Hakima Moukhles

Hakima Moukhles serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Medicine, where she leads research on astrocyte biology and neural water channel regulation. Her work bridges molecular neuroscience with clinical stroke pathology through multidisciplinary experimental approaches.

Her academic training includes a BSc from University Mohamed V (Rabat, Morocco), MSc and PhD from University of Aix Marseille II (France), followed by postdoctoral fellowships at McGill University and University of Montreal. This foundation supports her specialized investigations into neurobiological mechanisms.

Dr. Moukhles' research centers on Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, specifically examining how the dystroglycan multiprotein complex interacts with extracellular matrix components to regulate aquaporin-4 targeting in astrocytes. Her lab employs both in vitro and in vivo models to dissect pathological mechanisms in stroke, with emphasis on water permeability dynamics and membrane domain organization. This work has significant implications for understanding cerebral edema and developing neuroprotective strategies.

Analysis of her 2016-2021 publications reveals consistent focus on aquaporin-4 regulation through extracellular matrix proteins (laminin, agrin), intracellular signaling pathways (PKCδ, caveolin-1), and dystroglycan-mediated trafficking. Her methodological expertise in biotinylation assays and primary astrocyte cultures enables precise quantification of protein dynamics, establishing her as a specialist in astrocyte membrane biology within the neuroscience community.

No scientific awards or fellowships are documented in the provided information.

Dr. Moukhles maintains an active mentorship role for graduate students, as indicated by dedicated student contact channels (604-827-5835), though specific advisee names are not listed. Her research program is sustained through institutional support enabling multidisciplinary investigations into astrocyte function and neural water channel regulation.

Her laboratory operates within UBC's Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences, utilizing collaborative neuroscience resources including shared imaging facilities and stroke model expertise. The lab maintains active partnerships with researchers like BA MacVicar, reflecting integration within UBC's broader neuroscience ecosystem focused on cellular mechanisms of brain function and disease.