Maria Tsalenchuk

Project Title:  Elucidation of epigenetic mechanisms involved in Parkinson’s Disease
Supervisor:  Dr Sarah Marzi, Professor Paul Matthews
Location: Burlington Danes Building, Hammersmith Hospital Campus

About Me

Prior to joining Imperial, I graduated with an integrated Master’s degree in Pharmacology from the University of Leeds. During my undergraduate degree, I developed an interest in neuropharmacology and subsequently undertook my final year project in a neuroscience lab researching dopaminergic influences on neurogenic niches of the spinal cord.

In 2017/2018, I completed a year in industry, in which I completed two internships. I was based at the Centre of Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, where I was overseeing a study investigating the effects of genetic variance on aspects of nicotine dependence. I also completed an internship at the National Physical Laboratory, exploring the drug delivery efficacy of novel virus-like particles.

When not in the lab, I can typically be found on the sofa with my nose in a book.

Qualifications 

2015-2020 MBiol, BSc Pharmacology (Industry), University of Leeds

Research Interests 

The mechanisms underlying the cause of Parkinson’s Disease are currently not well understood - it is thought that a combination of genetics and environmental factors play a role. I am interested in understanding how genetic and environmental risk factors contribute to epigenetic regulation of Parkinson’s. To address this, my project will utilise biochemical approaches such as scRNA seq and ATAC seq, in addition to computational approaches, on post-mortem human brain tissue and a toxicant-exposure rodent model of Parkinson’s.

Presentations and conferences 

  • Epigenetics in the Nervous System in Berlin and GRC Neurobiology of Brain Disorders in Castelldefels, Spain

Contact details

Email:   m.tsalenchuk20@imperial.ac.uk
LinkedIn: maria-tsalenchuk