BIOGRAPHY
I graduated in 2013 with my Bachelor of Science in Physics and Biophysics from the University of Waterloo and am currently working towards my Masters in Biology. I am driven by a strong desire to promote health, wellness and education for all people. I believe that a cohesive society is within reach provided we stop looking out for our own private interests and begin to contribute to the well-being of our neighbours. For now a kind greeting to those in my community and my contributions to biomedical research is what I have to give; what do you have to give?
MORGAN'S RESEARCH
A 2011 report from the Alzheimer’s Society estimated that Alzheimer’s disease affects 36 million people worldwide. Alzheimer’s disease progresses with the accumulation of a toxic peptide produced by the brain called amyloid-beta. This peptide is produced at low levels in all people; however with age (and other factors) amyloid accumulates into toxic aggregates and cause death to neurons (brain cells). Brain function is progressively lost as amyloid accumulates and cells die resulting in dementia, the symptoms of which include memory loss, the inability to perform basic tasks, confusion, agitation, and eventually death. I am involved in the development of a new class of drug, called SG inhibitors. These SG inhibitors are designed with the aid of computer simulations by Prof. Arvi Rauk (University of Calgary) to specifically target amyloid-beta. I work with an interdisciplinary team spanning the departments of Physics, Biology and Pharmacy where it is my role to test whether SG inhibitor drugs prevent aggregation of, and protect neurons from, amyloid-beta. There is a lot of work that needs to be done before SG inhibitor drugs can be used to treat Alzheimer’s disease and my work will lay the necessary foundation for future pre-clinical and clinical trials.
I
use
single
molecule
biophysics
to
assess
the
effectiveness
of
SG
inhibitors
at
preventing
two
amyloid-beta
molecules
from
binding
and
I
assess
the
ability
of
SG
inhibitors
to
protect
neuronal
cells
from
toxic
amyloid-beta.
To
test
single
molecule
binding
of
amyloid
I
use
an
instrument
called
an
atomic
force
microscope
(AFM)
which
has
a
tiny
probe
that
can
feel
the
nanoscale
features
of
a
sample
by
measuring
forces
between
the
sample
and
the
probe’s
tip.
When
scanned
across
a
surface
the
nanoscale
structures
can
be
“imaged”,
similar
to
how
the
blind
read
braille.
In
my
experiments
I
attach
amyloid-beta
to
the
end
of
the
probe
tip
and
a
flat
surface
(See
Figure);
when
the
modified
tip
is
brought
into
contact
with
the
surface,
two
amyloid
molecules
will
bind.
We
can
measure
whether
or
not
binding
occurs
with
the
SG
inhibitor
present
and
thus
if
SG
inhibitors
prevent
the
formation
of
amyloid-beta
aggregates.
The
second
portion
of
my
work
is
to
assess
whether
or
not
SG
inhibitors
are
able
to
protect
neurons
from
toxic
amyloid.
To
do
this
a
standard
cell
culture
technique
for
assessing
the
viability
(or
health)
of
cells
is
used
called
an
MTT
assay.
When
MTT
is
added
to
cell
cultures
the
healthy
cells
process
MTT
converting
it
from
a
pale
yellow
into
a
bright
purple;
unhealthy
cells
cannot
process
MTT.
When
amyloid
is
added
to
neuron
cell
cultures
the
cells
die
or
become
damaged
and
unhealthy,
making
them
unable
to
process
MTT.
We
hypothesize
that
SG
inhibitors
can
protect
neurons
from
amyloid,
thus
maintaining
viability
and
the
ability
to
convert
MTT
which
can
be
easily
visualized.