Dr. Elena Gracheva

Biography

Elena Gracheva is a Professor of Cellular and Molecular Physiology at Yale University, specializing in the study of somatosensation and thermoregulation. Her research interests focus on understanding the molecular and evolutionary mechanisms that allow somatosensory and thermoregulatory systems to adapt to environmental and behavioral needs of organisms. A primary aim of her lab is to investigate how molecules mediate different types of sensations under varying physiological conditions, particularly by using mammalian hibernation as a reversible model. Gracheva's work dissects the mechanisms involved in thermoregulation and thermogenesis, leveraging insights from hibernating mammals to elucidate the cellular basis of these fascinating biological processes. She integrates multiple scientific approaches including biochemistry, bioinformatics, live-cell imaging, electrophysiology, genomics, and behavioral paradigms to address complex physiological and clinical questions. This research has important implications for human health, particularly concerning inducible reversible hypothermia, cold tolerance, and tissue transplantation.

Research Interests

Awards