Nikita Bhalerao, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at UMass Chan Medical School, has been honored with the 2025 Rising Star Award by the National Pancreas Foundation and a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship from the Pancreatic Cancer Alliance (PCA). Her research, conducted under the mentorship of Dr. Jason Pitarresi, focuses on unraveling the complex biological mechanisms behind cancer cachexia, a condition marked by severe and uncontrollable weight loss that affects nearly 80% of pancreatic cancer patients.
The Rising Star Award is presented to individuals who demonstrate exceptional promise, innovation, and compassion in advancing the understanding and management of pancreatic diseases. The PCA fellowship will support Bhalerao’s continued exploration into how cachexia develops and potential strategies to prevent or mitigate its devastating effects.
Speaking about her work, Dr. Bhalerao explained, “Pancreatic cancer is extremely challenging because patients often lose significant weight as the disease progresses, and it’s usually diagnosed late, leading to low survival rates. My goal is to understand how this wasting process begins and to develop ways to stop it.”
Her mentor, Dr. Jason Pitarresi, praised her courage and creativity, stating that she took on one of the least understood aspects of pancreatic cancer research. “Nikita’s work has identified a new tumor-derived factor that contributes to fat tissue loss, paving the way for potential breakthroughs in an area that desperately needs new discoveries,” he said.
Originally from Mumbai, India, Bhalerao earned her undergraduate degree in biotechnology from the University of Mumbai and her master’s from the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in Gujarat. She later moved to the United States to pursue a PhD in cancer biology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she focused on tumor glycobiology and pancreatic cancer development.
Bhalerao aspires to establish her own research laboratory dedicated to tumor immunology and molecular biology, aiming to improve survival outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients. Outside of her scientific pursuits, she enjoys painting, reading, and spending time with loved ones.
Expressing gratitude to her mentor and colleagues, she said, “The environment in Jason’s lab is incredibly collaborative, and everyone contributes ideas freely, which has made my experience at UMass Chan truly rewarding.”
She is set to receive the Rising Star Award at the National Pancreas Foundation’s Courage for a Cure Awards Celebration, recognizing her as one of the brightest emerging scientists in cancer research.
