Shagun Nasta, M.D.

Background: I grew up in the hustling city of Mumbai, India. I completed my M.D this year from Seth G.S Medical College and KEM Hospital, one of the most prestigious medical schools and tertiary care government hospitals in India. Over the course of medical school, I developed a strong inclination towards cancer biology and my goal is to ultimately practice as an Oncologist.

Research Interests - I have a keen interest in understanding the molecular and genetic pathways of progression of gastrointestinal tract cancers and their tumorigenic properties, with an aim to apply this knowledge to customize treatments unique to each patient’s genomic profile and study relevant biomarkers. Epigenetic mechanisms of gene expression and tumour micro-environments are fascinating to me. Exploring the intricacies of therapeutic vulnerabilities yielding targeted therapies is something I’m passionate about. At the Sethi lab, I want to ask clinically important translational questions and address the gaps that may exist between the bench and bedside by analysing multi-omics and transcriptomics data.  Being in the company of my fellow lab members and mentors has allowed me to have a broader understanding of GI cancers.

Beyond Lab - My interests include traveling, playing badminton, petting dogs, hiking, painting, watching films with stellar plot twists and loudly singing along with my favorite music artists at live shows. I enjoy reading philosophy and learning about astronomy, AI, tech and physics in my free time. Nothing recharges me more than having interesting and deep chats with people I’m fond of. Giving back and building agency and community is extremely important to me.

Contact: shagunr_nasta@dfci.harvard.edu