A key mission of the Euan MacDonald Centre is supporting postgraduates and equipping the next generation of MND researchers. The Centre has funded PhD studentships since its inception and has supported more than 30 students to date.
Maja Matoga was successful in last year's internationally competitive recruitment round and started her PhD in November 2024. Her PhD is supervised by Dr Chris Sibley and Prof Mathew Horrocks at the University of Edinburgh.
Maja's research focuses on TDP-43, a protein essential to normal cell function that has been implicated in neurodegenerative conditions including motor neuron disease. Despite its importance, much remains unknown about TDP-43 and its role in neurodegeneration, making it an exciting and challenging area of research.
My interest in this field began during a biochemistry project while I was at ETH Zürich. This interest grew further during my MSc at the University of Edinburgh, where I explored the role of these proteins in the pathology of frontotemporal dementia. This allowed me to merge my background in biochemistry and neuroscience, leading me to my current PhD project focused on TDP-43.
A significant part of Maja's research involves working with motor neurons derived from human stem cells, which are modified to replicate disease characteristics. By using these cells, Maja is investigating how the abnormal function of TDP-43 affects key processes in human neurons. The ultimate goal is to correct TDP-43 abnormalities and restore motor neurons to a healthy state, potentially identifying new therapeutic strategies for motor neuron disease. Currently, Maja is focused on refining and troubleshooting experiments in preparation for working with these cells in the coming weeks.
This image shows motor neurons derived from human stem cells grown in the lab. The round structures are the cell bodies and extending outward from these are dendrites- branch-like projections that allow neurons to connect with each other and transmit signals.
Image taken and kindly supplied by Dr Jamie Toombs from the Sibley group.
One of the biggest challenges so far has been adapting to the fast-paced nature of research while managing my own project. There is always more to learn, whether it’s a new lab technique or a complex data analysis tool. At times, it can be difficult to know when to step back and leave some questions for the next day. However, I am fortunate to be part of a supportive research team that is always willing to offer advice and guidance.
Overall, my experience has been exciting, challenging, and incredibly rewarding. Looking ahead, I am eager to generate my first full set of results and continue making progress in this fascinating field of study. I am excited to be joining the supportive Euan MacDonald Centre network and would like to thank the Centre for funding my studies.
We wish Maja the very best of luck and look forward to following her research during her PhD studies!
Related links
Euan MacDonald Centre's PhD scheme
Prof Mathew Horrocks profile [University of Edinburgh website]