People, Student Profile

Investigating nerve-cell degeneration

Research opportunities open doors and create purpose for Wyatt Slattery, a grad student in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

January 24, 2017

NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s affect tens of millions of people worldwide.

As a biochemistry and molecular biology master’s student, Wyatt Slattery is using designer chemical probes to help investigate the process of nerve-cell degeneration that contributes to these debilitating diseases.

“Professor Fred Menard’s approach is fascinating,” says Slattery, who works with fellow students and researchers in the Menard Lab at UBC’s Okanagan campus. “He uses a different route to solve problems, like applying chemistry to solve biology questions.

“With Dr. Menard, I’m learning to use intuition and knowledge of chemical processes to help answer questions about human health.”

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

Slattery also completed his undergraduate studies at UBC’s Okanagan campus. Research opportunities through the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences were and continue to be the fabric of his academic experience.

“Through the Undergraduate Research Awards and the Honours program, I became interested in learning about neurodegenerative diseases and inflammatory processes,” says Slattery.Why Biochemistry and Molecular Biology?

“Getting involved in a research project after second year is unheard of at most universities.”

The longtime lifeguard and swim instructor says UBC allowed him to discover and hone his passion to help people, and he appreciates he can do it all from a world-class research university in his hometown of Kelowna, BC.