Malay Choudhury PhD

Appointment

Assistant Professor of Medicine

Research Interests

Our current research focuses on delineating the cellular, molecular, and metabolic processes involved in the development of fibrotic disorders such as Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We are currently dissecting how metabolic networks may provide disease and context-specific targets for selective interruption of pathological cellular functions, and how these metabolic adaptations may in turn be targeted therapeutically for IPF (and by extension, other fibrogenic disorders). We have demonstrated a compelling vision for merging the worlds of cell signaling and metabolism to understand targetable mechanisms driving fibroblast function and fibrosis. The ultimate goal of our research is to identify new disease targets and developing novel therapeutic approaches to treat chronic lung diseases.

Focus areas:

Role of nutrient metabolism in fibrosis and aging. Proliferating cells face a challenge in balancing appropriate level of amino acids required for macromolecular synthesis and growth. Currently, little is known on the mechanism by which the increased metabolic demand of proliferating fibroblast is met. We are studying how nutrient metabolism crosstalk with apoptosis, autophagy and mitochondrial metabolism pathway in regulating fibrosis and aging.

Targeting DNA damage response pathway (DDR) in pulmonary fibrosis. Pathologic IPF fibroblasts are resistant to apoptosis and autophagy with enhanced survival via increased DNA repair. We are investigating the proliferative, antiapoptotic and antiautophagic functions of DNA repair protein(s) in driving fibrosis with a greater understanding of the DNA repair protein dependent metabolic basis of IPF pathogenesis.

 Extracellular vesicles (EV) in Pulmonary Fibrosis. As the function(s) of EVs in lung fibrosis remains mostlyunknown, our research group previously demonstrated that TGF-β mediatedupregulation of PD-L1 into fibroblast derived EVscould play a significant role in both immunosuppressionand fibrogenesis. We are currently evaluating the role of nutrient metabolism in enhancing the activity of checkpoint inhibitors (anti PD-1 or anti-PDL-1) and provide a framework for combining metabolic pathway inhibitors with immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of IPF.

Ferroptosis in Pulmonary Fibrosis. Ferroptosis is a new type of programmed cell death characterized by intracellular iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation. We are interested in deciphering the contributions of Ferroptosis in IPF pathogenesis.

Education and Training

• 1999-2003, BS Biology, W.B University of Animal & Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, India
• 2003-2005, MS Pathology and Microbiology, CIFE, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Mumbai, India
• 2007-2011, PhD Biological Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
• 2005-2007, Senior Research Fellow (funded by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India), Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Mumbai, India
• 2011-2016, NIH-Funded Postdoctoral Fellowship, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
• 2016-2023, Research Associate, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
• 2023, Associate Consultant I (Research), Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
• 2024-Present, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri  

Honors and Awards

• 1999-2003, Merit scholarship, West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Schiences, Kolkata, India
• 2003-2005, Indian Council of Agricultural Research Junior Research Fellowship
• 2005-2007, Senior Research Fellowship, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Government
• 2007-2011, Monbukagakusho/MEXT Scholarship for Doctoral Studies, Japanese Government
• 2010, Best Poster Award, “International Symposium on Food Function Safety and Health”, Kagoshima University, Japan
• 2017, Evaluation and mentorship of undergraduates, American Society for Cell Biology 2017 Annual Meeting
• 2017, Outstanding Reviewer, Elsevier Journal “Gene”
• 2018-2021, Career Development Award, Mayo Clinic
• 2019, Speaker, Lung Development, Injury and Repair, Gordon Research Conference
• 2021-2023 Boehringer Ingelheim Discovery Award, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis/Interstitial Lung Disease
• 2022, Ad Hoc Reviewer, NIH Lung Injury, Repair, and Remodeling Study Section

Publications

View Malay Choudhury PhD’s publications.