Dr. Debu Chakravatri delivers CRS New Year’s Lecture
The Center for Reproductive Science began 2022 with a joyous celebration of the new year in academia with a keynote presentation by Dr. Debabrata (Debu) Chakravarti. Dr. Chakravarti is the Anna Lapham Professor and Vice-Chair for Translational Research, Department of Ob/Gyn and acts as Associate Director of the Division of Reproductive Science and Medicine at Northwestern University and he has over three decades of multi-disciplinary research experience spanning fields related to human health, including biochemistry, epigenomics, transcription, chromatin dynamics and function. Dr. Chakravarti’s presentation titled “Epigenomic and enhancer dysfunction in female reproductive diseases”, covered the milestones in his academic career, as he highlighted his major research outcomes over time, specifically related to reproductive pathophysiology and epigenomics of reproductive disease.
The Dr. Chakravarti described his laboratory’s dogma-changing studies in cell-cycle progression, transcription, and tumorigenesis. Ongoing basic science and epigenomic research in the Chakravarti lab includes the characterization of new family transcription factors and subsequent control of the cell cycle. He described previous seminal studies in the field, including characterization of the INHAT complex and the novel role of retinoic acid and nuclear receptors RAR and RXR in resetting circadian clock function. His lab’s current work in this discipline focuses on understanding cell cycle genes regulation by the THAP11-ZNF143 transcriptional complex, which contradicts the prior paradigm that cell cycle gene expression was dependent on E2F mediated HCFC1. Currently, the lab has multiple projects related to epigenomic regulation of reproductive pathologies, including uterine fibroids (leiomyoma) and cancer. These studies investigate genome-wide epigenomic and transcription factor signatures that dictate pathogenesis, building upon a career’s worth of research on the molecular underpinnings of human disease. The ultimate goal of Dr. Chakravarti, beyond expanding mechanisms of cell cycle control and tumorigenesis, is that these research outcomes will guide the development of clinical intervention against reproductive disease.
The CRS New Year’s Lecture was an engaging way to kick-start the calendar of special events upcoming for 2022 by highlighting one of our own experts in translational research and celebrating the impact our community can have beyond basic science and into human health and the fight against reproductive disease.