Projects

Active Projects

We are interested in understanding how neurons are born, how they differentiate and take up specific roles in the developing brain and the long-term consequences of variations in this process. Non-coding RNAs are a large and relatively unknown component of gene regulation in neurons. We use zebrafish to study inherited RNA, earthworms to study regeneration and cell lines to study neuronal cell death caused by polyglutamine disease.

Past Projects
Transcriptomics

(2004 - 2008)

Beena's lab started in 2004, as a transcriptomics laboratory. In the early phase, using yeast and cell lines as models, transcriptomics studies were carried out to find the pathways that cause

  • toxicity of cigarette smoke, nanoparticles and

  • neurodegeneration due to polyglutamine expansion in TATA binding protein.

MicroRNAs

(2005-2018)

We reported

  • anti-HIV miRNAs

  • heterogenetiy in the Actin 3'UTR

  • Maternal inheritance of miR-34

  • miR-29a/b in ataxia

  • Stat1 upregulation, interferon signaling in polyglutamine toxicity.

Our goal is to enjoy the process of discovery by embracing uncertainty, re-working our hypothesis in the light of new data and sharing our results with the scientific community.