Tell us about your research project and why it is important to you.
According to the World Health Organization, Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia in the world. Dementia is a term that is used to encompass the loss or deterioration of certain cognitive abilities, such as memory and speech, of the person suffering from it. Currently there are 50 million patients with dementia in the world, and this number will probably triple by the year 2050.
Therefore, my doctoral research project aims to understand the role that beta-amyloid protein, linked to Alzheimer's, has in patients who suffer from this terrible disease. This protein tends to accumulate in the extracellular space of brain cells (neurons), disturbing their proper functioning and significantly affecting processes such as long-term memory. However, some metals such as copper and zinc can accelerate or delay the deposition of the protein, which is why I want to evaluate the role that metals have in this process. I also want to assess the possible therapeutic uses that metallothioneins (found in the brain) could have against the damaging effects of beta-amyloid protein and its binding to metals.
Although it was identified at the beginning of the 20th century, Alzheimer's is so complex that we are still far from understanding it, so studying it is essential.
Have you presented or published your research somewhere? Tell us about the experience.
My doctoral project is complex and I expect to achieve results after a series of lengthy experiments. This, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic that has delayed and limited my time in the laboratory, has hindered my progress so that I still do not have enough evidence to present to the scientific community. However, I have learned how to express (generate) and purify the metallothionein that I will use in my project, and I have drawn up a detailed protocol of my work that has already been fully approved and endorsed by my doctoral committee.
It is important to note that in July 2020, the Meloni Lab (the working group to which I belong) published an article about the possible therapeutic role that a metallothionein could have against the harmful activity of the protein alpha-synuclein (related to Parkinson's disease) by binding to copper. Although I was not an author of this paper, my role in the implementation of some of the experiments was acknowledged.
What would you say is something interesting about your area of study that most people don't know?
Usually, when people hear the word “metals” they associate it with rods used for construction or with materials required in the automotive industry. However, they forget that metals such as magnesium, iron, and zinc, among others, are vital for different physiological processes in our body. These metals are usually present in small quantities and their concentration is controlled by proteins. However, an imbalance in the metal content of the body can cause serious problems, such as anemia (low levels of iron in the body). Metals such as copper, if not regulated, by binding to certain proteins can lead to the production of toxic agents in the body (as happens in patients with Alzheimer's disease).
My area of study is on the border between biochemistry and molecular biology. I love working with such small units of volume. For example, in one of the experiments I performed, I used 0.2 microliters (μl) of copper chloride. To put this in context, one milliliter (ml) equals 1000 μl. I find it extraordinary to have the tools to handle these tiny amounts in such a precise way. I certainly like the attention to detail it takes to work in this area.
Tell us about your academic or professional collaborations with Mexico
In August 2019, I was interviewed for a book called "Bases for the induction and development of scientific thought in childhood and preadolescence" by the Consejo de Ciencia y Tecnología del Estado de Puebla. At the interview I pointed out some of the reasons why I believe that few Mexican students decide to enter the world of exact and natural sciences. I also made some recommendations to change this. I am very proud of this project, since Dr. Mario Molina, Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was among the seven Mexican scientists who were interviewed; he has been our greatest representative in this field.
In July 2020, I also had the privilege of being invited to give an academic talk entitled "Chemistry in Alzheimer's Disease," which was part of a forum organized by the student association "Women + Technology," from the Tecnológico de Monterrey Campus, Puebla, along with students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The purpose of this association is to motivate women to pursue careers related to science and engineering with the aim of reducing the gender gaps that have historically been a constant in these areas.
What drew you to Texas and UT Dallas?
In 2018, I obtained a prestigious scholarship from The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), the United States Embassy in Mexico, and the Asociación Nacional de Universidades e Instituciones de Educación Superior, to carry out a research stay at UTD. I had the privilege of working in the laboratory of Dr. Gabriele Meloni, and with the support of one of his most talented students, Jenifer Calvo, I carried out experiments with alpha-synuclein protein that culminated in the aforementioned scientific publication. During my short period at UTD, I was amazed by its first-class facilities and I felt very welcomed by Dr. Meloni's team. At the conclusion of my research stay, Dr. Meloni told me that the doors of his laboratory would be open in case I wanted to do my postgraduate studies at UTD. I took him at his word, applied to the UTD doctoral program a few months later and joined his working group the following year.
What have been some good things that you did not expect from Texas or UT Dallas?
Mexico is a country known worldwide for its extraordinary cuisine, and it is obvious that many Mexicans miss it when we are far from home. However, Texas has many restaurants with typical Mexican food that closely resembles the one found across the Rio Grande. I honestly didn't think I'd find tacos as tasty as the ones I've found here in Dallas.
At UTD, I was surprised by the extraordinary academic experience of its faculty. Most of the professors who have taught my doctoral classes were educated in prestigious institutions, and this is reflected in their quality as teachers.
What have been the biggest challenges of studying at UT Dallas and living in the United States?
Without a doubt, the biggest challenge has been being away from my family and friends. Latino people tend to be very close to their loved ones, and for me, not having them close has been difficult.
Likewise, the classes that I have taken at UTD have been quite challenging, not only because they are taught in English, but because the syllabus is usually quite extensive, and it is not possible for professors to cover all the material during classes. Therefore, we as students must spend a good part of our time reading books and scientific articles if we want to pass the classes. Regardless, I can safely say that I have enjoyed each of them because they are designed to prepare students to face the challenges of their doctoral research.
In what way has ConTex and Conacyt's support impacted you?
The financial support I have received from ConTex and Conacyt has allowed me to focus on the academic aspects of my doctoral studies. I am grateful that, if I continue with my good academic performance, I do not have to worry about how to pay for tuition and other expenses during the five years of my doctoral studies.
What kind of work do you hope to do in the future? In what ways do you hope your research benefits people in the United States and Mexico?
I would like to become a university professor in the future. That is why, after completing my doctorate, I would like to do a postdoctoral stay in order to compete for an academic position at an institution of higher education. I also want to help science become more popular and to motivate children and adolescents to pursue scientific careers. I think that, among other things, many people do not consider studying these careers due to a lack of information about them.
As I mentioned before, the number of patients with dementia will increase considerably around the world in the next few years. That is why my doctoral studies are of vital importance to understand what happens at the biochemical level within the organism of a patient with Alzheimer's disease. This knowledge will allow us to develop new therapeutic options to tackle this disease. As they say in the scientific community, the most expensive research is research that is not done.
What advice would you give other Mexican students considering studying in Texas?
Texas is a state so tied to Mexican culture that it relatively easy for Mexican students to adapt. Compared with other states, the cost of living in Texas is not that high, which is a very important aspect when deciding where to pursue graduate studies. I truly believe that we need more Mexican students in this great state that I now call home.
