Happening @ Michigan https://events.umich.edu/list/rss RSS Feed for Happening @ Michigan Events at the University of Michigan. In Support with Communities: Early Career Equity and Environmental Health Perspectives (March 2, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82483 82483-21108103@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 2, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Michigan Lifestage Environmental Exposures and Disease Center

This talk will take listeners through a series of environmental health research studies that have been contextualized by early career equity experiences. Projects to be discussed include work done in the United States and Nigeria. Dr. Nwanaji-Enwerem is an MD-PhD-MPP candidate in his final year at Harvard Medical School and Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Kennedy School, and a postdoctoral research fellow in Environmental Health Sciences in the School of Public Health, UC Berkeley. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa, Valedictorian from Morehouse College with a BS in Biology, and earned his PhD in the Harvard University Biological Sciences in Public Health program. He is an NIH National Research Service Award Principal Investigator and a Paul & Daisy Soros Fellow. His present research examines the topics of environmental exposures, health biomarkers, and science/health/environmental public policy.

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Lecture / Discussion Wed, 24 Feb 2021 16:01:40 -0500 2021-03-02T12:00:00-05:00 2021-03-02T12:50:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Michigan Lifestage Environmental Exposures and Disease Center Lecture / Discussion Jamaji Nwanaji-Enwerem: Mar 2 Early Career Equity
Microscopic Characterization of Cellular Membrane as an Active Platform for Biological Function- Department of Biological Chemistry Seminar (March 2, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/80652 80652-20769622@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 2, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biological Chemistry

Dr. Emad Tajkhorshid, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, will present a virtual seminar on Tuesday March 2nd, 2021 at 12:00pm

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Workshop / Seminar Tue, 12 Jan 2021 13:27:59 -0500 2021-03-02T12:00:00-05:00 2021-03-02T13:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Biological Chemistry Workshop / Seminar Emad
Project Highlights from the 3D Innovations Lab - Deborah M. Rooney, PhD (March 3, 2021 9:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/82680 82680-21161628@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, March 3, 2021 9:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Clinical Simulation Center

All Michigan Medicine faculty and staff are invited to attend the next installment of the Clinical Simulation Center Brown Bag series.

The series is designed to promote collaboration and best practices in simulation-based education and research and will allow faculty, staff and learners the opportunity to learn and share best practices in simulation-based education and assessment.

The next event, which will be held virtually at noon on March 23rd in the CSC will discuss current projects in the 3D and Innovation Lab.

Attendees can meet the faculty and BME students who are solving simulation problems at Michigan Medicine.

Projects that will be discussed include:
- Development of a task trainer used to support cardiac surgery skills
- Development of a traumatic leg amputation model
- 3D Innovations Lab and Social Media

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Lecture / Discussion Wed, 03 Mar 2021 09:10:33 -0500 2021-03-03T09:00:00-05:00 2021-03-03T10:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Clinical Simulation Center Lecture / Discussion 2019-2020-3DI Lab TEAMclean
RNA Seminar featuring: Melissa Moore, Moderna Therapeutics (March 3, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81265 81265-20879904@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, March 3, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for RNA Biomedicine

**Please register here for March 3rd seminar: https://umich.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_l0kt_NjpRh-f33LJj7KGpA

Dr. Moore will address scientists and non-scientists, and will take live questions.

In her role as Chief Scientific Officer, Platform Research, Dr. Melissa Moore is responsible for leading mRNA biology, delivery and computation science research at Moderna. She joined Moderna in 2016 from the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where she served as Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Eleanor Eustis Farrington Chair in Cancer Research and a long-time Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). Dr. Moore was also a founding Co-Director of the RNA Therapeutics Institute (RTI) at UMassMed, and was instrumental in creating the Massachusetts Therapeutic and Entrepreneurship Realization initiative (MassTERi), a faculty-led program intended to facilitate the translation of UMMS discoveries into drugs, products, technologies and companies. Dr. Moore is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences (2017) and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2019).

Dr. Moore holds a B.S. in Chemistry and Biology from the College of William and Mary, and a Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry from MIT, where she specialized in enzymology under Prof. Christopher T. Walsh. She began working on RNA metabolism during her postdoctoral training with Phillip A. Sharp at MIT. During her 23 years as a faculty member, first at Brandeis and then at UMassMed, her research encompassed a broad array of topics related to the roles of RNA and RNA-protein (RNP) complexes in gene expression, and touched on many human diseases including cancer, neurodegeneration, and preeclampsia.

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Lecture / Discussion Wed, 10 Feb 2021 19:47:49 -0500 2021-03-03T16:00:00-05:00 2021-03-03T17:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Center for RNA Biomedicine Lecture / Discussion Melissa Moore, Ph.D., Moderna Therapeutics
BME 500 Seminar: Danielle Bassett (March 4, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81388 81388-20889818@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 4, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

TBD

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Lecture / Discussion Wed, 27 Jan 2021 21:05:02 -0500 2021-03-04T16:00:00-05:00 2021-03-04T17:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
BME 500 Seminar: Sasha Cai Lesher-Perez (March 4, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81387 81387-20889817@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 4, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Efforts to close the gap between in vitro to in vivo model systems have produced technologies that more effectively evaluate spatial, structural, and mechanical control mechanisms. However, existing in vitro models lack temporal regulation that captures the controlled, rhythmic processes that often occur in biological phenomena. A major contributor to this tech-bio mismatch is the difficulty to easily and sustainably scale our ability to apply timed oscillations, representative of biorhythms, in vitro. Developing technologies that are simpler and more adoptable for users, while ensuring higher throughput, have the potential to shift the way in which we establish cell cultures with a dynamic biorhythmic baseline.

In this talk, I will cover how my previous work in different technology platforms will be leveraged to establish next generation cell and tissue culture platforms that enable biomolecule timed oscillations in more complex microenvironments. First, I will discuss the development of microfluidic self-regulating circuits as a tool to produce modular chemical profiles on-chip at different timescales. Second, I will describe microparticle building blocks for the generation of customizable porous scaffolds that are porous, and consequently perfusable, enabling our ability to apply biomolecule timed oscillations through liquid flow to 3D scaffolds. Finally, I will describe my proposed research on establishing biorhythms in vitro and how these in vitro model systems will enable my research group to begin studying how stress within our lives lead to specific disease priming mechanisms.

ZOOM LINK: https://umich.zoom.us/j/94405051853

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Lecture / Discussion Fri, 26 Feb 2021 16:50:20 -0500 2021-03-04T16:00:00-05:00 2021-03-04T17:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
Viral hijacking of host molecular motors to promote nuclear entry (March 5, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82373 82373-21084381@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, March 5, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

During entry, most DNA viruses must navigate the crowded cellular environment to reach the nucleus where transcription and replication of the viral genome occur. How polyomavirus (PyV), a small, DNA tumor virus, accomplishes this essential step in infection is unclear. In mammalian cells, intracellular transport is facilitated largely by two host motors, kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein, which move cargo along microtubules towards the periphery and center of the cell, respectively. We reported that dynein motor activity is required for PyV disassembly and nuclear arrival, but the exact mechanisms by which it promotes this process were unknown. Processive dynein activity requires a three-protein complex composed of the dynein motor, dynactin activator and an adaptor that confers cargo specificity. Unexpectedly, our most recent data revealed that the BICD2 adaptor is sufficient to disassemble the virus independent of the other components within the complex revealing cargo remodeling as a novel function of dynein adaptors. As BICD2 associates with both dynein and kinesin and is involved in cargo transport to the nuclear membrane, we are now investigating the role of these factors in the subsequent nuclear arrival and import of PyV.

Host: Matt Chapman

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Workshop / Seminar Sun, 21 Feb 2021 16:28:01 -0500 2021-03-05T12:00:00-05:00 2021-03-05T13:30:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Workshop / Seminar Chelsey Spriggs
Training Program in Organogenesis Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships - Request for Applications (March 8, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82789 82789-21179549@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, March 8, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

We are pleased to announce a competition for Pre-doctoral and Non-traditional postdoctoral Fellowships in Organogenesis as part of a NIH T32 Training Grant (Training Program in Organogenesis). The goal of the fellowship awards are to provide up to two years of support for outstanding scholars who wish to undertake a research project in the field of organogenesis.

Criteria used to evaluate all applications include the strength of the mentor and strength of the trainee (as evaluated by letters and CVs), the quality of the research project, and the degree to which the project fits the goals of the Training Program, and the Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design (CPOD).

The call for applications are for the following:

NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship (applicants must have achieved candidacy by the time of appointment to the training grant)
Dean’s Non-Traditional Postdoctoral Fellowship in Organogenesis (Non-Federally Funded)
The non-traditional postdoctoral fellowships are open to non-citizen and non-permanent residents, and provide partial funding for one (1) year.

Materials Due: Monday, May 17, 2021 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Submit to Tamika Mohr at: organogenesis@umich.edu

Instructions and Application templates are attached and are available online at : https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cpod/training-program

Faculty Mentors: If you are NOT a member of the Organogenesis faculty, but wish for a trainee in your lab to apply, you may submit a concurrent application for CPOD membership.

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Careers / Jobs Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:32 -0500 2021-03-08T12:00:00-05:00 2021-03-08T17:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Careers / Jobs
Mechanistic Insights into the mRNA Poly(A) Tail Machinery- G. Robert Greenberg Lectureship (March 9, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/80653 80653-20769631@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 9, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biological Chemistry

Dr. Lori Passmore, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, will present our annual G. Robert Greenberg Lectureship in Biological Chemistry. This will be a virtual seminar held at 12:00pm on Tuesday March 9th, 2021

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Workshop / Seminar Tue, 12 Jan 2021 13:31:56 -0500 2021-03-09T12:00:00-05:00 2021-03-09T13:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Biological Chemistry Workshop / Seminar passmore
"Body Plan Evolution: Hox-dependent morphogenesis in the sea anemone Nematostella Vectensis" (March 9, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82539 82539-21116090@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 9, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

The NIH T32 Training Program in Organogenesis is pleased to present a Special Series: Emerging Concepts in Cell Signaling, Regulation, and Science Education with seminar guest Matthew C. Gibson, PhD.

Dr. Gibson is the Dean and Investigator the the Graduate School, Stowers Institute for Medical Research.

The talk is entitled, "Body Plan Evolution: Hox-dependent morphogenesis in the sea anemone Nematostella Vectensis."

Trainee Host: Bridget Waas, Ph.D. Candidate

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Lecture / Discussion Thu, 25 Feb 2021 13:45:51 -0500 2021-03-09T16:00:00-05:00 2021-03-09T17:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Lecture / Discussion Flyer for the Event
A Nanoscale Blueprint of the Human Kinetochore and the Functional Limits of its Design (March 10, 2021 1:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82844 82844-21201315@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, March 10, 2021 1:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Cell & Developmental Biology

We are pleased to announce that Alex Kukreja, CDB Ph.D. Candidate will present his dissertation defense during a virtual seminar on March 10, 2021!

Hosted by: Ajit Joglekar

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Livestream / Virtual Mon, 08 Mar 2021 09:34:37 -0500 2021-03-10T13:00:00-05:00 2021-03-10T14:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Cell & Developmental Biology Livestream / Virtual A Nanoscale Blueprint of the Human Kinetochore and the Functional Limits of its Design
CCMB / DCMB Weekly Seminar Series (March 10, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82479 82479-21108092@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, March 10, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: DCMB Seminar Series

Abstract: Single-cell technologies have transformed biomedical research in the last few years. With single-cell sequencing, we can now simultaneously measure thousands of genomics features in a large number of cells, which provides an ultrahigh resolution phenotypic map for each individual. However, single-cell protocols are complex. Even with the most sensitive platforms, the data are often sparse and noisy. Recent development of single-cell multi-omics and spatial transcriptomics technologies further imposed additional challenges on data integration. In this talk, I will present several machine learning methods that my group recently developed for single-cell and spatial transcriptomics data analysis. I will discuss methods for simultaneous denoising, clustering and batch effect correction, single-cell multi-omics data integration, identification of spatially variable genes, generation of super-resolution gene expression, and inference of cell type distribution in spatial transcriptomics. I will illustrate our methods by showing results from ongoing collaborations on cardiometabolic disease and applications to brain and cancer data.
* * *
Biography: Dr. Li’s research interests include statistical genetics and genomics, bioinformatics, and computational biology. The central theme of her current research is to use statistical and computational approaches to understand cellular heterogeneity in human-disease-relevant tissues, to characterize gene expression diversity across cell types, to study the patterns of cell state transition and crosstalk of various cells using data generated from single-cell and spatial transcriptomics studies, and to translate these findings to the clinics. In addition to methods development, Dr. Li is also interested in collaborating with researchers seeking to identify complex disease susceptibility genes and acting cell types. She is Director of Biostatistics for the Gene Therapy Program at Penn, where she advises biostatistics and bioinformatics analysis for various gene therapy studies. She is also Chair of the Graduate Program in Biostatistics. Dr. Li actively serves in the scientific community. She served as a regular member for the NIH Genomics, Computational Biology and Technology (GCAT) study section for 6 years, and the NHGRI Center for Inherited Disease Research (CIDR) for 3 years. She is an Associate Editor of Annals of Applied Statistics, Statistics in Biosciences, PLOS Computational Biology, and Human Genetics and Genomics Advances. She is an elected member of the International Statistical Institute and a Fellow of the American Statistical Association.

https://umich-health.zoom.us/j/93929606089?pwd=SHh6R1FOQm8xMThRemdxTEFMWWpVdz09

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Livestream / Virtual Wed, 24 Feb 2021 12:57:46 -0500 2021-03-10T16:00:00-05:00 2021-03-10T17:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location DCMB Seminar Series Livestream / Virtual
BME 500 Seminar: George Christ (March 11, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81389 81389-20889819@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 11, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Despite the well-documented capability of skeletal muscle to repair, regenerate, and remodel following injury, there remain a multitude of diseases, disorders, and traumatic injuries that result in irrecoverable loss of muscle structure and function. For example, volumetric muscle loss (VML) injuries are characterized by a degree of composite muscle tissue loss so severe, that it exceeds the native ability of the muscle to repair, thereby resulting in permanent cosmetic and functional deficits to the limbs, neck, or face. These injuries significantly impact both the civilian and military populations. Current treatment for VML injury involves surgical muscle transfer, although these procedures are often associated with both poor engraftment and donor site morbidity, as well as incomplete cosmesis and functional recovery. Not surprisingly, this unmet medical need has stimulated research efforts to develop new technologies for treatment of VML injuries. Recent attention has focused on development of tissue engineering (TE)/regenerative medicine (RM) technologies to provide more effective treatment options for large scale muscle injuries. A variety of preclinical approaches have been tried that include implantation of synthetic and/or natural extracellular matrices/scaffolds/constructs at the site of VML injury, both with and without a cellular component. Extant data indicate that the inclusion of a cellular component generally leads to a greater degree of functional improvement. Consistent with these preclinical results, recent clinical studies for treatment of VML injury, solely with implanted decellularized extracellular matrix scaffolds, have provided evidence for modest functional recovery but with little de novo muscle tissue regeneration at the injury site. More recently, bio-printed tissue engineered constructs and their potential applications to treatment of VML injury have been reported in the literature. While these initial clinical and preclinical observations are encouraging for the TE/RM paradigm, full structural and functional recovery has yet to be achieved, and thus, there remains significant room for therapeutic advancement. To this end, I will describe our highly collaborative efforts to boost development and evaluation of a range of implantable regenerative therapeutics (biomaterials and tissue engineered constructs) in biologically relevant animal models. The overall goal is to increase the efficiency of clinical translation of TE/RM technologies capable of more complete functional recovery following repair of VML injury.

ZOOM LINK: https://umich.zoom.us/j/94405051853

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Lecture / Discussion Mon, 08 Mar 2021 11:13:19 -0500 2021-03-11T16:00:00-05:00 2021-03-11T17:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
The ins and outs of bacterial organelles (March 12, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82374 82374-21084382@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, March 12, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Abstract: Open any biology textbook and you are likely to learn that, in contrast to eukaryotes, bacteria do not contain organelles to compartmentalize and facilitate cellular functions. However, numerous protein- and lipid-bounded organelles are known to exist within a diverse array of bacterial species. In my group, we aim to understand the process of compartmentalization at a molecular level in order to understand the origins and functions of bacterial organelles and exploit them for future applications. I will discuss our work on the biogenesis and subcellular organization of the magnetic magnetosome organelles of magnetotactic bacteria and our recent discovery of ferrosomes, iron-accumulating compartments that define a novel class of bacterial organelles

Host: Anthony Vecchiarelli

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Workshop / Seminar Sun, 21 Feb 2021 16:43:04 -0500 2021-03-12T12:00:00-05:00 2021-03-12T13:30:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Workshop / Seminar Magnetosome chains
Training Program in Organogenesis Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships - Request for Applications (March 15, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82789 82789-21179550@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, March 15, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

We are pleased to announce a competition for Pre-doctoral and Non-traditional postdoctoral Fellowships in Organogenesis as part of a NIH T32 Training Grant (Training Program in Organogenesis). The goal of the fellowship awards are to provide up to two years of support for outstanding scholars who wish to undertake a research project in the field of organogenesis.

Criteria used to evaluate all applications include the strength of the mentor and strength of the trainee (as evaluated by letters and CVs), the quality of the research project, and the degree to which the project fits the goals of the Training Program, and the Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design (CPOD).

The call for applications are for the following:

NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship (applicants must have achieved candidacy by the time of appointment to the training grant)
Dean’s Non-Traditional Postdoctoral Fellowship in Organogenesis (Non-Federally Funded)
The non-traditional postdoctoral fellowships are open to non-citizen and non-permanent residents, and provide partial funding for one (1) year.

Materials Due: Monday, May 17, 2021 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Submit to Tamika Mohr at: organogenesis@umich.edu

Instructions and Application templates are attached and are available online at : https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cpod/training-program

Faculty Mentors: If you are NOT a member of the Organogenesis faculty, but wish for a trainee in your lab to apply, you may submit a concurrent application for CPOD membership.

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Careers / Jobs Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:32 -0500 2021-03-15T12:00:00-04:00 2021-03-15T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Careers / Jobs
RNA Seminar featuring: James Nuñez, HHMI Hanna Gray Fellow, University of California, San Francisco (March 15, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81286 81286-20881887@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, March 15, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for RNA Biomedicine

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: https://umich.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_f8wC8rrJQzuhYzTEXoW69Q


ABSTRACT
General approaches for heritably altering gene expression would enable many discovery and therapeutic efforts. I will present CRISPRoff— a programmable epigenetic memory writer consisting of a single dead Cas9 fusion protein that establishes DNA methylation and repressive histone modifications to turn off transcription. Transient CRISPRoff expression initiates highly specific DNA methylation and gene repression that is maintained through cell division and differentiation of stem cells to neurons. Pairing CRISPRoff with genome-wide screens and analysis of chromatin marks enabled us to explore the rules for heritable silencing. We identify sgRNAs capable of silencing the large majority of genes including those lacking canonical CpG islands (CGIs) and reveal a wide targeting window extending beyond annotated CGIs. Our finding that targeted DNA methylation outside of CGIs leads to memorized gene silencing expands the canonical model of methylation-based silencing and broadly enables diverse applications including genome-wide screens, multiplexed cell engineering, enhancer silencing, and mechanistic exploration of epigenetic inheritance.

KEYWORDS: CRISPR, transcription, epigenetics
Flyer in PDF: https://rna.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Seminar-Flyer-03152021-Nunez.pdf

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Lecture / Discussion Thu, 18 Feb 2021 09:21:31 -0500 2021-03-15T16:00:00-04:00 2021-03-15T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for RNA Biomedicine Lecture / Discussion James Nunez, Ph.D. UCSF
Beyond the Ferritin Superfamily: New Chemistry and New Scaffolds for Dimetal Oxygenases-Department of Biological Chemistry Seminar (March 16, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/80654 80654-20769632@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 16, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biological Chemistry

Dr. Amie Boal, Penn State University, will present a virtual seminar on Tuesday March 16th, 2021 at 12:00pm

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Workshop / Seminar Mon, 08 Mar 2021 13:11:28 -0500 2021-03-16T12:00:00-04:00 2021-03-16T13:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biological Chemistry Workshop / Seminar Boal
How chromosome structure and recombination ensure segregation into sperm" (March 16, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82541 82541-21116091@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 16, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

The Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design, alongside the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, is proud to present a Seminar with guest speaker Francesca Cole, PhD.

Dr. Cole is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis at the MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas. She is also the Co-Director of the Genetics and Epigenetics Program and Director of the Trainee Transitions for Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis program.

The talk is entitled, "How chromosome structure and recombination ensure segregation into sperm".

Faculty Host: Ben Allen, PhD, Associate Professor, Cell and Developmental Biology

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Lecture / Discussion Thu, 25 Feb 2021 13:58:31 -0500 2021-03-16T16:00:00-04:00 2021-03-16T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Lecture / Discussion Flyer for the Event
Science Success Series | Overcoming the Fear of Failure in Personal and Academic Pursuits (March 16, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/80594 80594-20759752@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 16, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Science Learning Center

In this workshop, we'll build on the lessons of growth mindset and put failure into practice, with activities that allow us to focus on the learning that goes along with mistakes. This way, we can create environments that allow for innovation, personal, and professional growth.

Register at: myumi.ch/1pBpO

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Workshop / Seminar Mon, 11 Jan 2021 11:37:45 -0500 2021-03-16T16:00:00-04:00 2021-03-16T17:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Science Learning Center Workshop / Seminar you can('t) do it
TSCA @ 5 Years: Opportunities to Act with Foresight (March 16, 2021 7:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82485 82485-21108121@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 16, 2021 7:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Michigan Lifestage Environmental Exposures and Disease Center

The University of Michigan M-LEEaD Center is co-sponsoring an event to mark the 5-year anniversary of the bipartisan legislation called the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. This reform law was designed to modernize U.S. industrial chemical policy to promote health, but has it lived up to its promise?

Public understanding is limited regarding how exposures to toxic chemicals affect health and how they might be regulated. Unlike pharmaceuticals, industrial and commercial chemicals are rarely tested for safety before they reach the U.S. market. The 1976 TSCA has been widely acknowledged to be a weak and ineffective law, and widespread exposures and harms continue. In the U.S., everyone is exposed to industrial and toxic chemicals, dozens and probably hundreds – well before birth. The amount of chemicals manufactured and imported continues to grow – it is trillions of pounds – and these chemicals remain largely unregulated. At the same time, we have seen an increase in chronic diseases, such as diabetes, autism, and infertility. Not everyone is equally at risk, and a higher burden of disease falls on low wealth communities and communities of color. These health disparities in exposures and health effects are illustrated and exacerbated by COVID.

The amended TSCA gave the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency new requirements and authorities. The public health impact points to the need for the U.S. EPA to fully use its new powers to evaluate all risks from hazardous chemicals and set policies which protect health and are accountable to high-risk communities. Preventive actions are urgently needed.

Watch “THE FOREVER CHEMICALS” documentary (2019, 26 min) at Great Lakes Now then join the March 16 forum. https://www.greatlakesnow.org/fc
“The Forever Chemicals” is an Emmy-winning examination of the impact of PFAS contamination in west Michigan
communities.

LEARN MORE AT OUR LIVE VIRTUAL PANEL DISCUSSION (registration required) on March 16 with Sandra Svoboda, “The Forever Chemicals” co-producer and Great Lakes Now Program Director; Tracey Woodruff, PhD, MPH, Professor, Ob/Gyn, Reproductive Sciences, University of CA-San Francisco; and Justin Onwenu, Environmental Justice Organizer, Sierra Club. Moderated by Patricia Koman, MPP, PhD, Research Investigator, Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan with Welcoming remarks from Gilbert S. Omenn, MD, PhD, the Harold T Shapiro Distinguished University Professor of Medicine (also Professor of Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics; Internal Medicine; Human Genetics; and Public Health, Univ of Mich).

REGISTER HERE https://bit.ly/37I2JaU

SPONSORED BY the Michigan Center on Lifestage Environmental Exposures and Disease (M-LEEaD) • U-M Environmental Health Sciences • Detroit Public Television • Wayne State CURES Center • U-M Sustainable Living Experience • UROP (U-M Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program) • UMIHSA (U-M Industrial Hygiene Students Association) • EHSA (Environmental Health Student Association) • American Chemical Society Outreach Organization • U-M Health Policy Student Association • Ecology Center • Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition • UCSF Program for Reproductive Health and the Environment • UCSF EaRTH Center

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Conference / Symposium Wed, 03 Mar 2021 12:57:09 -0500 2021-03-16T19:00:00-04:00 2021-03-16T20:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Michigan Lifestage Environmental Exposures and Disease Center Conference / Symposium March 16 Panel Discussion: TSCA @ 5 Years
CCMB / DCMB Weekly Seminar Series featuring Sriram Chandrasekaran (Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering) (March 17, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82825 82825-21179592@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, March 17, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: DCMB Seminar Series

Abstract: Drug combinations have the potential to greatly expand our pharmacopeia while reducing both cost and drug resistance. Yet the current drug-discovery approach is unable to screen the astronomical number of possible combinations in different cell types and does not account for the complex environment inside the body. We have developed AI tools - INDIGO and MAGENTA - that predict the efficacy of drug combinations based on the properties of the drugs, the pathogen, and the infection environment. We are also using modeling to identify drugs that work in synergy with the host immune system. Using INDIGO and MAGENTA, we have identified highly synergistic combinations of repurposed drugs to treat drug resistant infections including Tuberculosis, the deadliest bacterial infection. INDIGO also accurately predicts the outcome of past clinical trials of drug combinations. Our ultimate goal is to create a personalized approach to treat infections using AI.
* * *
Biography: Chandrasekaran received his bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from Anna University in 2008, and a PhD in Biophysics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2013. He worked at Harvard University and MIT as a Harvard Junior Fellow between 2013 and 2016 and became an Assistant Professor at UM in 2017. His lab develops systems biology algorithms for drug discovery. Computer models from his lab like INDIGO and MAGENTA are being used to design effective therapies against drug resistant pathogens. His lab also develops systems biology algorithms to understand metabolic regulation. The approaches that they have created (PROM, ASTRIX, DFA, EGEM and GEMINI) perform complementary functions in modeling of metabolic and regulatory networks. Chandrasekaran’s research has been published in Cell, Genome Biology, mBio, and PNAS. For his work, Chandrasekaran previously received the 2013 Harvard Junior Fellowship, the 2011 Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) International Predoctoral Fellowship, the 2014 William Milton Fund award, 2018 UM Precision Health Investigator Award, and the 2018 Distinguished Young Investigator Award from the AICHE COBRA society.


https://umich-health.zoom.us/j/93929606089?pwd=SHh6R1FOQm8xMThRemdxTEFMWWpVdz09

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Livestream / Virtual Fri, 05 Mar 2021 14:44:14 -0500 2021-03-17T16:00:00-04:00 2021-03-17T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location DCMB Seminar Series Livestream / Virtual Sriram Chandrasekaran, PhD (Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering)
What Should Education Innovation at Michigan Medicine Be Known For? (March 18, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82425 82425-21098206@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 18, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: RISE (Research. Innovation. Scholarship. Education.)

Please join us for our next Virtual Talking Circle on March 18 at 12:00 pm, where we will discuss how to construct a more cohesive direction for education innovation at our institution. What problems should we be focusing on? Where should we as an “innovation system” invest?

RISE will be working across our entire community to construct such a vision, a process suggested by previous Virtual Talking Circles, the RISE Advisory Council, and education leaders in the biomedical sciences, as well as undergraduate, graduate, and continuing medical education. A specific proposal will be presented for reflection and feedback by attendees, and we invite all of you to attend and provide input into this conversation.

Please also invite your colleagues who may be interested. See you then!

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Workshop / Seminar Tue, 23 Feb 2021 07:25:35 -0500 2021-03-18T12:00:00-04:00 2021-03-18T13:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location RISE (Research. Innovation. Scholarship. Education.) Workshop / Seminar RISE Virtual Talking Circle
NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies Mini Symposium Series: Nutrition & Brain Health with The Henry Ford (March 18, 2021 2:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82153 82153-21044613@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 18, 2021 2:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies

"You are what you eat" is a common phrase that researchers and scientists are proving remarkably true. Unhealthy diets not only lead to obesity, but that obesity can even lead to cognitive decline, or a decreased ability to think.

The third installment of the NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies Mini Symposium Series will explore what unhealthy foods do to the nervous system, a historical look at the downhill trend of eating habits, and how everyone can find an optimal nutritional balance. These presentations will be followed by a question and answer session.

“Nutrition & Brain Health” is made possible by the generous support of Robert and Katherine Jacobs, who believe that informing people about healthy food options is critically important to the health of their community.

Eva Feldman, MD, PhD, Director of the NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies, will moderate the 30-minute mini symposium and discuss diet and brain health. Debra Reid, PhD, MA, Curator of Agriculture and the Environment at The Henry Ford, will discuss the history of the American diet and how urban residents obtained fresh fruits and vegetables from urban markets, such as the Central Farmers Market that is under reconstruction at Greenfield Village. Michigan Medicine Lead Dietitian Danielle Karsies, MS, RDN, will provide direction for how people can apply the information from Drs. Feldman and Reid to help them make better food choices.

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Conference / Symposium Tue, 16 Feb 2021 13:46:27 -0500 2021-03-18T14:00:00-04:00 2021-03-18T14:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies Conference / Symposium Nutrition & Brain Health with The Henry Ford
BME 500 Seminar: Daniel Rueckert (March 18, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81390 81390-20889820@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 18, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Zoom Link: https://cwru.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tmHJ7ArQRyO01NN6SfYYtg

Hosted by Dr. Frederick Epstein

Seminar Abstract:
The talk will focus on the use of deep learning techniques for the discovery and quantification of clinically useful information from medical images. The talk will describe how deep learning can be used for the reconstruction of medical images from undersampled data, image super-resolution, image segmentation and image classification. It will also show the clinical utility of applications of deep learning for the interpretation of medical images in applications such as brain tumour segmentation, cardiac image analysis and applications in neonatal and fetal imaging. Finally, it will be discussed how deep learning may change the future of medical imaging. https://openbme.org/

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Lecture / Discussion Mon, 15 Mar 2021 14:07:10 -0400 2021-03-18T16:00:00-04:00 2021-03-18T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
E. coli meets world: how the environment shapes a bacterial cell (March 19, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82376 82376-21084383@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, March 19, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Abstract: Like other single celled organisms, bacteria are uniquely sensitive to changes in their physical and chemical environment. With only the minimal protection offered by their cell envelope, fluctuations in nutrient availability, pH, osmolarity, and temperature have an immediate impact on diverse aspects of cell physiology as bacteria struggle to adapt to the new condition. On a more extended time scale, nutrient availability is one of the major determinants of bacterial cell morphology. *Escherichia coli* cells are three times larger when cultured at steady state in nutrient rich conditions than in nutrient poor ones, due to the actions of nutrient-dependent division inhibitors, accelerated lipid synthesis and a concomitant increase in plasma membrane capacity, and other yet to be identified factors. Little is known, however, about the effect of other environmental conditions on bacterial cell morphology. Focusing on one environmental variable, I will discuss how modest changes in pH—too small to affect growth rate—alter the activity of the essential proteins that construct *E. coli*’s peptidoglycan cell wall, increase resistance to clinically relevant antibiotics, and reduce cell length by as much as 20%. Together this work identifies pH as a significant environmental determinant of bacterial physiology and morphogenesis whose impact is mediated primarily through changes in the cell envelope.

Host: Anthony Vecchiarelli

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Workshop / Seminar Sun, 21 Feb 2021 17:56:49 -0500 2021-03-19T12:00:00-04:00 2021-03-19T13:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Workshop / Seminar Petra Levin
Saturday Morning Physics VIRTUAL Event | From Milkmaids to mRNA (March 20, 2021 10:30am) https://events.umich.edu/event/82125 82125-21036720@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Saturday, March 20, 2021 10:30am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Saturday Morning Physics

Dr. Fuller will give a pre-recorded Lecture and a Live Q&A.
Virtual Presentation Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mN-qJmWRkI (Link will be active at 10:30 am on 03/20/21.)

The discovery that host immune defenses could be primed, a process called immunization or vaccination, helped to eradicate smallpox. Immunization has changed the global impacts of infectious diseases. Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines that have Emergency Use Authorization are one part of the toolkit for managing COVID-19. What is mRNA anyway? We will explore connections among mRNA, milkmaids and microbial pathogens.

We celebrate the James Robert Walker Lecture on this occasion.

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Lecture / Discussion Mon, 15 Mar 2021 08:46:12 -0400 2021-03-20T10:30:00-04:00 2021-03-20T11:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Saturday Morning Physics Lecture / Discussion Image of Dr. Oveta Fuller
Training Program in Organogenesis Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships - Request for Applications (March 22, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82789 82789-21179551@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, March 22, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

We are pleased to announce a competition for Pre-doctoral and Non-traditional postdoctoral Fellowships in Organogenesis as part of a NIH T32 Training Grant (Training Program in Organogenesis). The goal of the fellowship awards are to provide up to two years of support for outstanding scholars who wish to undertake a research project in the field of organogenesis.

Criteria used to evaluate all applications include the strength of the mentor and strength of the trainee (as evaluated by letters and CVs), the quality of the research project, and the degree to which the project fits the goals of the Training Program, and the Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design (CPOD).

The call for applications are for the following:

NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship (applicants must have achieved candidacy by the time of appointment to the training grant)
Dean’s Non-Traditional Postdoctoral Fellowship in Organogenesis (Non-Federally Funded)
The non-traditional postdoctoral fellowships are open to non-citizen and non-permanent residents, and provide partial funding for one (1) year.

Materials Due: Monday, May 17, 2021 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Submit to Tamika Mohr at: organogenesis@umich.edu

Instructions and Application templates are attached and are available online at : https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cpod/training-program

Faculty Mentors: If you are NOT a member of the Organogenesis faculty, but wish for a trainee in your lab to apply, you may submit a concurrent application for CPOD membership.

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Careers / Jobs Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:32 -0500 2021-03-22T12:00:00-04:00 2021-03-22T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Careers / Jobs
"Coming together in challenging times: Multicellular assembly in engineered microenvironments" (March 23, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83016 83016-21243198@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 23, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

The Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design, alongside the Department of Biomedical Engineering, is proud to present a seminar with guest speaker Brendon M. Baker, PhD.

Dr. Baker is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan.

The talk is entitled, "Coming together in challenging times: Multicellular assembly in engineered microenvironments"

Faculty Host: Ariella Shikanov, PhD, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering

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Lecture / Discussion Wed, 17 Mar 2021 15:35:19 -0400 2021-03-23T16:00:00-04:00 2021-03-23T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Lecture / Discussion Flyer for the Event
Where Do We Go From Here: Body Politics & Movement Towards Racial Empowerment (March 24, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82828 82828-21179596@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, March 24, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: School of Kinesiology

Please join us for the last event in our series addressing the theme: "Where Do We Go From Here: Body Politics and Movement Towards Racial Empowerment."

This event will consist of a panel featuring scholars and medical, mental health, and fitness experts discussing movement, and physical and mental wellness/well-being as ways of combatting the body politics of racism. The event will include panelists’ demonstrations and audience participation.

If you'd like to join along with the Afrobeats dance demonstration (and we hope you do), please wear comfortable clothes and use a space where you have room to move. All ages and abilities are welcome; no experience needed!

--Abigail Eiler, LMSW, MSW, QMHP: Clinical Assistant Professor, U-M School of Social Work; Director, Athletics Counseling, U-M Athletics; Chair, Mental Health & Wellness Cabinet, Big Ten Conference

--Chiamaka Ukachukwu, MS: PhD Candidate (Specializing in Cardiovascular Electrophysiology), U-M Department of Pharmacology; Afrobeats Dance Instructor, U-M Recreational Sports

--Dr. Kamaria Washington, DPT: Physical Therapist (Specializing in Pelvic Floor Concerns), Therapeutic Associates Bethany Physical Therapy (Portland, OR)

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Well-being Wed, 17 Mar 2021 17:58:46 -0400 2021-03-24T12:00:00-04:00 2021-03-24T13:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location School of Kinesiology Well-being U-M Health Sciences - Where Do We Go From Here: Body Politics & Movement Towards Racial Empowerment
CCMB / DCMB Weekly Seminar Series Featuring Duncan K. Ralph (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) (March 24, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82733 82733-21169592@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, March 24, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: DCMB Seminar Series

Abstract: Antibodies are an integral part of the adaptive immune response, and are a critical component of both vaccine-induced and naturally-acquired immunity. The development of deep sequencing approaches in recent years has allowed us to sample a significant fraction of the diverse repertoire of B cell receptor sequences from which antibodies are made. These sequences encode a wealth of information on the somatic rearrangement and evolutionary processes that determine the contours of our antibody repertoires, and thus our ability to respond appropriately to pathogens and vaccines. Extracting this information, however, requires a careful inference approach across several different analysis steps. I will describe the computational approaches that we have taken to solving these problems, which constitute the partis software package, and describe their application in several projects, including HIV and Dengue data.

* * *

Biography: Duncan attended the University of California at Santa Cruz for his undergraduate studies in physics, completing his thesis on energy transport in condensed matter theory in 2005. He completed his PhD at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2014, working on the Large Hadron Collider at the European particle physics laboratory (CERN). His thesis described the observation of Higgs boson decays to four leptons. Since 2014, he has worked in Frederick Matsen’s lab at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, first as a postdoctoral researcher and more recently as a staff scientist, writing new computational methods for the analysis of B cell receptor deep sequencing data.

https://umich-health.zoom.us/j/93929606089?pwd=SHh6R1FOQm8xMThRemdxTEFMWWpVdz09

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Livestream / Virtual Thu, 04 Mar 2021 11:20:24 -0500 2021-03-24T16:00:00-04:00 2021-03-24T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location DCMB Seminar Series Livestream / Virtual
5th Annual RNA Symposium, "Processing RNA" (March 25, 2021 11:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/80161 80161-20572609@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 25, 2021 11:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for RNA Biomedicine

FOR MORE DETAILS & ABSTRACTS VISIT: https://rna.umich.edu/2021-symposium/

Thursday, March 25, 2021
11:00 / Welcome
11:05 / KEYNOTE 1: Tracy Johnson, UCLA, “RNA Splicing, Chromatin Modification, and the Coordinated Control of Gene expression”
12:00 / Short break
12:10 / KEYNOTE 2: Kevin Weeks, UNC, “Structure-Based Discovery of New Functions in Large RNAs”
1:05 / Data Blitz: Cathy Smith, Daniel Peltier, Yan Zhang
1:35 / KEYNOTE 3: Feng Zhang, MIT, “Exploration of Biological Diversity to Discover Novel Molecular Technologies”
2:30 / Close Day 1

Friday, March 26, 2021
11:00 / Welcome
11:05 / KEYNOTE 4: Brenda Bass, University of Utah, “Distinguishing self and non-self dsRNA in vertebrates and invertebrates”
12:00 / Short break
12:10 / KEYNOTE 5: Christopher Lima, Sloan-Kettering Institute, “Mechanisms that target RNA for destruction”
1:05 / Data Blitz: Meredith Purchal, Adrien Chauvier, Shannon Wright
1:35 / Panel discussion with keynote speakers
2:30 / Close Day 2

Liveblogging by MiSciWriters! https://misciwriters.com/

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Lecture / Discussion Tue, 23 Mar 2021 15:03:26 -0400 2021-03-25T11:00:00-04:00 2021-03-25T14:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for RNA Biomedicine Lecture / Discussion 5th Annual RNA Symposium
LHS Collaboratory March Session (March 25, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82008 82008-21006745@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 25, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Learning Health Sciences

Speakers Stefan Boes, PhD and Sarah Mantwill, PhD from the university of Lucerne will discuss the Swiss Learning Health System.

Promoting and supporting uptake of evidence and evidence-informed decision-making in health-systems related policy and practice is a challenge. In Switzerland, the need to address this matter has been increasingly emphasized by different actors in the health system. In particular, the lack of comprehensive coordination efforts in the field of health services research, and subsequent knowledge translation activities, has been stressed. In response, the Swiss Learning Health System (SLHS) was established as a nationwide project in 2017, currently involving 10 academic partner institutions. One of the overarching objectives of the SLHS is to bridge research, policy, and practice by providing an infrastructure that supports learning cycles by: continuously identifying issues relevant to the Swiss health system, systemizing relevant evidence, presenting potential courses of action, and revising and reshaping responses. Key features of learning cycles in the SLHS include the development of policy/evidence briefs that serve as a basis for stakeholder dialogues with actors from research, policy and practice. Issues that are identified to be further pursued are monitored for potential implementation and eventually evaluated to inform new learning cycles and to support continuous learning within the system.

Dr. Boes and Dr. Mantwill will provide an overview of the SLHS and its key features, as well as its capacity building efforts to train young researchers in the field of learning health systems, and the development of a centralized metadata repository in support of creating a sufficient large evidence basis to support learning cycles in the Swiss health system. Further, they will discuss lessons learned from the past and the newest developments of the SLHS in light of a second funding phase supported by the Swiss government.

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Livestream / Virtual Thu, 25 Feb 2021 23:57:27 -0500 2021-03-25T12:00:00-04:00 2021-03-25T13:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Learning Health Sciences Livestream / Virtual LHS Collaboratory Logo
BME 500 Seminar: Warren L. Grayson (March 25, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81391 81391-20889821@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 25, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Tissue engineering provides a viable means of regenerating bone and skeletal muscle tissues following injuries that lead to large volumetric defects. Our lab has developed advanced biomaterial and stem cell-based approaches to promote functional recovery following volumetric muscle loss and critical-sized craniofacial bone injuries. This presentation will focus on three areas of ongoing research: (1) I will present our lab’s efforts to regenerate vascularized and innervated skeletal muscle in mice including our recent studies using human pluripotent stem cells. (2) Recently, our group completed a study focused on designing biomaterials to guide bone regeneration in situ in minipigs using intraoperative protocols for combining autologous stem cells with 3D-printed scaffolds. (3) Understanding the interaction between vascular cells and osteoprogenitors is critical for developing effective treatment methods. I will describe recent studies in which we developed a quantitative imaging platform for characterizing the spatial relationships between cell populations in the native murine calvarium. https://openbme.org/

ZOOM LINK TO REGISTER: https://cwru.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Kgyl3yf4TcKvlk9xNKluhA

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Lecture / Discussion Sun, 21 Mar 2021 17:46:23 -0400 2021-03-25T16:00:00-04:00 2021-03-25T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
5th Annual RNA Symposium, "Processing RNA" (March 26, 2021 11:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/80161 80161-20572610@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, March 26, 2021 11:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for RNA Biomedicine

FOR MORE DETAILS & ABSTRACTS VISIT: https://rna.umich.edu/2021-symposium/

Thursday, March 25, 2021
11:00 / Welcome
11:05 / KEYNOTE 1: Tracy Johnson, UCLA, “RNA Splicing, Chromatin Modification, and the Coordinated Control of Gene expression”
12:00 / Short break
12:10 / KEYNOTE 2: Kevin Weeks, UNC, “Structure-Based Discovery of New Functions in Large RNAs”
1:05 / Data Blitz: Cathy Smith, Daniel Peltier, Yan Zhang
1:35 / KEYNOTE 3: Feng Zhang, MIT, “Exploration of Biological Diversity to Discover Novel Molecular Technologies”
2:30 / Close Day 1

Friday, March 26, 2021
11:00 / Welcome
11:05 / KEYNOTE 4: Brenda Bass, University of Utah, “Distinguishing self and non-self dsRNA in vertebrates and invertebrates”
12:00 / Short break
12:10 / KEYNOTE 5: Christopher Lima, Sloan-Kettering Institute, “Mechanisms that target RNA for destruction”
1:05 / Data Blitz: Meredith Purchal, Adrien Chauvier, Shannon Wright
1:35 / Panel discussion with keynote speakers
2:30 / Close Day 2

Liveblogging by MiSciWriters! https://misciwriters.com/

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Lecture / Discussion Tue, 23 Mar 2021 15:03:26 -0400 2021-03-26T11:00:00-04:00 2021-03-26T14:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for RNA Biomedicine Lecture / Discussion 5th Annual RNA Symposium
Molecular Genetics in the Orchard (March 26, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82378 82378-21086350@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, March 26, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Fruit trees in commercial orchards are increasingly planted in high densities to maximize quality, enable mechanization, conserve resources, and increase profitability. A hundred years ago a traditional apple orchard may have had one to two hundred free standing trees per acre, while now planting over a thousand tree per acre trained to elaborate trellis systems is common practice. To maintain such high-density plantings, a significant amount of labor is needed along with growth regulator treatments and, in some cases, specialized dwarfing rootstocks. Still, not all fruit trees are easily amenable to growing in these systems. One of the focuses of my research program is to determine what controls fruit tree shoot architecture at the molecular and genetic level. The ultimate goal of this project is to identify methods that will reduce the labor required to manage high-density 2-dimensional plantings. In the process, we are generating fundamental knowledge about how plants grow the way they do, particularly in connection to the regulation of branch, or lateral shoot, angle. The main genes we are studying are TILLAR ANGLE CONTROL 1 (TAC1), LAZY1, and WEEP, which are present in vascular plants. TAC1 promotes the formation of wide branch angles, while the related gene LAZY1 promotes narrow branch angles. WEEP on the other hand regulates branch tip orientations. Peach trees with a non-functional WEEP allele exhibit a weeping branch phenotype. Genetic studies have linked the roles of these three genes together, and molecular and physiological studies suggest they have roles in regulating shoot growth in response to light and gravity. For this talk, I will present current and developing knowledge about their molecular mechanisms in connection to the regulation of lateral shoot orientations in plants.

Host: Cora MacAlister

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Workshop / Seminar Thu, 25 Mar 2021 15:59:50 -0400 2021-03-26T12:00:00-04:00 2021-03-26T13:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Workshop / Seminar Courtney Hollender portrait with background photo of apple blossoms
Training Program in Organogenesis Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships - Request for Applications (March 29, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82789 82789-21179552@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, March 29, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

We are pleased to announce a competition for Pre-doctoral and Non-traditional postdoctoral Fellowships in Organogenesis as part of a NIH T32 Training Grant (Training Program in Organogenesis). The goal of the fellowship awards are to provide up to two years of support for outstanding scholars who wish to undertake a research project in the field of organogenesis.

Criteria used to evaluate all applications include the strength of the mentor and strength of the trainee (as evaluated by letters and CVs), the quality of the research project, and the degree to which the project fits the goals of the Training Program, and the Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design (CPOD).

The call for applications are for the following:

NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship (applicants must have achieved candidacy by the time of appointment to the training grant)
Dean’s Non-Traditional Postdoctoral Fellowship in Organogenesis (Non-Federally Funded)
The non-traditional postdoctoral fellowships are open to non-citizen and non-permanent residents, and provide partial funding for one (1) year.

Materials Due: Monday, May 17, 2021 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Submit to Tamika Mohr at: organogenesis@umich.edu

Instructions and Application templates are attached and are available online at : https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cpod/training-program

Faculty Mentors: If you are NOT a member of the Organogenesis faculty, but wish for a trainee in your lab to apply, you may submit a concurrent application for CPOD membership.

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Careers / Jobs Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:32 -0500 2021-03-29T12:00:00-04:00 2021-03-29T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Careers / Jobs
Emerging Experimental Probes for Dynamical Networks that Control the Thermal Activation of Enzyme-Department of Biological Chemistry Seminar (March 30, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/80655 80655-20769633@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 30, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biological Chemistry

Dr. Judith Klinman, UC Berkeley, will present a virtual seminar on Tuesday March 30th 2021 at 12:00pm

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Workshop / Seminar Tue, 12 Jan 2021 13:36:34 -0500 2021-03-30T12:00:00-04:00 2021-03-30T13:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biological Chemistry Workshop / Seminar Klinman
"Neuroscience without neurons: Bodies without brains and other musings in science" (March 30, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83017 83017-21243199@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 30, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

The NIH T32 Training Program in Organogenesis is pleased to present a Special Series: "Emerging Concepts in Cell Signaling, Regulation, and Science Education" featuring guest speaker Manu Prakash, PhD.

Dr. Prakash, PhD is an Associate Professor in Bioengineering and a Senior Fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University.

The talk is entitled, "Neuroscience without neurons: Bodies without brains and other musings in science."

Trainee Host: Nafisa Nuzhat, Pearring Lab

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Lecture / Discussion Sat, 13 Mar 2021 16:09:57 -0500 2021-03-30T16:00:00-04:00 2021-03-30T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Lecture / Discussion Flyer for the Event
CCMB / DCMB Weekly Seminar (March 31, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83395 83395-21369780@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, March 31, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: DCMB Seminar Series

Abstract:

Large, deeply phenotyped cohorts are reshaping the world of environmental epidemiology. Two such “big data” resources that are reshaping how we understand environmental health are electronic health records and human cohorts with genome-wide molecular phenotyping. Each provides a unique perspective that is moving the field closer towards “personalized” insights into environmental health risks. Here I will talk about a series of studies which utilize electronic health records and molecularly phenotyped cohorts to investigate vulnerable populations, gene-environment interactions, and epigenetic biomarkers of environmental sensitivity. Together these studies are helping us to understand environmental health risks in a new light.

Short bio:

Dr. Cavin Ward-Caviness is a Principal Investigator in the Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division of the US Environmental Protection Agency. With a background in computational biology and environmental epidemiology, Dr. Ward-Caviness seeks to understand the environmental factors which influence health in vulnerable populations and the molecular mechanisms that influence environmental health risks. The Ward-Caviness lab uses a variety of “big data” approaches, and Dr. Ward-Caviness is the PI of the EPA CARES research resource, which allows researchers to study environmental health effects in vulnerable patient populations, e.g. individuals with heart failure, using large electronic health record databases. Dr. Ward-Caviness is also interested in how epigenetics and metabolomics can serve as an early indicator of adverse health effects from chemical and social environmental exposures and in particular how molecular biomarkers can give us insight into how the environment may accelerate the aging process and thus contribute to chronic disease. By integrating molecular and clinical data, Dr. Ward-Caviness seeks to understand environmental health as a way to advance personalized medicine and reduce health disparities.

https://umich-health.zoom.us/j/93929606089?pwd=SHh6R1FOQm8xMThRemdxTEFMWWpVdz09

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Livestream / Virtual Mon, 29 Mar 2021 15:15:11 -0400 2021-03-31T16:00:00-04:00 2021-03-31T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location DCMB Seminar Series Livestream / Virtual
MCAIM Colloquium - Inference for Circadian Pacemaking (March 31, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83216 83216-21320455@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, March 31, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Mathematics

Organisms have evolved an internal biological clock which allows them to temporally regulate and organize their physiological and behavioral responses to cope in an optimal way with the fundamentally periodic nature of the environment. It is now well established that the molecular genetics of such rhythms within the cell consist of interwoven transcriptional-translational feedback loops involving about 15 clock genes, which generate circa 24-h oscillations in many cellular functions at cell population or whole organism levels. We will present statistical methods and modelling approaches that address newly emerging large circadian data sets, namely spatio-temporal gene expression in SCN neurons and rest-activity actigraph data obtained from non-invasive e-monitoring, both of which provide unique opportunities for furthering progress in understanding the synchronicity of circadian pacemaking and address implications for monitoring patients in chronotherapeutic healthcare.

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Livestream / Virtual Tue, 23 Mar 2021 12:36:41 -0400 2021-03-31T16:00:00-04:00 2021-03-31T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Mathematics Livestream / Virtual Bärbel Finkenstädt Rand, University of Warwick, Department of Statistics
LSI Seminar Series: Ginger Hunter, Ph.D., Clarkson University (April 1, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82695 82695-21161629@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, April 1, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Life Sciences Institute (LSI)

Abstract:
The ability of Notch signaling to drive a broad range of contact-mediated cell fate determination events relies, in part, on dynamic cell shape changes and cell contractility. Both of these behaviors require the activity of the cytoskeleton. Dynamic cell shape changes, like the formation of filopodia, allow distant cells to target and engage in signaling with each other. One example of this is the patterning of sensory bristles on the thorax of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. In this tissue, cellular protrusions are thin, dynamic, actin-based, filopodia-like structures which extend from the basal surface of the patterning epithelia. In this talk, Ginger Hunter, Ph.D., will present data supporting a role for these basal signaling filopodia in establishing the length scale of the bristle pattern. Cell contractility is an essential feature of epithelial tissue integrity. Hunter shows that contractility, mediated by actin and non-muscle myosin II, is critical for the efficiency of Notch signaling. Together, these results support a role for cell shape and actomyosin contractility in Notch signaling during bristle patterning.

Speaker:
Ginger Hunter is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York. She earned her B.S. from the University of Virginia and her Ph.D. from Duke University, where she studied mechanosensing in developing tissues in the fly embryo. She continued her studies into the mechanisms of emergent features of developing tissues during her postdoctoral training at the MRC-LMCB at University College London and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Hunter opened her laboratory at Clarkson in 2018. One goal of her lab is to understand the regulation of cell morphology, such as the activity of signaling filopodia, that contribute to the robust formation of tissue wide patterns.

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Workshop / Seminar Wed, 03 Mar 2021 09:27:24 -0500 2021-04-01T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-01T13:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Life Sciences Institute (LSI) Workshop / Seminar LSI Seminar Series logo
BME 500 Seminar: Tim Downing (April 1, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81392 81392-20889822@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, April 1, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

https://openbme.org/

ZOOM LINK TO REGISTER: https://cwru.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_iY_PMZevQwWRYkMyK7ifzA

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Lecture / Discussion Fri, 26 Mar 2021 14:01:59 -0400 2021-04-01T16:00:00-04:00 2021-04-01T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
BME Seminar: Synthetic Genome Engineering for Cell and Tissue Engineering (April 1, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/80692 80692-20783435@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, April 1, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Title: Synthetic Genome Regulation for Cell and Tissue Engineering

Abstract: Molecular heterogeneity is emerging as a critical feature of multicellular life. While single-cell analyses have revealed the existence of cell-to-cell variation in the levels and activities of the molecules responsible for gene regulation, the source of such variation is still poorly understood. The Downing Lab studies how genome replication contributes to epigenetic heterogeneity across stem cell populations. We recently developed a new sequencing method (Repli-Bisulfite Sequencing) that enables analysis of DNA methylation within newly replicated strands of DNA over time. Using this method, we discovered that much of the methylation heterogeneity observed within human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) is temporal in nature and associated with DNA replication. Here, we employ bioinformatic analyses to explore how properties of post-replication DNA methylation dynamics relate to well-established features of the genome and the broader chromatin landscape. Our findings reveal that unique patterns of methylome replication associate with distal regulatory regions throughout the genome, enrich for cytosine residues dynamically methylated across cell types, and coincide with the location of stem cell-specific transcription factor binding and chromatin architectures. We also find correlations between sub-cell cycle kinetics in DNA methylation and the divergence of bulk methylation patterns observed during multiple cell generations and natural aging. Taken together, our studies suggest that (epi)genome replication may act as an important source of (temporal) regulatory variation in hESCs while, simultaneously, conferring susceptibility to epigenetic drift throughout the human lifespan. Our lab is also interested in understanding how the chemical and biophysical microenvironment influences adult cell behavior and phenotype through epigenetic gene regulatory mechanisms. We hope to use this information in the design of next-generation biomaterials. The second part of this presentation will describe how focal adhesions and cell-mediated forces contribute to inefficiencies observed during the acquisition of stemness from somatic cell states.



Biography: Tim Downing has been on the faculty at UC Irvine since 2016 and holds a primary appointment in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. He also holds a courtesy appointment in the Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics. Tim received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering in 2008 from Northwestern University and Ph.D. in Bioengineering from UC Berkeley in 2013 under the mentorship of Dr. Song Li. As a Ford Foundation and UNCF/Merck Fellow, Tim completed his postdoctoral training in stem cell epigenomics with Dr. Alexander Meissner at Harvard University and the Broad Institute (Cambridge, Massachusetts). The Downing Lab focuses on understanding gene regulation during tissue development, regeneration, and disease progression. Building on this information, the lab also aims to develop molecular tools and biomaterials to synthetically regulate the epigenome for better control over cell fate and behavior. Tim is a 2019 NIH (DP2) New Innovator Award recipient and a 2020 recipient of the “Rising Star” Award from the Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering (CMBE) Special Interest Group within the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES).

Zoom Registration Link: https://cwru.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_iY_PMZevQwWRYkMyK7ifzA

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Workshop / Seminar Thu, 25 Mar 2021 13:09:17 -0400 2021-04-01T16:00:00-04:00 2021-04-01T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Workshop / Seminar Dr. Timothy L. Downing, UC Irvine
Cortical Computations for Learning (April 2, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82438 82438-21098219@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, April 2, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Host: Sam Kwon

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Workshop / Seminar Fri, 02 Apr 2021 11:13:13 -0400 2021-04-02T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-02T13:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Workshop / Seminar Yellow initials MCDB and cartoon of a microscope on a blue background
The Van Loo Family Saturday Morning Physics VIRTUAL Event | Graduate Student Presentations (April 3, 2021 10:30am) https://events.umich.edu/event/82127 82127-21036722@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Saturday, April 3, 2021 10:30am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Saturday Morning Physics

Pre-recorded lecture followed by “live” Q&A
Virtual Presentation Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc340N56GvY

Instruments to Study Rocket Plume Surface Interactions (PSI) on the Lunar Surface
Ariana Bueno (U-M Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering & Applied Physics)
In space exploration, the rocket plume-surface interaction (PSI) can lead to the ejection of large amounts of energetic particles, potentially damaging the spacecraft, its instruments, and associated hardware. Thus, understanding PSI processes is paramount to the safety of the lunar exploration program and beyond. In this presentation, Ariana will highlight how her research has led to a better understanding of PSI by developing in-flight instrumentation and conducting ground tests to simulate PSI.

Histotripsy: Crushing Cancer Cells with Acoustic Cavitation
Ryan Hubbard (U-M Biomedical Engineering & U-M Applied Physics)
Histotripsy is a non-invasive cancer-treatment approach using focused beams of ultrasound. In this presentation, Ryan will highlight the results of his research, illustrating histotripsy's ability to destroy tumor cells and elicit anti-tumor immune responses. He will describe the basics behind ultrasonic pulse generation, acoustic cavitation, and how the mechanism of histotripsy compares to other external beam treatments such as X-ray irradiation.

We celebrate the Van Loo Family Lecture on this occasion.

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Lecture / Discussion Tue, 23 Mar 2021 11:04:35 -0400 2021-04-03T10:30:00-04:00 2021-04-03T11:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Saturday Morning Physics Lecture / Discussion
Training Program in Organogenesis Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships - Request for Applications (April 5, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82789 82789-21179553@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, April 5, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

We are pleased to announce a competition for Pre-doctoral and Non-traditional postdoctoral Fellowships in Organogenesis as part of a NIH T32 Training Grant (Training Program in Organogenesis). The goal of the fellowship awards are to provide up to two years of support for outstanding scholars who wish to undertake a research project in the field of organogenesis.

Criteria used to evaluate all applications include the strength of the mentor and strength of the trainee (as evaluated by letters and CVs), the quality of the research project, and the degree to which the project fits the goals of the Training Program, and the Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design (CPOD).

The call for applications are for the following:

NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship (applicants must have achieved candidacy by the time of appointment to the training grant)
Dean’s Non-Traditional Postdoctoral Fellowship in Organogenesis (Non-Federally Funded)
The non-traditional postdoctoral fellowships are open to non-citizen and non-permanent residents, and provide partial funding for one (1) year.

Materials Due: Monday, May 17, 2021 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Submit to Tamika Mohr at: organogenesis@umich.edu

Instructions and Application templates are attached and are available online at : https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cpod/training-program

Faculty Mentors: If you are NOT a member of the Organogenesis faculty, but wish for a trainee in your lab to apply, you may submit a concurrent application for CPOD membership.

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Careers / Jobs Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:32 -0500 2021-04-05T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-05T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Careers / Jobs
RNA Seminar featuring: Natoya Peart, PhD, University of Pennsylvania (April 5, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81288 81288-20881888@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, April 5, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for RNA Biomedicine

Registration required: https://umich.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0lUfePb0Qdac-cQZDpeiEQ


KEYWORDS: Alternative splicing, RNAMap, Esrp1

ABSTRACT: Coordinated regulation of alternative splicing is essential to the establishment of cell identity. The Epithelial Splicing Regulatory Proteins (Esrps), ESRP1 and ESRP2, are highly conserved paralogous proteins required for organogenesis of multiple organ systems and compromised function of Esrps contributes to human diseases and pathologies. Esrps are robustly expressed in the epithelial cells of the epidermis, large and small intestines, salivary glands, stomach, and a variety of other tissues, where they are vital in promoting an epithelial splicing network. Although ESRP1 and ESRP2 share partial functional redundancy, ESRP1 appears to play a larger role in regulating gene expression.
Using a combination of enhanced immunoprecipitation coupled with high throughput sequencing (eCLIP) in the epithelial cells of mouse epidermis and RNA sequencing analysis of alterations in splicing and total gene expression that result from epidermal ablation of Esrp1 and Esrp2 we generate a map of Esrp1 binding to RNA. We show that ESRP1 regulates splicing primarily through direct binding in a position-dependent manner to either promote exon inclusion or skipping. In particular, we show that Esrp1 binding upstream of or withing alternatively spliced exons suppresses exon inclusion, whilst binding downstream of the non-constitutive exon promotes exon inclusion. In addition, we identified widespread binding of ESRP1 in 3’ and 5’ untranslated regions (UTRs) of genes enriched for epithelial cell function suggesting that it directly regulates post-transcriptional gene expression steps in addition to splicing.


If you are having difficulties registering, please contact Martina Jerant at mjerant@umich.edu

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Lecture / Discussion Mon, 08 Mar 2021 12:23:08 -0500 2021-04-05T16:00:00-04:00 2021-04-05T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for RNA Biomedicine Lecture / Discussion Natoya Peart, PhD, University of Pennsylvania
Health Professions Education (HPE) Day 2021 Virtual Event (April 6, 2021 8:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/79926 79926-20515558@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, April 6, 2021 8:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Learning Health Sciences

Dr. Umland is Co-Director and Associate Provost of Interprofessional Practice and Education at Jefferson Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education (JCIPE).
There will be a poster session after the plenary/Q&A. Check the website for more information about abstract/poster submission.
HPE Day is an opportunity to share and disseminate scholarly efforts, completed or in progress, and to spark the dialogue required to synergize our work. This event will bring together educational scholars, practitioners, researchers and students to share best practices and explore opportunities for collaboration and innovation. The day’s highlights will include sharing of our initial efforts in interprofessional education and collaborative care and discussion of opportunities for the growth of collaboration across the health science schools and the broader campus community.

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Conference / Symposium Fri, 11 Dec 2020 10:06:56 -0500 2021-04-06T08:00:00-04:00 2021-04-06T13:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Learning Health Sciences Conference / Symposium Health Professions Education Day 2021 Virtual Event
Exploring the Modularity of Large Complexes Involved in Transcription Initiation and Chromatin Modifications-Martha Ludwig Lectureship (April 6, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/80656 80656-20769634@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, April 6, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biological Chemistry

Dr. Eva Nogales, UC Berkeley, will present the annual Martha L. Ludwig Lectureship in Structural Biology on Tuesday April 6th, 2021 at 12:00pm

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Workshop / Seminar Tue, 12 Jan 2021 13:39:18 -0500 2021-04-06T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-06T13:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biological Chemistry Workshop / Seminar Nogales
Breast Cancer Progress & Discovery (April 7, 2021 1:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83562 83562-21428637@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, April 7, 2021 1:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute

A diagnosis of breast cancer can be life-altering, both for the person receiving the diagnosis and for friends and family.

In this one-hour webinar, Michigan Medicine physician-researchers Lynn Henry, MD, PhD, and Corey Speers, MD, PhD, will help you understand the current process of of diagnosis and treatment, and and discuss the typical path that a patient diagnosed with breast cancer will experience.

The doctors will provide updates on the latest in screening, diagnosis, treatment options, and survivorship issues for women and men diagnosed with breast cancer. They also will discuss topics of ongoing research in breast cancer and highlight some of the practice-changing work coming out of the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center and the Taubman Institute.

Live Q&A will be available through the Zoom chat function. Audience participation is welcome and highly encouraged.

All welcome; no charge to attend. Join us!

This talk is the latest in a series of Taubman Healthy You Conversations sponsored by the Taubman Institute and featuring Michigan Medicine's brilliant researchers and scholars offering practical, lay-friendly information about conditions that affect our daily lives.

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Lecture / Discussion Tue, 06 Apr 2021 10:18:08 -0400 2021-04-07T13:00:00-04:00 2021-04-07T14:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute Lecture / Discussion Healthy You
CCMB / DCMB Weekly Seminar Series (April 7, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83241 83241-21320453@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, April 7, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: DCMB Seminar Series

Abstract: More than 3,000 new Marine recruits were studied prospectively during their initial Marine-mandated two-week quarantine and their subsequent basic training at Parris Island. The COVID Health Action Response for Marines (CHARM) studied completed 20,000 study visits and obtained more than 70,000 biosamples including pre- to post- SARS-CoV-2 infections in more than 1000 recruits. Serological, transcriptomic, and epigenetic analyses identify the response signature to SARS-CoV-2 infection in these largely asymptomatic young adults. Phylogenetic analysis and modeling provide insight into epidemiology and guidance for public health measures.

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Specialty: Neurology

Research Topics: Addiction, Apoptosis/Cell Death, Basal Ganglia, Bioinformatics, Brain, Cellular Immunity, Cerebral Cortex, Mathematical and Computational Biology, Multiple Sclerosis, Neuro-degeneration/protection, Receptors, Reproductive Biology, Signal Transduction, Theoretical Biology, Vaccine Development, Viruses and Virology

https://umich-health.zoom.us/j/93929606089?pwd=SHh6R1FOQm8xMThRemdxTEFMWWpVdz09

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Livestream / Virtual Tue, 23 Mar 2021 11:23:58 -0400 2021-04-07T16:00:00-04:00 2021-04-07T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location DCMB Seminar Series Livestream / Virtual
BME 500 Seminar: James Collins (April 8, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81393 81393-20889823@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, April 8, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

James Collins, Ph.D.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

https://openbme.org/

ZOOM LINK TO REGISTER: https://cwru.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MSUiecgNTLyXR5bM8HSnR

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Lecture / Discussion Fri, 02 Apr 2021 15:01:39 -0400 2021-04-08T16:00:00-04:00 2021-04-08T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
Molecular Basis of Inherited Parkinson’s disease (April 9, 2021 1:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82439 82439-21098220@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, April 9, 2021 1:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Note: change in time to 1 PM

Abstract: Today more than 1 million people in the U.S. suffer from Parkinson’s disease, and although most cases are idiopathic,perhaps as many as 20% of cases have a genetic basis. We study the effect of mutations in the LRRK2 kinase that is the most frequent cause of inherited Parkinson’s. Pathogenic LRRK2 phosphorylates a subset of Rab GTPases that are
master regulators of membrane trafficking. We have discovered that Rab10 phosphorylation flips a switch on its function —phosphoRab10 bind an entirely new set of effectors that regulate the formation of primary cilia in cell culture and mouse brain. We are also studying regulation of LRRK2 by the PPM1H phosphatase and how loss of cilia could trigger Parkinson’s disease.

Host: Ming Li

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Workshop / Seminar Thu, 25 Mar 2021 16:02:03 -0400 2021-04-09T13:00:00-04:00 2021-04-09T14:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Workshop / Seminar Suzanne Pfeffer
Training Program in Organogenesis Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships - Request for Applications (April 12, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82789 82789-21179554@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, April 12, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

We are pleased to announce a competition for Pre-doctoral and Non-traditional postdoctoral Fellowships in Organogenesis as part of a NIH T32 Training Grant (Training Program in Organogenesis). The goal of the fellowship awards are to provide up to two years of support for outstanding scholars who wish to undertake a research project in the field of organogenesis.

Criteria used to evaluate all applications include the strength of the mentor and strength of the trainee (as evaluated by letters and CVs), the quality of the research project, and the degree to which the project fits the goals of the Training Program, and the Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design (CPOD).

The call for applications are for the following:

NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship (applicants must have achieved candidacy by the time of appointment to the training grant)
Dean’s Non-Traditional Postdoctoral Fellowship in Organogenesis (Non-Federally Funded)
The non-traditional postdoctoral fellowships are open to non-citizen and non-permanent residents, and provide partial funding for one (1) year.

Materials Due: Monday, May 17, 2021 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Submit to Tamika Mohr at: organogenesis@umich.edu

Instructions and Application templates are attached and are available online at : https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cpod/training-program

Faculty Mentors: If you are NOT a member of the Organogenesis faculty, but wish for a trainee in your lab to apply, you may submit a concurrent application for CPOD membership.

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Careers / Jobs Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:32 -0500 2021-04-12T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-12T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Careers / Jobs
Reconstructing Biosynthetic Pathways One Step at a Time- Distinguished Graduate Lecture in Biological Chemistry (April 13, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/80658 80658-20769636@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, April 13, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biological Chemistry

Dr Vahe Bandarian, University of Utah, will present the Distinguished Graduate Lecture on Tuesday April 13th, 2021 at 12:00pm

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Workshop / Seminar Tue, 12 Jan 2021 13:42:38 -0500 2021-04-13T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-13T13:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biological Chemistry Workshop / Seminar Bandarian
"RNA regulation in proteotoxic stress and genetic neurological disorders" (April 13, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83128 83128-21274909@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, April 13, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

The Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design, alongside the Department of Human Genetics, is pleased to present the a seminar with speaker, Stephanie Moon, PhD.

Dr. Moon is an Assistant Professor of Human Genetics, a Faculty Scholar of the Center for RNA Biomedicine, and an Affiliate Faculty of Biological Chemistry at the University of Michigan.

The talk is entitled, "RNA regulation in proteotoxic stress and genetic neurological disorders"

Faculty Host: Sundeep Kalantry, PhD, Associate Professor of Human Genetics

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Lecture / Discussion Wed, 17 Mar 2021 15:41:29 -0400 2021-04-13T16:00:00-04:00 2021-04-13T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Lecture / Discussion Flyer for the Event
Can Education Innovation at Michigan Medicine Benefit from Being More Cohesive? (April 14, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83220 83220-21314487@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, April 14, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: RISE (Research. Innovation. Scholarship. Education.)

RISE invites you attend the Virtual Talking Circle (VTC) to contribute your input in co-creating a cohesive pathway for education innovation across health science education at Michigan Medicine.  We invite you to attend and provide your input into this conversation.

Please invite your colleagues who may also be interested. See you then!

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Workshop / Seminar Wed, 24 Mar 2021 14:31:47 -0400 2021-04-14T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-14T13:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location RISE (Research. Innovation. Scholarship. Education.) Workshop / Seminar RISE Virtual Talking Circle
CCMB / DCMB Weekly Seminar (April 14, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83595 83595-21436485@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, April 14, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: DCMB Seminar Series

Abstract:
My lab's research involves the development and application of systems biology approaches—combining computation, machine learning, quantitative modeling, and experiments—to study the immune system in health and disease. Recent technological and computational advances allow comprehensive interrogation of multiple modalities (e.g., proteins, mRNAs, immune receptor sequences) in single cell resolution in the human population. Here I will highlight our work in the analysis human and single cell variations along the axes of early immune development, vaccination, and COVID-19. If time permits, I will also discuss the integration of tissue imaging, machine learning, and multiscale dynamical modeling of immune cell interactions to investigate the homeostatic regulation of autoreactive T cells.

* * *

Biography: Dr. Tsang is a senior investigator in the NIH Intramural Research Program and leads a laboratory focusing on systems and quantitative immunology at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). He also co-directs the Trans-NIH Center for Human Immunology (CHI) and leads its research program in systems human immunology. Dr. Tsang trained in computer engineering and computer science at the University of Waterloo and received his Ph.D. in biophysics from Harvard University. Dr. Tsang has worked as a software engineer and pursued systems biology research in both academia and industry including Rosetta Inpharmatics, Caprion Proteomics, MIT, and Merck Research Laboratories. Dr. Tsang has won several awards for his research, including NIAID Merit Awards for the development of a data reuse and crowdsourcing platform OMiCC and for leading a system biology study of human immune variability and influenza vaccination, which was selected as a top NIAID Research Advances of 2014. He currently serves as the founding chief editor of systems immunology for Frontiers in Immunology. He has served as a scientific advisor for a number of programs and organizations including ImmPort (the clinical and molecular data repository for NIAID), the Committee on Precision Medicine for the World Allergy Organization, the NIAID Modeling Immunity for Biodefense Program, the Allen Institute, the Immuno-Epidemiology Program at the National Cancer Institute, and the Human Vaccines Project.

https://umich-health.zoom.us/j/93929606089?pwd=SHh6R1FOQm8xMThRemdxTEFMWWpVdz09

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Livestream / Virtual Wed, 07 Apr 2021 08:59:05 -0400 2021-04-14T16:00:00-04:00 2021-04-14T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location DCMB Seminar Series Livestream / Virtual
BME 500 Seminar: Kelly J. Cross (April 15, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81394 81394-20889824@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, April 15, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Join us for a virtual seminar series on topics related to race and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. https://happenings.wustl.edu/event/an_honest_conversation_about_inequity_in_engineering#.YG9vT-hKhPY

Details:
DATE: Thursday, April 15, 2021
TIME: 4:00-5:00 PM
ZOOM LINK TO REGISTER: https://wustl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NvH4qVTSRx2uSXbdW-eXNA

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Lecture / Discussion Wed, 14 Apr 2021 14:13:34 -0400 2021-04-15T16:00:00-04:00 2021-04-15T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
BME Master's Defense: Fatimah Alkaabi (April 16, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83558 83558-21424731@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, April 16, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

The central auditory system consists of the brain nuclei that transmit peripheral auditory nerve input to the auditory cortex for hearing perception. Damage to the auditory end organ, the cochlea, can result in hearing loss that drives the central auditory system to disarray causing disorders such as hyperacusis and tinnitus. These disorders can negatively affect patients’ quality of life. Tinnitus sufferers generally describe their tinnitus as a narrowband of sound that occurs in quiet, while hyperacusis sufferers express an exaggerated perception of sound level or intensity. These two disorders are often grouped together because tinnitus sufferers tend to report symptoms of hyperacusis and vice versa. However, hyperacusis and tinnitus do not always co-occur, suggesting that they have different neural origins. To study these conditions, researchers have induced cochlear damage in animal models, followed by behavioral and electrophysiological assessments. However, no study has adequately distinguished hyperacusis from tinnitus in individual animals. In this thesis, I detail the development of a novel hyperacusis and tinnitus assessment paradigm for individual animals using the pinna reflex combined with auditory brainstem responses (ABR). In the first chapter, I detail several enhancements to a computer system that ensures accurate sound presentation concurrently with capture of pinna reflex video data, as well as streamlines the subsequent data analysis. In the second chapter, the ABR, an evoked potential reflecting the summed electrical activity of cells in the auditory brainstem pathway, was assessed. Several studies suggest that ABR-wave characteristics might provide evidence of hyperacusis. ABRs were evoked using conventional and novel sound stimuli. They were then examined to look for possible indications of hyperacusis in noise overexposed guinea pigs. The present findings are discussed with several suggestions for future hyperacusis assessments.



Date: Friday, April 16, 2021

Time: 12:00 PM

Zoom: https://umich.zoom.us/j/91698183229

Chair: Dr. Susan Shore

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Lecture / Discussion Mon, 05 Apr 2021 23:04:39 -0400 2021-04-16T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-16T13:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
The Spindle: Mechanical Robustness with Dynamic Parts (April 16, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82437 82437-21098218@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, April 16, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Host: Morgan DeSantis

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Workshop / Seminar Tue, 23 Feb 2021 11:23:41 -0500 2021-04-16T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-16T13:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Workshop / Seminar Sophie Dumont
Training Program in Organogenesis Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships - Request for Applications (April 19, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82789 82789-21179555@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, April 19, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

We are pleased to announce a competition for Pre-doctoral and Non-traditional postdoctoral Fellowships in Organogenesis as part of a NIH T32 Training Grant (Training Program in Organogenesis). The goal of the fellowship awards are to provide up to two years of support for outstanding scholars who wish to undertake a research project in the field of organogenesis.

Criteria used to evaluate all applications include the strength of the mentor and strength of the trainee (as evaluated by letters and CVs), the quality of the research project, and the degree to which the project fits the goals of the Training Program, and the Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design (CPOD).

The call for applications are for the following:

NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship (applicants must have achieved candidacy by the time of appointment to the training grant)
Dean’s Non-Traditional Postdoctoral Fellowship in Organogenesis (Non-Federally Funded)
The non-traditional postdoctoral fellowships are open to non-citizen and non-permanent residents, and provide partial funding for one (1) year.

Materials Due: Monday, May 17, 2021 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Submit to Tamika Mohr at: organogenesis@umich.edu

Instructions and Application templates are attached and are available online at : https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cpod/training-program

Faculty Mentors: If you are NOT a member of the Organogenesis faculty, but wish for a trainee in your lab to apply, you may submit a concurrent application for CPOD membership.

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Careers / Jobs Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:32 -0500 2021-04-19T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-19T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Careers / Jobs
RNA Seminar featuring: Jailson (Jay) Brito Querido, Ph.D. MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK (April 19, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81408 81408-20893767@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, April 19, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for RNA Biomedicine

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: https://umich.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_78YYOhIhTbOBy2_JSdM7Wg

ABSTRACT: A key step in translational initiation is the recruitment of the 43S pre-initiation complex (43S PIC) by the cap-binding complex (eIF4F) at the 5´ end of mRNA. Eukaryotic initiation factors eIF1, eIF1A, eIF3, eIF5, and the ternary complex (TC) of eIF2–GTP–tRNAiMet bind to the 40S ribosomal subunit to form the 43S PIC. Once assembled, the 43S PIC is recruited to the cap-binding complex eIF4F at the 5´end of mRNA to form a 48S initiation complex (48S). The 48S then scans along the mRNA to locate a start codon. To understand the mechanisms involved, we determined the structure of a reconstituted human 48S using cryo-electron microscopy. The structure reveals insights into early events of translation initiation complex assembly. It reveals how eIF4F interacts with subunits of the eIF3 structural core near the mRNA exit channel in the 43S. The location of eIF4F is consistent with a slotting model of mRNA recruitment and suggests a “blind-region” that would preclude recognition of start sites upstream of the location of the P site at the point of recruitment.

KEYWORDS: mRNA, ribosome, eIF4F, eIF4A, translation

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Lecture / Discussion Tue, 13 Apr 2021 12:58:40 -0400 2021-04-19T16:00:00-04:00 2021-04-19T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for RNA Biomedicine Lecture / Discussion Jailson (Jay) Brito Querido, Ph.D.
Genome Organization and Transcriptional Regulation by the Nuclear Pore Complex- Department of Biological Chemistry Seminar (April 20, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/80659 80659-20769637@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, April 20, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biological Chemistry

Dr. Jason Brickner, Northwestern University, will present a virtual seminar on Tuesday April 20th, 2021 at 12:00pm

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Workshop / Seminar Tue, 12 Jan 2021 13:44:43 -0500 2021-04-20T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-20T13:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biological Chemistry Workshop / Seminar Brickner
UM Clinical Simulation Center Brown Bag Discussion (April 20, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83720 83720-21477632@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, April 20, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Clinical Simulation Center

“This talk will explore a recent study using Mixed Reality Simulation for training in pediatric airway emergencies. Participants will learn about the methods used to teach and assess pediatric airway knowledge and how the incorporation of mixed reality training may be beneficial.”

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Lecture / Discussion Mon, 12 Apr 2021 15:13:02 -0400 2021-04-20T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-20T13:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Clinical Simulation Center Lecture / Discussion Mixed Reality Simulation at DLHS Clinical Simulation Center, Univ of MI
Links Between Culture and Sanitation (April 20, 2021 2:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83816 83816-21540180@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, April 20, 2021 2:00pm
Location:
Organized By: Project RISHI

Dr. Balmurli Natrajan, Professor of Anthropology at William Paterson University will speak on the social practices in communities where open defecation is prevalent, toilet use, and sanitation practices in India. The discussion will center around the link between culture and accepting modern adaptations in rural communities. RSVP Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdaJwRFl1WH56j3j604SnuPiLF5vRvgiAHais0Hse4ISjAATA/viewform

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Conference / Symposium Tue, 20 Apr 2021 14:07:20 -0400 2021-04-20T14:00:00-04:00 2021-04-20T15:00:00-04:00 Project RISHI Conference / Symposium Dr. Balmurli Natrajan, Professor of Anthropology at William Paterson University
Master's Defense: Annie Taylor (April 21, 2021 10:30am) https://events.umich.edu/event/83750 83750-21485477@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, April 21, 2021 10:30am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Dopamine regulates motor performance and learning. Current models suggest that dopamine signals reward-prediction errors and/or movement vigor. These functions have been assessed predominantly using simple behavioral tasks. The role of dopamine in dexterous skill, however, is unknown. This question is important to understanding motor disorders such as Parkinson's Disease. Here we describe an experimental model to interrogate the role of dopamine release during learning and performance of dexterous skill. Fluorescent sensors dLight1.1 and GCaMP are used to monitor dopamine and calcium activity in the striatum and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) in rats performing skilled reaching tasks. Preliminary experiments have successfully recorded reward-associated signals in both striatum and SNc. Adaptations to the recording setup to facilitate long-term recording in larger rodents are described. These results demonstrate the viability of fiber photometry for measuring dopamine-related activity during skilled reaching tasks.



Date: Wednesday April 21, 2021

Time: 10:30 AM

Zoom: https://umich.zoom.us/j/96449273959

Chair: Dr. Dan Leventhal

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Lecture / Discussion Tue, 13 Apr 2021 15:34:29 -0400 2021-04-21T10:30:00-04:00 2021-04-21T11:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
MS Defense: Can you see me now?: Optimizing SNAP- and Halo-tagging for Live Imaging in Xenopus laevis embryos (April 21, 2021 1:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83523 83523-21397365@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, April 21, 2021 1:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Mentor: Ann Miller

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Workshop / Seminar Tue, 06 Apr 2021 15:02:05 -0400 2021-04-21T13:00:00-04:00 2021-04-21T14:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Workshop / Seminar micrograph of tissue
Special Joint Seminar between DCMB, Mathematics, MIDAS, and Smale Institute (April 22, 2021 1:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83615 83615-21491327@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, April 22, 2021 1:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: DCMB Seminar Series

Abstract:

The quest to understand consciousness, once the purview of philosophers and theologians, is now actively pursued by scientists of many stripes. This talk looks at consciousness from the perspective of theoretical computer science. It formalizes the Global Workspace Theory (GWT) originated by cognitive neuroscientist Bernard Baars and further developed by him, Stanislas Dehaene, and others. Our major contribution lies in the precise formal definition of a Conscious Turing Machine (CTM), also called a Conscious AI. We define the CTM in the spirit of Alan Turing’s simple yet powerful definition of a computer, the Turing Machine (TM). We are not looking for a complex model of the brain nor of cognition but for a simple model of (the admittedly complex concept of) consciousness. After formally defining CTM, we give a formal definition of consciousness in CTM. We then suggest why the CTM has the feeling of consciousness. The reasonableness of the definitions and explanations can be judged by how well they agree with commonly accepted intuitive concepts of human consciousness, the range of related concepts that the model explains easily and naturally, and the extent of its agreement with scientific evidence.

https://umich.zoom.us/j/95135773568

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Livestream / Virtual Wed, 14 Apr 2021 10:17:45 -0400 2021-04-22T13:00:00-04:00 2021-04-22T14:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location DCMB Seminar Series Livestream / Virtual
Links Between Culture and Sanitation (April 22, 2021 5:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83816 83816-21540179@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, April 22, 2021 5:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Project RISHI

Dr. Balmurli Natrajan, Professor of Anthropology at William Paterson University will speak on the social practices in communities where open defecation is prevalent, toilet use, and sanitation practices in India. The discussion will center around the link between culture and accepting modern adaptations in rural communities. RSVP Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdaJwRFl1WH56j3j604SnuPiLF5vRvgiAHais0Hse4ISjAATA/viewform

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Conference / Symposium Tue, 20 Apr 2021 14:07:20 -0400 2021-04-22T17:00:00-04:00 2021-04-22T18:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Project RISHI Conference / Symposium Dr. Balmurli Natrajan, Professor of Anthropology at William Paterson University
20th Annual James V. Neel Lectureship (April 23, 2021 11:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/83872 83872-21561727@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, April 23, 2021 11:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Human Genetics

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN GENETICS - 20TH ANNUAL JAMES V. NEEL LECTURESHIP

“Remembrance of Things Past: Reactivation of Fetal Hemoglobin for Therapy.”

Presented by:
Stuart H. Orkin, M.D.
David G. Nathan Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics
Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Harvard Medical School

FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021
12:00PM - 3:00PM EST
Zoom Meeting ID: 983 1136 4189
Zoom Meeting Link: https://umich.zoom.us/j/98311364189

Sponsored by:
The Department of Human Genetics
University of Michigan Medical School
Event Website: https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/human-genetics/events/202105/20th-annual-james-v-neel-lectureship

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Lecture / Discussion Fri, 23 Apr 2021 11:02:42 -0400 2021-04-23T11:00:00-04:00 2021-04-23T12:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Human Genetics Lecture / Discussion 2021 JAMES V. NEEL LECTURESHIP FLYER
Training Program in Organogenesis Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships - Request for Applications (April 26, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82789 82789-21179556@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, April 26, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

We are pleased to announce a competition for Pre-doctoral and Non-traditional postdoctoral Fellowships in Organogenesis as part of a NIH T32 Training Grant (Training Program in Organogenesis). The goal of the fellowship awards are to provide up to two years of support for outstanding scholars who wish to undertake a research project in the field of organogenesis.

Criteria used to evaluate all applications include the strength of the mentor and strength of the trainee (as evaluated by letters and CVs), the quality of the research project, and the degree to which the project fits the goals of the Training Program, and the Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design (CPOD).

The call for applications are for the following:

NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship (applicants must have achieved candidacy by the time of appointment to the training grant)
Dean’s Non-Traditional Postdoctoral Fellowship in Organogenesis (Non-Federally Funded)
The non-traditional postdoctoral fellowships are open to non-citizen and non-permanent residents, and provide partial funding for one (1) year.

Materials Due: Monday, May 17, 2021 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Submit to Tamika Mohr at: organogenesis@umich.edu

Instructions and Application templates are attached and are available online at : https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cpod/training-program

Faculty Mentors: If you are NOT a member of the Organogenesis faculty, but wish for a trainee in your lab to apply, you may submit a concurrent application for CPOD membership.

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Careers / Jobs Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:32 -0500 2021-04-26T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-26T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Careers / Jobs
Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology's 4th Annual Postdoctoral and Research Investigator Symposium (April 28, 2021 3:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83778 83778-21506950@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, April 28, 2021 3:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology

Wednesday, April 28, 2021 3:00 – 5:30 PM
https://umich.zoom.us/j/96000491693

3:00 PM: Awards Presentation

3:10 PM: Rashi Singhal, PhD (Yatrik Shah’s Lab)
“HIF-2α mediates vulnerability to oxidative cell death in colorectal cancers"

3:30 PM: Mauricio Torres, PhD (Ling Qi’s Lab)
“ERAD system regulates mitochondrial dynamics in brown adipocytes”

3:50 PM: Juilee Rege, PhD (William Rainey’s Lab)
“‘In the Zone’: Understanding the role of the adrenal zona reticularis”

4:30 PM: Keynote Lecture: Lora V. Hooper, PhD

Jonathan W. Uhr, M.D. Distinguished Chair in Immunology,
Nancy Cain and Jeffrey A. Marcus Scholar in Medical Research in Honor of Dr. Bill S. Vowell and Professor of Immunology at the University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center

“Bacteria keep the clock ticking: metabolism, the
microbiome, and the circadian clock”

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Conference / Symposium Fri, 16 Apr 2021 12:03:44 -0400 2021-04-28T15:00:00-04:00 2021-04-28T18:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology Conference / Symposium
Defense: Understanding the role of Flo8 on phospholipase c regulation in pseudohyphal growth within *Saccharomyces cerevisiae* (April 29, 2021 3:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83800 83800-21532316@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, April 29, 2021 3:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Pathways Master's Student
Mentor:

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Workshop / Seminar Mon, 19 Apr 2021 15:15:48 -0400 2021-04-29T15:00:00-04:00 2021-04-29T16:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Workshop / Seminar Yellow MCDB initials and drawing of a Microscope on a dark blue background
Master's Defense: Ivo Cerda (April 30, 2021 10:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/83915 83915-21612995@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, April 30, 2021 10:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Co-registering, chronic, and naturalistic assessments of the electrophysiological and behavioral features of the murine stress response can teach us how stress-behaviors are mechanistically driven by electrophysiological activity in neural circuits, how those relationships change over the course of the multi-week developing response to chronic ongoing stress, and how these changes ultimately contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of major depressive disorder and other psychiatric conditions. However, the long duration and multiplexed nature of the murine stress response have long been barriers to achieving such understandings. To address the need for technology that better captures the time progression of the murine stress response, we engineered the first-ever chronic recording system capable of gathering both behavioral and electrophysiological data in a naturalistic environment for freely-moving mice. Building from previous unpublished work at our lab, we first developed 16 units of a novel photointerrupter-based, Arduino-controlled digital phenotyping system capable of simultaneously recording 50+ behavioral metrics at a sub-second resolution continuously for weeks at a time. Subsequently, with the goal of assisting the concurrent exploration of brain mechanisms and behavior, we engineered a scaffold and cabling structure to support an ultra low-resistance commutator that allows chronic, multi-region brain electrophysiological recordings and integrated it into our digital behavioral phenotyping system. Our novel co-recording system is now fully operational and, along with allowing chronic electrophysiological recordings, supports measures of eating, drinking, food and sugary drink preference (a measure of anhedonia), locomotor activity, sleep, and actigraphy, all the while using 24/7 video tracking to allow detailed classification of behaviors at sub-second resolution. The system is also compatible with standard assessments in the field, including daily weight and fur checks. To demonstrate the duration of its co-recording capabilities, we implanted a cohort of mice with electrodes in three brain regions involved in the murine stress response – olfactory bulb, dorsal hippocampus, and medial prefrontal cortex – and recorded for five weeks. This is the first system to ever produce highly dense behavioral and electrophysiological data simultaneously and continuously over such a period of time.


Details:
DATE: Friday, April 30, 2021
TIME: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
LOCATION: Zoom https://umich.zoom.us/j/93571968494)
Chair Committee: Brendon Watson, Tim Bruns, Cindy Chestek

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Lecture / Discussion Thu, 29 Apr 2021 20:12:17 -0400 2021-04-30T10:00:00-04:00 2021-04-30T12:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
MCDB Defense: Mechanisms Influencing *C. elegans* Dosage Compensation (April 30, 2021 10:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/83801 83801-21532317@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, April 30, 2021 10:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Master's student
Mentor: Gyorgyi Csankovszki

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Workshop / Seminar Mon, 19 Apr 2021 15:20:26 -0400 2021-04-30T10:00:00-04:00 2021-04-30T11:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Workshop / Seminar Yellow MCDB initials and Microscope drawing on blue
Novel upstream activation of mTORC2 by the innate immune kinase TBK1 (April 30, 2021 3:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83336 83336-21344239@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, April 30, 2021 3:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Cell & Developmental Biology

We are pleased to announce that Aaron Seth Tooley will present his Dissertation Defense on July 31st, 2020 through a live stream virtual seminar!

Dissertation Committee:
Associate Professor Diane C. Fingar, Mentor
Professor Marina Pasca Di Magliano, Chair
Associate Professor Ken Inoki
Professor Kristen J. Verhey

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Livestream / Virtual Fri, 26 Mar 2021 13:48:33 -0400 2021-04-30T15:00:00-04:00 2021-04-30T16:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Cell & Developmental Biology Livestream / Virtual Novel upstream activation of mTORC2 by the innate immune kinase TBK1
BME Commencement 2021 (May 1, 2021 3:30pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83890 83890-21595415@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Saturday, May 1, 2021 3:30pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO RSVP WITH THE LINK!

BME COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021 | 3:30 PM EDT


COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
ZOOM @ (3:30 PM)

AFTER PARTY
Spatial Chat @ (~4:30 PM)
(AFTER THE CEREMONY)

PROGRAM
Welcome & Introduction | Lonnie Shea Ph.D.
Program Chair Remarks | Rachael Schmedlen, Ph.D., Jan Stegemann, Ph.D., & Tim Bruns, Ph.D.
Program Coordinator Remarks | Rachel Patterson & Maria Steele
Alumni Welcome and Congratulations | Scott Merz, Richard Youngblood, & Xiaotian Tan
Student Addresses | Dipra Debnath, Ivo Woldarsky, & Katy Norman
Announcing the Graduates | Melissa Wrobel Ph.D., Brendon Baker, Ph.D., James Weiland, Ph.D., & Tim Bruns, Ph.D.
Confirmation of Degrees | Lonnie Shea, Ph.D.
Congratulations and Closing | Lonnie Shea, Ph.D.
Virtual socializing & After Party | Come congratulate and socialize with your fellow graduates, families, professors, and friends following the BME Commencement Ceremony.

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Ceremony / Service Tue, 27 Apr 2021 15:09:45 -0400 2021-05-01T15:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Ceremony / Service BME Logo
Training Program in Organogenesis Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships - Request for Applications (May 3, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82789 82789-21179557@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, May 3, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

We are pleased to announce a competition for Pre-doctoral and Non-traditional postdoctoral Fellowships in Organogenesis as part of a NIH T32 Training Grant (Training Program in Organogenesis). The goal of the fellowship awards are to provide up to two years of support for outstanding scholars who wish to undertake a research project in the field of organogenesis.

Criteria used to evaluate all applications include the strength of the mentor and strength of the trainee (as evaluated by letters and CVs), the quality of the research project, and the degree to which the project fits the goals of the Training Program, and the Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design (CPOD).

The call for applications are for the following:

NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship (applicants must have achieved candidacy by the time of appointment to the training grant)
Dean’s Non-Traditional Postdoctoral Fellowship in Organogenesis (Non-Federally Funded)
The non-traditional postdoctoral fellowships are open to non-citizen and non-permanent residents, and provide partial funding for one (1) year.

Materials Due: Monday, May 17, 2021 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Submit to Tamika Mohr at: organogenesis@umich.edu

Instructions and Application templates are attached and are available online at : https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cpod/training-program

Faculty Mentors: If you are NOT a member of the Organogenesis faculty, but wish for a trainee in your lab to apply, you may submit a concurrent application for CPOD membership.

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Careers / Jobs Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:32 -0500 2021-05-03T12:00:00-04:00 2021-05-03T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Careers / Jobs
RNA Seminar featuring: Olivia Rissland, University of Colorado School of Medicine (May 3, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81302 81302-20881902@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, May 3, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for RNA Biomedicine

Registration Required: https://umich.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vA9zYS5nSEenf8Zmt1f-qA


ABSTRACT: The maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT) is a conserved step in animal development, where control is passed from the maternal to the zygotic genome. Although the MZT is typically considered from its impact on the transcriptome, we previously found that three maternally deposited Drosophila RNA binding proteins (ME31B, Trailer Hitch [TRAL], and Cup) are also cleared during the MZT by unknown mechanisms. Here, we show that these proteins are degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Marie Kondo, an E2 conjugating enzyme, and the E3 CTLH ligase are required for the destruction of ME31B, TRAL, and Cup. Structure modeling of the Drosophila CTLH complex suggests that substrate recognition is different than orthologous complexes. Despite occurring hours earlier, egg activation mediates clearance of these proteins through the Pan Gu kinase, which stimulates translation of Kondo mRNA. Clearance of the maternal protein dowry thus appears to be a coordinated, but as-yet underappreciated, aspect of the MZT.

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Lecture / Discussion Fri, 02 Apr 2021 16:07:11 -0400 2021-05-03T16:00:00-04:00 2021-05-03T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for RNA Biomedicine Lecture / Discussion Olivia Rissland, Ph.D.
PhD Defense: Jonas Schollenberger (May 4, 2021 3:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83855 83855-21555868@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, May 4, 2021 3:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Cerebrovascular occlusive disease (CVOD) is a major risk factor for ischemic stroke and is characterized by the presence of stenosis in the arteries supplying the brain. The cerebral vasculature has an innate ability to compensate for flow reductions, caused by the presence of CVOD, through a network of collateral pathways in the circle of Willis (CoW). However, flow compensation is highly patient-specific and dependent on the cerebral vasculature anatomy, availability of collateral pathways, degree of stenosis and, the condition of the cerebral microcirculation and its autoregulatory response. Unfortunately, clinically available imaging tools only provide limited information on flow compensation and the underlying cerebral hemodynamics. Given the complexity of the cerebral vasculature, better tools are necessary to characterize cerebral hemodynamics and guide the risk assessment of ischemic stroke.



Image-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) provides a powerful tool for non-invasively analyzing cerebral hemodynamics with high spatial and temporal resolutions. However, CFD modeling of cerebral hemodynamics is challenging due to the need for patient-specific data to calibrate outflow boundary conditions in the brain. In this thesis, we explore a novel strategy to quantitatively characterize cerebral hemodynamics using CFD in combination with tissue perfusion from arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI.



Firstly, we quantified territorial perfusion in the cerebral circulation through implementing and optimizing a vessel-selective arterial spin labeling (VS-ASL) sequence. VS-ASL is generally limited by its low labeling efficiency causing poor signal-to-noise ratio. We investigated the effects of off‐resonance, pulsatility, and vessel movement, and evaluated methods to maximize labeling efficiency and overall image quality. We found that an off-resonance calibration scan in combination with cardiac-triggering significantly improved labeling efficiency and image quality. Vessel movement during the MRI protocol occurred in the majority of study subjects and needs to be accounted for to maximize labeling efficiency.



Secondly, we developed a strategy to calibrate patient-specific CFD models of cerebral blood flow. The calibration consisted of estimating the total inflow to the CoW from PC-MRI and the flow splits in the CoW from non-selective ASL perfusion images. The outflow boundary conditions were iteratively tuned to match the estimated flow splits, and the ASL-calibrated CFD model was then validated against territorial perfusion maps from VS-ASL by calculating the blood supply to each cerebral territory using Lagrangian particle tracking (LPT). We found an overall good match in a small group of subjects; particularly, the flow compensation between hemispheres was captured well by the calibrated CFD models.



Thirdly, we investigated the impact of two outflow boundary condition strategies, an ASL-based and allometric-based calibration, on cerebral hemodynamics. The ASL-based calibrated CFD analysis captured the flow compensation between hemispheres as measured with VS-ASL and lead to an approximately symmetrical flow distribution in the CoW. In contrast, the allometric-based calibrated CFD analysis was unable to capture the collateral flow compensation, which resulted in large differences in flow between hemispheres.



Finally, the clinical feasibility and capabilities of our proposed CFD analysis was demonstrated in two CVOD patients. The CFD analysis showed significant differences in cerebral hemodynamics between the patients despite similar degrees of stenosis severity, highlighting the importance of a patient-specific assessment. Comparison of pre-operative and post-operative hemodynamics in one patient resulted in only minor changes following revascularization despite severe carotid stenosis. We demonstrated that our CFD analysis can provide detailed and quantitative information about hemodynamic impact of carotid stenosis and collateral flow compensation in the circle of Willis.


Date: Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Time: 3:00 PM

Zoom: https://umich.zoom.us/j/93059726229 (Zoom link requires prior registration)

Co-Chairs: Dr. C. Alberto Figueroa and Dr. Luis Hernandez-Garcia

For Assistance or Questions
um-bme@umich.edu

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Lecture / Discussion Thu, 22 Apr 2021 13:33:46 -0400 2021-05-04T15:00:00-04:00 2021-05-04T16:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
"Upgrading the Physiological Relevance of Human Brain Organoids" (May 4, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83845 83845-21548057@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, May 4, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

The NIH T32 Training Program in Organogenesis presents seminar series: "Emerging Concepts in Cell Signaling, Regulation, and Science Education".

The Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design is proud to present guest speaker Giorgia Quadrato, PhD, to speak in our last seminar in this amazing series.

Dr. Quadrato is an Associate Professor of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and a member of the Broad CIRM Center at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.

The talk is entitled, "Upgrading the Physiological Relevance of Human Brain Organoids".

Trainee Host: Daysha Torres, Ph.D., Spence Lab

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Lecture / Discussion Wed, 21 Apr 2021 15:37:17 -0400 2021-05-04T16:00:00-04:00 2021-05-04T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Lecture / Discussion Flyer for the Event
PhD Defense: Elissa Welle (May 7, 2021 10:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/83883 83883-21587612@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, May 7, 2021 10:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Neural interfaces create a connection between neural structures in the body and external electronic devices. Brain-machine interfaces and bioelectric medicine therapies rely on the seamless integration of neural interfaces with the brain, nerves, or spinal cord. However, conventional neural interfaces cannot meet the demands of high channel count, signal fidelity, and signal longevity that these applications require.



In this thesis we characterized the damage resulting from conventional Utah arrays after multiple years of implantation in the cortex of a non-human primate. The neuron density around the electrode shanks was compared to the neuron density of nearby healthy tissue, finding a 73% loss in density around the electrodes. The explanted arrays were imaged and characterized for forms of electrode surface inconsistency. Coating cracks, tip breakage, and parylene cracks were the most common inconsistency. A significantly higher number of tip breakage and coating crack occurrences were found on the edges of the arrays as compared to the middle. In this work, we made clear the need for a minimally damaging alternative to the Utah electrode array.



Neural interfaces composed of carbon fiber electrodes, with a diameter of 6.8 microns, could enable a more seamless integration with the body. Previous work resulted in an array of individuated carbon fiber electrodes that could record reliably high signal-to-noise ratio neural signals from the brain for several months. However, the carbon fiber arrays were limited by only 30% of the electrodes recording neural signals, despite inducing very minimal inflammation. Additionally, it was relatively unknown if carbon fibers would make suitable long-term peripheral neural interfaces. Here, we illustrate the potential of carbon fiber electrodes to meet the needs of a variety of neural applications.



First, we optimized state-of-the-art carbon fiber electrodes to reliably record single unit electrophysiology from the brain. By analyzing the previous manufacturing process, the cause of the low recording yield of the carbon fiber arrays was identified as the consistency of the electrode tip. A novel laser cutting technique was developed to produce a consistent carbon fiber tip geometry, resulting in a near tripling of recording yield of high amplitude chronic neural signals. The longevity of the carbon fiber arrays was also addressed. The conventional polymer coating was compared against platinum iridium coating and an oxygen plasma treatment, both of which outperformed the polymer coating. In this work, we customized carbon fiber electrodes for reliable, long-term neural recording.



Secondly, we translated the carbon fiber technology from the brain to the periphery in an architecture appropriate for chronic implantation. The insertion of carbon fibers into the stiffer structures in the periphery is enabled by sharpening the carbon fibers. The sharpening process combines a butane flame to sharpen the fibers with a water bath to protect the base of the array. Sharpened carbon fibers recorded electrophysiology from the rat vagus nerve and feline dorsal root ganglia, both structures being important targets for bioelectric medicine therapies. The durability of carbon fibers was also displayed when partially embedded carbon fibers in medical-grade silicone withstood thousands of repeated bends without fracture. This work showed that carbon fibers have the electrical and structural properties necessary for chronic application.



Overall, this work highlights the vast potential of carbon fiber electrodes. Through this thesis, future brain-machine interfaces and bioelectric medicine therapies may utilize sub-cellular electrodes such as carbon fibers in medical applications.



Date: Friday, May 7, 2021

Time: 10:00 AM

Zoom: https://umich.zoom.us/j/95839545566 (Zoom link requires prior registration)

Chair: Dr. Cynthia Chestek

For Assistance or Questions
um-bme@umich.edu

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Lecture / Discussion Mon, 26 Apr 2021 17:03:39 -0400 2021-05-07T10:00:00-04:00 2021-05-07T11:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
2021 BME Symposium (May 10, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82858 82858-21203302@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, May 10, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

To register please see:
https://myumi.ch/r8GzZ

The 2021 BME symposium will showcase our work in the areas of Imaging, Neural Engineering, Regenerative Medicine, and Precision Health. The event will take place over two days in the afternoons of Monday, May 10, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM, and Tuesday, May 11, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM. Each afternoon will include faculty talks, mini student dissertations, a panel discussion, and student poster sessions.

The goal of this event is to bring together faculty and students affiliated with BME from all parts of campus as a step toward building the BME community and celebrating accomplishments through difficult times while having an eye toward the future.

Please sign up and join us!

2021 U-M BME Symposium



May 10, 2021: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM


Imaging at UM

May 10, 2021 - 12:00pm - 1:30pm
Location: Virtual/Zoom
Livestream Available (Visible After Registration)

Moderator: Doug Noll
12:00 - 12:15 - Zhongming Liu, “Preclinical MRI of brain-gut interactions”
12:15 - 12:30 - Nicole Seiberlich, “Translating Quantitative MRI to the Clinic”
12:30 - 12:45 - Yannis Paulus, “Multimodal Photoacoustic Microscopy, OCT, and Fluorescence Molecular and Cellular Imaging of the Retina”
12:45 - 1:05 - Student Dissertations
1:05 - 1:30 - Panel Discussion - “The Future of Imaging Research at Michigan” - Vikas Gulani, Jeff Fessler, Cheri Deng, Zhen Xu, Xueding Wang


Neural Engineering at UM

May 10, 2021 - 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Location: Virtual/Zoom
Livestream Available (Visible After Registration)

Moderator: Jim Weiland
2:00 - 2:15 - Kamran Diba, TBD
2:15 - 2:30 - Scott Lempka, TBD
2:30 - 2:45 - Deanna Gates, TBD
2:45 - 3:05 - Student Dissertations
3:05 - 3.30 - Panel Discussion - “The Science Fiction Future of Neural Engineering” - Cindy Chestek, Parag Patil, Tim Bruns, Bill Stacey


Poster Session: Imaging & Neural Engineering

May 10, 2021 - 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Virtual/Spatial Chat

This poster session will give BME students a chance to present and discuss their research in the areas of Imaging and Neural Engineering.


May 11, 2021: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM


Regenerative Medicine at UM

May 11, 2021 - 12:00pm - 1:30pm
Location: Virtual/Zoom
Livestream Available (Visible After Registration)

Moderator: Lonnie Shea
12:00 - 12:15 - Carlos Aguilar, ”Understanding & Re-Writing Stem Cell Programs to Live Forever.”
12:15 - 12:30 - Idse Heemskerk, “Predicting cell fate from signaling history in human pluripotent stem cells”
12:30 - 12:45 - Ariella Shikanov, TBD
12:45 - 1:05 - Student Dissertations
1:05 - 1:30 - Panel Discussion - "Grand Challenges in Regenerative Medicine" - Dave Kohn


Precision Health at UM

May 11, 2021 - 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Location: Virtual/Zoom
Livestream Available (Visible After Registration)

Moderator: TBD
2:00 - 2:15 - Sriram Chandrasekharan, TBD
2:15 - 2: 30 - James Moon, TBD
2:30 - 2:45 - Deepak Nagrath, TBD
2:45 - 3:05 - Student Dissertations
3:05 - 3:30 - Panel Discussion - "Hope or Hype for Treating Diseases" - James Moon, Sriram Chandrasekharan, Deepak Nagrath



Poster Session: Regenerative Medicine & Precision Health


May 11, 2021 - 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Virtual/Spatial Chat


This poster session will give BME students a chance to present and discuss their research in the areas of Regenerative Medicine and Precision Health.

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Conference / Symposium Thu, 22 Apr 2021 13:38:37 -0400 2021-05-10T12:00:00-04:00 2021-05-10T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Conference / Symposium BME Logo
Training Program in Organogenesis Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships - Request for Applications (May 10, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82789 82789-21179558@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, May 10, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

We are pleased to announce a competition for Pre-doctoral and Non-traditional postdoctoral Fellowships in Organogenesis as part of a NIH T32 Training Grant (Training Program in Organogenesis). The goal of the fellowship awards are to provide up to two years of support for outstanding scholars who wish to undertake a research project in the field of organogenesis.

Criteria used to evaluate all applications include the strength of the mentor and strength of the trainee (as evaluated by letters and CVs), the quality of the research project, and the degree to which the project fits the goals of the Training Program, and the Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design (CPOD).

The call for applications are for the following:

NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship (applicants must have achieved candidacy by the time of appointment to the training grant)
Dean’s Non-Traditional Postdoctoral Fellowship in Organogenesis (Non-Federally Funded)
The non-traditional postdoctoral fellowships are open to non-citizen and non-permanent residents, and provide partial funding for one (1) year.

Materials Due: Monday, May 17, 2021 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Submit to Tamika Mohr at: organogenesis@umich.edu

Instructions and Application templates are attached and are available online at : https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cpod/training-program

Faculty Mentors: If you are NOT a member of the Organogenesis faculty, but wish for a trainee in your lab to apply, you may submit a concurrent application for CPOD membership.

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Careers / Jobs Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:32 -0500 2021-05-10T12:00:00-04:00 2021-05-10T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Careers / Jobs
2021 BME Symposium (May 11, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82858 82858-21555869@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, May 11, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

To register please see:
https://myumi.ch/r8GzZ

The 2021 BME symposium will showcase our work in the areas of Imaging, Neural Engineering, Regenerative Medicine, and Precision Health. The event will take place over two days in the afternoons of Monday, May 10, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM, and Tuesday, May 11, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM. Each afternoon will include faculty talks, mini student dissertations, a panel discussion, and student poster sessions.

The goal of this event is to bring together faculty and students affiliated with BME from all parts of campus as a step toward building the BME community and celebrating accomplishments through difficult times while having an eye toward the future.

Please sign up and join us!

2021 U-M BME Symposium



May 10, 2021: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM


Imaging at UM

May 10, 2021 - 12:00pm - 1:30pm
Location: Virtual/Zoom
Livestream Available (Visible After Registration)

Moderator: Doug Noll
12:00 - 12:15 - Zhongming Liu, “Preclinical MRI of brain-gut interactions”
12:15 - 12:30 - Nicole Seiberlich, “Translating Quantitative MRI to the Clinic”
12:30 - 12:45 - Yannis Paulus, “Multimodal Photoacoustic Microscopy, OCT, and Fluorescence Molecular and Cellular Imaging of the Retina”
12:45 - 1:05 - Student Dissertations
1:05 - 1:30 - Panel Discussion - “The Future of Imaging Research at Michigan” - Vikas Gulani, Jeff Fessler, Cheri Deng, Zhen Xu, Xueding Wang


Neural Engineering at UM

May 10, 2021 - 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Location: Virtual/Zoom
Livestream Available (Visible After Registration)

Moderator: Jim Weiland
2:00 - 2:15 - Kamran Diba, TBD
2:15 - 2:30 - Scott Lempka, TBD
2:30 - 2:45 - Deanna Gates, TBD
2:45 - 3:05 - Student Dissertations
3:05 - 3.30 - Panel Discussion - “The Science Fiction Future of Neural Engineering” - Cindy Chestek, Parag Patil, Tim Bruns, Bill Stacey


Poster Session: Imaging & Neural Engineering

May 10, 2021 - 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Virtual/Spatial Chat

This poster session will give BME students a chance to present and discuss their research in the areas of Imaging and Neural Engineering.


May 11, 2021: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM


Regenerative Medicine at UM

May 11, 2021 - 12:00pm - 1:30pm
Location: Virtual/Zoom
Livestream Available (Visible After Registration)

Moderator: Lonnie Shea
12:00 - 12:15 - Carlos Aguilar, ”Understanding & Re-Writing Stem Cell Programs to Live Forever.”
12:15 - 12:30 - Idse Heemskerk, “Predicting cell fate from signaling history in human pluripotent stem cells”
12:30 - 12:45 - Ariella Shikanov, TBD
12:45 - 1:05 - Student Dissertations
1:05 - 1:30 - Panel Discussion - "Grand Challenges in Regenerative Medicine" - Dave Kohn


Precision Health at UM

May 11, 2021 - 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Location: Virtual/Zoom
Livestream Available (Visible After Registration)

Moderator: TBD
2:00 - 2:15 - Sriram Chandrasekharan, TBD
2:15 - 2: 30 - James Moon, TBD
2:30 - 2:45 - Deepak Nagrath, TBD
2:45 - 3:05 - Student Dissertations
3:05 - 3:30 - Panel Discussion - "Hope or Hype for Treating Diseases" - James Moon, Sriram Chandrasekharan, Deepak Nagrath



Poster Session: Regenerative Medicine & Precision Health


May 11, 2021 - 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Virtual/Spatial Chat


This poster session will give BME students a chance to present and discuss their research in the areas of Regenerative Medicine and Precision Health.

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Conference / Symposium Thu, 22 Apr 2021 13:38:37 -0400 2021-05-11T12:00:00-04:00 2021-05-11T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Conference / Symposium BME Logo
Connecting Education Innovation to Activism (May 12, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83807 83807-21538170@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, May 12, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: RISE (Research. Innovation. Scholarship. Education.)

R.I.S.E., the Center for Academic Innovation, and the Center for Research on Learning & Teaching (CRLT) invite you to join a Virtual Talking Circle (VTC) to discuss unique connections between education innovation & activism.

This collaboration across the University will serve as a first step in building a community interested in designing and promoting education innovation to improve society.

Anyone interested in education innovation and/or social justice and activism is invited!  We want to learn who is already doing this important work and identify potential collaborations across the University.

Please join us on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 from 12:00 - 1:00 PM

Register via Eventbrite

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Workshop / Seminar Tue, 20 Apr 2021 06:37:52 -0400 2021-05-12T12:00:00-04:00 2021-05-12T13:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location RISE (Research. Innovation. Scholarship. Education.) Workshop / Seminar RISE Virtual Talking Circle
Lagranian Control at Large and Local Scales in Mixed Autonomy Traffic Flows (May 13, 2021 1:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83812 83812-21538223@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, May 13, 2021 1:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Connected and Automated Transportation

The CCAT Distinguished Lecture Series returns this May with Professor Alexandre Bayen, the Liao-Cho Professor of Engineering at UC Berkeley! This talk investigates Lagrangian (mobile) control of traffic flow at local scale (vehicular level), and how self-driving vehicles will change traffic flow patterns. Professor Bayen describes approaches based on deep, reinforcement learning presented in the context of enabling mixed-autonomy mobility. This lecture also explores the gradual and complex integration of automated vehicles into the existing traffic system. Attendees will learn the potential impact of a small fraction of automated vehicles on low-level traffic flow dynamics, using novel techniques in model-free, deep reinforcement learning, in which the automated vehicles act as mobile (Lagrangian) controllers to traffic flow.

Illustrative examples will be presented in the context of a new, open-source computational platform called FLOW, which integrates state-of-the-art microsimulation tools with deep-RL libraries on AWS EC2. Interesting behavior of mixed autonomy traffic will be revealed in the context of emergent behavior of traffic: https://flow-project.github.io/

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Livestream / Virtual Tue, 20 Apr 2021 10:42:19 -0400 2021-05-13T13:00:00-04:00 2021-05-13T14:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Connected and Automated Transportation Livestream / Virtual Decorative Image
Training Program in Organogenesis Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships - Request for Applications (May 17, 2021 12:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/82789 82789-21177575@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, May 17, 2021 12:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

We are pleased to announce a competition for Pre-doctoral and Non-traditional postdoctoral Fellowships in Organogenesis as part of a NIH T32 Training Grant (Training Program in Organogenesis). The goal of the fellowship awards are to provide up to two years of support for outstanding scholars who wish to undertake a research project in the field of organogenesis.

Criteria used to evaluate all applications include the strength of the mentor and strength of the trainee (as evaluated by letters and CVs), the quality of the research project, and the degree to which the project fits the goals of the Training Program, and the Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design (CPOD).

The call for applications are for the following:

NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship (applicants must have achieved candidacy by the time of appointment to the training grant)
Dean’s Non-Traditional Postdoctoral Fellowship in Organogenesis (Non-Federally Funded)
The non-traditional postdoctoral fellowships are open to non-citizen and non-permanent residents, and provide partial funding for one (1) year.

Materials Due: Monday, May 17, 2021 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Submit to Tamika Mohr at: organogenesis@umich.edu

Instructions and Application templates are attached and are available online at : https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cpod/training-program

Faculty Mentors: If you are NOT a member of the Organogenesis faculty, but wish for a trainee in your lab to apply, you may submit a concurrent application for CPOD membership.

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Careers / Jobs Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:32 -0500 2021-05-17T00:00:00-04:00 2021-05-17T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Careers / Jobs
RNA Seminar featuring: Thomas Martinez, Salk Institute for Biological Studies (May 17, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81303 81303-20881903@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, May 17, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for RNA Biomedicine

Registration Required: https://umich.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_90RkcQTGQZa7ifQ8kbSdNQ

KEYOWORDS: microprotein, smORF, ribosome profiling

ABSTRACT: Functional protein-coding small open reading frames (smORFs) are emerging as an important class of genes. Several smORF-encoded microproteins have been characterized and implicated in a variety of critical processes, including regulation of mRNA decay, DNA repair, and muscle formation. Thus, rigorous and comprehensive annotation of protein-coding smORFs is critical to our understanding of basic biology and physiology, as well as disease. We recently developed an improved workflow that integrates de novo transcriptome assembly and ribosome profiling to overcome obstacles with previous methods to more confidently annotate thousands of novel smORFs across multiple human cell lines, including hundreds encoded on putative non-coding RNAs. Over 1,500 smORFs are found in two or more cell lines, and ~40% lack a canonical AUG start codon. Evolutionary conservation analyses suggest that hundreds of smORF-encoded microproteins are likely functional. We also find that smORF-derived peptides are detectable on human leukocyte antigen complexes, positioning smORFs as a source of novel antigens. The annotation of protein-coding smORFs radically alters the current view of the human genome’s coding capacity and will provide a rich pool of unexplored, functional human genes.

BIO: Thomas received his B.S. in Biological Engineering from MIT and trained in Prof. JoAnne Stubbe’s laboratory, where he studied the mechanism of ribonucleotide reductase. He then recieved his Ph.D. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics from Caltech as an NIH NRSA predoctoral fellow under the mentorship of Prof. Peter Dervan. His thesis work focused primarily on characterizing the effects of DNA binding pyrrole-imidazole polyamides on DNA replication in prostate cancer cells. Thomas is currently an NIH NRSA postdoctoral fellow in Prof. Alan Saghatelian’s laboratory, where he has developed an integrative platform combining ribosome profiling and de novo transcriptome assembly to discover functional smORF encoded microproteins in the human genome.

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Lecture / Discussion Wed, 14 Apr 2021 12:39:54 -0400 2021-05-17T16:00:00-04:00 2021-05-17T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for RNA Biomedicine Lecture / Discussion Thomas Martinez, Salk Institute for Biological Studies
CGIS Winter Advising (May 19, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83938 83938-21619171@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, May 19, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Global and Intercultural Study

As studying abroad becomes more of a possibility for U-M students, particularly for Winter 2022, CGIS will be offering a 2-day Winter Advising event where students can learn more about major-specific programs such as programs in the environment, pre-health, and public health and interest-specific program sessions such as studying abroad in the UK and English-Taught programs in Asia to name few. The LSA Scholarship Office and the Office of Financial Aid will join us on May 20th to help answer questions you may have on funding your semester program abroad as well as walking you through the application process! First Step sessions will be offered each day of the event as well. Each info session will be interactive. Each session will offer an opportunity to interact with advisors and address questions or concerns you may have regarding study abroad. To get a general idea of participation, please RSVP below and select info sessions that you'd be interested in. We'll send you a Zoom link as we get closer to the event!

DISCLAIMER: With each passing term, a small yet increasing number of our programs seem to offer the possibility of receiving students, so CGIS proceeded with very cautious optimism that students will be able to study abroad in the coming academic year. CGIS and the University of Michigan continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation as it develops worldwide. Parents and other concerned parties who would like to receive this information should ask their students to share the updates with them. Students planning to participate in CGIS programs worldwide are advised to continue to closely monitor the latest developments and to adhere to any national and international public health directives issued by their host country or institution. CGIS will contact students who have opened or submitted an application to a CGIS program if and when updates are available.

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Presentation Fri, 30 Apr 2021 16:02:10 -0400 2021-05-19T12:00:00-04:00 2021-05-19T14:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Global and Intercultural Study Presentation Flyer
Microbial Masterpieces (May 19, 2021 3:30pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83989 83989-21619308@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, May 19, 2021 3:30pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Digital Media Commons

The recipient of the Experiments in Translation Grant, “Microbial Masterpieces” is a continuously evolving project aiming to communicate the importance of microorganisms to humanity and the planet. Our featured attraction is a giant Winogradsky Panel in the Duderstadt Center Gallery, which houses a brightly colored, continuously changing biofilm. In this presentation, we will share beautiful images and time lapses of the Winogradsky Panel; discuss the science underlying the Panel; and reflect on the importance of art in science communication. Additionally, we will share our progress in trying to make our project accessible to the blind and visually-impaired community through tactile and audio experiences.

The MM team includes: Erica Gardner (School for Environment and Sustainability; College of Engineering); Anna Urso (School for Environment and Sustainability); Bruna lunes Sanches (Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning)

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://umich.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Vm_HuWMRSMyE31cZzwCv7Q

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

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Presentation Thu, 06 May 2021 18:25:54 -0400 2021-05-19T15:30:00-04:00 2021-05-19T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Digital Media Commons Presentation Winogradsky Panel
CGIS Winter Advising (May 20, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83938 83938-21619172@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, May 20, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Global and Intercultural Study

As studying abroad becomes more of a possibility for U-M students, particularly for Winter 2022, CGIS will be offering a 2-day Winter Advising event where students can learn more about major-specific programs such as programs in the environment, pre-health, and public health and interest-specific program sessions such as studying abroad in the UK and English-Taught programs in Asia to name few. The LSA Scholarship Office and the Office of Financial Aid will join us on May 20th to help answer questions you may have on funding your semester program abroad as well as walking you through the application process! First Step sessions will be offered each day of the event as well. Each info session will be interactive. Each session will offer an opportunity to interact with advisors and address questions or concerns you may have regarding study abroad. To get a general idea of participation, please RSVP below and select info sessions that you'd be interested in. We'll send you a Zoom link as we get closer to the event!

DISCLAIMER: With each passing term, a small yet increasing number of our programs seem to offer the possibility of receiving students, so CGIS proceeded with very cautious optimism that students will be able to study abroad in the coming academic year. CGIS and the University of Michigan continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation as it develops worldwide. Parents and other concerned parties who would like to receive this information should ask their students to share the updates with them. Students planning to participate in CGIS programs worldwide are advised to continue to closely monitor the latest developments and to adhere to any national and international public health directives issued by their host country or institution. CGIS will contact students who have opened or submitted an application to a CGIS program if and when updates are available.

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Presentation Fri, 30 Apr 2021 16:02:10 -0400 2021-05-20T12:00:00-04:00 2021-05-20T14:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Global and Intercultural Study Presentation Flyer
Seminar: Lindsay M. LaFave, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University (May 24, 2021 3:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/84070 84070-21619805@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, May 24, 2021 3:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Life Sciences Institute (LSI)

Abstract:
A key feature of cancer development is the loss of gene regulatory programs that govern normal cellular identity; however, these disrupted regulatory landscapes, or epigenomic states, are not well understood. To study epigenomic state changes in the natural evolution of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), I utilized the well-established KrasG12D/+p53-/- (KP) murine model of LUAD progression. Using an optimized single-cell ATAC-sequencing approach with combinatorial indexing, I profiled the chromatin accessibility states of individual KP tumors, metastases, and normal lungs. Strikingly, we identified expansive epigenomic heterogeneity across cancer progression; yet, these cell states followed reproducible trajectories across individual tumors—suggesting conserved paths toward metastasis. We utilized computational tools to identify 11 discernable states across LUAD cancer progression characterized by transcription factor (TF) regulators and downstream regulated genes. These analyses led to the identification of a late-stage program associated with progressive RUNX2 activation and adverse survival in human patients. Together, these results demonstrated the utility of single-cell epigenomics to identify TF-driven regulatory programs as key biomarkers of cancer progression. My ongoing work leverages evolving epigenomic technologies in murine and organoid systems to understand the overarching mechanisms dictating altered chromatin state in cancer.

Speaker:
Lindsay M. LaFave is a cancer biologist with a long-standing interest in studying chromatin biology. Lindsay completed her B.S. in biochemistry at the University of Michigan in 2009. She received her Ph.D. in Cancer Biology at Gerstner Sloan Kettering Graduate School in New York City in 2015. Her graduate research in Ross Levine’s lab at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center focused on studying the role of mutated chromatin modifying proteins in hematopoietic malignancies. For her postdoctoral training, she continued to study epigenetic mechanisms of cancer progression, shifting her primary focus to solid tumors. Lindsay is a current Damon Runyon postdoctoral fellow in the labs of Tyler Jacks at MIT and Jason Buenrostro at Harvard University. Her work leverages murine modeling and single-cell epigenomic technologies to understand cell state changes that occur during cancer progression in lung adenocarcinoma. During her postdoctoral training, Lindsay identified a diverse repertoire of gene regulatory changes important in cancer progression that were associated with altered cellular identity and the emergence of pre-metastatic gene programs. Her independent research group will utilize evolving epigenomic technologies and cancer models to dissect chromatin-mediated mechanisms driving lung cancer.

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Lecture / Discussion Tue, 18 May 2021 10:45:17 -0400 2021-05-24T15:00:00-04:00 2021-05-24T16:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Life Sciences Institute (LSI) Lecture / Discussion
Clinical Simulation Center Brown Bag Discussion (May 25, 2021 3:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/84097 84097-21620331@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, May 25, 2021 3:00pm
Location:
Organized By: Department of Learning Health Sciences

"Omni II Infant, Safe Patient Handling Obesity suit, UH Training Room and Juno-Med fidelity manikin"

Our team is planning four short lightning talks, highlighting some new equipment and additions to our courses.

This will be a Zoom meeting.
https://umich.zoom.us/j/97929340876

Dial by your location
+1 646 876 9923
Meeting ID: 979 2934 0876

Find your local number: https://umich.zoom.us/u/ac04eNX6TC

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Lecture / Discussion Tue, 25 May 2021 15:21:30 -0400 2021-05-25T15:00:00-04:00 2021-05-25T16:00:00-04:00 Department of Learning Health Sciences Lecture / Discussion Mod CCO, DLHS Clinical Simulation Center
PhD Defense: Edward Peter Washabaugh IV (May 27, 2021 10:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/84050 84050-21619709@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, May 27, 2021 10:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Injuries to the neuromusculoskeletal systems often result in muscle weakness, abnormal coordination strategies, and gait impairments. Functional resistance training during walking—where a patient walks while a device increases loading on the leg—is an emerging approach to combat these symptoms. While simple passive devices (i.e., ankle weights and resistance bands) can be applied for this training, rehabilitation robots have more potential upside because they can be controlled to treat multiple gait abnormalities and can be monitored by clinicians. However, the cost of conventional robotic devices limits their use in the clinical or home setting. Hence, in this dissertation, we designed, developed, and tested passive and semi-passive wearable exoskeleton devices as a low-cost solution for providing controllable/configurable functional resistance training during walking.


We developed and tested two passive exoskeleton devices for providing resistance to walking and tested their effects on able-bodied participants and stroke survivors. First, we created a patented device that used a passive magnetic brake to provide a viscous (i.e., velocity-dependent) resistance to the knee. The resistive properties of the device could be placed under computer control (i.e., made semi-passive) to control resistance in real-time. Next, we created a passive exoskeleton that provided an elastic (i.e., position-dependent) resistance. While not controllable, this device was highly configurable. Meaning it could be used to provide resistance to joint flexion, extension, or to both (i.e., bidirectionally). Human subjects testing with these devices indicated they increased lower-extremity joint moments, powers, and muscle activation during training. Training also resulted in significant aftereffects—a potential indicator of therapeutic effectiveness—once the resistance was removed. A separate experiment indicated that individuals often kinematically slack (i.e., reduce joint excursions to minimize effort) when resistance is added to the limb. We also found that providing visual feedback of joint angles during training significantly increased muscle activation and kinematic aftereffects (i.e., reduced slacking).


With passive devices, the type of passive element used largely dictates the muscle groups, types of muscle contraction, joint actions, and the phases of gait when a device is able to apply resistance. To examine this issue, we compared the training effects of viscous and elastic devices that provided bidirectional resistance to the knee during gait. Additionally, we compared training with viscous resistances at the hip and knee joints. While the resistance type and targeted joint altered moments, powers, and muscle activation patterns, these methods did not differ in their ability to produce aftereffects, alter neural excitability, or induce fatigue in the leg muscles. While this may indicate that the resistance type does not have a large effect on functional resistance training during walking, it is possible that an extended training with these devices could produce a different result.


Lastly, we used musculoskeletal modeling in OpenSim to directly compare several strategies that have been used to provide functional resistance training to gait in the clinic or laboratory setting. We found that devices differed in their ability to alter gait parameters during walking. Hence, these findings could help clinicians when selecting a resistive strategy for their patients, or engineers when designing new devices or control schemes.



Date: Thursday, May 27, 2021

Time: 10:00 AM

Zoom: https://umich.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIufumrrDgtHd3z5Jg3Y_BG4ZC70OPrjTjk (Zoom link requires prior registration)

Chair: Dr. Chandramouli Krishnan

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Lecture / Discussion Fri, 14 May 2021 13:49:26 -0400 2021-05-27T10:00:00-04:00 2021-05-27T11:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
PhD Defense: William Y. Wang (June 4, 2021 12:30pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/84102 84102-21620248@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, June 4, 2021 12:30pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Mechanoreciprocity in cell migration is an emerging concept describing the dynamic, bi-directional interactions between migrating cells and the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) they negotiate. Migrating cells not only sense and adapt to biochemical and biophysical ECM cues, but also, exert forces, deposit matrix, and secrete chemokines, matrix metalloproteinases, and matrix crosslinking enzymes that dynamically alter the same ECM properties known to regulate cell migration. Due to limitations in standard cell migration assays, how matrix properties influence cell migration and in turn, how cells influence matrix properties, has previously been studied as separate processes. However, observations from development, wound healing, and a variety of disease processes highlight the interdependency and iterative relationship between cell migration and ECM. An improved understanding of the underlying mechanisms that orchestrate the coevolution of migrating cells and ECM will aid in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine efforts to guide repair fibroblasts to regenerate wound beds, direct collective endothelial cell migration to vascularize ischemic or engineered tissue grafts and confine otherwise metastatic cancer cells to the primary tumor. Thus, the focus of this dissertation is to design biomimetic microsystems that afford investigation of cell migration mechanoreciprocity with a focus on fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and cancer cells.



First, this thesis investigated how single mesenchymal cells (fibroblasts and cancer cells) migrate in fibrous stromal tissue settings, such as in trans-stromal cancer cell migration during metastasis. To model fibrous stromal tissue, 3D fiber networks were electrospun over microfabricated wells to define ECM mechanics. Independently tuning alignment and stiffness of these matrices resulted in two phenotypically distinct cell migration modes. In contrast to stiff matrices where cells migrated continuously in a traditional mesenchymal fashion, cells in deformable matrices stretched matrix fibers to store elastic energy; subsequent adhesion failure triggered sudden matrix recoil and rapid cell translocation (termed slingshot migration). Across a variety of cell types, traction force measurements revealed a relationship between cell contractility and the matrix stiffness where slingshot migration mode occurred optimally.



Next, this thesis describes how microenvironmental cues influence collective endothelial cell migration during sprouting angiogenesis towards the design of pro-angiogenic biomaterials. This work employed a multiplexed angiogenesis-on-a-chip platform to assess the chemokine-directed 3D invasion of endothelial cells from a lumenized parent vessel into user-defined ECM. By tuning soluble and physical cues of the ECM, this work identified how 1) functional angiogenesis requires microenvironmental cues that balance cell invasion speed and proliferation; 2) dynamic interactions between sprout stalk cells and ECM regulates neovessel lumenization; and 3) imbuing microporosity within synthetic hydrogels can enhance endothelial cell invasion and angiogenic sprout lumenization.



Lastly, this thesis investigated how fibrous matrix cues activate quiescent vessel-lining endothelial cells into invasive tip cells in the context of fibrosis. Composite hydrogels (electrospun fiber segments suspended within 3D ECM) were integrated with the angiogenesis-on-a-chip platform. These studies establish that heightened matrix fiber density destabilizes cell-cell adherens junctions, reduces endothelium barrier function, and promotes the invasion of endothelial tip cells. Performing transcriptomic and secretomic analyses on fiber-induced tip endothelial cells revealed that fibrous ECM cues promote a fibrosis propagating phenotype.



Overall, the work presented in this dissertation integrates tunable biomaterials with microfabricated devices to investigate cell migration mechanoreciprocity of single mesenchymal cell migration, the collective migration of endothelial cells during angiogenesis, and endothelial-mesenchymal transition of quiescent endothelial cells into a fibrosis propagating cell phenotype.



Date: Friday, June 4, 2021

Time: 12:30 PM

Zoom: https://umich.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcsf-uhpj4vGtyM7x-td2VV39BzqmF_zoob (Zoom link requires prior registration)

Chair: Dr. Brendon Baker

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Lecture / Discussion Mon, 24 May 2021 14:17:02 -0400 2021-06-04T12:30:00-04:00 2021-06-04T13:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo