Scholar Highlight – Mathula Muhundan

Analysis Title: Exploring adjustments in brown adipocyte metabolism by means of comparative -omics evaluation

Brown adipose tissue has gained prominence as a metabolic regulator over the previous few years of analysis into treating weight problems and different metabolically associated syndromes akin to sort 2 diabetes. Brown adipose tissue expresses gene signatures and metabolic options (for instance, the expression of mitochondrial uncoupler protein UCP1) that enhance its thermogenic capability compared to white adipose tissue. Nevertheless, the heterogeneity of brown adipose tissue is such that extra holistic strategies of research are required to know the consequences of varied remedies or transplantation of brown adipose tissue within the physique for metabolic regulation and thermogenesis. This contains -omics strategies that may extract information on a big scale about cell varieties in a pattern beneath varied situations akin to transcriptomics (gene expression), metabolomics (metabolites circulating in cells, akin to small sugar molecules) and lipidomics (lipids and fatty acids in cells), in addition to their potential function in operate/dysfunction in illness.

I carried out differential gene expression evaluation for a wide range of datasets containing brown adipose tissue, with comparability to white adipose tissue in addition to set contrasts over completely different days or completely different remedies. These analyses had been carried out with transcriptomics information to visualise variations for recognized gene and metabolic markers by means of scatter plots in addition to fold-change/BH-adjusted p-value evaluation. I used and optimised a pipeline within the programming language R for the evaluation, and with the conclusion of the primary information evaluation, I started additional investigation into making use of the pipeline to single-cell datasets moderately than complete tissue datasets and utilizing comparative strategies in metabolomics and lipidomics in experiments akin to steady isotope labelling to match with the gene expression information obtained. 

The place did your ardour for this analysis originate?

I like to inform folks about my analysis in metabolism by evaluating it to these scenes of individuals in films or TV with an enormous corkboard of crimson thread connecting proof and making an attempt to determine the offender. Irrespective of how distant one metabolic pathway might sound from one other, they’re all related by some means. It’s a part of what makes metabolism and metabolomics as a analysis subject so thrilling by doing such detective work, and its potential to unveil a lot of human illness so profound. Generally there are a number of culprits too, with some popping up in sure conditions (illness states), which makes the work much more intriguing! That’s usually the case for widespread noncommunicable ailments, akin to diabetes and most cancers. As a result of the incidences of ailments akin to diabetes have been rising over the previous few years amongst numerous populations, and I personally have relations dwelling with diabetes, I needed to have the ability to use these instruments to uncover potential mechanisms by which we will deal with, and maybe treatment, sort 2 diabetes. I’ve at all times been intrigued by drugs and the creating subject of personalised drugs, and my hope is someday by higher understanding distinctive metabolic states we will tailor therapeutics to the person.

What’s the most memorable second out of your Laidlaw scholarship expertise thus far?

The Laidlaw Students convention in Toronto final October! I bear in mind being excited that the North American convention can be hosted at UofT and being keen to fulfill Laidlaw students from throughout North America and past. The folks I met had been past unbelievable and I’ve made connections with folks I might have by no means met if it weren’t for this system. I used to be amazed by the variety of analysis subjects and management in motion tasks fellow students are pursuing, and there’s one thing invigorating about being along with so many individuals passionate a couple of trigger and making a distinction.

What’s the greatest problem you got here throughout in your analysis and management journeys thus far, and what did you be taught from it? 

I believe the largest problem in my analysis journey to this point was studying new expertise and adapting to the circumstances on the similar time that I used to be conducting my research- nevertheless it was a problem nicely price it. I performed my mission remotely in Toronto in collaboration with the Tseng lab at Joslin Diabetes Centre and the Joslin Diabetes Centre Bioinformatics Core in Boston, Massachusetts. Being distant got here with sure challenges that weren’t anticipated after I was starting my mission, akin to accessing the information on the centre servers. I’m additionally admittedly not superior at coding, so making an attempt to know the transcriptomics evaluation code utilizing bioinformatics packages I by no means used earlier than was daunting at first. I shortly realised nonetheless that my supervisor and the remainder of the crew had been so affected person and keen to assist me develop and be taught that the method turned fulfilling, and I managed to ascertain a supportive working relationship with the crew. A part of being a superb chief is being a superb crew participant and searching for help while you want it, and my analysis expertise undoubtedly exemplified that. 
 

Which explicit leaders encourage you probably the most and why?

I’m at all times impressed by motion in native communities before everything. I strongly consider that healthcare and environmental justice are very interconnected subjects, and as such I admire the work that pupil leaders of a number of UofT teams in working to deal with these points in Toronto. Pupil motion has the potential to make adjustments on the governmental degree and push points affecting the complete group to the forefront of the political agenda. 

Briefly describe a scene from the long run you might be striving to create.

I hope for a future of world equality in entry to healthcare providers and data. One of many first steps in direction of that’s additional analysis into healthcare issues and present disparities that always go uncared for. Healthcare is a fundamental human proper, and it’s time that governments and organisations world wide prioritise it as such. That begins with empowering the subsequent era to be inquisitive concerning the biomedical and sociocultural elements of healthcare, how they intersect and methods to translate the data we achieve into significant motion to make sure everybody has a top quality of life. 

What does it imply so that you can be a Laidlaw Scholar?

If I needed to describe my Laidlaw Scholar expertise in a single phrase, it will be resilience. I believe resilience has are available so many kinds all through my journey- from being persistent in creating new alternatives for myself to discover analysis in an space I’ve been captivated with for years to getting by means of studying roadblocks with regards to studying new expertise – akin to working a bash script that typically didn’t work as a result of I unintentionally indented a line I shouldn’t have. On the core of all of it, although, is the Laidlaw help system- my superb fellow students from the 2023 UofT cohort in addition to the unbelievable UofT Laidlaw crew and the help of the Laidlaw Basis. I’m at all times studying one thing new from all of the fantastic folks round me in the neighborhood, and I believe the group is such a priceless a part of the expertise. 

Fast-fire Questions

🎥 At present Binging: Smiling Pals

📚 My prime e-book advice: 

Soonish: Ten Rising Applied sciences That’ll Enhance and/or Spoil Every little thing

🎶 My anthem: Throne by Convey Me The Horizon

🎵 Podcast obsession: 

White Coat, Black Artwork with Dr Brian Goldman

🌈 One thing that made me really feel pleasure lately: 

Visiting a cat cafe with my associates after last exams!

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If you wish to be taught extra about Mathula’s work, discover Mathula’s analysis right here. Mathula is a Laidlaw Undergraduate Management and Analysis Scholar at the @College of Toronto. Change into a Laidlaw Scholar to conduct a analysis mission of your alternative, develop your management expertise, and be part of a world group of changemakers from world-leading universities.

Discover out extra concerning the Laidlaw Students Undergraduate Management and Analysis Programme.

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