Congratulations to the Graduate Program in Neuroscience (GPN) fall class of 2024! 10 trainees graduated this week and to celebrate, we asked them to share more about their research and experiences with the GPN.
Adam Doelman, PhD
Supervised by Dr. Brian Kwon, Adam investigated neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction after traumatic spinal cord injury using wireless catheter-free pressure sensors.
Research summary:
Bladder dysfunction remains a key source of morbidity and a primary goal for recovery for people who’ve experienced a traumatic spinal cord injury. Presently the “gold-standard” method of assessing bladder dysfunction after injury is a catheter-based approach which has many well-recognized short-comings. To address this, my project focused on the development of wireless pressure sensors which can be used to assess bladder dysfunction without the use of catheters.
Favourite GPN memory?
I’m really fortunate to have met so many incredible people within the GPN program here at UBC. Working with this group and forming lasting friendships has been an incredible experience.
Future plans:
I recently started medical school at McGill University and look forward to applying some of the lessons I’ve learned in the lab to clinical settings, ultimately helping patients as a clinician-scientist.
Advice for future students:
Don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it. Be honest with others and with yourself. Never give up!
Adrian Lindsay, PhD
Supervised by Dr. Jeremy Seamans, Adrian worked on understanding the geometry of emotion.
Ronan Denyer, PhD
Under the supervision of Dr. Lara Boyd, Ronan conducted an investigation into the functional role of the dorsal premotor cortex in the control of rhythmic bimanual movements.
Research Summary:
A cortical region called the dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) is thought to be important for controlling difficult repetitive two-handed movements, such as rubbing your stomach while patting your head at the same time. However, it is not understood if this relationship emerges because PMd actively programs such movements, or if PMd manages the general increase in cognitive control needed to accurately perform these movements. I addressed this question across 4 experiments using a variety of neuroscientific techniques, including behavioural tasks, markerless motion tracking, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Surprisingly, PMd alone does not seem to exclusively actively program or manage mental focus during these tricky two-handed movements. Application of inhibitory repetitive TMS over right hemisphere PMd had no effect on participant’s ability to produce asymmetric bimanual movements, regardless as to the cognitive load present during the performance of these movements. This suggests that PMd is just one part of a broader network of regions that work together to control difficult two-handed movements. This broad network of regions may function as a backup system to help out when PMd isn’t working properly. This speaks against the notion that discrete brain regions map neatly to specific behaviours, which has important implications for how we think about recovery from brain injuries.
Outside of research:
Vancouver fully converted me to the great outdoors. I enjoy hiking, cycling, and swimming in the ocean. I also enjoy reading novels, listening to music, watching football (soccer for North Americans), hanging out with friends, and drinking nice beers and coffees.
Favourite GPN memory?
I had the opportunity to host Dr. Joern Diedrichsen from Western University at the DMCBH Neuroscience Colloquium, thanks to an initiative by the GPN to have trainees invite speakers. His work was a big inspiration for my thesis research so it was a nice experience to host him at the event, even if we had to hold it online due to COVID!
Why Neuroscience?
I studied Psychology during my undergraduate degree at Trinity College Dublin. I tended to enjoy the Cognitive Neuroscience courses the most, and in my final year I completed a thesis project under the supervision of Dr. Richard Carson looking at the neural basis for the interlimb transfer of strength using TMS and a behavioural task. I enjoyed this experience and wanted to continue doing research after graduating.
Future plans:
I recently started a postdoctoral fellowship in UCLouvain in Brussels, Belgium, under the supervision of Dr. Julie Duque. I’m really enjoying it so far!
Advice for future students:
Don’t be afraid to sound stupid! I think when I first started my PhD, I felt a pressure to give an outward appearance that I understood everything I was talking about or interacting with. Once I gained an appreciation for the limits of my own knowledge, I started to ask better questions, which helped to close the gaps!
Anjana Rajendran, MSc
Under the supervision of Dr. Lara Boyd, Anjana explored interneuronal network activation in the stroke-affected brain and how it relates to motor function after stroke.
Research Summary:
The neurophysiology of the stroke affected brain is poorly understood. Communication within the brain motor areas are altered however it has not been previously characterized. By investigating different networks we can a) understand how the brain heals after a stroke, b) understand how it relates to behaviour and c) begin to support personalized rehabilitation strategies. Using a form of non-invasive brain stimulation, known as transcranial magnetic stimulation, I was able to find differences in interneuronal network communication between hemispheres in stroke survivors and identify that greater imbalances between the pathway exhibiting differences is related to worse motor function in the paretic arm.
Outside of research:
I really love to sing and dance! During my master’s degree I was really involved in the UBC A Cappella community representing UBC at international competitions. You can sometimes catch me singing when I stay late in the lab or take drop-in dance classes around Vancouver.
Future plans:
I’m very happy and grateful to continue my academic career with Dr. Lara Boyd in the GPN for another 4(ish?) years pursuing a PhD. I plan to keep studying the stroke affected brain in humans using non-invasive stimulation but also integrate other visualization techniques like EEG and MRI.
Advice for future students:
Get involved in the program! Whether its by joining a GPN committee or the NTA or other UBC groups like the GSS, getting involved is the best way to meet new people, explore life outside your research and work towards better work-life balance. Sharing your experience and hearing that of others will help more than you know, so make time for it.
Hitasha Bajaj, MSc
Under the supervision of Dr. Kiran Soma and Dr. Annie Ciernia, Hitasha studied the effects of neonatal lipopolysaccharide exposure on steroid regulation in the adult mouse brain and blood.
Research summary:
Bacterial infections in early life can have enduring consequences for neurodevelopment and behaviour, with changes often being revealed after a subsequent immune challenge later in life. My research project investigated whether an early life infection alters local glucocorticoid regulation and gene expression in the mouse brain after another immune challenge in adulthood.
Outside of research:
I enjoy going on hikes with my dog, trying out new recipes and watching my favourite TV shows! Most of all, I love spending time with friends and family!
Future plans:
Applying to medical school! I hope to learn about the medical struggles of patients in a clinical setting and then investigate the underlying mechanisms of diseases in the lab!
Advice for future students:
Be persistent and confident! Understanding that things may not always go as planned and learning how to be flexible is incredibly important (this happens more than you think!). Have a strong support system and set boundaries for yourself to ensure time to rest, prioritizing your mental and physical health will improve your productivity!
Mahmoud Khademi, MSc
Under the supervision of Dr. Ipek Oruc, Mahmoud worked on “Decoding neural representations in higher-order visual cortex: an explainable AI-based fMRI analysis.”
Summary of research:
The goal of my thesis was to determine whether the higher-order visual cortex has a common topological organization across individuals, and if so, whether it is organized into distinct regions that process specific types of objects or if processing occurs across distributed overlapping regions. To answer these questions, I analyzed brain activity while participants viewed various images and employed advanced artificial intelligence methods to build and interpret models that could predict which object categories the participants saw by examining their brain activity. Additionally, I determined which regions of the brain were sensitive for this decision. My findings indicate that both distinct specialized regions and distributed representations coexist, with a stronger modular organization for faces, bodies, and outdoor scenes.
Why neuroscience?
As an AI researcher, I have always been fascinated by the intricacies of learning and memory mechanisms in the brain. Understanding how the brain processes information and adapts has significant implications for developing more advanced and human-like artificial intelligence systems.
Future plans:
I am excited to join Microsoft Research in Redmond as a researcher.
Advice for future students:
If you are coming from a different major, consider taking an introductory biology course before enrolling in NRSC 500. It will provide you with a solid foundation and make the transition into neuroscience coursework much smoother.
Motivation:
During challenging times, what kept me motivated was my passion for uncovering the mysteries of the brain.
Sophia Russo, MSc
Supervised by Dr. David Fedida, Sophia determined the structure of the xKCNQ1-R2/CaM ion channel using cryo-EM.
Thesis project:
The heart’s electrical activity is regulated by ion channels, like the KCNQ1 potassium channel. KCNQ1 is governed by elusive and poorly understood opening mechanisms, and this knowledge gap presents challenges in treating associated diseases. Most ion channels open when the voltage-sensing domain, a critical region, is fully activated by electrical currents. However, KCNQ1 also appears to open when this region is in a partially-activated intermediate state. Since mutations in KCNQ1 cause irregular heartbeat disorders, research committed to better understanding the gating and biophysics of this channel are medically relevant and directly applicable to human health.
Summary of research:
For my thesis project, I investigated a mutated version of KCNQ1 (E1R/R2E) that locks the channel in an intermediate state. After extensive troubleshooting, we harnessed the potential of cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to determine a structural model of this protein. Using a state-of-the-art electron microscope, we applied an electron beam to frozen protein samples, revealing detailed structural information. In the end, I successfully determined a model of this ion channel and observed distinctions between mutated intermediate-state and conventional KCNQ1 channels. My thesis project represents the first-ever structural model of this mutated ion channel, at a resolution of 3.6 Å. Our results can help us better understand the mechanisms making this intermediate conformation of the channel capable of conducting electrical activity and inspire future studies at the forefront of this field.
Outside of research:
Beyond my studies, I found an outlet for my scientific curiosity as a science communicator for UBC’s student-led newspaper, The Ubyssey. I am especially passionate about covering stories about space, neuroscience, climate and health. In my spare time, I also enjoy doing improv, going to the gym, cooking and spending time with friends.
Advice for future students:
Grad school has a reputation for being difficult. You will need to overcome many challenges during your studies, whether it be optimizing a pesky protocol or agonizing over the perfect icebreaker for networking at conferences. But graduate school is what you make of it – if you go into the experience with an open mind and willingness to broaden your intellectual and personal horizons, you’ll be more likely to organically find balance, form friendships and make lasting memories.
Wenji Cai, MSc
Supervised by Dr. Haakon Nygaard, Wenji investigated CRISPR mediated upregulation of progranulin as a therapeutic modality for progranulin-deficient frontotemporal dementia.
Research Summary
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the second most common form of early-onset dementia and is a neurodegenerative disease with hallmark clinical deficits in executive function, social cognition and language processing. Heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in the progranulin gene are a major genetic cause of a ubiquitin-positive, tau-negative subtype of FTD. The role of progranulin in the pathogenesis of FTD has yet to be fully explored and there are still no disease-modifying treatments for FTD-GRN. My thesis proposed a CRISPR-based system to upregulate the progranulin expression to wild-type levels and reverse disease-related phenotypes.
Favourite GPN memory
DMCBH is such a heartwarming and supportive community. When I first started doing mouse experiments, I received a lot of advice and guidance not only from my lab members and supervisor but also from researchers in other labs, I really really appreciated that.
Da Young Kong, MSc
Supervised by Dr. Sriram Subramaniam, Da Young studied the structural hypothesis for functional differences in the binding poses of d- and l-govadine to the D1 and D2 dopamine receptors.
Olivia Kalau, MSc
Supervised by Dr. Anthony Traboulsee and Dr. Shannon Kolind, Olivia assessed processing speed impairments in radiologically isolated syndrome and multiple sclerosis with advanced brain MRI measures of myelin.
