Name & Mentor
Jyotirmayee Talapatra, PhD student, under the mentorship of Dr Mamatha Reddy.
Research Focus
Jyotirmayee’s doctoral thesis is focused on understanding the epigenetic regulation, particularly the significance of Ten Eleven Translocation (TET) proteins in human retinoblastoma.
Why the study matters
Retinoblastoma is a pediatric intraocular malignancy that is mostly diagnosed by the age of five. Chemotherapy is the standard treatment for retinoblastoma, although it is associated with a range of side-effects including drug related toxicity and therapy resistance. Molecular therapies hold potential to advance additional treatment possibilities, thus identifying key regulators in tumor progression is crucial. Until a decade back, DNA methylation was believed to be irreversible, but after the noteworthy discovery of Ten Eleven Translocation (TET) proteins that could demethylate the methylated cytosine bases, it is established that DNA methylation is a reversible process. This study aims to explore the functional significance of TET proteins to uncover novel epigenetic pathway/s that promote tumor progression in retinoblastoma.
Quote from the Researcher/Mentor
Jyotirmayee’s doctoral thesis work will delve deeper into the epigenetic regulation of retinoblastoma disease progression. The CSIR fellowship is a testament to her unwavering enthusiasm and hard work.
Fellowship Details
Jyotirmayee’s on-going PhD project is supported by a Senior Research Fellowship (SRF-Direct) funded by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Government of India for the duration of three years.