We are part of the Department of
Biology within the School of Science and Technology at Nazarbayev University,
located in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
If you are interested in joining our
lab group and/or collaborating on the projects we are involved in, please
contact us to discuss this.
Our Research
Our
lab studies mechanisms for neurodegeneration and aging with a strong emphasis
on the factors that determine the long-term outcomes of cerebral ischemia.Ischemic
brain injury due to both stroke and cardiac arrest is the leading cause of
death and disability across the world. While many scientific and clinical
efforts have focused on predicting, preventing, and managing the acute
injuries, almost no biomedical research has attempted to develop improved
methods for post-cerebral ischemia recovery.
In
particular, our research focuses on ways to improve post-cerebral ischemia
recovery through using novel drug targets. In our lab, we employ two
preclinical models of human stroke: hypoxia in the zebrafish (Danio rerio)
and reversible thrombotic stroke in mice. The combination of these model
organisms allow rapid, yet relevant, chemical screening. The findings from our
research will facilitate further studies in higher mammals with a more
human-like injury.
Our
laboratory is building extensive collaborations with local clinicians and has
developed state-of–the-art research procedures and techniques that are the
first of their kind in Kazakhstan. Even undergraduate students involved in the
laboratory get hands on experience with histology, animal surgeries, confocal
and time-lapsed imaging methods, infrared-based western blotting detection,
high-throughput animal models for drug discovery and clinical trial design and
management according to international standards. We are always
interested in potential collaborations so please feel free to contact us.
Newly
funded projects and exciting results will be posted so please check back for
updates! |
| Assem fishing for Danio rerio |
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| Charles explaining the principles of confocal microscopy to the lab group |
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| Testing the new FV10i confocal microscope from Olympus |