Juliana Laverde-Paz, MSBS

Juliana Laverde-Paz, MSBS, is a neuroscience PhD candidate in the laboratory of Dr. Zane Zeier at the University of Miami, Florida. Her interest lies in genetic forms of motor neuron diseases, with the goal of identifying new therapeutic targets, primarily focusing on Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS), a rare upper motor neuron disease. As a CReATe Scholar Juliana established a unique cohort of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from PLS patients using cellular reprogramming and patient-derived tissues provided by Drs. Michael Benatar and Joanne Wuu of the CReATe Consortium. Her goal is to elucidate the unique cellular and molecular features of PLS and evaluate potential commonalities and differences across related motor neuron diseases such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). 

Juliana’s research employs a novel genome-wide single-strand DNA break profiling technique called SSiNGLe to define genomic "breakome" profiles in PLS and ALS iPSC-derived motor neurons. Given the established role of genomic deterioration in age-related neurodegenerative diseases, this work has the potential to uncover novel disease mechanisms, identify new therapeutic targets, and possibly lead to the development of much-needed biomarkers. 

Juliana has been recognized for her contributions to science with various awards and scholarships, including the 2022 Lois Pope LIFE Fellowship Award and scholarships to the 2022 and 2024 Keystone Symposia on Neurodegeneration, where she presented her research findings through oral and poster presentations. Juliana serves as a mentor to junior graduate and undergraduate students and, in the past, served as senator for the Biomedical Graduate Student Government and the Graduate Student Government at the University of Miami.