Dr. Bhargava developed an interest in immunology early in medical school at the Christian Medical College in Vellore, India. He then completed his neurology training at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and while there began research in the field of multiple sclerosis (MS). Following his neurology training he completed a 3-year fellowship at the Johns Hopkins University in neuroimmunology and neurological infections focusing on MS clinical care and research. His fellowship training was supported by a Sylvia Lawry physician fellowship award from the National MS Society.

His main research interests include studying the role of inflammation in the meninges in progression of MS disease. He is currently involved in a trial testing the utility of injecting a drug called rituximab into the spinal fluid in patients with progressive MS. He is also developing an animal model of the process of meningeal inflammation to test other potential treatments. This work is supported by awards from the National MS Society, Race to Erase MS and the American Academy of Neurology.

He is also actively involved in studying the role of measuring lipids and small molecule metabolites in serum and plasma to help identify new biomarkers for improved diagnosis and prognosis of the disease. These methods could also help in better tracking the effects of various interventions and in personalizing the treatment of patients with MS.