Endowed Chair in Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology I
School of Public Health and Health Sciences
Health Informatics And Implementation Science
Fiocruz-Minas Caroline Junqueira, PhD - Staff Scientist Camila Brabosa, PhD student - Mapping of CD8 T cell-specifc Epitopes from Malaria Blood Stage Gregorio Almeida, DVM, PhD - Immunology of Asymptomatic Malaria Guilherme Maia, PhD - Innate Lymphocytes in Malaria Isabella Hirako, PhD - Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells in Malaria Júlia Castro, MSc student - Chagas Disease Vaccine Larissa Pereira, MSc student - Inflammatory Caspases in Malaria Kely Mateucci, PhD - Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells Metabolism in Malaria Milton Pereira, PhD - Caspases and inflammasomes in Malaria and Chagas Disease Natalia Satchiko Souza, PhD - CD8+ T cells in malaria UMASS Danielle Durso, PhD - IRAKs and Myddosomes in host resistance to T. gondii Patricia Assis, PhD - Host Clock genes and Malaria Ogooluwa Ojelabi, PhD - Glucose Metabolism and Malaria
Elisabeth Chair for the Dean of Medicine
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
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.
Postdoctoral positions are available for this lab. Please contact Junhao Mao directly, 508-856-4149 or via email, Junhao.Mao@umassmed.edu
Lab rotations are currently available in this lab. Please contact Dr. Kim.
My research for almost 30 years has focused on obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes and explores the molecular link between inflammation and insulin resistance using transgenic mice with elegant in vivo metabolic experiments and molecular approaches. My research also investigates the role of inflammation and altered metabolism in diabetic heart disease.
William and Doris Krupp Professor in Medicine
Potential Rotation Projects Mapping glucose transporter ligand binding sites. Mapping GLUT1 intramolecular contacts. How does cell shape regulate glucose transport? Using transporter chimeras to map specificity and functional domains. Development of a transwell model for blood brain barrier function. Site directed GLUT1 mutagenesis to test specific hypotheses for GLUT1 function. For specific details on each project, please e-mail me at: anthony.carruthers@umassmed.edu
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.
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.
UMass Chan Medical School Chair in Biomedical Research
A postdoctoral position is available to study in this laboratory. Contact Dr. Rock for additional details.
Potential Rotation Projects <p >Rotations are available in Dr. Rock’s laboratory for graduate students in the GSBS program. The rotation projects will explore various aspects of how the immune system carries out surveillance to detect viral infections and cancers. Among the potential areas of research are: (1) The alarm signals that alert the immune system to potential danger; (2) The initial innate immune and inflammatory response to infection or other dangerous situations; (3) The biology of the sentinel cells (e.g. dendritic cells) that sense danger and report it the adaptive immune system; (4) The mechanisms by which sentinel cells (e.g. dendritic cells) acquire and display antigens to T cells; and, (5) The antigen presentation pathways by which virally infected or cancer cells display a sampling of their expressed gene products to the activated T cells. Specific rotation projects are chosen based on the student’s interests and state/availability of the various projects in the laboratory. The goals of rotations are for the student to gain knowledge in immunology, to learn how to approach experimental problems, to learn new techniques and methods, and to actually generate data that moves our knowledge forward. In addition, the rotation provides the student the opportunity to evaluate the laboratory as a possible place to conduct their thesis research in the future.
Remondi Family Chair in Biomedical Research
POSTDOCTORAL POSITION: RNAI PRECLINICAL DEVELOPMENT Excellent training opportunity for a person considering industrial carrier in drug development Oligonucleotides represent a new class of drugs, which have the promise to become a major class of future therapeutics. There are several classes of oligonucleotides which can efficiently silence genes in various tissues with acceptable level of toxicity. There are also new chemistries being developed to further improve oligonucleotide tissue distribution and cellular uptake. The successful candidate will be a key part of an intra-disciplinary team working with biologists and chemists to develop novel types of therapeutics for treatment of neurological disease, liver disease and orphan indications. The work will include compounds identification, screening, characterization, in vivo efficacy and PK/PD studies, novel assays development etc. In addition exposure and training in nucleic acid pre-clinical development, project management etc will be provided. QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must have (or expect to obtain shortly) a Ph.D. in Chemistry, Organic Chemistry Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology or a related field , be bright, ambitious, independent and collaborative and ideally, have research experience in nucleic acid molecular cell biology or pharmacology.
RNAI MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY/ RNA OLIGONUCLEOTIDE CHEMISTRY Develop and characterize novel RNA chemistries to promote efficient oligonucleotide internalization and tissue distribution. Oligonucleotides represent a new class of drugs, which have the promise to become a major class of future therapeutics. There are several chemistries and formulations developed by us and others that effectively support oligo internalization and favorable PK/PD. In most cases in vivo efficacy is limited by (1) poor PK (2) inefficient tissue distribution (3) compound entrapment in biologically inactive intracellular compartments. The objective of future studies will be development of novel chemistries, which promote receptor mediated cellular internalization and/ or endosomal escape. The successful candidate will be responsible for the design and synthesis of novel RNA precursors, optimization of RNA synthesis and conjugation protocols and interface with the biology part of the lab. In addition, exposure to pre-clinical development programs and oligonucleotide manufacturing will be available. QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must have (or expect to obtain shortly) a Ph.D. in Chemistry, Organic Chemistry Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology or a related field , be bright, ambitious, independent and collaborative and have previous experience in nucleic acid / oligonucleotide chemistry.
SMALL RNA TRAFFICKING Discover, characterize and adapt mechanisms of small RNA extracellular and intracellular trafficking for development of novel classes of oligonucleotide drugs. A serious limitation in realizing the potential of oligonucleotide based therapies has been the exceedingly inefficient transit of oligonucleotides from outside cells to the intracellular compartments where the biologically relevant activity happens. On the other hand, there are multiple lines of evidence supporting the notion that nature has implemented evolutionarily conserved mechanisms and pathways for efficiently trafficking small RNAs across cellular boundaries. The objective of future studies will be the systematic evaluation of mechanisms of cellular uptake of different classes of oligonucleotides and their comparison to mechanisms of native RNA trafficking using a combination of experimental approaches, including advanced RNA chemistry and high temporal and spatial resolution microscopy in living cells, Mass spectrometry, cell biology and others. The successful candidate will work closely with Victor Ambros and Silvia Corvera labs and the UMASS imaging group and receive training in RNA chemistry, biochemistry, cell biology and pre-clinical development. QUALIFICATIONS:Applicants must have (or expect to obtain shortly) a Ph.D. in Chemistry, Organic Chemistry Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology or a related field , be bright, ambitious, independent and collaborative and ideally, have research experience in nucleic acid molecular and cell biology
Our laboratory uses a combination of nucleic acid and oligonucleotide chemistry, biochemistry, cell biology, and pharmacology and develops and evaluate novel technologies for development of oligonucleotide therapeutics. A rotation project is available to develop and identify chemically modified self-delivering RNAi compounds for treatment of Huntington and other diseases.
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.
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.
Gretchen Stone Cook Chair in Biomedical Sciences
A postdoctoral position is available to study in this laboratory. Contact Dr. Zamore for additional details
Potential Rotation Projects Our laboratory uses a combination of biochemistry, cell biology, and genetics to dissect the RNAi pathway. A rotation project is available to explore the mechanisms that underlie the RNAi phenomenon or the biological pathways in which RNAi enzymes participate in flies, mice and humans.
Please contact Dr. Imbalzano to discuss the possibility of a postdoctoral training.See lab research interests and publications for recent topics of research. http://www.umassmed.edu/imbalzanolab/ http://www.umassmed.edu/imbalzanolab/publications/
Please contact Dr. Imbalzano to discuss the possibility of a rotation project. Rotation projects are generally based on current work and tailored to the interests of the student. See lab research interests and publications for recent topics. http://www.umassmed.edu/imbalzanolab/ http://www.umassmed.edu/imbalzanolab/publications/
Arthur F. Koskinas Chair in Neuroscience
Many rotation projects are available so please inquire.
Herman G. Berkman Chair in Diabetes Care Innovation
Graduate students are encouraged to contact Heidi Tissenbaum to discuss projects available for rotations. Each student has a project tailored for both their abilities and class time commitments.
Potential Rotation Projects Several rotation projects are available in structural biology of immune receptors, antigen presentation pathways, T-cell activation, and development of novel T-cell detection reagents. Please see Prof. Stern for details.
<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
A postdoctoral position is available to study in this laboratory. Contact Dr.Guertin for additional details.
Population and Quantitative Health Sciences
Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology
National Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Center
Tweets by @DrSherryPagoto
Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research Chair I
Joseph D. Early Chair in Biomedical Research