"Naciye Magusali’s single-minded dedication and motivation for her research in neurodegeneration during the COVID pandemic makes her my Lab Hero.

She started an MSc research project in my group at University College London via the Erasmus+ scheme at the end of January 2020 from the Radboud University, Netherlands, on the basis of her deep interest in studying dementia. Only 6 weeks after she started, our labs closed in mid-March 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. At that point, Naciye had the option of returning to Radboud University, and writing a library project. But instead, Naciye was so determined to continue her original research at the bench relating to Alzheimer's disease. She was back on the very first morning when our lab re-opened several months later in July 2020. These are all signs of serious dedication.

Since we returned to the lab after the COVID closure, Naciye worked so effectively, despite reduced occupancy. She is a quick learner and before the COVID lockdown had mastered the culture of innate immune cells, siRNA mediated gene editing and RT-qPCR. For her MSc research, Naciye investigated the importance of a new putative risk gene for Alzheimer’s disease, OAS1, in mouse and human myeloid cells providing evidence that genetic variation that results in reduced expression of OAS1 increases pro-inflammatory signalling which could contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. Incredibly the OAS1 gene she was studying was also found to increase the risk for severe COVID-19, and so her data showed that the two diseases shared common mechanisms.

It is unusual for an MSc student, but she has generated so much high-quality data that we published Naciye’s work in the journal Brain as joint primary author. After her MSc, Naciye continued this research as a Research Assistant and then a PhD student. It is due to Naciye’s immense efforts that my group could continue working efficiently during COVID-19. Naciye helped to train other students in the group, she kept the lab stocked with reagents, optimized protocols for new equipment, and organised electronically shared timetables so that lab members could work safely with social distancing. It is the dedication of young talented scientists like Naciye that give me hope that we will find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease."

Dervis Salih, UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, University College London, UK

Nomination Category: Lab Scholar

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Who's your Lab Hero?

This is your chance to give back to the scientists who make – or who have made – a positive difference to your life, career, and workplace. That might be putting in extra effort in the lab, supporting their colleagues in difficult times, producing incredible results through their work, or making the lab a better place for everyone...

NOMINATE YOUR LAB HERO NOW!

Nominations close 8th December 2021. T&Cs apply.