Samit Ghosh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. He obtained his PhD in cancer biology from Jadavpur University, India. He completed his first postdoctoral training at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Texas. He investigated the binding of the coagulation factor, FVIIa to non-stimulated endothelial cells and discovered for the first time that FVIIa binds to endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) in a true ligand fashion, providing critical knowledge to improve treatment efficacy of bleeding disorders, like hemophilia. He then worked at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorder Center at Emory University as a postdoctoral scientist, when he investigated pathobiology of acute chest syndrome in sickle cell disease. His research involved identifying the role of extracellular heme causing acute lung injury in sickle transgenic mice. He joined University of Pittsburgh in 2013 and served as research associate and research assistant professor. Currently, his research focuses on the pathogenesis of renal complications in sickle cell disease.

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is one of the most common rare genetic disorders affecting 20-25 million people worldwide with progressive multiorgan complications leading to early mortality. The kidney is one of the most severely affected organs in SCD. Dr. Ghosh’s research aims to delineate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of kidney diseases, ranging from acute kidney injury (AKI) to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). His research involves two major components. One is to determine the role of circulating hemolytic byproducts, such as, heme and its scavenger proteins, hemopexin and alpha-1-microglobulin, promoting development of AKI. The other is to delineate the role of renal microvascular endothelium and tubular epithelium instigating AKI-to-CKD transition in SCD. His research interests also include the pathophysiological interactions of kidney injuries with other comorbidities in SCD. His goal is to identify prophylactic and therapeutic targets in preclinical settings with translational capabilities, and to provide new biomarkers for better prognostication and risk assessment for SCD complications.

PhD, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Jadavpur University, India, 2005
Postdoctoral Associate, University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, TX, 2005
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 2008
Research Associate, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 2013
Research Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 2015