Dr. Natasha Zachara

Biography

Natasha Zachara, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Chemistry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her research primarily focuses on the biochemical modification of proteins through O-linked beta-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc), a critical post-translational modification involved in various cellular processes such as signal transduction, metabolism, and response to environmental stimuli. Dr. Zachara's work has shown that O-GlcNAcylation acts as a novel regulator of cellular survival, particularly in response to stress conditions like heat shock and oxidative stress. She has a significant track record in glycobiology, having completed her postdoctoral studies at Johns Hopkins and joined the faculty in 2007. Currently, she leads the Zachara Lab, where she aims to define the mechanisms by which O-GlcNAc influences cell survival across different models of stress. In addition to her research, Dr. Zachara is actively involved in graduate training and serves as the Director of the K12 training program in glycosciences and as Chair of the Glycan Advisory Committee. Her scholarly contributions include over 6,400 citations and significant publications in high-impact journals.

Research Interests