Arin Bhattacharjee PhD

Arin Bhattacharjee

Arin Bhattacharjee
PhD

Professor

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences


Specialty/Research Focus

Gene Expression; Ion channel kinetics and structure; Membrane Transport (Ion Transport); Molecular and Cellular Biology; Neurobiology; Pathophysiology; Signal Transduction

Contact Information
955 Main Street
Room 3226
Buffalo, New York 14203
Phone: (716) 829-2800
Fax: (716) 829-2801
ab68@buffalo.edu



Professional Summary:

Neuronal firing patterns are highly diverse because neurons regulate a wide variety of different behaviors and physiological functions including pain, cognition and memory. Whether a neuron exhibits regular spiking, burst firing, adaptation or high frequency firing will largely be determined by which specific ion channel genes a neuron expresses. I am an ion channel biologist. I study the regulation of ion channels by intracellular factors and kinases and I study how they are trafficked in and out of the neuronal membrane. In addition to patch-clamp electrophysiology, molecular biology and biochemistry, my lab has used transgenic mouse models and in vivo gene knockdown approaches to determine how ion channels and ion channel interacting proteins contribute to pain behavior. I also develop pharmacological tools to target ion channel trafficking and some of these molecules have led to filings of patents to treat human disease.

Education and Training:

  • Fellowship, Pharmacology/Neuroscience, Yale University (2003)
  • PhD, Pharmacology, University of South Alabama (1999)
  • Certificate, Pharmacology Certificate, University of Alberta (1992)
  • BS, Biology, University of Alberta (1991)

Employment:

  • Professor, Pharmacology & Toxicology, State University of New York at Buffalo (2023-present)
  • Associate Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology, State University of New York at Buffalo (2013–2023)
  • Director of Undergraduate Education, Pharmacology and Toxicology, State University of New York at Buffalo (2017–2022)
  • Assistant Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology, State University of New York at Buffalo (2005–2013)
  • Associate Research Scientist, Pharmacology, Yale University (2003–2005)
  • Postdoctoral Associate, Pharmacology, Yale University (1999–2003)

Research Expertise:

  • Electrophysiologist: Basic methods in cellular and neuronal electrophysiology
  • Neuropharmacologist: Developing pharmacological tools to treat pain
  • Neuroscientist: biophysics of neurons, synaptic plasticity, ion channels, pain
  • Pain behaviorist: Methods in animal pain behavior
  • Pharmacologist: principles in pharmacology, drugs

UB 2020 Strategic Strengths:

  • Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan

Grants and Sponsored Research:

  • June 2022–May 2027
    The role of the nociceptor endocytosis in inflammatory pain
    National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $1,907,471
  • September 2019–March 2024
    Disrupting ion channel scaffolding to treat neuropathic pain
    National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $1,901,925
  • April 2019–March 2021
    The role of the AP2 adaptor complex in inflammatory pain
    National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $426,725
  • September 2012–June 2017
    Ionic Mechanisms Underlying Dorsal Root Ganglion Excitability
    National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $1,677,856
  • February 2008–January 2010
    John R. Oishei Foundation
    John R. Oishei Foundation
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
    $220,000
  • January 2006–December 2008
    American Diabetes Association - Junior Faculty Award
    American Diabetes Association
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $414,000

Patents:

  • Analgesic and Anesthetic Peptides and Other Agents The invention provides cell-penetrating peptidomimetics and methods of using these peptides to treat inflammatory pain, and provide analgesia (2020)
  • Peptides and Other Agents for Treating Pain, Inducing Local Analgesia and Increasing Pain Sensitivity The invention provides cell-penetrating peptidomimetics and methods of using these peptides to treat pain, induce analgesia or increase sensitivity to pain (2018)

Journal Articles:

See all (28 more)

Professional Memberships:

  • International Association for the Study of Pain (2018–present)
  • Society for Neuroscience (2000–present)

Presentations:

  • "Targeting Dorsal Root Ganglion Endocytosis to treat Pain" The State University of New York at Buffalo, Department of Pediatrics (2020)
  • "Targeting dorsal root ganglion neuronal endocytosis to treat inflammatory pain" University of Cincinnati (2019)
  • "Treating pain by causing ion channel traffic jams" University of Connecticut, UCONN Health (2018)
  • "K(Na) channels make it less painful" University of California, San Diego (2016)
  • "K(Na) channels and DRG neuron excitability" The Midwest Pain Interest Group Annual Meeting, University of Chicago (2011)
  • "The Contribution of KNa Channels to DRG Neuron Excitability" Virginia Commonwealth University (2011)
  • "Exogenous DNA induces hyperexcitability in dorsal root ganglion neurons. An innate immune response?" Harvard Medical School, Children’s Hospital (2010)
  • "Potassium channels: characterization, modulation, function" Karolinska Institutet (2010)
  • "Sodium-activated Potassium Channels" Sanofi-Aventis Rescherce et Développement (2009)
  • "Sodium-activated Potassium Channel Regulation" The State University of New York at Buffalo, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (2009)
  • "The functional roles of sodium-activated potassium channels in the nervous system" The State University of New York at Buffalo, Department of Oral Biology, (2006)
  • "Sodium-activated potassium channels: What?!" The State University of New York at Buffalo, Department of Physiology and Biophysics (2006)
See all (2 more)

Service Activities:

  • Frontiers Cellular Neuroscience; Review Editor (2021–2022)
  • PhD Program in the Biomedical Sciences (PPBS) Steering Committee member (2017–2019)
  • Undergraduate Education; Director (2017–2022)
  • National Institutes of Health; ad hoc reviewer (2016–2022)
  • Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Animal Protocols Review (2010–2013)
  • Pharmacology Undergraduate Advisory Committee (2007–2022)
  • Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology Chair Search Committee member (2007–2008)
  • Neuroscience Program Steering Committee (2006–2009)
  • Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in the Biomedical Sciences Admissions; Committee member (2006–2008)
  • ; President of the Society for Neuroscience Buffalo Chapter (2005–2007)
  • Cell Reports, Pain, FASEB Journal, Molecular Pharmacology, Scientific Reports, Journal of Physiology, Brain Research, Neuroscience, Neuroscience Letters, Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Pharmacology Reviews, Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, American Journal of Physiology: Cell Physiology, Cancer Letters, Cancer Investigations; Reviewer (2005–2022)

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Contact Information

955 Main Street
Room 3226
Buffalo, New York 14203
Phone: (716) 829-2800
Fax: (716) 829-2801
ab68@buffalo.edu