Rama Natarajan, Ph.D.

rnatarajan@coh.org
626-218-2289
Rama Natarajan
Deputy Director, Arthur Riggs Diabetes & Metabolism Research Institute
Clinical Expertise
Diabetes
Research Area
Diabetic Complications
Appointments
Professor and Chair, Department of Diabetes Complications & Metabolism
National Business Products Industry Endowed Chair in Diabetes Research
Research Teams
Diabetes Complications and Metabolism
Rama Natarajan, Ph.D., is a leader in the field of diabetes-related vascular complications and a pioneer in diabetes epigenetics. She was among the first to discover the role of epigenetic changes and noncoding RNAs in promoting diabetic micro- and macrovascular complications. Her team identified specific chromatin histone post-translational modifications and DNA methylations that drive inflammatory and fibrotic genes in diabetes. Her studies in this area provided clinical evidence that persistent epigenetic changes are associated with the phenomenon of “metabolic memory,” in which periods of prior high blood sugar levels predispose diabetic patients to long-term vascular complications, despite subsequent optimum glucose control. These findings have led to a new appreciation of the connections between glycemic history, epigenetics, metabolic memory and diabetic vasculopathy. Natarajan also evaluates translational approaches targeting epigenetic changes and non-coding RNAs for the treatment of diabetic complications. She has published over 200 papers and has received numerous awards. Her studies have been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health for 30 years.

Natarajan is a faculty member of the Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences and active in teaching, mentoring and training graduate students, fellows and faculty. Currently, Natarajan is professor and chair of the Department of Diabetes Complications and Metabolism within the Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute and Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope National Medical Center. She also holds the National Business Products Industry Endowed Chair in Diabetes Research.

As a member and chair of the Women’s Leadership Committee for the Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Council of the American Heart Association, Natarajan continues to promote the advancement of junior researchers and women in vascular sciences.  
 
Visit the Natarajan Lab
Location
Education & Experience
Degrees

  • 1973-1977, Ph.D. in biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, India

Fellowship

  • 1980-1986, NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California Medical School, Los Angeles, CA

  • 1979-1980, Scientific Research Council Post Doctoral Fellow, Department of Applied Chemistry, Salford University, England, U.K.

  • 1977-1979, Senior Research Fellow, Department of Science and Technology Fellowship, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India

Professional Experience

  • 2014-present, Professor and Chair, Department of Diabetes Complications and Metabolism, Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute at City of Hope

  • 2011-present, National Business Products Industry Endowed Chair in Diabetes Research, Department of Diabetes Complications and Metabolism, Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute at City of Hope

  • 2002-present, Professor, Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Research, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope

  • 2011-2014, Associate Chair, Department of Diabetes, Director, Division of Molecular Diabetes Research, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope

  • 1996-2001, Associate Professor, Dept of Diabetes, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA

  • 1990-1996, Assistant Research Scientist, Department of Diabetes, City of Hope

  • 1987-1990, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California Medical School

Awards & Memberships
Awards (Partial List)

  • 2021, Distinguished Scientist Award, American Heart Association ATVB Council

  • 2020, Edwin Bierman Award, from the American Diabetes Association

  • 2020, AAAS Fellow, Elected by Council of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

  • 2016, Values in Action Award, City of Hope

  • 2014, Distinguished Top Reviewer, DIABETES (journal)

  • 2013, Distinguished Top Reviewer, DIABETES (journal)

  • 2013, ATVB (Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis, Vascular Biol) Journal Award for Top 10 reviewers

  • 2012, 20th Robert R. Kohn Memorial Lecture, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland Ohio

  • 2012, Kroc Lectureship, Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Endocrinology and Medicine

  • 2012, Lead organizer, Keystone Meeting on Diabetic Complications, Boston, MA

  • 2012, Star Reviewer, American Physiological Society Journals Publications

  • 2011, Mentor of Women Award, ATVB Council of The American Heart Association, Chicago

  • 2011, National Business Products Industries Endowed Professor, Beckman Research Institut, City of Hope

  • 2011, Plenary Speaker, Korean Society of Nephrology 31st Annual Meeting, Seoul, Korea

  • 2011, City of Hope Leadership Academy

  • 2010, Barry M Brenner Endowed Lecture, American Society of Nephrology, Denver Co

  • 2011, Inducted to the Scientific Research Achievements Gallery of Portraits, City of Hope

  • 2010, Annual Henry Turner Memorial Lecture and Distinguished Professor, University of Oklahoma, Dept of Internal Medicine, Oklahoma City

Memberships

  • 2020, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Elected Fellow

  • 2017-present, Editorial Board, Vascular Pharmacology

  • 2014-present, Editorial Board, Journal of American Society of Nephrology

  • 2011-present, Editorial Board, Physiological Genomics

  • 2009-present, Editorial Board, Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research

  • 2007-present, Editorial Board, American Journal of Physiology, Renal Physiology

  • 2003-present, Editorial Board, Kidney International

  • 2007-2009, 2012-2014, 2017-present, Editorial Board, DIABETES

  • 2005-2011, Editorial Board, J. Lipid Research

  • American Heart Association: Elected Fellow of the Council for Atherosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology (ATVB)

  • American Diabetes Association

  • American Association for the Advancement of Science

  • American Society of Nephrology (Elected Fellow)

  • International Society of Nephrology

  • North American Vascular Biology Organization (Member of Membership and Awards Committees)

  • Grant Review Committee Memberships and Other National/International Committees

Publications

View a full list of publications