How does Human Papillomavirus infection drive host oncogene over-expression in cervical cancer?

How do these findings contribute to your research area?

Our findings suggest the existence of multiple HPV-driven processes towards cervical oncogenesis. It was widely believed that viral oncogenes are the primary driver for cervical cancers, with a limited role for HPV integrations. Our findings show that HPV integrations could have a much bigger role in carcinogenesis by not only dysregulating the host gene expression near the integration but also the host oncogenes present far away from the integration facilitated by the host chromatin structure. Thus there is a synergistic role of HPV oncogenes and HPV integration towards carcinogenesis. Also, HPV integrations in specific regions seem to be more important for cervical cancer progression. This could be used in future to predict cancer progression. Following this we are trying to expand these results in the Indian cervical cancers and other cancers driven by HPV.

What was the exciting moment during your research?

I still remember the time when we were trying to figure out if the host genome organisation influences the extent of HPV integration-induced host gene expression dysregulation. When we found that our hunch was right, and it did have a huge effect, that particular moment was quite exciting. I would also like to add that scientific research is a journey of gradual progress, akin to step-by-step growth. Every analysis or experiment and the results it produces have its own emotions associated with it. You learn something every day, so I would say the whole journey has been quite thrilling. 

What do you hope to do next?

I plan to go for post-doctoral training in computational cancer research, wherein I aim to better understand the driving forces behind different types of cancer. I want to use my research to contribute to clinical practices and help patients.

Where do you seek scientific inspiration from?

I always look up to the leaders in the field and how they address challenging scientific questions in innovative ways. Their constant urge to make fundamental discoveries is something I have always appreciated. My mentors, Dr Sabari and Dr Dimple, have always encouraged open discussion on diverse ideas which have improved my scientific thought process. Apart from this, I have enjoyed wide-ranging discussions with my labmates and other colleagues about their scientific journey, the challenges associated with it and how they overcame them. Understanding this humane side of science is certainly encouraging and has been very enriching for me.

How do you intend to help Indian science improve?

I have always enjoyed teaching. I believe fostering a scientific attitude in undergraduate and school-level education would provide students with much-required exposure to future opportunities and challenges in scientific research. Last year, I contributed to the undergraduate lecture series at NCBS, educating college students about active research areas in biological sciences. I have also had the opportunity to teach in more advanced and technical workshops related to genomics. As a scientific discipline, genomics has huge potential to improve healthcare and medicine, which is still underutilised in the Indian context. Looking ahead, I plan to engage in more teaching opportunities across India.