As a member of Dr. Dale Martin’s lab in Waterloo’s Department of Biology, Yasmeen has found a way to leave her mark on the healthcare community. “I have always been fascinated by the intricacies of the human brain,” she says. “It’s striking how even a small change at the molecular level can have catastrophic effects, severely affecting a person’s quality of life.”
Research in the Martin lab focuses on cellular processes that contribute to the toxic protein build-up characteristic of neurodegenerative diseases like HD and ALS. Specifically, researchers in this lab study the dysfunction of a process known as autophagy, which is the protein clearance mechanism in a cell.
During her honours research project, Yasmeen made an important discovery for ALS research. She identified the proteins mediating the palmitoylation of a major pathological protein associated with the disease. Palmitoylation, which involves the addition of fatty acids to proteins, influences protein localization within cells. Therefore, Yasmeen’s findings were key to understanding the toxic mislocalization of this protein in ALS, opening a new avenue for researchers to explore potential treatments. Her work also contributed to the Martin lab receiving a $125,000 Discovery Grant from ALS Canada-Brain Canada. “I am incredibly proud of my work, and deeply grateful for the opportunity to engage in such meaningful and impactful research.”