Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr Sonam Parakh is a neuroscientist and research leader specialising in motor neuron disease (MND) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), with over a decade of experience in neurodegeneration research. Her work focuses on cellular stress pathways, redox biology, and protein homeostasis, with particular interest in protective mechanisms targeting TDP-43, SOD1 and C9orf72-related pathology. She has extensive experience in molecular and cellular neuroscience techniques, disease modelling, and translational research approaches aimed at identifying therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative disorders.
Dr Parakh currently serves as Team Leader at the Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre, Macquarie University, where she leads projects investigating neuroprotective pathways and gene therapy–based approaches for MND/FTD. Her research integrates mechanistic biology with translational development, including biomarker exploration and strategies to enhance neuronal resilience. She is also actively involved in collaborative, multi-disciplinary projects spanning academia, preclinical research, and industry partnerships.
In addition to her scientific contributions, she plays a key role in research leadership, mentoring students, contributing to grant development, and supporting research strategy within the neurodegeneration field. Her work aims to bridge fundamental biology and therapeutic innovation to improve outcomes for people living with MND and related disorders.
Education/Academic qualification
Neuroscience, PhD, Role of Protein Disulphide Isomerase and its Family Members in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Macquarie University
Award Date: 16 Feb 2016
Biotechnology and Bioinfromatics, Masters, La Trobe University
Award Date: 15 Nov 2012
Biotechnology, Bachelor's, Bangalore University
Award Date: 22 Aug 2009
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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FightMND25: Repurposing Diazepam as a new therapeutic approach for ALS
Atkin, J. (Primary Chief Investigator), Rowe, D. (Chief Investigator), Reuter Lange, S. (Chief Investigator), Clark, R. (Chief Investigator), Parakh, S. (Chief Investigator) & Jagaraj, C. J. (Chief Investigator)
5/01/26 → 5/01/29
Project: Research
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MND 24: Investigating the role of GABAA agonists as novel therapeutic against TDP-43 pathology.
Parakh, S. (Primary Chief Investigator), Blizzard, C. A. (Co-Investigator) & Atkin, J. (Co-Investigator)
1/06/25 → 31/05/26
Project: Research
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MNDRA Innovator: Nucleoredoxin (NRX), a novel gene therapy target against TDP43 multifaceted pathogenic mechanisms.
Parakh, S. (Primary Chief Investigator), Gupta, V. (Chief Investigator), Chitranshi, N. (Chief Investigator), McCann, E. (Chief Investigator) & Atkin, J. (Chief Investigator)
30/06/23 → 29/06/24
Project: Research
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Cellular Senescence as a Novel Mechanism of Pathogenesis in ALS
Atkin, J. (Primary Chief Investigator), Guillemin, G. (Chief Investigator), Shadfar, S. (Chief Investigator) & Parakh, S. (Chief Investigator)
30/06/22 → 30/06/23
Project: Research
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Macquarie University Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research
Blair, I. (Primary Chief Investigator), Rowe, D. (Chief Investigator), Guillemin, G. (Chief Investigator), Chung, R. (Chief Investigator), Atkin, J. (Chief Investigator), Cole, N. (Chief Investigator), Laird, A. (Associate Investigator), Lim, E. (Associate Investigator), Williams, K. (Associate Investigator), Yang, S. (Associate Investigator), Morsch, M. (Associate Investigator), Lee, A. (Associate Investigator), Shi, B. (Associate Investigator), Walker, A. K. (Associate Investigator), Lovejoy, D. (Associate Investigator), Furlong, S. (Other), Adams, L. (Other), Syal, D. (Animal Technician), Bazzi, R. (Animal Technician), Svahn, A. (Associate Investigator), Parakh, S. (Associate Investigator), Shahheydari, H. (Associate Investigator), Konopka, A. (Associate Investigator), Ragagnin, A. (Associate Investigator), Mehta, P. (Associate Investigator), Wright, A. (Associate Investigator), Bourbon, L. (Associate Investigator), Sabaretnam, M. (Associate Investigator), Don, E. (Associate Investigator), Hortle, E. (Associate Investigator), De Luca, A. (Research Assistant), Zhang, K. (Research Assistant), Tarr, I. (Research Assistant), Galper, J. (Research Assistant), Varney, B. (Research Assistant), Chow, S. (Research Assistant) & Formella, I. (Research Assistant)
1/01/17 → 31/12/19
Project: Research
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Cofilin hyperphosphorylation triggers TDP-43 pathology in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Jagaraj, C. J., Saravanabavan, S., Parakh, S., Jayakumar, M., Assar Kashani, S., Shadfar, S., Mehta, P., Gautam, S., Farzana, F., Suchowerska, A. K., Yap, K., Vidal, M., Ragagnin, A. M. G., Jamali, M. S., Yang, S., Fath, T., Craik, D. & Atkin, J. D., 10 Mar 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: Brain.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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The role of the Golgi apparatus in neurodegeneration
Shadfar, S., Assar Kashani, S., Gautam, S., Takalloo, Z., Farzana, F., Parakh, S. & Atkin, J. D., Feb 2026, The Golgi Network: Volume II: Golgi functions. Nakano, A. & Saraste, J. (eds.). Switzerland: Springer, Springer Nature, p. 413-440 28 p. (Subcellular Biochemistry; vol. 111).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus) -
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 AccessFile1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus)54 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 AccessFile1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus)27 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 AccessFile10 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)29 Downloads (Pure)