I started as a postdoctoral fellow in Mariano Garcia-Blanco’s lab in 2021 where I am focusing on unravelling the mechanisms of DEAD-box RNA helicase 39B (DDX39B) function in RNA alternative splicing. I completed my PhD from National University of Singapore where we were looking at microRNAs as therapeutic targets for mitigating vasculopathy during dengue. I started my first postdoc stint at University of California, Davis, where we explored the adaptive mechanisms employed by poxviruses- a DNA virus - to overcome host-species barriers and adapt to new hosts. We discovered that adaptive mutations in the viral RNA polymerase may have important roles in changing the transcriptional environment in response to host restriction during cross-species adaptation. I have had a significant background in virology but in all my past projects there has been an important component of RNA biology which has always piqued my interest. So, in Mariano’s lab I decided to switch gears and explore RNA biology with a specific focus on alternative splicing. DEAD-box RNA helicases are integral to RNA metabolism and consequently have important immune functions. Our group has previously shown that DEAD-box RNA helicase 39B has a strong genetic association with MS risk where DDX39B depletion increases IL7R exon 6 skipping which encodes for proinflammatory soluble IL7R. I am focused on understanding what cis-acting and trans-acting factors dictate DDX39B-mediated RNA alternative splicing outcomes. The goal is to identify key factors involved in DDX39B function which can be tweaked and design therapeutic interventions targeting RNA splicing in diseases.
In my free time I like to listen to and practice my Indian classical music. I also like running and I am currently back on fitness journey to get back on track and run marathons.