Researching Rare Diseases as a Reubenite

28 February 2025

February 28 marks Rare Disease Day, organised in the United Kingdom by Genetic Alliance UK. This important international initiative focuses on raising awareness and funds to support the nearly 300 million people living with a rare condition globally.

At Reuben College, we're dedicated to bringing the best minds together to solve the challenges of the 21st century. One of our core research themes, Cellular Life, has a vital role in advancing the understanding and treatment of rare diseases.

We contacted Reubenite Puravi Panda, a DPhil student in Pharmacology, to tell us about why research on rare diseases is so crucial, and how being at Reuben College and the University of Oxford has helped shape her work.

Puravi's Perspective

Researching the rare Niemann-Pick Disease Type C (NPC)

Puravi presenting in front of other students. She is looking at her presentation screen which reads "Rare diseases: Niemann Pic Disease Type C (NPC)"In my DPhil research, I'm studying how problems with lysosomes (which are tiny structures inside cells) affect the immune system in a rare condition called Niemann-Pick Disease type C (NPC). This causes a harmful build-up of fats in cells and leads to inflammation, but the exact causes are unclear. I'm, therefore, investigating how the balance of calcium in lysosomes might be disrupting immune responses and contributing to the disease, with the hope of finding new ways to treat it.

Studying rare diseases like NPC is important not only for developing better treatments for patients but also for deepening our understanding of fundamental cellular processes. This can lead to new insights and potential treatments for more common neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

My experience at Oxford

Puravi standing outside the Radcliffe Camera in Oxford. She is wearing her sub fusc: black trousers, black grown, black time and a white shirt. She is smiling and holding her mortar board in her hands.I chose Oxford because of my supervisor, Professor Frances Platt. Professor Platt was incredibly supportive throughout my application process, offering invaluable guidance (alongside my second supervisor, Dr Nick Platt) in shaping my research proposal. Since arriving at Oxford, I have had no regrets in choosing the Platt Lab. Professor Platt has been an exceptional mentor. She has provided not only expert scientific advice, but also unwavering support for my overall wellbeing, including career planning and guidance on funding applications.

The Platt Lab itself is composed of a remarkable group of dedicated researchers who take immense pride in their work and collaborate seamlessly - whether it's on ground-breaking research or charity challenges raising awareness and funds for rare diseases.

 

Professor Platt has been an exceptional mentor. She has provided not only expert scientific advice, but also unwavering support for my overall wellbeing, including career planning and guidance on funding applications.

Reuben College feels like home

To be honest, what first attracted me to Reuben was its perfect location; it's right next to the science area and just a short walk from the city centre. The Department of Pharmacology is only a stone’s throw away, and iconic landmarks like the Radcliffe Camera and Bodleian Libraries are walkable in minutes.

After being part of Reuben College and experiencing the community, I wouldn’t hesitate to choose it again. The warm, welcoming atmosphere, the weekly Tuesday Talks/Dining with Dinosaurs seminars, and the cosy Farndon Court accommodation all make it feel like home.

Plus, our college lunches are some of the best in town!