Marcus C
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at University of California San Francisco (UCSF)
Expertise
Neuroscience, cell and molecular biology, pharmacology, organic chemistry, drug discovery, biotechnology
Bio
Hi! My name is Marcus and am currently pursuing a PhD degree at the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF), where I am studying drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases. Specifically, I am developing fluorescent, microscopic tools to uncover novel chemical compounds that modulate disease phenotypes. Since grade school, I have been fascinated by the complexity and beauty of biological molecules. I often asked myself, 'How can something so simple be so important for life?' It was from this curiosity that stimulated my passion for biology. In college, I concentrated my coursework in neurosciences while also conducting undergraduate research. My research training continued in England, where I worked on drug screening in a Huntington disease lab. It was truly an eye-opening experience to learn alongside experts in the drug discovery field while living abroad. For fun, I like to travel, practice martial arts, and play board games!Project ideas
How Does a Molecule Actually Become a Useful Drug?
Have you ever wondered how long it takes to develop a new drug? With incurable diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's affecting millions of Americans every day, there is a huge unmet clinical need to develop safer and more effective drugs. Learn what it takes for a candidate molecule to go through the arduous steps of discovery, from initial drug screening to clinical trials.
The Cellular Building Blocks of Life
Everybody knows about organelles, right? Some well-recognized examples include the nucleus, mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum. But what do they do exactly? And how does their function go awry during stress and disease? How do we even visualize such microscopic structures? In this project, students will be taking a deeper dive on their favorite organelles to understand their structure, function, and dynamics during health and disease. Additionally, students will research the cell and molecular tools, both new and traditional, used to interrogate organelle function.
Pathophysiology of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases are pathologically characterized by the abnormal deposition of misfolded proteins in the brain. Clinically, patients typically suffer from progressive memory loss, cognitive and motor deficits, and behavioral changes. Conduct a comprehensive review about the diverse molecular mechanisms that correlate with neurodegenerative disease pathology and present findings in the form of an oral or written presentation.