Dr Nilesh Chatterjee

PhD thesis

Nucleic Acid Scaffold-dependent proximity-mediated Enzyme Response (NASPER): A Proof of Concept Study

My PhD project aimed to target a common thread shared between the majority of cancers, the hTERT RNA, to selectively target and kill the cancer cells. This used custom-designed RNA-binding proteins (PUF domains) fused to different split-enzyme systems such as eGFP and TEV protease.

During the project, I optimised the fusion proteins required for this system and finished by showing that they can target cancer cell lines (HeLa cell line). Ultimately, as with all research, more study is needed to ascertain whether this method is broad-spectrum enough to target a wide range of cancers, and whether the selectivity is sufficient to minimise off-target effects.

After the PhD

After my PhD, I began studying Medicine at St. George’s, University of London, in order to further my goal of directly working with patients and improving their lives, while simultaneously engaging in research and pushing the boundaries of what is medically possible.