Comm2 regulation of synaptic arborization at the neuromuscular junction and its impact on the locomotor system of Drosophila Melanogaster

The organization of motor synapses is critical for understanding locomotion in health and how its disruption can lead to disease.

Commissureless 2 (comm2), a gene expressed in the nervous system glia of Drosophila Melanogaster, has been linked to extensive synaptic branching at the larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ) when its function is lost (unpublished research, Prof. McCabe’s Lab). This raised the hypothesis that comm2 mutants might exhibit altered muscle activity and less efficient motor neuron circuitry.

To investigate, I analyzed the kinematics of adult mutant flies walking on a treadmill using DeepLabCut, a neural network-based software, and a custom Python script. I quantified their average rest time and relative walking speed over one-minute sessions, providing an accurate assessment of fine motor movements compared to a control group.

The goal was to determine how comm2 regulates synaptic arborization at the NMJ and its impact on adult locomotion. While the study did not identify significant motor defects in comm2 mutants, it laid the groundwork for further research into the gene’s specific function.

Although comm2 orthologs have not been identified in the mammalian CNS (Sarro et al., 2013), studying its role in Drosophila locomotion offers valuable insights. Understanding how NMJ synapses are organized and regulated could inform research into neurodevelopmental and motor disorders characterized by movement impairments.

Curiosity has always defined me—I’ve been drawn to asking “why?” behind every phenomenon. This trait naturally led me to Jennifer L. Holm’s The Fourteenth Goldfish, a book about the wonders of science, the qualities of a scientist, and the ethical challenges of discovery. It ignited my passion for science and fundamental research.

In middle school, I discovered engineering and was captivated by its interdisciplinarity. The idea of transforming abstract concepts into real-world solutions motivated me to explore this field. My true direction became clear when I encountered a study where French researchers described epileptic seizures using five differential equations (Jirsa et al, 2014). This demonstrated how mathematics could explain human physiology and serve public health. The potential to impact millions of lives inspired me to make it the subject of my high school final oral exam, thus shaping my passion for biomedical engineering.

This passion brought me to Prof. McCabe’s lab at EPFL, where I investigated the comm2 gene's role in motor synapse development. Though my contribution—a single brick in the vast wall of fundamental research—may seem small, I believe these efforts collectively pave the way for breakthroughs in treating neurodegenerative diseases like ALS. Knowing my work could one day improve lives has only deepened my desire to pursue a career at the intersection of medicine and engineering, helping as many patients as possible.

Although my adventure at Laidlaw has brought many challenges, the most impactful was my Leadership-In-Action project last summer. I traveled to Morocco for six weeks with fellow scholar Jordane Provin to collaborate with the Social Innovation Lab at Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique.

Together, we worked on initiatives supporting local cooperatives, educational excellence, and mental health. The Massarates Cooperatives Program was particularly challenging, as I coached groups to define their needs and strategies while navigating cultural differences, language barriers, and varied education levels which made me learn the importance of adaptability.

This internship also taught me to take on major responsibilities, especially during the Educational Excellence project, where we developed measures to improve teaching quality at four Moroccan universities. As these measures would be implemented the following year, stakes were high, and the lack of guidance left me questioning my abilities to succeed.

However, this uncertainty became the foundation of my journey as a leader. Overcoming doubts taught me that being a change-maker isn’t reserved to a select few and that it is indeed possible to make a positive impact on society. The project’s success gave me confidence to propose my own initiative addressing mental health stigma in Moroccan secondary schools. As none of this would have been possible if I hadn't faced the aforementioned challenges, I am deeply grateful for them.

To be a Laidlaw scholar is to embark on the most transformative journey of your life, gaining invaluable skills in just 17 months. The multi-disciplinary nature of the program is its strength: by bringing together motivated and like-minded students from around the world, it offers you countless opportunities, not only in research but also in organisations and businesses that have a social impact.

Thus, Laidlaw's legacy extends the initial training and internships, not least because of the network you build. The people I have met along the way, whether teachers, mentors, or scholars, have become a lasting source of inspiration. They have helped me grow in ways I never thought possible and ultimately made me realise that education really is life-changing.

At its core, the program fosters generosity, ambition, and a desire to create something beyond ourselves by setting a new standard for leadership and giving back everything the program has offered us.

Three women immediately come to mind: Simone de Beauvoir, Simone Veil, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. They are unapologetic about who they are and remain authentic to what they believe in, regardless of backlash. Their integrity and unwillingness to compromise on what they believe are basic human rights inspire me and guide my decisions.

Simone de Beauvoir challenged patriarchal structures in a society reluctant to engage in such discussions. Her intellectual courage inspires me to act against injustice, as she said, we shouldn’t wait for the future but act now to change our lives today.

Simone Veil dedicated her life to human rights, embodying bravery and resilience. She secured the legalization of abortion and became the first female president of the European Parliament. Despite criticism, she never stopped fighting for her beliefs.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez advocates for causes ignored by most of the political class, such as climate change, social justice, and universal healthcare. Coming from a working-class background, she challenges systemic inequalities by sharing her personal experiences and proving that determination leads to meaningful action.

These three women remind me that ethical leadership is not only possible but essential, and that there is always an opportunity to make the right choice, even when it demands greater responsibility and comes significant challenges.

As a future biomedical engineer, I aspire to create a world where no one dies due to a lack of financial resources. In this vision, everyone, regardless of their geographical location or economic status, would have access to high-quality healthcare and receive treatment whenever their condition is medically treatable.

What I have unfortunately observed far too often is that many manufacturers set the prices of medical equipment based on its necessity. Knowing that these technological innovations are vital, they are confident their products will be purchased, regardless of their cost. This practice is not only greedy, but also endangers countless patients' lives by making these devices inaccessible to the majority.

My goal is to design medical equipment and instruments that are safe, comfortable for patients, highly effective, and reasonably priced. This would enable broader adoption by hospitals and clinics, ultimately ensuring that more patients can benefit from the care they deserve.

I recently moved to Stockholm for an exchange year at KTH, and it has been an amazing experience so far. I have enjoyed exploring Swedish culture, hiking, embracing fika (the Swedish coffee break tradition), and learning new languages. A small but joyful milestone was successfully ordering a hot chocolate with whipped cream—in Swedish! It felt like a real win in my language-learning journey.

Next on my list: a trip to Swedish Lapland!