J. Ross Buchan

J. Ross Buchan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology at the University of Arizona, College of Science. He holds interdisciplinary appointments in Neuroscience, Genetics GIDP, Cancer GIDP, and the Bio5 Institute. His laboratory is located in Life Sciences South (Rooms 548A, 503, and 507). He specializes in RNA biology, cellular stress responses, and the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases. His research focuses on RNA granules such as stress granules and P-bodies, their roles in disease, and their regulation via autophagy and signaling pathways. Recent work includes studies on TDP-43 toxicity in ALS, adipose tissue aging, and RNA-mediated protein interactions.

Dr. Buchan’s research employs yeast model systems alongside advanced microscopy and computational tools like the HARLEY algorithm for image analysis. He investigates how cellular stress responses and protein-RNA networks contribute to pathologies such as cancer and neurodegeneration. His interdisciplinary approach bridges molecular biology, cell biology, and genetics. His lab website provides further details on ongoing projects and techniques.

Publications highlight a focus on RNA granule dynamics, autophagy pathways, and the interplay between stress responses and disease. His work underscores the importance of understanding cellular clearance mechanisms and their dysregulation in aging and disease contexts. Despite no explicitly listed awards, his contributions to RNA biology and neurodegeneration research are widely recognized in peer-reviewed journals.