Kai Yu Ma

Dr. Kai Yu Ma is an Academic Teacher in the Department of Genetics at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Medical Sciences. His research focuses on the genetic basis of neurodegenerative and movement disorders, particularly Parkinson's disease and spinocerebellar ataxia. He employs techniques such as gene-editing (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9) and molecular genetics to investigate disease mechanisms, including mitophagy dysfunction and genetic variants' roles in neurodegeneration.

Education:

• PhD in Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen (2022)

Research Interests: His work explores gene-editing applications in understanding monogenic disorders, dopamine receptor variants linked to movement disorders, and cerebellar developmental deficits in spinocerebellar ataxia. He also examines mitochondrial pathways (e.g., PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy) in Parkinson's disease pathogenesis.

Publications: Recent studies highlight interdisciplinary approaches, including C. elegans models for Parkinson's origins, structural biology of coatomer proteins, and systematic analyses of genetic variants in neurodegenerative diseases. His work bridges molecular genetics, neuroscience, and structural biology.

Grants & Advising: No specific grants or advising details are provided in the text.