Melissa Maltez

Affiliation

BSc student, Undergraduate Research scholarship/NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award/ Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program
Biomedical Science
Email: mmalt051@uottawa.ca

Research interests

Methylmercury neurotoxicity
Primary astrocyte/cerebellar granule neurons
Growth Factors (NGF, FGF and BDNF)
Cx43 Gap Junction Communication

Bio

I’ve learnt early in during my bachelor studies here at the university of Ottawa that I have a passion for the biological science and especially those that apply to the cellular and medical field. Having obtained an undergraduate research scholarship through the university of Ottawa and NSERC, I investigated these interests by getting hands on experience in different research activities.  What I find so interesting of Dr. Chan’s field of research in toxicology, and especially, neurotoxicology, is that it’s the best of both worlds, taking from the elaborate understanding of the chemical properties of the toxins, to the deep analysis of the multiple cellular responses that occur. I find this combination absolutely fascinating! My summer placements as well as my part time work have greatly helped me in broadening my knowledge in both the research and the many opportunities that are available for me in this field.  

Research project

Members of the growth factor family, including Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) have just recently been showed to play a role in MeHg neurotoxicity, but the mechanism by which it acts is still to be elucidated. Objective of this project is to investigate the effects of these growth factors (NGF, FGF and BDNF) on Gap Junction Channel Cx43 communication induced by Methylmercury using primary astrocytes and cerebellar neurons mono and co-cultures.