EEC researcher recognized for his dedication and body of work
Department of Ophthalmology researcher Sayantan Datta, PhD has been recognized by the Emory School of Medicine in its 2023 celebration of Researcher Appreciation Day.
The annual tribute recognizes the hard work of medical school researchers who are advancing the knowledge base in their field. Datta was nominated by his Emory Eye Center peers for the honor, which puts him the company of one of his esteemed colleagues, Dr. Hans Grossniklaus, MD, MBA, the 2021 ophthalmology honoree.
Meet all of the School of Medicine Research Appreciation Day honorees
It is humbling first because I did not expect it, but also because I know who has come before me,
said Datta, who joined the Center's Research Division in 2021. It is an honor to have my work recognized by my peers.
Datta's primary research focuses on mitochondrial dysfunction in the retinal cells of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Initially funded by an NIH Early Career (K-99) grant that he received as a researcher at Johns Hopkins, Datta's investigations have found that AMD alters the energy synthesis and cell shape of retinal cells. He is now developing a novel treatment for AMD in which stem cell-derived retinal pigmented epithelial cells are injected into the eye to replace damaged cells.
It is not surprising to those of us who know Dr. Datta that he was selected by the Recognitions Committee for this honor,
said Machelle T. Pardue, vice chair and director of Research.
His work is leading the way to novel treatment strategies for a disease [AMD] that currently has no cure. His efforts represent the heart of our mission.
Datta began his research career focusing on cancer but found a more compelling challenge when he transitioned to ophthalmology.
I realized there were areas of cancer research - like mitochondria dysfunction - that had been studied for years, but which had not been fully explored in ophthalmology,
he said.
Ophthalmology had a greater unmet need for translational research.
-Kathleen E. Moore