SREEJA DHANYA

About

I am a Postdoctoral Research Scholar at Northwestern University in Prof. Puneet Opal’s lab in the Department of Neurology at the Feinberg School of Medicine. My research focuses on investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders, with a particular focus on Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1 (SCA1). I was a DBT MK Bhan Young Researcher in Dr. Bhavana Muralidharan Lab at Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), where I focussed on investigating the role of chromatin modifier RBBP4 in regulation neurogenesis in the mouse neocortex. I did my Ph.D. under the guidance of Prof. Gaiti Hasan in National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore. My doctoral research focuses on understanding the role of STIM1 (Stromal Interaction Molecule), a calcium sensor molecule present in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and investigating its role in regulating gene expression, excitability and synaptic connectivity in mouse Purkinje neurons (PNs). My research has significantly contributed to uncovering novel aspects of intracellular calcium signaling in regulating neuronal functions and physiology in mammalian system. I completed my master’s in Medical Biotechnology from Manipal School of Life Sciences (MSLS) at Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal. My long-term goal, envisages exploring signaling mechanisms involved in various neurological disorders and identifying novel therapeutic insights.

Employment

• Northwestern Medicine Postdoctoral Researcher
  2026 - Present
• Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine DBT MK Bhan Young Researcher
  2023 - 2026
• Institute For Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine Post doctoral fellow
  2022 - 2023
• Institute for Stem cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem) Bridging Postdoctoral Fellow
  2022 - 2022
• National Centre for biological sciences PhD Research Scholar
  2016 - 2022
• National Centre for biological sciences Junior Research Fellow
  2013 - 2015
• National Centre for biological sciences Junior Research Fellow
  2012 - 2013

Education

• National Centre for biological sciences & Sastra University PhD
  2016 - 2022
• Manipal Academy of Higher Education MSc. Medical Biotechnology
  2009 - 2011
• Manipal Academy of Higher Education BSc. Biotechnology
  2006 - 2009

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (6)

• Histone-Binding Protein RBBP4 Is Necessary to Promote Neurogenesis in the Developing Mouse Neocortical Progenitors
  eneuro 2024 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0391-23.2024
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• Altered neuroepithelial morphogenesis and migration defects in iPSC-derived cerebral organoids and 2D neural stem cells in familial bipolar disorder
  Oxford Open Neuroscience 2024 DOI: 10.1093/oons/kvae007
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• Two photon imaging of calcium responses in murine Purkinje neurons
  STAR Protocols 2022 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2021.101105
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• Deficits Associated With Loss of STIM1 in Purkinje Neurons Including Motor Coordination Can Be Rescued by Loss of Septin 7
  Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 2021 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.794807
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• Purkinje Neurons with Loss of STIM1 Exhibit Age-Dependent Changes in Gene Expression and Synaptic Components
  The Journal of Neuroscience 2021 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2401-20.2021
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• Single nucleotide polymorphisms of ADRB2 gene and their association with susceptibility for Plasmodium falciparum malaria and asthma in an Indian population
  Infection, Genetics and Evolution 2013 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2013.08.026
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