Abdulhafiz Aliagan, M.S.
Ph.D. Student
Abdulhafiz is working on elucidating the role of the inner mitochondrial membrane protein (Mic60/Mitofilin) in Parkinson’s disease. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a major hallmark in many diseases including Parkinson’s disease, and Mic60/Mitofilin dysregulation plays a key role in mitochondrial dysfunction. The goal of his research is to understand the mitochondrial-dependent mechanism leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and ultimately dopaminergic neuron death in Parkinson disease, using mouse models and in vitro models. He combines various multidisciplinary approaches including biochemical, molecular biology, genetics, neuroscience and microscopic approaches to elucidate the mechanism of Mic60 downregulation, and how to protect against this downregulation to induce neuroprotection.
Education
M.S., Biology, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, 2017
B.S., Microbiology, Kwara State University, 2013
Awards
Invited platform presenter, Perry & Ruby Stevens Parkinson’s Disease Center of Excellence, San Antonio, TX, March 2019.
Publications
Feng, Y., Madungwe, N.B., Imam Aliagan, A.D., Tombo N., and Bopassa, JC (2019). . Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2019 Oct 14. pii: S0006-291X(19)31897-2. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.10.006.
Imam Aliagan A.D, Daraei M.A, Feng, Y., Liu L, Madungwe, N.B., Tombo, N., and Bopassa J.C (2019) Mitofilin Interacts with Parkin in the Inner Mitochondrial Membrane to Increase Dopaminergic Neuron Death in Response to PD Stressors. In review.
Madungwe, N.B., Feng, Y., Imam Aliagan, A.D., Tombo, N., Kaya, F., and Bopassa, J.C. (2019). Inner mitochondrial membrane protein MPV17 mutant mice hearts display impaired cardiac functional recovery after ischemia/reperfusion via dysregulation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. In review.