Howard Garrison Advocacy Fellow

Tuli Pramanik

Tuli Pramanik is doctoral candidate at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Describe your interest in participating in the program:
Pramanik: In the past month, my home country, India, saw one of the largest youth-led protests demanding educational reforms. This has once more highlighted the need for people who can bridge the realms of education and research with governance. As the scientific ecosystem grows in India, the importance of evidence-based policymaking is becoming more pronounced, and I would like to contribute to this niche with experiences gained during my PhD, including this fellowship. 

I earned my Master’s from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, a research institute established post-independence to create a hub for leading scientists in India to conduct research. The renowned nuclear physicist Dr. Bhabha brought together researchers to seek financial support from industrialist and philanthropist JRD Tata and, with the help of the first Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Nehru, created this research institute, whose campus was designed by Chicago-based architect Mr. Bartsch. This showed me what can be achieved with proper communication and the desire to advocate for the future of science. Their legacy enabled me to envision how folks from all over the world with different education and backgrounds can create a lasting impact. Thus, my research journey has not only involved my efforts to answer scientific questions but also to learn to work with people from different areas of expertise. 

Since my formative years in school and college, I have participated in various workshops and science fairs where I discussed science with folks from various occupations. However, it was during my master’s education at TIFR that my appetite for research and communication amalgamated while hosting an exhibition of biological samples like mouse embryos and easy to do experiments with middle school students and their guardians. One of the most challenging yet fruitful experiences was traveling to rural areas in India to hold these exhibitions, where I explained simple biological concepts in my third language using analogies from their daily lives. 

The most significant achievement in my journey to become an effective science communicator is putting together an online magazine for my department at TIFR. I not only designed the whole website but also curated the submissions from fellow members of the department. 

I have continued to hone my skills during my graduate studies at UTSW by serving as an editor for the Teaching and Science Communication Club (TaSC), where I handled the website and led career development seminars. I have also remained committed to hosting exhibitions among schoolchildren to improve my speaking skills. 

One will observe that I have more experience in science communication than in science policy. Thus, to make any significant contribution to improving the framework guiding the scientific community, the Howard Garrison Advocacy Fellowship is a lucrative opportunity for me. I hope to fulfill all my duties during the fellowship with diligence, and I hope to build a network with other fellows in the cohort to foster collaborations across continents. 

How do you plan to use the knowledge and experience gained through your participation in the Howard Garrison Advocacy Program?
Pramanik: To make proper policies, it is important to collect data from all stakeholders. This includes a vast number of people from different walks of life and perspectives. There are thousands of research institutes from which we can gather data on the major shortcomings of the current scientific communities. Such large-scale data collection and processing not only require manpower but also experts to analyze this data. To address these needs, we need people who are passionate and driven to undertake and manage these initiatives. After data collection, it is important to design what changes can be advocated for, which requires communicating science with policymakers and advocacy groups. Thus, you can see that at every step it would be imperative for people who are not just trained scientists but all effective communicators, and I would like to be equipped with all necessary skills to contribute at any given stage of such efforts to change existing policies or create new ones. Thus, being a part of this cohort of fellows will give me unique insights into the process of how FASEB consistently works to serve the larger community. It is one of the coveted ways for a young scientist like me to identify where I can be of most use and get into the working gears of relevant federal agencies. 

I believe my commitment to science policy and communication, not just in the US but also back in India, can support unique partnerships and collaborations. 

Using no more than 250 words, describe your research as you would to a non-scientist.
Pramanik: Our heart and blood vessels are the first systems to develop in our body. This system is important for the growth of all other organ systems and our survival. One of the important factors guiding blood vessel development is the force exerted by the flow of blood. The cells that make up our blood vessels are called endothelial cells, and how they can change under the flow of blood is the central question of my research. These changes manifest in both their appearance and their surroundings, such that the failure of endothelial cells to change in response to blood flow can lead to hardening of blood vessels, leading to atherosclerosis, which can become fatal if not treated properly. 

We have been able to identify a new player, WWC2, in the process of endothelial cells sensing the flow of blood. Using a system that can mimic blood flow outside the human body, we show that endothelial cells are not able to change their appearance when this protein is removed from the cells. WWC2 is required for proper changes in cell boundaries and skeletal structures. We are yet to identify how exactly WWC2 can regulate cell behavior, but it is known that the loss of this protein affects proper growth of vessels in mice during development. Our aim is to investigate if loss of WWC2 can mimic signs of vascular diseases in mouse models so that we can use it to develop therapies. 

Briefly describe any past or present participation in additional career exploration activities, experiences, and/or programs.
Pramanik: In addition to my degree in developmental biology, I am also enrolled in Mechanism of Disease Translation, where I have worked in clinics to understand the gap in patient care that can be addressed through my research. As a part of this track, I have served in the student advisory committee to help make changes in the curriculum to benefit students and make the track complimentary to the graduate studies framework. For example, we provided travel aid for students to attend conferences and included grant-writing courses specifically geared toward translational science. 

I have served as the head of Mitogen, a pro bono consulting arm of the consulting club at UT Southwestern. Due to the dearth of internships to obtain consulting experience for international trainees, I led this initiative to work with the conflict-of-interest office, international office, and career development cell. This led to a curriculum where trainees, irrespective of their citizenship, would be able to work on real-world consulting cases alongside Biotechnological companies. Over 30 trainees have benefited from this opportunity, many of whom have been able to be selected for bridge programs at reputed consulting firms and have won advanced degree case competitions. I am passionate about working with governing bodies to improve the professional lives of other fellows, and although I am not interested in becoming a consultant myself, running Mitogen has equipped me with transferable skills that I believe will be very useful if I can learn to advocate for science policy and communication.

Tuli Pramanik is a member of the Society for Developmental Biology.