Meet Laila Tul Qadar – New Guest Researcher in the Jensen Group
Please join us in welcoming our new visiting researcher in the Jensen Group, who brings strong expertise in neurodegeneration, Parkinson’s disease and α synuclein biology. She joins DANDRITE from NUST in Pakistan, where her work spanned Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease models and multi omics approaches. At DANDRITE, she will focus on protein associated neurodegeneration and in vitro PD models.
What research were you involved in immediately prior to joining DANDRITE, and at which institution(s)?
“I have been pursuing my PhD degree at National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan where my research is focused on the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disease, with a particular interest in Parkinson’s disease (PD), protein misfolding, α-synucleinopathies, and the interplay of inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways. It involves different techniques like Animal model studies - both behavioral and molecular aspect, gene expression studies, metabolomic and proteomic studies as well. I also worked as a Research Associate in the Neurobiology Laboratory, Atta ur Rahman School of Applied biosciences, under PI Prof. Dr. Saadia Zahid. It was a HEC-funded National Research Program for Universities (NRPU) funded project, involving the investigation of therapeutic potential of Methylphenidate and Rosmarinic acid against Alzheimer's disease. As part of this project, I was involved in developing and characterizing an Aβ-induced Alzheimer’s disease animal model, including stereotaxic surgeries, behavioral assessment of learning and memory, gene-expression studies, and proteins expression studies. I also completed my master's degree from NUST, and my research was based on investigation of molecular signatures of Mild Cognitive Impairment, which involved gene expression studies and metabolomic studies of MCI patients.”
What made you decide to join DANDRITE?
“Joining DANDRITE is a particularly exciting opportunity for me, not only because of the scientific alignment with my research interests, but also because of the institute’s reputation as a prestigious and truly distinctive research environment. DANDRITE’s strong focus on interdisciplinary neuroscience and its collaborative approach make it, in many ways, a one-of-a-kind place to develop as a young researcher.
I was especially inspired by the research of Poul Henning Jensen on the study of mechanisms of protein related neurodegeneration which is strongly related to my research interests on Parkinson's disease and α-synuclein. His work in misfolded protein and molecular changes associated with the progression of neurodegenerative diseases is particularly of my interest. I was also attracted to the chance to work in an environment in which advanced neuroscience, protein biochemistry, and the most modern experimental techniques converge. The knowledge and methods offered at DANDRITE can be very useful to extend the methods I have been working on in my PhD studies at NUST. As a result, I am not just joining DANDRITE to pick up new techniques; I'll be attending it to learn about new techniques and new people. It is a chance to join a very exciting scientific community, learn from scientists that are on the cutting edge of neuroscience, and take a fresh look at my research questions. I am very thrilled to combine my knowledge and experience from NUST with the expertise that I will acquire at DANDRITE. I hope that I will be able to produce not only positive scientific results from this research stay, but also fruitful international collaborations and improvement as an independent researcher.”
What will you be working on, and is there anything that you are especially looking forward to in your new position?
“During my research stay at DANDRITE, I will be working under the supervision of Poul Henning Jensen, focusing on research related to the molecular mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease, In vitro PD models and protein-associated neurodegeneration.
I am particularly looking forward to deepening my understanding of protein biochemistry and behavior via imaging techniques and the molecular biology of α-synuclein-related processes, while gaining hands-on experience with advanced approaches that complement the work I have been doing at NUST. My long-term research interests include combining molecular, proteomic and metabolomic perspectives to better understand neurodegenerative disease, so being able to work in an environment with such strong expertise in these areas is especially exciting for me.
What I am perhaps looking forward to most, however, is the opportunity to learn how experienced researchers approach a difficult biological question from different angles. I hope to return to NUST not only with new experimental skills, but also with new ways of thinking about my research.”
Is there a fun fact about yourself that you would be happy to share?
“I really like to do aqua-scaping and building terrariums. My research life revolves around studying the brain and trying to understand incredibly complex biological systems, while one of my favorite ways to relax is to design and maintain greeny tiny ecosystems.
I also enjoy painting and sketching in my spare time. There is a nice connection between science and art: both require patience, observation and an appreciation for details that are easy to overlook.”