Bio

Jaspreet completed her bachelors at McGill University, where she received a first-class honours degree in biology. Her research focused on stem cell function and differentiation under the supervision of Dr. Anastasia Nijnik. After graduation Jaspreet received funding from the McGill Dobson Centre to pursue medical device research. She is currently a medical student at Stanford investigating new depression treatments including transcranial magnetic stimulation as a member of the Brain Stimulation Lab. As a Stanford student, Jaspreet has held research fellowships at the Center for Biomedical Informatics and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design.

Education & Certifications

  • Bachelor of Science, McGill University, Biology (2014)

Contact

  • jassi@stanford.edu
    University - Student Department: Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources Position: Graduate
    University - Student Department: School of Medicine Position: Graduate, Medicine

Additional Info

  • Mail Code: 5404

All Publications

  • Unilateral ultra-brief pulse electroconvulsive therapy for depression in Parkinson's disease ACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA Williams, N. R., Bentzley, B. S., Sahlem, G. L., Pannu, J., Korte, J. E., Revuelta, G., Short, E. B., George, M. S. 2017; 135 (4): 407-411

    View details for DOI 10.1111/ane.12614

    View details for Web of Science ID 000398035900004

  • Neuroversion: using electroconvulsive therapy as a bridge to deep brain stimulation implantation NEUROCASE Williams, N. R., Sahlem, G., Pannu, J., Takacs, I., Short, B., Revuelta, G., George, M. S. 2017; 23 (1): 26-30

    Abstract

    Parkinson's disease (PD) is a movement disorder with significant neuropsychiatric comorbidities. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is effective in treating these neuropsychiatric symptoms; however, clinicians are reluctant to use ECT in patients with deep brain stimulation (DBS) implantations for fear of damaging the device, as well as potential cognitive side effects. Right unilateral ultra-brief pulse (RUL UBP) ECT has a more favorable cognitive side-effect profile yet has never been reported in PD patients with DBS implants. We present a case series of three patients with a history of PD that all presented with psychiatric decompensation immediately prior to planned DBS surgery. All three patients had DBS electrode(s) in place at the time and an acute course of ECT was utilized in a novel method to "bridge" these individuals to neurosurgery. The patients all experienced symptom resolution (psychosis and/or depression and/or anxiety) without apparent cognitive side effects. This case series not only illustrates that right unilateral ultra-brief pulse can be utilized in patients with DBS electrodes but also illustrates that this intervention can be utilized as a neuromodulatory "bridge", where nonoperative surgical candidates with unstable psychiatric symptoms can be converted to operative candidates in a manner similar to electrical cardioversion.

    View details for DOI 10.1080/13554794.2016.1276605

    View details for Web of Science ID 000399644200005

    View details for PubMedID 28376692

  • It Takes Time to Tune Annals of Translational Medicine Bentzley, B. S., Pannu, J., Badran, B. W., Halpern, C. H., Williams, N. R. 2017; In Press
  • Bilateral epidural prefrontal cortical stimulation for treatment-resistant depression Journal of Visualized Experiments Williams, N., Pannu, J., Bentzley, B., Hopkins, T., Badran, B., Short, E., George, M., Takacs, I., Nahas, Z. 2017
  • Assessing Screening Guidelines for Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors using Routinely Collected Data. Scientific reports Pannu, J., Poole, S., Shah, N., Shah, N. H. 2017; 7 (1): 6488

    Abstract

    This study investigates if laboratory data can be used to assess whether physician-retesting patterns are in line with established guidelines, and if these guidelines identify deteriorating patients in a timely manner. A total of 7594 patients with high cholesterol were studied, along with 2764 patients with diabetes. More than 90% of borderline high cholesterol patients are retested within the 3 year recommended period, however less than 75% of pre-diabetic patients have repeated tests within the suggested 1-year time frame. Patients with borderline high cholesterol typically progress to full high cholesterol in 2-3 years, and pre-diabetic patients progress to full diabetes in 1-2 years. Data from routinely ordered laboratory tests can be used to monitor adherence to clinical guidelines. These data may also be useful in the design of adaptive testing strategies that reduce unnecessary testing, while ensuring that patient deterioration is identified in a timely manner. Established guidelines for testing of total serum cholesterol for hypercholesterolemia are appropriate and are well-adhered to, whereas guidelines for glycated hemoglobin A1c testing for type 2 diabetes mellitus could be improved to bring them in line with current practice and avoid unnecessary testing.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41598-017-06492-6

    View details for PubMedID 28747722

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5529363

  • Bridging to deep brain stimulation implantation using electroconvulsive therapy in Parkinson’s disease BRAIN STIMULATION Williams, N., Sahlem, G., Pannu, J., Takacs, I., Short, B., Revuelta, G., George, M. 2017

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.brs.2017.01.242

  • Five Year Follow-Up of Bilateral Epidural Prefrontal Cortical Stimulation for Treatment-Resistant Depression BRAIN STIMULATION Williams, N. R., Short, E. B., Hopkins, T., Bentzle, B. S., Sahlem, G. L., Pannu, J., Schmidt, M., Borckardt, J. J., Korte, J. E., George, M. S., Takacs, I., Nahas, Z. 2016; 9 (6): 897-904

    Abstract

    Epidural prefrontal cortical stimulation (EpCS) represents a novel therapeutic approach with many unique benefits that can be used for treatment-resistant depression (TRD).To examine the long-term safety and efficacy of EpCS of the frontopolar cortex (FPC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) for treatment of TRD.Adults (N = 5) who were 21-80 years old with severe TRD [failure to respond to adequate courses of at least 4 antidepressant medications, psychotherapy and ≥20 on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD24)] were recruited. Participants were implanted with bilateral EpCS over the FPC and DLPFC and received constant, chronic stimulation throughout the five years with Medtronic IPGs. They were followed for 5 years (2/1/2008-10/14/2013). Efficacy of EpCS was assessed with the HRSD24 in an open-label design as the primary outcome measure at five years.All 5 patients continued to tolerate the therapy. The mean improvements from pre-implant baseline on the HRSD24 were [7 months] 54.9% (±37.7), [1 year] 41.2% (±36.6), [2 years] 53.8% (±21.7), and [5 years] 45% (±47). Three of 5 (60%) subjects continued to be in remission at 5 years. There were 5 serious adverse events: 1 electrode 'paddle' infection and 4 device malfunctions, all resulting in suicidal ideation and/or hospitalization.These results suggest that chronic bilateral EpCS over the FPC and DLPFC is a promising and potentially durable new technology for treating TRD, both acutely and over 5 years.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.brs.2016.06.054

    View details for Web of Science ID 000387197500013

    View details for PubMedID 27443912

  • Ubiquitin Specific Protease 21 Is Dispensable for Normal Development, Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Differentiation PLOS ONE Pannu, J., Belle, J. I., Foerster, M., Duerr, C. U., Shen, S., Kane, L., Harcourt, K., Fritz, J. H., Clare, S., Nijnik, A. 2015; 10 (2)

    Abstract

    USP21 is a ubiquitin specific protease that catalyzes protein deubiquitination, however the identification of its physiological substrates remains challenging. USP21 is known to deubiquitinate transcription factor GATA3 and death-domain kinase RIPK1 in vitro, however the in vivo settings where this regulation plays a biologically significant role remain unknown. In order to determine whether USP21 is an essential and non-redundant regulator of GATA3 or RIPK1 activity in vivo, we characterized Usp21-deficient mice, focusing on mouse viability and development, hematopoietic stem cell function, and lymphocyte differentiation. The Usp21-knockout mice were found to be viable and fertile, with no significant dysmorphology, in contrast to the GATA3 and RIPK1 knockout lines that exhibit embryonic or perinatal lethality. Loss of USP21 also had no effect on hematopoietic stem cell function, lymphocyte development, or the responses of antigen presenting cells to TLR and TNFR stimulation. GATA3 levels in hematopoietic stem cells or T lymphocytes remained unchanged. We observed that aged Usp21-knockout mice exhibited spontaneous T cell activation, however this was not linked to altered GATA3 levels in the affected cells. The contrast in the phenotype of the Usp21-knockout line with the previously characterized GATA3 and RIPK1 knockout mice strongly indicates that USP21 is redundant for the regulation of GATA3 and RIPK1 activity during mouse development, in hematopoietic stem cells, and in lymphocyte differentiation. The Usp21-deficient mouse line characterized in this study may serve as a useful tool for the future characterization of USP21 physiological functions.

    View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0117304

    View details for Web of Science ID 000350682600061

    View details for PubMedID 25680095

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4332479