Perozo and Malamy Lab postdoctoral scientist receives fellowship from the Grass Foundation
Zeeshan Banday spent the summer in Woods Hole, Massachusetts investigating the sensory cells of moon jellyfish
The Grass Fellowship from the Grass Foundation is a 14-week program that supports independent researchers in neuroscience and related fields to carry pioneering research at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL). Scientists benefit from laboratory space, equipment, and supplies. They also get to exchange insights by collaborating with other fellows and the broader community.
Dr. Zeeshan Banday, from CME collaborators Perozo and Malamy Labs, was one of the awardees this summer. “My favorite part about it was the freedom to ask bold questions and design experiments from scratch, which gave me the chance to think like an independent investigator and test ideas I’ve been carrying for years,” he said.
“I loved being surrounded by a community of fellows and mentors who were equally passionate and curious – and where science, history, and community come together. The culture of collaboration and exposure to different approaches created an environment that was both intense and inspiring. Part science camp, part retreat, part adventure. I got to work on jellyfish during the day and share ideas over dinner in the evening.”
During his time at the MBL, the scientist further advanced his research on moon jellyfish nematocytes, which are concentrated on their tentacles and use hair bundles to sense touch. “These mechanosensory cells are fascinating because they share surprising similarities with hair cells in our own inner ear. These cells are key to our hearing function and for humans to maintain balance,” said Dr. Banday.
The research involved using physiology, imaging, and molecular tools to investigate how the ion channels from mechanosensory cells in jellyfish detect mechanical forces and enable an explosive stinging response to those. The findings of such research can help answer questions related to the dynamics of human hair cells – due to their similarity to jellyfish cells – assisting in addressing hearing impairment. This allows future research to gain groundbreaking insights into human hearing and balance dysfunction.
At UChicago, Dr. Banday combines genetics, cell biology, and biochemistry to understand how animals sense the forces in their environment at the molecular level, enlightening research in mechanosensation. He investigates how mechanosensory cells in cnidarians use specialized proteins and ion channels to detect mechanical forces and function.
“This research is relevant on several levels. Jellyfish represent an ancient lineage of animals, so by understanding how their mechanosensory system works, we gain insight into the evolutionary roots of how animals’ sense and respond to their environment. The central question I am trying to answer is: What proteins form the mechanotransduction complex in jellyfish nematocytes, and how do they convert mechanical stimuli into electrical signal? Answering that helps us connect ancient biology with modern biomedical challenges – from understanding the basic rules of sensory biology to thinking about therapies for hearing,” he said.
Learn more about the Grass Foundation Fellowship here.
Image credits: Zeeshan Banday