My research during the last years has focused on defining cellular and molecular mechanisms of adipose tissue remodeling in different experimental models of cancer cachexia. My contributions have included a detailed dissection of mechanisms regulating the early phases of adipose tissue remodeling during cachexia development, particularly the induction of inflammation and brown-like adipocytes (brite/beige cells) in white adipose depots and the identification of novel targets for the development of anti-cachectic therapeutics.
In Brazil, since 2010, I have worked as Head of the Laboratory of adipose tissue biology focusing on in vivo and in vitro projects related to cancer cachexia, obesity, metabolic diseases. I Supervised 7 Ph.D. students, 3 postdocs, and several undergrad students. I also served as Dean of Research (2013-2017) at the University of Mogi das Cruzes (UMC), Brazil. I was responsible for developing and implementing policies for innovation, entrepreneurship, and R&D. I was responsible for mediating partnerships between University and Industry.
In the Farmer Lab, I am engaged in analyzing and integrating single nuclei sequencing and spatial transcriptomics dataset and establishing pipelines to identify in vitro new progenitor cells and mature adipocytes, especially in visceral adipose tissue samples from diabetic and obese patients.
As an entrepreneur and Bonds Biosystem startup co-founder, my research interests include developing a new 3D culture platform using adipocytes and lung and breast cancers as an organ-in-a-chip model for modeling cardiometabolic diseases and cancer cachexia.
Research Interests: 3D culture and organ in a chip, Visceral adipose tissue remodeling, Single nucleus RNA-Seq and spatial transcriptome, Disease Modeling, University spin-off and startup biotechnology
Publications
1- Biagi Jr CAO, Cury SS, Alves CP, Rabhi N, Silva Jr WA, Farmer SR, Carvalho RF, Batista ML Jr. Multidimensional Single-Nuclei RNA-Seq Reconstruction of Adipose Tissue Reveals Adipocyte Plasticity Underlying Thermogenic Response. 2021 Nov 8;10(11):3073. PMID: 34831295.
2- Batista ML Jr, Meshulam, T, K. Desevin, K, Rabhi, R, Farmer, FR. Three-Dimensional Adipocyte Culture as a Model to Study Cachexia-Induced White Adipose Tissue Remodeling. J Vis Exp. 2021; 10.3791/61853.
3- Jabes DL, de Maria YNLF, Aciole Barbosa D, Santos KBNH, Carvalho LM, Humberto AC, Alencar VC, Costa de Oliveira R, Batista ML Jr, Menegidio FB, Nunes LR. Fungal Dysbiosis Correlates with the Development of Tumor-Induced Cachexia in Mice. J Fungi (Basel). 2020 Dec 13;6(4):364. doi: 10.3390/jof6040364.
4- Henriques F, Lopes MA, Franco FO, Knobl P, Santos KB, Bueno LL, Correa VA, Bedard AH, Guilherme A, Birbrair A, Peres SB, Farmer SR, Batista ML Jr. Toll-Like Receptor-4 Disruption Suppresses Adipose Tissue Remodeling and Increases Survival in Cancer Cachexia Syndrome. Sci Rep. 2018 Dec 21;8(1):18024.
5- Batista, M. L., Jr, F. S. Henriques, R. X. Neves, M. R. Olivan, E. M. Matos‐Neto, P. S. Alcântara, L. F. Maximiano, J. P. Otoch, M. J. Alves and M. Seelaender (2016). “Cachexia‐associated adipose tissue morphological rearrangement in gastrointestinal cancer patients.” Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle 7(1): 37–47. PMCID: PMC4799865.
6- Neves RX, Rosa-Neto JC, Yamashita AS, Matos-Neto EM, Riccardi DM, Lira FS, Batista ML Jr, Seelaender M. (2016) White adipose tissue cells and the progression of cachexia: inflammatory pathways. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. May;7(2):193-203. PMCID: PMC4864177.
7- F.S. Henriques, R.A.L. Sertié, F.O. Franco, P. Knobl, R.X. Neves, S.Andreotti, Lima, F.B. Guilherme A., M. Seelaender, Batista, M. L., Jr (2017). “Early suppression of adipocyte lipid turnover induces immunometabolic modulation in cancer cachexia syndrome” FASEB J. 2017 May;31(5):1976-1986.
8- M.J. Alves, R.G. Figuerêdo, F.F Azevedo, D.A. Cavallaro DA, K. Radloff, D.M. Riccardi, P.S. Alcântara, J.P. Otoch, Batista, M. L., Jr, M. Seelaender (2017). Adipose tissue fibrosis in human cancer cachexia: the role of TGFβ pathway. BMC Cancer Mar 14;17(1):190. PMCID: PMC5348844
9- Silvério R, Lira FS, Oyama LM, Oller do Nascimento CM, Otoch JP, Alcântara PSM, Batista ML Jr, Seelaender M. Lipases and lipid droplet-associated protein expression in subcutaneous white adipose tissue of cachectic patients with cancer. Lipids Health Dis. 2017 Aug 22;16(1):159.
10- Beluzi, M., S. B. Peres, F. S. Henriques, R. A. Sertie, F. O. Franco, K. B. Santos, P. Knobl, S. Andreotti, C. S. Shida, R. X. Neves, S. R. Farmer, M. Seelaender, F. B. Lima and M. L. Batista, Jr. (2015). “Pioglitazone treatment increases survival and prevents body weight loss in tumor-bearing animals: possible anti-cachectic effect.” PLoS One 10(3): e0122660