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Dr Wajeeha Aziz

Dr Wajeeha Aziz

Dr Wajeeha Aziz (MBBS, PhD, PGCertHE, PGDip Med Ed, SFHEA, MAcadMEd)

Senior Lecturer in Medical Education
E: w.aziz@bsms.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)1273 644125
Location: Watson Building, Room 344b, University of Brighton Falmer Campus, BN1 9PH

DA: Charlotte Street
E: c.street@bsms.ac.uk

Area of expertise: Medical education and pedagogy, Research methods, Memory mechanisms in health and disease, Synaptopathies, neurodegenerative diseases, dementia, Human genetic mutations in glutamate receptors 

Research areas: Pedagogy of Learning and teaching in Medical Education, Neuroscience 

Other roles: Course lead PGCert Diabetes in Primary Care, Dissertation Supervisor and Tutor MSc Clinical and Medical Education, Inclusive practice and Curriculum lead (PGt), Department Rep for Research Governance and Ethics Committee, School rep Equality Diversity and Staff development Committee

Preferred gender pronouns: She/her

Biography

  • Senior Lecturer in Medical Education, Brighton and Sussex Medical School
  • Senior Research Fellow, Sussex Neuroscience, University of Sussex
  • Research Fellow, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London
  • Research Associate, National Institute of Physiological Sciences, Japan

Education

  • MSc in Medical Education, Brighton and Sussex Medical School (ongoing)
  • PhD (Neuroscience - Physiology), National institute of Physiological Sciences, Japan
  • MBBS Punjab University, Pakistan

Research

Dr Aziz has vast experience of research in life sciences with enhanced skills in electron microscopy, high resolution imaging and electrophysiology. Dr Aziz's research has been published in several peer-reviewed journals. Her current research interests focus on developing inclusive curriculum strategies through staff/student partnership.

Research focus:

  • Synaptic structural plasticity 
  • Short and long-term motor learning
  • Novel mechanisms of long-term Hippocampal memory
  • Molecular mechanisms of Aging
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Human Genetic mutations in glutamate receptors

Research methods:

  • High resolution Electron microscopy
  • Molecular biology
  • Organotypic slice electrophysiology
  • Behavioural Neuroscience

Current research interest:

  • Student feedback and evaluation of teaching in Postgraduate medical education
  • Blended inclusive curriculum in medical education
  • Intercultural competence

Teaching

Dr Aziz is the course lead for PGCert Diabetes in primary care and an academic supervisor and tutor in medical/clinical education. She has been a supervisor for both PhD and Masters students, as well as a tutor to undergraduate students on several courses. She is very passionate about teaching and enhancing student experience through active engagement. In 2018, she did a post-graduation certification in higher education and became very interested in reflective teaching practices and blended learning. Dr Aziz is also a Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and member of Academy of Medical Educators.

Selected publications

Intersectionality is the only way to nurture academics of colour. 2023. timeshighereducation.com/campus/intersectionality-only-way-nurture-academics-colour. 

Synaptic Dysfunction by Mutations in GRIN2B:Influence of Triheteromeric NMDA Receptors on Gain-of-Function and Loss-of-Function Mutant Classification. Brain Sci. 2022, 12, 789. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12060789. Elmasri, M.; Lotti, J.S.; Aziz, W.; Steele, O.G.; Karachaliou, E.; Sakimura, K.; Hansen, K.B.; Penn, A.C.

Common synaptic phenotypes arising from diverse mutations in the human NMDA receptor subunit GluN2A. M. Elmasri, D. Hunter, G. Winchester, W. Aziz, E. Bates, D. Moolenaar Van Der Does, E. Karachaliou, K. Sakimura, A.C. Penn bioRxiv 2020.08.06.240010; doi:https://doi.org/10.1101/2020. 08.06.240010

Multi-input Synapses, but Not LTP-Strengthened Synapses, Correlate with Hippocampal Memory Storage in Aged Mice. Current Biology .2019 Oct 10. pii: S0960-9822(19)31114-5. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.08.064. Wajeeha Aziz, Igor Kraev, Keiko Mizuno, Alastair Kirby, Ton Fang, Huzefa Rupawala, Kamillia Kasbi, Stephanie Rothe, Felix Jozsa, Kobi Rosenblum, Michael G. Stewart, and K. Peter Giese.

Age-dependent changes in autophosphorylation of alpha calcium/calmodulin dependent kinase II in hippocampus and amygdala after contextual fear conditioning 2017,Ton Fang, Kamillia Kasbi, Stephanie Rothe, Wajeeha Aziz*, Karl Peter Giese* (*Corresponding authors). Brain research bulletin 134; 18-23

Alzheimer-related decrease in CYFIP2 links amyloid production to tau hyperphosphorylation and memory loss. 2016, Sachin Tiwari, Keiko Mizuno, Anshua Gosh, Wajeeha Aziz, Troakes C, Daoud J, Golash V, Noble W, Hortobágyi T, Karl Peter Giese. Brain. 139: 2751-2765

Generation of multi-innervated dendritic spines as a novel mechanism of long-term memory formation. 2015, Wajeeha Aziz, Igor Kraev, Mike Stewart, Karl Peter Giese. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. 124: 48-51

Distinct cerebellar engrams in short-term and long-term motor learning. 2014Wen Wang*, Kazuhiko, Nakadate*,Miwako, Masugi-Tokita*,Fumihiro Shutoh*,Wajeeha Aziz, Etsuko Tarusawa, Andrea Lorincz,Elek Molnár, Sebnem Kesaf,Yun-Qing Li, Yugo Fukazawa, Soichi Nagao and Ryuichi Shigemoto       (2014)(*,equal contribution) Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) USA, 111: E188-E193 

Distinct kinetics of synaptic structural plasticity, memory formation and memory decay in massed and spaced learning. 2013, Wajeeha Aziz, Wen Wang, Sebnem Kesaf, Alsayed Abdelhamid Mohamed,Yugo Fukazawa and Ryuichi Shigemoto. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) USA, 111: E194–E202.

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