This #TraineeTuesday, meet Vaishnavi Veeranki, a postgraduate associate in the Lim Lab! Vaishnavi was recently accepted into the Neuroscience PhD program at University of California Irvine. There, she will continue advancing her research career in cellular and molecular biosciences.
As a postgraduate associate in Dr. Janghoo Lim’s lab, Vaishnavi contributed to projects focused on understanding transcriptional and splicing misregulation -- dysregulation in the processes that control gene expression in cells -- in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1). SCA1 is a rare, inherited neurological disorder characterized by motor coordination impairments.
The brain is composed of 50-60% fat, with various lipids playing critical roles in structural development, mechanisms, transport and signaling pathways that maintain normal homeostasis. Vaishnavi recognizes a ‘dire need’ to investigate lipid dysregulation in SCA1 -- a focus of her research alongside a graduate student in the lab. Their study identified lipid-associated biomarkers and dysregulated lipid species in SCA1. Notably, they discovered lipid species that directly affect the health of Purkinje cells, the neurons primarily affected in this disorder.
“Identifying these lipid biomarkers further provides more therapeutic targets to the patients suffering from this disease,” Vaishnavi said.
During her time at the Lim Lab, Vaishnavi undertook a comprehensive literature review inquiring into lipid dysregulation in polyglutamine diseases — a group of neurodegenerative disorders stemming from aberrant protein production encoded within DNA. This project is now nearing submission. Additionally, she gained hands-on experience with various research techniques and worked extensively with mammalian models. Vaishnavi believes these skills and experiences will be invaluable as she embarks on her graduate studies.
I learned several wet lab techniques and developed critical thinking skills. Being able to gain knowledge on various research topics while attending research seminars and lectures, presenting at various symposiums, Yale has supported me by providing ample professional development opportunities and research resources to become a scientist.
Vaishnavi earned her Bachelor of Science degree in neuroscience from Georgia State University, where her fascination with brain development and the mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases first took root. As an undergraduate, she explored the role of local ribosomal proteins — specialized proteins that have a role in translation — in the development of dendrites, the branched extensions of a neuron that receive signals at synaptic junctions. This project marked her first introduction to the wet lab environment. Immersing herself in scientific discussions in the lab fueled her passion for this research, particularly in neurodegenerative diseases, and inspired her pursuit of translational and therapeutic advancements. The Lim Lab focuses on various neurodegenerative diseases, such as SAC1, perfectly aligned with her research interests and thus provided a platform to further her academic and professional aspirations.
In addition to finding a lab that aligns with my research interests, the community at Yale is extremely collaborative, diverse, and inclusive. I found graduate students and postdocs always motivated to mentor and help me.
Moving forward, Vaishnavi envisions leveraging an interdisciplinary approach to deepen our understanding of neuroscience. She believes this strategy holds immense potential to advance our understanding of the brain, tackle complex research questions, and transform scientific discoveries into meaningful real-world applications.