Program Design & Grants Management
My background combines deep scientific expertise with proven program-building capabilities to design, structure, and operationalize research funding programs—driving them from concept through execution. I bring both scientific and program management experience, including PMP certification, to the design and delivery of effective research funding programs. Having worked as a researcher and then a program strategist, I understand the whole grant process from both sides—request for proposals, proposal development, review, funding decisions, and post-award management.
In my current position at Conscience, I played a key role in launching the Developing Medicines Through Open Science (DMOS) program—leading it end-to-end through strategic planning, application frameworks, review processes, grantee agreements, and an integrated grants management system that streamlines pre-award, award, and post-award processes to ensure compliance and efficient program delivery.
In my previous role at the Weston Brain Institute, I managed funding portfolios in translational research, identifying and supporting high-potential projects in preclinical and clinical research, optimizing funding processes, and ensuring alignment with scientific and organizational priorities.
Core expertise: Building research funding programs from the ground up through systematic design, strategic portfolio management, and evidence-based approaches that integrate deep scientific knowledge with operational excellence to drive sustainability, impact, and scientific innovation.
Leadership & Governance
My governance experience includes serving on the Board of Directors of mission-driven organizations, where I contributed to program leadership, strategic oversight, and board-level decision-making that supported organizational growth.
As Membership Director on the Board of Directors for the Iroquoia Bruce Trail Club, I focused on expanding and engaging the membership base through outreach initiatives, partnership opportunities, and efforts to enhance member value in support of retention and organizational sustainability.
As Vice President of Programs for the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) Baltimore Chapter, I led initiatives to support career advancement for women in science, including professional development workshops, networking sessions, and community-building events.
Core expertise: Strategic stakeholder engagement, organizational development, and program execution in mission-driven environments.
Publications
Ling, J. P., Chhabra, R., Merran, J. D., Schaughency, P. M., Wheelan, S. J., Corden, J. L., & Wong, P. C. (2016). PTBP1 and PTBP2 repress nonconserved cryptic exons. Cell Reports, 17(1), 104-113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2016.08.071
LaClair, K. D., Donde, A., Ling, J. P., Jeong, Y. H., Chhabra, R., Martin, L. J., & Wong, P. C. (2016). Depletion of TDP-43 decreases fibril and plaque β-amyloid and exacerbates neurodegeneration in an Alzheimer’s mouse model. Acta Neuropathologica, 132(6), 859-873. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-016-1637-y
Sarowar, T., Chhabra, R., Vilella, A., Boeckers, T. M., Zoli, M., & Grabrucker, A. M. (2016). Activity and circadian rhythm influence synaptic Shank3 protein levels in mice. Journal of Neurochemistry, 138(6), 887-895. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnc.13709
Chhabra, R. (2015). Delivery of bioactive substances into the CNS using nanomedical approaches for the treatment of synaptopathies [Doctoral dissertation, International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine, Ulm University
Chhabra, R., Tosi, G., & Grabrucker, A. M. (2015). Emerging use of nanotechnology in the treatment of neurological disorders. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 21(22), 3111-3130. https://doi.org/10.2174/1381612821666150531164124
Chhabra, R., Ruozi, B., Vilella, A., Belletti, D., Mangus, K., Pfaender, S., Sarowar, T., Boeckers, T. M., Zoli, M., Forni, F., Vandelli, M. A., Tosi, G., & Grabrucker, A. M. (2015). Application of polymeric nanoparticles for CNS targeted zinc delivery in vivo. CNS & Neurological Disorders-Drug Targets, 14(8), 1041-1053. https://doi.org/10.2174/1871527314666150821111455
Chhabra, R., Grabrucker, A. M., Veratti, P., Belletti, D., Boeckers, T. M., Vandelli, M. A., Forni, F., Tosi, G., & Ruozi, B. (2014). Characterization of lysosome-destabilizing DOPE/PLGA nanoparticles designed for cytoplasmic drug release. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 471(1-2), 349-357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2014.05.054
Grabrucker, S., Proepper, C., Mangus, K., Eckert, M., Chhabra, R., Schmeisser, M. J., Boeckers, T. M., & Grabrucker, A. M. (2014). The PSD protein ProSAP2/Shank3 displays synapto-nuclear shuttling which is deregulated in a schizophrenia-associated mutation. Experimental Neurology, 253, 126-137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2013.12.015
Tosi, G., Vilella, A., Chhabra, R., Schmeisser, M. J., Boeckers, T. M., Ruozi, B., Vandelli, M. A., Forni, F., Zoli, M., & Grabrucker, A. M. (2014). Insight on the fate of CNS-targeted nanoparticles. Part II: Intercellular neuronal cell-to-cell transport. Journal of Controlled Release, 177, 96-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2014.01.004
Baecker, T., Mangus, K., Pfaender, S., Chhabra, R., Boeckers, T. M., & Grabrucker, A. M. (2014). Loss of COMMD1 and copper overload disrupt zinc homeostasis and influence an autism-associated pathway at glutamatergic synapses. Biometals, 27(4), 715-730. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-014-9764-1
Grabrucker, S., Jannetti, L., Eckert, M., Gaub, S., Chhabra, R., Pfaender, S., Mangus, K., Reddy, P. P., Rankovic, V., Schmeisser, M. J., Kreutz, M. R., Ehret, G., Boeckers, T. M., & Grabrucker, A. M. (2014). Zinc deficiency dysregulates the synaptic ProSAP/Shank scaffold and might contribute to autism spectrum disorders. Brain, 137(1), 137-152. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awt303
Grabrucker, A. M., Chhabra, R., Belletti, D., Forni, F., Vandelli, M. A., Ruozi, B., & Tosi, G. (2013). Nanoparticles as blood–brain barrier permeable CNS targeted drug delivery systems. In G. Fricker, M. Ott, & A. Mahringer (Eds.), The Blood Brain Barrier (BBB): Topics in Medicinal Chemistry (Vol. 10, pp. 71-89). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/7355_2013_22
Atherton, J., Kurbatskaya, K., Bondulich, M., Croft, C. L., Garwood, C. J., Chhabra, R., Wray, S., Jeromin, A., Hanger, D. P., & Noble, W. (2013). Calpain cleavage and inactivation of the sodium calcium exchanger-3 occur downstream of Aβ in Alzheimer’s disease. Aging Cell, 13(1), 49-59. https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.12148