Tanushree Ghosh

My early scientific career during graduate school and early postdoc research focused on understanding the role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in cell cycle regulation and cancer. I investigated how ncRNAs modulate key cell cycle regulators and regulate tumor progression, contributing to a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer.  In 2021, I joined the Kostova lab, where my research shifted towards ribosome quality control (RQC) pathways. Currently, I focus on identifying novel surveillance mechanisms that detect and degrade defective ribosomes in ribosomopathies—human disorders caused by ribosome biogenesis defects, often characterized by severe anemia, skeletal abnormalities, and developmental issues. I employ a combination of genetic, biochemical, and genomic approaches to study how cells detect and eliminate defective ribosomes to maintain cellular homeostasis.  Through this work, I uncovered an unexpected role for well-established mitotic regulators in ribosome quality control and identified a previously unknown quality control pathway that selectively degrades defective ribosomes in ribosomopathies. These discoveries have provided critical insights into the complex connections between translational control and cell cycle checkpoints, emphasizing the essential role of RQC in maintaining cellular health and preventing disease.