BMI Weekly News- October 11, 2021
BMI Weekly Newsletter
October 11, 2021
News:
• Dr. Yi-chi Kong
We note the passing of our friend and colleague Dr. Yi-chi Kong, who joined the faculty of the School of Medicine’s Department of Microbiology in 1966, prior to the formation of the Department of Immunology & Microbiology. Dr. Kong retired in 2014 and remained active in departmental activities for some time. Dr. Kong was a dedicated teacher, mentored numerous PhD students and postdoctoral fellows, and served in numerous leadership positions locally and nationally. A more extensive scientific biography is provided below. A remembrance event is being planned.
• Congratulations to IM Ph.D. student, James Glassbrook, his mentor, Dr. Heather Gibson, and their associates for the publication in Oncogene, of "RNA Binding Protein RBMS3 Is a Common EMT Effector that Modulates Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Progression via Stabilizing PRRX1 mRNA."
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41388-021-02030-x
Events This Week:
• BMI Journal Club: Monday, October 11, 2021, 12:30 – 1:20 pm, Room 2268 Scott Hall
Presented by: Bradley Vandecar
Title: “Unraveling the structural elements of pH sensitivity and substrate binding in the human zinc transporter SLC39A2 (ZIP2)”
Mentor: Dr. Bharati Mitra
• BMI In-Person Seminar: Tuesday, October 12, 2021, 11:30 am – 12:25 pm, Room 2268 Scott Hall**
Speaker: Dr. Salvador Almagro-Moreno, Assistant Professor, University of Central Florida
Title: “Emergence and evolution of bacterial pathogens: The Vibrio paradigm”
Zoom Link: https://wayneedu.zoom.us/j/91982027981?pwd=U1hxQWZ5UHA3OFZoVko1dGdodUErZz09
Meeting ID: 919 8202 7981
Passcode: 135313
Host: Dr. Jeffrey Withey jwithey@med.wayne.edu
**Lunch between the speaker and BMI students will be in room 7370 Scott Hall, following the seminar.
Upcoming Events:
• Next BMI Journal Club: Monday, October 18, 2021, 12:30 – 1:20 pm, Room 2268 Scott Hall
Presented by: Taylor Vensko
Title: “The Way Out: Evaluating HCMV Egress”
Mentor: Dr. Philip Pellett
• Next BMI In-Person Seminar: Tuesday, October 19, 2021, 11:30 am – 12:25 pm, Room 2268 Scott Hall
Speaker: Jason Huntley, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Microbiology, Director of the UToledo COLS
BSL3/A-BSL3 Laboratory, and Co-Director of Medical Microbiology and Immunology Graduate Track
Title: “Pushing the Envelope: Virulence Functions of Francisella tularensis Hypothetical Proteins”
Zoom Link: https://wayneedu.zoom.us/j/98106561595?pwd=VG9hUDkvU09aYWxsUURtQWlaVVBsUT09
Meeting ID: 981 0656 1595
Passcode: 341028
Host: Jillian Green jgreen@wayne.edu and BMI Students
• IDP for STEM: Tuesday, October 19, 2021, at 3:00 PM until 4:00 PM - Virtual event:
The individual development plan (IDP) is a highly important tool to help you plan your future. It also helps bring you and your mentor together on your current needs, future endeavors, and to help you organize your plan of attack. This session is targeted toward STEM trainees. A non-STEM version of this event will be offered in the Winter 2022 semester.
Registration: https://gradslate.wayne.edu/register/pds-idpstem
• Welcome to Grad School: Tuesday, October 26, 2021, at 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM
Just starting your stint in graduate school? Hear from Graduate School Dean Dr. Amanda Bryant-Friedrich who will provide an overview of services and share what you can expect as a master's or Ph.D. student. You will also hear presentations from the Academic Success Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, Career Services, and Campus Health Center.
Registration: https://gradslate.wayne.edu/register/pds-welcome
Dr. Yi-chi M. Kong’s Scientific Career:
Dr. Yi-chi Kong, a faculty member in the Department of Immunology/Microbiology for 47 years, passed away on October 3. She received a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Wellesley College in 1955, and a doctoral degree in Immunology/Microbiology from the University of Michigan in 1961. She conducted research at the Naval Biological Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley for 6 years, then joined Wayne State University as Assistant Professor in 1966, rising to the rank of Professor in 1977, and retiring as Professor Emerita in 2014. Her early research interests focused on mechanisms of tolerance to the tuberculosis vaccine BCG and to thyroglobulin. Her subsequent major contributions, in the areas of genetic, suppressor, immune and pathogenic mechanisms and immunotherapeutics in autoimmune thyroid disease, are widely recognized nationally and internationally. Her most recent contributions were related to cancer immunotherapy. Dr. Kong published over 100 scientific papers, 38 chapters/reviews and many abstracts, and presented numerous national and international talks. Over her career, she consistently maintained NIH, national and foundation funding.
Dr. Kong had a long record of service to the scientific community and Wayne State University. She reviewed grants on numerous study sections for the National Institutes of Health, and served on editorial boards for several immunology journals. In 1980 and 1981, she received sabbatical awards to conduct research at the Institut Pasteur in Paris; in 1988 she received a Fogarty Senior International Fellowship to the University of Cambridge. She was active in the Detroit Immunological Society, serving twice as its president. At Wayne State University, Dr. Kong contributed enthusiastically to teaching and committees in the department of Immunology/Microbiology. She was very active in faculty affairs in the School of Medicine, including a term as President of the Faculty Senate from 1998 – 1999. She was subsequently chair of the dean’s Budget Advisory Committee. Among her many awards, she was recognized as a Distinguished Faculty Fellow in 1992 and received the Lawrence M. Weiner Award in 1998 for outstanding contributions of a non-alumni. She was a beloved colleague of many faculty members, and an exceptional mentor to faculty, postdoctoral trainees and graduate students in the School of Medicine. In her own laboratory, she trained 24 postdoctoral fellows and 10 doctoral students. Collaboration with Yi-chi was always a growing process. Her scientific depth and appreciation of different perspectives enabled the frankest discussion, such that thoughtful study designs emerged.
Drs. Joyce Benjamins, Judith Whittum-Hudson, and Wei-Zen Wei
October, 2021
Return to Campus:
• Important Reminder: Wayne State University is requiring that all students, faculty, and staff who intend to be on campus for any day during the fall and/or winter semesters receive a flu shot by Oct. 20, 2021 (link to details).
Proof of vaccination may be submitted online. Individuals may also apply online for a waiver of the requirement (PDF) based on legitimate health or religious reasons. These requests will be reviewed by the Campus Health Committee.
Members of the Wayne State community can receive their flu shot from the Campus Health Center (CHC) at no out-of-pocket cost. If their insurance does not cover the flu shot or if they are uninsured, they will not receive a bill.
• Message from Office of President Wilson: Welcome back to campus. A number of resources with contact numbers to support, guide and assist you while on campus. https://i.wayne.edu/view/6139026798d32?utm_source=link&utm_medium=email-6139026798d32&utm_campaign=Welcome+to+a+new+academic+year&utm_content=Read+this+email+on+the+Web and additional resources https://wayne.edu/safety
• For Latest Updates and Information: Warrior Safe is Warrior Strong - School of Medicine - Wayne State University
• Coronavirus campus updates: https://wayne.edu/coronavirus/messages
• Everyone must complete the Campus Daily Screener Campus Daily Screener - Wayne State University before coming to campus. All visitors and guests must complete the Guest Campus Screener Guest Campus Screener - Wayne State University.
◦ Masks are required indoors for all individuals. Click link for full information: https://outlook.office.com/mail/deeplink?popoutv2=1&version=2021072701.02
• Campus Health Center (CHC) – The COVID-19 Vaccine:
The COVID-19 Vaccine - Campus Health Center (wayne.edu)
• Information on the COVID-19 Vaccines: Vaccines for COVID-19 | CDC
• To schedule a vaccine appointment, click on link: https://health.wayne.edu/covid-vaccine-appointment/