BMI Weekly Newsletter

March 26, 2024

News:

• Congratulations to Abdullah Al-Homoudi, from the Kovari Lab, for successfully defending his thesis, “Rational Design of Novel Therapeutics Targeting the SARS-COV-2 Papain-Like Protease”.

This Week’s Events:

• Zoom BMI Seminar: Tuesday, March 26, 2024
  Speaker: Ying H. Shen, M.D., Ph.D., Professor, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Director,
  Aortic Disease Research Laboratory Baylor College of Medicine https://www.bcm.edu/people-search/ying-shen-30622
  Host: Dr. Li Li ad4984@wayne.edu
  Title: “Molecular Mechanisms of Sporadic Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms and Dissections”

Abstract of the presentation

  Thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections (TAAD) are extremely lethal interrelated diseases. TAAD occurs either in association with genetic conditions or spontaneously as sporadic TAAD, which accounts for more than 80% of TAAD. Unfortunately, no clinically proven medication is available to prevent TAAD progression, and there is a critical need to understand the underlying mechanisms and develop effective pharmacological strategies to treat TAAD. This presentation will share our recent studies in investigating the molecular pathogenesis of sporadic ATAAD, particularly the mechanisms of smooth muscle cell death, inflammatory cell activation, matrix destruction that leads to aortic dilatation, dissection, and ultimately rupture. Various aspects in signal transduction, epigenetic gene expression regulation, vascular biology, as well as approaches of single cell RNA sequencing and single cell ATAC sequencing will be discussed.

Zoom Link: https://wayne-edu.zoom.us/j/94300010198?pwd=VDJKOFgzUE1wRWcyY1hmN1lqMlFnUT09
Meeting ID: 943 0001 0198 
Passcode: 156698

For all in-person seminars, students need to attend in-person, and for zoom seminars, students need to attend via zoom, in order for attendance to be counted. There will be a Speaker/Student Discussion after the seminar.

• The In-Person Journal Club: Wednesday, March 27, 2024, has been Cancelled.

Upcoming Events:

• In-person IFG Seminar: Tuesday, April 2, 2024, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., Hudson-Weber Auditorium, 2^nd Floor. A light lunch will be provided for attendees.
  Speaker: Dohun Pyeon, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology, Michigan State University
  Title: “Human Papillomavirus-Driven Immune Evasion in Head and Neck Cancer”
  Dr. Pyeon’s research focuses on investigating virus-host interactions in HPV-driven cancer progression, particularly in the context of host immunity. In particular, Dr. Pyeon investigates the mechanism used by HPV to dysregulate chemokines and membrane-associated ubiquitin ligases, enabling it to evade host immune responses and promote HPV-positive head and neck cancers.
  Hosted by: Jennifer Jacob, PhD, Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute
  Sponsored by: The Office of Vice President for Research, Wayne State University, Barbara Ann
  Karmanos Cancer Institute and Henry Ford Health System

Zoom Link: https://wayneedu.zoom.us/j/99980284185?pwd=QTlXZncxaU1GK3RucStGMnh3eGQzQT09
Meeting ID: 999 8028 4185
Password: 502387

This is an in-person seminar. Students need to attend in-person in order for attendance to be counted.

• In-Person Journal Club: Wednesday, April 3, 2024, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
  Presentation by: Dr. Grace Swanson
  Title: “TBA”  

Campus News:

• Campus Health Center: CHC

• Office of President: Campus Resources Link for Student, Faculty and Staff Campus Resource Link