Walaa Zakaria

With a background in neuroimaging and neurobiology, my interest in autoimmune diseases began during my Bachelor's studies in Lebanon, where I volunteered on a project in collaboration with RHU BETPSY under the supervision of my program coordinator at the time. This experience inspired me to reconnect with the team for my Master's thesis while studying at the University of Pavia in Italy. Through an Erasmus+ traineeship, I conducted research at RHU BETPSY and CREATIS (a specialized medical imaging research center), working on CASPR2 autoimmune encephalitis by building MRI databases, performing advanced segmentation of brain structures, and analyzing longitudinal brain volume changes.

My supervisors at RHU BETPSY and CREATIS have shown confidence in my capabilities, motivating me to further advance my research. Their support, along with the multidisciplinary collaboration opportunities and welcoming atmosphere, has greatly influenced my decision to continue working with the team.