or even connect to Hollywood star Bruce Willis.

A doctoral student in the Harrison College of Pharmacy’s Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Tamhankar is at the forefront of groundbreaking research in Professor Raj Amin’s lab. His team has discovered a promising drug for the treatment of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), the same degenerative disease the famed actor was diagnosed with in 2023.

“When I came here, we had this drug, AU403IS, and we were trying to explore its use in different fields,” Tamhankar explained. “One option was Alzheimer’s disease. We used certain animal models and published papers and then one day, Dr. Amin was telling me about Bruce Willis.”

She knew of FTD but admitted she was not as familiar with the actor or his body of work. At Amin’s request, Tamhankar watched one of Willis’ most famous movies, “Die Hard.”

When the famed actor’s nearly four-decade career came to a screeching halt because of a neurodegenerative disease, the world took notice. Willis may now be the face of FTD, but Tamhankar’s determination was never tied to celebrity headlines; it was rooted in her own passion for neuroscience.

While a lot of Alzheimer’s disease research focuses on measuring synaptic activity, what Amin called “the nerve firings,” Tamhankar took a bold, innovative approach.

“Sam took a different route to see how FTD alters nerve function,” he said. “She’s investigating how the drug we developed at Auburn can improve memory and neuronal function.”

Specifically, Tamhankar said she is examining whether the drug can repair the myelin sheath, the protective covering around neurons that becomes damaged in diseases like FTD and Alzheimer’s. Both Amin and Tamhankar said they think the remyelination process could be a key to restoring memory, speech and movement in patients whose lives have been upended by the disease.

For Tamhankar, the work is both a scientific challenge and a personal calling. She developed a passion for neuroscience while earning a master’s degree from India’s top pharmacy school.

“It gives me a reason to wake up every day and do something new,” she said. “It’s a chance to make a difference.”

Also inspired by the neuroscientist character on TV’s “The Big Bang Theory,” Tamhankar found a kindred spirit in Amin and left her native Mumbai for Auburn.

Beyond helping dementia patients like Willis, the team’s research could transform care for military service members. Amin explained that FTD occurs at significantly higher rates among those who have experienced combat-related traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Our hope is to deliver new therapies for those who have served, as well as for families everywhere touched by dementia,” he said.

Tamhankar’s innovative work recently earned her first place in Auburn’s Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. Her third time competing was the charm as she realized that success wasn’t just about knowing the research, or distilling complex science into a compelling, accessible story, but how to present it ... in just three minutes.

With the win, Tamhankar advances to the regional contest, set for February in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The research is already influencing new publications, grant proposals and clinical directions, with Tamhankar’s data at the center of efforts to move the drug closer to real-world application.

“We observed that our drug helps damaged neurons obtain new myelin, resulting in improved neuronal function,” she explained. “That is something we are very, very excited about.”

As a first-generation college student, Tamhankar understands the significance of her achievements, both for herself and for those who have supported her. Her mother was visiting Auburn and attended the 3MT competition.

Tamhankar said her mother was worried that her presence would have a negative effect, but it gave her strength instead.

“I looked at her and I was like, ‘I’m doing this for you,’” Tamhankar said. “That’s what we live for, making our family, our professors and university proud.”

Such pride is palpable and fuels her purpose in Amin’s lab.

“This drug could help prevent and reduce the levels of FTD and potentially other neurodegenerative diseases in soldiers, veterans and people like Bruce Willis,” Tamhankar said. “That’s what drives us every day.”