An interview with Peter Todd, M.D, Ph.D., Neurology, Medical School, University of Michigan (U-M), and member of the Executive Committee of the U-M Center for RNA Biomedicine Dr. Todd will serve as co-director of a Fragile X Center without walls with investigators at U-M, Baylor College of Medicine, and Emory University. This Fragile X Center…
Once again, the Nobel Prize recognizes the most revolutionary and innovative scientific discoveries that have the highest potential to transform humankind. Drs. Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier, both biochemists, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2020 “for the development of a method for genome editing,” known as CRISPR. This RNA-guided tool allows to change…
Kristin Koutmou Assistant Professor Chemistry, College of LSA Website: koutmoulab.com Twitter: @KoutmouLab Cells face the daunting challenge of synthesizing the correct number of proteins at the right time with high fidelity. My lab studies how cells control the process of protein synthesis by the ribosome. We are developing and implementing analytical, biochemical, and biophysical approaches…
Maria G. Castro, Ph.D. Professor, Neurosurgery and Cell and Developmental Biology Medical School Tweeter: @castro2355_mg Research Gate: Maria G. Castro LinkedIn Lab Website Google Scholar: Maria G Castro Dr Castro’s research program focuses on epigenetic regulation of brain cancer progression, uncovering the role of oncometabolites in the tumor microenvironment. Her program also aims to develop immunotherapies…
Daniel Wilinski, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow; Principal Investigator/Faculty Dr. Monica Dus Department Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology College of LSA My research is aimed at understanding how metabolism modulates the control of brain RNAs. Currently, I am investigating how dietary sugar impacts dynamic neuronal RNA modifications which are necessary to maintain proper glucose homeostasis. NIH National…
Patricia Wittkopp, Ph.D. Arthur F. Thurnau Professor and Sally L. Allen Collegiate Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology, College of LSA Lab Website Google Scholar My research aims to understand the genetic, molecular, and evolutionary mechanisms responsible for phenotypic differences within and between species. Changes in gene expression are…
RNA Translated’s main focus is on “2020, the year of the RNA viruses,” with representative contributions from 10 RNA faculty members. We also feature our two Research Cores and broadly report on the Center’s activity with a few highlights. With this publication, we aim to showcase the outstanding achievements and deep impact of the scientific collaborations…
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On the occasion of the National Postdoc Appreciation Week, September 21st–25th, the University of Michigan (U-M) Center for RNA Biomedicine’s community warmly thanks UM’s postdocs for their tremendous contributions to the field of RNA research and to the life of our scientific community. According to the U-M Postdoctoral Association (UMPDA), an estimated 1,400 to 1,600…
Dear Colleagues, While the COVID-19 pandemic has been causing major disruptions as well as many inconveniences, it also offers some new opportunities; perhaps now is the most opportune time to make new interpersonal connections, start new scientific collaborations, and broaden one’s horizons by learning from others. Through our activities below, we aim to support the…
Sami Barmada, M.D., Ph.D. Associate professor Neurology, Medical School Website What is the role of RNA in your research? RNA homeostasis is crucial for neuronal function and health. We study the regulation of RNA and protein homeostasis, and how abnormalities in these processes lead to neurodegenerative diseases. The image shows two neurons — the one…
Lydia Freddolino, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Biological Chemistry, Medical School Lab website Google scholar profile In general, I’m interested in how and why bacteria make decisions. We have a love/hate relationship with bacteria: half the time we want them to make things for us, the other half, we want to kill them. Knowing how the regulatory…
Four Associate Professors and one Professor! The Board of Regents of May 21st, 2020, approved recommendations for new appointments and promotions for regular associate and full professor ranks of the University of Michigan. The following Center for RNA Biomedicine’s members were further appointed: Sami J. Barmada, associate professor of neurology, with tenure, Medical School…
A cross-disciplinary team of scientists from the University of Michigan (U-M) has developed a biochemical technique that successfully measures the number of individual protein molecules present in blood at low concentrations. These findings are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), September 2020. The scientists developed special antibody probes that…
By Elisabeth Paymal A team of scientists associated with the University of Michigan Center for RNA Biomedicine discovered unexpected cellular adaptation mechanisms in response to dehydration. The observed protein reaction has never been reported before. The research began while observing processing bodies (P-Bodies), which are membrane-less organelles (MLO) involved in RNA degradation in human cells….
Amanda Garner Associate Professor, Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy Member of our Executive Committee Lab Website Twitter: @ALGchembio The Garner Laboratory uses chemical biology, medicinal chemistry and molecular and cellular biology approaches to investigate the high-risk/high-reward areas of targeting microRNAs, RNA-protein and protein-protein interactions for probe and drug discovery. These efforts are part of…
Sara Aton, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology College of LSA Lab Website Google Scholar profile ResearchGate profile Research interests The functions of sleep are a major unsolved mystery in modern biology. Increasing evidence suggests that sleep is by and for the brain, and our lab is focused on understanding what sleep…
ANN ARBOR, MI, AUGUST 19, 2020—”A pair” of scientists from the University of Michigan (U-M) Center for RNA Biomedicine receives the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) Collaborative Pairs Pilot Project Awards. The U-M Center for RNA Biomedicine brought together two scientists for this highly competitive grant: principal investigator Stephanie Moon, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in Human Genetics,…
Sethu Pitchiaya, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Urology Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology Medical school Website: https://www.pathology.med.umich.edu/faculty/sethu Website: https://sethupitchiaya.org/ Twitter: @SethuPitchiaya Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=flPaAgUAAAAJ&hl=en I want to understand the fundamental principles governing RNA(-based) regulation and learn how this regulatory program goes awry in cancer. To do so, I take a spatially-resolved single-cell and single-molecule…
The Center for RNA Biomedicine is offering Grant Sprints. For more information, please contact Maria Stieve. Photo: Grant Sprint at the U-M Center for RNA Biomedicine, October 2019, clockwise from left to right, Elizabeth Tidwell, Markos Koutmos, Aaron Frank, Brandon Ruotolo, Varun Gadkari. Curiosity and passion lead scientists to their field of research, but a…
