Dr. Nika Danial

Associate Professor

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Biography

Nika Danial is an Associate Professor in the field of Biological Biomedical Sciences with a focus on deciphering how metabolism of carbon substrates such as carbohydrates, fatty acids, amino acids, and ketone bodies modulates cellular stress responses. Her multidisciplinary research employs mouse genetics, mitochondrial physiology, chemical biology, proteomics, and metabolomics. Danial’s lab has made significant discoveries linking fuel metabolism to stress outcomes with implications for diabetes, seizure disorders, and cancer. She has investigated how glucose-dependent modulation affects beta-cell stress responses, showing that the phosphorylation of BAD protects beta-cells from stress stimuli that can lead to diabetes. Furthermore, her work has revealed insights into how metabolic control of neuronal activity through fuel substrate switching can affect seizure sensitivity, and she is actively researching the metabolic heterogeneity within cancer, particularly in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. Her current projects are aimed at dissecting the pathways that contribute to the metabolic profiles of different DLBCL subtypes to develop targeted therapies.

Research Interests

Requirements for Harvard University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
TOEFL
Total
Required:80
IELTS
Overall
Required:6.5
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in a technical or quantitative field
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Transcripts
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Resume/CV
Specialization Notes

Administered by the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS).