Maria Tsalenchuk
Project Title: Elucidation of epigenetic mechanisms involved in Parkinson’s Disease
Supervisor: Dr Sarah Marzi, Professor Paul Matthews
Location: Level 5, Burlington Danes Building, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Road, W12 0NN
About Me
Prior to joining the Department of Brain Sciences at Imperial College London, I graduated with an integrated Master’s degree in Pharmacology from the University of Leeds. During my undergraduate degree, I developed an interest in neuropharmacology and subsequently undertook my final year project in a neuroscience lab researching dopaminergic influences on neurogenic niches of the spinal cord.
In 2017/2018, I completed a year in industry, in which I completed two internships. I was based at the Centre of Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, where I was overseeing a study investigating the effects of genetic variance on aspects of nicotine dependence. I also completed an internship at the National Physical Laboratory, exploring the drug delivery efficacy of novel virus-like particles.
When not in the lab, I can typically be found on the sofa with my nose in a book.
Qualifications
2015-2020: MBiol, BSc Pharmacology (Industry), University of Leeds
Research Interests
The mechanisms underlying the cause of Parkinson’s Disease are currently not well understood - it is thought that a combination of genetics and environmental factors play a role. I am interested in understanding how genetic and environmental risk factors contribute to epigenetic regulation of Parkinson’s. To address this, my project will utilise biochemical approaches such as scRNA seq and ATAC seq, in addition to computational approaches, on post-mortem human brain tissue and a toxicant-exposure rodent model of Parkinson’s.
Selected Publications
Tsalenchuk, M., Gentleman, S.M. & Marzi, S.J. Linking environmental risk factors with epigenetic mechanisms in Parkinson’s disease. npj Parkinsons Dis. 9, 123 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-023-00568-z
Presentations and conferences
- Epigenetics in the Nervous System 2022, Germany
- GRC Neurobiology of Brain Disorders 2022, Spain (with travel grants from the Genetics Society and the Guarantors of Brain)
- GRC Parkinson's Disease 2023, Switzerland
Volunteering
- Great Exhibition Road Festival
Contact details
Email: m.tsalenchuk20@imperial.ac.uk
LinkedIn: maria-tsalenchuk
