Core Facilities Update

Broadening Michigan's molecular research frontier:

U-M's SMART Center introduces cutting-edge C-Trap® technology

Image courtesy of LUMICKS

The SMART Center at the University of Michigan, a key component of the Center for RNA Biomedicine, enhances research with state-of-the-art single-molecule tools, expert consultations, and tailored lab demonstrations.

A recent acquisition—a LUMICKS C-Trap® system, funded by a $1.6 million NIH grant—elevates the research capabilities for the entire Michigan research community, including partners like Michigan State University, Oakland University, and the Van Andel Institute. This innovative equipment allows scientists to precisely manipulate and analyze biomolecules, such as RNA and DNA, using optical tweezers, revolutionizing our ability to study these fundamental components of life in real-time.

Discover more about the impact and potential of the C-Trap® in Paul Avedisian's

in-depth article available on the Center for RNA Biomedicine's website.

In the News

Dr. Cheung delivers keynote on RNA tech's role in shaping the future at landmark congressional briefing

RNA science’s potential to revolutionize diverse scientific sectors was the focus of a Capitol Hill briefing by foremost authorities including Vivian Cheung, M.D., and Nobel laureate Drew Weissman, Ph.D., distinguished speaker at the 2024 Center for RNA Biomedicine Symposium

To highlight continuing discoveries, the distributed programs purposefully skipped letters, echoing the incomplete map of RNA knowledge.

These creative programs and this key event are covered comprehensively in Paul Avedisian’s article "Dr. Cheung goes to Washington!" featured on the center's website.

Dr. Cheung's work was also highlighted in The Pioneer, an article in the 2024 issue of RNA Translated, the center's annual magazine.

A video of the congressional briefing—including Dr. Cheung's impactful opening remarks—is available on YouTube.

Cellular subtext: Prensner reviews uORFs, a hidden narrative in cancer's storyline

In a recent review published in NAR Cancer, John Prensner, Ph.D., a member of the Center for RNA Biomedicine, along with co-author Anwesh Dasgupta, Ph.D., dissect emerging data related to upstream open reading frames (uORFs). The review highlights uORFs' pivotal role in the regulation of translation and cancer development, underscoring the potential for uORF research to revolutionize the diagnosis and therapy of cancer.

"Upstream open reading frames:

new players in the landscape of cancer gene regulation"

NAR Cancer, Volume 6, Issue 2, June 2024, zcae023, https://doi.org/10.1093/narcan/zcae023

Published: 20 May 2024

Beyond the Lab

Center co-director Mats Ljungman clinches title at ITF tournament in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada

Acing the serve

Center for RNA Biomedicine co-director Mats Ljungman, Ph.D., took his A-game north last week to defeat Canada's Robert Foy in a 6-3, 6-2 shootout, winning the final match in his age group at the 2024 Mont-Tremblant International Tennis Federation (ITF) Cup.

The tournament, part of the ITF World Tennis Masters Tour, took place June 10-16, 2024 in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada.

After besting Foy last Friday morning, June 14, Dr. Ljungman posed with his opponent at the medal ceremony, each donning their laurels.

Game. Set. Match! Congratulations Mats!

Affiliated Seminars

"Gene expression modulated by DNA and RNA switches"

Sua Myong, Ph.D.

Boston Children’s Hospital

Cellular and Molecular Medicine

Genetics and Genomics

Pediatrics

Tuesday, June 25 | 3 p.m.

Center Life Science (421),

Cambridge, MA 

Click here to join via Zoom.

"A novel role of non-coding RNAs as crucial tethering molecules in regulating gene expression"

Presented by Mariangela Morlando, Ph.D.

Sapienza University,

Rome, IT

"The ribosome stalling mechanism induced by the human XBP1u arrest peptide at atomistic level"

Presented by Francesco Di Palma, Ph.D.

Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia CHT @ Erzelli

Genoa, IT

Wednesday, June 19 | 10 a.m.

Register for the Zoom here.

Oral Defenses

"The interplay between genomic form and function: Determining features that influence transcription"

Oral Defense by Ariel McShane | Cellular & Molecular Biology

Advisor: Mats Ljungman, Ph.D.

Wednesday, June 19 | 11 a.m.

Kahn Auditorium | BSRB

Upcoming Meetings

2024 RNATx: From Concept to Clinic

June 26 – June 28, 2024

University of Massachusetts

Chan Medical School

Abstract submissions are closed.



FASEB Science Research Conference

Mechanisms of RNA Decay

August 18 – 22, 2024

Lisbon, Portugal

Abstract Deadline is Sunday, June 23.

Non-coding RNA World 2024:

Exploring Mechanisms, Designing Medicines

October 7 – 9, 2024

Basel, Switzerland

Abstract submissions are closed.

EMBO Workshop: Spatial Omics and Complexities of Human Diseases: Resolve and Solve

October 23 – 25, 2024

Rome, Italy

Abstract Deadline is Sunday, June 30.

Publications

Our members' publications are available through Altmetric.

Queries currently available:

CRISPR, microRNA, molecule, RNA, RNA therapeutics, transcriptome, and translation.

Below are recent highlights.

Chauvier A, Dandpat SS, Romero R, Walter NG. A nascent riboswitch helix orchestrates robust transcriptional regulation through signal integration. Nat Commun. 2024 May 10;15(1):3955. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-48409-8. PMID: 38729929; PMCID: PMC11087558.

Yang Y, Feng H, Tang Y, Wang Z, Qiu P, Huang X, Chang L, Zhang J, Chen YE, Mizrak D, Yang B. Bioengineered vascular grafts with a pathogenic TGFBR1 variant model aneurysm formation in vivo and reveal underlying collagen defects. Sci Transl Med. 2024 May 8;16(746):eadg6298. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adg6298. Epub 2024 May 8. PMID: 38718134.

Job Postings

The Dr. Guizhi (Julian) Zhu Lab in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Michigan has multiple full-time openings for Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Graduate Research Assistants.

Learn more.

The Ohio State University (OSU),

Department of Molecular Genetics

Ohio Eminent Scholar in Molecular Genetics

For complete details on current openings and how to apply for these positions, visit the Recruitment Opportunities page on our website.

To share your news and comments, please contact

rna-communications@umich.edu