Abir
Mukherjee completed his BSc (Hons) in Chemistry and then his MSc in Biophysics, Molecular Biology and Genetics, from Kolkata, India. He then joined Astra Research Centre in Bengaluru, India as a Research Associate, gaining experience in a Big Pharma research lab. He worked on cloning, overexpression and purification of target proteins. After a year as an RA he moved to Evanston, IL, to start a PhD under the supervision of Dr. Kelly Mayo at Northwestern University where he was introduced to the world of endocrinology, reproductive endocrinology and activins and inhibins, in particular. Dr. Mukherjee's work focused primarily on gene regulation and transcription in response to gonadotropins. His first post-doctoral position was with Dr. Jonathan Cooper at The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, where he worked on non-receptor tyrosine kinases such as Src and also other signaling systems. Upon moving to Boston, he worked with Dr. Alan Schneyer at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, returning to the field of activins, this time from the perspective of their inhibitors follistatin and FSTL3. In an effort to identify phenotypes of his FSTL3 KO mice, Dr. Mukherjee delved into the field of metabolic syndrome and his research focus was primarily upon insulin action, obesity and diabetes. He worked briefly with Dr. Ursula Kaiser also at Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, before taking up his present academic research position at The Royal Veterinary College, London, UK. Here he has continued his research on activin and TGF signaling, centered on the FSTL3 KO mouse, and has identified several novel functions of FSTL3/activin signaling. In addition to research Dr. Mukherjee spends a significant amount of time teaching undergraduate students, mentoring graduate students and postdocs and contributing to the teaching and examination administration of the institute.
