Special Interview with Prof. Lakshya Bajaj
On April 18, 2025, we had the pleasure of conducting an exclusive interview with Prof. Lakshya Bajaj, a prominent researcher in the field of molecular neurodegeneration. Prof. Bajaj, currently at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Puerto Rico, shared his academic journey and insights into his work on neurodegenerative diseases.
Below are the questions from the interview:
1: Can you briefly share your academic journey and what led you to focus on the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration?
2: What drew you specifically to the intersection of RNA metabolism and proteostasis? Was there a particular scientific problem or personal motivation that sparked your curiosity?
3: Your recent work explores how stress granules and RNA granules may convert into toxic aggregates in ALS and Alzheimer's. What are some key discoveries from your studies?
4: Working in Scott Kennedy's lab at Harvard must be intellectually stimulating. How has this experience shaped your way of thinking or influenced your scientific approach?
5: Looking ahead, are there any other areas of your research career that you are interested in or that you would like to continue to work on?
About Prof. Lakshya Bajaj:
Prof. Lakshya Bajaj is a distinguished neuroscientist and geneticist, currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine. He earned his Ph.D. in Genetics and Genomics from Baylor College of Medicine, where he contributed significantly to the understanding of lysosomal enzyme trafficking and its implications in neurodegenerative diseases. Following his doctoral studies, Prof. Bajaj completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School in the lab of Prof. Scott Kennedy, focusing on the dynamics of RNA granules and their role in gene regulation. His research has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award and the Space Genetics Consortium award at Harvard Medical School. Prof. Bajaj's current work centers on the interplay between RNA metabolism and proteostasis in neurodegenerative disorders, aiming to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying diseases such as ALS and Alzheimer's. Through his interdisciplinary approach, combining genetics, molecular biology, and neuroscience, he continues to advance the field's understanding of neurodegeneration and identify potential therapeutic targets.
Editor: Yana Wei
Production Editor: Ting Xu
Respectfully submitted by the Editorial Office of Journal of Translational Genetics and Genomics
