Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr Deepak Adhikari is a group leader at Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute. Deepak obtained his PhD from Umeå University in 2014, where he worked on understanding the regulation of primordial follicle development in mammalian ovary. He discovered the signalling pathways controlling the quiescence and activation of primordial follicles, which are essential for maintaining the ovarian reserve and reproductive lifespan of females.
After completing his PhD, he joined Monash University as a postdoctoral fellow and investigated the biogenesis of mitochondria in the oocytes and the roles of mitochondria in controlling oocyte and embryo development. Oocyte quality is not only linked to female fertility but poor oocyte quality also increases the disease risk of the offspring. His group continues to explore mitochondrial functions beyond just energy production in oocytes and embryos.
Oocyte growth occurs in parallel to the growth of ovarian follicle; normal follicle development in the ovary ensures female fertility and women’s wellbeing. Growing follicles serve as the crucial endocrine structures by synthesizing hormones like estrogen, which is essential for maintaining women’s health. It maintains the functions of various systems such as cardiovascular, nervous and skeletal system through regulating energy homeostasis and metabolism. His group is also studying how oocyte mitochondria regulate follicle development. These findings will help find therapies to preserve follicle growth and prevent devastating log-term impact of early follicle loss in women.
Research area keywords
- Oocyte
- Mitochondria
- fertility
- Ovary
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Do mitochondria transfer horizontally into the mammalian female germ line?
Adhikari, D. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)) & Carroll, J. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/01/26 → 31/12/28
Project: Research
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MitoHOPE: Introducing Mitochondrial Donation in Australia: The MitoHOPE (Healthy Outcomes Pilot and Evaluation) Program
Carroll, J. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Herbert, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Christodoulou, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Thorburn, D. R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Mills, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Zander-Fox, D. L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Robker, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Rombauts, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Sallevelt, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ludlow, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Coman, D. J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ellaway, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Mackey, D. A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Delatycki, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Yau, W. Y. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Tchan, M. C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Long, J. C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Hardy, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Adhikari, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Choudhary, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Hyslop, L. A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Mann, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ryan, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Hodges, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Hui, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Kamien, B. A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Mallett, A. J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Wallis, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Wall, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Zoungas, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Goranitis, I. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Gyngell, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Hammarberg, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Sparrow, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Warren, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Fahey, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Stutterd, C. A. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Schweitzer, D. R. (Associate Investigator (AI)), McGillivray, G. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Savulescu, J. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Panetta, J. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Kava, M. P. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Freckmann, M.-L. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Lynch, M. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Lamont, P. J. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Scott, R. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Ware, T. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Mowat, D. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Jones, K. J. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Green, S. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Wolfe, R. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Hackett, A. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Bratkovic, D. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Horton, A. (Associate Investigator (AI)) & Blok, R. (Project Manager)
Monash University – Internal Faculty Contribution, Australian Genomics, James Cook University, Lyons Eye Institute Limited, Macquarie University, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Australian Mitochondrial Disease Foundation Limited (trading as Mito Foundation), Monash IVF Group Limited, Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science Limited, Queensland Children's Hosptial , Tasmanian Clinical Genetics Service, Adelaide University, Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA) (Victoria), Women's and Children's Health Care Network Incorporated, Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD)
1/06/23 → 31/05/29
Project: Research
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How are sperm mitochondria eliminated after fertilisation
Carroll, J. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)) & Adhikari, D. (Chief Investigator (CI))
ARC - Australian Research Council
15/03/23 → 14/03/26
Project: Research
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Understanding why mammalian eggs have so much mitochondrial DNA
Adhikari, D. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)) & Carroll, J. (Chief Investigator (CI))
ARC - Australian Research Council
1/01/23 → 31/12/25
Project: Research
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Mitochondrial metabolism and its role in the maternal epigenome.
Carroll, J. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)) & Adhikari, D. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/01/19 → 31/12/22
Project: Research
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Activation of primordial follicles
Lee, I. W. & Adhikari, D., 2026, Cellular Communication in Mammalian Germ-line Development. Clarke, H. J. (ed.). 1st ed. London UK: Academic Press, p. 137-167 31 p. (Current Topics in Developmental Biology; vol. 169).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Other › peer-review
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Chromatin- and actin-mediated mitochondrial streaming leads to patterning of mitochondrial distribution in oocytes
Lee, I. W. (Leading Author), Nazari, M., Yuson, J., Uthishtran, S., Stocker, R., Adhikari, D., Wang, Z. W., Szabadkai, G., Duchen, M. R., Arumugam, S., Nosrati, R. & Carroll, J., May 2026, In: Nature Communications. 17, 1, 16 p., 6569.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Telomere length in offspring is determined by mitochondrial-nuclear communication at fertilization
Winstanley, Y. E., Rose, R. D., Sobinoff, A. P., Wu, L. L., Adhikari, D., Zhang, Q.-H., Wells, J. K., Wong, L. H., Szeto, H. H., Piltz, S. G., Thomas, P. Q., Febbraio, M. A., Carroll, J., Pickett, H. A., Russell, D. L. & Robker, R. L., Dec 2025, In: Nature Communications. 16, 1, 20 p., 2527.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access12 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
An aggregated mitochondrial distribution in preimplantation embryos disrupts nuclear morphology, function, and developmental potential
Lee, I. W., Tazehkand, A. P., Sha, Z. Y., Adhikari, D. & Carroll, J., 2 Jul 2024, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 121, 27, 11 p., e2317316121.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access12 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
Dynamics of Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number and Membrane Potential in Mouse Pre-Implantation Embryos: Responses to Diverse Types of Oxidative Stress
Winstanley, Y. E., Liu, J., Adhikari, D., Gonzalez, M. B., Russell, D. L., Carroll, J. & Robker, R. L., Mar 2024, In: Genes. 15, 3, 18 p., 367.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access13 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)