Kazakh Researchers Uncover Important Step Towards Treating Parkinson’s Disease
Kazakhstan’s reputation in the global scientific community is evolving, thanks to research conducted by local scientists. Aizhan Ahmadi, a doctoral graduate from Nazarbayev University’s (NU) School of Natural, Social, and Human Sciences, and her team have made a discovery that could pave the way for future treatments for Parkinson’s disease.
TCA: Tell us about your research.
Aizhan: I recently completed my doctoral studies, defended my dissertation, and earned my PhD. Before that, I worked at a university for five years. During my research, I focused on a mutated protein called DJ-1, which is found in patients with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.
More than 20 years ago, European scientists identified mutations in DJ-1 in some patients suffering from these diseases. Despite extensive research in dozens of laboratories, the protein’s exact role remained unclear. While analyzing previous studies, we came across a large European research project with an interesting hypothesis about DJ-1. We decided to explore this direction further and we succeeded in proving that DJ-1 has a previously unknown function.
Understanding how DJ-1 protects biomolecules is not only crucial for developing new treatment methods for Parkinson’s disease but also for explaining cell aging. This discovery is vital for pharmacologists, as they cannot develop effective drugs without fully understanding a protein’s function.
For the first time, we have proven a new function of DJ-1. I believe this is a fundamental breakthrough for both global science and Kazakhstan’s scientific community. We submitted our findings to Nature Communications, a leading scientific journal. After a rigorous eight-month review process, our research was accepted. This was a difficult but rewarding journey. Our study is the first from independent Kazakhstan to be published in such a prestigious journal, making it a landmark achievement for our country.
TCA: What challenges come with studying biology in Kazakhstan?
Aizhan: Basic biological research is extremely resource-intensive. It takes time, energy, and has no guaranteed results. We invested grant funding and used millions of dollars’ worth of equipment. However, when a discovery is made, its contribution to science and medicine is invaluable.
Our study was conducted entirely within Kazakhstan, without relying on foreign laboratories. This is particularly significant because many still doubt whether serious scientific breakthroughs can come from Kazakhstan, especially in biochemistry.
Alongside me, my supervisor, Darkhan Utepbergenov, and several undergraduate students participated in the research. Professor Utepbergenov, a Kazakhstani scientist, graduated from Novosibirsk State University, worked in Germany and the U.S. for nearly 20 years, and then returned to Kazakhstan as a professor. He has said that this is his most significant work to date, and even he still finds it hard to believe that such a discovery was made in Kazakhstan. His contribution to both research and teaching at Nazarbayev University has been immense.
TCA: As a young woman in science, what motivated you to pursue this path? How can Kazakhstan raise the status of scientists?
Aizhan: First and foremost, better financial support is essential. Salary structures need improvement, bureaucratic obstacles must be reduced, and science communication should be strengthened. I would like to see more popular science publications, as the COVID-19 pandemic showed us how much people lack scientific knowledge.
Personally, I have always been curious about why things happen. Every step I take in my work is driven by this. When I add a solution, I want to understand what’s happening at the molecular level. I apply the same principle when selecting students, science is not just about performing tasks but about thinking critically.
I come from an ordinary family, my mother is a teacher, and she always told me that a girl must get an education. She believed that while men might find work as laborers, women need knowledge to secure their future.
The most important thing is to see our work make an impact. I sincerely hope that in 10 to 20 years, our research on DJ-1 will lead to the development of a drug that improves patients’ lives. We have laid a small but crucial foundation for this. We also have many new ideas, and Nazarbayev University has the necessary equipment to bring them to life. However, continued investment in fundamental science is essential if we want to make further discoveries in the future.
