Meet Madhusmita Misra, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics

Madhu Misra, MD, MPH, is Chair of the UVA Department of Pediatrics, Physician-in-Chief for UVA Health Children's Hospital, and a long-standing NIH-funded researcher. Dr. Misra shared with us about her background & research interests. 

Brain Institute: Briefly describe your current research projects and interests. 

Dr. Misra: My current research interests include neuroendocrine and bone alterations in conditions that span the weight spectrum from anorexia nervosa to energy deficit in the female athlete to obesity, and I have also worked on bone consequences in children with autism spectrum disorder and type 1 diabetes. Ongoing studies include an R01 grant examining the impact of estrogen on cognitive flexibility and reward responsiveness in hypoestrogenic young women with restrictive eating disorders in a randomized controlled trial (based on data from another study demonstrating that estrogen administration to such women improves drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction). Another R01 grant examines the impact of oxytocin as a weight loss strategy in children with obesity. This is based on preclinical studies that have demonstrated that oxytocin is anorexigenic, increases metabolic rate and is lipolytic. Further, a DoD grant examines the impact of oxytocin as a bone anabolic agent in children with autism spectrum disorder, based on preclinical studies that indicate that oxytocin has bone anabolic and antiresorptive effects.

How does your research connect with the field of neuroscience? 

While my initial studies were in the field of bone metabolism in adolescents, over the past decade, my lab has been increasingly involved in areas that intersect with neuroscience. We have demonstrated key effects of hypoestrogenism and estrogen replacement on neuropsychiatric endpoints such as anxiety, eating attitudes and behaviors, and cognitive flexibility and executive function in young women in a state of energy deficit. We have also examined homeostatic and hedonic food motivation pathways in the brain in relation to appetite regulating peptides and eating behaviors. As indicated above, an ongoing study involving functional MRI is assessing the impact of estrogen on cognitive flexibility and reward responsiveness in young women with restrictive eating disorders. The study of oxytocin as a weight loss strategy in children with obesity is examining the impact of oxytocin on hypothalamic inflammation in relation to appetite regulating hormones and food intake. 

What aspect of research at UVA is most exciting to you? 

I am very excited about the collaborative nature of research at UVA, and look forward to establishing new relationships with researchers at Charlottesville. There is a tremendous amount of work ongoing in the field of neuroscience here and my meetings with investigators thus far have been exciting and full of possibilities for new collaborations.

What's the best part about your job? 

What I most enjoy about my job as Chair of Pediatrics of UVA and Physician-in-Chief of UVA Health Children’s is the people I work with, the patients and families with whom I have the privilege to interact, and the work I do in my lab with my team and my collaborators. Research continues to be one of the most fulfilling aspects of my job, particularly my interactions with trainees and early career investigators, and the ability to mentor and sponsor them to successful careers in their field. 

What led you to a career in science and neuroscience? 

Hard to tell really, but I was definitely motivated to enter the field of pediatrics by my great uncle, who was the first licensed pediatrician in our state, and an incredibly kind and compassionate man, dearly loved by his patients. I became interested in research after my husband pushed me to write up the results of a residency research project (while we were still in India), and the process of analyzing the data and seeing a story unfold, writing the manuscript and getting this published lit a spark that eventually led me to come to this country and develop a career as a physician scientist.

What advice do you have for trainees? 

Curiosity is critical to a career in research, so do remain curious about questions that are unanswered or semi-answered or where they may have been answered, but you are not satisfied with the answers. Also, do remember that if your study is done well, the data always tell a story. Sometimes, this may not be the story you expected, but it is still a story that is there for you to decipher and to report.

What's something new that you've learned recently (at work or outside of work)? 

In the past few months, what I mostly learned is how to do the job of a department Chair- something I have enjoyed very much. 

Where are you from originally?

I was born and raised in India. My family is from the coastal state of Odisha, which is rich in culture, ancient architecture and natural beauty.  

What's your favorite way to spend a day off? 

Eating out, hiking, reading, or sometimes watching a teleseries.

What is a surefire way to make you laugh? 

Puns usually make me laugh; so do babies and toddlers….