Welcome to the Bhattaram lab. I am Pallavi Bhattaram, Assistant Professor in the Departments of Orthopaedics at the Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA. I have over 10 years of experience in the field of musculoskeletal research. I received my doctorate degree in Biochemistry from the Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India. I did my postdoctoral training at Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland OH, in the laboratory of Dr. Veronique Lefebvre, an expert in the field of skeletal biology. During this time, I extensively studied the roles of SOX transcription factors in skeleton development and disease. My current research focus is to understand musculoskeletal diseases at the molecular level, with the goal of identifying novel and effective therapeutic targets.
RESEARCH OVERVIEW
Our research program is directed towards understanding the complex molecular networks governing the pathophysiology of musculoskeletal diseases, especially osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Together, these diseases are recognized as a major cause for joint pain and disability in populations throughout the world. There is an urgent need to developing effective therapies for these diseases. Our goal is to identify novel therapeutic targets for improving the treatment of disabling skeletal diseases. We are applying the knowledge gained from studies on embryonic skeleton development towards uncovering the aberrant molecular mechanisms that lead to skeletal disease. We routinely use unique mouse models and primary cells to realize our scientific objectives. While, studies of the roles of SOXC transcription factors in skeletal development and disease are a major part of our currently funded research program, we are also focusing on epigenetic mechanisms that play key roles in the pathogenesis of musculoskeletal diseases. Research in the Bhattaram lab is currently supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Orthopaedics, Emory University School of Medicine.
Image: Safranin O/Nuclear fast red staining of a mouse interphalangeal joint
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Pallavi Bhattaram, George Muschler, Viktor Wixler and Veronique Lefebvre. Inflammatory cytokines stabilize SOXC transcription factors to mediate the transformation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes in arthritic disease. Arthritis & Rheumatol. 2018 70(3): 371-382. PMID: 29564371
Kenji Kato, Pallavi Bhattaram, Alfredo Penzo-Méndez, Abhilash Gadi and Véronique Lefebvre. SOXC transcription factors induce cartilage growth plate formation in mouse embryos by promoting noncanonical WNT signaling. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. 2015 30(9):1560-71. PMID:25761772
Pallavi Bhattaram, Alfredo Penzo-Méndez, Kenji Kato, Kaustav Bandyopadhyay, Abhilash Gadi, Makoto M. Taketo and Véronique Lefebvre* SOXC proteins amplify canonical WNT signaling to secure non-chondrocytic fates in skeletogenesis. Journal of Cell Biology. 2014. 207(5):657-71. *Co-corresponding author. PMID: 25452386
Pallavi Bhattaram*, Alfredo Penzo-Mendez*, Elisabeth Sock, Clemencia Colmenares, Kotaro J. Kaneko, Alex Vassilev, Melvin L. DePamphilis, Michael Wegner and Véronique Lefebvre. Organogenesis relies on SoxC transcription factors for the survival of neural and mesenchymal progenitors. Nature Communications. 2010. 1:9 *Co-first author PMID: 20596238
Complete list of Publications:
TEAM
PALLAVI BHATTARAM, PHD
Assistant Professor
Department of Orthopaedics
Emory University School of Medicine
Whitehead research building, Rm 405K
615 Michael Street, Atlanta, 30322
Office: 404-727-4806
Lab: 404-727-6251
KYLE JONES, BS
Research Specialist
Department of Orthopaedics
Emory University School of Medicine
Whitehead research building, Rm 465
615 Michael Street, Atlanta, 30322
Lab: 404-727-6251
“SEAN” SHUO NIU, MD, PHD
Volunteer Scientist
Department of Orthopaedics
Emory University School of Medicine
Whitehead research building, Rm 465
615 Michael Street, Atlanta, 30322
Lab: 404-727-6251
OPPORTUNITIES
Postdoctoral Fellow
We are looking to recruit a highly motivated and collaborative postdoc to study the regulation of inflammatory processes in arthritic diseases. We routinely use unique mouse models and primary cells in our research with a goal for advancing the understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying synovial inflammation in arthritis. Ideal candidate will employ ChIP and RNA-sequencing techniques, in addition to routine histological phenotyping of the musculoskeletal tissues in various mouse models of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Please send a CV, including the names of 3 references, along with a letter describing your previous experience and a brief statement of why you are interested in our work to pallavi.bhattaram@emory.edu.
Research Technician
We are also looking to recruit a research technician to assist us in the maintenance of our mouse colony and in managing day-to-day lab research activities. Experience in handling animals and basic molecular biology techniques is highly preferred, but not required. Please send you CV and a cover letter briefly describing your research experience to