Overview

My research focuses on the study of transition to chronic pain in sickle cell disease (SCD). I and the recipient of a K23 award from the NHLBI have used innovative clinical model systems to study the transition to chronic pain in SCD, such as cure of SCD and chronic pain by use of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), and the prospective study of children without chronic pain to identify the development of chronic pain in SCD. I am now studying patient outcomes in High-Impact Chronic Pain in SCD. My other interests include novel approaches to analyzing intensive longitudinal data in SCD, and I have examined the role of pain variability as a predictor of pain outcomes in SCD. To capture intensive longitudinal pain diary data, along with Dr. Krishnamurti, I have established the content validity of an electronic pain diary designed to capture the multiple dimensions of pain as a Patient Reported Outcome (PRO) in SCD, which is used in multiple national clinical studies of SCD. I have expertise in PROs in SCD, and am a Co-Investigator on NIH-funded clinical trials that evaluate PROs in SCD, in the context of HCT, in long-term survivors of SCD after HCT (Sickle Cell Post Transplantation Long Term and Late Effects Registry- STELLAR), and also in a Phase 3 trial of arginine for acute pain (Sickle Cell Disease Treatment with Arginine Therapy) in SCD. I have also examined experimental pain sensitivity in SCD, at steady -state, at the end of a pain episode, and in the context of HCT. I am interested in integrative approaches to management of  chronic pain in SCD and have recently completed study of yoga in chronic SCD pain, and have collaborated with other investigators on approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy and music therapy. I am also one of the founding members of the Qualitative Research Core in the Department of Pediatrics, and currently director of this core, and have studied decision making regarding therapeutic options in SCD.

Eric Chou, BS, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health REAL Program, Applied Practical Experience Field Supervisor

Current Project: Pain and PROs in SCD in the context of Hematopoietic Cell Transplant, Temporal dynamics of pain in SCD, High-Impact Chronic Pain in SCD.

 

Zihao Liu, BS, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health REAL Program, Applied Practical Experience Field Supervisor

Current Project: Sex differences in acute pain trajectories in SCD, Patient Reported Outcomes during an acute pain episode in SCD.

 

Serena Huang, BS, Emory University School of Medicine, Discovery Rotation Mentor

Current Project: High-Impact Chronic Pain in SCD

 

Shae Boguslawski, BS, Emory University School of Medicine, Research Elective Mentor

Current Project: Transition to chronic pain in SCD.

 

Cynthia Sinha, PhD, Emory University School of Medicine, Qualitative Research Core

Current Project: High-Impact Chronic Pain in SCD, Decision making in SCD

 

Diana Ross, PhD(c), MSN, RN, Emory University School of Medicine, Qualitative Research Core

Current Project: Decision making in SCD

Asha Hurreh, Emory University Laney Graduate School SOAR Program, Atlanta, GA (2021)

Current: Undergraduate student, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

 

Aja Meher Janyavula, MBBS, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health REAL Program (2020-2021)

Current: Clinical Research Coordinator, Lifebridge Health, Baltimore, MD

 

Manasa Peddineni, BS, Emory University School of Medicine Medical Student Summer Research Project (2019)

Current: OMS-IV, Nova Southeastern University, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, FL

 

Deeksha Katoch, MBBS, Emory University (2018, 2020)

Current: Pediatric Resident, State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY

 

Lauren Hawkins, MD, Emory University School of Medicine, Discovery Rotation Mentor (2018-2019)

Current: Pediatric resident, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, WA

 

Rachel Astles, MD, Emory University School of Medicine, Discovery Rotation Mentor (2020-2021)

Current: Obstetrics/Gynecology Resident, University of Central Florida, Pensacola, FL

Bakshi N, Gillespie S, McClish DK, McCracken CR, Smith WR and Krishnamurti L: Intra-Individual Pain Variability and Phenotypes of Pain in Sickle Cell Disease: A secondary Analysis of the Pain in Sickle Cell Epidemiology Study (PiSCES). Pain 2021 Sept 17 doi 10.1097 j.pain.0000000000002479. PMID 34538841

Bakshi N, Cooley A, Ross D, Hawkins LM*, Sullivan M, Astles R*, Sinha CB, Katoch D*, Peddineni M*, Gee BE, Lane, PA  and Krishnamurti L. A Pilot Study of the Acceptability, Feasibility and Safety of Yoga for Chronic Pain in Sickle Cell Disease. Complement Ther Med. 2021 Apr 20:102722. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2021.102722. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33892094.

Bakshi N, Katoch D, Sinha CB, Ross D, Quarmyne MO, Lowenstein G, Krishnamurti L. Patient Attitudes and Approach to Decision Making regarding Bone Marrow Transplant for Sickle Cell Disease: A Qualitative Study. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 May 1;3(5):e206742. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.6742.PMID: 32469414.

Hawkins LM, Sinha CB, Ross D, Yee MEM, Quarmyne MO, Krishnamurti L, Bakshi NPatient and Family Experience of Chronic Transfusion Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease. BMC Pediatrics 2020 Apr 18;20(1):172. doi: 10.1186/s12887-020-02078-w. PMID: 32305060.

 

View more publications

U01HL-128566-03 NHLBI

PI: Krishnamurti

Role: Co-Investigator

Title: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Young Adults with Sickle Cell Disease.

 

R01HDO86978-01A1 NICHD

MPI: Dampier, Palermo, Stinson

Role: Co-Investigator

Title: icancope with Sickle Cell Disease.

 

K23 HL140142-01A1 NHLBI

PI: Bakshi

Role: PI

Title: Studying Intra-Individual Pain Variability in Sickle Cell Disease and Resolution of Pain after Hematopoietic Cell Transplant: A Novel Model System to Elucidate Mechanisms of Transition to Chronic Pain.

 

U01FD006884 FDA

PI: Krishnamurti

Role: Co-Investigator

Title: Qualification of a Multi-Dimensional Electronic Pain Diary for Sickle Cell Disease.

 

1OT2HL152762-01 NHLBI

PI: Krishnamurti

Role: Co-Investigator

Title: Sickle Cell Post Transplantation Long-Term and Late Effects Registry.

 

K23 HL140142-03S1 -Supplement NHLBI

PI: Bakshi

Role: PI

Studying Intra-Individual Pain Variability in Sickle Cell Disease and Resolution of Pain after Hematopoietic Cell Transplant: A Novel Model System to Elucidate Mechanisms of Transition to Chronic Pain.

 

UH3 HL148560-02 NCCIH

PI: Morris

Role: Co-Investigator

Title: Sickle Cell Disease Treatment with Arginine Therapy (STaRT) Trial.

 

American Society of Hematology

PI: Bakshi

Role: PI

Title: High-Impact Chronic Pain in Sickle Cell Disease.

 

R03HL162694 NHLBI
PI: Bakshi  

Role: PI  

Title: High-Impact Chronic Pain in Sickle Cell Disease.  

 

Doris Duke Fund to Retain Clinical Scientists Supplement fund- PeRSEVERE Program at Emory University 

PI: Bakshi  

Role: PI