Celeste Leung - Physiology
PhD Candidate
Country of Origin: Toronto, Ontario Canada
Undergraduate/MSc Education: Queen’s University (Bachelor of Science Honours- Major: Life Science Minor: Psychology)/ Direct Transfer to the PhD program
Recent Research Experience:
PhD Candidate in the Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health at the Hospital for Sick Children (BRAIN platform)
Current Research:
Neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability (ID) are among the most devastating conditions in children. As one of the leading socioeconomic health-care problems, there has been ongoing effort to identify molecular targets for treating and preventing these developmental disorders. These brain diseases are associated with a diversity of potential causes, including abnormalities in single gene mutations. PAKs (p21-activated kinases) 1-3 are a family of serine/ threonine protein kinases that are target enzymes of Rho small family GTPases and central regulators of actin cytoskeleton and neuronal morphology. Mutations in the PAK gene are associated with deficits in synaptic and behavioural plasticity, dendritic spine morphology, and impaired learning and memory; however the pathogenic mechanisms of how PAK causes ID are still currently unknown. We employ an inducible transgenic mouse model derived from the human MRX30 mutation in PAK3 which leads to premature termination, disrupting the kinase function. We found that mutant PAK3 mice display profound impairments in short and long term spatial, associative, and social memory accompanied by reductions in basal synaptic strength and plasticity. By using a tetracycline analog, doxycycline, we were able to rescue the learning and memory deficits suggesting that the impairments are not perturbed at development and are caused in mature synapses. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that PAK3 protein is highly expressed in the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex and basolateral amygdala. Hence, our data suggest novel neural targets and molecular mechanisms involved in PAK signaling in the regulation of learning and memory that may be critical for understanding human cognitive function.
Why Faculty of Medicine?
I chose University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine due to its superiority as one of Canada’s best graduate schools. More specifically, I chose the Department of Physiology due to its acclaimed faculty, breadth of graduate courses, remarkable approach to scholarly research, and its links to various hospital research institutes.
Future Education Plans and/or Career Goals:
Healthcare/BioTech/ Pharma
Contact Ambassador Celeste Leung