09 November 2023
Institute news
Through his research, Baker Institute PhD student Moran Zhou takes a healthy interest in healthy ageing, and when it comes to his spare time, he stays young through music and hanging out in public wearing pyjamas! Find out more in this month’s Fast Five.
How did you find yourself working at the Baker Institute?
I am currently studying a medical degree/PhD double degree that combines scientific research and medicine. It was a new program offered by the University of Melbourne, and the opportunity to do both was too tempting, so I applied and was accepted. I’m very excited to be doing my PhD in the Molecular Metabolism and Ageing Laboratory here at the Baker Institute under Associate Professor Brian Drew.
What inspired you to pursue a career in science?
On a Year 10 Biology excursion, I attended a talk from Nobel Laureate Elizbeth Blackburn. She discovered telomerase, which is a protein that has the potential to preserve the DNA and longevity of our cells. Though ageing and its related diseases seem inevitable, her talk made me realise that biological ageing is malleable. I am a curious person, and this inspired my desire to understand ageing processes at a metabolic level to create new solutions. I could die happy if, by the end of my career, I contributed to extending the healthy lifespan of humans, and just the thought of that energises me to work in biomedical science.
Can you share your research in a nutshell?
Mitochondria are powerhouses in our cells that generate the energy we need to live. When they become dysfunctional, they can contribute to the pathologies of ageing, obesity and its related conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. My PhD aims to discover genes that can be targeted to optimise mitochondria, preserving the health of our cells and organs. I will also be investigating the potential of therapeutics to enhance metabolism by increasing fuel burning to reduce high blood sugar and excess fat. This could protect against metabolic disorders and lead to new strategies for reducing diabetes, obesity, and its complications. With a global obesity epidemic and an ageing population, I believe this research could lead to potential therapeutics that would be beneficial for many.
You were awarded a Bright Sparks top-up scholarship this year, which provides financial support for the three years of your PhD, what does this mean to you?
I am grateful for the financial security afforded by the Bright Sparks Top-Up Scholarship. This allows me to fully focus on research, and to find work-life balance. A PhD is incredibly challenging and having time to rejuvenate away from study is vital. Beyond the financial blessing, receiving this recognition has affirmed the clinician-scientist direction I’ve chosen, motivating me to go further beyond my comfort zone and putting myself forward for future opportunities.
How do you switch off from science in your spare time?
My main go-to is music, performing saxophone for weddings/events and playing clarinet with medical orchestras. You may also see me and my partner Kimberley busking in the CBD, dressed as bananas in pyjamas — because why not? Exercise is also a great way to destress. I play squash with my lab mates and lead the MD Badminton Club. There’s so much to enjoy in life it can be hard to fit it all in, but time spent with friends and family is always sweet.
