Introducing Ananya Singh DC8

My PhD goals: My immediate focus will be on learning as much as I can and thriving to become a better scientist. I plan to dwell deep in the field of nanomedicine, particularly in the development of LNPs for mRNA delivery for cystinosis and their validation in organoid models. Furthermore, I plan on being actively involved in conferences that complement my formal education. Hence, the diversity and availability of a platform for collaborative learning & innovation offered through ORGESTRA has been a motivating factor for me.

After completing my PhD, I aim to pursue post-doctoral research to deepen my expertise. I also plan to use my experience in the startup environment of MERCURNA to develop an entrepreneurial mindset, which I believe is crucial for translating scientific research into practical applications. Depending on my experiences in this setting, I will evaluate the potential for exploring the commercial applications of my research and skills. Ultimately, my goal after this PhD is to position myself at the intersection of academic and industry, allowing me the flexibility to choose a path that aligns with my passion and the impact I wish to make in this field.

My Background: I am a recipient of the prestigious Erasmus Mundus Scholarship, which allowed me to pursue a double Master’s program: the International Master’s in Sustainable Drug Discovery (S-DISCO) at Ghent University, Belgium and the Medical University of Gdansk, Poland alongside a Master’s in Medical Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Groningen, Netherlands. For my Master’s thesis, I had the privilege of working under the guidance of Prof. Stefan De Smedt at the Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy at Ghent University. My research focused on mRNA vaccines for Tuberculosis, and I was thrilled to be awarded the Best Master’s Thesis Award for my project. Prior to my Master’s studies, I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from Panjab University, India, where I was awarded a bronze medal for academic excellence.

My research interests: I am particularly interested in working in the field of nanomedicine combined with mRNA delivery.

My hobbies: Beyond my academic pursuits, I am passionate about volunteering, traveling, hiking, writing, and continuously exploring new research avenues to push my boundaries.

Master thesis: Formulation and Evaluation of Adjuvanted mRNA Lipid Nanoparticles for Prophylactic Vaccination against Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

This thesis focused on optimizing mRNA vaccines for tuberculosis (TB) using lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) as delivery systems. First, a novel ionizable lipid was assessed as a potential replacement for the established lipid C12-200 in LNP formulations. This new lipid in LNPs showed improved CD8+ T cell responses when combined with the adjuvant α-galactosyl ceramide (α-GC). Next, mRNA vaccines encoding specific TB antigens were evaluated, resulting in robust immune responses and the induction of tissue-resident memory T cells, suggesting the potential for durable immunity. Additionally, the study investigated alternative adjuvants, MPLA and QS21, for their effectiveness. Overall, this research offers valuable insights into the optimization of mRNA vaccines against TB, highlighting the importance of stability, refined adjuvant combinations, and the need for preclinical efficacy studies.