Natasha Snider

Natasha Snider, PhD, is an Associate Professor and co-Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. Her research focuses on post-translational modifications (PTMs) of disease-linked proteins, particularly in liver homeostasis, cancer, and pediatric neurodegenerative diseases such as Giant Axonal Neuropathy (GAN) and Alexander Disease (AxD). Her lab investigates CD73 in liver biology and glial intermediate filaments in neurological disorders. She holds NIH grants (K01, R03) and awards including the APS Research Recognition Award (2012).

Education: BS (Michigan State, 2002), PhD (University of Michigan, 2009), Postdoctoral Fellowship (University of Michigan, 2011). Her work combines biochemical, cellular, and physiological approaches to study hepatocyte resilience, age/sex-dependent liver disease mechanisms, and scalable assays for IF protein aggregation using patient-derived cells. Current research emphasizes therapeutic strategies for cytoskeletal dysregulation in neurodegeneration and liver disease.

Awards: NIH K01 (2011-2016), NIH R03 (2014-2016), Postdoctoral Translational Scholars Program Award (2009-2011). Grants include NIH-funded studies on CD73 and liver homeostasis. Lab activities span liver cell biology, neurogenetic disorders, and translational projects targeting disease mechanisms. Her publications (2020–2025) highlight roles of intermediate filaments in cancer metastasis, neurodegeneration, and metabolic reprogramming in alcoholic hepatitis.