I am Porama Zafreen Hoque, a PhD candidate in the Berglund Lab. Prior to commencing my graduate studies, I completed a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) in Bangladesh, providing me with a comprehensive foundation in research across diverse disciplines. My residency training at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka proved to be a transformative experience, granting me invaluable insights into the molecular and cellular underpinnings of cancer. These formative experiences fostered a deep interest in the complexities of cellular and molecular biology, ultimately motivating me to pursue a PhD in MCDN Biology at the University at Albany.
During my first rotation project in the Larsen lab, I investigated the normal salivary gland structure and identified DNA damage in ligated tissue using serial multiplexed fluorescent immunohistochemistry technology. I then began my work as a PhD student in the Berglund Lab, where my current research focuses on evaluating the synergistic effects of small molecules and antisense oligonucleotides in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), an autosomal dominant disorder caused by trinucleotide repeats. The goal of my research is to use these fundamental studies to identify potential therapeutic strategies to reduce or correct the improper pre-mRNA splicing that occurs in the disease state.