Scientist with an art brush

After completion of my master’s, I enrolled for a PhD in Pharmacology at Poona College of Pharmacy, India. I was engaged in studying metabolic disease-induced depression using animal models. My study focused on understanding the bidirectional relationship and the role of inflammation, insulin resistance, gut hormones, HPA axis and oxidative stress. Using state of the art techniques of preclinical studies at Dr. Urmila Aswar’s lab, I learned about behavioural models, surgical techniques, the mechanism of action of drugs, pharmacodynamics, dose-response relation and toxicology.

While I really enjoyed the experimental pharmacology, I developed a keen interest in statistical analysis and writing research papers. I was drawn to the format of data presentation – particularly the schematic images and graphical illustrations which further helped me with my research publications and presentations at various scientific conferences. 

During my school days, biology always fascinated me, because of the illustrations used profusely to convey biological concepts. I would imbibe the scientific message in the image - be it an organ, structure or its function - and then try to feel the aesthetics. Those images that I did not find interesting I would redraw and try to see if I could improve the look, while keeping the science intact. As I studied for my bachelor’s in Pharmacy, I chose modules in physiology and pharmacology, where I appreciated the complex images and the meaning they convey. As labelling is an integral part of the image, the fonts used serve to enhance the beauty, and I would experiment with their usage. 

As I specialised in Pharmacology, I became captivated by the beauty of neuroscience. I immediately realised that this area is the most fertile for an artist to test their creativity. I would spend hours deconstructing an image in my mind, enrich and then draw it out on paper to evaluate its impact. I would always strive to find depth in a 2-D image and look for the ways to symbolise dynamics in organs like the brain, heart and eyes. I started experimenting with artworks that might express the huge challenges of patients with neurological disorders - trying to encapsulate their state of mind following the complete breakdown of the personality. In a way, I found an avenue to empathise with the pain and anguish of the afflicted person.

I started working with World Women in Neuroscience with Dr. Pamela Butler (an associate Professor of Psychiatry from New York University School of Medicine) and designed theme-based illustrations for their newsletters.

The first step in creating a new illustration is to refine a clear concept and then do in-depth research on it. This is followed by designing some rough initial sketches and conceptual stages before it finally comes to fruition. The next step is choosing a medium, which can be an oil painting, pencil sketch, or digital media such as Adobe Illustrator or Procreate. For scientific illustrations, as well as Biorender there are freely-accessible websites such as NIH Bioart, Scidraw, Smart-Servier, openscienceart, and Bioicons,  which can be beneficial and resourceful for early career researchers.

The artwork above depicts Alzheimer's. The most challenging part as the disease progresses is often letting go of the cherished memories. In the artwork, a woman suffering from Alzheimer's disease is depicted with her lifelong memories represented by colourful birds and butterflies. The memories are seen escaping from her mind and fading, shown in black and white. Through the artwork I tried to explain a detached stare and a sense of disorientation, reflecting the struggle with cognitive decline and the gradual loss of memories and understanding. Although it is a tough time for the loved ones, it is essential to develop empathy to better understand the patient's feelings, leading to more effective and compassionate care.