In Dr. Dale Martin's lab at the University of Waterloo, his team is leading biomedical research, making innovative advancements in treating neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington disease and ALS.
Among the team is Yusra Kureshi (BSc '25), recipient of the 2025 Huntington Society of Canada (HSC) Student Fellowship. Kureshi first joined the Martin lab in January as a volunteer, where her potential as a researcher quickly stood out.
Supported by the fellowship and the Faculty of Science's summer research assistantship program, Kureshi was welcomed to Martin's lab as a research assistant after graduating in June. Now, she is working with the research team to tackle one of the field's greatest challenges: non-invasive delivery of gene therapeutics for treating Huntington disease.
In the Martin lab, the team is exploring nanodiscs as a non-invasive solution to deliver gene therapeutics, or small molecules known as antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), into the brain. These are tiny lipid-based delivery vehicles designed to carry therapeutics deep into the brain's tissue. Previous research has shown that attaching gene therapies to nanodiscs enhances their distribution.
"In the lab, my goal is to further refine these nanodiscs by improving how they bind to gene therapeutics," says Kureshi. "I'm making the nanodiscs and testing them in cells and neurons to analyze their performance."
Improving the delivery of ASOs could transform how patients receive treatment, which currently involves invasive spinal injections. Instead, patients would receive therapy through a simple vein injection with potentially better results.
For Kureshi, this research assistantship was more than gaining hands-on experience; it has been a transformative opportunity to grow as a scientist.
"When I first joined the lab, my main goal was to learn techniques and understand what doing research is really like," she says. "But this experience has been so much more than that. I've worked with an advanced confocal microscope, learned about the delicate process of working with cells, and designed experiments."
As her research assistantship comes to an end, Kureshi leaves with the confidence of having gained meaningful, hands-on experience in scientific research. She hopes that the work she contributed this summer will help improve the lives of those living with Huntington disease. The significance of this research has inspired her to pursue graduate studies in the future, with a newfound passion for advancing the field of neurodegenerative disease research.
For those inspired to contribute to this crucial work or other cutting-edge advances in health research currently being pursued in the Faculty of Science, we invite you to connect with Meaghan Middleton, Director of Science Advancement to learn how your generosity can make a meaningful impact. Philanthropic support is transformative in advancing scientific research and enabling groundbreaking discoveries that can change lives.
