Since early days of my undergraduate degree at the University of Kashmir, I developed a fascination for therapeutic research – research that was focused on various genetic and infectious diseases. This interest kept growing as I graduated and delved into the discipline further as a part of my master’s degree. While identifying graduate schools that would align with this niche interest of mine, I discovered Professor Basudeb Maji’s lab at Ashoka, working in the area of chemogenetics research.

I joined Ashoka in 2021, as a PhD student in the Department of Chemistry. Incidentally, the PhD programme in chemistry was introduced that very year. Thus, not only did I find a space where I could work in my specific area of interest, but I was also presented with the opportunity of being a part of the inaugural cohort – a unique experience by itself. This has elevated my learning experience in several ways. I have had the chance to contribute to the department’s growth by setting up many facilities from scratch. In fact, witnessing the department’s journey of growth and expansion running parallel to my own journey as an academic and researcher has been quite fulfilling.

The members at Prof. Maji’s Chemogenetics lab are a mix of biologists and chemists, working on a range of research areas – including organic synthesis of small molecules, CRIPSR-based genome engineering and functional genomics, synthetic biology and drug discovery, and protein engineering. Given the nature of the lab, I got the chance to not just work in areas of core chemistry, but also venture into related areas of molecular biology – particularly cellular assays, which are essential tools for studying cellular mechanisms in live cells. This aspect of interdisciplinarity, integral to the Ashokan ethos, has accelerated my interest in areas which I earlier felt were beyond the limits of my subject.

As a part of my research, I am trying to develop heterobifunctional protein degraders that selectively remove certain kinds of target proteins, via the ubiquitin-proteasome system. This is a part of an alternative therapeutic strategy known as targeted protein degradation. This strategy has shown the potential to remedy disease-causing ‘undruggable’ proteins, which act as key drivers of many cancers and other serious neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. This strategy utilises small molecules known as PROTACs, which have received much interest from both academia and industry for the development of new therapeutic modalities.

I work with biologists in the lab to identify the target protein of interest and design the small molecule degraders. We profile molecules in our lab and analyse the activity data for further modification of the synthetic molecules, if required. It gives me an opportunity to experience how the synthesised bifunctional molecules affect the target protein of interest, and eventually, the biological problem. Currently, I am developing PROTAC molecules to target various oncoproteins and pathogenic proteins – proteins that promote the transformation of cells into tumours – towards developing therapeutic interventions. We believe PROTACs will provide new anti-tumour drug options for patients with cancer.

Entering the world of STEM as a woman has been equal parts challenging and exciting. As someone who grew up in Kashmir, the decision to move away from home to pursue a PhD in chemistry, did not come so easy. Adding to this were societal pressures that come with being a girl child. Thankfully, both my family and the research community at Ashoka have been unconditionally supportive, pushing me to pursue good science, which made things a lot easier. Working in Prof. Maji’s lab has been extremely rewarding, and I am excited to see what the next couple of years have in store for me. Ultimately, irrespective of my gender, religion, and regional identity, I would want to be recognised as a scientist working towards solving specific problems, for the betterment of society.

Sadiya Tanga (PhD 2021) is a graduate student associated with the Department of Chemistry at Ashoka. Her research interests lie in the field of chemical biology, particularly in developing therapeutic interventions for a range of genetic diseases.