Rotation projects include development of nanobodies for prevention and treatment of mucosal disease (viral and bacteria).
School of Public Health and Health Sciences
Health Informatics And Implementation Science
Biostatistics And Health Services Research
Additional information about lab rotations within the CPHR program can be found athttp://www.umassmed.edu/cphr/program/rotations.aspx
Rotation Projects Rotation projects are available in support of our research. See the research description section of this page.
David J. Freelander Memorial Professor in AIDS Research
Potential Rotation Projects Contact Dr. Sullivan for more project details.
Background for Student Rotation Projects <p >See Politz, Hogan and Pederson (2009) and Politz et al. (2005) in the above list. The novel microRNA work may be the most suitable for student rotations. Potential Rotation Projects <p >Are the nucleolar microRNAs pri-, pre- or mature? <p >Are they complexed with other nucleolar RNAs? <p >Do the cell cycle related proteins in the nucleolus exist as heterotypic complexes? <p >Does the nucleolus of human embryonic stem cells also share these features (which we have so far looked for, and found, only in transformed human cell lines)? <p >Can vanadium tagging be used to detect specific proteins by electron microscopy, perhaps exceeding the limitations of immuno-EM?
Arthur F. and Helen P. Koskinas Professor in Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology
Postdoctoral Fellow Applications are being accepted for one position. A position is available to develop Cys2His2 zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) for the treatment of monogenic disorders. This project will focus on the creation of ZFPs with novel DNA-binding specificity to recognize sequence elements within genomic loci of therapeutic interest. In collaboration with other laboratories, we will evaluate the activity of these ZFP-based gene therapy reagents in vitro and in vivo in relevant disease models. Applicants will also have the opportunity to learn to apply Cas9 and Cas12a editing systems in vivo.
Potential Rotation Projects Improving the Precision of CRISPR/Cas9 nucleases for gene therapy applications: We are working to improve the precision of the CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate nucleases that will cleave at only a single site in the genome. These engineering efforts focus on increasing the DNA-editing precision of Cas9 and using protein engineering to introduce new properties into the nuclease. Much of this work is now transitioning to the use of Cas9 (and Cas12a) protein-RNA complexes. These modified nucleases will then be applied to patient derived cell-culture systems for the targeted repair or inactivation of disease-causing alleles. With the eventual goal of creating therapeutics for Sickle Cell Disease, beta-Thalassemia, HIV, Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy, Hermansky Pudlak Syndrome and other monogenic disorders. ex vivo genome editing in CD34+ HSPCs: We are developing improved Cas9 proteins for delivery ex vivo into CD34+ HSPCs for therapeutic application to sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia. The goal is to modify the hematopoietic stem cells of a patient to complement the loss of function of the beta-globin gene and then return these cells to the patient through an autologous transplant. Development of Cys2His2 Zinc fingers proteins (ZFPs) as targeted therapeutics: We are developing artificial ZFPs for the regulation of target genes to change their gene expression profiles for therapeutic applications.
UMass Memorial Health Care Chair in Biomedical Research
Potential Rotation Projects: Contact Dr. Luzuriaga for project details.
Interests: Psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne vulgaris, perioral dermatitis, fungal infections, cutaneous malignancies, infectious diseases, medical education
Susan Lynn Sullivan-Bolyai DNSc, MN, RN, CNS, FAAN
A postdoctoral position is available to study in this laboratory. Contact Dr. Gottlinger for additional details.
Potential Rotation Projects 1.The identification of novel binding partners for cellular proteins required for HIV-1 budding using a double tag immunoaffinity purification approach. 2.The characterization of mutant ESCRT-III components that block HIV-1 budding with regard to subcellular localization and their ability to interact with certain phosphoinositol lipids and with other proteins involved in late endosomal sorting. 3.The mapping of binding sites for cellular proteins that we have identified as specific components of HIV-1 using GST pulldown, yeast two-hybrid, and co-immunoprecipitation approaches. 4.The generation and functional characterization of mutant viral Gag proteins that fail to interact with specific cellular partners.
Population and Quantitative Health Sciences
Focus: The Munro laboratory develops and applies quantitative biophysical approaches to visualize virus replication, and probe the functions of the proteins and RNAs involved.
Focus: Viral entry, antibodies & vaccines, single molecule techniques
Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology
Healthcare Delivery and Population Sciences at UMass Chan - Baystate
New England AIDS Education and Training Center