{"id":872,"date":"2016-03-07T19:43:13","date_gmt":"2016-03-07T19:43:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/pharmacology\/?post_type=dt_team&#038;p=872"},"modified":"2025-05-19T11:57:00","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T15:57:00","slug":"dr-lakshya-bajaj","status":"publish","type":"dt_team","link":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/pharmacology\/dt_team\/dr-lakshya-bajaj\/","title":{"rendered":"Dr. Lakshya Bajaj"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]<div id=\"ultimate-heading-163669d0517cd5019\" class=\"uvc-heading ult-adjust-bottom-margin ultimate-heading-163669d0517cd5019 uvc-265 accent-subtitle-color\" data-hspacer=\"no_spacer\"  data-halign=\"left\" style=\"text-align:left\"><div class=\"uvc-heading-spacer no_spacer\" style=\"top\"><\/div><div class=\"uvc-main-heading ult-responsive\"  data-ultimate-target='.uvc-heading.ultimate-heading-163669d0517cd5019 h2'  data-responsive-json-new='{\"font-size\":\"desktop:30px;mobile_landscape:34px;\",\"line-height\":\"desktop:40px;mobile_landscape:44px;\"}' ><h2 style=\"font-weight:bold;color:#0a0a0a;margin-bottom:10px;\">Dr. Lakshya Bajaj<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"uvc-sub-heading ult-responsive\"  data-ultimate-target='.uvc-heading.ultimate-heading-163669d0517cd5019 .uvc-sub-heading '  data-responsive-json-new='{\"font-size\":\"desktop:18px;mobile_landscape:20px;\",\"line-height\":\"desktop:34px;mobile_landscape:30px;\"}'  style=\"font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:30px;\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"uvc-sub-heading ult-responsive\" data-ultimate-target=\".uvc-heading.ultimate-heading-9819682b5310e24cb .uvc-sub-heading \" data-responsive-json-new=\"{&quot;font-size&quot;:&quot;desktop:18px;mobile_landscape:20px;&quot;,&quot;line-height&quot;:&quot;desktop:34px;mobile_landscape:30px;&quot;}\">Associate Professor<\/div>\n<p><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row_content&#8221; bg_type=&#8221;bg_color&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/4&#8243;]<div class=\"ult-content-box-container \" >\t\t<div class=\"ult-content-box\" style=\"background-color:#545454;box-shadow: px px px px none;border-style:solid;border-width:5px;border-radius:5px;border-color:#545454;padding:10px;-webkit-transition: all 700ms ease;-moz-transition: all 700ms ease;-ms-transition: all 700ms ease;-o-transition: all 700ms ease;transition: all 700ms ease;\"  data-hover_box_shadow=\"none\"     data-bg=\"#545454\"  data-border_color=\"#545454\" ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-type=\"the7_shortcodes-inline-css\">.shortcode-single-image-wrap.shortcode-single-image-7441633f674757e720755fd934bccdfc.enable-bg-rollover .rollover i,\n.shortcode-single-image-wrap.shortcode-single-image-7441633f674757e720755fd934bccdfc.enable-bg-rollover .rollover-video i {\n  background: -webkit-linear-gradient();\n  background: linear-gradient();\n}\n.shortcode-single-image-wrap.shortcode-single-image-7441633f674757e720755fd934bccdfc .rollover-icon {\n  font-size: 32px;\n  color: #ffffff;\n  min-width: 44px;\n  min-height: 44px;\n  line-height: 44px;\n  border-radius: 100px;\n  border-style: solid;\n  border-width: 0px;\n}\n.dt-icon-bg-on.shortcode-single-image-wrap.shortcode-single-image-7441633f674757e720755fd934bccdfc .rollover-icon {\n  background: rgba(255,255,255,0.3);\n  box-shadow: none;\n}<\/style><div class=\"shortcode-single-image-wrap shortcode-single-image-7441633f674757e720755fd934bccdfc alignnone  enable-bg-rollover dt-icon-bg-off\" style=\"margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; width:300px;\"><div class=\"shortcode-single-image\"><div class=\"fancy-media-wrap  layzr-bg\" style=\"\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"preload-me lazy-load aspect\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D&#39;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg&#39;%20viewBox%3D&#39;0%200%20300%20300&#39;%2F%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/pharmacology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2016\/03\/lakshya-bajaj.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/pharmacology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2016\/03\/lakshya-bajaj.jpg 300w\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\"  data-dt-location=\"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/pharmacology\/dt_team\/dr-lakshya-bajaj\/lakshya-bajaj\/\" style=\"--ratio: 300 \/ 300;\" alt=\"Dr. Lakshya Bajaj\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div>[vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]<span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>Contact Info<\/strong><\/span>[\/vc_column_text]<div class=\"uavc-list-icon uavc-list-icon-wrapper ult-adjust-bottom-margin   \"><ul class=\"uavc-list\"><li><div class=\"uavc-list-content\" id=\"list-icon-wrap-7774\">\n<div class=\"uavc-list-icon  \" data-animation=\"\" data-animation-delay=\"03\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><div class=\"ult-just-icon-wrapper  \"><div class=\"align-icon\" style=\"text-align:center;\">\n<div class=\"aio-icon none \"  style=\"color:#ffffff;font-size:32px;display:inline-block;\">\n\t<i class=\"icomoon-the7-font-the7-mail-03\"><\/i>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><span  data-ultimate-target='#list-icon-wrap-7774 .uavc-list-desc'  data-responsive-json-new='{\"font-size\":\"\",\"line-height\":\"\"}'  class=\"uavc-list-desc ult-responsive\" style=\"\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"uavc-list-icon \" data-animation=\"\" data-animation-delay=\"03\">\n<div class=\"ult-just-icon-wrapper \">\n<div class=\"align-icon\">\n<div class=\"aio-icon none \"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><a style=\"color: #ffffff;\" href=\"mailto:sylvette.ayala@upr.edu\">lakshya.bajaj@upr.edu<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div><\/li><li><div class=\"uavc-list-content\" id=\"list-icon-wrap-7544\">\n<div class=\"uavc-list-icon  \" data-animation=\"\" data-animation-delay=\"03\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><div class=\"ult-just-icon-wrapper  \"><div class=\"align-icon\" style=\"text-align:center;\">\n<div class=\"aio-icon none \"  style=\"color:#ffffff;font-size:32px;display:inline-block;\">\n\t<i class=\"icomoon-the7-font-the7-map-05\"><\/i>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><span  data-ultimate-target='#list-icon-wrap-7544 .uavc-list-desc'  data-responsive-json-new='{\"font-size\":\"\",\"line-height\":\"\"}'  class=\"uavc-list-desc ult-responsive\" style=\"\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">University of Puerto Rico<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Medical Sciences Campus<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">P.O. Box 365067<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">San Juan, PR 00936-5067<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/li><li><div class=\"uavc-list-content\" id=\"list-icon-wrap-8288\">\n<div class=\"uavc-list-icon  \" data-animation=\"\" data-animation-delay=\"03\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><div class=\"ult-just-icon-wrapper  \"><div class=\"align-icon\" style=\"text-align:center;\">\n<div class=\"aio-icon none \"  style=\"color:#ffffff;font-size:32px;display:inline-block;\">\n\t<i class=\"icomoon-the7-font-the7-phone-071\"><\/i>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><span  data-ultimate-target='#list-icon-wrap-8288 .uavc-list-desc'  data-responsive-json-new='{\"font-size\":\"\",\"line-height\":\"\"}'  class=\"uavc-list-desc ult-responsive\" style=\"\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"uavc-list-icon \" data-animation=\"\" data-animation-delay=\"03\">\n<div class=\"ult-just-icon-wrapper \">\n<div class=\"align-icon\">\n<div class=\"aio-icon none \"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">787-758-2525 Ext. 1300 (office)\/1365 (lab)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div>[vc_column_text]<span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>Education<\/strong><\/span>[\/vc_column_text]<div class=\"standard-arrow list-divider bullet-top\"><div class=\"standard-arrow list-divider bullet-top\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">B.D.S. (Dental Medicine) Maharishi Dayanand University, Haryana, India<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">M.S. (Human Genetics), Tulane University, New Orleans, LA<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Ph.D. (Human and Molecular Genetics), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Postdoctoral Fellowship (Genetics), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;3\/4&#8243;]<div id=\"ultimate-heading-252469d0517cd5d99\" class=\"uvc-heading ult-adjust-bottom-margin ultimate-heading-252469d0517cd5d99 uvc-2070  uvc-heading-default-font-sizes\" data-hspacer=\"no_spacer\"  data-halign=\"left\" style=\"text-align:left\"><div class=\"uvc-heading-spacer no_spacer\" style=\"top\"><\/div><div class=\"uvc-main-heading ult-responsive\"  data-ultimate-target='.uvc-heading.ultimate-heading-252469d0517cd5d99 h3'  data-responsive-json-new='{\"font-size\":\"\",\"line-height\":\"\"}' ><h3 style=\"font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:30px;\">RESEARCH AREAS<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uvc-sub-heading ult-responsive\"  data-ultimate-target='.uvc-heading.ultimate-heading-252469d0517cd5d99 .uvc-sub-heading '  data-responsive-json-new='{\"font-size\":\"\",\"line-height\":\"\"}'  style=\"font-weight:normal;\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"uvc-sub-heading ult-responsive\" data-ultimate-target=\".uvc-heading.ultimate-heading-1124682b5310e5525 .uvc-sub-heading \" data-responsive-json-new=\"{&quot;font-size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;line-height&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\">\n<ul>\n<li>Ribo-Proteostasis in Neurodegenerative Diseases<\/li>\n<li>Biomolecular Condensates in Neurodegenerative Diseases<\/li>\n<li>Neuronal Mosaicism<\/li>\n<li>3D-Organoids for Neurodegenerative Diseases Modelling<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/div><\/div>[vc_empty_space]<div id=\"ultimate-heading-870469d0517cd5deb\" class=\"uvc-heading ult-adjust-bottom-margin ultimate-heading-870469d0517cd5deb uvc-6927  uvc-heading-default-font-sizes\" data-hspacer=\"no_spacer\"  data-halign=\"left\" style=\"text-align:left\"><div class=\"uvc-heading-spacer no_spacer\" style=\"top\"><\/div><div class=\"uvc-main-heading ult-responsive\"  data-ultimate-target='.uvc-heading.ultimate-heading-870469d0517cd5deb h3'  data-responsive-json-new='{\"font-size\":\"\",\"line-height\":\"\"}' ><h3 style=\"font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:30px;\">RESEARCH INTEREST<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uvc-sub-heading ult-responsive\"  data-ultimate-target='.uvc-heading.ultimate-heading-870469d0517cd5deb .uvc-sub-heading '  data-responsive-json-new='{\"font-size\":\"\",\"line-height\":\"\"}'  style=\"font-weight:normal;\">Our lab is dedicated to exploring the molecular mechanisms behind neurodegenerative diseases, with a central focus on ribo-proteostasis\u2014the intricate balance between RNA metabolism and protein homeostasis. We investigate how disruptions in RNA metabolism, protein trafficking, and cellular quality control lead to the formation of membrane-less biomolecular condensates, such as stress granules. Of particular interest is understanding how these dynamic, liquid-like stress granules transition into solid, toxic aggregates in diseases like ALS and Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p>Building on this foundation, our lab employs cutting-edge techniques, including 3D organoids for modeling various neurodegenerative diseases and high-throughput techniques such as proteomics, RNA sequencing, single-cell spatial mapping, and RNA structural probing (DMS\/SHAPE) to dissect complex gene regulatory cellular mechanisms to uncover the broader implications of these processes in human health. Our lab thus strives to understand the fundamental biology of RNA metabolism and protein homeostasis, while also addressing how dysregulations in these processes can lead to disease pathogenesis thus offering potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for intervention.<\/p>\n<p><strong><br \/>\nLab Website<\/strong>\u2013\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.bajaj-lab.com\/\">www.bajaj-lab.com<\/a><\/div><\/div>[vc_empty_space]<div id=\"ultimate-heading-990769d0517cd5e30\" class=\"uvc-heading ult-adjust-bottom-margin ultimate-heading-990769d0517cd5e30 uvc-5920  uvc-heading-default-font-sizes\" data-hspacer=\"no_spacer\"  data-halign=\"left\" style=\"text-align:left\"><div class=\"uvc-heading-spacer no_spacer\" style=\"top\"><\/div><div class=\"uvc-main-heading ult-responsive\"  data-ultimate-target='.uvc-heading.ultimate-heading-990769d0517cd5e30 h3'  data-responsive-json-new='{\"font-size\":\"\",\"line-height\":\"\"}' ><h3 style=\"font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:30px;\">PUBLICATIONS<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"uvc-sub-heading ult-responsive\"  data-ultimate-target='.uvc-heading.ultimate-heading-990769d0517cd5e30 .uvc-sub-heading '  data-responsive-json-new='{\"font-size\":\"\",\"line-height\":\"\"}'  style=\"font-weight:normal;\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"uvc-sub-heading ult-responsive\" data-ultimate-target=\".uvc-heading.ultimate-heading-2155682b5310e593f .uvc-sub-heading \" data-responsive-json-new=\"{&quot;font-size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;line-height&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\">\n<ul>\n<li>Calpain activity is negatively regulated by a KCTD7-Cullin-3 complex via non-degradative ubiquitinationJaiprakash Sharma, Shalaka Mulherkar, Uan-I Chen, Yan Xiong, <strong>Lakshya Bajaj<\/strong>, Byoung-Kyu Cho, Young Ah Goo, Hon-Chiu Eastwood Leung, Kimberley F. Tolias and Marco Sardiello<strong>Cell Discovery.<\/strong> <strong>2023 <\/strong>Mar 24;9(1):32.doi: 10.1038\/s41421-023-00533-3.<\/li>\n<li>ZSP-1 is a Z granule surface protein required for Z granule fluidity and germline immortality in Caenorhabditis elegans.Wan G, <strong>Bajaj L<\/strong>, Fields B, Dodson AE, Pagano D, Fei Y, Kennedy S.<strong>EMBO J.<\/strong> <strong>2021 <\/strong>Feb 1;40(3):e105612. doi: 10.15252\/embj.2020105612.<\/li>\n<li>A CLN6-CLN8 complex recruits lysosomal enzymes at the ER for Golgi transfer.<strong>Bajaj L<\/strong>, Sharma J, di Ronza A, Zhang P, Eblimit A, Pal R, Roman D, Collette JR, Booth C, Chang KT, Sifers RN, Jung SY, Weimer JM, Chen R, Schekman RW, Sardiello M.<strong>J Clin Invest.<\/strong> <strong>2020 <\/strong>Aug 3;130(8):4118-4132. doi: 10.1172\/JCI130955.<\/li>\n<li>Lysosome biogenesis in health and disease.<strong>Bajaj L<\/strong>, Lotfi P, Pal R, Ronza AD, Sharma J, Sardiello M.<strong>J Neurochem.<\/strong> <strong>2019 <\/strong>Mar;148(5):573-589. doi: 10.1111\/jnc.14564. Epub 2018 Oct 18.<\/li>\n<li>CLN8 is an endoplasmic reticulum cargo receptor that regulates lysosome biogenesis.di Ronza A, <strong>Bajaj L<\/strong>, Sharma J, Sanagasetti D, Lotfi P, Adamski CJ, Collette J, Palmieri M, Amawi A, Popp L, Chang KT, Meschini MC, Leung HE, Segatori L, Simonati A, Sifers RN, Santorelli FM, Sardiello M.<strong>Nat Cell Biol.<\/strong> <strong>2018 <\/strong>Dec;20(12):1370-1377. doi: 10.1038\/s41556-018-0228-7.<\/li>\n<li>TFEB enhances astroglial uptake of extracellular tau species and reduces tau spreading.Martini-Stoica H, Cole AL, Swartzlander DB, Chen F, Wan YW, <strong>Bajaj L<\/strong>, Bader DA, Lee VMY, Trojanowski JQ, Liu Z, Sardiello M, Zheng H.<strong>J Exp Med.<\/strong> <strong>2018 <\/strong>Sep 3;215(9):2355-2377. doi: 10.1084\/jem.20172158.<\/li>\n<li>mTORC1-independent TFEB activation via Akt inhibition promotes cellular clearance in neurodegenerative storage diseases.Palmieri M, Pal R, Nelvagal HR, Lotfi P, Stinnett GR, Seymour ML, Chaudhury A, <strong>Bajaj L<\/strong>, Bondar VV, Bremner L, Saleem U, Tse DY, Sanagasetti D, Wu SM, Neilson JR, Pereira FA, Pautler RG, Rodney GG, Cooper JD, Sardiello M.<strong>Nat Commun.<\/strong> <strong>2017 <\/strong>Feb 6;8:14338. doi: 10.1038\/ncomms14338.<\/li>\n<li>NADPH oxidase promotes Parkinsonian phenotypes by impairing autophagic flux in anmTORC1-independent fashion in a cellular model of Parkinson\u2019s disease.Pal R, <strong>Bajaj L<\/strong>, Sharma J, Palmieri M, Di Ronza A, Lotfi P, Chaudhury A, Neilson J, Sardiello M, Rodney GG.<strong>Sci Rep.<\/strong> <strong>2016 <\/strong>Mar 10;6:22866. doi: 10.1038\/srep22866.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Yamil Gerena, Ph.D.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1529,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","dt_team_category":[34],"class_list":["post-872","dt_team","type-dt_team","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","dt_team_category-faculty","dt_team_category-34","description-off"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/pharmacology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/dt_team\/872","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/pharmacology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/dt_team"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/pharmacology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/dt_team"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/pharmacology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=872"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/pharmacology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1529"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/pharmacology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=872"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"dt_team_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/md.rcm.upr.edu\/pharmacology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/dt_team_category?post=872"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}