News From The Basic Sciences

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CAS - Basic Sciences - Internal E-Newsletter [Vanderbilt University]

April 2018

Notable Events!

An Exceptional Honor
We are proud to announce that Kathy Gould, Professor of Cell & Developmental Biology and Associate Dean for Biomedical Sciences, has been awarded the Vanderbilt SEC Faculty Achievement Award for 2018. This award honors those with outstanding records in teaching and research who serve as role models for junior faculty and students. Heartfelt congratulations!

A Deserved Promotion
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Craig Lindsley from Professor of Pharmacology to University Professor of Pharmacology and University Professor of Biochemistry in the School of Medicine and University Professor of Chemistry in the College of Arts and Science. The title University Professor is given to faculty members who are exceptional scholars and teachers and whose work extends beyond traditional academic fields and disciplinary lines. University Professors hold primary appointments in at least two schools of the university, with all of the privileges and responsibilities of those appointments. Craig’s appointment acknowledges his extraordinary contributions to medicinal and synthetic chemistry, biochemistry, and neuropharmacology. Warmest congratulations!

Ancora Innovation to Promote Basic Research
Deerfield Management has joined with Vanderbilt to launch Ancora Innovation, LLC, a new company that will support Vanderbilt’s biomedical research with the intent of accelerating translation to the clinic. This new initiative will provide $65 million of funding from Deerfield to help move Vanderbilt discoveries through the development process. Learn more at the eI2-sponsored launch event Friday April 6 at 3:00 PM in 214 Light Hall.

Mini-Symposium Honors Larry Marnett and Ned Porter
In recognition of the 15th anniversary of the VICB, a Founders’ Celebration Mini-Symposium was held March 28th with guest speakers K.C. Nicolaou and Andrew Myers. The symposium honored co-founders Ned Porter and Larry Marnett for their important contributions to the establishment of the Institute. We look forward to the next 15 years! Photos

Welcome!
We are happy to welcome Lisa Monteggia to the position of Barlow Family Director of the Vanderbilt Brain Institute. She currently holds the Ginny and John Eulich Professorship in Neuroscience at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She will join Vanderbilt this summer.

Fesik Expands Partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim
Steve Fesik (Biochemistry) is launching a new partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim to discover and develop cancer therapies targeting MCL1. This is the third such partnership between the pharmaceutical giant and the Fesik lab. Congratulations!

VUSM Ranks in the Top Twenty
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine was rated 17th out of 177 eligible medical schools in the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Medical Schools for Research!

New Endowed Chairs
Congratulations to Basic Sciences secondary faculty members Björn Knollmann (Pharmacology) and Dan Roden (Pharmacology) who recently received endowed chairs!

Inaugural ArtLab Exhibition – a Huge Success
The first ArtLab exhibition, held at the Wond’ry on March 1-2 was a resounding, sold-out success. The ArtLab project, which aims to explore the intersection of Art and Science, opened a dialog between artists, scientists, educators, and supporters from across Vanderbilt and the surrounding Nashville community. Dr. Kendra Oliver, creator of ArtLab, hopes to find common ground in the creative approaches to art and science and leverage these shared experiences to foster future interdisciplinary projects. You can see a catalog of the works presented at ArtLab and learn more about the event in March. Stay tuned for upcoming events, including an Exhibition at the Curb Center focused on STEAM education in Fall 2018 and an Exhibition on the Art of Microscopy in Spring 2019.

The Path to Science Has More Than Two Routes
Lorena Infante Lara, biochemistry Ph.D. candidate in the Osheroff lab, is a featured writer in the Winter 2018 issue of Vanderbilt Magazine. She is combining her two professional loves, science and communication, to pursue a career as a mass-media science communicator.

And the Lucky Winner IS…
Congratulations to Vickers lab postdoc Ryan M. Allen, for winning the 2018 Vandy Basic Sciences NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Bracket contest! Ryan correctly picked Villanova to defeat Michigan in the final, just barely edging out Winder lab graduate student Tracy Fetterly, who also got the final right. Commenting on how he ended up on top of the nearly 70 Vanderbilt participants in this challenge, Ryan modestly declared “No secret to success, just guessing.” Electron Microscopy Facility manager Scott Collier placed 3rd. Thanks to all who participated!

 

New Discoveries

Key to Long QT Syndrome

New research from Chuck Sanders and his laboratory reveals how mutations in the KCNQ1 potassium channel can lead to long QT syndrome and dangerous heart arrhythmias.

Viewing Infection in Three Dimensions

A new study from the labs of James Cassat, Eric Skaar, and Richard Caprioli combines MRI, mass spectrometry, and bioluminescence to obtain three-dimensional images of infections in mice.

Role of Cholesterol in the Response to Graphene

Qi Zhang and his lab show that graphene promotes increased membrane cholesterol levels leading to changes in neuronal excitability and cellular signaling.

Sulfur-Iron Link to Anemia

A recent paper from John York and his laboratory reveals a new link between iron metabolism and the pathway by which sulfur is incorporated into biological compounds, a finding that may provide a key to some cases of iron-deficiency anemia.

Exercise and Energy Balance

In a new report, Daniel Lark (Wasserman lab) shows how voluntary exercise leads to reduced nonexercise-related activity, thereby modulating overall energy balance in mice.

Stem Cell Maintenance

Research from Andrea Page-McCaw and her laboratory defines cell populations required to maintain stem cells in fruit fly ovaries.

Improving Protein ID in Imaging MS

Jeffrey Spraggins and colleagues at the Mass Spectrometry Research Center report a new faster and more efficient way to identify proteins discovered by imaging mass spectrometry of intact tissue slices.

Regulation of Somatostatin Secretion in the Pancreatic Islets

New findings from David Jacobson and his laboratory define the role of the TALK-1 potassium channel in modulating somatostatin secretion by the delta cells of the Islets of Langerhans and the downstream effects of this modulation on insulin and glucagon secretion.

Trying to Preserve Vision in Early Glaucoma

A new report from David Calkins and his laboratory (along with some nice press coverage in ScienceDaily) outlines axon-mediated changes in retinal ganglion cell excitability that attempt to preserve vision in the early stages of glaucoma.

Focus on Alpha Cells in Type-1 Diabetes

New findings from Alvin Powers and Marcela Brissova demonstrate abnormalities in the function of glucagon-secreting alpha cells in the Islets of Langerhans of patients with type 1 diabetes, indicating that therapies targeting alpha cells could improve outcomes.

 

External Funding Opportunities

Breast Cancer Alliance Exceptional Project Grants
The Breast Cancer Alliance offers one year grants of $100,000 to clinicians and research scientists pursuing creative, unique, and innovative research in breast cancer. Letters of Intent are required and are due April 6. Full applications will be due July 20.

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Ben Barres Early Career Acceleration Awards
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Neurodegeneration Challenge Network offers grants of up to $500,000 per year for five years to support research in neurodegenerative diseases conducted by academic researchers at an early stage in their career. Applications are due April 17.

Breast Cancer Alliance Young Investigator Grants
The Breast Cancer Alliance offers two-year grants of $125,000 total to clinicians and research scientists at an early stage in their career who are pursuing research in breast cancer. Applications are due July 20.

 

Limited Submission Opportunities

William T. Grant Foundation Scholars Award
Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center can collectively submit one nominee per major school/division for the William T. Grant Foundation Scholars Program, which provides grants of up to $350,000 over five years in support of research focusing on programs to reduce inequality in youth outcomes or strategies to improve the use of research evidence to benefit youth. Applications to be the Vanderbilt nominee are due April 12.

Phi Beta Psi Charity Trust Cancer Research Grant
Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center can collectively submit two proposals for the Phi Beta Psi Charity Trust Cancer Research Grant program which provides grants of $40,000 to $60,000 per year for up to two years to support research on brain, breast, colorectal, endometrial, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, gastrointestinal, or prostate cancer. Preference is given to young investigators. Applications to be the Vanderbilt nominee are due April 19.

Brain Research Foundation Scientific Innovations Award
Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center can collectively submit one letter of intent for a Brain Research Foundation Scientific Innovation Award, which provides grants of $150,000 over a period of two years to support research that is too speculative or innovative to receive funding from conventional sources but has a high likelihood of yielding results. This program is targeted to senior investigators. Applications to be the Vanderbilt nominee are due April 19.

 

Internal Funding Opportunities

Basic Sciences Bridge Funding
Primary Basic Sciences faculty are encouraged to take advantage of the Bridge Funding Program mechanism to help them either maintain project momentum during temporary lapses of funding or to scientifically realign projects to embrace new directions. Applications for the next round of Bridge Funding must be submitted no later than May 15.

 

All Faculty, Postdocs, and Students are Encouraged to:

VOTE!
The Tennessee state primary election will be held August 2. If you are eligible to vote but have not registered, don’t delay. Get the necessary information and do it now. The deadline is 30 days before the election. Note that you do not have to be a member of a political party to vote in the primary in Tennessee.

Get an ORCID Account!
Faculty, postdocs, and students are encouraged to apply for an ORCID account/number. This is actually required for submission of manuscripts to some journals.

Get a Google Scholar Account!
Faculty are encouraged to consider setting up a Google Scholar account, which does a remarkably good job of tabulating and continually updating faculty publication lists and metrics, such as the H-factor.

Acknowledge the Cores!
Faculty, postdocs, and students are reminded that when they write a paper, it is important to cite not only the related research grants, training grants, and fellowships that support the project team, but also any grant-supported VU and VUMC core facilities that were employed in the course of the work. This is essential because it is required by the NIH, and it will help the Core facilities secure future funding.  If you have any questions about how to cite Core support, just contact the director of that Core for wording and relevant grant numbers to cite.

Commence!
All faculty are encouraged to participate in Commencement, which will take place May 11. Please use this link to indicate if you plan to attend and to order regalia, which must be done by April 6. Questions may be directed to Christine Markferding.

 

Announcements

Barista Web Migration to WordPress
Basic Sciences Barista and OHSE websites are moving into the University’s centralized WordPress system, beginning with laboratory sites. Your current lab site will be migrating to a “labs.vanderbilt.edu” address sometime in April, and you will be notified of the exact date in advance. Basic Sciences departmental websites and core websites will be migrated to WordPress at a later date. Those who are not currently on the Barista platform will not be affected. The Digital Strategies and Development team will offer a class on how to use WordPress to maintain your sites on Friday, April 20th at 10:00 am in Loews Vanderbilt Plaza Suite 1100. We encourage as many people as possible to find time to attend this session, as we’ll be covering topics specific to the labs transition. However, if schedules do not permit attendance, individuals may book a regular 30-minute Open Office Hours slot. In addition, there will be online training offered beginning sometime in May. If you have questions, please contact the Digital Strategies by e-mail at www.vanderbilt.edu, or contact Stephen Doster.

The Vanderbilt Cryopreserved Mouse Repository (VCMR)
The Center for Stem Cell Biology is pleased to announce the creation of the Vanderbilt Cryopreserved Mouse Repository (VCMR). We are currently accepting applications from all VU/VUMC investigators to have their cryopreserved lines become part of the VCMR. The lines must be of potential ongoing scientific value, not already present in other repositories, accurately named, and any new genetic component must function as described. Contributing your mice to the VCMR will save you money and assure compliance with NIH Sharing Policies. VMCR submission and release forms, a current list of available lines and further information are all available online. Or, you can contact VCMR by email.

Crystallography Workshop
The Molecular Biophysics Training program is planning to offer a crystallography workshop over the summer to teach participants the fundamentals of determining a straightforward crystal structure. A particularly interesting aspect of the workshop is that unknown targets will be used, so the training effort can lead to a novel publication. For more information, check out the overview and syllabus, or contact Tina Iverson (Pharmacology).

NIH Request for Information on Changes to Animal Research Requirements
The NIH is inviting researchers to comment on proposals to reduce the regulatory burden regarding the use of laboratory animals. For more information, check out the RFI. Responses are due June 12.

Get Help with International Issues from Export Control
The Export Compliance Office can help with legal issues if you hire or host foreign nationals, travel abroad on business, ship items internationally, or perform similar types of activities while on government funding.

Events

Upcoming eI2 Seminars
Don’t miss this chance to learn about Ancora Innovation, the new company established by Deerfield Management to support Vanderbilt’s innovative life science research and accelerate translation to the clinic. Alan Bentley, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Technology Transfer and Enterprise Development will join with a Deerfield Management team to provide the details on Friday April 6 at 3:00 PM in 214 Light Hall.

Dave Weaver (Associate Professor of Pharmacology) and Co-founder of Wavefront Biosciences will present the final lecture of the spring series on May 4 at 3:00 PM in 214 Light Hall. Title to be announced.

Vanderbilt Brain Institute Brain Awareness Event
The VBI is hosting its annual Brain Awareness event with lectures and courses continuing until April 12th.

VI4 Research Symposium
The Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation Annual Symposium will be held April 5th at the Student Life Center.

Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association Symposium
The 12th annual Postdoctoral Association Symposium will be held April 12 at the Student Life Center.

WordPress Training
The Digital Strategies and Development team will be offering a class on how to use WordPress to maintain Basic Sciences websites on Friday, April 20th at 10:00 AM in Loews Vanderbilt Plaza Suite 1100.

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Annual Scientific Retreat
The VICC annual retreat, to be held on May 3, will focus on the microbiome and cancer. Register and/or submit an abstract by April 27.

National Medicinal Chemistry Symposium
The VCNDD and VICB will co-host the 36th ACS National Medicinal Chemistry Meeting in Nashville, April 29 – May 2, 2018. The corporate co-sponsor is Eli Lilly, and Craig Lindsley will serve as chair. Save the date for this exciting local event!

Cell Dynamics Symposium
The Department of Cell and Developmental Biology will host its second Cell Dynamics Symposium on May 24 to 25. Speakers of note will include Eric Wieschaus (Princeton), Kevin Eggan (Harvard), Wendell Lim (UCSF), Jody Nunnary (UCSD), Jody Rosenblatt (U. of Utah). Register to attend or submit an abstract by May 11. Sign up!

Vanderbilt Giving Day
Vanderbilt Giving Day will be held June 5. Please plan to take this wonderful opportunity to support the Basic Sciences!

Catch Up On VU Basic Science News!

We regularly update our website with some of the latest VU Basic Sciences news stories. This is also where we post “Discoveries” – the latest published research by Basic Sciences faculty.

Faculty & Facility Profiles

During the year we will profile different faculty members and facilities as part of a video series. You can view those videos here.

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Send Us Your News

Got a suggestion for a VU Basic Sciences newsletter item? Do you have an announcement or an upcoming event you want to share with the Basic Sciences community? Let us know! E-mail:
stephen.m.doster@ vanderbilt.edu

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