Mojgan Rastegar, PhD, DEA

Accepting graduate students

  • Master's - yes
  • PhD - yes

Research theme

  • Role of epigenetics in brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Molecular mechanisms of stem cell differentiation and cell fate commitment
  • Drug repurposing for neurological disorders and Rett Syndrome

Keywords

  • Epigenetics
  • Gene regulation
  • DNA methylation
  • Transcriptional control
  • Stem cells
  • Rett Syndrome
  • MeCP2 isoforms
  • Neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Stem cell differentiation

Research affiliations

  • Research scientist, Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM)
  • Board of Directors, Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences (CSMB)

Research groups

  • Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences – Nomination Committee
  • Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences – Membership and Diversity Committee
  • Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences – Conference Committee
  • Editorial board member – Scientific Reports
  • Editorial board member – Neural Plasticity
  • Editorial board member – Diseases - Rare Syndromes
  • Associate editor – Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
  • Editorial board member – Neuroglia
  • Associate editor – Frontiers in Genetics
  • Ontario Rett Syndrome Association  (ORSA) – Member
  • Manitoba Rett Syndrome Association (MRSA) – Member
  • Society for Neuroscience (SFN) – Member
  • Canadian Association for Neuroscience (CAN) – Member
  • International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) – Member

Research summary

Dr. Mojgan Rastegar's research program is dedicated to study the genetic networks and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms that control brain development and function. A clear focus is on DNA methylation and the DNA methyl binding protein MeCP2.

Dr. Rastegar's laboratory applies molecular and stem cell biology techniques along with gene therapy strategies to investigate the underlying pathobiology of neurodevelopmental disorders, including Rett Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.

The outcome of her studies will help design novel therapeutic strategies in the future for these diseases that currently have no cure.

Biography

Dr. Mojgan Rastegar received her PhD and Diplôme d’Etudes Approfondies from the Université Catholique de Louvain in Brussels, Belgium. Her first post-doctoral training was in the area of epigenetic regulation of multi-drug resistance in cancer at the Indiana University Cancer Center, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis.

In Canada, Dr. Rastegar further studied the regulatory role of histone modifications and chromatin remodeling in stem cell differentiation, central nervous system development, and brain disorders at McGill University and at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

Dr. Rastegar is currently a tenured professor of biochemistry and medical genetics. Since she has joined the University of Manitoba in 2009, her research program has been continuously supported by provincial, national and international funding.

Dr. Rastegar has published more than 50 peer-reviewed papers and 120 abstracts. Her lab has hosted more than 50 trainees and students at all levels, including postdocs, PhD, master of science, undergraduate, and medical students. Most of her students have been successful in obtaining major scholarships and awards from organizations that include the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Rhodes Scholarship, and Research Manitoba, as well as other provincial and national awards.

Dr. Rastegar serves as a peer-review panel member for CIHR, Michael Smith Foundation and other national granting agencies. She also serves on the editorial board of several scientific journals, including Scientific Reports, Frontiers in Genetics, Neural Plasticity, Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, and serves on the board of directors at the Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences.

Education

  • Postdoctoral fellow in developmental and stem cell biology, Hospital for Sick Children – University of Toronto (2005-2008)
  • Postdoctoral fellow in epigenetics and chromatin remodeling, McGill University (2001-2005)
  • Postdoctoral fellow in pharmacology and cancer biology, Indiana University Cancer Center, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (2000-2001)
  • PhD in biomedical sciences, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium (2000)
  • Diplôme d’Etudes Approfondies in biochemistry and human cellular biology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium (1998)

Awards

  • Outstanding Associate Editor Award – Frontier in Genetics; Epigenomics and Epigenetics (2021)
  • Manitoba Medical Student’s Association (MMSA) Teaching Award (nomination) (2020)
  • Ontario Rett Syndrome Association (ORSA) Research Award (2016, 2018, 2019)
  • International Rett Syndrome Foundation (IRSF) Award (2016)
  • NSERC-Early Career Researcher Supplement Award (2012)
  • Manitoba Medical Service Foundation (MMSF) Award (2012)
  • Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada Award (2010)
  • Stem Cell Network Canadian Alumni Award, Stem Cell Network (2008)
  • Miriam and SAUL Goldberg Innovative Research Award, McGill University (2005)
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research Cancer Consortium Training Grant Fellowship Award (2004)
  • Conrad F. Harrington Fellowship Award, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University (2003)
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research Cancer Consortium Training Grant Fellowship Award (2002)
  • Dr. David T. W. Lin Fellowship Award, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University (2002)
  • Canderel Fellowship Award, McGill University (2001)
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship, Indiana University Cancer Center, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (2000)
  • Subside Scientifique Complémentaire, Patrimoine Facultaire, Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium (2000)
  • Doctoral Fellowship, Patrimoine Facultaire, Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium (1998-2000)
  • Doctoral Fellowship, Fonds de Développement Scientifique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium (1996-1998)

ORCID profile

Visit Mojgan Rastegar's ORCID profile for a complete listing, or find her on Google Scholar and ResearchGate.

Mojgan Rastegar's profile

Contact us

Biochemistry and Medical Genetics
Room 336 Basic Medical Sciences Building
745 Bannatyne Avenue
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9 Canada

bmgadmin@umanitoba.ca