Dr. Atrayee Basu

I am a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Neuroscience at Yale School of Medicine, working with Dr. Stephen Strittmatter. My research focuses on the membrane-associated periodic skeleton (MPS) — a submembranous lattice of actin and spectrin that maintains axonal integrity — and how its regulation influences nerve regeneration. Using CRISPR-based screening in human iPSC-derived neurons, primary mouse cortical neurons, and in vivo models, I investigate the molecular regulators that control MPS assembly during injury and repair.

I did my PhD from National Brain Research Centre (NBRC), Manesar, India, supervised by Dr. Anindya Ghosh-Roy. My doctoral research addressed whether axonal regeneration following injury in adulthood leads to functional recovery in Caenorhabditis elegans. Using mechanosensory neurons and touch sensation as the model, I showed that a self-fusion mechanism between the neuron’s severed proximal and distal parts during regeneration leads to quick functional repair, regulated by the highly conserved miRNA let-7.

In another line of research, I investigated how the DAF-16/FOXO transcription factor in insulin/IIS signaling regulates guidance of the regrowing axon toward its proper postsynaptic target, in both cell-autonomous and non-autonomous manners.

I am a recipient of the Inspiring Science Award, 2019 from TNQ, India. My research has been featured in The Hindu, one of the leading English newspapers in India. You can find my detailed CV here. Other than research, I am a professional Indian classical dancer (Bharatanatyam), and I love painting and composing music.