The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes.
-Frank Lloyd Wright
Even in something as natural as aging, advancements in research and innovation can make the process smoother, improving the quality of life for older adults. In its 2013 Strategic Plan, the University of Waterloo identified an opportunity to become a leader in aging research. In 2014, the Network for Aging Research (NAR) was created to expand the field of aging research and support aging-focused researchers.
The development of NAR, as identified by the University’s Vice-President Academic & Provost, was a strategic and essential step toward advancing aging research. NAR acts as a networking tool for aging-focused researchers, and fosters collaborative aging research across the university.
News
Emerging Researchers - Dr. Thomas M. Kwok
Meet Dr. Thomas M. Kwok, a postdoctoral scholar whose work sits at the intersection of robotics, healthcare, and aging. With a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the National University of Singapore, Dr. Kwok is developing teleoperated robotic systems that enable caregivers to remotely assist older adults—particularly those in underserved or remote communities. Motivated by personal experience and a global vision for aging-in-place, his research combines human action recognition, real-time mental and physical monitoring, and autonomous robotic support to transform how care is delivered across distances.
Emerging Researchers - Khalil Husein
Meet Khalil Husein, a Master’s student at the University of Waterloo whose research explores how music can evoke autobiographical memories and enhance well-being in aging populations. Blending his scientific background with a lifelong passion for music, Khalil is uncovering how elements like lyrics uniquely support memory recall in older adults—offering promising insights for therapeutic use in cognitive aging.
Emerging Researchers - Yasmeen Alshehabi
Meet Yasmeen Alshehabi, a neuroscience researcher driven by a passion for understanding and treating neurodegenerative diseases. A recent Master’s graduate from the University of Waterloo’s Department of Biology, Yasmeen conducted research in Dr. Dale Martin’s lab on potential drug therapies for Huntington disease. Her work focuses on restoring autophagy—a cellular cleanup process impaired in Huntington disease—by targeting the protein p62, which plays a key role in clearing toxic protein aggregates. Her research bridges cell culture studies with mouse model characterization and explores shared mechanisms between Huntington disease and ALS.
Yasmeen’s academic journey includes an Honours BSc in Biomedical Sciences with minors in French, Psychology, and Medical Physiology. Beyond the lab, she founded the University of Waterloo Neurodegenerative Research Association and organized the university’s first Symposium on Neuroscience Research. Currently continuing in Dr. Martin’s lab as a research scientist, Yasmeen plans to pursue a career in health care, bringing with her a deep scientific understanding and a commitment to improving outcomes for individuals affected by neurodegenerative conditions.