BMI Weekly Newsletter  

April 24, 2023 

Note from BMI Chair: 

Thanks to all who participated in last week’s review of our MS and PhD programs in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Immunology & Microbiology.  We will now start the process of using the input from the review to improve our programs and processes. 

Please have a look at this interesting article about Dr. Jeff Withey’s recent Fulbright Scholarship, which will enable him to continue his groundbreaking collaborative research on cholera pathogenesis with investigators at the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases in Kolkata India (link). 

Events This Week:  

M.S. Dissertation Notice: Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 3125 Scott Hall 

• 11:00 am – BMB M.S. Student, Bradley Vandecar 
• Title: “Analyzing the Impact of ZIP Subfamily II Mutations on the Zinc and Iron Transport of ZupT from Escherichia coli” 
• Advisor: Dr. Bharati Mitra  

Two M.S. Dissertation Notices for: Thursday, April 27, 2023, 2268 Scott Hall 

• 10:45am – BMB M.S. Student, Joseph Engel 
• Title: “In silico lead optimization and screening against the SARS-CoV main protease.” 
• 12:30pm – BMB M.S. Student, Olivia Haskin 
• Title: “In silico drug discovery methods for SARS-CoV Papain-like protease.”  
• Their Advisor: Dr. Ladislau Kovari 

Upcoming Events: 

Next Immunology Focus Group: Tuesday, May 2, 2023, 12:00-1:00pm via Zoom 

• Speaker: Grace Chen, M.D., Ph.D., Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School. 
• Dr. Chen’s laboratory studies the host-microbiome interactions in mouse models of colon cancer. Her work with murine models has demonstrated that perturbations in the gut microbiome can directly contribute to the development of colon cancer and that dysbiosis can alter the tumor microenvironment.   A specific interest of the Chen Lab is to identify tumor-suppressive or tumor-promoting bacteria, dietary factors that influence colorectal cancer risk, and bacteria that contribute to rectal cancer treatment responses.  
• Title: “The potential for gut bacteria as adjunctive therapies for colorectal cancer prevention and treatment” 
• Hosted by: Jennifer Jacob, PhD, Department of Oncology, Wayne State University 
• Zoom link:
  • Meeting ID: 970 6745 4598 
  • Password: 225029 

The Michigan Physiological Society (MPS) will be hosting their 10^th annual research symposium at Alma College on June 26 & 27, 2023. 

Return to Campus:     

Recent Updates for Campus Conditions and Requirements as of April 24, 2023.  

Campus Daily Screener link. 

From Office of President Wilson: Resources with contact numbers to support, guide and assist you while on campus. 

Additional resources.