Martha Bhattacharya, PhD
Clinical and Translational Oncology Program
Biography
B.A. in Biochemistry, Harvard University (2000)
PhD in Cell Biology, University of California San Francisco (UCSF) (2007)
Postdoctoral Research at Washington University School of Medicine (2008-2014)
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, St. Louis College of Pharmacy (2014-2016)
Assistant Professor of Neuroscience, University of Arizona (2017-present)
Cancer Focus
Our lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms of axon degeneration, the process that causes chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). I use both flies and mice, as well as cell culture models, to investigate how nerves respond to stress, how they degenerate, and to identify protective strategies to prevent nerve damage.
Selected Publications
Bhattacharya, M. R. C., S. Geisler, S. K. Pittman, R. A. Doan, C. C. Weihl, J. Milbrandt, and A. DiAntonio, "TMEM184b Promotes Axon Degeneration and Neuromuscular Junction Maintenance.", J Neurosci, vol. 36, issue 17, pp. 4681-9, 2016 04 27. PMCID: PMC4846669 PMID: 27122027
Bhattacharya, M. R. C., J. Gerdts, S. A. Naylor, E. X. Royse, S. Y. Ebstein, Y. Sasaki, J. Milbrandt, and A. DiAntonio, "A model of toxic neuropathy in Drosophila reveals a role for MORN4 in promoting axonal degeneration.", J Neurosci, vol. 32, issue 15, pp. 5054-61, 2012 Apr 11. PMCID: PMC3336743 PMID: 22496551
Bhattacharya, M. R. C., D. M. Bautista, K. Wu, H. Haeberle, E. A. Lumpkin, and D. Julius, "Radial stretch reveals distinct populations of mechanosensitive mammalian somatosensory neurons.", Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, vol. 105, issue 50, pp. 20015-20, 2008 Dec 16. PMCID: PMC2604979 PMID: 19060212
Li, R., M. Chase, S-K. Jung, P. J. S. Smith, and M. R. Loeken, "Hypoxic stress in diabetic pregnancy contributes to impaired embryo gene expression and defective development by inducing oxidative stress.", Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, vol. 289, issue 4, pp. E591-9, 2005 Oct. PMID: 15928021