DR. PATAJE PRASANNA
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
CONTACT INFORMATION
National Cancer Institute
9609 Medical Center Dr., MSC 9727
For USPS: Bethesda, MD 20892-9727
For Express and Courier: Rockville, MD 20850
Phone: 240-276-5703
Fax: 240-276- 5827
Email: Pat.Prasanna@nih.gov
Pataje G.S. Prasanna, Ph.D., joined NCI in May 2009 and currently oversees a portfolio of grants, which study radiation-induced normal tissue injury, radiation-effect modulators, biomarkers, and nanotechnology. He serves as the liaison for the collaboration between NCI’s Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) Development Center and the Radiation Research Program.
Pataje received his doctorate in Radiobiology from Mangalore University in India, before availing a National Research Council Post-Doctoral Research Associateship at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI) in Maryland, USA. He established a molecular cytogenetic laboratory at AFRRI and subsequently conducted research in biological dosimetry and radiation-induced normal tissue injury as well as assessed radiation dose to individuals accidentally exposed to radiation. Serving as a Principal Investigator in research projects, in radiation biology, he contributed to many national and international research efforts in biodosimetry.
At NCI, serving as the Program Lead for the collaboration between the Radiation Research Program and the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Development Center, he has collaboratively developed several funding opportunities related to improving the radiation therapy outcomes through the request for proposals. These efforts have spurred academic - small industry partnerships in radiation oncology and accelerated clinical translation of academic research. He is involved in many national and international efforts on improving radiation therapy outcome and biodosimetry/biomarker research. Most notable ones include service as a member of the Medical Countermeasures Advisory Board and the Technical Evaluation Panel at the Biomedical Advanced Research Development Authority (BARDA), a consultant at the International Atomic Energy Agency in developing several Coordinated Research Projects in radiation biology, and contributions to NASA’s BlueSky Workshop on “Biological Countermeasures against Space Radiation Risks” in 2015. In 2018, he was awarded a Superior Service Award by the Assistant Secretary for Health and Human Services for serving as an appointed member in the two Administrative Review Panels of the Secretary of HHS, formed to resolve compensation issues related to the Energy Employees Occupational Illness and Compensation Act of 2000. Pataje has published over 75 publications, co-authored several book chapters, and contributed as a subject matter expert in radiation biology to several initiatives within US Government. His research interests include studies on radiation-induced normal tissue injury, radiation-effect modulators, radiation-drug combinations, late effects, radiation and senescence, radiation biomarkers, proton biology, biological effects of low doses of radiation exposure, and biological dosimetry.