Hello! My name is Prathyushasai Machineni; everyone calls me Sai. I earned my BS and MS in Biological Sciences and Molecular Biotechnology at the University of Houston Clear Lake, respectively. I am a 2nd-year PhD student in Dr. Vineet Gupta’s lab. In the Gupta Lab, we focus on drug discovery and therapeutic development, particularly targeting integrins with allosteric agonists, a novel therapeutic modality. Our work aims to uncover novel treatment strategies for kidney and autoimmune diseases such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and lupus nephritis. My research focuses on developing integrin α3β1-targeted therapies to protect podocytes and mitigate glomerular diseases, particularly FSGS.
I got involved in research during my sophomore year of undergraduate studies. UHCL was a small but very research-oriented university. I have always had a mind of curiosity that spanned various interests, and I loved learning about new ideas/topics, which is why I figured research was the best field for me. Throughout my undergraduate and graduate studies, I got to experience different research disciplines, from marine/microbial genomics, endocrinology, and protein studies to astro/exobiology and cancer/RNA biology. My biggest goal for my career is to work in R&D to develop non-invasive therapeutics for diseases.
Outside of the lab, I am an avid painter, artist, and bookworm. I love exploring the city and finding new places and cuisines to try out. I am also an Indian classical dancer and aspire to pursue that professionally alongside my scientific career.