Alena Kern-Marro

My PhD research includes two rotation projects. In my first rotation, I investigate how naturally occurring SARM1 genetic variants influence NADase enzyme activity and contribute to neurodegeneration. Through site-directed mutagenesis and a range of functional assays, I will evaluate whether these variants result in loss or gain of function. By characterising the specific effects of each variant, this research aims to clarify their roles in disease susceptibility and progression, potentially informing biomarker discovery and therapeutic development. My second rotation focuses on developing a wearable biofeedback system to enhance motor learning through real-time physiological monitoring. Using surface electromyography (sEMG), the system will capture muscle activity during movement tasks, which will be processed using machine learning algorithms to generate adaptive feedback for users. The goal is to develop a user-friendly, portable platform that enhances motor control to support rehabilitation.