David Knecht Retirement

May 16, 2023

The recent retirement of Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology David Knecht might suggest the end of an era in MCB. David joined our department in 1987 after undergraduate studies and a major in chemistry at Oberlin College, doctoral work in cell biology at the University of Wisconsin/Madison, and postdoctoral work on the molecular and cell biology of development at the University of California/San Diego. He has been an active and extremely vocal member of the department for the entirety of the ensuing 35 years. During that time, he made seminal contributions to both the immediate departmental environment, the University at large and the wider scientific community. He has provided a constant source of expertise in microscopy, molecular biology and developmental biology, has served as Co-head of the Flow Cytometry and Confocal microscopy Facilities in the Biotechnology Center, headed the Cell and Developmental Biology Area of concentration, and led the departmental Courses and Curriculum Committee, to name but a few of his contributions. His scholarly productivity has been quite high, with significant grant support over the decades from NIH, ACS, and NSF, and his work has resulted in nearly 100 scientific publications and a patent. David’s overall role in the UCONN scientific community was recognized in 2019 with the UConn CLAS Faculty Research Excellence Award in the Life and Behavioral Sciences. Despite his well-known penchant for asking the “hard questions”, David has been a sought-after mentor and graduate committee member, both for his own research in the molecular mechanisms of cell motility, and for his legendary expertise in many different forms of high-end microscopy. This role as mentor has been recognized by the University with the 2022 Marth Award, which celebrates a faculty member for outstanding leadership and dedication to excellence in mentoring graduate students.

As an invaluable colleague and collaborator who was always willing to share his expertise, engage in vigorous debate on the relative merits of a scientific approach, the interpretation of novel data, or just about anything else, he will be missed in the everyday rush of MCB activities. But he no doubt will be equally busy as he steps into his new role as Rear Commodore for Racing at the Thames Yacht Club, and we expect that he will continue the tradition of excellence and community that he has fostered within MCB.

MCB Student Among Nine UConn Students Named to Fulbright US Student Program

May 10, 2023

Stephanie Schofield ’23 (CLAS) earned her UConn undergraduate degree in molecular and cell biology with a minor in psychological sciences. She will perform research in Heidelberg, Germany, and work with Magdalena Laugsch of the Heidelberg Institute for Human Genetics. She and Laugsch will study the genetics behind hereditary neurodevelopmental disorders, with a focus on early embryonic human neural crest cell development. Schofield is planning to pursue a career in genetic counseling. See full article in UConn Today

GO:MCB New Officers Announced

May 4, 2023

Three MCB Students Win Undergraduate Research Symposium Awards

May 3, 2023

Three MCB undergraduates who were selected to give talks at the All Biology Undergraduate Research Symposium last week have been selected by the panel of judges to receive an award. Teresa Tamborra-Walton has received the Outstanding Senior in MCB Award, Rayna Esch has received the Excellence in System Genomics Award, and Taylor Domingue has received the Biology Directors Award.

They will have the opportunity to receive their awards in person at the All Biology Undergraduate Commencement Reception, which will take place on Sunday, May 7^th in the BPB lobby from 3:30-5:00 PM.

Congratulations to Teresa, Rayna, and Taylor for their fantastic accomplishments!

2023 Khairallah Symposium

April 12, 2023

"Uncovering Vulnerabilities in Genetic Subtypes of Lung Cancer"

KRAS mutant lung adenocarcinoma is the most lethal type of lung cancer and is associated with high degree of genetic heterogeneity. KRAS co-mutations can promote tumorigenesis and therapy resistance. Using KRAS-driven genetically engineered lung cancer mouse models and patient samples we have identified mechanisms by which LKB1 and KEAP1 mutations accelerate tumor growth by rewiring cancer cell metabolism and reshaping the immune microenvironment. We have identified novel therapeutic approaches to both suppress the tumor metabolism and reverse the immunosuppressive microenvironment these genetic subsets of KRAS-driven lung cancer.

About Dr. Papagiannakopoulos:
Thales Papagiannakopoulos obtained his Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology in Dr. Ken Kosik’s lab at UC Santa Barbara (2005-2010). His research focused on uncovering the role of microRNAs in regulating embryonic stem cell pluripotency and cancer. In 2010, he started his postdoctoral studies in Dr. Tyler Jacks’ laboratory at MIT where he studied the molecular mechanisms that contribute to cancer at an organismal level, using autochthonous mouse models of cancer. He pioneered the use of novel CRISPR/Cas9-based somatic genome engineering in lung cancer genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs). In 2015, Thales joined NYU School of Medicine as an assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology. Using CRISPR/Cas9-based genome engineering in both mouse and human pre-clinical models, his lab has developed a platform to rapidly characterize the function of clinically relevant lung cancer mutations, elucidate their mechanism of action and identify novel targeted therapies against complex genetic subtypes of lung cancer. Thales’ group has made significant progress in characterizing a major genetic subset of lung adenocarcinoma with KEAP1 and/or LKB1 mutations. Patients with these mutations have the worst prognosis of all lung cancer patients and do not respond well to standard of care chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy.

Nrf2 Activation Promotes Lung Cancer Metastasis by Inhibiting the Degradation of Bach1

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867419306312

To learn more about Dr. Papagiannakopoulos, visit his website at http://thalesplab.com

The symposium is named in honor of late UConn faculty members Ed and Lamia Khairallah and funded by the Dr. Edward A. Khairallah and Dr. Lamia H. Khairallah Fund for Scholarship. This fund is dedicated to the financial support of graduate students who are pursuing a degree with a concentration in Biochemistry, Cell Biology or Toxicology, and the continuing education of faculty and student colleagues via the ongoing “Khairallah Seminar Series.”