The RNA Transcript, May 16, 2022 |
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We welcome Geoffrey H. Siwo, Ph.D. to the Center for RNA Biomedicine. Geoffrey is a research assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine and research associate at the Michigan Center for Global Health Equity.
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What are your research interests?
My research interests are in accelerating biomedical discoveries and advances in clinical medicine by combining fundamental biology with a broad range of exponentially growing technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).
What is the role of RNA in your research?
RNA is a fascinating biological molecule, perhaps where biology as we know it started. On the fundamental side, my research is exploring how information in RNA came to code for proteins, that is, how did the genetic code emerge? On the applied side, my work is developing strategies for modulating how human cells recognize and respond to viral RNAs and synthetic RNA platforms such as CRISPR. My research also applies this knowledge to the design of potentially broad-spectrum antiviral molecules to RNA viruses including SARS-CoV-2. Both areas of my research on RNA leverage recent advances in AI.
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Congratulations Renke Tan, 2022–2023 Barbour Scholar |
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RNA Student Postdoc Council member
The Barbour Scholarship, established in 1917, supports women from Asia and the Middle East who have come to the University of Michigan in pursuit of an advanced degree. This year’s cohort marks 105 years of academic excellence across a breadth of disciplines. |
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Renke's Work The goal of my thesis is to harness compact Type I CIRSPR (aka CRISPR-Cas3) systems into robust genome editing tools. My work describes the first adoption of a minimal CRISPR-Cas3 from Neisseria lactamica (Nla), for creating targeted large deletions in the human genome. Unexpectedly, NlaCascade assembly in bacteria requires bacterial internal translation of a hidden component, Cas11, from within the cas8 gene. In addition, my thesis work also uncovered that expressing a separately encoded NlaCas11 in human cells is the key to enable plasmid and mRNA-based gene editing for divergent compact CRISPR-Cas3 systems. Lastly, my thesis will focus on profiling the genome editing outcomes for the compact CRISPR-Cas3 editors using unbiased high-throughput sequencing methods.
The Impact of the Barbour Scholarship I feel inspired by the profound history of the Barbour Scholarship, as well as the stories from the fellow Barbour Scholars. I believe this will help shape me into a better scholar, and use my story and voice to encourage more female scientists.
Future Plans I wish to join a research group developing CRISPR based new therapeutic approaches and help people with previously untreatable diseases. Meanwhile, I hope to contribute to the public engagement, outreach, and education, as well as policy making about bioethical rules in terms of genome editing.
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"The RNA Function" a networking event for U-M trainees |
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The goal of The RNA Function is to connect students and postdocs from across the university in an informal and low-risk environment to hear what other groups are doing around campus. Trainees of all levels- including undergraduates, post-grads, graduate students and postdocs- will gain in-person poster presentation experience and learn about the many areas of RNA-related expertise on campus.
We encourage everyone to present a poster that they have from a previous symposium or conference, and co-presenting by multiple members of a lab is supported. A facilitated networking event will allow trainees to make meaningful connections, with an emphasis on brainstorming ways in which cross-lab collaborations can propel projects forward. Registered in-person participants will receive a free box lunch. Registration deadline: May 26, 2022
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The RNA Function
Thursday, June 9, 2022
BSRB, ABC rooms
12:00 - 1:30 Lunch & poster session
1:45 - 3:00 Networking event
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U-M Center for RNA Biomedicine Innovation Seminar |
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An Academic Approach to Oligonucleotide Therapeutics
Daniel O’Reilly, RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School
TODAY Monday, May 16, 2022
4:00 - 5:00 PM
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U-M Oral Dissertation Defense |
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mRNA Modifications Modulates Translation Rate and Fidelity
advisors: Kristin Koutmou and Kaushik Ragunathan
Monday, May 16, 2022
9:00 - 10:00 AM
Chemistry 1640
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----Wednesday, May 18, 2022
----10:00 pm - 11:00 am
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TRMT112, a master regulator of RNA methyltransferases modifying factors involved in mRNA translation
Fluorescent nanoparticles for amplified detection and imaging of RNA in solution and cells
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U-M Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology |
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The Regulation of Signal Transduction by Phase Separated Biomolecular Condensates
Friday, May 20, 2022
12:00 - 1:00 PM
1060 BSB
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U-M Oral Dissertation Defense |
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Molecular Determinants, Fitness Effects, and Evolutionary Consequences of Eukaryotic Gene Expression
advisor: Jianzhi Zhang
Friday, May 20, 2022
1:00 - 2:00 PM
Earl Lewis room, Rackham
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U-M Center for RNA Biomedicine Innovation Seminar |
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A miRNA-mediated approach to dissect the complexity of cancer progression and identify anti-cancer drugs
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The Role of piRNA in Environmental Epigenetics
Monday, May 23, 2022
4:00 - 5:00 PM
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Pfizer is seeking proposals for the advancement of therapeutics in renal disorders
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Open for Submissions: April 25th - June 13th, 2022 |
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Catalyzing translational research efforts by supporting preclinical and commercial clinical development |
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Innovation Partnerships at the University of Michigan manages Great Lakes Discovery, a ten-year collaboration with Deerfield Management Company, L.P to fund U-M drug discovery from early-stage research to clinical development.
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Deerfield has committed up to $130 million over the next decade to invest in biomedical research at U-M with the aim of developing potentially life-saving drugs and disease treatments.
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Projects selected by Great Lakes Discovery will be provided funding and operational support through a development plan aimed at achieving Investigational New Drug (IND) readiness.
GET STARTED WITH A CONSULTATION There is no open Request for Proposal (RFP) - the first step for an interested researcher is to schedule a consultation with the program’s Scientific Collaboration Manager Dr. Seohee You (shyou@umich.edu).
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Our members' publications are available through Altmetrics. Queries are currently available: CRISPR, microRNA, molecule, RNA, RNA therapeutics, transcriptome, and translation. Below are recent highlights.
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Discovery of a large-scale, cell-state-responsive allosteric switch in the 7SK RNA using DANCE-MaP, S. W. Olson, A. W. Turner, J. W. Arney, I. Saleem, C. A. Weidmann, D. M. Margolis, K. M. Weeks, A. M. Mustoe, (2022) Molecular Cell. 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.02.009
Highlights
- DANCE-MaP enables complete characterization of RNA structural ensembles in cells
- The 7SK RNA encodes a large-scale structural switch that modulates P-TEFb binding
- 7SK structure switches dynamically in response to cell growth and stress
- The 7SK switch is a potential therapeutic target for modulating transcription
Keywords: DANCE-MaP; ensemble deconvolution; noncoding RNA; transcriptional regulation; cancer; HIV
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