Dr Basu Chakrabarty
BPharmSc, BPharmSc (Hons), PhD
Expertise
I am a pharmaceutical and research scientist, with a PhD in Drug Discovery Biology. I have detailed knowledge in the physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology of lower urinary tract function.
Current positions
Senior Research Associate
School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience
Contact
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Biography
Pharmaceutical scientist with a PhD in Drug Discovery Biology from Monash University (Melbourne, Australia).
My PhD focused on developing a model to study the physiology involved in the regulation of prostatic tone and contractility of the human prostate gland, specifically in the context of understanding and treating symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. This model was used to test the effectiveness of current and emerging pharmacotherapies directly on the prostate gland, and characterising and identifying underlying mechanisms in the regulation of tone in the human prostate gland. Techniques used in this project include intracellular microelectrode electrophysiology and conventional tension recording experiments.
My postdoctoral research project focused on elucidating the effects of phosphodiesterase inhibitors on central and peripheral control of bladder function. In this study, the effects on neuronal neurotransmitter release from efferent nerve terminals and consequences on detrusor smooth muscle contractility, and urothelial neurotransmitter release, were explored. I used an innovative approach to develop and validate methodologies to measure neurotransmitter (adenosine triphosphate and acetylcholine) release to the bladder.
Through these studies we found that modulating cyclic nucleotides: 1) increasing cyclic guanosine monophosphate with phosphodiesterase inhibitors or soluble guanylate cyclase activators, or 2) decreasing cyclic adenosine monophosphate through the activity of adenosine at adenosine A1 receptors, can both inhibit neurotransmitters involved in pathological bladder conditions, whilst leaving neurotransmitters involved in normal physiological function intact. My current research focuses on understanding the underlying mechanisms which may be involved in this differential neurotransmitter release.
I have detailed knowledge in the physiology and pharmacology of lower urinary tract function.
Publications
Selected publications
01/07/2019Influence of sildenafil on the purinergic components of nerve-mediated and urothelial ATP release from the bladder of normal and spinal cord injured mice
British Journal of Pharmacology
Characterisation of nerve‐mediated ATP release from bladder detrusor muscle and its pathological implications
British Journal of Pharmacology
New targets for overactive bladder-ICI-RS 2109
Neurourology and Urodynamics
Recent publications
29/02/2024Adreno-Muscarinic Synergy of Contractile Responses From Human Hyperplastic Prostate
International Neurourology Journal
Role of ecto-5'-nucleotidase in bladder function activity and smooth muscle contractility
Purinergic Signalling
How does the lower urinary tract contribute to bladder sensation? ICI-RS 2023
Neurourology and Urodynamics
New therapeutic targets to prevent benign prostatic enlargement and symptomatic progression to benign prostatic obstruction-ICI-RS 2023
Neurourology and Urodynamics
Nitric oxide signaling pathways in the normal and pathological bladder
Neurourology and Urodynamics