Tapan K. Chatterjee Memorial Fund
The Tapan K. Chatterjee Memorial Fund was established in 2016 in memory of our dear colleague and friend, who inspired us all with his brilliant mind, creativity, and determination to succeed despite overwhelming odds.
Dr. Chatterjee made many important contributions to scientific research and was an outstanding teacher, mentor, and advocate for trainees. His legacy lives on in those who quietly give of themselves every day so that others may live a better life. This fund will supplement research expenses of Vascular Biology Center, including laboratory supplies.
Award of Research Excellence in Vascular Biology
2026
The recipient of the Dr. Tapan Chatterjee Memorial Award is Tamasi Roy in recognition
of research excellence at the 41st Annual Graduate Research Day.
(photo) Tamasi Roy
Research focus: Portal hypertension is a major clinical complication of chronic liver disease and a key driver of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It develops when resistance to blood flow increases within the portal venous system due to structural and hemodynamic alterations in the liver and splanchnic circulation. Our research focuses on understanding how structural and cellular changes in the portal vein contribute to the development and progression of portal hypertension. Through this work, we hope to uncover novel mechanisms underlying portal hypertension and identify potential therapeutic targets that may help reduce portal pressure and improve patient outcomes.
2025
The recipient of the Dr. Tapan Chatterjee Memorial Award is Zach Brown in recognition
of research excellence at the 40th Annual Graduate Research Day.
(photo) Zach Brown
Research focus: Pulmonary arterial hypertension shares some characteristics with cancer. Our research into the origins of pulmonary hypertension takes some inspiration from cancer research which identified a link between PDZ-Binding Kinase (PBK) and high levels of cellular proliferation.
Doctors can treat pulmonary hypertension symptoms, but there is no cure. Our research aims to address the underlying causes of pulmonary hypertension, hopefully getting science one step closer to a cure for a disease that affects thousands of Americans every year.
2024
Recipient of the inaugural Dr. Tapan Chatterjee Memorial Award is Josue Zambrano-Carrasco in recognition of research excellence at the 39th Annual Graduate Research Day.
(photo) Josue Zambrano-Carrasco with Dr. Soma Mukhopadhyay (wife of Dr. Chatterjee)
Research focus: Heart failure is the leading cause of death in the US. The heart is composed of cells that sometimes can be thrown out of balance and become dysfunctional. With my work, I am investigating how heart cells function, specifically looking at the mechanisms that they implement to dispose of unwanted proteins, throughout the embryonic stage up to the adult stage. I focus on one such mechanism that implements a molecular complex whose main role is to recognize specific proteins and tag them for disposal. With my work, we can discover novel mechanisms of heart failure to design new avenues for treatment.