The knowledge could help steer scientists toward more promising approaches.

UConn Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology David Goldhamer, Alexion Pharmaceuticals researcher Jeffrey Hunter, and colleagues worked for years to discover a potential antibody therapy for FOP using accurate genetic mouse models of the disease developed by the two groups. The idea was that the antibody would block the mutant receptor and prevent the responsible stem cells from making new bone. But the results were exactly the opposite.

See story in UConn Today 

Open to undergraduate students from all of the University's schools and colleges, the University Scholar Program allows students to design and pursue an in-depth research or creative project and to craft a learning plan that supports their interests and academic goals during their final three semesters. Each student is mentored by an advisory committee of three faculty.

Roshni Mehta has been awarded the 2022 Excellence in Applied Genetics and Technology Award. Each year UConn's Center for Applied Genetics and Technology of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences sponsors the award that is given to an outstanding graduating senior who has conducted original research in applied genetics/genomics using an innovative technology or conducting research applied to a broadly defined problem of interest to society.  

Who Let the DoGs Out? An Analysis of RNA Transcription Readthrough and Termination
Roshni Mehta, Leighton J. Core, Luke Wojenski

Congratulations Roshni!

Lauren Daddi has been awarded the 2022 MCB Outstanding Senior Award. The Outstanding Senior in MCB Award is awarded to a MCB or Biological Sciences major who has demonstrated exceptional academic and research accomplishment within the MCB department during her or his undergraduate career.

Identification of ciprofloxacin resistance factors via in vivo evolution of Aeromonas veronii in the medicinal leech
Lauren Daddi, Joerg Graf

Congratulations, Lauren!

Congratulations to Shell Chen (Stacey Hanlon lab), Hamza Kasanga (Jonathan Klassen lab), and Harpreet Kaur (Charlie Giardina lab)

The Judith A. and David C. Kelly Summer MCB Research Fellowship program will support these three rising senior MCB majors in their research activities in an MCB Faculty laboratory during the summer of 2022.

Congratulations to the following MCB Undergrads that have been awarded Spring 2022 UConn IDEA Grant Recipients!

Ananya Aggarwal ’24, Molecular and Cell Biology, CLAS Synthesizing Cisplatin Loaded Nanoparticles for the Intraperitoneal Treatment of Ovarian Cancer

Nour Al Zouabi ’23, Molecular and Cell Biology & IMJR: Rights, Health, and Refugees, CLAS Refugees’ Post-Resettlement Barriers to Accessing Healthcare Services in the Northeastern  United States During COVID-19

Alexandra Goldhamer ’23, Molecular and Cell Biology & Human Rights, CLAS The Attenuation of Diet-Induced Obesity Through Locus Coeruleus Chemoactivation

The UConn IDEA Grant program awards funding to support self-designed projects including artistic endeavors, community service initiatives, research projects, prototyping and entrepreneurial ventures, and other creative and innovative projects in the 2022-23 academic year.

Congratulations to
Leighton Core, promotion to Associate Professor
Thomas Abbott, promotion to Associate Professor In-Residence
David Daggett, promotion to Associate Professor In-Residence
Patricia Rossi, promotion to Associate Professor In-Residence

Evaluations for promotion, tenure, and reappointment apply the highest standards of professional achievement in scholarship, teaching, and service for each faculty member evaluated.