Param Priya Singh, PhD
Our lab is interested in decoding the genomic basis of extreme survival strategies and longevity using African killifish as the model system. Due to their harsh natural habitat, African killifish have evolved a developmental state analogous to 'suspended animation' called diapause and the shortest vertebrate lifespan in captivity. Together, diapause and the compressed lifespan make killifish an ideal model to identify new mechanisms for long-term protection and to study vertebrate aging at a rapid and high-throughput scale. We aim to utilize unbiased, comparative, and multidisciplinary approaches by integrating computational genomics and CRISPR-based perturbations to decode the complexity of gene regulation during diapause and aging in vertebrates and to leverage this knowledge to improve human health.