MEET our TEAM!
Debasish Sinha, PhD
Professor of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Adjunct faculty, Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Visiting Faculty, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Bengaluru, India.
For the past several years, I have been trying to understand the role of lysosomes in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells under normal health and disease conditions. I have generated several genetically engineered mice as tools to understand such functions. My major interest is to understand the mechanisms by which mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), a known negative regulator of autophagy, is recruited and how the signaling pathway proteins are assembled on the lysosomes of the RPE. Due to its pivotal and versatile governance of cellular well being, mTORC1 has been the focus of intensive study as a therapeutic target in age-related diseases. However, its broad influence on multiple critical cellular processes is also the root cause of considerable side effects when directly targeted by rapamycin or new generation rapalogs. We have identified unique proteins that rejuvenate lysosomal function of the RPE that could circumvent the side effects that result from directly targeting mTORC1 and to develop therapeutic target in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) disease. AMD is the leading cause of blindness among the elderly, and a significant public health problem. Our studies have clinical significance since they can provide a novel target for the development of therapeutic strategies to delay the development of pathologies seen in early AMD. When I am not doing research, I like to travel and meet people of different cultures around the world. My hobbies are boating and biking and I enjoy watching sports with my son.
Stacey Hose, BA
Senior Laboratory Manager
My name is Stacey and I am the Senior Laboratory Manager for the Sinha Lab. I joined Debasish Sinha at Johns Hopkins after completing my degree in biology from Western Maryland College, a small liberal arts school that has since been renamed McDaniel College. Over the years, I have been involved in several projects and published papers as a first/co-author as the lab works to decipher the role of retinal-pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells in health and disease. In addition to my research, I also manage the day-to-day operations of the lab, which includes ordering (reagents, supplies and animals), maintaining all necessary protocols, final preparation and submission of manuscripts to journals, preparation and managing federal, foundation and industry grants, and handling laboratory personnel needs. I manage the yearly budget and am the liaison for our many national and international collaborations. I relocated to the University of Pittsburgh with the lab from 2017-2024 and am back at Wilmer with our latest move. When I am not hard at work in the lab, my hobbies include photography, reading, and skiing.
J. Samuel Zigler, Jr., PhD
Senior Investigator
My career in Biology started at Bridgewater College in Virginia where I earned a BA in Biology before moving on to Duke University for graduate studies in the Department of Zoology. During my PhD work there, I serendipitously was introduced to the biology of the ocular lens and its major component proteins, the crystallins. After completing dissertation studies on comparative aspects of β- crystallin from a variety of vertebrate species, I moved to the Intramural Research Program of the National Eye Institute, NIH. For the next 30 years, I was part of the Lens Research Group there, studying various aspects of lens biology and cataractogenesis with primary interest in the structure and function of crystallins.
In 2007 I was invited to join Debasish Sinha's group at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine to continue collaborative studies on two spontaneous rat mutations. While there, I was able to pursue my interest in crystallins by studying the functions of βA3/A1-crystallin in ocular tissues other than the lens and was also involved in identifying the gene mutation responsible for the frogleg mutation. Since the Sinha Lab re-located to Pittsburgh, I am in the lab only infrequently, but serve as a sounding board and advisor as needed and also help with writing and editing manuscripts and grant proposals.
Sayan Ghosh, PhD
Postdoctoral Associate
I am a post-doctoral associate in the Sinha Lab. I am originally from India and I did my Ph.D from University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India in Neuroscience. I am an immunologist by training and I am currently working to unravel the molecular mechanisms associated with inflammatory transitions during the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). I was awarded the Fulbright fellowship for doctoral research-2015, and I did a portion of my PhD work in the Debasish Sinha's lab. I love science, performing new experiments and trying to know the unknown gives me the push to do better science every day. Apart from the research, I love to travel, meet new people, spend time with my friends and I am a complete foodie (I eat anything and everything-well mostly). One of my favorite past time is cooking and I tend to experiment with it a lot too, well luckily most of the time the food-related experiments turn out well, as any statistician would say, ‘statistically significant positive outcome’.
Sridhar Bammidi, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
I hail from Hyderabad, India. A seeker at heart and a learner for life. I pursued my PhD in Ocular Neuroscience, from PGIMER, Chandigarh and have been working on the retina and eye for the past 12 years. My interests primarily focus towards understanding retinal degeneration (I have worked both on glaucoma and AMD), understanding the autonomic cues behind them and trying to explore any underlying endogenous regenerative mechanisms which can be therapeutic for the disease. I am a developmental/regenerative/translational biology Philomath and believe that every degenerative disease has a cue for understanding its therapy or reversal in our body. The unknowns of the living body and its physiology thrills and motivates me to explore further.
Beyond science and research, I love cooking; it’s meditation for me. I am a very social person by nature and love to cook, feed and host friends. I am the ‘Monica Geller’ for my friends. I love to travel, learn new languages, meet people and explore cultures. I have immense interest in classical art forms. Anthropology of world religions attracts me a lot. The great diversity in our forms of social existence across the world and through time, simply amazes me.
Vishnu Babu, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
I’m a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Sinha Lab, where I dive headfirst into the captivating universe of mitochondria—remarkable cellular powerhouses with a flair for hosting the best molecular parties. Hailing from Kollam, India, my academic journey has taken me across the southern part of the country and beyond. I’m driven by a passion for uncovering the secrets of mitochondrial dynamics and exploring their roles in cancer, aging and retinal diseases.
My Ph.D. in Ocular Oncology from Maastricht University, Netherlands, allowed me to explore everything from metabolic shifts in retinoblastoma to pioneering new therapeutic strategies for retinal diseases. I joined Dr. Sinha’s lab to investigate the intriguing interplay between telomeres and mitochondrial cross-talk in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
When I’m not peering through microscopes or plotting my next big experiment, you might find me capturing life’s moments through my camera lens, experimenting with new recipes, or passionately cheering for Manchester United on match days. Curiosity and creativity fuel my pursuits, whether I'm exploring scientific mysteries or savoring a good meal. For me, life and science are about discovering the unknown and finding joy in every corner.
As Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said, “Dream, dream, dream. Dreams transform into thoughts and thoughts result in action.” This quote embodies my approach to science and life, where imagination and determination drive the journey of discovery.
Puja Dutta, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
I am a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Sinha Lab. I was born and brought up in Kolkata, India. I pursued my PhD in Physiology from University of Calcutta, India. My research work was prioritized on cytokine-receptor interactions and targeting the chemokine axis as a new, potential approach to treat S.aureus mediated inflammatory diseases. I had been specialized in Microbiology and Immunology. With a vision of extrapolating my current knowledge and thirst for intensive research, I have joined the Sinha Lab where my primary focus involves researching the molecular mechanisms underlying the inflammatory ocular diseases, emphasizing immunological and regenerative strategies for therapeutic advancements.
When I am not deep diving across the sea of mice and reagents, I indulge in my guilty pleasure: devouring web-series & belting out retro jams. I am also on a quest to annoy my passport by filling it with stamps from every country on my bucket list, one incredible journey at a time.
Lastly, I always believe “Hard work pays off if you are patient enough to see it through”, which is my life mantra that drives my pursuit of future goals.
Pooja Gautam, MS
Visiting Health Sciences Research Fellow
I am Pooja Gautam, a PhD scholar at BITS-Pilani, K K Birla Goa campus, India. Recently, I joined the Sinha Lab as a visiting graduate scholar. Prior to this, I completed my Master's degree in neuroscience and gained research experience at prestigious institutions such as NIMHANS and CSIR-CCMB. I have a strong passion for research, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work in the Sinha Lab and expand my knowledge. I enjoy exploring the city and experimenting with cooking during my free time.
Alumni:
1. Cheng Zhang, M.D. Postdoctoral Fellow, 6/2008-8/2010 (Currently he is a Professor of Ophthalmology, Henan Science and Technology University, First Affiliated Hospital, Luoyang, China).
2. Geetha Parthasarathy, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow, 6/2009-8/2010, (Currently a Junior faculty, Tulane National Primate Research Center, LA)
3. Gitanjali Sehrawat, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow, 01/2009-1/2010 (Currently a Clinical Scientist at Merck/ExecuPharm)
4. Tanusree Sen, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow, 1/2011-6/2012 (Currently a Research Assistant Professor at University of Pittsburgh)
5. Mallika Valapala, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow, 2/2011-5/2015 (Currently an Assistant Professor, Indiana University School of Optometry).
6. Andrew Klise, M.D. Research Student, 4/2005-6/2010 (Practicing Physician at Actify Neurotherapies, North Carolina).
7. Bonnie Patek, D.O. Laboratory Technician, 3/2009-6/2010 (Practicing Physician, Internal Medicine and General Gastroenterology, Pennsylvania).
8. Bo Ma, M.D. /Ph.D. student, 2009-2010 (Currently an Assistant Professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the 9th hospital in Shanghai, China).
9. Souvonik Adhya, Laboratory Technician, 5/2010-8/2011 (Medical Resident in Arkansas).
10. Celine Gongora, Ph.D. Visiting Scientist, 06/2010 (Lead Scientist at IRCM, INSERM086, Montpellier, France).
11. Bhaja K. Padhi, Ph.D. Visiting Scientist, 4/2011-9/2011 (Scientist at Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada).
12. Vaishnavi Sridhar, Volunteer, 6/2010-8/2010, (Undergraduate student, UMBC, Maryland).
13. Annum Shaikh, MPH., Research Technician, 6/2010-8/2010 (Currently an Epidemiologist with the Virginia Department of Health),
14. Fang Yang, Research Specialist, 1/2011-2/2012 (Research Specialist, JHMI)
15. Marisol Cano, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow, (Currently a Research Associate, Junior Faculty, at the Wilmer Eye Institute).
16. Vlad Damian, D.D.S., Research Technician, 4/2011-8/2011 (Practicing Dentist in Pennsylvania).
17. Bidesh Ghosh, Summer Student, 6/2011-8/2011 (United States Food & Drug Administration).
18. Piyush Padhi, Summer Student, 6/2011-8/2011, (Currently a Ph.D. student at Iowa State University).
19. Limin Gu, M.D. /Ph.D. student, 3/2012-6/2012, (Ophthalmologist, Shanghai, China).
20. Samhita Sengupta, Volunteer, 1/2013-8/2013 (Undergraduate student at University of Maryland).
21. Xi Peng, Ph.D. Student, 2/2015-1/2016 (Graduate student, Dr. Jeremy Nathan’s laboratory, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine).
22. Gregory Konar, Undergraduate Researcher & Woodrow Wilson Fellow, 8/2015-9/2017 (Ph.D. Student at Vanderbilt University).
23. Tianqi Luo, B.S., Laboratory Technician, 2/2016-2/2017 (Currently a Practicing Physician in Nebraska).
24. Subrata Mishra, Ph.D., Senior Research Specialist, 4/2016-9/2017 (Currently a Principal Investigator at the Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, NIST).
25. Khushbhu Agrawal, Ph.D. Visiting Exchange Student, 12/2016-4/2017 (Currently a Scientist at Palacky University, Czech Republic).
26. Arupratan Das, Ph.D., K99 Mentee, 9/2017-Present (Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University).
27. Imran Bhutto, M.D/Ph.D. Research Assistant Professor, 10/2017-02/2019 (Currently Experimental Pathologist, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine)
28. Joseph Weiss, BA. Research Technician, 09/2018 - 04/2020 (Currently Medical Student at Geisinger Medical School).
29. Meysam Yazdankhah, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Associate, 01/2016-07/2021 (Currently a Scientific Review Officer, NIDA, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD).
30. Urvi Gupta, Research Trainee, 05/2020-05/2021 (Currently Medical Student at Case Western Reserve University)
31. Chris Fitting, BS., Research Technician, 08/2019-06/2021 (Currently trail crew member with the Allegheny County parks department).
32. Peng Shang, Ph.D., Visiting Research Student -> Postdoctoral Associate, 09/2014-06/2022 (Currently Research Scientist at Doheny Eye Institute).
33. Rachel Daley, Research Technician, 10/2021-06/2022 (Currently Medical Student at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine).
34. Nadezda Stepicheva, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, 1/2017-12/2022 (Currently a Research Scientist, Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh).
35. Olivia Chowdhury, B.S., M.S., Academic Health Sciences Research Fellow, 10/2020-12/2022 (Currently a graduate student, University of Calcutta).
36. Haitao Liu, M.D., Ph.D., Postdoctoral Associate, 5/2019-1/2023 (Currently a Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh).
37. Vishnu Maddipatla, B.S., Undergraduate Student Worker, 9/2021-4/2023 (2023 Graduate of University of Pittsburgh).
38. Anastasia Strizhakova, D.V.M., Postdoctoral Associate, 10/2020-6/2023.
39. Emma Mahally, B.S., Undergraduate Student Worker, 9/2021-12/2023 (2023 Graduate of University of Pittsburgh).
40. Mihir Nemani, B.S., Undergraduate Student Worker, 8/2021-5/2023, Academic Health Sciences Research Fellow, 6/2023-4/2024.
41. Victoria Koontz, B.S., Research Technician, 8/2021-5/2024 (Current a Laboratory Manager, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh)
42. Shruti Dhar, Undergraduate Student Worker, 9/2023-6/2024.