Meet The Team
Priyanka performed doctoral studies in the lab of Dr Gerard Campbell, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, USA. Here she studied mechanisms of transcriptional regulation. Using a modified ends out genome editing strategy she investigated why many eukaryotic transcriptional repressors utilize more than one accessory corepressor proteins, using Brinker a transcription factor in Drosophila as a model.
She went on to perform postdoctoral research with Dr Hilary Ashe at the Division of Molecular and Cellular Function, University of Manchester, UK. Here she used CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and MS2 live imaging to dissect bone morphpogenetic protein (BMP) gradient and cell fate in the early Drosophila embryo.
She joined the faculty at Department of Medical Genetics, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, MAHE, Manipal in 2016. She is broadly interested in collaborative human genetics research focused to decipher disease mechanisms. Her work uses Drosophila and mammalian cell culture to model and understand the pathomechanisms underlying rare genetic disorders. She is also interested in exploring the genetic variations in human disease in worldwide populations. And she studies primary ciliogenesis and its role in skeletal development and repair.
‘Out of lab’ Priyanka enjoys reading, writing and is a passionate runner. She discovered running later in life but it has reinforced her belief in living life outside comfort zones.
Neha Quadri, MSc.
PhD scholar
neha.quadri[at]learner.manipal.edu
Neha got her Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Biochemistry and Chemistry from Aurora Degree College, Hyderabad, India. As an undergrad she worked on a summer project under the guidance of Dr. Ravi Manjithaya, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore, India, through the Project Oriented Biology Education (POBE) fellowship program from JNCASR. She obtained a Master’s from Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB), Bangalore, India.
Currently she is performing doctoral research in the lab of Dr Priyanka Upadhyai. Here she is studying the crosstalk of primary ciliogenesis with other cellular processes such as autophagy in chondrogenic differentiation and their abrogation in rare chondrodysplasias.
'Out of lab' her interests include reading, watching sci – fi movies , skating and sketching.
Kushala Ravi, MSc.
Junior Research Fellow
Kushala completed her Masters degree from Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology in 2023. She joined as a JRF in Dr Upadhyai's laboratory in February 2024.
Her work focuses on investigating the pathomechanism of EXOSC1 associated with neurodegenerative disorder. She also works on the interplay of primary cilia and autophagy in chondrocyte differentiation.
'Outside lab' she likes to read literary fiction and do pottery.
Manisha AP, MSc.
PhD scholar
manisha.kmcmpl2023[at]learner.manipal.edu
She was born and brought up in Mangalore, Karnataka. She did her Bachelor's degree in Botany, Zoology and Chemistry from Canara First Grade College, Mangalore in 2020. She pursued a Master's in Stem Cells Technology and Regenerative Biology from Manipal Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore in 2022. As a part of her final semester dissertation, she worked at the Department of NITTE University for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine in K.S Hegde Medical Academy, Mangalore.
'Out of Lab' her interests include, badminton, doodling, sketching, listening to music, watching movies/series/documentaries.
ALUMNI
Neeraj JM
Role in the lab: Junior Research Fellow
Current position: PhD student
Amrita Center for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Trivandrum, India
Ibakordor Khyriem
Role in the lab: Junior Research Fellow
Chaya Bharthi Chandra
Role in lab: Junior Research Fellow
Vishal Singh Guleria
Role in lab: PhD scholar (defended Feb 2024)