Sanjoy K. Bhattacharya, Ph.D.

Professor of Ophthalmology Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
Publications
Biography: Sanjoy Bhattacharya is a tenured Professor at University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA. Professor Bhattacharya completed master’s degrees, in Biotechnology, in Bioengineering from Banaras Hindu University, and a PhD degree in Bioengineering from Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi, India. He subsequently did fellowships in Pharmacology and Structural Biology at McGill University,...
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Isabella Moceri, B.S.

Research Associate II

Ms. Moceri is a mass spectrometrist who is also deeply involved in axon regeneration research. She multitasks to design and execute mass spectrometry experiments and data analysis using ProteomeDiscoverer, Compound Discoverer, and LipidSearch. She also orders supplies and handles experimental models as needed for ongoing axon regeneration studies. She partially supports MIMRC in fee-based mass spectrometry studies. 

Representative publications

• PMID: 39062450
• PMID: 37448735

Sean Meehan, B.S.

Ph.D. Candidate in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology

Sean is interested in using mass spectrometry methods to discover biomarkers for regenerative therapeutic development. Sean graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. He worked as a research chemist at Field Forensics Inc., where he developed explosive and narcotic (fentanyl and derivatives) detection equipment using raman spectroscopy, thin layer chromatography, and colorimetry. Sean is now pursuing a Ph.D. evaluating the effects of mitochondrial phosphatidylserine decarboxylase on retinal ganglion cell membrane fluidity, mitochondrial dynamics, and axonal growth. For his thesis, Sean is using a combination of LC-MS tissue/mitochondrial lipidomics, solvatochromic dye quantification, and mitochondrial network analysis by confocal microscopy and in vivo optic nerve crush models. He is also pursuing projects evaluating identified metabolomic pathways from highly regenerative organisms in lower regenerative mammals to find regenerative therapeutics. He is skilled at developing methodology for untargeted “omic” profiling techniques (metabolomics, lipidomics, proteomics) on ocular tissues. He is also interested in using imaging mass spectrometry to further our spatial understanding of metabolomic and lipidomic pathways. 

Representative publications

• PMID: 37192491
• PMID: 37383800
• PMID: 39062450

Maria Gonzalez Cabrera, B.S., M.S.

Research Associate I

Ms. Cabrera Gonzalez joined the lab as a student in the Master of Biomedical Science at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She is deeply involved in axon regeneration research with the comprehension of multiple projects such as the PTEN/mTOR project and the ATP8B2 project. She multitasks to execute mass spectrometry experiments using our TSQ Triple Quadrupole mass spectrometer and assists with ordering, animal handling, and all other lab management tasks. Her research has been presented in the Eastern Atlantic Student Research Forum. 

• PMID: 38977599
• PMID: 38977600

Guoqiang Zhu, M.D., Ph.D.

International Research Scholar

Guoqiang Zhu is a Chinese ophthalmic clinical doctor with a medical doctorate degree. He has long been engaged in basic research related to the pathogenesis of fungal keratitis and is currently conducting in-depth multi-omics research on axonal regeneration related to optic nerve injury in the laboratory. He can independently establish an animal model of optic nerve injury and perform subsequent data analysis and processing.

• PMID: 39478855
• PMID: 34043748

Xing Du, M.D.

International Research Scholar

Xing Du, a visiting scholar from China, is an ophthalmologist who also teaches at Shandong First Medical University. He is proficient in diagnosing and treating diseases such as fundus diseases, eye injuries, cataracts, etc. He hopes to engage in research on optic nerve injury in the future. He is currently engaged in TM cell culture and animal experiments.

• PMID:36436170
• PMID:35300292
• PMID:25409954

Amr Almobayed, M.D.

International Research Scholar

Dr. Almobayed is focused on advancing research in ophthalmology and regenerative medicine. After completing medical school and beginning an ophthalmology residency in Egypt, he moved to the US to deepen his research in glaucoma and vision restoration. Proficient in glaucoma animal models, particularly the optic nerve crush model, he has mastered essential techniques, including optic nerve crush, intravitreal injections, and comprehensive assessments such as OCT, fundus imaging, PERG, IOP measurements, and optokinetics to evaluate pre- and post-treatment effects. Dr. Almobayed also prepares specific metabolite concentrations for in vitro retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) isolation and in vivo intravitreal injection, testing them to identify those that promote axon growth. As a final step, he uses confocal microscopy to image optic nerve and eye globe sections, allowing for detailed analysis of regenerative outcomes. Driven by a passion for restoring vision, Dr. Almobayed explores how adjustments in vitreous humor metabolite concentrations can stimulate axon regeneration in glaucoma patients.

• PMID: 39458922
• PMID: 38977585

Molly Kennedy, B.S.

Medical Student  

Ms. Kennedy is a medical student conducting research through the Dean’s DREAM scholarship at the University of Miami. She is involved in axon regeneration research in the lab through the PTEN project and collaborations with other outside labs. She is currently working on the PTEN project and on proteomic, lipidomic and metabolomic analysis of HDAC3KO mice. She is aiming to pursue a residency in ophthalmology.

• PMID: 38977604

Michael Coronado, B.S.

Medical Student

As a Singerman and Schwartz Research Scholar, Michael joined the lab as a fourth-year medical student from Temple University. He is deeply involved with axon regeneration research. He assists in the design and execution of our PTEN/mTOR project and is working closely with collaborators on omics-based research. He is able to perform data analysis using MS-DIAL, compound discoverer, lipid search, proteome discoverer, and mzMine.

Sabrina Mas, B.S.

Graduate Student

Sabrina is a recent graduate from the University of Miami, now pursuing a master’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology. She is a dedicated graduate researcher leading a proteomic project that investigates the protective effects of a GHRH antagonist on retinal ganglion cells following optic nerve injury. In addition, she contributes to research on the mTOR pathway’s role in axon regeneration. Ms. Mas is skilled in confocal microscopy, animal handling, and histological techniques like staining, enabling her to conduct detailed neurobiological analyses that contribute to advancements in her field. She is driven by a passion for translational research in neurobiology and aims to pursue a career in medicine.

Elisabeth Paskali, B.S.

Graduate Student

Elisabeth graduated from the University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign in 2024 with a degree in molecular and cellular biology. During undergrad she was involved in a kinesiology lab. She is specifically interested in neurology and pharmacology. Within the lab, she is working on microglial isolation and culturing. 

She is co-author of two articles (both in press): A Primer on General Lipid Extraction Methods (Springer-Nature) and Lipid Contribution to Membrane Curvature (Elsevier).

Nicole Ramones, B.S.

Graduate Student

Nicole is working on a project pertaining to axon regeneration in animal models. She performs retinal flat mount staining and imaging. She also performed in vitro neurite-axon studies, particular to tracing growing neurites and axons due to different metabolite treatments in primary retinal ganglion cells. She is involved in understanding how lipids provide curvature to growing axons. 

She is co-author of two articles (both in press): A Primer on General Lipid Extraction Methods (Springer-Nature) and Lipid Contribution to Membrane Curvature (Elsevier).

Alejandra Hernandez

Lab personnel

Alejandra is working on neurite tracings of regenerated axons. She has travelled to Indianapolis to attend the AOPT meeting 2023 on a NIH R13 travel fellowship.

Victoria Pereira

Lab personnel

Victoria performs immunohistochemistry, cryosectioning, and gel electrophoresis. She co-authored an article on "Metabolite Analog Induced Proteome Changes" and is currently working on PAOX intensity data for polyamines.

Sofia Yarosh

Lab personnel

Sofia is sectioning, imaging, and analyzing metabolomic data related to axon regeneration. She has publications on polyamines, lipid imaging, and RGC metabolomics.

Mirei Kuzukayan

Lab personnel

Mirei is currently working on the Optic Nerve Single Cell Omics Team (ONSCOT) to identify the cellular omics cluster in axon regeneration. Her focus is on metabolomics. She is well versed in sectioning and imaging.

Avani Singhal

Lab personnel

Avani is currently working with the metabolomics team to section globes and optic nerves. She is co-authored on a paper describing Melanin quantification by mass spectrometry (In press).

Jackson Watson

Lab personnel

Jackson is working on in vitro axon regeneration, neurite tracing, confocal imaging, and Sholl analysis.

Jackson Watson

Lab personnel

Claudia is investigating the role of fatty acid synthesis, axon regeneration, and learning to use different quantitative data analysis techniques.

Susanna Li

Lab personnel

Susanna is modifying an in vitro model of pseudoexfoliation  syndrome and analyzing the proteome data of the pseudoexfoliative material.