Jessica Mark

I recently completed my integrated master’s degree in Neuroscience at Cardiff University, where I developed a strong interest in neurodegenerative diseases. My primary project involved creating a novel stem cell-derived model to investigate the pathological mechanisms of newly identified genetic variants in Alzheimer’s disease. I focused specifically on the cholesterol transporter ABCA1, exploring its role in amyloid-beta pathology and lipid dysfunction within glial cells. I joined the Wade-Martins lab as a research assistant, where I am studying how endolysosomal dysfunction contributes to neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease using iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons. In collaboration with Endlez Therapeutics, my work involves characterizing, testing, and validating novel therapeutic targets within the endolysosomal system to support drug discovery and development. This research bridges academic investigation and pharmaceutical target discovery, aiming to translate biological findings into viable therapeutic interventions.