Raj Duggavathi
Academic details:
Postdoctoral Fellowship (Université de Montréal and L'institut de génétique et de biologie moléculaire et cellulaire (IGBMC))
PhD (University of Saskatchewan)
BVSc, MVSc (University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore)
Postdoctoral Fellowship (Université de Montréal and L'institut de génétique et de biologie moléculaire et cellulaire (IGBMC))
PhD (University of Saskatchewan)
BVSc, MVSc (University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore)
Research Interests
Our research focuses on the mechanisms of regulation of female fertility with emphasis on ovarian function. Ongoing projects constitute two modules. In module 1, we use bovine model to investigate metabolic regulation of ovarian function in dairy cows. In the last five years we have discovered that metabolic indicators differ significantly between lactating dairy cows and non-lactating counterparts. Our goal is to investigate the relationship between ovarian activity and changing metabolism during early lactation. In module 2, we use genome-edited and pharmacologically-manipulated mouse models to investigate signaling pathways governing ovulation and fertility. In the last five years we have discovered novel transcription factors involved in the ERK1/2 intracellular signaling pathways as well as important molecules involved in ovulation including Nr5a2, mTOR (both granulosa-specific knockout models) and Fabp6 (whole-body knockout model). Our current studies focus on the chromatin landscape underpinning granulosa cell gene expression. They plan to use mice with granulosa-specific deletion of the genes of histone modifying enzymes and important promoter/enhancer regions involved in ovulation. We employ, in our experiments, both global and targeted gene approaches, including next-generation sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation, immunoblotting, quantitative-PCR in our studies. Our research will continue to advance the understanding of molecular mechanisms underpinning normal ovarian functions, including ovulation and steroid hormone production, leading to normal female fertility.
Our research focuses on the mechanisms of regulation of female fertility with emphasis on ovarian function. Ongoing projects constitute two modules. In module 1, we use bovine model to investigate metabolic regulation of ovarian function in dairy cows. In the last five years we have discovered that metabolic indicators differ significantly between lactating dairy cows and non-lactating counterparts. Our goal is to investigate the relationship between ovarian activity and changing metabolism during early lactation. In module 2, we use genome-edited and pharmacologically-manipulated mouse models to investigate signaling pathways governing ovulation and fertility. In the last five years we have discovered novel transcription factors involved in the ERK1/2 intracellular signaling pathways as well as important molecules involved in ovulation including Nr5a2, mTOR (both granulosa-specific knockout models) and Fabp6 (whole-body knockout model). Our current studies focus on the chromatin landscape underpinning granulosa cell gene expression. They plan to use mice with granulosa-specific deletion of the genes of histone modifying enzymes and important promoter/enhancer regions involved in ovulation. We employ, in our experiments, both global and targeted gene approaches, including next-generation sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation, immunoblotting, quantitative-PCR in our studies. Our research will continue to advance the understanding of molecular mechanisms underpinning normal ovarian functions, including ovulation and steroid hormone production, leading to normal female fertility.