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Dr. Mary Maj

Associate Professor
Department of Biochemistry St. Georges University School of Medicine
 

Brief Biography:


I joined the Department of Biochemistry at St. Georges University and School of Medicine as an Associate Professor on July 1, 2011. In 2007, I was awarded a three year Fellowship from the Ministry of Health for in-depth study of Biochemical Genetics of Inborn Errors of Metabolism through the Canadian College of Medical Genetics. These studies were carried out at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada. During these years of study, I taught and trained students in Biochemical Research.

The projects included spearheading the recombinant protein section of the laboratory, instrumental in defining a new inborn error of metabolism “Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Phosphatase (PDP1) Deficiency”. Recombinant proteins were used to correct the defect in fibroblasts from the first two known patients & to delineate the roles of PDP1 & PDP2. Biochemical experimentation and structural modelling based on patient mutations has lead to a published model for the differential activity of the two phosphatase isoforms. I am part owner of Intellectual Property regarding the recombinant proteins which can be purchased through Mitosciences. 


The next project was to identify the role of mitochondrial PINK1 in early onset Parkinson’s. We have found that oxidative stress alters the regulatory control in PINK1 deficient fibroblast cells derived from patients with early onset Parkinson’s disease. Recent data for this project is at the cutting edge of what we know about the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s Disease and has recently been published.


A third project is the development of a live-cell based, high through-put assay to screen chemical libraries for compounds which stimulate mitochondrial activity. We have identified 4 stimulators of OXPHOS, of which I am part owner of the intellectual property. These compounds are FDA approved drugs & natural products and ready for clinical trials

 

Academic positions:


As well as teaching Medical Biochemistry and Medical Genetics to medical students, I also teach undergraduate Biochemistry and and course director of undergraduate Molecular Biology at St. Georges University in Grenada.

I plan on continuing my research interests which include “Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Phosphatase (PDP1) Deficiency”. Recombinant proteins were used to correct the defect in fibroblasts from the first two known patients & to delineate the roles of PDP1 & PDP2. Biochemical experimentation and structural modelling based on patient mutations has lead to a published model for the differential activity of the two phosphatase isoforms. I am part owner of Intellectual Property regarding the recombinant proteins which can be purchased through Mitosciences. 

The next project involves the identification of the role of mitochondrial PINK1 in early onset Parkinson’s. We have found that oxidative stress alters the regulatory control in PINK1 deficient fibroblast cells derived from patients with early onset Parkinson’s disease. Recent data for this project is at the cutting edge of what we know about the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s Disease and has recently been published.

A third project is the development of a live-cell based, high through-put assay to screen chemical libraries for compounds which stimulate mitochondrial activity. We have identified 4 stimulators of OXPHOS, of which I am part owner of the intellectual property. These compounds are FDA approved drugs & natural products and ready for clinical trials

 

Research interests:


Metabolism, Inborn errors, mitochondrial defects

 

What I think of the idea behind WebmedCentral:


Good