Events: Driskill Graduate Program in Life Sciences: Feinberg School of Medicine: Northwestern University

Jan

22

TEAM/SDRC Seminar: Integrating Polarity, Biochemical and Adhesive Mechanical Signals to Shape Epithelial Barriers

Chicago - 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University's TEAM Program and Northwestern's Skin Disease Research Center present:

Integrating Polarity, Biochemical and Adhesive Mechanical Signals to Shape Epithelial Barriers

Carien M. Niessen, PhD
Scientific Coordinator CECAD
Principal Investigator
Department of Dermatology and CECAD Cluster of Excellence
Head of Platform Education, Career Development & Gender Equality
University of Cologne

Refreshments will be provided.

more

Jan

22

Microbiology-Immunology Department: Madeline Rollins

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

"RACK1 Evolved Species-Specific Multifunctionality in Translational Control Though Sequence Plasticity in a Loop Domain"

Speaker: Madelline Rollins, Driskill Graduate Program, Lab of Derek Walsh, PhD

TOPIC

The ability to regulate translation rates of individual mRNAs enables cells to rapidly adjust the levels of specific proteins during a wide range of processes. Viruses have also evolved mechanisms to tune cellular translation efficiency to enhance viral protein production, which can be achieved by manipulating ribosomal protein expression and post-translational modifications as well as ribosome activity. Through this ribosome specification, changes in ribosome composition and subsequent recognition of specific RNA elements may extend an additional level of control over protein synthesis. We have recently found that the poxvirus Vaccinia virus (VacV) phosphorylates a C-terminal extended loop of the core small ribosomal protein, RACK1. This modification enhances the translation of poxviral transcripts with unusual 5 UTR polyA leaders. Using both phylogenetic and biochemical approaches, we expand on our previous findings to show that sequence plasticity of the loop enables RACK1 to control ribosome assembly and translational specification in different species.

more

Jan

22

Automated Patch Clamp for Investigating Human Ion Channel Variants - Carlos G. Vanoye, Ph.D.

Chicago - 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Department of Pharmacology Lecture Series on Biochemical and Biophysical Techniques

Carlos G. Vanoye, Ph.D.
Research Associate Professor
Department of Pharmacology
Feinberg School of Medicine

Abstract:

The widespread use of genetic and genomic testing in research and clinical medicine has led to explosive growth in the number of gene variants associated with human diseases and in reference populations. For example, in genetic arrhythmia and epilepsy, 2 diseases studied by our group, there are 3000 potassium and sodium ion channel variants associated with these diseases. The standard approach for determining the functional properties and the likely pathogenicity of an ion channel variant is cellular electrophysiology using manual patch-clamp recording of heterologously expressed recombinant channels. However, this method is tedious, time- and labor-intensive, making it too low throughput for determining the ever-increasing number of ion channel variants. To overcome this challenge, we have implemented a workflow that combines high efficiency electroporation to achieve transient co-expression of ion channel subunits in cultured cells with automated planar patch clamp recording performed in a 384-well format. Our results indicate that automated electrophysiology is a valid platform for the rapid functional assessment of ion channel variants that allows linking genotype to function for human ion channels and creates new opportunities for precision medicine.

more

Jan

22

Lectures in Life Sciences (LLS) Wade Harper

Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Jeffrey Wade Harper, PhD

Harvard MEdical School

Understanding Selective Autophagy

more

Jan

23

Writing Effective Teaching Statements: Getting Started

Evanston - 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Beginning to draft a Teaching Statement can be a challenging process, particularly for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who may have limited teaching experience.

In this workshop, participants will learn about the characteristics of successful teaching statements and engage in the Generative Knowledge Interview process, which uses key moments as learners and teachers to help frame the value of teaching in their teaching statements. This is a highly interactive workshop. Writing and discussions with peers are expected of all participants.

Participants will leave the workshop with a deeper understanding of the conventions of strong teaching statements and generated content for a teaching statement draft.

The workshop is open to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows from all departments and disciplines, at all stages of drafting their teaching statements.

Prior to attending the workshop, please complete the following prompt:

In about 150 words, describe what you believe is a key concept or skill in your discipline and how you do or plan to teach that concept or skill to students.

Please bring your written response with you to the Writing Effective Teaching Statements workshop and be prepared to share with your peers. Please also bring your preferred writing utensils (paper & pen/laptop/tablet).

more

Jan

23

The Eclectic Cerebellum - from Neurons to Circuits and Behavior

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

The department of Physiology welcomes faculty candidate, Stephanie Rudolph, Ph.D., with Harvard Medical School.

more

Jan

23

Metastasis Genetics: It’s not just about the nuclear DNA any more

Chicago - 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Please join the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, in welcoming Danny R. Welch, PhD, Professor, Department of Cancer Biology, The Kansas University Medical Center, for his CMB Seminar presentation titled "Metastasis Genetics: It s not just about the nuclear DNA any more."

more

Jan

23

Academic Surgical Congress Practice Session

Chicago - 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

John Sincavage
High Alvarado Scores Predict Appendicitis-Positive MR in the Diagnosis of Pediatric Appendicitis

Allison Morgan
Parental Decision Making on Newborn Circumcision: What Knowledge Makes the Cut?

Sasha Kurumety
Post-thyroidectomy Neck Appearance and Impact on Quality of Life in Thyroid Cancer Survivors

Ryan Ellis, MD
Modifiable Risk Factors Associated with Burnout, Thoughts of Attrition, and Suicidal Ideation in National Survey of General Surgery Residents

Katherine Hekman, MD
The Critical Role of Autophagy and Mitochondrial Remodeling in Vascular Tissue Engineering

Cary Schlick, MD
A National Evaluation of Motor Vehicle Crashes among General Surgery Residents

Megan Fracol, MD
Breast Implants and Immunomodulation: Can Implant Placement Promote Systemic Immune Recognition of Breast Cancer Antigen?

more

Jan

23

"Mitochondrial Function in Cardiovascular Cells" Didactic Lecture

Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Presented By: TBD
Paul Schumacker, PhD
Professor, Pediatrics, Cell & Molecular Biology, Medicine
Northwestern University

Feinberg Cardiovascular & Renal Research Institute

more

Jan

24

Educational Technology in the Classroom

Evanston - 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Description:

In the classroom, technology can encompass all kinds of tools from paper and pencil, to the use of presentation software, conferencing tools, and more. The logic is that technology is a tool that enhances the abilities of the instructor to convey a message when properly implemented in the classroom. This workshop will provide participants with a brief introduction into the pros and cons of educational technology and demonstrate its uses in the classroom.

Workshop Facilitators:

Chris Brue is fourth year PhD candidate in Chemistry studying metal-protein interactions in Alzheimer's Disease. He likes to find new ways of using technology in the classroom to represent challenging STEM concepts. This year he is a Searle Graduate Teaching Fellow and an organic chemistry teaching assistant.

Noran Mohamed is a fourth year graduate student in the department of French and Italian and current Graduate Teaching Fellow. Her work focuses on the relationship between narrative and death in various francophone novels. More specifically, in looking at the figure of the corpse, she examines the ways in which death and materiality disrupt narrative, both formally and thematically.

more

Jan

24

Translational Research in Solid Tumors (TRIST) Seminar

Chicago - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

The Translational Research in Solid Tumors (TRIST) Program presents as part of the Basic Science Clinical Research Seminar Series:

Autophagy as Viable Target for Combination Therapy for Treating Glioblastoma: How Close to the Clinic?
Shi-Yuan Cheng, PhD
Professor of Neurology (Neuro-oncology)
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Methylation and Transcription Patterns are Distinct in IDH1 Mutant Gliomas Compared to Other IDH1 Mutant Cancers
Craig M. Horbinski, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Pathology/Neurological Surgery
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Light refreshments provided.

more

Jan

24

Hospitalists and Cancer Patients: The Memorial Sloan Kettering Experience

Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Barbara Egan, MD, SFHM, FACP

Chief, Hospital Medicine Service

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

New York, NY

more

Jan

25

Virology Journal Club

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Presenter: Cooper Hayes, Graduate Student, Longnecker Lab

more

Jan

28

Pharmacology Research Works-in-Progress: Rama Mishra, Ph.D. and Mehdi Maneshi, Ph.D.

Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Rama Mishra, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor of Pharmacology
Center for Molecular Innovation and Drug Discovery

Mehdi Maneshi, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Murali Prakriya Laboratory

"Regulation of Ca2+ signaling and synaptic plasticity in dendritic spines by Orai1"

Calcium signaling plays a crucial role in synaptic plasticity and Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) and has been shown to be altered in disease state such as in Alzheimer s disease. An essential and highly conserved Ca2+ signaling pathway in many cells is store operated calcium entry (SOCE). SOCE is mediated by the well described Orai family of channels, yet the role of Orai channels for synaptic plasticity has not been addressed. The goal of my project is to understand how SOCE regulates Ca2+ signaling in dendritic spines and how LTP and downstream cascade of signaling is driven by Orai1. My preliminary results show that Orai1 plays a significant role in synaptic signaling, AMPA receptor recycling, and plasticity including maturation of maintenance of mature dendritic spines. Our in-vivo studies show that loss of ORAI1 inhibits LTP and causes significant impairment of working memory and learning in mice. Understanding the role of SOCE in synaptic plasticity will further our understanding of pathways of learning and memory and will help to design pharmacological agents for neurological diseases.

more

Jan

29

Microbiology-Immunology Department: Joseph C. Sun, PhD

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

"Epigenetic Control of Innate and Adaptive Lymphocyte Responses"

Speaker: Joseph C. Sun, PhD -Memorial Sloan Kettering Center, Weill Cornel Medical College

Host: Chyung-Ru Wang, PhD

TOPIC

Clonal expansion and immunological memory are hallmark features of the mammalian adaptive immune response and essential for prolonged host control of pathogens. Recent work demonstrated that natural killer (NK) cells of the innate immune system also exhibit these adaptive traits during infection. Here we demonstrate that differentiating and memory NK cells possess distinct chromatin accessibility states, and that their epigenetic profiles reveal a poised regulatory program at the memory stage. Furthermore, we elucidate how individual STAT transcription factors differentially control epigenetic and transcriptional states early during infection. Finally, concurrent chromatin profiling of the canonical CD8+ T cell response against the same infection demonstrated parallel and distinct epigenetic signatures defining NK cells and CD8+ T cells. Overall, our study reveals the dynamic nature of epigenetic modifications during the generation of innate and adaptive lymphocyte memory.

more

Jan

30

Rubrics in the Classroom

Evanston - 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Workshop Description:

Does grading papers take forever? Do you have carpal tunnel syndrome from writing the same feedback on all of your students' assignments? Are your students still confused about what a lab report should look like? In all these cases, rubrics can help! This workshop will explain the benefits and principles of rubric use and walk you through the process of creating rubrics for your own classroom.

Workshop Facilitators:

Dana Westmoreland is a fourth-year graduate student working in the lab of Professor Emily Weiss. Dana s research focuses on the inorganic interface of semiconductor nanoparticles with organic capping ligands and the solution environment. She has served as a TA for four quarters in the Chemistry Department as both a lecture and laboratory TA, and is currently a Graduate Teaching Fellow for the 2018-2019 academic year.

Anne Boemler is a sixth-year PhD candidate in the Department of English and a Graduate Teaching Fellow. She studies how popular religious poetry became a means to teach laypeople Protestant doctrine and devotional practices during the English Reformation. She has been a TA for a wide variety of English classes and has designed and taught her own composition courses.

more

Jan

31

Dissecting Tumor Metabolism From Immunometabolism to Enhance Cancer Immunotherapy

Chicago - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Jonathan Powell, MD, PhD

Associate Director, Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy

Baltimore, MD

more

Feb

01

Next Generation of Neuroscience in Research & Publishing, Version 4.1

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

The department of Physiology welcomes Min Cho, Ph.D.

more

Feb

04

Pharmacology Research Works-in-Progress: Eugene Wyatt, Ph.D. and Tanima De, Ph.D.

Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Eugene Wyatt, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor of Pharmacology
Center for Genetic Medicine

Tanima De, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Minoli Perera Laboratory

more

Feb

05

Microbiology-Immunology Department: Denise Tarnowski

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Title TBA

Speaker: Denise Tarnowski, Driskill Graduate Program, Lab of Mark Mandel, PhD

TOPIC

TBA

more

Feb

05

Lectures in Life Sciences (LLS) Olufunmilayo I. Olopade

Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Olufunmilayo I. Olopade, MD, FACP

University of Chicago

"Molecular Genetics of Breast Cancer"

2019 Center for Genetic Medicine Scott Lecture

more

Feb

06

The Art & Science of Engaged Lecturing

Evanston - 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Workshop Description:

At this point, the lecture class is the go-to example for pedagogy s boring and uninspiring, but that does not mean lectures are inherently bad. Lectures remain a staple of most classrooms because they are a natural and effective way to share course material. In this workshop, participants will develop strategies for preparing and delivering engaging lectures. We will discuss elements of active learning, deliberate use of visual aids, and persuasive ways to frame topics. Participants will also have the opportunity to practice delivering engaging lectures.

Workshop Facilitators:

Kaitlyn Perez is a fourth-year PhD candidate in the Department of Chemistry and a Graduate Teaching Fellow. Her research focuses on the conversion of light energy to chemical energy. She has been a teaching assistant for general chemistry lecture and laboratory courses at Northwestern University.

Eric James is a fourth-year PhD candidate in Rhetoric and Public Culture. He is a Graduate Teaching Fellow and instructor for public speaking classes at Northwestern University. His research focuses on how the term network has been used to describe online experiences of romantic and political intimacy.

more

Feb

06

Cancer Research Club: Vania Vidimar, PhD (Satchell)

Chicago - 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM

Cancer research club is a works-in-progress meeting for graduate students and post doctoral fellows.

Lunch will be provided.

more

Feb

06

FCVRRI Molecular Cardiology Seminar Series

Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Presented By: TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD

Feingberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute

more

Feb

07

Enrichment-based Proteomics to Inform Biology and Therapy in Hematologic Malignancies

Chicago - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Arun Wiita, MD, PhD

Director, UCSF Stephen and Nancy Grand Multiple Myeloma Translational Initiative Laboratory

University of California, San Francisco

San Francisco, CA

more

Feb

07

Joint CAPS/TRIST Minisymposium: Spherical Nucleic Acid-Based Cancer Therapy

Chicago - 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Preclinical SNA Development
Alexander H Stegh, PhD
Associate Professor of Neurology (Neuro-oncology) and Medicine (Hematology and Oncology)
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Nanotherapy Clinical Trials: Bridging Bench to Bedside
Priya U Kumthekar, MD
Assistant Professor of Neurology (Neuro-oncology) and Medicine (Hematology and Oncology)
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Rational Vaccinology: In Pursuit of the Perfect Vaccine
Chad A Mirkin, PhD
Professor of Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and Medicine (Hematology and Oncology)
Northwestern University

Light refreshments provided.

Image source: National Cancer Institute \ Lurie Cancer Center at Northwestern University

more

Feb

07

Virology Club: Dr. Tom Hope

Chicago - 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

"TBA"

Dr. Tom Hope. Northwestern University.

more

Feb

08

Department of Physiology Seminar Series - Kathleen Cullen, Ph.D.

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

The department of Physiology welcomes Kathleen Cullen, Ph.D.

more

Feb

08

Virology Journal Club

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Research in Progress

Presenters:

Elona Gusho, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Laimins Lab
Mark Manzano, PhD, Research Associate, Gottwein Lab

more

Feb

11

Pharmacology Research Works-in-Progress: Adam Gordon, Ph.D. and Kendall Foote

Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Adam Gordon, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Center for Genetic Medicine

"Incidental and Pharmacogenetic Findings in Personal Genome Sequencing"

Rapidly increasing availability and interest in personal genomics is radically shifting the genetic testing landscape away from traditional, indication-based single-variant or gene tests towards broader panel/exome/genome testing, often in individuals without an indication for testing. Though this shift is accelerating, driven partly through broad-scale sequencing efforts like All of Us, we are only now beginning to understand the rates and types of actionable, pathogenic, and uncertain variation that will be newly uncovered. This talk will explore these issues through my current research in the eMERGE network, and propose new high-throughput approaches to tackle challenges in variant interpretation.

Kendall Foote
PhD Candidate, Dr. Geoff Swanson Laboratory

more

Feb

12

Microbiology-Immunoogy Department: James A. Imlay, PhD

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

"Molecular Explanations for the Toxicity of Oxygen"

Speake: James A. Imlay, PhD -University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Host: Bacteriology Students, Coordinator Linda I-Lin Hu, PhD

TOPIC

For more than 100 years we have understood that high levels of oxygen are overtly toxic and that lower levels chronically damage organisms of all types. This phenomenon has a large impact upon where microbes live, their vulnerability to immune responses, and even their pace of evolution. We have worked to tease apart both the details of damage and the strategies by which cells defend themselves. Recent work has compared how oxygen injures aerotolerant organisms with how it blocks the growth of obligate anaerobes.

more

Feb

12

Inclusive Teaching Strategies: From Design to Assessment

Evanston - 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Workshop Description:

Inclusive teaching receives a lot of attention and instructors are increasingly expected to deal with diversity in all its forms - student background, content knowledge, learning style and more. In this workshop, we will focus on the different components of inclusive teaching, from course design through implementation, with a particular focus on assessments that both meet course learning objectives and ensure students can demonstrate learning.

Workshop Facilitators:

Shaunna McLeod is a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in Chemistry Department. At Northwestern, she has been a TA for general chemistry and advanced laboratory courses in addition to completing the Searle Teaching Certificate Program in 2018. Her teaching interests center on active learning strategies and laboratory instruction as a means to promote the relevance of material and retention of students in STEM.

Sasha Klyachkina is a sixth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Political Science department researching governance, violence and armed conflict, and citizen engagement, with a focus on the North Caucasus. She has served as a TA for a range of political science courses from introductory to upper level classes on Middle East Politics, Political Development, and Environmental Policy. She currently leads the Political Science Teaching Committee, which organizes pedagogical discussions, the new TA mentorship program, and peer teaching observations.

more

Feb

12

Lectures in Life Sciences (LLS) Fred de Sauvage

Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Fred de Sauvage, PhD

Genentech

"Tumor cell plasticity as a challenge for targeted therapies"

more

Feb

12

Lectures in Life Sciences (LLS) Renee Reijo Pera

Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Renee Reijo Pera, PhD

Montana State University

"Cell fate decisions in the human embryo"

more

Feb

14

TEAM/SDRC Seminar: Cadherins as Modulators of Tissue Architecture in Development and Disease

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University's TEAM Program and Northwestern's Skin Disease Research Center present:

Cadherins as Modulators of Tissue Architecture in Development and Disease

Andrew P. Kowalczyk, PhD
Professor, Department of Cell Biology, Department of Dermatology
Emory University School of Medicine

Refreshments will be provided.

more

Feb

14

Mechanisms Underlying Epigenetic Regulation by TET2 in Hematopoiesis

Chicago - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Amittha Wickrema, PhD

Director, Clinical Stem Cell Laboratory

BMT/Stem Cell Transplant Program

Hematology/Oncology Section

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL

more

Feb

15

Department of Physiology Seminar Series - Nicola Grissom, Ph.D.

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

The department of Physiology welcomes Nicola Grissom, Ph.D.

more

Feb

18

Pharmacology Research Works-in-Progress: Erika Ramos and Yizhen Zhong

Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Erika Ramos
PhD Candidate, Dr. Huiping Liu Laboratory

Yizhen Zhong
PhD Candidate, Dr. Minoli Perera Laboratory

"Discovery of Novel Hepatic eQTLs in African Americans: disparities in Precision Medicine"

Abstract: African Americans (AAs) are disproportionately affected by metabolic diseases and drug adverse events, with little genomic and transcriptomic data to advance the knowledge of molecular underpinning of diseases. Here we use primary hepatocytes of AA donors for genome-wide mapping of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL). We identified 128 eGenes and 9,658 eQTLs not observed in the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project liver cohort. Unique eQTLs contain signatures of positive selection and have larger Fst and LD than overlapping eQTLs. We implicated LY75 as a candidate gene responsible for hemoglobin concentration through a unique eQTL. Our analysis provides comprehensive characterization of potential population specific regulatory variants and their relevance to disease phenotypes.

more

Feb

20

FCVRRI Didactic Lecture

Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Presented By: TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD

Feinberg Cardiovascular & Renal Research Institute

more

Feb

22

Virology Journal Club

Chicago - 11:45 AM - 1:00 PM

Presenter: Gael Scholtes, Graduate Student, D'Aquila Lab

more

Feb

22

CANCELLED - Department of Physiology Seminar Series - Chenghua Gu, Ph.D.

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

The department of Physiology welcomes Chenghua Gu, Ph.D.

more

Feb

25

Pharmacology Research Works-in-Progress: Chuyu Chen, Ph.D. and Nicholas Denton, Ph.D.

Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Chuyu Chen, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Loukia Parisiadou Laboratory

Nicholas Denton, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Dai Horiuchi Laboratory

more

Feb

26

Microbiology-Immunology Department:Daniel Perez

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

" Immunoregulatory Targeting of the Type 1 IFN Response Protects Against Mortality in a Murine Model of Neonatal HSV-1 Encephalitis"

Speaker: Daniel Perez, Driskill Graduate Program, Lab of Richard Longnecker, PhD

TOPIC

Newborn infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a serious, life-threatening condition with an incidence of 1 in 3,200 deliveries in the U.S. Unlike adult infections, which are commonly asymptomatic, over 50% of neonatal HSV infections result in disseminated disease or encephalitis. However, the nature of these age-dependent differences to HSV infection remains largely understudied. Here we explore how intrinsic differences in the type I IFN pathway in the central nervous system between the adult and the newborn correlate with increased susceptibility to HSV-1 infection and how this pathway can be modulated to provide protection to the newborn. Our studies will provide important insights into the mechanisms controlling age-dependent differences in the innate immune response to CNS injury throughout development and may lead to novel therapeutic approaches.

more

Feb

27

Writing Effective Teaching Statements: Peer Review

Evanston - 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Teaching statements are an important component of many academic job applications, but they can be challenging to write. Receiving feedback from peers can provide you with recommendations on how to clarify and improve your main claims about your teaching. Allowing others to read your writing can also give you critical insight into how your target audience may understand and interpret your claims, which can help further refine your teaching statement.

In this workshop, participants will bring their teaching statement drafts and engage in guided peer feedback.

This workshop is open to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows from all departments and disciplines who have a draft of their teaching statement.

Please bring three hard copies of your teaching statement draft to the workshop.

more

Feb

28

Rewiring Signaling Pathways in Cancer Cells

Chicago - 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Marsha Rosner, PhD

Charles B. Huggins Professor

Ben May Department of Cancer Research

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL

more

Mar

01

"Mechanism of Rapid Antidepressant Action"

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

The department of Physiology welcomes Lisa Monteggia, Ph.D.

Clinical studies have demonstrated that a single subpsychotomimetic dose of ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, produces rapid antidepressant responses in patients with major depressive disorder. Data will be presented showing that ketamine mediated blockade of NMDA receptors at rest targets a specific signaling cascade that involves deactivation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) kinase, resulting in reduced eEF2 phosphorylation and desuppression of rapid dendritic protein translation, including BDNF, which then contributes to synaptic plasticity mechanisms. These findings identify critical determinants of how blocking spontaneous neurotransmission impacts synaptic plasticity with implications for ketamine mediated antidepressant responses.

more

Mar

01

Virology Journal Club

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Presenter: Sreedhar Pujari, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Laimins Lab

more

Mar

05

Microbiology-Immunology Department: Katherine A. Radek, PhD

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

"Cholinergic Regulation of Skin Antimicrobial Responses in Models of Injury and Infection"

Speaker: Katherine A. Radek, PhD - Loyola University Chicago

Host: Melissa Brown, PhD

TOPIC

The Radek laboratory focuses on how epidermal cholinergic signaling controls antimicrobial responses in the skin. The pathways by which skin antimicrobial responses are induced have been more thoroughly investigated, while those mechanisms which suppress them have not been fully elucidated. We established that activation of keratinocyte nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), specifically CHRNA7, dampens antimicrobial responses in several models of skin bacterial infection and wound healing. This suggests that CHRNA7 could be a novel target to boost skin antimicrobial responses as a means to improve infection and wound healing outcomes.

more

Mar

06

Cancer Research Club: Xiadong Lu, PhD (Yu)

Chicago - 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM

Cancer research club is a works-in-progress meeting for graduate students and post doctoral fellows.

Lunch will be provided.

more

Mar

06

FCVRRI Molecular Cardiology Seminar Series

Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Presented By: TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD

Feingberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute

more

Mar

07

Virology Club: Dr. Dean Procter

Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

"TBA"

Dr. Dean Procter. Walsh Lab. Northwestern University.

more

Mar

08

Department of Physiology Seminar Series - Amanda Law, Ph.D.

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

The department of Physiology welcomes Amanda Law, Ph.D.

more

Mar

08

Virology Journal Club

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Research in Progress

Presenter: Judd Hultquist, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases)

more

Mar

11

Pharmacology Seminar: Francisco Bezanilla, Ph.D.

Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Francisco Bezanilla, Ph.D.
Lillian Eichelberger Cannon Professor
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
The University of Chicago

more

Mar

12

Microbiology-Immunology Department: Thomas M. Krisite, PhD

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

"Transitions in Chromatin States Modulates Herpes Simplex Virus Infection, Latency, & Reactivation"

Speaker: Thomas M. Kristin, PhD - National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, NIH

Host: Laimonis Laimins, PhD

TOPIC

Despite the availability of antivirals, herpes simplex virus remains a widely prevalent pathogen responsible for recurrent oral and genital lesions, developmental and neurological issues in infected newborns, and viral-mediated blindness. Modulation of the epigenetic state of the HSV genome plays a critical role in determining the course of viral lytic infection, latency, and signal-mediated reactivation. The laboratory focuses on the mechanisms by which an essential cellular transcriptional coactivator and its associated complexes mediate dynamic transitions in herpes simplex virus-associated chromatin to promote initiation of lytic infection and reactivation from latency. We are also exploring the use of inhibitors that target specific epigenetic factors regulating HSV gene expression in order to modulate the state of the viral chromatin and thereby suppress infection, shedding, and reactivation from latency in vivo.

more

Mar

15

Department of Physiology Seminar Series - Jeanne Paz, Ph.D.

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

The department of Physiology welcomes Jeanne Paz, Ph.D.

more

Mar

15

Virology Journal Club

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Presenter: Tahmina Sultana, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Hope Lab

more

Mar

18

Pharmacology Seminar: Chaolin Zhang, Ph.D.

Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Chaolin Zhang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Departments of Systems Biology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Columbia University Medical Center

more

Mar

20

FCVRRI Didactic Lecture

Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Presented By: TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD

Feinberg Cardiovascular & Renal Research Institute

more

Mar

22

Virology Journal Club

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Presenter: Kennen Hutchison, Graduate Student, Smith Lab

more

Mar

25

Pharmacology Seminar: Indira M. Raman, Ph.D.

Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Indira M. Raman, Ph.D.
Bill and Gayle Cook Professor
Department of Neurobiology
Weinberg School of Arts & Sciences

more

Mar

26

Microbiology-Immunology Department: Lubov Grigoryeva

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

"Endosomal TLRs are Major Pathways to Recognizing Legionella pneumophila in Human Macrophages"

Speaker: Lubov Grigoryeva, Driskill Graduate Program, Lab of Nicholas Cianciotto, PhD

TOPIC

Legionella pneumophila is a gram-negative bacterium that causes a severe form of pneumonia known as Legionnaire s disease. Preliminary data from our laboratory revealed that the recognition of wild-type L. pneumophila by human macrophages deviates from previously reported pathways in murine macrophages, calling into question the field s reliance on murine-based experimentation. My project seeks to understand the mechanisms of innate immune signaling in human macrophages after Lp infection.

more

Mar

29

Department of Physiology Seminar Series - Massimo Scanziani, Ph.D.

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

The department of Physiology welcomes Massimo Scanziani, Ph.D.

more

Mar

29

Virology Journal Club

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Research in Progress

Presenters:

Ajinkya Patil, Research Technologist, Gottwein Lab
Daniel Giraldo, Graduate Student, Longnecker Lab

more

Apr

01

Joint Pharmacology & Seizure Focus Seminar: Alex Shcheglovitov, Ph.D.

Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Joint Department of Pharmacology and Seizure Focus Forum Seminar

Alex Shcheglovitov, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Neurobiology & Anatomy
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Bioengineering
University of Utah

more

Apr

03