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Rachana Deven Somaiya's Dissertation Defense (5/6/2022): The Role of Retinal Inputs and Astrocytes for the Development of Visual Thalamus

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Rachana Deven Somaiya

Dissertation Defense: The Role of Retinal Inputs and Astrocytes for the Development of Visual Thalamus

Rachana Deven Somaiya

Graduate Student, Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health
Graduate Research Assistant, Fox Lab, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
May 6, 2022 at 9:00 a.m.
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About this Dissertation

The most dominant sense in human is the sight, which we need to interact with our environment efficiently. The retina takes up the information about our visual world and sends it to the brain, which ultimately puts everything together, for us to see properly. The visual information from the retina goes to the brain via nerves (which are essentially cables/wires of brain cells). These nerves from the retina go to many places in the brain, including a region called visual thalamus, which is the focus of Rachana Deven Somaiya's doctoral research. For the past five years, Somaiya has been trying to understand if nerves from the retina play a role in the brain formation during early development. To study this, she have used mice as a model system, as their brain regions that process visual information have very similar structural architecture to those in humans. Her research, mentored by Dr. Michael Fox, shows that retinal nerves are indeed important for the development of visual thalamus. Here, Somaiya shows that information from the eye is critical for migration (a process during development where brain cells move from their place of origin to their final location) of cells in visual thalamus. Discoveries made in this dissertation are important because they highlight how different cells in the central nervous system communicate with each other at the level of molecules and how these interactions are important for building circuits that are important for vision.

More About the Candidate and Project

Education

Virginia Tech, Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Ph.D. Candidate

Northeastern University, M.S., Pharmacology

Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Bachelor of Pharmacy

Training

Graduate Research Assistant, Fox Lab

 

Mentor

Michael Fox, Ph.D., Professor, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, and Director, School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech

Committee Members

  • Shannon Farris, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
  • Stefanie Robel, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Michael Friedlander, Ph.D., Executive Director, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, and Vice President for Health Sciences and Technology, Virginia Tech
  • Gregorio Valdez, Ph.D., GLF Translational Associate Professor of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University

Research grants & fellowships

  • 2021 – Present            Gaskins Graduate Scholarship at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute
  • 2022    VT nomination for Schmidt Science Fellows (not awarded)
  • 2019    VT Health Sciences and Technology Commercialization Fellowship
  • 2019    Research!America Civic Engagement Microgrant
  • 2018    VT Graduate Research Development Program

Research & service recognition awards

  • 2021    National Institutes of Health (NIH) Outstanding Scholarsss in Neuroscience Award Program (OSNAP)
  • 2021    VT Aspire! Awards for Commitment to Unwavering Curiosity         
  • 2020    Commitment to Service, VT Student Organization Leadership Awards (honorable mention)

Travel & professional development awards

  • 2021    Trainee Professional Development Award, Society for Neuroscience           
  • 2021    Young Investigator’s Educational Enhancement (YIEE), American Society for Neurochemistry (ASN)
  • 2021    Colloquium at New York University for Networking: Extramural for Invited Neuroscience Students, CoNNExINS (honorable mention)          
  • 2021    Network Glia e.V., European Meeting on Glial Cells in Health and Disease          
  • 2020 & 2019   NIH Broaden the Experiences of Scientific Trainees Award (BEST)          
  • 2019    VT Adaptive Brain and Behavior area Professional Development Award         
  • 2019    VT Graduate Student Travel Award Fund Program          
  • 2019    International Society for Neurochemistry (ISN) and ASN Travel Award         

Oral & poster presentation awards

  • 2021    Best research talk by a student, Retinal Circuits Symposium
  • 2021    The nutshell twitter challenge, VT Center for Communicating Science
  • 2021    Best graduate student oral presentation (2nd place), VT School of Neuroscience Research Retreat
  • 2021    Best graduate student oral presentation (1st place), Central Virginia Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience (CVCSN)       
  • 2019    Best graduate student poster presentation (1st place), CVCSN
  • 2018    Best research poster, VT TBMH research rotation project
  • 2012    Best poster presentation (2nd place), Intercollegiate Undergraduate Academic Festival

Peer-reviewed publications

Fritsch, L., Ju, J., Basso, E. K. G., Soliman, E., Paul, S., Chen, J., Kaloss, A. M., Kowalski, E. J. A., Tuhy, T. C., Somaiya, R. D., Wang., X., Allen, C. I., Theus, M. H., & Pickrell, A. M. (2022) Type I Interferon Response is Mediated by NLRX1-cGAS-STING Signaling in Brain Injury. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience. 53

Somaiya, R. D., Huebschman, N. A., Chaunsali, L., Sabbagh, U., Carrillo, G. L., Tewari, B. P., & Fox, M. A. (2021). Development of astrocyte morphology and function in mouse visual thalamus. Journal of Comparative Neurology.

Sabbagh, U., Govindaiah, G., Somaiya, R.D., Ha, R.V., Wei, J.C., Guido, W., & Fox, M.A. (2020). Diverse GABAergic neurons organize into subtype-specific sublaminae in the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus. Journal of Neurochemistry

Su, J., Charalambakis, N.E., Sabbagh, U., Somaiya, R.D., Monavarfeshani, A., Guido, W. & Fox, M.A. (2020). Retinal inputs signal astrocytes to recruit interneurons into visual thalamus. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 117(5), pp.2671-2682

Fleischer, L. M., Somaiya, R. D., & Miller, G. M. (2018). Review and meta-analyses of TAAR1 expression in the immune system and cancers. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 9(683)

Somaiya, R., & Kaur, G. (2015). Future of bone repair. Bone and Tissue Regeneration Insights, 6: p. 1-7.

Somaiya, R., Patel, H., & Nandave, M. (2015). Potential future therapies of myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury. Indian Journal of Cardio Biology & Clinical Sciences. 2(1)

Kaur, G., Somaiya, R., & Patel, S. (2015). Preventive and curative potential of Vigna mungo against metabolic syndrome in acute and chronic rat models. Journal of Biological Sciences. 15(2): p. 85-91.

Kaur, G., Somaiya, R., Wasim, M., & Buttar, H.S. (2014). Cardioprotective effects of bovine colostrum against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats. Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology. 9(1): p. 37-45.

Preprints or in preparation

Sabbagh, U., Somaiya, R.D., Stebbins, K., Liang Y., Su, J., & Fox, M.A. Retinal input is required for the maintenance of subtype-specific vLGN laminae. Manuscript in preparation

Govindaiah, G., Somaiya, R.D., Fox, M.A., & Guido, W. Afferent projections to subdivisions of mammalian ventral lateral geniculate nucleus. Manuscript in preparation

Somaiya, R.D., Stebbins, K., Xie, H., Garcia A.D.R., & Fox, M.A. Sonic hedgehog-dependent recruitment of GABAergic interneurons into the developing visual thalamus. Manuscript submitted

Poster Presentations

Nov 2021        Somaiya, R.D., Garcia A.D.R., & Fox, M.A. “Sonic hedgehog signaling as an intermediary between retinal inputs and astrocytes for the recruitment of thalamic interneurons” OSNAP Symposium, National Institutes of Health. Virtual

Nov 2021        Somaiya, R.D., Garcia A.D.R., & Fox, M.A. “Sonic hedgehog signaling as an intermediary between retinal inputs and astrocytes for the recruitment of thalamic interneurons” Society for Neuroscience. Virtual  

Jul 2021           Somaiya, R.D., Garcia A.D.R., & Fox, M.A. “Sonic hedgehog signaling as an intermediary between retinal inputs and astrocytes for the recruitment of thalamic interneurons” European Meeting on Glial Cells in Health and Disease. Virtual        

Jun 2021         Somaiya, R.D., Garcia A.D.R., & Fox, M.A. “Sonic hedgehog signaling as an intermediary between retinal inputs and astrocytes for the recruitment of thalamic interneurons” American Society for Neurochemistry. Virtual      

Mar 2021        Somaiya, R.D., Garcia A.D.R., & Fox, M.A. “Sonic hedgehog signaling as an intermediary between retinal inputs and astrocytes for the recruitment of thalamic interneurons” The Central Virginia Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience. Virtual 

Mar 2021        Somaiya, R.D., Garcia A.D.R., & Fox, M.A. “Sonic hedgehog signaling as an intermediary between retinal inputs and astrocytes for the recruitment of thalamic interneurons” Virtual Glia Trainee Symposium 2021   

Oct 2019          Somaiya, R.D., Su, J., Charalambakis, N., Monavarfeshani, A., Sabbagh, U., Guido, W., & Fox, M.A. “Retinal inputs signal through astrocytes to recruit interneurons into mouse visual thalamus” Society for Neuroscience. Chicago, IL, US.      

Aug 2019         Somaiya, R.D., Su, J., Charalambakis, N., Monavarfeshani, A., Sabbagh, U., Guido, W., & Fox, M.A. “Retinal inputs signal through astrocytes to recruit interneurons into mouse visual thalamus” Advancing Neuroscience Research at Virginia Tech Summer Symposium. Blacksburg, VA, US.     

Aug 2019         Somaiya, R.D., Su, J., Charalambakis, N., Monavarfeshani, A., Sabbagh, U., Guido, W., & Fox, M.A. “Retinal inputs signal through astrocytes to recruit interneurons into mouse visual thalamus” International Society for Neurochemistry-American Society for Neurochemistry. Montréal, Quebec, Canada.       

Apr 2019         Somaiya, R.D., Su, J., Monavarfeshani, A., Sabbagh, U., & Fox, M.A. “Retinal inputs signal through astrocytes to recruit interneurons into mouse visual thalamus” The Central Virginia Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience. Charlottesville, VA, US. [Won 1st place]       

Mar 2019        Somaiya, R.D., Su, J., Monavarfeshani, A., Sabbagh, U., & Fox, M.A. “Can the eye tell the cells in the brain where to go?” Virginia Tech’s 35th Annual Graduate Assembly Research Symposium. Blacksburg, VA, US.         

Oct 2018         Somaiya, R.D., Monavarfeshani, A., Su, J., & Fox, M.A. “Retinal inputs signal through astrocytes to recruit interneurons into mouse visual thalamus” 6th International Conference on Glial Biology in Medicine. Roanoke, VA, US.   

Oct 2018         Somaiya, R.D., Monavarfeshani, A., Su, J., & Fox, M.A. “Retinal inputs signal through astrocytes to recruit interneurons into mouse visual thalamus” Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Ph.D. program Open House. Roanoke, VA, US. 

Feb 2018         Somaiya, R.D., Carrillo, G. L., Blader, I. J., & Fox, M.A. “Dysregulation of GABAergic circuitry following strain-specific Toxoplasma gondii infection” Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Ph.D. program Lab Research Rotations. Roanoke, VA, US. [Won best poster]      

Sep 2012         Somaiya, R.D., Bagwe, S., & Kaur, G. “A Treasure for Cure-COLOSTRUM” Intercollegiate Undergraduate Academic Festival "LUMINESCENCE”. Mumbai, MA, India. [Won 2nd place]

Invited Oral Talks

Apr 2021         Sonic hedgehog-dependent and activity-independent recruitment of GABAergic neurons into developing visual thalamus, American Society for Neurochemistry. Roanoke, VA, US

Nov 2021        Sonic hedgehog signaling as an intermediary between retinal inputs and astrocytes for the recruitment of thalamic interneurons, OSNAP Symposium, National Institutes of Health. Virtual

Oct 2021         Virginia Tech celebrates Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC addition grand opening. Roanoke, VA, US [Only student speaker, alongside VT President, Virginia State Senator, Roanoke Vice Mayor, Speaker of the Virginia House House of Delegates, Carilion Clinic President and CEO, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Director, and Fralin Biomedical Research Institute Executive Director]

Aug 2021         Sonic hedgehog signaling as an intermediary between retinal inputs and astrocytes for the recruitment of thalamic interneurons, VT School of Neuroscience Research Retreat. Virtual [Won 2nd place]

Jul 2021           “Sonic hedgehog signaling as an intermediary between retinal inputs and astrocytes for the recruitment of thalamic interneurons” Retinal Circuits Symposium. Virtual [Won best talk]

Apr 2021         “A novel form of axo-glial signaling pathway in the neurodevelopment of visual thalamus” Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion. Roanoke, VA, US

Mar 2021        “Sonic hedgehog signaling as an intermediary between retinal inputs and astrocytes for the recruitment of thalamic interneurons” The Central Virginia Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience [Won 1st place]

Mar 2021        “Highlighting novel mechanisms for circuit formation in the brain” Virginia Tech Graduate Student Assembly Research Symposium and Exposition 2021

Nov 2020        “Role of axo-glial-neuronal signaling in the development of visual thalamus” Neuroscience Postdoctoral & Graduate Student Association at Virginia Tech. Blacksburg, VA, US

Oct 2020         “Role of axo-glial-neuronal signaling in the development of visual thalamus” Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion. Roanoke, VA, US

Mar 2020        “Importance of public engagement by student outreach groups” Research!America 2020 Annual Meeting of Members. Washington, DC, US. [Event canceled due to COVID-19]

  • 2021    Research Grant Reviewer, Graduate Women in Science National Fellowship Program
  • 2019 – Present            Co-founder and Co-host, “Big Lick of Science” Podcast
  • 2019 – 2021    President, Virginia Tech Carilion Student Outreach Program
  • 2020    Co-organizer, Collaborative conservations: empowering a culture of respect
  • 2020    Co-organizer, Roanoke Health Science Career Panel at Melrose Branch Library
  • 2019    Co-Director of Volunteer Outreach, The Big Event at Roanoke 2019, Virginia Tech
  • 2019    Research Grant Reviewer, Graduate Research Development Program, Virginia Tech