Zinia Khattar

What they built

Designed a novel gene-set profiling algorithm to explore cellular mechanisms that alleviate mitochondrial dysfunction — the root of many neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases. She uncovered the stress-responsive signaling pathway responsible for maintaining mitochondrial health, then identified pre-clinical and FDA-approved drugs that could be repurposed to target that pathway. Her co-authored manuscript was published in Molecular Biology of the Cell journal, making her findings accessible for scientists globally.

Verified track record

• 2025 Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes (national recognition, $10,000 award); 2025 Davidson Fellows Scholarship; ISEF project BMED059; Published paper in Molecular Biology of the Cell journal; San Diego Business Journal (09/30/2025); PR Newswire (09/16/2025); barronprize.org/meet-the-winners/2025-winners/; davidsongifted.org/gifted-programs/fellows-scholarship/fellows/current-and-past-fellows/2025-fellows/fellow-zinia-khattar/