THINC News - 2020
THINC member identifies gene variants that modify risk of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease
December 7, 2020 - Dr. Olivier Lichtarge, Cullen Chair and Professor of Molecular and Human Genetics and THINC member, published a new study in which potential modifiers of late-onset alzheimer’s disease were identified. The gene variants that were identified may constitute novel biomarkers and provide potential therapeutic intervention avenues.
THINC’s THErapeutic TEAM MEMBERS PUBLISH IN CELL CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
October 22, 2020 - The THINC therapeutic team collaborated with fellow scientists at MIT and Kronos Bio to publish a paper describing the development of CDK9 inhibitors and their potential use a therapeutic strategy in prostate cancer.
Dr. Hoda Zoghbi named Citation Laureate by Web of SciencE
September 23, 2020 - Dr. Huda Zoghbi, director of the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital and THINC member, has been named a Citation Laureate for 2020 by Clarivate Web of Science. This designation recognizes world-class researchers whose work is among the most cited in journal publications, typically in the top 0.01 percent of researchers cited the most frequently.
SPORE GRANT RENEWAL AWARDED BY NCI
September 10, 2020 - Several THINC members including Drs. Matthew Ellis, Jeffrey Rosen, and Trey Westbrook recently collaborated on a SPORE submission that has been awarded to Baylor College of Medicine by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) is a program that has been funded by the National Cancer Institute since 1992. The renewal of the grant will make it one of the longest running grants of its kind.
thinc members awarded cprit grants for cancer research and prevention
August 20, 2020 - THINC members Drs. Rui Chen and Bingning Dong are among recipients awarded grants by the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) to support new cancer research and programs, core facilities, recruitment of new faculty and community outreach.
Dr. Hoda Zoghbi publishes study on ATXN1 regulation in Genes & Development
August 6, 2020 - Dr. Hoda Zoghbi and colleagues published their work on the regulation of ATXN1 levels in the neurodegenerative disease spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1). This study discovers novel genetic risk factors and potential therapeutic entry points for patients with neurodegenerative disorders.
DR. ERIC VAN NOSTRAND PUBLISHES IN NATURE!
July 29, 2020 - Congratulations to THINC’s newest faculty recruit, Dr. Eric Van Nostrand, and colleagues on their recent Nature paper titled, A large-scale binding and functional map of human RNA-binding proteins.
THINC members publish AR coreceptor complex structure in Molecular Cell
July 14, 2020 - THINC members, Dr. Zhoa Wang and Dr. Bert O’Malley, published the first complete 3-D structure of the active, full-length androgen receptor-coactivator complex as it interacts with DNA in Molecular Cell. This work supports further studies to determine the effect that drugs directed at the androgen receptor’s N-terminal domain have on prostate cancer growth.
THINC Member Dr. David Corry discusses immunity and vaccines amid COVID-19 pandemic
July 13, 2020 - Dr. David Corry, Professor of Medicine - Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology and THINC member, discusses how the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic impacts the immune system and the importance of vaccine development.
Dr. COURTNEY HODGES RECEIVEs R35 GRANT FROM NIGMS
July 1, 2020 - Dr. Courtney Hodges received an R35 award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, part of the NIH. This award will fund Hodges' research of SWI/SNF complexes in human disease.
Dr. Tom Cooper publishes findings in Human Molecular Genetics
May 15, 2020 - Dr. Tom Cooper and colleagues published their recent findings in Human Molecular Genetics. The study reveals that nuclear CELF1 functions plays a critical role in the skeletal muscle wasting seen in myotonic dystrophy type 1.
DR. MING ZHOU PUBLISHES COLLABORATIVE WORK IN the journal NATURE.
May 13, 2020 - Dr. Ming Zhou, THINC member and Ruth McLean Bowman Bowers Professor in Biochemistry, and collaborators at Princeton and Texas A&M University discovered the 3D structure and mode of action of diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase-1 (DGAT1), the enzyme that synthesizes triglycerides and also is required for human dietary fat absorption and storage. DGAT1 is a known target to treat obesity and other metabolic diseases, so this work opens opportunities for designing novel strategies for managing these conditions.
DR. HUDA ZOGHBI RECEIVES THE LUNDBECK FOUNDATION BRAIN PRIZE
May 1, 2020 - Dr. Zoghbi receives what is considered one of the world’s most prestigious prizes in brain research. She is being honored for her work in Rett syndrome that has led to a better understanding of the disorder and brought researchers closer to a treatment.
Dr. Eric Van Nostrand receives R00 grant from NHGRI
April 1, 2020 - Dr. Eric Van Nostrand received an R00 award from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) to fund his work to identify RNA processing regulators and regulatory networks genome-wide.
THINC members publish new insight into hormone therapy resistant breast cancer
March 5, 2020 - An international team of researchers led by Dr. Eric Chang and THINC members Dr. Matthew Ellis and Dr. Charles Foulds published new insights into the function of neurofibromin, a tumor suppressor produced by the NF1 gene, in Cancer Cell. This work reveals that neurofibromin directly represses gene expression controlled by the estrogen receptor-α (ER) and suggests a new therapeutic approach for patients with ER+ breast cancer.
The Van Nostrand Lab, THINC’s newest addition, opens!
March 1, 2020 - Dr. Eric Van Nostrand, CPRIT scholar and new THINC faculty member, has opened his lab at BCM. His group will utilize a mix of experimental and computational approaches to map RNA binding protein interaction networks and the regulatory roles of RBPs, in order to understand how RNA processing regulatory networks drive human physiology. Welcome! We look forward to working with you!
DR. MATTHEW ELLIS COMMENTS ON ONGOING RESEARCH AT THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE’S CLINICAL PROTEOMIC TUMOR ANALYSIS CONSORTIUM (NCI-CPTAC)
February 18, 2020 - THINC member, Dr. Matthew Ellis, discusses ongoing breast cancer research at Baylor College of Medicine.
Dr. Peggy Goodell Earns Tobias Lecture Award
January 14, 2020 - The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) will award the Tobias Lecture Award to Dr. Peggy Goodell, Chair of Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and THINC Member, for her tremendous contributions to stem cell research. The award will be presented June 26, 2020 during the Stem Cells and Aging Plenary session at ISSCR 2020 in Boston, MA.
THINC member, Dr. Michael Mancini, publishes work in Nucleic Acid Research
January 13, 2020 - Dr. Michael Mancini, professor of molecular and cellular biology, and colleagues utilized molecular and single cell imaging analyses to examine single allele responses to estrogen. Their work suggests that mechanisms do indeed exist to modulate hormone receptor responses at the single cell and allele level.
The Mustoe Lab Opens!
January 1, 2020 - Dr. Tony Mustoe, CPRIT Scholar and THINC’s first new faculty recruit, officially opened the doors of his lab. His group will work to define the sequence-structure-function relationships that underpin complex mRNA regulation in order to decipher the global mRNA regulatory code. Welcome to BCM! Let the science begin!
THINC PILOT PROJECT YEAR 2 AWARDS ANNOUNCED
January 1, 2020 - The Therapeutic Innovation Center awarded funding to three recipients for their innovating proposals surrounding therapeutics and gene regulation. Dr. Jeffrey Rosen, Dr. Rui Chen, Dr. Ayala Tovy and Jaime Reyes are this year’s Pilot Project Award recipients.