Molly McGovern Chair in Biomedical Research
There are a variety of rotation projects that use a variety of imaging and biochemical techniques to assess microglial function in the CNS. The main projects are highlighted below. 1. Dissecting novel molecular mechanisms underlying microglial function at synapses. 2. Exploring new roles for microglia in the spread of neuroinflammation in neurological disease. 3. Identifying novel ways microglia regulate other glial cell populations (astrocytes and oligodendrocytes) in the CNS.
Health Informatics And Implementation Science
Our Danny Cancer Fund Chair in Biomedical Research II
Postdoctoral positions are available for this lab. Please contact Eric Baehrecke directly, 508-856-6733 or via email, Eric.Baehrecke@umassmed.edu
Rotations <p >Project 1: Genetic screens for proteins that modify or regulate the activity of microRNAs in C. elegans.
Postdoctoral positions are available for this lab. Please contact Junhao Mao directly, 508-856-4149 or via email, Junhao.Mao@umassmed.edu
Please contact the Human Resources at UMass for openings in Dr. Bergmann's lab.
Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research Chair III
Please email Kate.Fitzgerald@umassmed.edu if you are interested in rotations.
A postdoctoral position is available to study in this laboratory. Contact Dr. Corvera for additional details.
Rotation Projects Our rotation projects are in the area of diabetes and obesity, and we are interested in basic mechanisms of cell proliferation, differentiation and communication. Diabetes is highly correlated with obesity, but why obesity causes disease in some humans and not others is not understood. Amazingly, we still don’t understand how adipose tissue grows in human adults. A better understanding of this fascinating process can give us insight into basic mechanisms of cell growth, differentiation and communication, as well as mechanisms of disease, not only diabetes but also cancer and developmental defects. During your rotation, you will work on an important piece of a larger project, that has a well-defined outcome. Thus, your successful completion of the rotation project will allow you to be included at the time of publication of the work. Project 1: Adipose tissue is not only formed by adipocytes, but by other cells such as endothelial, mural and immune cells. Also, there are multiple kinds of adipocytes with different functions. We have recently developed conditions to develop adipose tissue from humans in-vitro (adipose tissue “organoids”). From this tissue we have been able to separated single cells, and find that they grow into different kinds of clones. We are now conducting RNAseq on >300 of those clones, to determine how many cell types exist in human adipose tissue, and what their roles are. In this rotation, you will be able to analyze RNAseq data to define what genes characterize these cells, and you will use virus transduction to create immortalized cells for further study. Project 2: Adipose tissue has many functions besides storing and releasing lipids. It also has to coordinate metabolism in the whole body. We have found that human “beige” adipose tissue, which is found in people who are metabolically healthy, expresses genes for secreted factors that communicate with the immune system and the brain. These include IL-33 and enkephalins. In this project you will knockout these genes, and investigate whether this changes the function of adipose tissue when we implant it into immune compromised mice.
LAB ROTATION PROJECTS AVAILABLE -- PLEASE CONTACT SAM BEHAR FOR MORE INFORMATION
Focus: We seek to understand how the causative agent of tuberculosis, namely the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis evades host immunity, and how different components of the immune response work together to contain infection. Our ultimate goal is to inform vaccine development and the design of host directed therapy.
A postdoctoral position is available to study in this laboratory. Contact Dr. Mark Alkema for additional details. Contact Information: Mark Alkema, Ph.D. University of Massachusetts Medical School Department of Neurobiology, LRB 717 364 Plantation Street Worcester, MA 01605 USA phone: 508-856-6158 (office) phone: 508-856-8541 (lab) e-mail: mark.alkema@umassmed.edu
Rotation Projects 1) Molecular and neuronal characterization of C. elegans escape behavior Defining sensorimotor circuits requires detailed knowledge of the neural connectivity of the nervous system, and the ability to manipulate the functions of the component neurons and to define and quantify the behavioral outputs. The simplicity and completely defined synaptic connectivity of C. elegans nervous system provides unique opportunity to dissect how neural networks control behavior. 2) Identify genes involved in the processing, expression and subunit composition of voltage-gated calcium channels The release of neurotransmitter from synaptic vesicles is critical for the propagation of signals that generate behavioral outputs. Voltage-gated calcium channels provide the calcium influx essential for synaptic vesicle exocytosis. We are characterizing mutants to identify new genes involved in the proper assembly, expression and trafficking of functional calcium channels. 3) Investigate the evolutionary origins of escape behavior Nematophagous fungi employ a variety of strategies to capture worms. In predator-prey experiments, we have been able to show that the suppression of head movements allows the animal to escape from constricting traps. Further investigation of the neurobiology behind the escape from predation may provide insight into how this behavior evolves. Contact Information: Mark Alkema, Ph.D. University of Massachusetts Medical School Department of Neurobiology, LRB 717 364 Plantation Street Worcester, MA 01605 USA phone: 508-856-6158 (office) phone: 508-856-8541 (lab) e-mail: mark.alkema@umassmed.edu
Pathogen genetics of the host immune response
How the cholinergic nervous system communicates peroxisomal stress to the whole organism during bacteria infection
Role and regulation of novel innate immune effectors that are conserved across animalia
Focus: Microbiota-gut-brain axis in C. elegans; mucosal innate immunity; staphylococcus aureus; transcriptional regulation of host defense; autophagy; lysosomes; peroxisomes
Population and Quantitative Health Sciences
Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology