Proposals for Next Classification Schema of Myeloid Neoplasms
Dept of Biochem & Mol Biol And Dept of Chem
Health Informatics And Implementation Science
Biostatistics And Health Services Research
Elisabeth Chair for the Dean of Medicine
Cutler Chair in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery
Our Danny Cancer Fund Chair in Biomedical Research I
A postdoctoral position is available to study in this laboratory. Contact Dr. Kelliher for additional details.
Please visit the Kelliher Lab website at: http://labs.umassmed.edu/kelliherlab/ to learn more about our current research areas. 1. Identify genes/pathways that mediate leukemia-initiating cell survival 2. Understand the molecular basis of glucocorticoid resistance in leukemia 3. Examine contribution of RIPK1 kinase in inflammatory and autoimmune disease mouse models. 4. Reveal tissue-specific roles for RIPK1 in cell death and inflammation. Use conditional Ripk1 allele to investigate effects of Ripk1 deletion in liver, pancreas and antigen presenting cells.
<p >Rotation Projects: Characterization of gene which influences survival in sporadic ALS patients. Characterization of 2 newly identified familial ALS genes. Development of a new mouse model for familial ALS. Positional cloning of novel genes which cause familial ALS.
Donna M. and Robert J. Manning Chair in Neurosciences
Dr. Brown’s laboratory has focused on the identification of gene defects that elucidate the molecular pathogenesis of selected neuromuscular diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), muscular dystrophy, adrenoleukodystrophy, hereditary neuropathy and hyperkalemic periodic paralysis.
The lab is currently looking for motivated postdoctoral scholars with backgrounds in genomics and computational biology. Please email the PI.
Rotation projects are available related to malaria and Burkitt lymphoma. Our projects range from genetic epidemiology to directed genomics studying human, parasite and tumor.
Please contact the Human Resources at UMass for openings in Dr. Bergmann's lab.
David J. Freelander Memorial Professor in AIDS Research
Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research Chair III
Please email Kate.Fitzgerald@umassmed.edu if you are interested in rotations.
Isadore and Fannie Foxman Chair in Medical Research
A postdoctoral position is available to study in this laboratory. Contact Dr. Czech for additional details.
Mentoring……………………………………………………………………………………………………… The Czech laboratory is active in mentoring graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Many former student and postdoctoral trainees of the Czech laboratory are now internationally recognized professors at major universities and medical schools. These former lab members include: Paul Pilch, Professor of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine Jeffrey Pessin, Professor and Director of the Diabetes Center, Einstein College of Medicine Joan Massague, Director, Sloan Kettering Institute Roger Davis, HHMI investigator and Professor of Molecular Medicine, UMASS Medical School Silvia Corvera, Professor of Molecular Medicine, Co-Director of the MD/PhD Program, UMASS Medical School Carla Greenbaum, Vice Chair and Director of Clinical Research, Benaroya Research Institute Jes Klarlund, Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Rob Lewis, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Eppley Cancer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center Richard MacDonald, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Eppley Cancer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center Assia Shisheva, Professor of Physiology, Wayne State School of Medicine. Mark Sleeman, Professor of Physiology, Monash University, Australia John Harris, Associate Professor of Medicine, UMASS Medical School Zhen Jiang, Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Medicine, Boston University Vishu Puri, Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University Olga Gupta, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Tim Fitzgibbons, Assistant Professor of Medicine, UMASS Medical School Myriam Aouadi, Assistant Professor, Integrated Cardio Metabolic Centre, Karolinska Institute Adilson Guilherme, Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts Medical School Our laboratory currently offers graduate student Rotation Projects (examples below and others available) and Thesis Research Projects for students following a rotation: Developing CRISPR technology for gene editing in adipocytes: Adipocytes function as master regulators of whole body metabolism and deletions of specific adipocyte genes in knockout mice promote dramatic improvements in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in diabetic models. Thus the ability to direct gene editing in adipocytes in vivo has great potential in developing therapeutic strategies for obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular complications. Alternatively, an ex vivo approach is also feasible since adipose cells can be genetically altered in vitro prior to implantation into mice with beneficial effects. Such projects are designed to be performed in collaboration with other Czech lab members with the goal of specifically deleting or editing genes in adipose depots that drive increases in fatty acid oxidation, energy expenditure and systemic metabolic activity. Exciting preliminary data at the “proof of principle” stage has been achieved and this project is designed to focus on specific genes of high interest for therapeutics. Signaling by the lipogenesis pathway through Acetyl CoA: A major function of adipocytes is to store calories as triglyceride, in part through the process of fatty acid synthesis (lipogenesis). This metabolic pathway involves a number of metabolites including Acetyl CoA, which is also a substrate for acetylation reactions that modify proteins such as histones. Thus metabolic flux through adipocyte lipogenesis may also function as a signaling pathway to the nucleus to modulate transcription via levels of Acetyl CoA that accumulate during this process. This rotation project is designed to test this idea at the molecular level by monitoring histone acetylations and resultant transcriptional events during changes in Acetyl CoA levels caused by altering physiological conditions such as exercise, obesity and diabetes. If this concept is correct, the project could lead to developing therapeutic strategies for metabolic disease based on targeting lipogenic enzymes.
H. Arthur Smith Chair in Cancer Research
Rotation Projects Laboratory rotations are available to study signal mammalian transduction mechanisms. Several projects are available, including studies of protein kinase cascades, gene expression, the cell cycle, and apoptosis. Targeted gene disruption approaches in mice combined with biochemical and molecular biology studies will be examined.
Dr. Henninger is a vascular neurologist with research interest in the neurobiology of axonal injury associated with traumatic brain injury and its contribution to functional outcome.
Neil and Margery Blacklow Chair in Infectious Diseases and Immunology
Immediate opening! Two postdoctoral positions are available immediately to study cellular andmolecular mechanisms resulting in immunosuppression after alcohol use. Thefocus of this research is the role of monocytes and dendritic cells indecreased antigen-specific T cell activation after alcohol use.Intracellular signalling mechanisms resulting in decreased NF-kBactivation and inflammatory cytokine induction after acute alcoholconsumption are being investigated. Please contact Dr. Szabo for details.
A postdoctoral position is available to study in this laboratory. Contact Dr. Rogaev for additional details.
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.
Herman G. Berkman Chair in Diabetes Care Innovation
Potential Rotation Projects Rotation projects in my laboratory will involve questions of how cilia are assembled and the function these organelles play in mammals. Projects vary depending on ongoing work in the laboratory and interests of the rotation student. Rotations in my laboratory can give students exposure to a range of techniques from mouse breeding and histological analysis of mouse tissues to mammalian cell culture and other cell biological techniques.
A postdoctoral position is available to study in this laboratory. Contact Dr. Craig for additional details.
Potential Rotation Projects Project #1: Lipid-Layer Protein Crystallization for Electron Microscopy.While individual protein molecules can be readily visualized by EM, structural information is greatly enhanced if the molecules can by crystallized into 2-dimensional ordered arrays. Methods for achieving this are well established, making use of lipid monolayers at an air-water interface. Follow literature methods to crystallize "standard" proteins using the lipid-layer method. Observe results by electron microscopy following negative staining. If time permits, carry out preliminary image processing of micrographs and/or crystallization of unknown proteins. Techniques to be learned: lipid layer crystallization methods; grid preparation; use of electron microscope; image processing.
Distinguished Professor and Chair Emeritus
<p >Rotation Projects <p >Rotation projects are designed to expose students to the molecular cell biology of solid tumors and to provide them with an appreciation for translational cancer research. Specific rotation projects, which are focused on the major themes of the lab, include: <p >Function and Regulation of Integrins (Cell Adhesion Receptors) in Cancer Epigenetic mechanisms that regulate integrin gene expression in human cancers Regulation of integrin expression and function during the EMT Role of specfic microRNAs (miRs) in regulating integrin function and signaling Contribution of integrins to carcinoma progression using mouse models of breast carcinoma <p >Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Signaling, EMT and Carcinoma Progression Function and expression of VEGF receptors in carcinoma cells Regulation of VEGF transcription in response to EMT stimuli Role of miRs in regulating VEGF receptors and signaling Contribution of VEGF signaling to the behavior of aggressive, de-differentiated carcinomas <p >Nuclear Hormone Receptors and EMT Role of estrogen receptors in regulating the EMT Regulation of VEGF transcription by estrogen receptors
Potential Rotation Projects <p >Our laboratory combines genetic and biochemical approaches to investigate the molecular underpinnings of adaptation. Potential rotation projects are available in two general (and partially overlapping) areas: exploring fitness landscapes through systematic approaches and investigating the molecular mechanism of the Hsp90 chaperone in signal transduction. Please contact the lab to discuss specific rotation projects in more detail.
Richard M. Haidack Professor in Medicine
Dr. John Meyers Professor in Primary Care Medicine
Population and Quantitative Health Sciences
DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR AND CHAIR EMERITUS
Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology
Healthcare Delivery and Population Sciences at UMass Chan - Baystate
Susan D Moffatt-Bruce MD, PhD, FRCSC, MBOE, MBA,FACS
Preventing Osteoarthritis After an ACL Injury
Preventing Osteoarthritis After an ACL Injury Playing the Long Game: Consensus for Preventing OA
Preventing Osteoarthritis After an ACL Injury Playing the Long Game: Consensus for Preventing OA Characteristics of Accelerated Hand Osteoarthritis
Joseph D. Early Chair in Biomedical Research
Prevention Strategies for Second Primary Malignancies After CAR-T Therapy
The Darkest Side of AML: The TP53 Mutation
Clonal Hematopoiesis in Clinical Practice: Real-World Insights
Unpacking CHIP: Recent Updates, Remaining Questions
Dr Patel on the Impact of Donor-Engrafted Clonal Hematopoiesis on Outcomes With Auto-/Allo-HSCT
Effects of donor-engrafted clonal hematopoiesis in stem cell transplantation
High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome Findings in the SELECT-MDS-1 Study
Stem Cell Transplantation: How Clonal Hematopoiesis Shapes Patient Outcomes
Olutasidenib as a Breakthrough for R/R mIDH1 AML Patients
The Impact of Mutations in Clonal Hematopoiesis
TP53 in MDS & AML Prognostication & Treatment Strategies
Exploring the Biological Basis of TP53-Aberrant MDS & AML
Improving Outcomes in Blast Phase Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
ASH Clinical News - Practical Solutions Amid Cuts to Federally Funded Research
OncLive with Dr. Patel and Dr. Gerber: p53 Immunohistochemistry
Early Identification of TP53-Mutant MDS and AML Using p53 Immunostaining
Point-of-Care p53 IHC Unveils TP53-Mutant MDS/AML
IHC Enables Rapid Identification of TP53-Mutant MDS/AML
ASH Clinical News: p53 Immunohistochemistry for TP53-Mutant MDS/AML
p53 Immunostain in TP53-Mutant MDS and AML