Biography and previous work

Heena joined the NMG in 2022 as a PhD student. Prior to joining the NMG, Heena obtained a First Class (Hons) in Biomedicine from the School of Biological Science at the University of East Anglia. Directly after obtaining her undergraduate degree, Heena (in the midst of a global pandemic) achieved a Distinction in Synthetic Biology from the School of Computing at Newcastle University.

Whilst at the University of East Anglia, Heena conducted a year long research project under the supervision of the amazing Prof. Andrea Münsterberg. The project was heavily focussed on investigating the potential role of miR-19a in skeletal myogenesis. As a result of this project, Heena became even more fascinated with the therapeutic potential of miRNA's and genetic circuits in general. 

Heena's passion for genetics was coupled with coding at Newcastle University. At Newcastle University, Heena conducted a year long research project under the supervision of the very supportive Dr Harold Fellermann. The project involved designing and building the first ever chemical perceptron in silico capable of accurately detecting the concentrations of any cancer biomarker. Heena's work will soon be used by Nanovery to bring a device capable of detecting whether or not an individual is at risk of developing a particular type of cancer. 

Current Work 

Heena's current work in the NMG, alongside Spintex, involves turning on and off the flow sensitivity of silk in order to incorporate additives into the silk mix prior to spinning. The project incorporates knowledge from a range of different disciplines such as: Physiology, Physical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Rheology. 

Personal Interests

Besides science, Heena likes to be outdoors and can often be found participating in a game of golf or archery. In addition, Heena thoroughly enjoys cooking meals for her family and friends to enjoy around a dining table. In addition, Heena loves politics and debating. She has participated in regional debating competitions and addressed motions such as "Britain should return the Elgin Marbles".