Nickname: Priya
Hometown: Solan, H.P
Graduate School: Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh
Email: priyabattu78@gmail.com
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priya-battu-a70884202/ Click Here
Current organisation: Regeneration Biology Lab, IISER Mohali, Punjab, India
Website: https://rajeshramachandranlab.com/group-members-2/

Tell me briefly about yourself.

I am an analytical, friendly, and reliable researcher.

How was your experience in the Neuroscience Research Lab? How did it contribute to your academic or professional development?

I learnt teamwork, resilience, and self-management in the NRL. Working here has prepared me to embrace a path of lifelong learning and adapt to challenges as well as opportunities in my research career.

What are your Research interests?

Neurophthalmology, neurogenetics, and regeneration biology

What are your current affiliations?

Postdoctoral researcher at IISER Mohali

What was your PhD thesis in or research work? Timeline?

Thesis: Role of candidate gene loci in Age-related macular degeneration (1st Jan. 2018- 31st Dec. 2022)

My doctoral research investigated the role of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in Age-related macular degeneration. For achieving the first objective, we screened Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients and controls from the Advanced Eye Centre of the institute. Case-control groups were screened for the SNPs, and the risk and protective nature of the allele/genotype was determined. Next, we wanted to explore whether out of the studied genes, their protein levels in serum could indicate disease phenotypes, categories, progression, or response to the disease. Surprisingly, we found that an extracellular matrix protein, COL10A1, was upregulated in AMD patients’ serum and is previously known to be increased in various types of cancers. Further, we comprehensively analysed the association of SNPs and biomarkers with lifestyle habits (Smoking, alcohol, diet, and sleeping pattern) and treatment/medications (anti-AMD drugs, Avastin injections) being administered to the patients as part of the treatment regimen. We showed associations between lifestyle factors and AMD. Our research also indicated epistatic interactions between the AMD-associated genes. We remained curious to know the interactions between the studied genes and proteins. Hence, we employed an ARPE-19 cell culture system and created an oxidative stress model using H2O2, mimicking retinal conditions in AMD. Our results indicated that oxidative stress causes alterations in the expression of these genes at the level of retinal cells, which should be further explored.