Ishana Chadha
Commack High School
Commack, New York
Oligophrenin1 Modulates Radial Migration of Pyramidal Neurons by Interaction with PACSIN2
Ishana explored the genes that control how cells move when the brain grows. Cells move around as the brain develops, and problems with this process can lead to disorders like epilepsy.
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Ishana researched the genetic factors behind brain cell migration for her Regeneron Science Talent Search neuroscience project. As the brain develops, neurons move around, some guided by the OPHN1 gene. Ishana knew that a genetic change in OPHN1 can cause problems with brain cell migration, leading to epilepsy or other disorders. She studied the proteins inside brain cells to find another gene, PACSIN2, that might play a role. Ishana then looked at how brain cells move in mice with lower levels of PACSIN2. In these mice, Ishana found that brain cells called pyramidal neurons didn’t migrate normally.
In her project, Ishana explored the genes that control how cells move when the brain grows. As the brain develops, neurons move around, some guided by the OPHN1 gene. Ishana knew that a genetic change in OPHN1 can cause problems with brain cell migration, leading to epilepsy or other disorders. She studied the proteins inside brain cells to find another gene, PACSIN2, that might play a role and concluded that PACSIN2 is needed to build a healthy brain. Knowing what genes control brain cell migration could help lead to improved knowledge of brain development and could one day help treat or prevent health issues like epilepsy.
Ishana, the daughter of Manish and Munisha Chadha, attends Commack High School.
Beyond the Project
Ishana is the founder of her school’s debate club, which has more than 70 members. She competes in the Long Island Forensics Association, where she has won individual and team awards. Ishana also judges debates for younger students. She also creates and organizes K-12 STEAM projects for the nonprofit Bake Back America.
FUN FACTS: Ishana is a dancer, instructor and social media manager for The Mudra Foundation, a nonprofit focused on the performing arts. She practices bharatanatyam, a style of classical Indian dance.
