Shivani Maffi is currently working as researcher in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Addiction biology, Neuroscience, Mitochondrial trafficking, Confocal & Multiphoton Microscopy at University of Texas Health Science Center. Her specialties are Microscopy Consultancy.

Dr. Maffi's laboratory is interested in understanding mechanisms that control mitochondrial organization and trafficking in brain cells that are associated with several neurological disorders. Mitochondria control cell survival or cell death by performing multiple and sometimes dissimilar functions (energy metabolism, movement and programmed cell death) while responding to both endogenous as well as exogenous perturbations. This mitochondrial synergy and execution of their functions gains ultimate eminence in the long neuronal processes, where mitochondria are critically positioned. By using cellular, biochemical, state-of-the art microscopy and molecular biology techniques, Dr. Maffi studies how alcohol alters mitochondrial dynamics and induces oxidative stress. The present studies are not limited to alcohol but, simply used as a model system, given the clear link between alcohol and oxidative stress. The temporal movement and spatial distribution of mitochondria in cells has the potential to develop into a tool to differentiate between healthy and diseased cells.