Dr. Sina Shadfar is an Early Career Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Cellular Neurobiology Team at Macquarie University's Motor Neuron Disease (MND) Research Centre. He obtained his master's degree in neuropharmacology from Yeungnam University in South Korea, where he conducted research on the role of neurotrophic factors in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. Between 2014 and 2017, he served as a research assistant and lab manager at Yeungnam University's College of Pharmacy.
In 2017, Dr. Shadfar relocated to Australia to pursue his Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences at Macquarie Medical School. During his Ph.D. journey, he identified novel proteins as potential therapeutic targets for MND in various models, including cell cultures and in vivo systems such as zebrafish, rodents, and C. elegans. His extensive research efforts have resulted in the publication of 24 articles in esteemed journals like Molecular Neurodegeneration, Translational Neurodegeneration, and Molecular Neurobiology.
Dr. Shadfar's contributions extend beyond publications; he has presented his work at 20 national and international conferences across seven different countries. His dedication and achievements have been recognized through 11 prestigious scholarships, awards, and international travel grants. Notably, in 2018, he was granted the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and International Brain Organization's (FENS-IBRO) Young Investigators Training Grant, which enabled him to train at the Leibniz Institute for Molecular Pharmacology (FMP) in Berlin, Germany, under the mentorship of Prof. Dr. Janine Kirstein. During this training, he acquired expertise in using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model organism to study ALS and aging.
Dr. Shadfar's dedication to advancing scientific knowledge is further demonstrated through his participation in preclinical studies for a drug discovery project. Notably, a patent application related to this project is currently under review, highlighting his significant contributions to both academia and applied research in the field of neurobiology and MND.

Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology; Neurodegenerative Disease; Amyotrophic Lateral sclerosis; Motor Neuron Disease

- MEDI2300; Neuroanatomy, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Australia

- MEDI2900; Introduction to Medical Research, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Australia

- MEDI3301; Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Clinical Medicine, Macquarie University, Australia

-MEDI304; Advanced Clinical Science, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Australia

- CBMS 201/ CBMS 602; Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of  Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Australia

- Advanced Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, South Korea, 2014-2017

Macquarie University, Australia

Fabiha Farzana, PhD Candidate, (Associate supervisor); 2023- Date

Matin Ramezani, PhD Candidate, (Associate supervisor); 2022- Date

Fabiha Farzana, MRes Student, (Associate supervisor);2021-2022

Tia Laquinto, Bachelor of Clinical Sciences Student (Academic mentor); 2020

Jaylen Collett, Bachelor of Clinical Sciences Student (Academic mentor); 2017

- Head of Selection Committee, Best Annual Publication Award, Centre for MND Research, Macquarie Medical School, 2022- date

- Member of Organizing Committee and Chair, Macquarie Neurodegeneration Meeting (MNM), Macquarie University, September 2021, 2022, 2023

- Member of Macquarie University MND centre social committee team; 2021- 2022

- HDR students representative at  Macquarie University MND centre executive committee; 2019- 2021

- Member of Macquarie University MND centre social media team; 2020- present

- Atkin's lab representative at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Lab users meeting; 2018- present