Clinical Neurosciences
Mariana wasn't avaliable to receive her certificate at the ceremony.
Originally from Venezuela, Mariana recently completed her PhD in Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Cambridge. Her research focused on understanding why certain neuronal cell types exhibit selective vulnerability to mitochondrial dysfunction, with the aim of identifying novel therapeutic strategies for mitochondrial diseases. Before moving to the UK, Mariana earned her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience and Global Health from Northwestern University, where she gained research experience in health policy and stem cell disease modelling.
During her PhD, through interactions with patient foundations and families, she saw firsthand the impact of effective scientific communication and the important role it plays in fostering patient agency and informing research decisions. Following her PhD, she transitioned into a role focused on translating complex scientific ideas into accessible narratives, helping bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real-world implementation.
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