Location:

Office: Stanton-Gerber Hall, Room B-137
Lab: Stanton-Gerber Hall, Rooms A-110, A-111, and A-131

Education: 

Ph.D., Molecular Biology, University of Sydney, Australia
M.Sc., Biochemistry, University of Kalyani, India
B.Sc. (Hons), Chemistry, University of Burdwan, India

Research Interests:

Decoding RNA and tumor–myeloid networks that drive glioblastoma plasticity and therapeutic resistance

Glioblastoma (GBM) is remarkably heterogeneous and adaptable, allowing tumor cells to shift cellular states and survive therapeutic pressure. The Hazra Laboratory investigates the molecular circuitry underlying this plasticity, with a particular focus on how GSC-intrinsic regulatory RNAs and extrinsic signals from tumor-associated myeloid cells converge to reprogram tumor cell states.

Our research program has two interconnected directions. First, we identify and functionally characterize long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that regulate glioblastoma stem cell (GSC) identity, plasticity, and therapeutic vulnerability. Second, we investigate how tumor-associated myeloid cells—including microglia and infiltrating macrophages—shape GBM cell states, progression, and recurrence. Together, these studies aim to uncover the molecular mechanisms linking tumor-intrinsic RNA regulation to the immune microenvironment.

We integrate patient-derived GBM models, single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, functional genomics, CRISPR-based perturbation, and antisense oligonucleotide technologies to move from discovery to mechanistic validation. Our goal is to identify RNA- and microenvironment-dependent vulnerabilities that can be exploited to disrupt GBM plasticity and overcome therapeutic resistance.

Current research areas include:

• GSC regulatory lncRNAs controlling stemness, cell-state plasticity, and therapeutic vulnerability
• Tumor-associated microglia and macrophages in GBM progression and recurrence
• RNA–myeloid mechanisms regulating GBM cell-state transitions
• RNA-targeted therapeutic strategies using functional genomic and ASO-based approaches

Active Research Support

NIH R16 (SuRE) — Principal Investigator

RNA-mediated regulation of glioblastoma stem cell plasticity and therapeutic vulnerability (2025–2029)

NIH R03 — Principal Investigator Role of lineage-specific lncRNAs in glioblastoma plasticity (2025–2027)

Selected Honors and Awards

• SNO/OUP Editorial Fellows Program Award, 2025
• Certificate of Appreciation, NASA Connecticut Space Grant Consortium, 2025
• NASA CTSGC Faculty Travel Grant, Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual Meeting, 2024, 2025
• Anita Payne Scholarship, Frontiers in Reproduction Course, Marine Biological Laboratory, 2014
• Australian Postgraduate Award (Ph.D. Fellowship), University of Sydney, 2010–2014
• Early Career Award for Best Oral Presentation, Society for Reproductive Biology Annual Meeting, 2012