Miriam Richardson is the Molecular Pharmacology Highlighted Trainee Author for the February 2024 issue. Richardson is a research assistant who recently graduated from the University of Australia, with a Bachelor of Medical Science degree. The Molecular Pharmacology article that earner her the selection as a Highlighted Trainee Author is titled “Pharmacological Targeting of Senescence with Senolytics as a New Therapeutic Strategy for Neurodegeneration” and is available at https://doi.org/10.1124/molpharm.123.000803.

During Richardson’s undergraduate studies, her research was specifically focused on the role of cellular senescence in Parkinson’s disease. Using in vivo models of Parkinson’s disease, she examined the behavioral and biochemical effect of eliminating senescent cells with senolytic drugs, with highly encouraging results. Richardson hopes to expand the current knowledge regarding the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. By understanding the biological pathways responsible for these belligerent disorders, she wants to contribute to the design of novel drugs that halt disease progression. Since there are currently no effective disease-modifying treatments for Parkinson’s disease, she feels that an effective and novel treatment would significantly benefit individuals with Parkinson’s disease as well as their families and carers.