Posted on November 19, 2018
“Delivery of mRNA to platelets using lipid nanoparticles”, by Stefanie Novakowski, PhD Candidate, Kastrup Lab.
Platelets are small, anucleate cells that circulate in the blood stream and mediate hemostasis, inflammation, and angiogenesis. Platelet transfusions are used to treat active bleeding as well as to prevent bleeding during thrombocytopenia or prior to surgery. A method for genetically modifying platelets might enhance their efficacy and lead to new therapeutic uses for platelets. As platelets are anucleate, directly modifying platelets requires messenger RNA (mRNA). Attempts to transfect platelets with mRNA have not been successful. To determine whether lipid-based materials could be used as mRNA transfection agents for platelets, the ability of four different classes of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver mRNA to platelets under various storage conditions was compared, and activation of platelets was quantified. Finally, the ability of platelets to translate and release the mRNA was assessed. Two approaches were taken for mRNA delivery. In one approach, mRNA was synthesized inside of liposomes, indicating proteins, DNA, and small molecules can be delivered to platelets using LNPs. In the second approach, in vitro transcribed mRNA was directly delivered to platelets using icLNPs and cLNPs, and mRNA delivered to platelets using cLNPs was released in microparticles. These were the first examples of direct delivery of mRNA to platelets, and the first step towards creating genetically modified platelets. While protein synthesis in LNP-treated platelets was not detected, optimizing the LNP formulations used here may lead to a transfection agent for platelets that allows for de novo synthesis of exogenous proteins in the future.
Monday, December 10th, 2018, 3:00 pm, LSC#3, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, UBC
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Posted on November 19, 2018
“Physiological Amyloid Aggregation: A Novel Stress Response Pathway”, by Timothy Audas, Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Canada Research Chair-Tier 2: Functional RNA and Cellular Stress, Simon Fraser University
Exposure to harsh environmental conditions requires the widespread re-programming of molecular networks to maintain homeostasis and ensure cell viability. My lab studies a novel post-translational program, which responds to common stressors (i.e., extracellular acidosis, heat shock, and proteotoxic stress) by inducing the macromolecular formation of subnuclear aggregates. Interestingly, these structures possess the same amyloid-like characteristics as neurodegenerative plaques, suggesting that a better understanding of this stress-induced aggregation may shed light on the pathological events associated with common neurological disorders (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and prion-based diseases). Here, I will discuss our work mapping the proteomic composition of these foci and uncovering the molecular mechanisms associated with this form of physiological amyloid aggregation.
Monday, November 26th, 2018 at 3:00 pm, LSC#3, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, UBC
Host Dr. Cristian Kastrup
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Posted on November 19, 2018
“Casting Light on Metabolic Dark Matter: Functional Gene Annotation using untargeted Metabolomics”, by Robert Sander Jansen, PhD candidate for a Faculty Position in Department of Biochemistry and BCCHRI.
Robert Jansen studies the function of uncharacterized proteins using untargeted metabolomics. He obtained his PhD from Utrecht University, where he developed quantitative LC-MS/MS methods for the detection of therapeutic nucleotide analogs in white blood cells. During postdoctoral research at the Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam, he applied untargeted LC-MS metabolomics to discover the endogenous substrates and physiological functions of human ABC-transporters. Currently at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, he focusses on essential proteins of unknown function in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis.
Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at 10:30 am
LSI, Room 1416, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, UBC
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Posted on November 2, 2018
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Posted on October 26, 2018
“ADDUCT – Accelerated Drug Discovery Using Clinical Translation”, Artem Cherkasov, Senior Research Scientist, Vancouver Prostate Centre Professor, Department of Urologic Sciences
Monday, November 5, 2018 at 3:00 pm, LSC #3
2350 Health Sciences Mall, UBC
Host Dr. Natalie Strynadka
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Posted on October 15, 2018
“Maintenance of Transcriptional States”, LeAnn Howe, Biochemistry, UBC.
Monday, October 15th, 2018 @3:00 pm, LSC #3
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Posted on October 9, 2018
Dr. Michael John Page
The Michael John Page Postdoctoral Award, established in 2013, honours the memory of UBC alumnus, Dr. Michael John Page. This award recognizes a postdoctoral fellow who reflects. Dr. Page’s academic excellence and his passion for life.
Dr. Jennifer Grants
Dr. Jennifer Grants a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Karsan’s lab, BC Cancer Agency & CBR will received the 2018 Mike Page Award. Join Jennifer as she presents: “Loss of miR-146a links inflammation, aging, and myeloid malignancy”, on Wednesday, October 17, 2018 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm.
LSC#3 – Life Science Centre
2350 Health Sciences Mall
Photos from MJP award ceremony,here.
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Posted on October 9, 2018
Gairdner Symposium, UBC 2018: Christopher J.L. Murray and Azim Surani
Monday, October 22, 2018 at 3:30 to 6:00 pm
Life Sciences Centre, LSC #2
2350 Health Sciences Mall, UBC
Hosted by Dr. Michael Hayden, Centre of Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, UBC
Dr. Christopher J. L. Murray
2018 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award Recipient
Director, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington
Christopher Murray, MD, DPhil, is a researcher in global and public health at the University of Washington and is the institute director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). Beginning in 1990, he has worked on ways to measure the burden of disease and disability around the globe. The aim of these efforts, is to provide data for policy makers around the world to allocate healthcare resources. This year he has been awarded the 2018 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award, for his ground-breaking work.
Prof. Azim Surani
2018 Canada Gairdner International Award Recipient
Director of Germline and Epigenetics Research, University of Cambridge
Professor Azim Surani, PhD, FMedSci, FRS, is a developmental biologist who has been Marshall–Walton Professor at the Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Instituteat the University of Cambridge since 1992, and Director of Germline and Epigenomics Research since 2013. This year he has been awarded the 2018 Canada Gairdner International Award for the discovery of mammalian genomic imprinting that causes parent-of-origin specific gene expression and its consequences for development and disease, along side Dr. Davor Solter.
https://gairdner.org/winners/index-of-winners/
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Posted on September 12, 2018
“Humanizing CNS Drug Discovery Using Patient-Specific Stem Cell Models”, by Stephen Haggarty, Associate Professor, Department of Neurology & Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School.
Monday, September 24th, 2018 at 3:00 pm, LSC #3.
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Posted on September 12, 2018
“Development of method for study of membrane proteins in the absence of detergents”, by Michael Carlson, PhD Candidate, Duong Lab.
Monday, September 17th, 2018 at 3:00 pm, LSC #3
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