Johnny Li is a student at Upper Canada College in Canada. As captain of his school’s robotics team, he has led the team to consistent success in international competitions, including the VEX Ontario Provincials and the VEX World Championships, where they achieved top rankings and multiple design and performance awards. Beyond robotics, Johnny has also participated in the Canadian Ethics Olympiad and won a grant through a leadership course for a charitable initiative.
At the CCIR Academy, Johnny’s research paper, Parkinson’s Disease-linked Protein α-synuclein: Do Small-Molecule Inhibitors of Protein Aggregation Also Prevent Its Accumulation with Lipids?, has been accepted at the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB). His study investigates whether compounds that inhibit fibrillar α-synuclein aggregation can also reduce lipid-associated forms, which are increasingly recognised as contributing to Parkinson’s disease pathology.
Using a live-cell assay, Johnny tested several small molecules and found that Fasudil most effectively reduced inclusion formation and toxicity, while other compounds showed varying effects. The findings provide insight into how different forms of α-synuclein behave and their implications for potential therapeutic strategies.
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) is a leading global organisation dedicated to advancing research and education in the molecular life sciences.
Congratulations to Johnny on this achievement!
