Rajnish Bharadwaj

Rajnish Bharadwaj is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and holds a joint appointment in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. He is a physician-scientist specializing in neuropathology with expertise in neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Bharadwaj completed his MBBS at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, and earned a PhD in Clinical Genetics and Genomics from UT Southwestern Medical Center. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration, particularly mitochondrial and lysosomal dysfunction in Parkinsonism and Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation (NBIA). He employs Drosophila models and human postmortem brain tissue for translational research. Dr. Bharadwaj’s work has been recognized with awards such as the Weil Award (2017) and the Environmental Pathology/Toxicology Training Grant T32 (2016–2017).

Education:

• PhD, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 2004
• MBBS, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, 1998

Research Interests: Dr. Bharadwaj’s lab investigates the role of lysosomal and mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases. Current projects include studying genes linked to Parkinson’s disease and NBIA using Drosophila melanogaster, cell culture systems, and human tissue analysis. His translational approach bridges basic science and clinical practice.

Labs & Affiliations: Principal Investigator of the Bharadwaj Lab at the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience. Collaborates with the PhD Program in Pathology – Cell Biology of Disease. Lab members include Staff Scientist Sreejith Perinthottathil and Lab Manager Sara Lolo.

Grants & Awards: Highlights include the Weil Award and EP/T T32 Grant. Ongoing funding supports his work on neurodegenerative mechanisms.