Nickname: Radhika
Hometown: Pathankot, PB
Graduate School: Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab
E-mail: rkradhikakhosla95@gmail.com

Tell briefly about yourself.

I did my graduation from AB College, Pathankot, and my master’s degree from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab. I did my PhD from the Neuroscience Research lab, PGIMER, Chandigarh, with Dr. Akshay Anand. I am a keen researcher. My primary goal is to channelize my passion for research to gain more knowledge in the field and try to search for potential therapeutic approaches for these diseases. I love to follow my passion towards science and to look into, to know about, and to enjoy the best mysteries of science and the miracles of science living in various species of the earth.

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

My experience at the Neuroscience Research Lab was great. The contribution of this lab and institute to my academic and professional development is immense. I got a chance to learn a lot about neuroscience, different molecular techniques, science, and life. The lab helped me conquer my fears. Repeated Journal club presentations made me more confident and enhanced my presentation skills. Managing different tasks at a time, moving ahead with experiments, and in my research work with the help of master schedules (MS). MS has helped me a lot by setting short timelines to achieve my objectives one by one. Learned a lot about purchasing in government institutions, teamwork, and participation in big events as a team. I got the opportunity to write manuscripts, reviews, and book chapters. I also got the opportunity to review articles for Journals. The most important one is that this place made me strong as a person and helped me in how to recognise my strengths and weaknesses.

What are your Research interests?

In case of research interest, I have two contrasting research interests. One of my two research interests is neurodegenerative diseases, and the other one is cancer. One involves the degeneration of cells, and the other involves the excessive proliferation of cells. But the one common link studied between both conditions is Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), where decreased levels of this molecule lead to regeneration, and increased levels cause enhanced cell proliferation. I want to explore the relationship of these molecules and to know the underlying pathways involved in the pathophysiology and mode of action at the molecular level.

What are your current affiliations?

Project Research Scientist II at the Department of Gastroenterology, PGIMER, Chandigarh.

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

My PhD thesis entitled “The role of biomarkers associated with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and its effect on NSC34 cell line” aimed to find the diagnostic potential of six crucial proteins involved in the pathology of ALS. These proteins are Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2), Angiogenin (ANG), Transactive Response DNA Binding Protein 43 (TDP43), Optineurin (OPTN), and Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein 1 (MCP1). The protein levels were estimated with the help of ELISA in the CSF and plasma of ALS patients compared to controls. The correlation of these proteins with one another and the association of protein levels with the socio-demographic factors were analysed to observe their effects on the protein levels. To further investigate the toxicity of CSF and plasma of patients, NSC34 cells were cultured, and the CSF and plasma were added to the culture media. The toxicity was analyzed using the MTT assay. Further gene expression of these proteins was analyzed in the cells using qPCR. The genetic association of VEGF rs699947, VEGFR2 rs2071559, ANG rs17114699, OPTN rs2234968, TDP43 rs121908395, and MCP1 rs1024611 with the risk of ALS in the North Indian population and with the protein levels and socio-demographic data were also analyzed.

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