Events
Jan
22
Biochemistry, Epigenetics, and Metabolism (BEaM) Forum
Online - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Presenters:
Shashank Srivastava, Postdoctoral Scholar, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
Andrea Domenighetti, Assistant Professor, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
The BEaM Forum is a data group where Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics members present ongoing work being conducted. It is a great opportunity to get feedback on your work from colleagues, and to make new connections and foster new collaborations within the Institute.
Our forum will be held once a month from January to May from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Two presenters will give a 20-minute talk with 10 minutes for discussion and questions. We welcome presentation from students, techs, postdocs, and PIs. Presenting work-in-progress is always encouraged!
Jan
25
Research Works in Progress: Davi Leite, PhD and Nicole Hawkins, PhD
Online - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Davi Lyra-Leite, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow in the Laboratory of Paul Burridge, PhD
"Advances in protein-free differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes"
Abstract: Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) have established roles in modeling human disease, pharmacogenomics, drug testing/discovery, and regenerative medicine. However, the majority of cardiac differentiation protocols still rely on the use of animal protein and/or sera to obtain high yield functional tissue monolayers. This increases costs and variability of the differentiation process, while introducing potential xenographic effects that limit regenerative medicine applications. Over the past year, we employed a systematic analysis of media compositions to develop a novel protein-free cardiac differentiation protocol that produces high purity functional monolayers with small impact in hiPSC-CM yield at a fraction of standard protocol cost. This process has also highlighted a number of intriguing mechanistic questions regarding the basic chemical/nutritional requirements for human cardiac development that we have been further exploring.
Nicole Hawkins, PhD
Research Assistant Professor of Pharmacology
"Gabra2 is a genetic modifier of Dravet syndrome in mice"
Pathogenic mutations in epilepsy genes result in a spectrum of clinical presentation likely due to modifier genes that affect penetrance, dominance or expressivity of the variant. The Scn1a+/- model of Dravet syndrome, a severe epilepsy, displays varying severity. 129.Scn1a+/- mice have a normal lifespan and no seizures, while F1[B6x129].Scn1a+/- mice have severe epilepsy and premature death. Gabra2, encoding the GABAA 2 subunit, was nominated as one modifier gene. Previous work identified lower levels of 2 in hippocampal synapses in B6 mice and a B6-specific single nucleotide intronic deletion. We utilized repaired Gabra2 B6 mice to validate its modifier effects in Scn1a+/- mice, which restored 2 expression and improved Scn1a+/- phenotypes.
Feb
10
"To Divide or Not to Divide: Dissecting the Decision to Enter or Exit the Cell Cycle Using Live-cell Biosensors," Steven D. Cappell, PhD, NIH/NCI Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics
Online - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CDB SEMINAR PRESENTATION:
"To Divide or Not to Divide: Dissecting the Decision to Enter or Exit the Cell Cycle Using Live-cell Biosensors."
Steven D. Cappell, Ph.D.
NIH/NCI Earl Stadtman Investigator
NCI Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
12:00-1:00 PM
Zoom link: https://northwestern.zoom.us/j/93251988556
Meeting ID: 932 5198 8556
Password: Availalbe upon request
Call-in: +1 312 626 6799 US
Relevant Publications:
Nathans JF, Cornwell JA, Afifi MM, Paul D, Cappell SD. Cell-cycle inertia underlies a bifurcation in cell fates after DNA damage. Science Advances, In press, expected Jan 13, 2021.
Host: Dr. Luisa Iruela-Arispe, Professor and Chair
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology
For more information please contact cdb@northwestern.edu
Click here to subcribe to the CDB Seminar Series listserv.
Mar
19
Biochemistry, Epigenetics, and Metabolism (BEaM) Forum
Online - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Presenters:
Zibo Zhao, Postdoctoral Scholar, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
Sarah Lloyd, Graduate Student, Department of Molecular Biosciences
The BEaM Forum is a data group where Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics members present ongoing work being conducted. It is a great opportunity to get feedback on your work from colleagues, and to make new connections and foster new collaborations within the Institute.
Our forum will be held once a month from January to May from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Two presenters will give a 20-minute talk with 10 minutes for discussion and questions. We welcome presentation from students, techs, postdocs, and PIs. Presenting work-in-progress is always encouraged!
Apr
05
Annual Julius Kahn Lecture: Christina Curtis, PhD, MSc
Online - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Christina Curtis, PhD, MSc
Associate Professor of Medicine & Genetics
Stanford University