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Nagina received a BSc in Biochemistry and an MRes in Stem Cells and Developmental Biology from UCL and a PhD from Imperial College London. As a Yang Tan fellow under the Molecular Therapeutics branch, she is investigating the role of CB1 receptors in development of the striosome dendron bouquets and dopamine signaling pathways. Nagina is also using novel anterograde synaptic tracing methods to elucidate the architecture of these crucial pathways in the basal ganglia and hopes to translate her work into the human brain in the future!
In addition to her interest in immunology, she will work on uncovering the complex interactions between the brain and the immune system. She aims to investigate the role of striosome dendron bouquets, in neuroimmune signaling and peripheral immune modulation. By combining advanced techniques such as anterograde synaptic tracing and immune cell profiling, Nagina aims to elucidate how the striosome dendron bouquets interact with immune cells, including microglia and peripheral immune cells, to mediate neuroimmune communication. The ultimate goal of this research is to uncover how these neuronal components influence both brain function and peripheral immune responses, with broader implications for neuroinflammatory diseases and the development of new therapeutic strategies targeting neuroimmune pathways. Nagina's work provides a unique perspective on the basal ganglia’s involvement not only in motor control but also in regulating immune system activity, highlighting the intricate and often overlooked link between the brain and the immune system. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, swimming, boxing, reading science fiction and hopes to visit NASA one day! |