Biography:

Kadri obtained her doctoral degree in Neuroscience in 2021 from University of Tartu, Estonia. Her thesis focused on the development and evaluation of novel neuroprotective strategies using a rat model of Wolfram syndrome (WS). Kadri’s work in Plaas’ lab contributed to the field of Wolfram Syndrome research by (i) validating Wfs1 KO rat as a Wolfram syndrome animal model and (ii) by using the Wolfram syndrome animal model they found that liraglutide treatment could be a promising treatment strategy for Wolfram syndrome patients. Inspired by their preclinical studies, a liraglutide clinical trial has been initiated at the University of Washington, and further investigations will clarify the effect of liraglutide in Wolfram syndrome patients.

Research Interests:

Toxic injury leads to global transcriptional downregulation. The Sawarkar lab has generated mouse strains lacking specific domains of proteins that play a role in global downregulation of transcription. Kadri has joined the Sawarkar lab as a postdoc to study how these mice are sensitive to toxic insults.

Key Publications: 

1. Plaas, M., Seppa, K., Reimets, R., Jagomäe, T., Toots, M., Koppel, T., Vallisoo, T., Nigul, M., Heinla, I., Meier, R., Kaasik, A., Piirsoo, A., Hickey, M.A., Terasmaa, A., Vasar, E., 2017. Wfs1- deficient rats develop primary symptoms of Wolfram syndrome: insulin-dependent diabetes, optic nerve atrophy and medullary degeneration. Sci. Rep. 7, 10220. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-09392-x 
2. Toots, M., Seppa, K., Jagomäe, T., Koppel, T., Pallase, M., Heinla, I., Terasmaa, A., Plaas, M., Vasar, E., 2018. Preventive treatment with liraglutide protects against development of glucose intolerance in a rat model of Wolfram syndrome. Sci. Rep. 8, 10183. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-28314-z 
3. Seppa, K., Toots, M., Reimets, R., Jagomäe, T., Koppel, T., Pallase, M., Hasselholt, S., Krogsbæk Mikkelsen, M., Randel Nyengaard, J., Vasar, E., Terasmaa, A., Plaas, M., 2019. GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide has a neuroprotective effect on an aged rat model of Wolfram syndrome. Sci. Rep. 9, 15742. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-52295-2 
4. Seppa, K., Jagomäe, T., Kukker, K.G., Reimets, R., Pastak, M., Vasar, E., Terasmaa, A., Plaas, M., 2021. Liraglutide, 7,8-DHF and their co-treatment prevents loss of vision and cognitive decline in a Wolfram syndrome rat model. Sci. Rep. 11, 2275. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81768-6 
5. Jagomäe, T.; Seppa, K.; Reimets, R.; Pastak, M.; Plaas, M.; Hickey, M.A.; Kukker, K.G.; Moons, L.; De Groef, L.; Vasar, E.; Kaasik, A.; Terasmaa, A.; Plaas, M. Early Intervention and Lifelong Treatment with GLP1 Receptor Agonist Liraglutide in a Wolfram Syndrome Rat Model with an Emphasis on Visual Neurodegeneration, Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Diabetic Phenotype. Cells 2021, 10, 3193. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10113193 
6. Punapart, M.; Seppa, K.; Jagomäe, T.; Liiv, M.; Reimets, R.; Kirillov, S.; Kaasik, A.; Moons, L.; De Groef, L.; Terasmaa, A.; Vasar, E.; Plaas, M. The Expression of RAAS Key Receptors, Agtr2 and Bdkrb1, Is Downregulated at an Early Stage in a Rat Model of Wolfram Syndrome. Genes 2021, 12, 1717. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes12111717