On May 20th, 2021, the Board of Regents approved the following promotions of our RNA research community members: Dawen Cai, associate professor of cell and developmental biology, with tenure, Medical School, and associate professor of biophysics, without tenure, College of LSA (featured scientist) Justin A. Colacino, associate professor of environmental health sciences,  with tenure, and associate…

Featured Researcher – Sydney Rosenblum, Graduate Student

    Sydney Rosenblum Graduate Student Program in Chemical Biology Rackham Graduate School Faculty-Mentor: Amanda Garner Garner Lab   Broadly, I am interested in RNA and RNA-protein interactions as drug targets and using chemical biology to develop methods of probing or inhibiting those interactions. How does RNA relate to your research interests, and why? I…

RNA Featured Researcher – Rachel Torrez, Medicinal Chemistry

Rachel Torrez Graduate Student, Ph.D. Candidate Department of Medicinal Chemistry College of Pharmacy Faculty-Mentor: Dr. Amanda Garner and Dr. Melanie Ohi Twitter: @torrez_rach  Linkedin Ohi Lab Garner Lab My research focuses on using cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to study the structure and function of an enzyme called DICER1. DICER1 is a large, highly dynamic, multidomain…

RNA Featured Researcher – Maha Hanafi, Ph.D., Medicinal Chemistry

Maha Hanafi, Ph.D. Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy Alumna, April 2021 Faculty-Mentor: Professor Nouri Neamati LinkedIn: Maha Zidan My research involves drug discovery where I focus on identifying novel anticancer agents for the treatment of various cancers especially pancreatic cancer being one of the most aggressive malignancies. I am always excited about my research and…

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U-M RNA scientists identify many genes involved in neuron development

Neurons result from a highly complex and unique series of cell divisions. For example, in fruit flies, the process starts with stem cells that divide into mother cells (progenitor cells), that then divide into precursor cells that eventually become neurons. A team of the University of Michigan (U-M), spearheaded by Nigel Michki, a graduate student,…

The RNA Collaborative celebrates its first year of success!

Launched at the initiative of the University of Michigan Center for RNA Biomedicine, and inaugurated on April 22, 2020, with a seminar hosted by the Yale Center for RNA Science and Medicine, the RNA Collaborative Seminar Series is a growing grassroots effort, now supported by the international RNA Society and involving 21 RNA research partners…

RNA Featured Researcher – Dawen Cai, Cell & Developmental Biology, and Biophysics

Dawen Cai, Ph.D. Associate Professor Cell and Developmental Biology, Medical School Biophysics, LS&A Affiliated with Neuroscience Graduate Program, Medical School Cai Lab Michigan Expert   What is the role of RNA in your research? We use scRNAseq to identify transcription factors that play critical roles in determining neuronal subtypes. Is there a layman image to…

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RNA holds the reins in bacteria: U-M researchers observe RNA controlling protein synthesis

ANN ARBOR—To better understand how RNA in bacteria gives rise to protein—and along the way, target these processes in the design of new antibiotics—researchers are turning their attention to the unique way this process happens in bacteria. In eukaryotic cells, transcription (the process by which information in a DNA strand is copied into messenger RNA)…

RNA Featured Researcher – Ahmed Malik, Ph.D., Neuroscience Graduate Program and Neurology

Ahmed Malik, Ph.D. MSTP fellow Neuroscience Graduate Program and Department of Neurology Medical School Faculty-Mentor: Sami Barmada, M.D., Ph.D. Barmada Lab Google Scholar READ HIS STORY My dissertation work focused on the DNA- and RNA-binding protein Matrin 3. Mutations in this protein cause inherited neurodegenerative and muscular disease, and Matrin 3 pathology is also seen…

Connecting neuronal activity to RNA and bench to bedside

A Ph.D. dissertation is a huge accomplishment, resulting from four, five or more years of intense research and training. To become a Ph.D. is a remarkable challenge both scientifically and intellectually that requires a deep personal and emotional commitment. A doctoral defense is not only the culmination of years of hard work, but it also…

Over 550 RNA fans attend our 5th Annual Symposium, March 25-26, 2021

With over 550 participants, this two-day symposium virtually gathered the vibrant RNA research community from the University of Michigan (U-M), the US, and around the world. The symposium opened with remarks by Nils Walter, co-director of the U-M Center for RNA Biomedicine, who reminded the attendees of the importance of RNA research for society, as…

Featured Researcher – Michelle Paulsen, Radiation Oncology

Michelle Paulsen Research Laboratory Specialist Intermediate Bru-Seq Lab – Mats Ljungman Lab (Center for RNA Biomedicine core facility) Radiation Oncology, Medical School Website What is the role of RNA in your research? In the Ljungman Lab, RNA features predominantly as we developed the Bru-seq suite of techniques almost 20 years ago.  Bru-seq is a next…

Featured Researcher – Arushi Varshney, Ph.D., Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics

Arushi Varshney, Ph.D. Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics Medical School Faculty-Mentor: Stephen C. J. Parker Google scholar LinkedIn  Twitter Through my research, I aim to better understand how predisposition to complex metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) is encoded in our DNA. I employ computational and statistical approaches to analyze large high-throughput data sets…

RNA Featured Researcher – Becky Glineburg, Neurology

    Becky Glineburg, Ph.D. Postdoctorate Neurology, Medical School Faculty-Mentor: Peter Todd, M.D., Ph.D. Google Scholar I’m fascinated with how nucleic acid structure dictates various molecular pathways and mechanisms. Currently I’m investigating how GC-rich RNA repeat expansions promote an aberrant form of translation (RAN translation) and how this process contributes to neurodegenerative disease. I am…

How the time was just right for developing a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine

Over 1,450 people attended our webinar with Melissa Moore, Chief Scientific Officer at Moderna Therapeutics, on March 3rd, 2021. In her presentation, Dr. Moore explained how the mRNA vaccine works, and how it was developed in record time of just 45 days. To put an end to this pandemic, she strongly encouraged the audience to…

Featured Researcher – Megan Trotter, Ph.D. Candidate

Megan Trotter, Ph.D. Candidate Human Genetics,Medical School Faculty-Mentor – Dr. Sundeep Kalantry LinkedIn Kalantry’s Lab   What are your research interests? I study epigenetic factors that influence X-chromosome inactivation. X-inactivation takes place in female mammals to equalize X-linked gene expression to that of males. However, even in cells that have undergone X-inactivation, there is still…

A scientist who “shrunk” down to explore a cell

Karen Montoya is a fourth year Ph.D. candidate in Nils Walter’s lab (Department of Chemistry, College of LSA) where she is studying state-of-the-art single molecule spectroscopy and imaging. Montoya’s interests in biosciences were sparked in part by “Osmosis Jones,” an animated action comedy about one white blood cell’s race against the biological clock to hunt…