Events
The Walter S. and Lucienne Driskill Graduate Training Program in Life Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine holds regular events, conferences and seminars. Find out more below.
Nov
20
Microbiology-Immunology Department: Jun Huang, PhD
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Title: "T-Cell Recognition and Differentiation"
Jun Hung, PHD - University of Chicago
Host: Chyung-Ru Wang, PhD
Description:
Our lab carries out basic research with a focus on molecular mechanisms of T cell recognition, as well as translational research with the objective of developing immunotherapies for cancer and HIV. This seminar will discuss our recent works on pMHC dodecamer technology development, CD28 as the primary target for PD-1-mediated inhibition, and the role of histone methyltransferase EZH2 in Tfh cell differentiation.
Nov
26
Tumor Immunology Nanocourse
Chicago - 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
The Carcinogenesis T32 CA009560 Training Program presents:
Tumor Immunology Nanocourse
Agenda
An Overview of the Immune System, Cancer, and the Cancer-Immunity Cycle
Derek A Wainwright, PhD
Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery, Medicine (Hematology and Oncology) and Microbiology-Immunology
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
T Cells in Cancer Immunology
Caroline Le Poole, PhD
Professor of Dermatology and Microbiology-Immunology
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Treg Mechanisms of Immunosuppression
Deyu Fang, PhD
Hosmer Allen Johnson Professor of Pathology, Professor of Pathology
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Myeloid-Derived Suppressive Cells in Cancer Immunotherapy
Bin Zhang, MD, PhD
Professor of Medicine (Hematology and Oncology) and Microbiology-Immunology
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Utilizing Sequencing/Gene Expression Approaches to Understand Cancer Immunology
Jaehyuk Choi, MD, PhD
Ruth K. Freinkel, MD, Research Professor; Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Applying Cancer Immunology to the Clinic Proof of Concept in Action
Jeffrey A Sosman, MD
Professor of Medicine (Hematology and Oncology)
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Not on the Chicago Campus? Attend virtually:
https://bluejeans.com/612582813
Nov
27
Microbiology-Immunology Department: Nels Elde, PhD
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Title: "The Evolutionary Potential of Poxviruses"
Nels Elde, PhD - University of Utah
Host: Virology Graduate Students/ Coordinator Nathan Meade, PhD (Lab of Derek Walsh)
Description:
We use experimental evolution, genomic analysis, and related approaches to investigate how poxviruses adapt to counteract host immune defenses. The work is revealing an array of recombination-driven processes and mechanisms of adaptation involving horizontal gene transfer. Our studies highlight the unique biology of poxvirus evolution.
Nov
27
Lipid Corona Formation from Nanoparticle Interactions with Bilayers
Chicago - 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
The Department of Pharmacology Seminar Series on Biophysical and Biochemical Techniques presents Dr. Franz Geiger, Professor of Chemistry and Chair, Division of Physical Chemistry at Northwestern University. He is also the Senior Editor of The Journal of Physical Chemistry.
Abstract:
While mixing nanoparticles with certain biological molecules can result in coronas that afford some control over how engineered nanomaterials interact with living systems, corona formation mechanisms remain enigmatic. Here, we report spontaneous lipid corona formation, i.e. without active mixing, upon attachment to stationary lipid bilayer model membranes and bacterial cell envelopes, and present ribosome-specific outcomes for multi-cellular organisms. Experiments show that polycation-wrapped particles disrupt the tails of zwitterionic lipids, increase bilayer fluidity, and leave the membrane with reduced -potentials. Computer simulations show contact ion pairing between the lipid headgroups and the polycations ammonium groups leads to the formation of stable, albeit fragmented, lipid bilayer coronas, while microscopy shows fragmented bilayers around nanoparticles after interacting with Shewanella oneidensis. Our mechanistic insight can be used to improve control over nano-bio interactions and to help understand why some nanomaterial/ligand combinations are detrimental to organisms, like Daphnia magna, while others are not. Chem, 4, 1-15 (2018).
Nov
27
Lectures in Life Sciences (LLS) Kathy Green
Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Kathleen Green, PhD
Northwestern University
From Epidermal Morphogenesis to Melanoma: Emerging Roles of Desmosomal Cadherins
Lurie Cancer Center Berlin Lecture
Nov
29
Therapeutic Targeting of Oncogenic Tyrosine Phosphatases for Novel Anti-Cancer Agents
Chicago - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Zhong Zhang, PhD
Head, Department of Medical Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology
Purdue University, College of Pharmacy
Purdue, IN
Nov
29
Microbiology-Immunology Department: Michael Lagunoff, PhD
Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Special Microbiology-Immunology and Virology Club Seminar
Title: "Metabolic Requirements for KSHV Latency
Michael Lagunoff Ph.D., Professor of Microbiology, University of Washington
Host: Laimonis Laimins, PhD
Summary:
The Lagunoff lab has found that Kaposi s Sarcoma-herpesvirus latent infection dramatically alters the metabolic profile of infected endothelial cells, including inducing the Warburg effect (aerobic glycolysis), glutaminolysis and fatty acid synthesis. Importantly, they have found that many metabolic changes are required for the survival of latently infected cells. Recent work using more global screens has identified additional metabolic pathways required for latency that can be targeted by specific drugs.
Nov
30
CIRTL at Northwestern Information Session
Evanston - 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Stop by during lunch to learn about our programs from past participants and opportunities for STEM and social science grad students and postdocs to earn CIRTL certification.
We will have past program participants from and information available on:
- Mentored Discussions of Teaching (MDT)
- MOOC-Centered Learning Communities (MCLC)
- Searle's Teaching-as-Research (STAR) Program
- Teaching Certificate Program (TCP)
- New TA Conference Workshop Leaders
- Graduate Teaching Fellow (GTF) Program
Plus, there will be PIZZA and chances to win Amazon gift cards!
Nov
30
“Circuit Defects Underlying Impaired Perceptual Learning in Fragile X Syndrome”
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
The department of Physiology welcomes Carlos Portera-Cailliau, M.D., Ph.D.
To uncover the circuit-level alterations that underlie atypical sensory processing associated with autism, we have adopted a symptom-to-circuit approach in the Fmr1-/- mouse model of Fragile X syndrome (FXS). Using a go/no-go task and in vivo 2-photon calcium imaging, we find that impaired visual discrimination in Fmr1-/- mice correlates with marked deficits in orientation tuning of principal neurons, and a decrease in the activity of parvalbumin (PV) interneurons in primary visual cortex. Restoring visually evoked activity in PV cells in Fmr1-/-mice with a chemogenetic (DREADD) strategy was sufficient to rescue their behavioral performance. Strikingly, human subjects with FXS exhibit similar impairments in visual discrimination asFmr1-/- mice. These results suggest that manipulating inhibition may help sensory processing in FXS. More recently, we find that the ability of Fmr1-/- mice to perform the visual discrimination task is also drastically impaired in the presence of visual or auditory distractors, suggesting that sensory hypersensitivity may affect higher order perceptual learning in autism.
Nov
30
Virology Journal Club
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Presenter: Ryan Hong, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, Laimins Lab
Dec
03
Dissecting Neuromodulatory Circuits in Affective Behaviors
Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
The Department of Pharmacology welcomes Michael Bruchas, Ph.D., Professor, Departments of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, and Pharmacology, University of Washington.
Dec
04
Microbiology-Immunology Department: Harry Mobley, PhD
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Title:
"Gene Expression and Growth Rates During Human Infection"
Harry Mobley, PhD - University of Michigan
Host: Hank Seifert, PhD
Description:
Our traditional definition of bacterial virulence has been based on in vitro measurements of adherence, iron acquisition, toxin activity, protein secretion, and motility. Now we must consider what metabolic pathways are in play, what transport systems must be active, and, most importantly, which genes are actually being expressed during human infection. Novel techniques including RNA-Seq and Tn-Seq allow us to identify the most highly expressed genes and which genes are essential during actual infections. In addition, methods to measure in vivo growth rates help us understand the kinetics of infection. This leads to a better understanding of how bacterial pathogens outfox our immune defenses.
Dec
05
Cancer Research Club: Triet Bui (Sumagin)
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.
Dec
06
Itaconate Immunology-From One Cell to Many
Chicago - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Maxim Artyomova, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology and Immunology
Washington School of Medicine
St. Louis, MO
Dec
07
"Inhibition and Disinhibition of Spontaneously Active Basal Ganglia Neurons"
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
The department of Physiology welcomes Charles Wilson, Ph.D.
Abstract: In the basal ganglia, many long range synaptic signals are inhibitory, and the postsynaptic targets of inhibition are often spontaneously active neurons. Activity in the striatal direct pathway inhibits spontaneous firing in the basal ganglia output neurons, whereas activity in the indirect pathway inhibits the spontaneous activity of globus pallidus, disinhibiting the basal ganglia output. At the level of the basal ganglia output neuron, inhibition and disinhibition both appear as changes in a continuously varying inhibitory synaptic conductance. How is the waveform of inhibitory synaptic conductance translated to changes in frequency or timing of action potentials in the postsynaptic cell? A method for predicting patterns of firing in spontaneously firing neurons in response to inhibition and disinhibition will be presented and used to predict the peristimulus time histogram of basal ganglia output neurons.
Dec
07
TEAM/SDRC Seminar: Role of Purine Metabolism in Glioblastoma Chemoresistance
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:
Role of Purine Metabolism in Glioblastoma Chemoresistance
Atique U. Ahmed, PhD
Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery
Feinberg School of Medicine
Refreshments will be provided.
Dec
07
Virology Journal Club
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Presenter: Muhammad Shoaib Arif, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Hope Lab
Dec
10
Department of Pharmacology Seminar Series
Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
The Department of Pharmacology welcomes Evangelos Kiskinis, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Northwestern University.
Dec
11
Microbiology-Immunology Department: Andrea Sant, PhD
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Title: "The Contributions of CD4 T Cells to Protective Immunity to Influenza Infection"
Andrea Sant, PhD
University of Rochester
Host: Melissa Brown, PhD
Description:
Research focus: Our research seeks to understand the elements in vivo that dictate the selective specificities in CD4 T cells during protective immune responses, and the competitive events that shape selective recognition of foreign and pathogenic organisms in vivo. We are particularly interested in the links between the viral antigen specificity and function of CD4 T cells in response to influenza virus infection and vaccination. Most recently, we have begun to explore influenza virus tropism in the lung and the function of influenza specific CD4 T cells that deliver effector function at this site. To address these research topics, our lab utilizes approaches such as novel, recombinant fluorescent reporter viruses, multiparameter flow cytometry, and different animal models of infection and vaccination . We are also developing vaccine candidates to promote the needed effector function to protect the host against influenza virus infection.
Dec
13
Regulators of the Interferon Response in Cancer and Innate Antiviral Immunity
Chicago - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Curt Horvath, PhD
Professor, Department of Molecular Biosciences
Northwestern University
Evanston Campus
Dec
13
Did We Learn Anything by Targeting the IGF Receptor in Breast Cancer?
Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Douglas Yee, MD
Director, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, NM
Dec
14
Department of Physiology Seminar Series - Tim Cope, Ph.D.
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
The department of Physiology welcomes Tim Cope, Ph.D.
Dec
14
Stem Cells & Regenerative Biology Seminar Series
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Presented By:
Tobias Walther, PhD
Professor of Genetics and Complex Diseases (Harvard T.H. Chan SPH)
Professor of Cell Biology
HHMI Investigator
Harvard Medical School
Dec
14
Virology Journal Club
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Presenter: Susan Park, Graduate Student, Longnecker Lab
Dec
18
Microbiology-Immunology Department: Colleen Furey
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Title: "The Role of +TIPs and Microtubule Dynamics in HSV-1 Infection of Neuronal and Non-Neuronal Cell Types"
Colleen Furey
Graduate Student, Driskill Graduate Program in the Life Sciences (DGP)
Lab of Derek Walsh, PhD
Northwestern University
Description:
Dec
19
FCVRRI Molecular Cardiology Seminar Series
Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Presented By:
Rong Tian, MD, PhD
Director, Mitochondria & Metabolism Center
Professor, Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, and Bioengineering
University of Washington
Feingberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute
Dec
21
Virology Journal Club
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Presenter: Gina Pisano, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Naghavi Lab
Jan
09
Cancer Research Club: Marihan Hegazy (Green)
Chicago - 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
Cancer research club is a works-in-progress meeting for graduate students and post doctoral fellows.
Free Lunch will be provided.
Jan
09
FCVRRI Molecular Cardiology Seminar Series
Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Presented By:
Roger Hajjar, MD
Director, Cardiovascular Research Center
Arthur & Janet C. Ross Professor of Medicine
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Feingberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute
Jan
10
Virology Club: Dr. Judd Hultquist
Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
"TBA"
Dr. Judd Hultquist. Northwestern University.
Jan
11
Department of Physiology Seminar Series - Mariela Zirlinger, Ph.D.
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
The department of Physiology welcomes Mariela Zirlinger, Ph.D.
Jan
11
Virology Journal Club
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Presenter: Patrick Madden, Graduate Student, Hope Lab
Jan
18
Department of Physiology Seminar Series - Scott C. Baraban, Ph.D.
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
The department of Physiology welcomes Scott C. Baraban, Ph.D.
Jan
18
Virology Journal Club
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Research in Progress
Presenters:
Kylee Morrison, Graduate Student, Gottwein Lab
Masato Ikeda, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, Longnecker Lab
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
Jan
25
Virology Journal Club
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Presenter: Cooper Hayes, Graduate Student, Longnecker Lab
Feb
01
Department of Physiology Seminar Series - Min Cho, Ph.D.
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
The department of Physiology welcomes Min Cho, Ph.D.
Feb
01
Virology Journal Club
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Presenter: Nina Calantone, Graduate Student, D'Aquila Lab
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.
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
Feb
07
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.
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
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.
Feb
15
Virology Journal Club
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Presenter: Koree Ahn, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Hope Lab
Feb
20
FCVRRI Didactic Lecture
Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Presented By: TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Feinberg Cardiovascular & Renal Research Institute