inside Letter from the Chair A warm welcome and updates from our Department Chair, Dr. Nancy Kanagy Accomplishments, Announcements & Highlights From faculty, staff, postdocs and students Awards, abstracts, presentations, publications and new grants
Fall 2024 Cell Biology and Physiology Newsletter Volume 4 Issue 3
Welcome to the Cell Biology and Physiology Newsletter AT The University of New Mexico School of Medicine
As we move into a new academic year at UNM, the Cell Biology & Physiology Department is also having some fresh starts! We are welcoming the start of Monica Long (PhD student) and Ashley Amdor (laboratory technician) in Dr. Gardiner’s laboratory, Xavier DeLeon (PhD student) in Dr. Jernigan’s laboratory, and Assistant Professor Daniel Machin and his student Mostafa Sabori who joined the Vascular Physiology group August 1. In the office we are getting to know the new Department Administrator, Audrea Winslow and saying goodbye to our department Admin Assistant, Luis Vasquez Porras. It is good to have new faces in the department to continue to grow our research and education missions and sad to see friends moving on to new opportunities although we wish them every success in their new adventures. We look forward to officially welcoming these new department members at a department picnic next month and at a department retreat this fall. We anticipate good food, good fellowship and maybe a few team building games! The Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program is also welcoming a new group of PhD students who are busy now in classes and research rotations. We are looking forward to getting to know these students as they move through our laboratories and courses. Our faculty have been busy with their research and teaching endeavors and there are at least 11 new manuscripts from department faculty and associates which you can find here. Let your colleagues know what you think of their ongoing research endeavors! https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/myncbi/nancy.kanagy.1/collections/64403470/public/ There are many more activities, accomplishments and endeavors covered in the following pages thanks to our hardworking and creative Newsletter Editor, our soon-departing friend and colleague, Luis F Vasquez Porras. Please enjoy this snapshot of the department and let Luis and Audrea (who will be temporarily taking over the newsletter) know if you appreciate his work and other things you would like to see to make this newsletter even more informative and fun to read. I hope all of you spend some time with friends and family enjoying the lovely weather and the vibrant atmosphere of our state and our department this summer. Perhaps we will see you at the Albuquerque International Balloon fiesta this October. __ Nancy Kanagy, PhD., Professor and Department Chair
Letter from the Chair
Accomplishments, announcements & Highlights
Dr. Arun Ganesan's Lab
We are delighted to announce that Dr. Ganesan's lab has successfully completed its first year in the department! We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the present and past lab members, department members, and collaborators for their unwavering support and contributions throughout this journey. Dr. Ganesan is currently guest editing a special issue titled "The Epigenetic Roles of lncRNAs" in the esteemed Genes Journal with Dr. Singh (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/genes/special_issues/7FA6172YZG). This special issue, which is set to be a comprehensive exploration of the diverse functions of lncRNAs in epigenetic regulation, including chromatin organization, imprinting, gene expression regulation, combination biomarkers, and more, is a source of great excitement. We eagerly anticipate the valuable insights that will be presented through this collection of research articles. We want to acknowledge the remarkable achievements of Rabiya Kamran, a UPN undergraduate summer research student from NM State University in Dr. Ganesan's lab. Rabiya completed her summer project and presented her work as a poster at the UPN Research Symposium on August 2. Rabiya's research findings have uncovered a significant discovery - the overexpression of specific oncogenic lncRNAs in colon cancer cells when exposed to environmental toxins, such as heavy metals like chromium. This work has important implications for understanding the impact of environmental factors on the regulation of lncRNAs and epigenetics in cancer.
Dr. Sara Piccirillo has been invited to deliver a keynote lecture at the 5th Annual Neuro-Oncology Symposium that will be held in Karachi, Pakistan on September 21-22 2024. The symposium is organized by the Pakistan Society of Neuro-Oncology in collaboration with the Section of Neurosurgery, Aga Khan University, the Pakistan Academy of Neurological Surgery and the Brain Tumor Foundation of Pakistan. The focus of the symposium will be scientific updates in neuro-oncology, including surgical techniques, neuroimaging, radiation, and systemic therapies, along with basic science and translational research that have improved clinical outcomes. There will be international experts speaking at the symposium in scientific sessions which include the keynote lecture I will give. I am attaching the poster of the invite.
Dr. Sara Piccirilo's Lab
Dr. Gurdeep Singh's Lab
Dr. Sherry Roges is retiring fulltime from her 0.25 effort at the end of August The ASERT-IRACDA grant that Angela Ness was PI on and Sherry is the Education Director for, was renewed with Dr. Diana Lidke and Dr. Rebecca Hartley as MPIs.
Megan Tuineau was honored with the prestigious NIH F31 predoctoral fellowship, a testament to her dedication and hard work. Additionally, she achieved a significant milestone by publishing her first-author journal article, " https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/ajplung.00083.2024 " in the American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology. Megan also had the opportunity to showcase her research with an invited oral presentation at the FASEB Science Research Conferences, Vasoregulation: Signaling and Multicellular Inputs, further highlighting her recognition and contributions to the field.
Dr. Gurdeep Singh is teaching/co-chairing this course 'Practical Research Skills for Medical Students' which for the Medical Students. Rest I will teach the' Transcription' section in the 'Molecular Biology' course that is Amy Gardiner's course for BSGP students.
Dr. Nikki Jernigan's Lab
Sana Gul has completed her PhD in virology & immunology. Also has a Master’s degree in Biochemistry/ Molecular biology and extensive experience in Academics. Recently I joined Vascular physiology group (VPG) as Research Tec 3. Her focus will be learning new techniques in VPG and to understand the Autoimmunity and pulmonary vascular disease in pulmonary hypertension.
Xavier DeLeon, Graduate Research Assistant joined the lab in June as BSGP graduate student and works under Dr. Nikki L Jernigan
"It was great working with you—you have truly made a lasting impact on me, and one that has changed me for the better in many ways. I will miss you all very much!" "I will always be grateful to have worked with each and every one of you." "Although I'm excited for tomorrow, I also feel a sad today to say goodbye to such an amazing group of friends. Hasta pronto queridos amigos - Luis
Shristey Tamang. She is currently working in a Cell Biology & Physiology training program under Dr. Nikki L Jernigan. Her ultimate goal is to pursue an MD/PhD, driven by her passion for interdisciplinary research that bridges physiology, molecular biology, and cardiovascular medicine. Outside of school and work, she enjoys exercising, hiking, reading books, traveling, listening to music, and spending as much time with my family and friends as possible.
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