Dr. Rohini R Nair, PhD

About

I obtained my Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, and was awarded the highly competitive Marie-Curie Co-Invest Fellowship. I did my postdoctoral research at the University of San Raffaele, Milan, Italy, and at Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.

 

Throughout my academic journey, I have addressed diverse scientific problems from reproductive biology during my doctoral studies to chromatin and RNA biology during my postdoctoral training. This interdisciplinary exposure has allowed me to develop a broad perspective in biology and proficiency in applying cutting-edge molecular and cellular techniques. My expertise spans genetic engineering, biomarker identification, and mechanistic studies of gene regulation. Moving forward, I aim to leverage this experience to address key challenges in translational research and contribute to solutions for pressing societal health problems.

Background

• 2015 Ph.D Biotechnology Molecular Human Genetics Department, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
• 2008 M.Sc Biotechnology Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur
• 2006 B.Sc Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur

Honours and Awards

• Meritorious student award in Bachelor’s degree in 2006
• Meritorious student award in Master’s degree in 2008
• Council of Scientific Industrial Research –Junior Research Fellowship in200
• Department of Biotechnology- Junior Research Fellowship 2009
• Marie Curie Co-Invest Postdoctoral Research fellowship in 2014
• Swarn Kanta Dingle Award for excellent contribution in Reproductive Biology by Indian Council of Medical Research in 2017
• Arturo Falaschi ICGEB Fellowship 2018
• International PBC Fellowship 2018
• Ramanujan fellowship SERB 2022
• Ramalingaswami Re-entry fellowship 2022

Research Group Overview

Our research group is broadly interested in understanding how RNA dynamics and translational control shape cellular physiology and disease outcomes. We focus on uncovering the molecular principles that govern RNA fate from transcription to translation and exploiting these insights to design next-generation RNA-based therapeutics.

 

At the heart of our research lies the concept that the cell, much like the world, is organized into distinct yet interconnected compartments, each maintaining tightly regulated molecular traffic. Just as travellers require passports and visas, molecules rely on specific sequence or structural “signatures” to navigate between cellular domains. We study these molecular signatures to decipher how RNA-protein interactions determine the life cycle, localization, and function of messenger RNAs (mRNAs), Ribosome heterogeneity.

 

Our lab’s work is structured around two main research themes:

1. RNA Regulation and Therapeutic Design
We investigate how mRNA multiplexing including the assembly of mRNP complexes and transperon-like structures regulates gene expression and cellular homeostasis. Our future aim to identify RNA-binding protein (RBP) recognition elements, to engineer novel RNA molecules and develop RNA-based therapeutic strategies that can selectively modulate gene expression or protein synthesis.

 

2. Ribosome Heterogeneity and Dormant Ribosomes
We explore the emerging concept of ribosome heterogeneity, examining how structurally and compositionally distinct ribosomes specialize in translating specific subsets of mRNAs. A area of focus of our research is also the biology of dormant ribosomes ribosomal populations that remain inactive yet poised for rapid reactivation under stress or developmental cues. Understanding how these ribosomes are regulated provides insights into translational reprogramming during stress, fertility, and disease, and opens opportunities to therapeutically manipulate protein synthesis.

 

By integrating molecular biology, RNA biochemistry, ribosome profiling to uncover fundamental principles, our group aims to bridge basic RNA biology with translational applications. Ultimately, we seek to harness the principles of RNA regulation and ribosome specialization to develop innovative RNA-based therapies for complex human diseases.

Publications

• Rohini R. Nair, Gal Haimovich and Jeffrey E. Gerst. An Aptamer-based mRNA Affinity Purification Procedure (RaPID) for the Identification of Associated RNAs (RaPID-seq) and Proteins (RaPID-MS) in Yeast.Bio-protocol 2022;12.DOI:10.21769/BioProtoc.4274 (ImpactFactor: 5.7)
• Rohini R. Nair, Dimitry Zabezhinsky, Rita Gelin-Licht, Brian Haas, Michael C.A. Dyhr, Hannah S. Sperber, Chad Nusbaum, Jeffrey E. Gerst. Multiplexed mRNA assembly into ribonucleoprotein particles plays an operon-like role in the control of yeast cell physiology. eLife 2021;10:e66050 DOI: 10.7554/eLife.66050(Impact Factor: 8.1)
• Verma P, Verma R, Nair RR, Budhwar S, Khanna A, Agrawal NR, Sinha R, Birendra R, Rajender S, Singh K. (2019) Altered crosstalk of estradiol and progesterone with Myeloid-derived suppressor cells and Th1/Th2 cytokines in early miscarriage is associated with early breakdown of maternal-fetal tolerance. AmJ ReprodImmunol. 81(2):e13081.ISSN: 1046- 7408 (Impact Factor: 3.0)
• Nair RR, Mazza D, Gorzanelli A, Brambilla F, Agresti A and Bianchi ME (2018) LPS-challenged macrophages emit microvesicles coated with histones Front Immunol. 2018 Jun 27;9:1463. ISSN: 1664-3224 (Impact Factor: 7) 27/6/2018, 17734. 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01463