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Dr Wajeeha Aziz

Dr Wajeeha Aziz (MBBS, MSc (Clin Ed), 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: Kirstine Ross
E: K.ross@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: Dissertation Supervisor 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 and Scholarship

MSc in Clinical Education, Brighton and Sussex Medical School (Distinction)
PhD Neuroscience National Institute of Physiological Sciences, Japan
MSc 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 interest as a medical educator focuses on developing inclusive curriculum strategies through staff/student partnership and developing best practices in utilising student feedback.

Research focus:

Medical and Clinical Education
Inclusive Curriculum
Synaptic structural plasticity
Short and long-term motor learning
Novel mechanisms of long-term Hippocampal memory
Molecular mechanisms of Aging
Human Genetic mutations in glutamate receptors

Research methods:

Quantitative and Qualitative medical research
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 Simulation in Clinical Practice and an academic supervisor in clinical education. She has been a supervisor for both PhD and master’s 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 a member of Academy of Medical Educators. Wajeeha is the winner of BSMS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award 2022.

Selected publications

Intersectionality and nurturing people of colour. 2023 Podcast. Listen here >

Intercultural Competence Education for Health Workers: A Tool for National and Global Health Equity. Matthew O'Bryan, Wajeeha Aziz. AMEE 2023 Glasgow

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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