Dr. Arnab Datta

Research Interest/ Area

Ischemic stroke, Dementias, Target and Biomarker Discovery, Pharmacology, Protein Mass Spectrometry, Bioinformatics and Cell signalling

Research

• Ischemic Stroke & Non-Alzheimer’s Dementias

Stroke is the second most common cause of death after ischemic heart disease and the predominant cause of adult morbidity with limited treatment option. As late as 2000, India was ranked among the countries lacking sufficient research data on stroke and dementias. However, there is sufficient data to state that these are very much on the rise and poised to become a major threat.

Our laboratory uses a multi-disciplinary systems approach to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of ischemic stroke and dementias. We seek to understand how perturbations in protein expression and post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation mediate neurovascular dysfunction in brain injury and repair. A bench to bedside approach comprising of in vitro, in vivo models, human post-mortem brain tissue and patient plasma sample is adopted to detect the deregulated proteins at the cellular and tissue levels in pre-clinical models and clinical samples. We use a combination of tools, including but not limited to biochemical, flow cytometric, molecular biological assays and protein mass spectrometry. These laboratory approaches are complemented by parallel informatics, Bayesian statistics, and extensive mining of prior literature to propose and validate new hypothesis. In addition, our systems level curated datasets will provide new information resource for the basic and clinical research community and facilitate meta-analysis.

The ultimate aim is to assess novel strategies for neuroprotection and restoration through the discovery of potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers.

Publications                                                                                                                                            Full list:

1. Datta A*, Chai YL, Tan JM, Lee JH, Francis PT, Chen CP, Sze SK, Lai MKP.* An iTRAQ-based proteomic analysis reveals dysregulation of neocortical SYNPO in Lewy body Dementias. Molecular Brain 2017, 10(1):36. (*co-corresponding author)
2. Datta A, Chen CP, Sze SK. Discovery of prognostic biomarker candidates of Lacunar Infarction by quantitative proteomics of microvesicles enriched plasma. PLoS ONE 2014, 9 (4), e94663
3. Datta A, Akatsu H, Heese K, Sze SK. Quantitative Clinical Proteomic Study of Autopsied Human Infarcted Brain Specimens to Elucidate the Deregulated Pathways in Ischemic Stroke Pathology. Journal of Proteomics. 2013;91:556-68.
4. Datta A, Jingru Q, Khor TH, Teo MT, Heese K, Sze SK. Quantitative neuroproteomics of an in vivo rodent model of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury reveals a temporal regulation of novel pathophysiological molecular markers. Journal of Proteome Research 2011;10:5199-213.
5. Datta A, Park JE, Li X, Zhang H, Ho ZS, Heese K, Lim, SK, Tam JP, Sze SK. Phenotyping of an in vitro model of ischemic penumbra by iTRAQ-based shotgun quantitative proteomics. Journal of Proteome Research 2010;9:472-84.

Siu Kwan Sze, Christopher Chen, Arnab Datta, Palau Xavier Ramon Gallart.  Plasma Microvesicle Biomarkers for Ischemic Stroke. United States patent WO 2015/038065 A1, Mar 19, 2015

Opening for JRF Position

Position Description

A Junior Research Fellow position is available at the Yenepoya Research Center in the Translational Neuroscience laboratory headed by Dr. Arnab Datta. The Datta lab combines various pre-clinical models and comparable clinical samples to discover potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers for ischemic stroke using a systems biological approach. Stroke is the most debilitating among all neurological disorders and the predominant cause of adult morbidity with limited treatment option. We seek to understand how perturbations in protein expression and post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation mediate neurovascular dysfunction in brain injury and repair. In the pursuit, we use a combination of biochemical, flow cytometric, proteomics, bioinformatics, molecular biological tools. It is expected that as a member of this lab, one will have an opportunity to be exposed to all these areas. We value a vibrant and collaborative environment where lab members share ideas, reagents and expertise and desire to work on understanding the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke.

The current project aims to 1) establish an in vitro oxygen glucose deprivation model using cultured brain cells, 2) perform phenotyping of the model using an array of tools 3) characterize the model using protein mass spectrometry 4) understand the cellular signaling using a data-driven systems approach.

Our lab is located in the Yenepoya University campus in Mangalore. The research facilities at YRC are outstanding. It has state-of-the-art facilities for protein mass spectrometry, FACS, and microscopy. The position will be fully funded by the YRC. The successful candidate will interact with a diverse group of scientists with backgrounds in biochemistry, molecular biology, stem cell biology, nanoscience and chemistry. The position offers a generous salary and benefits package as well as the possibility of further career advancement if performance is excellent.

Some sample references include Datta et al. Mol. Brain 2017 [PMID: 28800743], Datta et al. J Prot. Res. 2010. [PMID: 19916522]

Qualifications

The successful candidate must have a M.Sc./M.Pharm. in a relevant discipline (biology, chemistry, pharmacy, engineering, medicine).

Prior hands-on experience with cell culture will be useful. Experience in teaching, pharma R&D or research laboratory will be preferred. Having publications in peer-reviewed journals will be an added advantage. Other requirements include ability to work independently following training, strong verbal and written communication skills in English, strong motivation and most importantly a high level of creativity and enthusiasm for science.

To Apply

Interested applicants should send a CV, names of 2 references, and a brief summary (max. 1 page, font: 11, Arial) of their future career goals to Dr. Arnab Datta: arnabdattaju@gmail.com. Please write “JRF application” in the subject header.

Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience