Lab @ University of Chicago
Maria Traka, Ph.D.
Bio: Maria Traka is a research associate and Assistant Professor at the Department of Neurology (lab of Dr. Brian Popko) in University of Chicago. She has a B.S. in Biology and M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Basic Neurosciences from University of Crete in Greece. Her research focus is in developing the DT-A (diphtheria toxin-A chain fragment) mouse model that is currently being used to induce adult-onset ablation of oligodendrocytes and subsequent demyelination throughout the central nervous system (CNS). This mouse model demonstrates that CNS has a robust capacity to remyelinate. Also, she employs a forward genetics approach that helped identify new mouse models that can be used to assess the efficacy of therapeutic interventions in CNS neurodegenerative diseases. When Maria is outside of the lab she enjoys traveling, cooking, reading and biking.