We are proud to announce that Marium Ansari, a student in the Master of Science in Drug Discovery and Development (MDD) program, was awarded Best Postgraduate Research Poster Presentation at the GMU Annual Research Day 2025, held on April 15–16.
Her winning research, titled “Neuroprotective Effect of Omarigliptin in a 3-NP Induced Huntington’s Disease Model: Investigating the PERK/CHOP/EIF2α Pathway,” explores the potential of repurposing Omarigliptin—a novel antidiabetic agent—as a therapeutic option for Huntington’s disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. The study focuses on the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress and the associated signaling pathways in disease pathology, particularly the accumulation of misfolded proteins leading to apoptosis.
The project was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Mohamed Abdullatif, Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, whose guidance was instrumental in the success of the research.
By targeting key molecular mechanisms, Marium’s work highlights the neuroprotective potential of Omarigliptin and contributes to the ongoing search for more effective treatments for Huntington’s disease.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Marium and Dr. Abdullatif on this outstanding achievement and their valuable contribution to translational research.