Takese McKenzie, a PhD student in the Neuroscience program, has been awarded a National Institute on Aging (NIA) F99/K00 fellowship to support her research on Alzheimer’s disease. McKenzie is advised by Jian Hu, PhD.

Breaking barriers

McKenzie’s journey to the Graduate School began with a desire for change. Despite her love of science, it was hard for her to accept that she belonged in the field, as it was rare to see researchers who shared her background. “Currently, there are very few neuroscience professors who look like me,” she says, and adds that there are even fewer Black female Principal Investigators. Although she is sometimes discouraged by the statistics, McKenzie is bolstered by her ability to do good science and passion for elucidating neurodegenerative diseases.

McKenzie’s current research focuses on uncovering mechanisms involved in the dysfunction of microglia, the cells tasked with clearing debris in the brain. Her project examines the importance of the RNA binding protein, Quaking, in regulating microglial function in Alzheimer’s disease. McKenzie said her greatest success so far is being awarded the NIA F99/K00 fellowship, which will support her postdoctoral work elucidating novel regulators of microglial function in Alzheimer’s disease.

A lifelong calling

McKenzie knew that her heart was in neuroscience even before she started graduate school. “As a child growing up in Jamaica, I was always fascinated by the intricacy of the brain, and during undergrad, I discovered the importance of research in advancing the treatment of devastating neurodegenerative diseases,” she says. After joining the lab of Jian Hu, PhD, she was excited by the opportunity to perform research elucidating novel regulators of Alzheimer's disease, starting with Quaking.

The perfect combination

McKenzie chose the Graduate School for her research education after interacting with students and faculty during an internship at MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2019. “I felt the warm and supportive atmosphere that was present,” she says. She was also excited by the groundbreaking research being conducted on neurodegenerative diseases and the scientific rigor of the curriculum. This combination made the Graduate School the perfect choice.

Looking ahead

After she graduates, McKenzie will pursue a postdoctoral fellowship to continue her study of novel regulators of Alzheimer’s disease. Her long-term goal is to establish a lab on neurodegeneration as an independent scientist and mentor students from underrepresented backgrounds.