Hung-Hsiang Ho is a Master's student working with Simon Wing.
Where did you begin your academic career?
I started at National Taiwan University where I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science.
Tell us about your research and the implications of your project.
My research aims to understand how USP19 deubiquitinase regulates the homeostasis of ɑ-synuclein in primary neurons. I am currently developing imaging approaches to monitor the process of ɑ-synuclein aggregate formation in primary neuronal model. Deciphering the cellular mechanisms leading to the accumulation of ɑ-synuclein aggregates can facilitate the identification of new targets for treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
What inspired you to pursue your current degree?
When I was an undergraduate researcher, my main interest was in protein and organelle dynamics. I gained a lot of expertise by studying inter-organelle signaling during autophagy. This led me to the field of Parkinson’s disease research in which the disruption of organellar pathways play an important role. The excitement that comes with new discoveries motivates me to pursue a career in science and I look forward to sharing this excitement with fellow researchers.
What are the biggest challenges in your field right now? How are you working to overcome them?
As the second most common neurodegenerative disease, Parkinson’s disease has drawn a lot of attention. It is a very competitive field with new results being published every day. I think one of the biggest challenges in this field is to come up with new approaches to study different ɑ-synuclein species. This is especially important when it comes to studying inter- and intra-cellular dynamics of the protein. To overcome this obstacle, I am working on new imaging methodologies. Specifically, I am developing imaging approaches that allow us to identify oligomer species and to track their subcellular localization during disease progression.
What are your favourite things to do outside of the lab?
Playing badminton, trying new cuisine and fussing over my cat.
What have you accomplished this year that you are most proud of?
Any small progress on my research counts as a great accomplishment. I am very proud that I am contributing to this field and that my research is acknowledged by HBHL.
