Email

rihana.bokhari@bcm.edu

Positions

Assistant Professor

Center for Space Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine

Education

PhD from Texas A&M University

College Station

Kinesiology

BS from University of Michigan

Ann Arbor

Professional Statement

I am a space physiologist with experience in bone biology, radiation biology and additional expertise in science management, portfolio management, solicitation writing and review. I began my PhD work with a fascination for space life sciences, though it was a new area for me as I grew up far from a NASA center. I was lucky enough to earn a National Space Biomedical Research Institute fellowship during my first few years of graduate work that allowed me to become up to speed with the space research world. This fellowship led me to earning a certification in Space Life Sciences and several NASA internships that have helped me to develop a well rooted understanding of Space Health as well as NASA priorities in these areas. I am constantly endeavoring to expand my expertise. For instance, I began my research career in biological anthropology as an undergrad but through completing a thesis I realized quickly that while bones were intriguing, I was more interested in the future than the past. Thus I began my PhD work in understanding microgravity effects on bone. However, I became fascinated by radiation so I applied to the NASA Space Radiation Summer School and conducted the remainder of my PhD research in radiation biology in conjunction with microgravity. In recent years I have been working for the NASA Research and Education Support Services contract that runs NASA’s peer review. I started by supporting the Space Biology program in peer review, putting together panels of experts and helping to write solicitations. I also supported the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) program Science Office in managing the science portfolio, solicitation writing, planning and acquisition strategies and any other programmatic or peer review needs TRISH had. I have expanded my horizons once again and joined the Baylor College of Medicine faculty in the Center for Space Medicine and the Department of Education, Innovation and Technology and taken up the role of deputy chief scientific officer role at TRISH which will allow me to grow as a scientist and support innovation.

Selected Publications

• Bokhari RS, Metzger CE, Allen MR, Bloomfield SA "Daily Acute Bouts of Weight-bearing During Hindlimb Unloading Mitigate Disuse-Induced Deficits in Cancellous Bone. Gravitational and Space Research." 2018;
• Bokhari RS, et al. "Looking on the horizon; potential and unique approaches to developing radiation countermeasures for deep space travel." ; Pubmed PMID: 36336356
• 2. Sherman KM, Williams DK, Welsh CA, Cooper AM, Falck A, Huggins S, Bokhari RS, Gaddy D, McKelvey KD, Dawson LA, Suva LJ. "Low bone mass and impaired fracture healing in mouse models of Trisomy21 (Down syndrome)." Bone. 2022 Jun; Pubmed PMID: 35716916
• 3. Dolan CP, Imholt F, Yang TJ, Bokhari R, Gregory J, Yan M, Qureshi O, Zimmel K, Sherman KM, Falck A, Yu L, Leininger E, Brunauer R, Suva LJ, Gaddy D, Dawson LA, Muneoka K "Mouse Digit Tip Regeneration Is Mechanical Load Dependent." J Bone Miner Res.. 2022 Dec 7; Pubmed PMID: 34783092