Nishika Gupta

Hello! My name is Nishika and I am a budding cancer researcher who grew up in India, the land of diversity. Driven by a desire to make a tangible difference in the real world, I pursued a Bachelor’s  degree in Biotechnology- a field where fundamental science meets innovation, at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, India. There I had opportunities to train with scientists across India in diverse areas, which inclined my interest towards studying disease mechanisms.

This led to a self-proposed Bachelor’s thesis project aimed at dissecting immune evasion mechanisms of chikungunya virus, work I later continued alongside another project on antiviral drug screening during my Junior Research Fellowship in the same lab. After building a solid foundation in Molecular Biology, Immunology and Biochemistry, I made an unprecedented decision of crossing continents to pursue my Master’s degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Germany. Besides my favourite schnittlauch butterbreze, another treat Germany offered was a bustling and collaborative research network. Two exciting research experiences included using the revolutionary CRISPR tool for transcriptional regulation of T cells and characterizing chimeric antigen receptors for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. The latter, in particular, was a window into the world of cancer therapeutics.

Conducting my Master’s thesis at National Center for Tumor Diseases, DKFZ Heidelberg, Germany, was a true game changer with training in patient-oriented research. There I worked on Pharmacovirotherapy, a novel antitumor approach combining oncolytic measles virus and small molecule inhibitors to treat Glioblastoma and Head and Neck Cancer. Having found my niche in Oncology, now I aim to develop novel therapeutic and diagnostic regimes while advancing the existing standard of care for cancer patients. For this, I found MIRACLE Leukemia consortium to be the ideal platform for me.

As part of MIRACLE, I am pursuing my PhD with INSERM at L'Institut de la Leucémie Paris Saint-Louis in France under co-supervision of Dr. Matthieu Duchmann and Prof. Raphael Itzykson on a multidisciplinary project that aligns perfectly with my goal of contributing to public health. Here, I am investigating the molecular, cellular and immunological mechanisms underlying acute myeloid leukemia (AML) minimal residual disease (MRD) after Azacitidine/Venetoclax treatment, which significantly contributes to AML recurrence, by using single-cell multi-omics and metabolomics approach. I will also predict treatment outcomes in patients using a drug screening platform and test alternative novel treatment regimes through in vivo studies. I am excited to be a part of MIRACLE’s collaborative spirit as it will allow me to perform cutting-edge research with an assorted perspective from leukemia experts across the EU while providing ample networking opportunities for both professional and personal growth.

Outside the lab, I am passionate about human rights, inclusivity, hiking, travelling, and the performing arts, especially theatre.