Investigation of glucocorticoid receptor signaling in the epigenetic regulation of immune response
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Henriette Uhlenhaut
Enrolled since 2023
I obtained my Masters in Biotechnology from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). Before starting my PhD, to gain research experience, I joined the leading institute CSIR-CCMB where I worked till 2023 June. I had this wonderful chance to explore and train in the domain of single-cell analytics to understand cell heterogeneity. To further continue my expertise and knowledge in the field of research I have joined as a Phd Student under Prof. Dr. Nina Henriette Uhlenhaut Group at the institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology(IDE), at Helmholtz Zentrum Munich in collaboration with Dr. Ramon Grima at University of Edinburgh, UK. My project focusses on Glucocorticoid receptor signaling in the epigenetic control of immune response. By increasing or reducing mRNA concentration, glucocorticoids regulate the expression of a restricted number of transcriptionally active genes. I am studying glucocorticoid signalling especially on gene programs in inflammation, cross-talk with inflammatory signalling pathways in macrophages.My work will include both experimental and computational approaches to study transcriptional mechanisms at the promoter, role of different core promoters and enhancers in pause control of RNA polymerase 2. The transcriptional kinetics patterns shown by the glucocorticoid receptor in macrophages will be studied by the implementation of next generation sequencing and stochastic modelling.