Ritu Shekhar

I am a molecular biology researcher interested in exploring the genetic and epigenetic regulators in different human cancers. My doctoral research on the role of miRNAs in cell cycle regulation and oncogenesis has inspired my focus on leveraging miRNAs and other non-coding RNAs for molecular cancer therapies. Currently, I am studying Kaposi’s Sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), a gamma herpesvirus associated with Kaposi’s Sarcoma and lymphoproliferative diseases in HIV-positive or immunocompromised individuals. By investigating the high-density transcriptome of KSHV and engineering the expression levels of potential target genes in vitro, I aim to identify the key viral and host non-coding RNAs driving oncogenesis in KSHV-infected individuals.