A specialist in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Dubinski has studied the role of stress granules and TDP-43 pathology in the progressive death of motor neurons. In healthy nerve cells, the TDP-43 protein performs essential functions related to gene regulation. In people with ALS, however, it abnormally migrates from the cell nucleus to the cytoplasm, where it accumulates in toxic aggregates. This phenomenon is observed in more than 97% of patients and contributes to the degeneration of the motor neurons that control muscles — a mechanism that remains poorly understood and lies at the heart of the search for treatments for this incurable disease.
Recipient of an ALS Canada Doctoral Award and several highly competitive Canadian federal scholarships, Dubinski has already published her work and presented her results at a number of scientific forums, establishing herself as a promising member of the next generation in neuroscience.
Each year, supported by U.S.-based Schmidt Science in partnership with the Rhodes Trust, the Schmidt Science Fellows program selects a small number of early-career researchers considered capable of transforming their field. The fellowships aim to encourage bold interdisciplinary trajectories by giving recipients the opportunity to explore a new research area after completing their doctorate.
“With this fellowship, I have the opportunity to push beyond traditional boundaries to integrate neuroscience with engineering and drive new approaches for understanding and detecting neurodegenerative diseases earlier. My goal is to develop transformative tools that move us closer to meaningful interventions for all patients,” said Dubinski.
Dubinski’s recognition highlights the calibre of the neuroscience training offered at UdeM and the expertise developed in the Vande Velde’s lab.
