Advaita Chakraborty

Professional summary:

Highly skilled researcher with 7 years extensive experience in molecular biology and biomedical sciences translational research. Proven expertise in running complex assays and executing projects that contribute to significant publications that advance knowledge in the field. Committed to driving forward translational research to improve understanding and treatment of diseases. Seeking to join a dynamic team at the forefront of research innovation.

• Mouse Work: Mouse handling and breeding, blood and tissue collection, mouse oral gavaging and intraperitoneal (IP) injections, glucose tolerance test (GTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT), genotyping.
• DNA and RNA isolation: DNA maxiprep and miniprep, DNA ligation and transformation, genomic DNA extraction, DNA extraction using gel extraction kit, RNA isolation using tryzol method and other isolation kits, cDNA synthesis, restriction enzyme digestion, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), quantitative PCR (qPCR).
• Other molecular biology techniques: Western blot, flow cytometry, ELISA, nuclear purification.
• In-vitro work: Maintenance of cell lines- mouse hippocampal cell line (HT22), mouse pancreatic beta cell line (MIN6), human pancreatic beta cell line (EndoC). Culturing primary rat cortical neurons and performing transfection related experiments using chemical method and electroporation.
• Tissue processing: Mouse spinal cord and brain sectioning using microtome and cryostat. Mouse pancreas and other tissue processing.
• Immunostaining: Immunohistochemistry and Immunofluorescence.
• Microscopy: Fluorescent and confocal microscope. Analyze beta cell mass and insulitis scoring.
• Data analysis: Analyze data and interpret results using GraphPad Prism.
• In situ hybridization: RNAscope to measure mRNA expression.

• Part of the team that studies pathogenesis of type-1 diabetes (T1D) and biology of the islet.
• Identification of biomarkers of β cell stress and death in T1D.
• Study the stress pathways that lead to destruction of β cells via immune cell infiltration.
• Role of integrated stress response (ISR) and unfolded protein response (UPR) in developing T1D.
• High fat diet studies related to type-2 diabetes.
• Study the effect of β cell specific gene knockout in disease progression.
• Investigate the pathways involved in pathogenesis of the disease with help of non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice model of T1D.
• Study the role of PERK inhibitor in development of T1D.
• Previously, part of a team that identified genes which promote axon regeneration in injured spinal cord.
• Successfully completed Mega Combo 1 and 2 studies where one, two, and three-way combinatorial transcriptional factors were taken into consideration to show axon regeneration in mice spinal cord after injury.
• Nuclear purification of cortical neurons targeted by specific gene factors to prepare ATAC-Seq and RNA-Seq libraries.
• Assisted in the explant assay where axon growth was studied in presence of various growth factors.
• Performed primary cell culture of cortical neurons to study the effect of numerous gene factors that promote axon growth in-vitro.
• Assisting undergraduates and research interns on various techniques and projects in the laboratory.
• Supervising and coordinating with the Animal Research Center (ARC) in regard to research animals used for various projects.

• KLF6 and STAT3 co-occupy regulatory DNA and functionally synergize to promote axon growth in CNS neurons, Wang Z., Mehra V., Simpson T. M., Maunze B., Chakraborty A., Holan L., Eastwood E., Blackmore G. M., Venkatesh I., Scientific Reports, 8, 12565. 2018
• Promotion of corticospinal tract growth by KLF6 requires an injury stimulus and occurs within four weeks of treatment, Audra A. Kramer, Greta M. Olson, Advaita Chakraborty, Murray G. Blackmore, Experimental Neurology, 339, 113644. 2021
• Co-occupancy identifies transcription factor co-operation for axon growth, Ishwariya Venkatesh, Vatsal Mehra, Zimei Wang, Matthew T. Simpson, Erik Eastwood, Advaita Chakraborty, Zac Beine, Derek Gross, Michael Cabahug, Greta Olson, Murray G. Blackmore, Nature Communications, 12, 2555. 2021
• Inhibition of the Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2-alpha PERK Decreases Risk of Autoimmune Diabetes in Mice, Muralidharan C, Huang F, Enriquez JR, Wang JE, Nelson JB, Nargis T, May SC, Chakraborty A, Figatner KT, Navitskaya S, Anderson CM, Calvo V, Surguladze D, Mulvihill MJ, Yi X, Sarkar S, Oakes SA, Webb-Robertson BJM, Sims EK, Eizirik DL, Nakayasu ES, Stokes ME, Tersey SA, Mirmira RG, JCI. 2024
• 12-Lipoxygenase inhibition suppresses islet immune and inflammatory responses and delays autoimmune diabetes in human gene replacement mice, Nargis T, Muralidharan C, Enriquez JR, Wang JE, Kaylan K, Chakraborty A, Pratuangtham S, Figatner K, Nelson JB, May SC, Nadler JL, Boxer MB, Maloney DJ, Tersey SA, Mirmira RG, JCI Insight. In review. 2024

• Society for Neuroscience (SFN) - 2019
• Midwest Islet Club (MIC) – 2021
• Midwest Islet Club (MIC) - 2022
• Endocrine Society (ENDO) - 2023
• Midwest Islet Club (MIC) – 2024