About Me

I am an assistant professor of cardiology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

My affiliations include the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Cardiovascular Sciences Center, the Center for Redox Biology and Medicine, the Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer’s Prevention, the Center for Precision Medicine, the Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Center on Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.

My research aims to identify the new molecular regulators and events involved in mitochondrial calcium flux/sensing, mitochondrial structural homeostasis, protein quality control and cell death, and how they contribute to the onset of cardiovascular diseases. To gain in-depth knowledge of mitochondrial organization and functions, the Tomar Lab employs multidisciplinary approaches utilizing cell and molecular biology techniques, protein biochemistry, calcium flux analysis, cellular respiration measurements, omics-based approaches, live-cell imaging, mutant and transgenic mouse models and in vivo physiological methods.

I hold a PhD in biotechnology (cell biology) from the University of Pune, India, where I focused on ubiquitination, innate immunity and mitochondrial biology. My international research experience includes being a Raman-Charpak Fellow at the University of Bordeaux, France, where I investigated TRIM4 ubiquitin E3 ligase's role in mitochondrial metabolism and physiology. Additionally, I worked as a visiting research scholar at Temple University, where I focused on mitochondrial calcium flux regulation. Continuing my postdoctoral training at Temple University, I studied mitochondrial calcium signaling in cardiac physiology.

I am committed to mentoring undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral trainees through Wake Forest University School of Medicine programs. In addition to my academic position, I have served in peer-reviewer roles and participated in peer-review for more than 30 internationally reputed journals and grant reviewing for funding agencies around the world. These include the American Heart Association (USA), Austrian Science Fund, Alzheimer’s Association, National Institutes of Health (USA), National Science Foundation (USA), National Science Centre (Poland), Fondazione Cariplo (Italy) and UK Research and Innovation.

I am an active member of the American Society of Cell Biology (member, International Affairs Committee; member, Abstract Programming Task Force; posters judge; ambassador), American Heart Association, Society for South Asian Heart Research (chair, Early Career Committee; member, Executive Committee; co-organizer, Early Career Seminar Series), Alzheimer's Association, International Society for Heart Research and Society for Mitochondrial Research and Medicine.

I have received numerous honors and awards throughout my career, including the NIH Pathway to Independence Award, Geneen Trust Award for Coronary Heart Disease Research Award and Young Investigator Awards from the Society for South Asian Heart Research and Society for Mitochondrial Research and Medicine. I have also been recognized as a finalist for the BBA Rising Stars in Biochemistry and Biophysics Award and the Young Investigator Competition Award by the International Society for Heart Research, North American Section. I have made significant contributions to understanding mitochondrial physiology, calcium signaling and the calcium uniporter complex.

My research has been published in renowned scientific journals, including Cell Reports, Circulation, JACC Basic Trans Science, JCI Insight, iScience, Molecular Cell, Nature Communications and Science Signaling, with a notable citation count exceeding 16,000.

As an assistant professor, I continue contributing to research, teaching and mentoring at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.