Biological Sciences

Divya Ganapathi Sankaran, Ph.D.

Education and Training

2019–2026 | Postdoctoral training and research

Cornell University · Molecular Biology and Genetics
Advisor Dr. Andrew W. Grimson

2013–2019 | Ph.D.

University of Colorado School of Medicine
Cell and Developmental Biology
Advisor Dr. Chad G. Pearson

2009–2013 | Undergraduate education

Bachelor of Engineering, Biotechnology
Bachelor of Engineering, Information Technology
Anna University, India
Gold medalist in Biotechnology

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Research

Gene Regulation in Developmental Immunology

How does gene regulation change with age, shape immune system development and function, and go awry in developmental disorders?

We investigate how epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional mechanisms preserve developmental history and shape age-dependent T-cell development and immune responses, combining molecular and cellular biology with genomics, epigenomics, and computational analysis.

Gene poising in age-dependent thymocyte development

Adult and neonatal T cells follow distinct developmental programs. We investigate how chromatin accessibility, gene poising, and transcription factor networks establish these differences and connect developmental history to immune function.

Our work examines how bivalent histone modifications regulate age-dependent thymocyte development, with a particular focus on Hox genes, Ezh2, and Wnt signaling.

miRNAs in age-dependent thymocyte development

MicroRNAs tune gene expression during development. We investigate how age-dependent miRNA programs—including the miR-17~92 cluster—regulate the pace and outcomes of T-cell differentiation.

By integrating small RNA profiling, miRNA target mapping, and functional studies, we connect regulatory RNAs to thymocyte biology.

DiGeorge syndrome and thymus developmental disorders

We are developing a research direction focused on how disrupted gene regulation contributes to abnormal thymus development and altered T-cell production in DiGeorge syndrome.

This work links fundamental developmental biology to the molecular basis of immune dysfunction.

Approaches

Molecular biology; Genomics and epigenomics; Mouse models; Transcriptional regulation; Post-transcriptional regulation; miRNA target mapping; Thymic organoid models; Computational biology

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Join the Sankaran Lab

We are looking for research technicians, graduate students, and bioinformaticians interested in gene regulation and developmental immunology.

Contact: Divya.GanapathiSankaran@utoledo.edu

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Teaching

BIOL 4050: Immunology

3 credits · University of Toledo · Spring 2027
Tuesday and Thursday · 9:30–10:50 a.m.

Cellular and molecular foundations of immune system development and function.

BIOL 4060: Immunology Laboratory

University of Toledo

BIOL 4050 Course Schedule · Spring 2027 — provided in the appendix for a separate course-schedule link.

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Recent Awards and Fellowships

2027–2029 | NIAID K22 Career Transition Award

Elucidating the epigenetic and transcriptional networks regulating age-related differences in T-cell development.

July 2025 | EclipseBio Data Catalyst Award

Supports miR-eCLIP experiments and the study of miRNA regulatory programs.

2020–2021 | Centre for Vertebrate Genomics Fellowship

Support for postdoctoral research at Cornell University.

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Recent Invited Oral Presentations

2025 | AIC Immunology Conference (Workshop presentation)
Chicago, Illinois

2024 | Gene Expression and Immune System Signalling
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York

2024 | New England Immunology Conference
Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts

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Publications

1. Ganapathi Sankaran, D., Zhu, H., Maymi, V., Forlastro, I., Jiang, Y., Laniewski, N., Scheible, K., Rudd, B., & Grimson, A.
   Gene regulatory programs that specify developmental divergence between adult and neonatal thymocytes.
   Cell Reports 44 (7)115903 (2025), 10.1016/j.celrep.2025.115903.
2. Zhu, H., Ganapathi Sankaran, D., Daly, C., Mon, K., Tabilas, C., Wissink, E., Rudd, B., & Grimson, A.
   An efficient framework to decipher microRNA regulatory programs in functionally divergent naïve T cell subsets.
   Genes and Immunity, (2025)
3. Ganapathi Sankaran, D., Hariharan, B., Stemm-Wolf, A., McCurdy, B., & Pearson, C.G.
   A semi-automated machine learning-aided approach to quantitative analysis of centrosomes and microtubule organization.
   Journal of Cell Science (2020),
4. Ganapathi Sankaran, D., Stemm-Wolf, A., & Pearson, C.G.
   CEP135 isoform dysregulation promotes centrosome amplification in breast cancer cells.
   Molecular Biology of the Cell, 30(10): 1129–1244 (2019).
5. Dahl, K.D., Ganapathi Sankaran, D., Bayless, B.A., Pinter, M.E., Galati, D.F., Heasley, L.R., Giddings, T.H., & Pearson, C.G.
   A short CEP135 splice isoform controls centriole duplication.
   Current Biology, 25: 2591–2596 (2015)
6. Ganapathi Sankaran D. (2019). Centrosome number homeostasis: lessons from CEP135 isoform dysregulation in breast cancer. Doctoral dissertation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.