When code meets CRISPR: Postdocs innovating in brain science

Collaboration in action 

What connects your research? 

Ahmed: Sridevi and I have similar interests about how the brain develops, but we are using different ways to address them. I approach research experimentally, combining stem cell research with gene editing CRISPR technology and single cell RNA sequencing, to study how cells are affected when we edit specific genes.  

Venkatesan: We know that the human brain forms from an embryo and then develops, over months, from a fairly homogeneous population of stem cells to the enormous diversity of cell types that you have in a newborn brain. In my work, we’re trying to mimic these processes in organoids – collections of cells grown in a petri dish that mimic human organ structures. I am working on algorithms that can help predict how stem cells mature, to better understand how the brain forms. Where my work overlaps with Mai’s is developing computational models to predict the effects of knocking out particular genes, which informs the experiments she does. 

Why did you choose to work at SickKids? 

Ahmed: I really wanted to join an institute that did both research and medicine, where I could get insights from physicians and see what basic research needs were possible to fulfill through our work in the lab. SickKids is an amazing hub for communication between the hospital and research institute, and we see patients and talk to physicians every day – just by being on site. 

Venkatesan: At SickKids, there are a lot of nice touches that make you feel like you are part of a community, and a lot of events! There is also a lot of training available, not just training in technical skills, but also training in soft skills as well, for your career development. 

From PhD to postdoctoral research, what’s the transition been like? 

Ahmed: When I finished my PhD, I felt that I knew a lot and was ready to use what I learned in my work. But one of the things I realized during my postdoc is that learning doesn't end at graduation. I think I was surprised by how much I had to learn, especially when I started working with a different model, in a different field. Over time, I’ve embraced the idea that I will never stop learning.   

Venkatesan: Mentorship has made a big difference for me. I am co-supervised by Jesse Gillis, a computational biologist with an interest in neuroscience, at the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research. I split my time between labs. At SickKids, I mentor students to share my computational knowledge. I hope that the students I mentor can learn mathematical and statistical concepts from me without being scared or overwhelmed by some of the depths that this work can take.