Sanjukta Chakraborty, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Dr. Sanjukta Chakraborty is currently an Assistant Professor in the Division of Lymphatic Biology, Department of Medical Physiology, School of Medicine at Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College Station, Texas. She received her Ph.D. in cancer genetics from the Indian Institute of Science, and completed her training as an American Heart Association Postdoctoral fellow in Lymphatic Biology at Texas A&M Health Science Center. Her research program encompasses key facets of basic cancer biology and translational drug discovery for lymph node metastatic tumors. Presence of tumor cells in the draining lymph nodes is a key indicator of disease aggressiveness and poor patient outcome. However, targeting of lymphatic metastatic cancers has been challenged by lack of focused therapies. By constantly innovating, the lab is accelerating an ambitious onco-lymphatic program and building a foundation of a rich pipeline of potential first- and best-in-class therapeutics. Dr. Chakraborty’s research is funded by multiple grants from the American Heart Association (AHA), Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), the National Institute of Health (NIH) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). She has received several scientific awards including the Microcirculatory Society Award for Excellence in Lymphatic Research, MCS Award for Outstanding Investigator, Outstanding Reviewer Award and has been nominated as a protégé to the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science & Technology (TAMEST). She serves as an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Oncology and is on the editorial board of Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology. She also serves on several grant review panels and study sections as well as in national leadership roles, as a faculty representative to the Council of Faculty and Academic Societies (CFAS) and has been elected to the Executive Council of the Microcirculatory Society.
Selected Awards/Honors
- ASCEND: Research Leadership Fellow, Office of the President, Texas A&M University (2023)
- Fred-Sanfillipo Lectureship Award, American Society of Investigative Pathology (2023)
- Designated CPRIT Scholar, CPRIT Regional Excellence in Cancer Center, Texas A&M University (2023)
- Distinguished Mentor Award, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health (2023)
- Elected to Executive Council, Microcirculatory Society (2023)
- Faculty Representative, Council of Faculty and Academic Societies (CFAS) (2022)
- NCFDD Faculty Success Fellow (Spring, 2022)
- Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science & Technology, Class of 2020 Protégé (2020)
- Outstanding Reviewer Award, Experimental Biology & Medicine (2020)
- Microcirculatory Society Award for Outstanding Young Investigator (2018)
- American Heart Association National Scientist Development Grant (2017)
- Microcirculatory Society Award for Excellence in Lymphatic Research (2013)
- CVH Rao Memorial Medal for Best Ph.D Dissertation of the Year (2009)
Research Personnel
Priyanka Banerjee, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Dr Banerjee is investigating novel FDA approved therapeutic inhibitors to target lymph node metastasis in liver cancers
Chanyanuch Nakapakorn (M2)
Medical Student Research Scholar
Johnny Odeh
Undergraduate Summer Research Fellow
Undergraduate Researchers
Niyanshi Gaddam
Major: Biology Honors
Class of 2023
Rahul Chauhan
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Class of 2022
Ashlynn Singh
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Class of 2022
Lab Alumni
- Catherine Seelig, BS (Current Position: Medical Assistant, Austin)
- Aishwarya Viswanathan, MS (Current Position:Research Associate II- Editing Technologies team at CRISPR Therapeutics)
- Cassidy Weeks (Current Position: Medical Student at University of North Texas, Dallas)
- Julia Neiswander, BS (Current Position: Medical Student at University of North Texas, Dallas)
- Brittany Vrooman, MS
- Sumeet Singh, BS
- Saurabh Dhole, BS
- Rachel Cargile, BS
- Lavanya Venkatasamy, (Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, TAMHSC)
- Catalina Lopez-Gelston, BS
- Samuel Padgham
- Daaniya Syeda