Shatha is a PhD candidate in Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine. She earned her BSc in Biomedical Sciences with a specialization in Neuroscience from the University of Ottawa. Her research in Dr. Woo Jae Kim’s lab during her undergraduate studies helped elucidate the role of neuropeptide communication on behavioural plasticity in Drosophila. As a Master’s student, Shatha joined Dr. Bernard Jasmin’s lab at the University of Ottawa with the co-supervision of Dr. Aymeric Ravel-Chapuis. Recognized for her academic and research achievements, she fast-tracked into the Cellular and Molecular Medicine PhD program. Shatha’s research focuses on identifying and characterizing natural compounds that activate AMPK signaling as a novel therapeutic strategy for Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1). Her research is driven by the absence of curative treatments for DM1 and the significant role that AMPK plays in correcting hallmark pathogenic features of DM1. Shatha looks forward to championing research innovation and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration within the broader neuromuscular disease community.