Advancing Huntington disease research

At the University of Waterloo, Dr. Dale Martin’s lab is developing new ways to treat Huntington disease using nanodiscs, which are tiny lipid-based vehicles that can deliver gene therapeutics deep into the brain. Current treatments require invasive spinal injections, but nanodiscs could make it possible to administer therapy through a simple vein injection. Yusra Kureshi (BSc ’25), recipient of the 2025 Huntington Society of Canada Student Fellowship, is helping refine how nanodiscs bind to gene therapeutics called antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs). Her work includes creating and testing nanodiscs in cells and neurons to analyze performance. This research could transform treatment for Huntington disease by making it less invasive and more effective. For Kureshi, the project also provided a formative research experience, inspiring her to pursue graduate studies in neurodegenerative disease research.