Alicia Ljungdahl
Meet Alicia Ljungdahl, visiting scholar in the Sanders Group. She joined the Sanders Lab at UCSF, where she investigated gene splicing using RNA-seq data from the developing human brain. In 2022, she got the opportunity to pursue her research at the IDRM as a Visiting Scholar.
Can you give a brief overview of your career trajectory so far?
In my undergraduate at UC Berkeley, I studied Molecular and Cellular Biology with an emphasis in neurobiology. While there, I joined the Sanders Lab across the Bay at UCSF, where I investigated gene splicing using RNA-seq data from the developing human brain for my honors thesis. Since graduating in 2021, I have worked full-time in the Sanders Lab as a Junior Specialist and in 2022 I got the opportunity to pursue my research here at the IDRM as a Visiting Scholar. I am currently applying to medical school in the US and strongly desire to stay engaged in research throughout my career.
What is your research focus?
In my research, I use bioinformatics and computational methods on large genetic and functional genomics datasets to gain insights into the genetic architecture of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. In doing so, we hope to develop better, more personalized therapies for specific rare and intractable neurogenetic conditions.
My research focuses on gene target discovery and the preclinical development of nucleic-acid-based therapies. I co-developed a data-driven approach to identify therapeutically actionable gene targets, and I am now designing antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) for carefully selected candidates. The aim is to increase expression of the functional gene and protein to provide therapeutic benefits for disorders involving haploinsufficiency
What has been your highlight this past year at the IDRM?
A highlight has been moving to the UK from the US and getting to meet and work with so many incredible people here in Oxford and at the IDRM. Since I plan to go to medical school, I got the chance to shadow physician-scientist (and IDRM group leader!) Dr. Rinaldi at the Neurogenetics Clinic, where I got to see how genomic medicine is currently applied in a clinical setting and interact with the patients and families our research aims to help.
How have you contributed to IDRM life?
As the first member of the Sanders Group here at the IDRM, and the only lab member to relocate from the UCSF lab, I’ve mainly contributed to the building up of our group this year (there are now 5 of us!) and establishing connections with the other labs on the neurology floor.
When my gene target discovery project led to an interesting finding, we collaborated with Dr. Rinaldi who has expertise in antisense drug development and delivery and whose team was able to validate it through functional experiments. The project has grown into a joint-effort between the two labs, owing to how much more we can accomplish when working together.
What do you look forward to most this year?
I look forward to seeing the results of more of our ASOs and the possibility of seeing any one of them go from bench to bedside. I also look forward to the IDRM retreat this Friday and traveling to visit friends in Rome, Paris, and Stuttgart later this year.
What do you do outside of the lab?
I love exploring Oxford and hope to see as much of the UK as possible while here. I enjoy connecting with other cultures, and I volunteer with Jacari teaching ESL to refugee youth in Oxford.