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Muthia Huda Islami
Name:
Muthia Huda Islami
Job title:
Research Fellow
Place of work / study:
National Brain Center Hospital Mahar Mardjono Jakarta
Area of Research:
I mainly lead the design and coordinate the conduct of research on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias at the center, while also contributing to studies in related neurological conditions — including a clinical trial in stroke and a genetic study in Parkinson’s disease.
How is your work funded:
Funding varies by study. Some studies do not require any fund, others are backed by international research partnerships, and a few are still progressing through grant review.
Tell us a little about yourself:
After completing my MSc in Epidemiology at Imperial College London, I’ve been working since 2025 as a Research Fellow at Indonesia’s National Brain Center Hospital, the country’s national referral center for neurology under the Ministry of Health. My work focuses on designing and coordinating studies on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, including building the center’s Alzheimer’s disease registry. I’m particularly drawn to research that combines advanced regression methods with molecular and genetic epidemiology — this is what first pulled me toward Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions, which offer rich, open questions around detection and treatment.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself:
Outside of work, I’m basically a poet and a baker at heart. I’ve self-published two poetry collections and post other pieces on my blog. When I don’t have anything to write, I like experimenting with my matcha powders in the kitchen.
Why did you choose to work in dementia?
Dementia draws my curiosity. It is a field full of unanswered questions and uncertain answers. And like many people in this field, my motivation is also personal: I had a close friend who developed cognitive impairment, and eventually dementia, following a traumatic brain injury. Having witnessed that firsthand, I understand the pain behind the statistics.
What single piece of advise would you give to an early-career researcher?
Honestly, I’m still a super early-career researcher myself, so I don’t feel qualified to give advice. I’m still figuring a lot of this out too.
What book are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
‘m currently reading a lot of books, alternating between multiple ‘universes’. The books I’m reading are Moby Dick by Henry Menville and The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides. But if you ask one book for a recommendation, I’d recommend my most favorite book, A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara.
Favourite film of all time?
Not sure
Favourite ways to unplug and unwind?
Baking
What’s the best decision you ever made?
Honestly, it was deciding to keep going through the hardest period of my life, which happened to be during my time in London. Choosing not to give up then shaped a lot of who I am now
What’s your favourite vacation spot?
Not sure
Do you collect anything?
Not right now
