Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr. Sina Shadfar is an early career research fellow and lecturer at Macquarie University’s Motor Neuron Disease (MND) Research Centre, where he is at the forefront of groundbreaking research into neurodegenerative diseases.
His journey began with a master’s degree in neuropharmacology from Yeungnam University in South Korea, where he explored how brain-protecting proteins could help fight Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. In 2017, his passion for neuroscience brought him to Australia, where he earned his Ph.D. in Neurobiology at Macquarie Medical School. His research uncovered new proteins that could be targeted for potential MND treatments, using advanced models like cell cultures, zebrafish, rodents, and even microscopic worms (C. elegans).
Dr. Shadfar has published 28 research articles in top-tier scientific journals, shedding light on ways to combat neurodegeneration. His current focus is tackling aging as a key driver of MND. He has secured five major research grants and a fellowship to advance this mission. Notably, his latest project, backed by FightMND, is Australia’s first-ever mRNA therapy targeting aging in MND—a pioneering step toward new treatments.
His dedication has been recognized with 13 prestigious scholarships, awards, and international research fellowships. In 2018, he was selected for the prestigious FENS-IBRO Young Investigators Training Fellowship, allowing him to train at FMP Berlin, Germany.
Research interests
Aging Neuroscience; Gene therapy: Neurodegenerative Disease; Motor Neuron Disease
Teaching
- MEDI 2200; Human Cell and Molecular Biology, Macquarie University, Australia
- MEDI2302; Cellular and Molecular Neuroscince, Macquarie University, Australia
- 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
Research student supervision
Macquarie University, Australia
Emmaline Frogley, MRes Student, (Associate supervisor); 2025-Date
Fabiha Farzana, PhD Candidate, (Associate supervisor); 2023- Date
Matin Ramezani, PhD Candidate, (Associate supervisor); 2022-2025
Fabiha Farzana, MRes Student, (Associate supervisor);2021-2022
Joshua Hardimon, Bachelor of Clinical Sciences Student (Academic mentor); 2023
Tia Laquinto, Bachelor of Clinical Sciences Student (Academic mentor); 2020
Jaylen Collett, Bachelor of Clinical Sciences Student (Academic mentor); 2017
Community engagement
- Neuroscience panel chair, Young scientist program 2025 (YSP 2025/ FAOMB), May 2025 Busan, South Korea
- Chair, ECR Enabling Scheme Grant Assessment Panel, Macquarie University (2025)
- Head of Selection Committee, Best Annual Publication Award, Centre for MND Research, Macquarie Medical School, 2022- date
-Macquarie Medical School ECR Representative, at Macquarie University ECR community (Dec 2024–present)
-President, EnCourage ECR Symposium, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University (Sept 2023)
- Member of Organizing Committee and Chair, Macquarie Neurodegeneration Meeting (MNM), Macquarie University, September 2021, 2022, 2023
- HDR students representative at Macquarie University MND centre executive committee; 2019- 2021
Education/Academic qualification
Neurobiology, PhD, Macquarie University
2017 → 2021
Award Date: 8 Apr 2021
Neuropharmacology, Master's degree, Neuroprotective effects of antidepressants via upregulation of neurotrophic factors in the MPTP model of Parkinson’s disease, Yeungnam University
30 Sept 2013 → 22 Feb 2016
Award Date: 22 Feb 2016
External positions
Research/Teaching assistant, Yeungnam University
2014 → 2017
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Projects
- 1 Active
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FightMND 24: Novel Gene Therapy Approaches for Targeting Aging in MND
Shadfar, S. (Primary Chief Investigator), Atkin, J. (Chief Investigator), Dhungel, B. (Chief Investigator) & Thordarson, P. (Partner Investigator)
3/03/25 → 2/03/27
Project: Research
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Pathological forms of TDP-43 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) promote aberrant telomere elongation
Konopka, A., Jamali, M. S., Fowler, M., Mehta, P., Parakh, S., Takalloo, Z., Farzana, F., Mumtaz, N., Hunter, J., Shadfar, S., Rogers, M.-L. & Atkin, J. D., Oct 2025, In: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Basis of Disease. 1871, 7, p. 1-13 13 p., 167906.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile50 Downloads (Pure) -
The redox activity of protein disulphide isomerase functions in non-homologous end-joining repair to prevent DNA damage
Shadfar, S., Farzana, F., Saravanabavan, S., Rozario, A. M., Vidal, M., Jagaraj, C. J., Parakh, S., Paric, E., Yuan, K. C., Brocardo, M., Whelan, D. R., Laird, A. S. & Atkin, J. D., Jul 2025, In: Aging Cell. 24, 7, p. 1-23 23 p., e70079.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile18 Downloads (Pure) -
Amyloid-beta and tau protein beyond Alzheimer's disease
Abyadeh, M., Gupta, V., Paulo, J. A., Mahmoudabad, A. G., Shadfar, S., Mirshahvaladi, S., Gupta, V., Nguyen, C. T. O., Finkelstein, D. I., You, Y., Haynes, P. A., Salekdeh, G. H., Graham, S. L. & Mirzaei, M., 1 Jun 2024, In: Neural Regeneration Research. 19, 6, p. 1262-1276 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open AccessFile59 Citations (Scopus)231 Downloads (Pure) -
C9orf72-associated dipeptide repeat expansions perturb ER-golgi vesicular trafficking, inducing golgi fragmentation and ER stress, in ALS/FTD
Sultana, J., Ragagnin, A. M. G., Parakh, S., Saravanabavan, S., Soo, K. Y., Vidal, M., Jagaraj, C. J., Ding, K., Wu, S., Shadfar, S., Don, E. K., Deva, A., Nicholson, G., Rowe, D. B., Blair, I., Yang, S. & Atkin, J. D., Dec 2024, In: Molecular Neurobiology. 61, 12, p. 10318-10338 21 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile4 Citations (Scopus)28 Downloads (Pure) -
Molecular hallmarks of ageing in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Jagaraj, C. J., Shadfar, S., Kashani, S. A., Saravanabavan, S., Farzana, F. & Atkin, J. D., 2 Mar 2024, In: Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 81, 1, p. 1-30 30 p., 111.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open AccessFile18 Citations (Scopus)70 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
Activities
- 2 Organising a conference, workshop or event series
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2023 EnCouRage Symposium
Shadfar, S. (Participant)
1 Feb 2023 → 1 Sept 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Organising a conference, workshop or event series
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Macquarie Neurodegeneration Meeting
Shadfar, S. (Participant)
Feb 2021 → Sept 2021Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Organising a conference, workshop or event series