Dr. Anindya Dutta, Endowed Professor and Chair of Genetics at the University of Alabama – Birmingham, has been named the recipient of the prestigious 2025 Rous-Whipple Award by the American Society for Investigative Pathology (ASIP). This honor is awarded to senior scientists with exceptional research careers who advance disease understanding, contribute significantly to teaching and mentorship, and provide leadership within the pathology field.
Dr. Dutta, an internationally recognized expert in genome stability, made groundbreaking discoveries, including identifying geminin’s crucial role in preventing DNA over-replication, which was published in Science in 2000. His research further unveiled critical factors that inhibit over-replication, explored DNA damage pathways triggered by over-replication, and demonstrated the anti-cancer effects of Pevonedistat.
His laboratory also pioneered the study of extrachromosomal DNA circles (eccDNA) in both normal and cancer cells. He demonstrated that eccDNA from tumors is detectable in the blood, suggesting its potential as a cancer biomarker. Dr. Dutta’s team also identified a novel group of short RNAs called tRFs (tsRNAs), which play roles in viral pathogenesis and gene regulation in cancer. Additionally, his work on long noncoding RNAs, such as DRAIC and LINC00152, has shed light on their significant roles in cancer pathology.
With over 215 published papers and $33 million in research funding, Dr. Dutta is a respected figure in pathology and genetics. He has actively contributed to ASIP for over 25 years, organizing key sessions on cell growth, differentiation, and gene regulation. In 2015, he received ASIP’s Outstanding Investigator Award.
Dr. Dutta holds an MBBS from the University of Madras and a PhD from The Rockefeller University. After moving to the University of Alabama – Birmingham in 2021, he continues to lead groundbreaking genetic research. He will be honored with the ASIP Rous-Whipple Award at the organization’s annual meeting in April 2025 in Portland, Oregon.
