Post doctoral Fellow (since Jan 2011): Dr. Valerie Sim's Group at Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

I am interested in biophysical charcterization of protein particles associated with toxicity in neurodegerative diseases. this is like finding a needle in heystack nevertheless it is uttermost important. This infomation will define the specific and critical drug target which is crucial for development of effective cure. We, in the group of Dr. Sim, using multidimensional approach to address this question.

We are using synthetic peptides to define the population distribution on the path on amyloid formation  as well as targeting the formation on off-pathway oligomers. We are also looking into off to on-pathway transition of some of these oligomers. Access to a number of transgenic mouse models in the Centre is added advantage, these model mice mimic the disease and source to toxic particles.

We are modelling new peptide inhibitors based on structure activity relationship and looking into their specific interactions with different size of oligomers. Majority of work is performed in BSL 2+ lab (Enhanced Biosafety Level 2) of the centre.