Miss Amina Ali
PhD Student

Research area(s)

Amina aims to validate the use of the zebrafish model as a preclinical tool used during Ischaemic Stroke research. Her research focuses on successfully inducing thrombotic activity within the cerebrum of an adult zebrafish whilst using in vivo imaging and behavioural profiling techniques to monitor cellular trafficking pre and post induction. Vigorously analysis allows conformation of disease activation as well as quantification of spatial and temporal resolution changes. The translational comprehensive data obtained from these techniques provide valuable insight into the development and progression of Ischaemic strokes within humans. This allows for progression within drug development for Ischaemic stroke prevention and treatment, working to reduce the death rate and long-term negative impacts of diagnosis including long-term disability. Positive implications from this research will eventually lead to increased survival rates as well as quality of life.

Research Interests

Immunology and neutrophil activity can be researched using different animal models. The first area of interest is identifying a non-mammalian model, specifically tail-cut zebrafish larvae, to confirm the ability to successfully study inflammatory activity and neutrophil activity. Zebrafish larvae <120 hours post fertilisation are protected by their innate immune defence system up until 4-6 weeks post fertilisation where the adaptive immune system eventually matures. Inflammation is detected and initiated by the innate immune response which recruits additional immune cells including neutrophils and cytokines at the site of tissue damage. Due to the distinct separation between the two systems, the larvae model presents as a useful model for inflammatory research as it allows the study of real time live innate immune response especially as the larvae model appears transparent.

Another area of interest is characterising zebrafish larvae, <120 hours post fertilisation, as a preclinical non-mammalian model for ischaemic stroke research, specifically thrombotic activity using in vivo neuroimaging techniques and photothrombosis. From this neutrophil trafficking and neurovascular damage within the zebrafish larvae cerebral can be compare with mammalian models making findings translatable to human stroke research. This would allow wider understanding of the effects of ischaemic stroke and the long-term damage caused within the cerebrum, to then identify drug targets for developments within ischaemic stoke treatment.

Current projects:

• Identify a non-mammalian model as an inflammatory model to study neutrophil biology and host-pathology interactions.
• Characterise zebrafish larvae as a model for Ischaemic stroke research, specifically thrombotic research using in vivo neuroimaging techniques and photothrombosis.