Sandip Chorghade

Project 1: PABPN1 in Cardiac Development and Diseases (Lead; Completed )
• Discovered post-transcriptional silencing of PABPN1 in heart development via RNA imaging and subcellular fractionation.
• Connected PABPN1 misregulation to heart failure phenotypes through in vivo functional modeling..
Project 2: In Vitro Transcription System (Lead; Completed)
• Engineered a synthetic IVT system producing stable, translatable mRNAs for therapeutic applications.
• Optimized cap structures, UTRs, and poly(A) tails for enhanced translational performance in vitro and in cells.
Project 3: HeLa Cell-Free Translation Platform (Lead; Ongoing)
• Developed a scalable HeLa lysate system for high-throughput protein synthesis and screening..
Project 4: Nascent RNA Labeling via Click Chemistry (Lead; Ongoing)
• Established a novel in vivo click chemistry approach to isolate nascent RNA from tissue samples.
• Enabled time-resolved tracking of transcription and RNA processing.

Project 1 : Novel Insect based solid state waste management: (Lead) Innovatively Devised and Executed an Insect-Based System for Effective Solid Waste Management, revolutionizing waste reduction strategies.
· Expertly Bred and Cultivated Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens or BSF) Population, harnessing nature's capabilities for sustainable waste conversion.

Project 1: Lentivirus-Based Dual Reporter and Expression System Development (Lead, Completed)
• Pioneered the creation of a novel lentiviral dual reporter system for high-throughput drug discovery applications in cell biology.
Project 2: Generation of Stable MCF7 Reporter Cell Line (Lead, Completed)
• Engineered a stable MCF7 cell line using advanced lentiviral vector technology, enabling precise, reproducible reporter assays.
Project 3:: mRNA Stability of YAP, TAZ, and IL-23 in Macrophages (Lead, Completed)
• Performed detailed analysis of transcript stability in immune cells, revealing new mechanisms of post-transcriptional gene regulation.

Project 1: Role of PABPC1 in Heart Disease and Development (Lead, Completed)
• Investigated the regulatory function of PABPC1 in cardiac development and pathophysiology, identifying its potential as a therapeutic target.
Project 2: Post-Transcriptional Silencing and Reversal of PABPC1 in Heart Disease (Lead, Completed)
• Uncovered dynamic regulation of PABPC1 protein expression during cardiac stress, linking its silencing and reactivation to disease progression and heart function.
Project 3: ESRP2 Function in Liver Development (Collaborative, Completed)
• Contributed to defining the role of ESRP2 in hepatic tissue differentiation through RNA-binding domain mapping and splicing regulation analysis.
Project 4: Maternal Dead-end 1 Promotes Translation of nanos1 via eIF3 Binding (Collaborative: Completed)
• Demonstrated a novel mechanism where DND1 interacts with the eIF3 complex to enhance translation of nanos1, elucidating a key regulatory step in early development.

• Investigated ARE-mediated alternative splicing in PDGF-B, linking RNA elements with disease-relevant splice decisions.
• Engineered and characterized recombinant proteins, and conducted RNA-protein interaction studies (Co-IP, pull-downs, yeast-2-hybrid)

• Created a High-Performance Methanogenic Consortium for Methane Gas Production at Low Temperatures, advancing sustainable energy solutions.
• Innovatively Engineered a Psychrophilic Bacterial Consortium Specialized in Efficient Cellulosic Material Degradation, contributing to eco-friendly waste management and biofuel production.