Luis F. Z. Batista, PhD

Luis F. Z. Batista, PhD

Associate Professor

Address: 

  • Hematology Division
    Mail Stop 8125-0020-08, Washington University, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110 (mail)
  • Room 8817 Clinical Sciences Research Building (office)
  • Room 8816 Clinical Sciences Research Building (lab)

Research Interest: Induced pluripotent stem cells; Telomere maintenance

Research: The overarching goal of my research is to understand the importance of telomerase in human stem and progenitor cell function and regulation. I am interested in understanding how genetic instability leads to diminished pluripotent cell function over time and how it influences tissue homeostasis, human aging and cancer. My laboratory uses genome-wide methods to uncover alterations that drive cellular failure upon critical telomere dysfunction, using human pluripotent cells as a primary model. We combine in vitro biochemical and mechanistic studies with our ability to generate and differentiate pluripotent cells to better understand the importance of telomere maintenance in this process and to determine the events that lead from telomere dysfunction to human disease.

For more information, please see Batista Lab

Biosketch

Education

  • 2012-2008: Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Medicine/Hematology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
  • 2008-2004: PhD, Cellular Biology, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil and University of Mainz, Germany
  • 2003-2000: BSc, Biology (Genetics), University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Academic Positions

  • 2020-present: Associate Professor, Departments of Medicine and Developmental Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
  • 2020-2014: Assistant Professor, Departments of Medicine and Developmental Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
  • 2013-2012: Instructor, Department of Medicine/Hematology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Major Honors & Awards

  • 2020: Research Scholar Award, American Cancer Society
  • 2017: Scholar Award, American Federation for Aging Research
  • 2016: Conquer Cancer Now Award, Concern Foundation
  • 2015: Early Stage Investigator Award, Edward Mallinckrodt, Jr. Foundation
  • 2015: Scholar Award, V Foundation for Cancer Research
  • 2014: Early Career Development Award, Central Society for Clinical and Translational Research
  • 2011: CIRM Postdoctoral Fellow, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
  • 2009: Pew Postdoctoral Fellow, The Pew Charitable Trusts
  • 2007: 1st Place, Top Young Investigator Award, Brazilian Society of Mutagenesis and Carcinogenesis

Editorial Responsibilities

  • 2017-present: Associate Editor, Genetics and Molecular Biology (official journal of the Brazilian Genetics Society)

National Service and Leadership Roles

  • 2020: Member, Scientific Committee on Bone Marrow Failure, American Society of Hematology
  • 2020-2018: Reviewer, National Science Foundation (NSF), Cell Biology Panel
  • 2019: Ad Hoc Reviewer, Fondazione Telethon (Italy)
  • 2019-2017: Ad Hoc Reviewer, Israel Science Foundation (ISF)

Professional Societies

  • International Society for Stem Cell Research
  • Central Society for Clinical and Translational Research
  • American Society of Hematology

Selected Publications