Postdoc Highlights

How silencing a gene-silencer could lead to new cancer drugs

Anonymous — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 18:00:00 +0000

How silencing a gene-silencer could lead to new cancer drugs Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 09/25/2023 - 12:00

Deep inside our cells—each one complete with an identical set of genes—a molecular machine known as PRC2 plays a critical role in determining which cells become heart cells, versus brain or muscle or skin cells. When the machine is missing or broken, normal fetal development can’t occur. If it’s mutated, cells can grow uncontrollably, and cancer can arise—a fact that has made PRC2 a source of keen interest for drug developers.

New research by scientists at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� and Harvard Medical School offers an unprecedented look at how PRC2, or polycomb repressive complex 2, does its job and, specifically, how ribonucleic acid (RNA) helps it switch genes on and off. Vignesh Kasinath, Kasinath Lab at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� is a co-senior author and first author, Jiarui Song, is a Jane Coffin Childs postdoctoral fellow in the Cech Lab at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��.

This research was published on September 21, 2023 in the journal Science. And other co-authors include Anne Gooding, Wayne Hemphill and Liqi Yao of ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� and Brittney Love, Anne Robertson, Leonard Zon and Trista North of Harvard Medical School.

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Nicole Marie Hoitsma Recognized as a 2023 Damon Runyon Fellow

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 20:32:20 +0000

Nicole Marie Hoitsma Recognized as a 2023 Damon Runyon Fellow Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 08/16/2023 - 14:32

Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation awards $3.9 million to exceptional early-career scientists

Nicole Marie Hoitsma, PhD [HHMI Fellow], with her sponsor Karolin Luger, PhD, at University of Colorado, Boulder, has been named one of 13 new Damon Runyon Fellows by the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation.

The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has named 13 new Damon Runyon Fellows, exceptional postdoctoral scientists conducting basic and translational cancer research in the laboratories of leading senior investigators. This prestigious Fellowship encourages the nation's most promising young scientists to pursue careers in cancer research by providing them with independent funding to investigate cancer causes, mechanisms, therapies, and prevention. In July 2023, the Board of Directors announced at 15% increase in the Fellowship stipend, bringing the total to $300,000 over the award's four-year term.

“Over the past three decades, the rate of cancer mortality in the U.S. has dropped by a third, saving an estimated 3.8 million lives. This is because of earlier diagnoses, a better fundamental understanding of the genetic changes that take place in a cancer cell, and personalized treatment options like targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Damon Runyon scientists have been a part of each and every one of these advances,” said Yung S. Lie, PhD, President and CEO of Damon Runyon. “We fund the best young talent—risk takers and innovators. I am confident that because of the research being done by our scientists, this trend will continue, such that ultimately cancer will be a fully treatable disease. My optimism is shared by the cancer research community.”

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Hoitsma's Research:

Human cells have complex mechanisms to repair DNA damage, such as that caused by exposure to sunlight or chemical substances. If DNA is not properly repaired, however, it can lead to cancer. In fact, faulty DNA repair has been associated with the initiation and progression of all types of cancer and is often targeted in cancer treatment to stop uncontrolled cell growth. A better understanding of how cells naturally defend against DNA damage will allow for the development of better drugs to treat cancer. Dr. Hoitsma aims to investigate specialized proteins, known as chromatin remodelers, that make damaged DNA accessible for repair. This research will provide insight for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to target these critical pathways. Dr. Hoitsma received her PhD from University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City and her BS from South Dakota State University, Brookings.

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Postdoctoral fellow Uday Tak awarded 2021 CRI Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 18:15:03 +0000

Postdoctoral fellow Uday Tak awarded 2021 CRI Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 10/28/2021 - 12:15

Dr. Uday Tak, a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Aaron Whiteley’s lab in the Biochemistry Department,
is the newest recipient of the 2021 Cancer Research Institute: Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship. This award was
established to provide support and training for young scientists performing cutting-edge research with
applications in cancer immunotherapy and tumor immunology. Founded in 1953, the Cancer Research
Institute was established with the goal of eradicating cancer and has played a key role in many ground-
breaking discoveries and advances in the field of cancer immunology. Previous awardees of this
fellowship include CU Biochemistry's Dr. Alexandra Whiteley.

Prior to joining ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��, Dr. Tak performed his doctoral research at the University of
Alabama Birmingham (UAB) in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Niederweis. There he characterized the
enzymology and secretion mechanism of the tuberculosis necrotizing toxin (TNT), which allows
Mycobacterium tuberculosis to kill macrophages. Dr. Tak's work revealed a novel mechanism of toxin
secretion relying on the formation of membranes pores by Esx/WXG100 proteins, whose biological
functions were a mystery for almost 20 years. This work was a major advancement in the field of
bacterial protein secretion and has implications for the functions of Esx proteins which are important for
the virulence of mycobacteria and gram-positive pathogens. His publication of these findings was highlighted as an
editor’s choice in Nature Communications Focus on “Microbiology and Infectious Disease”.

Fueled by a passion to continue studying enzymes involved in physiology and disease, Dr. Tak
joined the laboratory of Dr. Aaron Whiteley at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��. The Whiteley lab focuses on the evolution
and function of the cGAS-STING pathway which is crucial for antiviral and anticancer immunity. Dr. Tak is
specifically interested in the primordial functions of the prokaryotic homologues which may generate
new hypotheses on the function of their eukaryotic counterparts. These findings have the potential to
generate new biological tools and concepts to guide STING-directed immunotherapies. As a CRI
Irvington Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Tak plans to use biochemistry, structural biology, and protein
engineering to accomplish these goals.

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Postdoctoral fellow Hannah Ledvina recipient of 2021 Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Postdoctoral Fellowship

Anonymous — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 20:47:14 +0000

Postdoctoral fellow Hannah Ledvina recipient of 2021 Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Postdoctoral Fellowship Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 06/04/2021 - 14:47

Dr. Hannah E. Ledvina, a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Aaron Whiteley’s lab in the Biochemistry Department, is a recipient of the 2021 Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Postdoctoral Fellowship. This prestigious award was first established in 1937 and aims to support cutting edge medical research at the early career level. Each year 25-30 applicants selected “from among the best young scientist” are awarded three years of funding in a rigorous, highly informed selection process conducted by the Jane Coffin Childs (JCC) Board of Scientific Advisors.

The JCC Memorial fund “has taken a broad approach to the study of cell growth and development, emphasizing the study of the basic biology and chemistry of the underlying processes.” Previous awardees include CUs own Dr. Edward Chuong (BioFrontiers and MCDB), Dr. Robert Batey (Biochemistry), and Dr. Aaron Whiteley (Biochemistry).

Prior to joining ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��, Dr. Ledvina did her PhD research at the University of Washington in the lab of Dr. Joseph Mougous. There, she characterized a novel family of enzymes encoded by bacteria that can manipulate host cell membranes and promote bacterial growth. Additionally, her work revealed a previously unrecognized mechanism utilized by the pathogen Francisella tularensis during infection to obtain essential nutrients from the host. In recognition of her contributions to the field of bacterial pathogenesis, Dr. Ledvina was awarded the Helen R. Whiteley Dissertation Award.

Motivated by the desire to continue studying the molecular mechanisms underlying host-pathogen interactions, Dr. Ledvina joined the lab of Dr. Whiteley here at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��. Research in the Whiteley lab is focused on understanding the fundamental aspects of immune signaling and pathogenesis. Specifically, Dr. Ledvina is interested in the antagonist interplay between viruses and their host with the goal of uncovering novel antiviral therapeutic approaches.

Dr. Ledvina’s work funded by the JCC is focused on studying bacterial innate immune systems that defend against the viruses that invade bacteria, phages. Numerous facets of these pathways remain unknown, as do the mechanisms utilized by phages to evade immune detection. Dr. Ledvina plans to combine genetics, biochemistry, and microbiology to uncover to molecular mechanisms underlying these systems. Excitingly, bacterial immune systems are the progenitor to certain human innate immune pathways known to defend against viruses and cancer; therefore, findings from this work have the potential to be directly applicable to human health.

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Life of a Postdoc: Stephanie Moon

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 22:50:40 +0000

Life of a Postdoc: Stephanie Moon Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 09/21/2020 - 16:50

Dr. Stephanie Moon is working on ridding the world of disease. Beginning with an early obsession with finding a cure for chicken pox, Dr. Moon set her sights on RNA viruses, a family which includes some of the most prolific killers in human history: HIV, Zika, Hepatitis C, Ebola. Part of the challenge with these RNA viruses is the extremely rapid rate at which they can mutate, which means much shorter periods for natural selection to promote nasty traits such as immunoresistance and rarely, resistance to vaccination. Dr. Moon has spent the past five years as a post-doctoral research associate here at CU Biochem exploring just how RNA viruses make us sick.

Dr. Moon joined Professor Roy Parker’s lab as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome’s postdoctoral research fellow to look at how disrupted RNA degradation affects development and function in humans. As one of her lab’s senior researchers, a significant component of her role involves sharing the lab’s work with the broader scientific community. “It’s a huge component of working in a lab—networking. I was initially attracted to CU Biochem by the prospect of having Roy as a mentor, and since then I’ve found over the past few years our department is one community working together to tackle some really important questions.” She fondly remembers her first trip to Europe—a seminar where she presented the lab’s research—as one of the perks of her postdoctoral experience at CU.

These postdoctoral fellowships are a critical step in the careers of many professional scientists. Postdocs conduct research while gaining the necessary experience and skills to compete for faculty or industry research positions. Part of a postdoc’s job is applying for fellowships, i.e. actively seeking out funding streams for continued research. According to Dr. Moon, “you need to be in constant communication with your mentor throughout these application processes.” When it comes time to move on from the postdoc position, mentors can help navigate complex applications for competitive professorships or industry research positions that can take upwards of a year, and their connections and support can help you build a professional network beyond one's alma maters.

New American doctorates typically do a single postdoc for no longer than five years, while European scientists are more likely to take multiple positions and spend more of their early careers conducting postdoctoral research. Some funders explicitly limit funding to a set duration, reinforcing the expectation that graduates move on to more permanent positions. For relative newcomers such as Dr. Moon, improved benefits and compensation provide intrinsic motivation to forge ahead. While professorships allow for greater autonomy and permanence, they are highly competitive: “I’ve had colleagues who’ve had success after a year, while some have been successful after six or seven years. Multiple postdocs are becoming more prevalent in the United States, but the goal is still to keep the total time around five years.”

Preparing for a Career in Science

Dr. Moon grew up in rural Colorado, studying biology and chemistry at Fort Lewis College, working as a hospital lab technician post-graduation before eventually earning her Ph.D. in pathology from Colorado State University. She found transitioning to graduate school especially challenging due to her limited research experience “in a small lab, at a tiny school,” and a scarcity of micro-and-cellular biology course offerings at Fort Lewis. In terms of course offerings, Dr. Moons says CU Biochem students are much freer to choose courses tailored to a specific field of interest. She recommends all aspiring scientists develop core skills in writing, statistics, and computer science. “We do a lot in this field to visualize and analyze data, and a lot of that can now be streamlined with coding.” Dr. Moon also recommends current students utilize CU Biochem’s large research community as a critical resource: “One of the great opportunities for our undergrads is the ability to tailor their education to their goals, interact and work with professional scientists from their first semester, conduct real research, and publish work. For instance, Parker Lab is home to an undergrad named Gabe Tauber who’s already co-authored multiple publications.”

Given the chance, Dr. Moon would have worked harder to seek out undergraduate research opportunities, “especially if studying at a smaller school; look out for internships and research positions at larger schools and in bigger cities during your summer and spring breaks.” As a grad student, Dr. Moon often looked to social media for these research opportunities: “Twitter can be a valuable resource for finding and pursuing research, as you’re instantly connected to the global scientific community”. CU Biochem frequently posts information on research opportunities, seminars, and networking events to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. “You should also practice grant-writing and apply for funding as early as possible—I’ve been able to conduct research here [at CU] because of competitive postdoctoral fellowships such as these.” In January, Dr. Moon accepted an Assistant Professorship at the University of Michigan. While Dr. Moon may have moved on, we look forward to meeting our next group of postdocs and following our CU Biochem grads as they begin their own postdoctoral careers.

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