Curriculum Vitae
2014-present Assistant professor with tenure, Department of Molecular & Cell Biology University of California, Berkeley
2008-2014 Assistant professor, Department of Molecular & Cell Biology University of California, Berkeley
2002-2008 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco. Fellow in the laboratory of Dr. David Julius.
1995-2002, PhD, Neuroscience, Stanford University, School of Medicine. Thesis in the laboratory of Dr. Richard Lewis.
1992-1995 B. S., University of Oregon, Eugene OR.
Honours and awards
2016 HHMI Scholar 2016 UC Berkeley Class of 1949 Endowed Chair
2014 Society for Neuroscience Young Investigator Award
2013 International Forum for the Study of Itch, Handwerker Prize for Research
2010-2015 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award
2012 UC Berkeley Prytanean Faculty Award for outstanding research, teaching & outreach
2010-2012 Rita Allen Foundation Pain Scholar
2009-2013 Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences
2009-2011 McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience Scholar Award
2009-2010 Hellman Family Faculty Fund Award
2008-2009 Sloan Foundation Research Fellowship
2005-2010 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award in Biomedical Sciences.
General administrative and organisational experience
Courses, Editorial & Reviewing
2016-present Co-Director, Neurobiology Course, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA
2009-2016 Faculty, Neurobiology Course, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA
2015-2018 Journal of General Physiology, Reviewing Editor
2013-present Journal of Neuroscience, Reviewing Editor
2010-2016 Molecular Biology of the Cell, Reviewing Editor Advisory Boards
2017 Society for Neuroscience, Annual Meeting Program Committee Chair
2015-2016 Society for Neuroscience, Program Committee- Sensory Section Chair
2014 NIH-Somatosensory and Chemosensory Systems Study Section
2013-2015 Society for Neuroscience, Annual Meeting Program Committee Member
2013-2015 HHMI Gilliam Fellowships for Advanced Study, Review Panel Member
2013-2014 HHMI “Sustaining Excellence”, Review Panel Member
2013 NIH-Neurobiology of memory formation, decision making and somatosensory study section
2012-2013 NIH-Arthritis, Connective Tissue and Skin Study Section.
Research interests
My lab studies the molecular mechanisms underlying itch touch and pain under normal and pathophysiological conditions. Acute pain acts as a warning signal that alerts us to noxious environmental stimuli which are potentially tissue damaging. Likewise, itch sensations trigger reflexes that protect us from disease-carrying insects. In addition, tissue damaging. Likewise, itch sensations trigger reflexes that protect us from disease-carrying insects. In addition, during inflammation or injury, we experience a heightened sensitivity that encourages us to protect the injured site. Despite these essential protective functions, itch and pain can outlast their usefulness and become chronic. These sensations are mediated by specialized subsets of somatosensory neurons that work in conjunction with epithelial cells and immune cells. We use cellular physiology, molecular biology, molecular genetics and behavioral studies to define the signaling mechanisms within and among these cells that drive chronic, inflammatory itch and pain.
Selected publications
1. HTR7 mediates serotonergic acute and chronic itch (2015). Morita T, McClain SP, Wilson SR, Batia LM, Stucky CL, Brem RB, Bautista DM. Neuron. Jul 1; 87:124-38
2. The epithelial cell-derived atopic dermatitis cytokine TSLP activates neurons to induce itch (2013). Wilson SR, Thé L, Batia LM, Beattie KC, Katibah GE, McClain SP, Pellegrino M, Estandian DM, Bautista DM. Cell. Oct 10; 155(2) :285-95.
3. The ion channel TRPA1 is required for chronic Itch (2013). Wilson SR, Nelson AM, Batia LM, Morita T, Owens DM, Estandian DM, Lumpkin EA, Bautista DM. J. Neurosci. May 29; 33(22) :9283-94.
4. The star-nosed mole reveals clues to the molecular basis of mammalian touch (2013). Gerhold KA, Pellegrino M, Morita T, Leitch DB, Brem RB, Catania KC, Bautista DM. PLoS One. 8(1) :e55001.
5. A 'toothache tree'alkylamide inhibits Aδ mechanonociceptors to alleviate mechanical pain (2013). Tsunozaki M, Lennertz RC, Vilceanu D, Katta S, Stucky CL, Bautista DM. J Physiol. Jul1; 591:3325-40.
6. TRPA1 is required for histamine-independent, Mas-related G- protein coupled receptor-mediated itch (2011) Wilson SR, Gerhold KA, Bifolck-Fisher A, Liu Q, Patel K, Dong X. Bautista DM. Nature Neuroscience. May; 14(5) : 595-602.
7. Radial stretch reveals distinct populations of mechanosensitive mammalian somatosensory neurons. Bhattacharya MRC, Bautista DM#, Wu K, Lumpkin EA#, Julius D# (2008). PNAS. Dec 16; 105(50) :20015-20. #cocorresponding authors.
8. Pungent agents from Szechuan peppers excite sensory neurons by inhibiting two-pore potassium channels (2008). Bautista DM, Sigal, YM, Tsuruda PR, Milstein AD, Garrison JL, Zorn JA, Nicoll RA, Julius D. Nature Neuroscience. Jul; 11(7) :772-9.
9. The menthol receptor TRPM8 is the principal detector of environmental cold (2007). Bautista DM, Siemens J, Glazer JM, Tsuruda PR, Basbaum AI, Stucky CL, Jordt SE, Julius D. Nature. Jul 12; 448(7150) : 204-8.
10. TRPA1 mediates the inflammatory actions of environmental irritants and proalgesic agents (2006). Bautista DM, Jordt SE, Nikai T, Tsuruda PR, Read AJ, Poblete J, Yamoah EN, Basbaum AI, Julius D. Cell. Mar 24; 124(6) : 1269-82.
