Dr. Chaudhari receives prestigious award from National Science Foundation

Sujata Chaudhari, PhD, assistant professor in the UNMC Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, has been awarded a National Science Foundation CAREER Award for her research to understand the effects of an enzyme, chitin deacetylase, on insect lifespan, which may lead to future innovative insect management strategies.

With a five-year, $1.2 million CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation, Dr. Chaudhari will focus on understanding the role of the enzyme during the process of molting in insects. Molting is an essential physiological process that facilitates growth by shedding the old exoskeleton and replacing it with a new one. Any interference to molting can cause growth arrest in insects, leading to their death. Dr. Chaudhari will use the red flour beetle as a genetic model system for her studies.  

“Insects are important on land and affect life in many ways: They control pests, are food for other animals and help plants by pollinating them,” Dr. Chaudhari said. “But they also spread diseases. Diseases carried by insects make up 17% of all infectious diseases worldwide, costing billions of dollars every year. Our research will contribute to future innovative insect management strategies by providing profound insights into insect physiology and cuticle development.”

Besides enriching the graduate program, the grant will create opportunities for students in middle school, high school and undergraduate levels to participate in STEM-based research and expand their interest in science.

Dr. Chaudhari’s lab is the only one on the UNMC campus that focuses on insect and tick physiology.

“Ticks are not insects; their biology is distinctly different from insect species we have studied so far and they have very interesting relationships with the pathogens they transmit,” Dr. Chaudhari said. “Our goal is to develop a vector-borne diseases research program at UNMC to support research focusing on arthropod carriers of disease, or ‘vectors,’ and their associated pathogens.”

Joseph Khoury, MD, chair of the UNMC Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, affirmed that his vision for the department includes the development of a robust world-class vector-borne disease research program. He said he considers Dr. Chaudhari’s award as a solid step in that direction and a source of pride for his department. He added that because chitin is crucial for insects’ life cycles, Dr. Chaudhari’s innovative approach will provide novel approaches for managing disease-carrying pests.

“Insects and other arthropods, like mosquitoes and ticks, can carry and transmit various pathogens, causing diseases such as malaria, relapsing fever and Lyme disease, among others,” Dr. Khoury said. “The growing spread of these vectors, compounded by climate change and resistance to traditional insecticides and pesticides, poses a significant threat to human health in the United States and around the world. Therefore, it’s vital to develop new methods for insect control to effectively manage these disease carriers.”

Dr. Chaudhari called the award an honor.

“This is a big boost for me, not only to keep doing what I love every day but to expand my research into new avenues that can positively impact the safety of people in Nebraska and beyond,” Dr. Chaudhari said.