Understanding what happens when our cells turn selfish

It’s a fair bet that when Nidhi Bhagi was growing up, she was one of those children who constantly asked why.

Nidhi graduates from the University of Otago on 13 December with a Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (BBiomedSc) with honours.
She says her journey to Otago from Hyderabad in India started with a why.

“I have always been in awe of how we are just made up of tiny cells we can’t even see, yet they work together so seamlessly to pull off complex tasks that we never think twice about. I want to know why it does what it does, and how it all happens. I wanted to study anatomy and subjects related to the human body, and I wanted to study in a place where I was able to ask questions rather than just being given information to learn.”

Such questions led to her choosing a course of biomedical studies.

Her India-based family looked at universities that offered support for mental health and wellbeing as well as academic success.

“We looked at Sweden and Norway before deciding on New Zealand. The people we talked to at Otago were helpful and caring, so it became an easy choice -it definitely has the strong student support we were looking for.”

Although the transition to Dunedin from the ancient and bustling city of Hyderabad (population 6.7 million) was big, Nidhi describes her arrival as warm and welcoming.

“I very quickly had a sense of belonging, even before I had arrived at the University. I love that walking in nature was only a short distance away. I enjoy participating in sports, and being introduced to netball was incredibly fun.

"I valued the range of subjects available in the biomedical sciences programme, and how the knowledge across the different papers linked together into a degree. And I really liked that there were no impersonal lectures - the passion, care and enthusiasm of lecturers was infectious. Their passion really motivated me and made me even more determined,” she says.

“My philosophy for studying is, if you understand ‘why’, the information changes from being something to remember for a test or exam, to something that comes naturally."  - Nidhi Bhagi

Nidhi’s enthusiasm for her studies shone brightly this year, with a story on her honours project winning this year’s Otago Medical School Research Society Science Writing Prize.

When Our Cells Turn Selfish- Hidden Weakness in Aggressive Breast Cancer, published in the Otago Daily Times, explains what happens when a cell breaks the rules and chooses its own survival over working together.

“I’ve always loved tutoring – so winning this award has sparked a strong interest in writing and communicating science,” she says.

“I love taking people beyond ‘information dumping’ into understanding concepts and instigating a sense of curiosity.

“My philosophy for studying is, if you understand ‘why’, the information changes from being something to remember for a test or exam, to something that comes naturally. So, the more I know, the more I can make concepts easier and more fun for others - I'm satisfying my curiosity as well as spreading the knowledge, both of which are invaluable to me.”

After studying Health Sciences in her first year at Otago, Nidhi completed Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology papers as part of her BBiomedSc. Together, they helped her understand some of the fundamentals of human anatomy and drug interactions.

This then led to a successful honours project with Professor Fiona McDonald in the Department of Physiology, looking at cell interactions in the development of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) – a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer.

The McDonald laboratory’s focus is on a part of a cell called epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), which has various roles in the body, including managing the body’s salt balance, blood pressure and slowing down the spread of breast cancer.

Nidhi’s year-long project looked at CDH11, a protein that helps cells move around, and whether this protein meant those cancer cells with high ENaC don’t move as effectively.

It was an amazing year, she says.

“Understanding the interactions of cells and proteins is complex. We’ve made progress in understanding what’s happening, and we’re starting to unravel the mechanisms of why. Once we understand that pathway, we can more precisely target treatments to fight this cancer.

“Contributing to world knowledge is the most exciting part of the study, but at the same time, it’s also the most frustrating part of science. Nothing in the research field goes according to plan, and I have a newfound respect for all the established knowledge in science - feeling ever so more driven to keep going to figure it all out.”

Learning lab skills as part of the project was also invaluable, she says.

“Although I was equipped with plenty of knowledge from my bachelor’s degree, I found out how long it actually takes to master a technique, then we change and develop it, and have to test these new ways – all good skills to have,” she says.

Nidhi will be enjoying time with family visiting from India for her graduation. She plans to stay on in New Zealand and hopes to work in biotechnology research and development.