Homepage Archives contain CBC Announcements and News, Success Stories’ snippets, posts from the Director’s Corner and Chicago Biotech & Entrepreneurship news, that have been chronologically posted on the CBC homepage throughout the year.
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2018
December 21, 2018
NEWSLETTER
CBC-on’s Greetings!
2018 has been a great year for the CBC and we have much to be thankful for. Here are some highlights we are happy to share with you!
▸ Read more
December 21, 2018
Community, Biotech & Entrepreneurship
Save the date: Friday, February 8, 2019
Sponsor: UIC College of Pharmacy
▸ College of Pharmacy Research Day
December 19, 2018
Community, Biotech & Entrepreneurship
INVOForward Seeking Teams Interested in Commercializing Therapeutics
INVOForward is a mentorship program designed to help Northwestern teams accelerate biomedical commercialization, such as therapeutics, medical devices, and Health IT. It is designed to increase entrepreneurship by helping potential or current biomedical entrepreneurship teams focus on the customer discovery process and relevant commercialization ecosystem and terminologies. Through their discovery, the teams test and identify their market fit and assess the level of impact of their business proposition. INVOForward is modeled after, and will expand upon programs like the NIH I-Corps and University of Michigan’s Fast Forward Medical Innovation.
▸ Learn more
▸ Apply
December 14, 2018
NEWS
CBC Lunch December 11, 2018 – a recap
Standing room only at the CBC Accelerator Award Information Session at Northwestern.
▸ Read more
December 12, 2018
ANNOUNCEMENT
17th Annual CBC Symposium (2019)
▸ CBC Future Science – AI, Genomics, and Bioethics
Date: Friday, October 11, 2019
Location: UChicago Campus
More information coming up soon!
December 7, 2018
NEWS
CBCAN December 6, 2018 – a recap
Fireside Chat with Jigar Raythatha Concludes CBCAN Programming for 2018.
▸ Read more
December 7, 2018
ANNOUNCEMENT
CBC Course
▸ Preclinical Safety Assessment and Mitigation Strategies in Drug Discovery
Date: April 9-10, 2019 (a one-and-a-half-day course)
Tuesday, April 9, 2019; 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday, April 10, 2019; 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: MATTER
Instructor: Bryan H. Norman, PhD
Independent Consultant/Instructor
(Retired from Eli Lilly and Company)
December 7, 2018
Community, Biotech & Entrepreneurship
SAVE THE DATE: December 11, 2018
Rosalind Franklin University and SmartHealth Activator
▸ Why A Scientist Can Make A Great Entrepreneur
Featuring Bob Altman – Member Hyde Park Angels, Board Member Preora Diagnostics, Toltec Pharmaceuticals, Output Medical.
December 7, 2018
Community, Biotech & Entrepreneurship
SAVE THE DATE: December 7, 2018
UChicago Committee on Microbiology
▸ Howard T. Ricketts Symposium
December 5, 2018
NEWS
POSITION OPEN: CBC Executive Assistant
The CBC has opened a search for the CBC Executive Assistant, who will provide specialized, complex, and confidential support to the Executive Director.
▸ Read more
December 3, 2018
Opportunities
The NIA funded Alzheimer’s Clinical Trial Consortia (ACTC) soliciting proposals from investigators for consideration into larger clinical trials.
The ACTC is led by Dr. Paul Aisen ( USC), Dr. Reisa Sperling ( Harvard), Dr. Ron Petersen (Mayo), and Dr. Laurie Ryan from NIA. Projects that are developed as part of ACTC may be either NIA funded entirely, or funded as public-private partnerships. All phases of clinical trials are being considered as studies in this Consortium.
▸ More info
November 30, 2018
DIRECTOR’S CORNER
CBC Catalyst Award Past and Future
Jim Audia, CBC Executive Director, provides his perspective on the oldest, but critically important, CBC Catalyst Award program.
▸ Read more
November 15, 2018
Community, Biotech & Entrepreneurship
SAVE THE DATE: November 26, 2018
UChicago IT
▸ IT Matters: Driving Research and Discovery
November 8, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
NF-kappa beta, inflammation and sleep disorders
Featuring CBC awardee—Joseph Bass, NU
CBC Spark Award recipient, Joseph Bass, NU, discovers a genetic link between the causes of inflammation and the circadian clock control.
▸ Read more
October 2018
Community, Biotech & Entrepreneurship
Illinois at a Glance; What makes up the ecosystem? Check out a slide deck by Illinois Science & Technology Coalition:
▸ Illinois Innovation Ecosystem
October 31, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Multicolored butterflies — the mystery solved
Featuring three CBC awardees—Erica Westerman, Markus Kronforst and Stephanie Palmer, UChicago
Three CBC affiliates, Erica Westerman, Markus Kronforst and Stephanie Palmer, UChicago, show that a single gene causes the color change. Congratulations!
▸ Read more
October 30, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
‘Timing cells’ discovered
Featuring CBC Junior Investigator—Daniel Dombeck, NU
CBC Junior Investigator, Daniel Dombeck, NU, describes a novel set of brain neurons that light up on waiting.
▸ Read more
October 29, 2018
Community, Biotech & Entrepreneurship
SAVE THE DATE: November 13, 2018
Rosalind Franklin University and Smart Health Activator
▸ BioPathways: Funding Medical Device and Nutritional Innovation
Featuring Bill Weelch, Senior Director, Abbott Ventures
(flyer)
October 29, 2018
Community, Biotech & Entrepreneurship
SAVE THE DATE: November 12, 2018
NU Feinberg School of Medicine Department of Neurology
▸ Les Turner ALS Center’s 8th Annual Les Turner Symposium on ALS and NeuroRepairAn Evening With Titans of Nanotechnology
October 29, 2018
Community, Biotech & Entrepreneurship
SAVE THE DATE: November 8, 2018
NU International Institute for Nanotechnology
▸ An Evening With Titans of Nanotechnology
October 17, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Building a library of… bacteria
Featuring two CBC awardees—Laura Sanchez and Brian Murphy, UIC
Two CBC awardees, Laura Sanchez and Brian Murphy, UIC, co-PIs on a $1.7 million NIH grant to create a reference library of bacteria.
▸ Read more
October 17, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Can I (you) trust your data?
Featuring CBC Junior Investigator—Alex Ruthenburg, UChicago
Congratulations to a CBC Junior Investigator, Alexander Ruthenburg of UChicago, demonstrates in a recent publication in Molecular Cell how using not properly validated antibodies can unknowingly skew the results of an experiment.
▸ Read more
October 17, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Rare disease and old drugs
Featuring two CBC awardees—Mark Manzano and Eva Gottwein, NU
CBC Postdoctoral Research Award contributes to a new Nature Communication publication by Mark Manzano and Eva Gottwein, NU.
▸ Read more
October 16, 2018
‘IN THE NEWS’
“Cores on Tap”
Featuring two CBC affiliates—Phil Hockberger, NU
‘Open Access Initiative’ and ideas how to advertise its unprecedented value to Chicago researchers discussed at the inaugural “Cores on Tap”.
▸ Read more
October 16, 2018
‘IN THE NEWS’
CBC is making a mark on Chicago biotech
Featuring two CBC affiliates—Arnon Lavie and Greg Thatcher, UIC
CBC Accelerator Award program recognized at Illinois Ignite as an asset ‘to provide a runway for translational research’.
▸ Read more
October 16, 2018
DIRECTOR’S CORNER
True costs of drug discovery
Featuring CBC Executive Director—Jim Audia
As healthcare costs continue to rise and pharmaceutical prices take prominence in the public and political debate, a frequent subject of argument is the ‘real cost’ of drug discovery/development.
Jim helps to frame the discussion.
▸ Read more
October 12, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
NIH Director’s New Innovator Award
Featuring CBC awardee—Jun Huang, UChicago
CBC recent awardee, Jun Huang, UChicago, receives a prestigious NIH Director’s New Innovator Award.
▸ Read more
October 12, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Ovarian or fallopian tube cancer?
Featuring two CBC awardees—Joanna Burdette and Laura Sanchez, UIC
Two UIC scientists with links to CBC, Joanna Burdette and Laura Sanchez, collaborate to decipher the origin and the mechanism of spread of ovarian cancer.
▸ Read more
October 10, 2018
News
Cutting Edge Discoveries and Technologies in Structural Biology
16th Annual CBC Symposium – a recap
▸ Read more
October 5, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Protein quality control and neurodegeneration
Featuring CBC Scientific Director—Richard Morimoto, NU
CBC Scientific Director Rick Morimoto, NU, a co-PI on a multi-million grant from NIH to study aging and neurodegenerative diseases.
▸ Read more
October 5, 2018
News
Inaugural Accelerator Awards Announced!
The CBC is pleased to announce that five teams received Accelerator Awards in the inaugural application round. Congratulations!
▸ Read more
September 28, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
An artificial nose?
Featuring two CBC awardees—Tom Bozza and Adam Dewan, NU
Past CBC awardees, Tom Bozza and his postdoc, Adam Dewan, NU, dissect the elaborate olfactory system in a new Nature Communications’ study.
▸ Read more
September 28, 2018
News
CBC at Illinois Ignite 2018
CBC member institutions NU, UChicago and UIC, along with UIUC and IIT, came together to showcase their innovations at the inaugural Illinois Ignite.
▸ Read more
September 28, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Glycogen fuels ovarian cancer spread
Featuring three CBC awardees—Ernst Lengyel, Hilary Kenny and Yilin Zhang, UChicago
Three CBC awardees, Ernst Lengyel, Hilary Kenny and Yilin Zhang, UChicago, co-author new publication in Cell Metabolism.
▸ Read more
September 28, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Halting cancer metastasis
Featuring CBC affiliate—Karl Scheidt, NU
CBC affiliate Karl Scheidt, NU, and senior co-author on the publication in Nature Communications interviewed for Chicago Crain’s Business.
▸ Read more
September 27, 2018
Community, Biotech & Entrepreneurship
Organizer: Halo Cures, Inc.
The 1st Annual HALO Awards: Celebrating Chicago’s Heroes of Medicine
Date: October 25, 2018
Congratulations to the three honorees, including two CBC-affiliates, Drs. Chang and Woodruff.
- Dr. Eugene Chang, University of Chicago Medicine — For his research on the microbiome
- Dr. Teresa Woodruff, Northwestern Medicine — For her research on infertility
- Dr. Andrea Domenighetti, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab — For his research on cerebral palsy
▸ More info and registration details
Use promo code “CBC” to save $25. Proceeds support research being conducted by the three honorees.
September 24, 2018
News
New Catalyst Awards Announced
25th (Spring 2018) Application Round
The CBC is pleased to announce that three teams received Catalyst Awards in the 25th (Spring 2018) application round.
▸ Read more
September 18, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Living with diabetes
Featuring CBC affiliate—Louis Philipson, UChicago
Past CBC awardee, Dr. Louis Philipson, UChicago, explains the differences between diabetes type 1 and type 2 and the management of each disease
▸ Read more
September 17, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Safeguarding polarity
Featuring CBC affiliate—Vladimir Gelfand, NU
Kinesin- and myosin-based localization mechanisms cooperate in establishing proper egg polarity — past CBC awardee Vladimir Gelfand, NU, shows how
▸ Read more
September 17, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Tracing dopaminergic neurons
Featuring CBC affiliate—Daniel Dombeck, NU
CBC Junior Investigator, Daniel Dombeck, NU, contributes to a new study published in Nature Neuroscience
▸ Read more
September 17, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
A liquid bandage?
Featuring CBC affiliate—Guillermo Ameer, NU
Developing new bandage with healing properties — Fox 32 Chicago News interview with CBC awardee, Guillermo Ameer, NU
▸ Read more
September 13, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Oncofertility covered in Illinois
Featuring CBC affiliate—Teresa Woodruff, NU
CBC affiliate, Teresa Woodruff, NU, instrumental in securing bill guaranteeing insurance coverage to cancer patients seeking fertility treatment.
▸ Read more
September 13, 2018
NEWS
CBC universities prominent in 2018 U.S. News and World Report rankings
UChicago remains in 3rd, Northwestern climbs by 1 notch to 10th and UIC jumps by 16 to 129th place, nationwide!
▸ Read more
September 5, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Improving early cancer detection
Featuring CBC affiliate—Vadim Backman, NU
A simple and inexpensive procedure – taking a swab – can boost early malignancy detection in seven types of cancer – CBC awardee Vadim Backman, NU, explains.
▸ Read more
September 5, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Hope for food allergy sufferers
Featuring CBC affiliate—Cathy Nagler, UChicago
More accolades for CBC affiliate, Cathy Nagler, UChicago! Congratulations!
▸ Read more
September 5, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Hope for food allergy sufferers
Featuring CBC affiliates—Cathy Nagler and Jeff Hubbell, UChicago
Two CBC affiliates, Cathy Nagler and Jeff Hubbell, UChicago, explain recent research progress on preventing food allergies.
▸ Read more
September 4, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Mind-machine partnership
Featuring CBC awardee—Adam Pah, NU
Past CBC Scholar, Adam Pah, NU, discusses potential benefits of collaborating with artificial intelligence.
▸ Read more
September 4, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
To accelerate brain tumor research
Featuring CBC awardee—Matt Lesniak, NU
CBC awardee, Matt Lesniak, NU, a co-PI on the $11.5 million NCI SPORE Award.
▸ Read more
August 31, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
BioBits right for kids!
Featuring CBC awardee—Michael Jewett, NU
CBC affiliate, Michael Jewett, NU, helps develop BioBits – new, cell-free experimental tools to use in a classroom to teach modern biology.
▸ Read more
August 31, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Desmoplakin and heart failure
Featuring two CBC awardees—Kathleen Green and Karla Satchell, NU
Two NU researchers with ties to CBC, Kathleen Green and Karla Satchell, provide new insight into the molecular mechanisms behind the disease.
▸ Read more
August 30, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Understanding resistance to chemotherapy
Featuring CBC awardee—John Crispino, NU
Some patients with acute myeloid leukemia respond much better to chemotherapy — past CBC awardee, John Crispino, NU, helps to discover why.
▸ Read more
August 29, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
2018 NSF CAREER Award
…goes to past CBC Catalyst recipient, Erik Andersen, NU!
Featuring CBC awardee—Erik Andersen, NU
CBC joins in congratulations!
▸ Read more
August 29, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Cottrell Scholar TREE Award
Featuring CBC awardee—Teri Odom, NU
CBC awardee, Teri Odom, NU, receives a prestigious Cottrell Scholar TREE Award.
▸ Read more
August 29, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Virtual dementia to train caregivers
Featuring CBC ARB member—Neelum Aggarwal, Rush University
CBC affiliate, Dr. Neelum Aggarwal of the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, uses virtual reality to help Alzheimer’s Disease caregivers develop empathy towards their patients.
▸ Read more
August 21, 2018
NEWS
CBCAN August 16, 2018 – a recap
CBC Accelerator Award program LOIs, Round Two, Part Two
Next five of the selected LOIs submitted for the CBC Accelerator Award program (round two) were presented during the CBCAN meeting held on August 16, 2018.
▸ Read more
August 9, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Top-down Proteomics
Featuring CBC Senior Investigator—Neil Kelleher, NU
CBC Senior Investigator, Neil Kelleher, NU, explains the advantages of “top-down” versus “bottom-up” proteomics in early cancer detection and progression.
▸ Read more
August 9, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Synthetic biology wins NIH support
Featuring CBC awardee—Josh Leonard, NU
Josh Leonard, NU, received a CBC Catalyst Award (2017) and was an invited speaker at the 9th Annual CBC Symposium.
▸ Read more
August 8, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Lisagor Award 2018
Featuring CBC awardee—Marcus Kronforst, UChicago
CBC affiliate and evolutionary biologist, Marcus Kronforst, UChicago, recognized with a Lisagor Award for his educational work on Chicago PBS series, ‘Urban Nature’.
▸ Read more
August 8, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Tick, tock, tick, tock
Featuring CBC Junior Investigator—Michael Rust, UChicago
Michael Rust, UChicago, who has many ties to CBC, explains two types of circadian “clocks”.
▸ Read more
August 8, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Iron, heart and mitochondria
Featuring CBC awardees—Hossein Ardehali and Paul Schumacker, NU
Two CBC affiliates, Hossein Ardehali and Paul Schumacker, NU, investigate how the heart copes with iron deficiency.
▸ Read more
August 8, 2018
Opportunities
New, Updated and Expanded Services provided by the University of Chicago Genomics Facility
The University of Chicago Genomics Facility has:
August 6, 2018
NEWS
CBCAN August 2, 2018 – a recap
CBC Accelerator Network (CBCAN) meeting: Accelerator Award proposals Round Two, Part One
Five new LOIs submitted for the CBC Accelerator Award program (round two) were presented to the full house of the CBCAN attendees!
▸ Read more
August 3, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
2018 Young Investigator Award
Featuring CBC awardee—Michael Jewet, NU
CBC affiliate, Michael Jewett, NU, wins the 2018 Young Investigator Award.
▸ Read more
August 3, 2018
“IN THE NEWS”
FSG helps CBC better understand its transition into Phase 2
Strategic evaluation of the CBC with the consulting group FSG.
▸ Read more
August 1, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Inaugural Trailblazer Prize
Featuring CBC awardee—Jaehyuk Choiy, NU
CBC Affiliate, Jaehyuk Choi, NU, among finalists of FNIH’s 2018 Trailblazer Prize for Clinician-Scientists.
▸ Read more
August 1, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
The circle of accomplices in CVDs just got wider
Featuring CBC awardee—Elizabeth McNally, NU
Mapping genome-wide interactions between enhancers and their target genes in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) — past CBC awardee Elizabeth McNally, NU, contributes.
▸ Read more
August 1, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
2018 McKnight Awards
Featuring CBC awardee—Marco Gallio, NU
CBC past awardee, Marco Gallio, NU, receives 2018 McKnight Technological Innovation in Neuroscience Award.
▸ Read more
August 1, 2018
Opportunities
New Opportunities for the CBC Community
Northwestern’s NSF-Simons Center for Quantitative Biology has a few opportunities for researchers in quantitative biology.
July 24, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Test tube glycoproteins
Featuring CBC awardees—Michael Jewett and Milan Mrksich, NU
A powerful new technology combining cell-free protein synthesis with protein glycosylation in “one-pot” developed with help of two NU researchers with ties to CBC, Michael Jewett and Milan Mrksich.
▸ Read more
July 24, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Problems with CRISPR
Featuring CBC awardee—Brad Merrill, UIC
CBC past awardee and CBC Tech Day speaker, Brad Merrill, UIC, discovers a mechanism behind CRISPR gene editing imperfection.
▸ Read more
July 19, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Understanding slippery surfaces
Featuring CBC awardee—Matt Tirrell, UChicago
Matt Tirrell, UChicago, a twice CBC awardee, explains.
▸ Read more
July 18, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
A Nano Research Award 2018
…goes to Chad Mirkin, NU, a past CBC Lever Award co-recipient!
Featuring CBC Lever awardee—Chad Mirkin, NU
CBC joins in congratulating Chad Mirkin, NU, recipient of this year’s Nano Research Award, presented to him on July 1, 2018, in Chengdu, China.
▸ Read more
July 18, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Mimicking the master of camouflage
Featuring Teri Odom, NU—PI on a Pilot Project funded via a CBC Lever Award
Teri Odom, a NU scientist with links to CBC, builds a nanolaser that changes colors using a molecular mechanism similar to the one found in the chameleon’s skin.
▸ Read more
July 9, 2018
NEWSLETTER
CBC Newsletter, Vol. 26, Summer 2018
CBC News and New Funding, Educational and Networking Opportunities
CBC would like to share the Summer 2018 Newsletter which includes new funding, educational and networking opportunities available to the CBC community this summer and fall. Enjoy!
▸ Newsletter, Vol. 26
July 2, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
TWIK-ing inflammation
Featuring two CBC awardees—Asrar Malik and Jalees Rehman, UIC
Two UIC scientists with links to CBC, Asrar Malik and Jalees Rehman, identify a new potassium channel crucial for activating inflammation.
▸ Read more
July 2, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Monitor displays made of DNA?
Featuring CBC Lever awardee—Chad Mirkin, NU
A paradigm-shifting photo-optic properties of nanoparticles made of synthetic DNA crystalline lattices — past CBC Lever awardee Chad Mirkin, NU, explains.
▸ Read more
July 2, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Potential Parkinson’s disease treatment on the horizon
Featuring CBC Catalyst awardee—Paul Schumacker, NU
Past CBC awardee, Paul Schumacker, NU, contributes to pre-clinical evaluation of israpidine neuroprotective effect on dopaminergic neurons that are affected by Parkinson’s disease.
▸ Read more
June 29, 2018
DIRECTOR’S CORNER
Changes in FDA’s Approach to Predictive Toxicology
Contributed by Jim Audia, CBC Executive Director
Safety assessment or predictive toxicology is a critical component of drug discovery. Understanding both the real and potential toxicities of novel therapeutic agents is necessary to guide the thoughtful clinical development. CBC has planned an educational workshop next Spring (2019) on “Preclinical Safety Assessment and Mitigation Strategies in Drug Discovery” to cover this important topic and provide some guidance for the successful filing of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application. This is far from a static landscape and the thinking about all aspects of predictive toxicology is changing within the Food and Drug Administration’s Toxicology Working Group.
▸ Read more
June 27, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
KBU2046—new compound that inhibits cancer cell motility
Five CBC community members contribute!
Four current and one past NU scientists with ties to CBC contribute to a recent publication in Nature Communications: Karl Scheidt, Andrew Mazar, Wayne Anderson, Sankar Krishna and Raymond Bergan (now at OHSU).
▸ Read more
June 27, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Ketamine, lipid rafts, and depression
Featuring CBC Colloquium speaker—Mark Rasenick, UIC
Past CBC Scholars Colloquium speaker, Mark Rasenick, UIC, investigates the mechanisms for antidepressant effects of ketamine.
▸ Read more
June 27, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Ver Steeg Fellows 2018 named
Featuring CBC Workshop organizer—Susan Quaggin, NU
CBC community member Susan Quaggin, NU, receives prestigious Ver Steeg Fellowship.
▸ Read more
June 26, 2018
BIOTECH & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Organizer: SmartHealth Activator
Biopathways: Perspectives on Innovation from a Japanese Pharma
Date: June 12, 2018
Featuring Bob Chib, Head of Innovation, Astellas
▸ More info and registration details
June 25, 2018
NEWS
CBC welcomes Dr. Luisa DiPietro as Scientific Director for UIC
Dr. DiPietro joins the CBC leadership as successor to Dr. Brian Kay who served in the role since 2011
CBC is pleased to share the appointment of Dr. Luisa A. DiPietro as the new CBC Scientific Director for UIC.
▸ Read more
June 25, 2018
NEWS
CBCAN June 21, 2018 – a recap
Core facilities and the Open Access Initiative at CBC Institutions: History, progress and gaps discussed at CBCAN
Phil Hockberger, NU, Connie Lee, UChicago and Rich Minshall, UIC, presented at the June 21 CBCAN event held at the Feinberg Pavilion at NU’s downtown Chicago Campus.
▸ Read more
June 20, 2018
“IN THE NEWS”
CBC welcomes Deerfield to the healthcare community in Chicago during the Lakeside Discovery launch event
CBC Executive Director Jim Audia to serve as a Lakeside Discovery Joint Steering Committee member
CBC joins in congratulating all of the partners involved in making this monumental initiative come to fruition, here, in Chicago!
▸ Read more
June 18, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
A wound-healing bandage
Multiple CBC awardees, Guillermo Ameer and Milan Mrksich, NU, develop new regenerative bandage that speeds up diabetic wound healing.
▸ Read more
June 18, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Understanding cardiac metabolism
Past CBC Catalyst Award recipient, Hossein Ardehali, NU, deciphers the role that mitochondria play in the heart.
▸ Read more
June 15, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Deerfield comes to Chicago
CBC Executive Director Jim Audia joins the Lakeside Discovery Joint Steering Committee.
▸ Read more
June 14, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
A swimmer’s gut
A CBC awardee, Rachel Poretsky, UIC, is looking into the cause-effect correlations between the athletic gut microflora and the athlete’s performance.
▸ Read more
June 14, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Bacteria to help treat prostate cancer
Specific organ-tropic bacteria could augment cancer immunotherapy — CBC awardee, Sarki Abdulkadir, NU, co-senior author on a recent Nature Communications publication.
▸ Read more
June 13, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Congratulations!
Nancy Freitag, UIC, the New Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs.
▸ Read more
June 13, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Regenerating human organs
NU bioengineer, entrepreneur and past CBC awardee, Guillermo Ameer, to lead the new Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering (CARE).
▸ Read more
June 12, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Microbiome to the rescue
Combining immunotherapy with bacterial applications to treat certain cancers — twice a CBC awardee Thomas Gajewski, UChicago, comments for Nature.
▸ Read more
June 8, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
C. elegans and personalized medicine
Exploiting C. elegans as a model system for drug resistance and personalized medicine studies — a NU researcher and past CBC awardee, Eric Andersen, explains.
▸ Read more
June 8, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Of connectome, or the brain, untangled
How do young brains differ from the old ones? Octopus brains from those of the mice? Healthy from the mentally challenged? A CBC awardee, Bobby Kasthuri, UChicago, wants to know.
▸ Read more
June 8, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
“How Cell Biologists Work” – Sadie Wignall, NU
CBC Junior Investigator, Sadie Wignall, NU — a cell biologist featured by the American Society for Cell Biology.
▸ Read more
June 5, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Biology meets mathematics
NSF-Simons Center for Quantitative Biology at Northwestern to be led by researchers with ties to CBC, Richard Carthew and William Kath.
▸ Read more
June 4, 2018
DIRECTOR’S CORNER
Modernization effort at FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER)
Earlier today, Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) announced a number of changes in her organization toward the goal of achieving more modern and scientifically rigorous approaches toward the collection and evaluation of data for the drug development process and, importantly, the organization and process by which this data is reviewed.
▸ Read more
June 3, 2018
NEWS
Five win inaugural CBC Accelerator Awards
CBC announces Round One Accelerator Award proposals deemed eligible for funding
▸ Read more
June 1, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Nanobins filled with arsenic… against cancer
A ‘Trojan Horse’ approach to killing cancer cells — explained by past CBC awardee and board member, Tom O’Halloran, NU.
▸ Read more
June 1, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
On dopamine, vesicles and Parkinson’s Disease
Malfunctioning synaptic vesicles may contribute to Parkinson’s Disease — a CBC Catalyst awardee, Dimitri Krainc, NU, reports.
▸ Read more
June 1, 2018
BIOTECH & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Organizer: SmartHealth Activator & Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
Fireside Chat: Perspectives on Big Pharma Acquisitions and Partnering
Date: June 12, 2018
Featuring Catherine Sazdanoff, Chief Business Officer, Strate Oncology, Inc.
▸ More info and registration details
May 24, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Nanowires in the spotlight
Past CBC awardee, Bozhi Tian, UChicago, speaks about his career and his newest research for the journal Nature.
▸ Read more
May 24, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Gut, blood and leukemia
From gut to blood to cancer—CBC scientists, Lucy Godley and Eugene Chang, UChicago, provide new insights into the mechanism of TET2-linked leukemia development.
▸ Read more
May 23, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Congratulations to Kathleen Green, NU!
Past CBC awardee and frequent CBC board contributor, Kathleen Green, NU, is honored with the David Martin Carter Mentor Award.
▸ Read more
May 22, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
A curable metastatic cancer stage
“Oligometastasis,” or a cancer that has metastasized but just to a few sites, not globally, is still treatable. CBC Senior Investigator, Kevin White, UChicago, contributes to the discovery.
▸ Read more
May 22, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Leonard honored with 2018 NU Teaching Award
CBC awardee Joshua Leonard, NU, receives a 2018 Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence award. Congratulations!
▸ Read more
May 22, 2018
DIRECTOR’S CORNER
Medicinal chemistry (or drug discovery more generally) is hard. Some guidance for making it possible.
In a somewhat unusual Perspective article in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, Mark Murcko, a seasoned drug hunter, expounds upon the attributes that he’s observed associated with successful medicinal chemists over the course of his career.
▸ Read more
May 18, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Chuan He, Accent Therapeutics, and Precision Medicine
CBC multiple awardee Chuan He, UChicago, with the science behind Accent Therapeutics, a new biotech company that just launched with a $40 million investment.
▸ Read more
May 17, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Mapping the entire human brain
Mapping the entire human brain – a dream that may come through for the UChicago scientist and current CBC awardee, Narayanan (Bobby) Kasthuri.
▸ Read more
May 17, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Haltering cancer metastasis
Metarrestin, a novel compound with anti-metastatic properties. Two NU researchers with ties to CBC, Irawati (Angki) Kandela and Andrew Mazar, participated in the discovery.
▸ Read more
May 15, 2018
NEWS
And the Awards go to…
Five Student Awards were made to the CBC community members to attend the 2018 Drug Safety Gordon Research Conference
▸ Read more
May 15, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Chloride and neurodevelopmental disorders
Restoring neuronal levels of intracellular chloride to normal in an animal model of autism prevents the occurrence of hyper-excitability. Past CBC awardee, Jeffrey Savas, NU, contributes to the published research.
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May 15, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
When cell-free protein synthesis meets mass spectrometry
Two heads are better than one: joining forces, two NU researchers and past CBC awardees, Milan Mrksich and Michael Jewett, develop GlycoSCORES, a new glycoprotein screening technique.
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May 14, 2018
DIRECTOR’S CORNER
Precision Medicine ‘Of the people, for the people, by the people’?
On May 6, 2018, Chicago joined with sites across the country to kick off the national enrollment for the All of Us Research Program, the largest effort of its type to date in the precision medicine area and central to the Precision Medicine initiative of the NIH.
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May 14, 2018
“IN THE NEWS”
NU launches NewCures
NewCures to strengthen the portfolio of Chicago-area biomedical development programs, such as CBC and NCAI-CC.
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May 11, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Chicago scores big
Spotlight on a CBC community member, Julian Solway, UChicago, a co-PI on a $35 million grant from the NIH, to support the Institute for Translational Medicine.
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May 11, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
2018 Order of Lincoln Award
2018 Order of Lincoln Award bestowed on Dr. Louis Philipson, Professor of Medicine at UChicago and past CBC Spark Award recipient.
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May 10, 2018
NEWS
CBC hosts an “On the Table” event
Charting more effective collaborations to strengthen the greater biomedical community in the Chicago area.
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May 9, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Follow your nose
“Smellovision” explained. An interview with a CBC Junior Investigator, Daniel Dombeck, NU.
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May 9, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Congratulations are due!
Prestigious honors bestowed on three CBC community members: Joy Bergelson, UChicago; and Maciej Lesniak and Hossein Ardehali, NU
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May 9, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Genetic testing in blood cancers
Genetic testing in hematologic malignancies – an interview with CBC Scientific Director for UChicago, Lucy Godley, and other experts in the field.
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May 8, 2018
NEWSLETTER
CBC Newsletter, Vol. 25, Spring 2018
New Funding, Educational and Networking Opportunities
CBC would like to share the Spring 2018 Newsletter which describes new funding, educational and networking opportunities available to the CBC community this coming summer and fall.
▸ Newsletter, Vol. 25
May 8, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Light-sensitive nanowires can modulate behavior
Shining light on silicon — two UChicago researchers with ties to CBC, Bozhi Tian and Chin-Tu Chen, demonstrate that optically-controlled silicon nanowires can influence behavior
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May 7, 2018
BIOTECH & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Organizer: CHIentist
Idea->Patent->Product
Date: May 24, 2018
▸ More info and registration details
May 3, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Genomic Data Commons explained
Past CBC awardee, Bob Grossman, UChicago discusses the power and promise of creating data commons to globally and collaboratively accelerate biomedical research.
▸ Read more / Watch video
May 3, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Imaging a “truer” cell
Give up something to gain something… and how it applies to a multi-chamber device that may help preserve biological structures against damage by electron microscopy. Spotlight on past CBC awardee, Tolou Shokuhfar, UIC.
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May 2, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Achilles’ heel of prostate cancer cells
Exploiting elevated metabolism in prostate cancer cells as a weakness — a new potential therapeutic approach successfully explored by a two time CBC award winner, Nissim Hay, UIC
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May 2, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Next-generation γ-rays detector
Past CBC Spark Award recipient, Vinayak Dravid, NU, contributes to the development of an inexpensive semiconductor capable of effectively detecting gamma-rays; a next-generation nuclear radiation detector?
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May 1, 2018
BIOTECH & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Organizer: UChicago Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
UChicago Innovation Fest
Date: May 1 – June 3, 2018
▸ More info and registration details
April 27, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Evolution of teneurins
Could an ancient bacterial toxin, once integrated into a multicellular organism, have evolved into adhesion molecules that guide neuronal development and function? A story of teneurins, by a twice CBC awardee, Demet Araç-Özkan, UChicago
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April 27, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Human cytomegalovirus and microtubules
UIC scientist with ties to CBC, Yulia Komarova, contributes to a study on how human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) hijacks microtubules to form an intracellular virus maturation compartment
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April 27, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Microbiota and fat absorption
On leanness and obesity-promoting microbiota, and on positive feedback loops — Eugene Chang, UChicago researcher and CBC past awardee
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April 25, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Using ‘top-down proteomics, CBC Senior Investigator, Neil Kelleher, NU, identifies and precisely measures eleven KRAS oncogene proteoforms found in colon cancer cells
In the recent article published by the Kelleher group in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the authors, for the first time, apply “top-down proteomics,” to characterize the biology of oncogenic KRAS, frequently found in, and thought to be one of the drivers of pancreatic and colon cancers. The authors identify 11 proteoforms of mutated KRAS in both colon cancer cell lines and in human tumor samples. The ability to analyze the oncogenic proteoforms with such precision may help to better understand the mechanisms of these oncogenes’ action in tumorigenesis and may open new avenues toward therapeutics development. Kelleher has strong ties to CBC — with help of a CBC Recruitment Resources Award he was recruited to NU in 2010, and named a CBC Senior Investigator. Also in 2010, he received a CBC Catalyst Award and since, participated in several CBC-organized events. Kelleher is also Director of the NU Proteomics Center of Excellence which was established with CBC support. Congratulations to all researchers involved in the study!
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April 25, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Past CBC awardee, Patric Kiser, NU, elected to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering’s College of Fellows
Congratulations to Patric Kiser, NU, who recently was elected to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering’s (AIMBE) College of Fellows! Kiser is one of the three faculty members of the NU McCormick School of Engineering to be elected in 2018. He also has ties to CBC — in 2015, together with a postdoc in his lab, Arangassery Rosemary Bastian, he received a CBC Postdoctoral Research Award, for the project: “Utilizing Innovative Biophysical Methods to Study the Mechanism of Mucin-Antibody Binding.”
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April 25, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Past CBC symposium speaker, Melody Swartz, UChicago, elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Congratulations to Melody Swartz, UChicago, for being elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences! A CBC Community member, Swartz, was an invited speaker at the 9th Annual CBC Symposium (2011), titled “Engineering Biology: From Tools to Insights.”
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April 25, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
New genetic screen developed by past CBC awardee, Balaji Manicassamy, UChicago, identifies genes involved in the influenza virus infection
Congratulations to Balaji Manicassamy and his group at UChicago for the new publication in Cell Reports. The team developed a novel genetic screen able to identify genes involved in the influenza virus infection of human lung cells. The screen, which utilized 19,000 of genetically modified human epithelium cell lines turned up two genes of interest: SLC35A1 — a gene encoding a protein involved in the assembly of the virus receptor, and CIC — a negative regulator of the cell innate immune system. Identification of these genes established a proof of concept of the assay, as well as pointed out the importance of studying the cell innate response as a potential target for antiviral drug development. Manicassamy is a past CBC awardee — he received a CBC Catalyst Award (2014) for the project: “Role of Dynamics in the Structure and Function of Intrinsically Metastable Proteins.”
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April 23, 2018
ANNOUNCEMENT
SAVE THE DATE!
16th Annual CBC Symposium: “A new age of structural biology: structure meets dynamics”
DATE: Wednesday, October 3, 2018
LOCATION: Northwestern University Chicago campus
▸ More info
April 23, 2018
ANNOUNCEMENT
Awards to attend the 2018 Drug Safety Gordon Research Conference
The 2018 Drug Safety Gordon Research Conference (GRC) will be held in Easton, MA, June 10-15. A Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), will be held June 9-10 (the weekend prior) at the same site. Topics include systems and computational toxicology, microphysiological systems, immune modulation in clinical development and big data approach to adverse event detection. The event will be an ideal opportunity for those interested in enhancing their understanding of contemporary Safety Assessment in drug discovery/development.
A few awards for selected students, postdocs or other young scientists from the Chicago Biomedical Research Consortium institutions are available. The award covers all costs (registration, room and board) for the GRC meeting except travel. The students/trainees who receive awards must present a poster and stay for the entire meeting. For an additional cost ($275) awarded students/trainees are encouraged to participate in the GRS the weekend prior to the conference.
If you would like to apply, please email jolaglotzer@uchicago.edu.
▸ Drug Safety GRC
▸ Drug Safety GRS
April 20, 2018
News
Early Stage Regulatory Guidance on the Pathway to an IND discussed at April 19 CBCAN
CBC Associate Director Nancy Tyrrell hosted the April 19 CBCAN event which was focused on ‘Early Stage Regulatory Guidance on the Pathway to an IND.’ The event was held at Prentice Women’s Hospital in downtown Chicago. CBCAN panel, April 19, 2018. Prentice Women’s Hospital, Chicago. The program consisted of a panel discussion featuring Chicago area regulatory experts followed by an informal networking session. Panel members included Diane Barnes-Glait, Director of Global Regulatory Affairs, Astellas Pharma; Kenneth Miller, New Business Development, Regulatory, Quality, Patient Safety, AbbVie; Teresa Raich, Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs, Abbott Diagnostics; and Michael Schlosser, President, MSR Pharma Services.
▸ Read more
April 20, 2018
BIOTECH & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Organizer: Women in Bio Chicago
Formula for Success: Blending Project Mgmt & SME for Successful Regulatory Compliance
Date: May 17, 2018
Life Science businesses face an increasingly complex landscape of regulatory compliance requirements— and it’s only going to get more complicated. In this deep-dive presentation, a subject matter expert (SME) and project managers share insights on …
▸ More info and registration details
(flyer)
April 20, 2018
BIOTECH & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Organizer: Keystone Symposium
Drug Discovery: Current Trends in Medicinal Chemistry
Date: April 26, 2018
VIRTUAL EVENT. Must be registered to participate.
Moderator:
Walter H. Moos, PhD, UCSF & ShangPharma Innovation
Panelists:
Gina Xiaojing Wang, PhD, Genentech, Inc.
Dmitry O. Koltun, PhD, Gilead Sciences, Inc.
Chudi Ndubaku, PhD, Aduro Biotech, Inc.
Eric B. Harstad, PhD, DABT, Theravance Biopharma
▸ More info and registration details
April 20, 2018
BIOTECH & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
BioPathways Entrepreneurial Speaker Series: “Healthcare Innovation at the Blues”
Featuring John Banta, Executive Director, Blue Cross Blue Shield Venture Partners, LP.
Date: May 15, 2018
Organizer: SmartHealth Activator & Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
▸ More info and registration details
(flyer)
April 13, 2018
News
CBC Executive Director Jim Audia presents his vision for CBC Phase 2 at the iBIO Board meeting
CBC Executive Director Jim Audia was an invited guest of iBIO President and CEO, John Conrad at Thursday’s (April 12, 2018) iBIO Board meeting, hosted by Takeda Pharmaceuticals. While there, Jim shared with the group his evolving vision for CBC as the Phase 2 programming is becoming a reality, and highlighted several of the current programs, including the CBC Accelerator Network (CBCAN) and the three CBC award programs: Accelerator, Catalyst and Entrepreneurial Fellows.
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April 13, 2018
“In the news”
The very first of the CBC Phase 2 initiatives — the CBC Accelerator Network (CBCAN) — recognized among “Illinois’ Growing Startup Resources”!
The Spring 2018 Illinois Innovation Index, recently published by the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition (ISTC) and titled: “University Entrepreneurship Index: Startup Activity Reaches New Heights,” highlights a variety of university-driven entrepreneurial efforts in Illinois. All three CBC universities are recognized as important components of the economic development and innovation in Illinois. CBC is proud to share that one of the initiatives developed in the CBC Phase 2 — the CBC Accelerator Network (CBCAN) — is mentioned in the report as a member of the “Illinois’ network of organizations and initiatives dedicated to supporting and funding entrepreneurs.” Launched in early 2017, CBCAN is now an established forum regularly bringing together industry experts, university tech transfer officers, researchers and others from the local and extended biomedical ecosystem to help promising discoveries that may have commercial potential move forward in the pipeline towards commercialization.
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April 13, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Past CBC awardee and frequent presenter at CBC-organized events, Rick Silverman, NU, highlighted in the journal Science, for his work to develop novel anti-addiction drugs
The opioid epidemic is on the rise — in 2016 it took more than 42,000 lives in the U.S., more than in any previous year. Unfortunately, current overdose treatments are not always effective and/or available at the time of crisis. Hence, there is an urgent need for the development of quick and effective measures to curb the growing opioid addiction and its devastating, and, too frequently fatal, consequences. Richard Silverman, NU, is at the forefront of a new wave of anti-addiction drug development. A compound recently discovered by Silverman — OV329 — appears to be very promising in fighting addiction, at least in the animal studies performed so far. The below editorial by Robert Service, published today in Science, describes OV329 development and talks about other approaches in a quest for more reliable addiction antidotes. Silverman has many links to CBC: he received a CBC HTS Award (2015) and presented his research at two Annual CBC Symposia (2013 and 2017), and at the CBC Tech Day (2013). CBC congratulates Rick and celebrates this innovative and prolific scientist.
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April 11, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Two CBC awardees, Bryan Dickinson and Raymond Moellering, featured in the UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center 2017 Annual Report: Powered by Innovation
Congratulations to Bryan Dickinson and Raymond Moellering from the Department of Chemistry, UChicago, who are featured in the UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center 2017 Annual Report: Powered by Innovation! Specifically highlighted is Dickinson’s work on detection of protein modifications in live cells using fluorescent probes developed in his lab — work that was published in Nature Chemical Biology (2017) and was partially supported by a CBC Catalyst Award (2016). Notably, the CBC-supported research led to a $1.25 million follow-on grant from the NIH to support Dickinson for continued development of similar fluorescent tools. The second scientist featured in the article, Moellering, is also developing chemical tools to better understand the proteome. Moellering too holds a CBC Catalyst Award (2017) and currently serves on the CBC Accelerator Review Board. In addition, he was an invited speaker at the 15th Annual CBC Symposium (2017) dedicated to Small Molecule Discovery.
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April 11, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Why is epilepsy so common in autism? A CBC affiliate, Peter Penzes, NU, discovers how mutated Cntnap2 may destabilize inhibitory neuronal connections in the autistic brain.
A new publication from the Penzes group, NU, describes the interplay between a major autism risk gene, Cntnap2 and its partner CASK, in the development of stable interneuronal connections in the brain inhibitory neuronal circuits. The paper, recently published in Molecular Psychiatry, demonstrates that deficiency in CNTNAP2 protein causes diminished branching of the dendrites of certain brain inhibitory neurons. The authors further imply that, in consequence, these inhibitory neurons become incapable of “calming the brain” making it prone to over-excitation and epileptic outbursts. Future studies are planned to screen for drugs targeting the CNTNAP2/CASK interactions that could prevent autism-associated seizures and other comorbidities linked to the mutations in Cntnap2. In 2016, Penzes, participated in the 14th Annual CBC Symposium, “Genetics of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders”, where he gave a talk about genetic risk factors in autism. Congratulations on the continued successful work in the field!
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April 10, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Understanding the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AFib) in the Latino population — a CBC Awardee, Jalees Rehman, UIC, contributes to the story.
Congratulations to the UIC group of Dawood Darbar, for their recent publication in the PLOS ONE journal: “Genetic modulation of atrial fibrillation risk in a Hispanic/Latino cohort.” Darbar, who is senior author on the publication, describes identification of a genetic variant that is associated with a 2.3-fold increased risk for developing AFib in people of Latino origin, especially from Mexico. This finding opens possibilities for future insights into the pathogenesis of AFib as well as for the development of screening and more effective therapeutic measures in the population at risk. Jalees Rehman, also from UIC, is second senior author on the publication and is a past CBC awardee — he received a CBC Catalyst Award in 2009.
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April 6, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
UIC collaborates with a French biotech company to reveal the mechanism of action of recently discovered antibiotics. Past CBC awardee, Alexander Mankin, UIC, in the spotlight.
A new class of bactericidal antibiotics, called odilorhabdins, or ODLs, has recently been discovered by a French biotech company, Nosopharm. To gain insight into the mechanism of the biocidal action of the ODLs, the company reached out to two renown experts in the field — Alexander Mankin and Yury Polikanov, UIC. The results of their collaboration are published in this month’s issue of the Molecular Cell. The authors report that the ODLs bind to a novel site of the bacterial ribosome, leading to a scrambled production of defective proteins that eventually kill the pathogen. Because of their unique mechanism of action, the ODLs could be useful to fight hard-to-treat infections, especially those that are resistant to the currently used antibiotics. Mankin is a past CBC awardee (Spark Award, 2009). He also served on a Spark Review Panel and was an invited speaker at the 7th CBC Annual Symposium (2009), “The Biology of Non-Coding RNAs: Old Molecules, New Actions.” Congratulations to all researchers involved in this potentially ground-breaking study from an industry-academia collaboration.
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April 5, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
A CBC affiliate Peter Penzes, NU, discusses the genetics and neurobiology of autism
Peter Penzes, NU, who has recently been named director of the new Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, has already succeeded in recruiting 28 scientists from basic science, translational and clinical specialties to work at the Center. According to Penzes, assembling such a diverse group of scientists uniquely positions the Center to focus on translational science. In 2016, Penzes was an invited speaker at the 14th Annual CBC Symposium, “Genetics of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders”, where he presented his research on genetic risk factors in schizophrenia and autism. CBC wishes Peter all the best in pushing the frontiers of the interdisciplinary research in this important field.
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March 29, 2018
DIRECTOR’S CORNER
A rising tide: Chicago biomedical research institutions to receive increased NIH funding in 2018
CBC is pleased to note that its member institutions, Northwestern University, the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), are among the many biomedical research institutions in the greater Chicago region to benefit from increased NIH funding recently approved by Congress for 2018. Specifically targeted research areas to receive increased funding include: Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, Precision Medicine, the BRAIN initiative, and infectious diseases — key strengths of the member institutions and all areas that CBC has also supported in the past and continues to support during Phase 2. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) shared the news at a press conference at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Tuesday, March 27, 2018.
-Posted by Jola Glotzer
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March 28, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
A cross-road between brain inflammation and seizures. Past CBC affiliate, Stephen Miller, NU, explains.
In a recent publication in the journal Journal of Experimental Medicine, Stephen Miller and his group at the NU Feinberg School of Medicine address a question of the mechanism(s) of seizure development in pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy. Having found significantly higher levels of so-called gamma-delta T-cells in the brain samples from this particular patient subtype, the authors wonder whether inflammatory processes, and especially those characteristic of autoimmune disorders could trigger epileptic attacks. The question has important therapeutic implications if anti-inflammatory drugs, in combination with the standard anti-convulsive epilepsy treatments, could help manage this difficult-to-control disease. A CBC community member, Miller served in the past on the CBC Spark Review Panel. The CBC Spark Award program ran from 2008 until August 2011 and focused on mid-sized collaborative projects of exceptional creativity.
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March 28, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
In 2006, CBC invested $1 million to help recruit Kevin White to UChicago. Twelve years later, White is president of Tempus, a Chicago-based health technology company, that has now reached ‘unicorn’ status!
Chicago-based healthcare company, Tempus Labs Inc., co-founded by Groupon founder, Eric Lefkofsky, is maintaining its status as one of the most successful startups in the Midwest. As recently reported in Crain’s Chicago Business, the company has reached ‘unicorn’ status, meaning that its worth has exceeded $1 billion. In addition, the company employees now number over 400. Tempus, officially launched in October 2016, aims to improve personalized medical treatment for cancer. Tempus’ President, Kevin White, was recruited by the University of Chicago in 2006 and retains an appointment there as Professor at the Department of Human Genetics and Medicine. A CBC Recruitment Resources Award was instrumental in attracting Kevin to Chicago and he later became the first CBC Senior Investigator. Subsequently, White and his team members won the first CBC Lever Award (2008) which was used to help establish the Chicago Center for Systems Biology. CBC is proud to have supported Kevin’s research over the years and pleased to see his entrepreneurship setting a prime example for the region’s biotech.
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March 28, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
New insights into the mechanism of methane metabolism by copper-binding bacteria revealed in a study from the Rosenzweig lab and CBC Senior Investigator, Neil Kelleher, NU
Congratulations to three NU researchers with ties to CBC, co-authors on the recent publication in the journal Science: Amy Rosenzweig (senior author), Neil Kelleher (second senior author) and Paul Thomas (co-author). Rosenzweig is a recipient of a CBC Postdoctoral Research Award (2016) and Kelleher is a CBC Senior Investigator, recruited to NU in 2010, with help of a CBC Recruitment Resources Award. The same year, Kelleher also received a CBC Catalyst Award. Kelleher and Thomas, both members of the NU Proteomics Center of Excellence which was established with CBC support, participated in several CBC-organized events. The new Science paper, titled “The biosynthesis of methanobactin,” describes two novel proteins that play a role in methane metabolism of methanotrophic bacteria. A better understanding of methane metabolism will accelerate research on the potential use of these microorganisms in lowering levels of greenhouse gases, as well as other applications.
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March 28, 2018
BIOTECH & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Life beyond bench: Non-profit organizations and you!
Date: April 17, 2018
Organizer: CHIentist
Featuring: Barbara Goodman (Cures Within Reach), Alexandra Prokuda (Chicago Council on Science & Technology) and Dima Elissa (Amer. Medical Women’s Assocc.)
▸ More info and registration
March 26, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
New, cell-free protein manufacturing methodology, developed by Michael Jewett’s NU team and supported by CBC funding, could have important implications in biomedicine and beyond
Congratulations to Michael Jewett, NU, who is senior author on a recent publication in Nature Communications! For a long time, Jewett and his team have been interested in scaling up and optimizing protein production – a process essential to generating large quantities of biomaterials including vaccines and biotherapeutics. Traditional methods of mass protein production process have relied upon living cells. Now, the Jewett lab has devised an artificial “protein factory” or a cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) platform, that can synthesize vast amounts of protein of choice outside of a living organism. The CFPS platform opens doors to a new era of chemistry and protein manufacturing, with many implications including medicine. The publication acknowledges CBC funding to Jewett, via a CBC Catalyst Award he received in 2013. Other co-authors on the paper with links to CBC are: Neil Kelleher, Roderick Davis and Paul Thomas, NU. Congratulations to all researchers involved in the study!
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March 23, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
TTC-352, a new breast cancer agent developed by Debra Tonetti and Greg Thatcher, UIC, may become a therapeutic for patients with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer that expresses specific biomarkers
Congratulations to UIC researchers Debra Tonetti and Greg Thatcher! Their new anti-cancer agent, called TTC-352, has entered the Phase I of clinical trials as a potential future therapeutic for patients with a hormone therapy-resistant breast cancer. CBC is very proud to share that both, Tonetti and Thatcher are long time CBC affiliates. They both actively participated in CBC educational events including the CBC Annual Symposia, CBC Tech Day and CBC Science Day. Each is also a multiple CBC awardee: Tonetti received a CBC Catalyst Award (2009) and a CBC HTS Award (2015), the latter together with Thatcher, who was also granted a second CBC HTS Award the same year. Finally, both, Tonetti and Thatcher have served on CBC Catalyst Review and CBC Accelerator Review Boards, respectively. The CBC is grateful for their service and wishes them continuous success on the path to therapeutics!
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March 23, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
UIC research team with links to CBC awarded $2.7 million NIH grant to study the lung microbiome, immune system, and their roles in the lung inflammatory disease, sarcoidosis
Congratulations to the UIC team recently awarded a $2.7 million grant from the NIH to support research on the causes of sarcoidosis – a devastating lung disease, prevalent among the African American population. Specifically, the research will examine the interactions between the lung microbiome and the immune system in healthy and sick individuals. The goal is to identify the differences in the microbiome composition and in the related immune responses among the examined patients. These sarcoidosis biomarkers would support the design of more effective and individualized treatment protocols. The members on the NIH grant include Patricia Finn, David Perkins, Nadera Sweiss and Yang Dai, a co-recipient of a CBC Catalyst Award (2009) for her research on the role of estrogen receptors in carcinogenesis.
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March 23, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Can a phone ‘read’ your mood? BiAffect app developers, Dr. Alex Leow and a past CBC awardee, Peter Nelson, UIC, explain.
A UIC team of Dr. Alex Leow and Peter Nelson that participated in the development of a new app, called Biaffect, is optimistic that the app may help in the study and, perhaps in the future, the management of mood disorders such as bipolar disorder. The app, now available for free in the App store, analyses the user’s writing with a goal of identifying ‘virtual biomarkers.’ Such writing patterns can be correlated with mood swings, and in extreme cases such as manic and depressive episodes, detect bipolar disorder. The team hopes that future versions of the app, sensitized and improved by users’ big-data analysis, may learn to predict upcoming episodes and thus help mood disorder sufferers better cope with the disease. CBC is proud to have supported Nelson’s research in the past with a CBC Catalyst Award (2006). Congratulations to all researchers involved in the development of this promising approach!
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March 22, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Spotlight on a NU neurosurgeon and triple CBC awardee, Maciej Lesniak, and his quest to treat glioblastoma… without a knife
CBC is happy to share a profile of Dr. Maciej (Matt) Lesniak, NU, recently published in the Northwestern Research News. The article author, Matt Golosinski, describes Lesniak’s fascinating odyssey, from competitive skiing as a youngster in Poland—his homeland, through studies at Harvard and John Hopkins, through his twelve-year tenure at UChicago, and finally becoming Chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery, NU. In his work, Matt combines neurosurgical practice with laboratory work, and is currently engaged in a Phase 1 clinical trial aimed to assess a new method from his lab to fight glioblastoma. Lesniak and three of his postdocs have received CBC Postdoctoral Research Awards: one in 2014, while at UChicago, and two in 2015 and 2016, after he moved to NU. CBC is proud to have supported Matt in his research combatting the very aggressive and yet untamed, brain tumor, glioblastoma.
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March 21, 2018
BIOTECH & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
SBIR/STTR Grant Writing Workshop
Date: June 13-14, 2018
Organizer: PROPEL
PROPEL is hosting this 2-day Intensive Workshop, provided by BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting (BBCetc), that will cover all aspects of writing SBIR/STTR grants focused on life science technologies including: eligibility, sources of funding and agency differences, understanding what reviewers look for, step-by-step instruction on how to write each section of your proposal.
Registration opens April 1. For questions, contact PROPEL@ibioinstitute.org.
March 16, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
The promise of increased sensitivity for early cancer detection and management being realized by Vadim Backman and Tom O’Halloran, NU, with the help of instrumentation and a core facility supported by a CBC Lever Award
CBC is happy to share an article in which Vadim Backman, NU, is profiled by Clare Milliken, for the Northwestern Now (see below). Backman is part of the most recent CBC Lever team, awarded in 2015 for the project: “Chicago Center for Physical Science-Oncology Innovation and Translation.” Additional investigators include Lucy Godley, UChicago and Jack Kaplan, UIC. The $1.5 million CBC Lever was awarded in conjunction with a $10 million U54 grant from the National Cancer Institute to fund the Chicago Region Physical Science-Oncology Center (CR-PSOC), led by led by Thomas V. O’Halloran and Jonathan D. Licht, NU. The goal of CR-PSOC is to advance the understanding of carcinogenesis by examining the role of physical and chemical forces involved in the transformation of a normal cell into a cancerous one. CBC Lever Award funds were designated in part to support the Nanocytometry Core, led by Backman, including the Partial Wave Spectroscopy (PWS) — methodology developed by Backman and prominently featured in the article below. CBC is proud to have contributed to important advances in the field of cancer diagnostics and treatment. Congratulations to all CBC Lever team members!
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March 15, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Fluidigm CyTOF-2 Mass Cytometer, hosted by the lab of a past member of the CBC Catalyst Review Board, Anne Sperling, UChicago, helps in study of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)
Sonia Mohinta is a postdoctoral scholar at UChicago, and an immunologist interested in understanding the complex role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in IPF disease pathology. She recently wrote an article for the UChicago Medicine, At the Forefront (see below), where she discusses the IPF characteristics and points out how little is still known about this quickly devastating and fatal disease. To further understand how Tregs contribute to the course of the disease, Sonia describes research approaches she has undertaken during her postdoctoral work at UChicago. One of them relies on access to the CyTOF (cytometry by time-of-flight) in the lab of Anne Sperling, UChicago. Sperling, who is also director of Flow Cytometry Core at UChicago, served on the CBC Catalyst Review Board for four years (2013-2017). The CBC is thankful for Anne’s service and wishes her all the best in her scientific endeavors at UChicago.
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March 15, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
CRISPR then, now and in the future — three current and past NU scientists with multiple links to CBC: Elizabeth McNally, Navdeep Chandel and Eric Sontheimer
In the article cited below, originally published in the Northwestern Medicine Magazine, Will Doss describes the parallels between the local (Northwestern-centric) and global history of CRISPR Cas9 gene editing methodology. Doss takes a reader on a captivating journey, full of fascinating examples and anecdotes, from the time of CRISPR discovery to futuristic applications that carry a potential to eradicate diseases that are currently untreatable. Among the NU scientists who were taken by the “CRISPR storm” in their research and are featured in the article are three CBC scientists: Elizabeth McNally, Navdeep Chandel and Eric Sontheimer (at UMMS now). Enjoy the read and, following the article, check out the impressive list of the ties these three scientists have with CBC! Congratulations to all featured researchers!
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March 15, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences grant will support UIC scientists, including CBC community member, Dr. Brian Layden, in their effort to decipher the mechanisms of arsenic-induced diabetes
Congratulations to the UIC scientists for securing a multi-institutional grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to study the mechanisms of diabetes development due to exposure to environmental pollutants such as arsenic. Long-term exposure to arsenic, which occurs primarily from drinking water — contaminated by mining and agriculture — has been linked to many medical conditions besides diabetes, including skin changes, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Hence, understanding of arsenic action at the cellular and organ level may help develop strategies to better protect vulnerable populations. Among the Principal Investigators on the grant is Dr. Brian Layden, UIC, who has recently joined the CBC Accelerator Review Board. The CBC Accelerator Award program is a CBC Phase 2 initiative that aims to support biomedical research projects with translational potential. Congratulations, Brian!
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March 14, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
“You are such a bird-brain!” Tracing intelligence of birds and alligators demonstrates that a “bird-brain” phrase may be obsolete.
A new publication in Current Biology, from the Ragsdale lab, UChicago, reports on striking similarities between neuronal circuits found in mammalian brain and those found in avian and reptile brains. Anatomically, the brains of these three distinct classes of animals are very different. Specifically, only mammalian brains contain a neocortex, a brain feature linked to intelligence. However, it turns out that all three brain types contain molecularly and functionally shared neuronal cell types and connections, despite their organization into anatomically non-similar brain structures. Clifton Ragsdale, UChicago, senior author on the paper, speculates that birds and primates’ intelligence might have evolved independently. One of the co-authors on the paper is Joanna Rowell, PhD, who, while a graduate student in the Ragsdale lab, was a CBC Scholar, Class of 2012. Currently, Joanna is Senior Medical Writer/Neuroscience Scientific Lead at a healthcare communications agency AMICULUM Limited, Chicago. Congratulations to all involved in the study!
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March 13, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
The power of cancer prevention — a spotlight on Dr. Lucy Godley, CBC Scientific Director, UChicago
Bethany Hubbard, a science writer for UChicago Medicine, The Forefront, has recently published an article about the Comprehensive Cancer Risk and Prevention Clinic at the University of Chicago. The Clinic’s role is to identify, and then provide follow up and care for people with higher than average risk to develop cancer. The increased cancer risk may result from a variety of factors, including genetics or environmental exposure. The goal is to inform the potential patients about their risk and to develop a comprehensive monitoring system that would allow for early detection and intervention, should cancer strike. Among the Clinic physicians featured in the article is a CBC Scientific Director for UChicago, Dr. Lucy Godley. A Professor of Medicine, Section of Oncology and Hematology, Lucy specializes in hematologic malignancies and offers personalized risk assessment to patients and families with increased risk to develop blood cancers. CBC is proud to have Lucy as a Scientific Director, especially now, in Phase 2, which is focused on strengthening translational research efforts.
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March 13, 2018
DIRECTOR’S CORNER
Connecting with my past and celebrating the chemistry of the future at the Lilly Grantee Symposium
Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the 18th Biennial Lilly Grantee Symposium in Chemistry. (…) The Grantee program is the oldest of its type across pharma, although there are now a number of prestigious pharma chemistry awards that parallel the original Lilly Grantee program. Started in 1965, the award recognizes, celebrates and supports academic chemists early in their career, prior to gaining tenure, and provides them with a 2-year unrestricted grant to enable them to better take the scientific risks necessary to advance the field and establish themselves across the community. The Symposium brings together the most recent grantees, along with a distinguished alumnus of the program for a day to celebrate chemistry writ large.
-Jim Audia
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March 9, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
A past CBC awardee and community member, Wonhwa Cho, UIC, becomes the inaugural UIC LAS Endowed Chair in the Sciences
Darunavir, also known as Prezista, is a drug used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. Named after Arun Ghosh, a chemist who invented the molecule while at UIC, the drug is considered “the most successful royalty-producing patent ever developed by faculty in the University of Illinois System.” The UIC College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) is using a portion of royalties to fund four LAS Endowed Chairs in the Sciences – a first in the sciences and the first funded by research at the institution. Wonhwa Cho, professor and head of chemistry, UIC, has been named the inaugural LAS Endowed Chair in the Natural Sciences. Cho has several ties to CBC: he received two CBC Catalyst Awards (2007 and 2010), served at the CBC Scientific Review Board and, in 2009, was an invited speaker at the CBC Microscopy Forum: “Seeing Small is Believing Big.” Congratulations on the prestigious distinction, Wonhwa!
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March 8, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Stefan Kathman, a CBC Scholar, Class of 2014, continues his scientific training at The Scripps Research Institute
Stefan Kathman, PhD, graduated from NU in 2016. While at NU, he worked in Alexander Statsyuk’s lab in the Department of Chemistry. Stefan was recognized as a CBC Scholar, Class of 2014, receiving the CBC Scholar Award for two years (2014-2015). Now a postdoctoral fellow at The Scripps Research Institute, Stefan has joined the laboratory of Benjamin Cravatt. An interview with Stefan is posted below. The CBC is proud to have supported Stefan during the early stage of his scientific journey. Congratulations!
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March 8, 2018
DIRECTOR’S CORNER
How not to do it? Mastering (or not) the hyperbole
In an age of incredible scientific advances and breakthroughs, it appears that the claims and hype may be progressing even more rapidly. Adam Feuerstein and Damian Garde at STAT very effectively highlight an example. Where are the days when the data spoke for themselves?
-Jim Audia
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March 7, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Following a “weather forecast for the flu” may help contain the spread in the U.S. – predicts a CBC community member and a past CBC awardee, Andrey Rzhetsky
A recent paper published in eLife, by the Rzhetsky group, UChicago, describes a novel modeling approach for predicting the pattern of the seasonal influenza spread across the country. The model is based on the analysis of large datasets acquired over nine years, including an unprecedented analysis of Twitter posts during flu season. Senior author on the paper, Andrey Rzhetsky, UChicago, has multiple ties to CBC: he was a co-recipient of a CBC Lever Award (2011) and served on both, CBC Scientific Review Board and CBC Spark Review Panel. In addition, Rzhetsky helped organize the 14th CBC Annual Symposium, titled: “Genetics of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders.” Rzhetsky hopes that his model may be of benefit to instal more accurate preventive methods to cope with the flu spread in the future. Congratulations!
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March 6, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
On ‘smellovision’ and ‘olfactory virtual reality’ – a CBC Junior Investigator, Daniel Dombeck, NU, explains
It is well known that smell plays an important role in triggering and guiding animal behavior. However, how exactly different scents influence decision making processes has been difficult to study due to the hard-to-control, intrinsic properties of scents, which diffuse in space over time. In a recent paper published in Nature Communications and attributed in part to CBC funding, Daniel Dombeck, NU, describes a development of the first in the world ‘olfactory virtual reality’ system where scent is precisely controlled in time and space. Dombeck is a CBC Junior Investigator who was hired by NU in 2011 with a help of a CBC Recruitment Resources Award. As of 2017, he has also been a member of the CBC Catalyst Review Board. Congratulations, Dan!
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March 6, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
A CBC awardee Eugene Chang, UChicago, contributes his expertise into a discussion about the causes and treatment of IBD and other gut imbalances
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), is a common chronic intestinal disorder causing abdominal discomfort and pain, gas, diarrhea, and constipation. It can be crippling to those affected with it. The pathology of IBS is not well understood and the gut tissue appears to have no underlying damage. In the article below, published in Chicago Sun Times, Eugene Chang, UChicago, an expert in the area of microbiome of a healthy and inflamed gut, discusses the current state of IBS treatment. Chang is a past CBC Catalyst Award (2015) recipient. Congratulations!
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March 5, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
A CBC community member, Christian Peterson, NU, receives the 2018 Elizabeth D. Hay New Investigator Award from the Society for Developmental Biology
Christian Peterson, NU, was an invited speaker at the CBC Scholars “Loop Connections” Colloquium (2012), “Signaling to Scale: Forging a path from the molecule to the organism.” Congratulations!
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March 5, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Could wires help re-wire brain’s neuronal circuits? A new technique to modulate neuronal conductivity developed in the Tian lab, UChicago
Congratulations to the Tian lab, UChicago, for a new publication in Nature Nanotechnology, that describes how tiny nanowires positioned in close proximity can influence the electrical activity of cultured neurons. Built of gold-coated silicon, the nanowires produce tiny electrical currents upon activation with light, lowering the threshold for the action potential and triggering the neurons to fire. The authors hope that this innovative technique may help study neuronal and brain activity, and with time even have therapeutic potential. Senior author on the paper, Bozhi Tian, UChicago, is a past CBC Postdoctoral Research Award (2014) recipient. A co-author on the paper, John Zimmerman, was a graduate student at the Tian lab (now at Harvard) and a CBC Scholar, class of 2014.
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March 5, 2018
DIRECTOR’S CORNER
More recognition for Chicago, role of local universities in the startup community
In an article, titled “How Illinois Universities Power the Chicago Startup Ecosystem,” published in Forbes on Feb. 20, 2018, Peter Wilkins discusses how local universities, including the CBC schools — “are producing the city’s biggest exits, highest valued companies, and soon-to-be unicorns.”
-Jim Audia
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February 27, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
A story of Apollo and Artemis, a single gene that duplicated and evolved to drive opposite sex-specific reproductive functions in Drosophila males and females—a CBC awardee, Manyuan Long, UChicago, reports
How do two organisms carrying virtually the same genome develop into male and female phenotypes? One surprising answer to this question is described in the recent Nature Ecology & Evolution paper from the Manyuan Long group, UChicago. The authors show that in Drosophila, a single gene duplicated and the two copies subsequently evolved to carry opposite sex-specifying functions contributing to the developmental and functional differences between males and females. From an evolutionary point a view, the duplication occurred very recently, only 200,000 years ago. Long is a three-time CBC Award recipient of a Catalyst (2007), a Spark (2009) and a Postdoctoral Research (2014) Awards. Long was also an invited speaker at the 7th Annual CBC Symposium (2009), titled “The Biology of Non-Coding RNAs: Old Molecules, New Actions.” Congratulations!
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February 27, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
A CBC Lever Award recipient, Bob Grossman, UChicago, to build Pediatric Cancer Data Commons
The University of Chicago is embarking on a new and ambitious project to create the Pediatric Cancer Data Commons (PCDR) – a cloud-based genetic data depository of pediatric cancers that will be accessible to the entire research community. Bob Grossman, together with Sam Volchenboum and Susan Cohn of the Pediatrics Department, UChicago, will lead the project. A CBC Lever Award (2008) to Grossman, sparked the development of Bionimbus, the first NIH-approved, cloud-based system for managing, analyzing and sharing genomic data, which, over time, evolved into the NCI Genomic Data Commons (GDC) – housed at UChicago and led by Grossman. Once established, the new PCDR is believed to be an important advance to “drive pediatric cancer research.” Congratulations!
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February 26, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Spotlight on two CBC-supported NU facilities that have helped develop a promising new delivery system for sustained-release of therapeutics
In a recent paper published in Nature Communications by the Scott lab, NU, the authors report on the development of a new, hydrogel-based method to deliver therapeutics in a sustained manner. The beauty of the new system is that it eliminates potential complications of a scar formation or chronic inflammation development at the site of injection, which are frequently seen when other polymer-based hydrogels are used. Two CBC-supported facilities are acknowledged as being essential in the new method development and data acquisition: the Structural Biology Facility and the Center for Advanced Molecular Imaging (CAMI), both at NU. The Structural Biology Facility hosts a Gatan K2 direct electron detector, which was purchased by NU with the funds from the CBC Infrastructure Initiative (2014). CAMI was initially partially funded through the CBC Spark Award (2009). CBC is proud to provide a sustained (sic!) infrastructure support to the CBC community. Congratulations to all involved in the study!
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February 26, 2018
ANNOUNCEMENT
CBC is inviting new applications for the Accelerator Award program
Accelerator Award is a milestone-driven award program ($100,000 for 1st year) focused on translational research toward therapeutics or associated biomarkers and diagnostics.
Fall 2018 round Letter of Intent (LOI) submissions open at 8:00 AM on June 4, 2018 and close at 5:00 PM on June 8, 2018.
If you plan to apply, please make sure that you are conforming to the MOST RECENT RFA. Applications not conforming to the specified guidelines will NOT be accepted. In addition, applicants, if selected, MUST be available to present their projects at a CBCAN meeting on August 2 and/or August 16, 2018. Both meetings will be held on a Thursday, from 4:00-7:00 PM, at Prentice Women Hospital Conference Center downtown Chicago. MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
▸ Program description
▸ RFA (Please make sure that you are conforming to the MOST RECENT RFA.)
February 23, 2018
DIRECTOR’S CORNER
Evolving FDA guidance for developing early Alzheimer’s Disease therapeutics
Earlier this month (Feb. 2018), FDA published draft guidance representing their evolving position on the development of therapeutics for the early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). The guidance document is relatively concise (only 7 pages) and I think should be required reading for those involved in any component of the AD/neurodegeneration drug discovery/development endeavor.
-Jim Audia
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February 23, 2018
BIOTECH & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
BioPathways Entrepreneurial Speaker Series: “Fast-tracking Drug Repurposing for New Treatments of Life-threatening Diseases”
Featuring Dr. Bruce Bloom, CEO, Cures Within Reach
Date: March 20, 2018
Organizer: SmartHealth Activator & Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
▸ More info and registration details
(flyer)
February 22, 2018
NEWS
Fall 2017 Round Catalyst Awards Announced
The CBC is pleased to announce that three teams received Catalyst Awards in Fall 2017 application round:
PIs: Yamuna Krishnan (UChicago) and Dimitri Krainc (NU) for the project:
In situ Lysosomal Ion Imaging as a Sensitive Diagnostic for Lysosomal Disorders
PIs: Raymond Moellering (UChicago) and Sarki Abdulkadir (NU) for the project:
Defining Prostate Tumor Malignancy with Activity-Dependent Pet Probes
PIs: Xiaojing Yang (UIC) and Minglei Zhao (UChicago) for the project:
Observing Protein Allostery Dynamics by Single-Particle Imaging
February 22, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
What causes one disease may cure another—two NU scientists and CBC community members, Marcus Peter and Shad Thaxton, collaborate to develop a potent cancer treatment
Marcus Peter and Shad Thaxton, NU, are senior authors on a recent publication in EMBO Reports, that describes how small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) with high homology to the trinucleotide repeat expansions of the huntingtin gene (responsible for Huntington’s disease), are highly toxic to cancer cells both in culture and in animal models. The authors suggest that such siRNAs could be exploited to develop novel anti-cancer reagents. Both scientists have links to CBC: Peter was an invited speaker at a 2013 CBC Exploratory Workshop, focused to ovarian cancer. Thaxton and a postdoc in his lab, Linda Foid, received a 2014 CBC Postdoctoral Research Award. Congratulations!
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February 14, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Tricking bacteria to remain non-hostile may become a method of choice in preventive medicine—the Federle lab at UIC shows how
A recent publication from the Federle lab, UIC, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, describes a novel compound able to induce quorum sensing (QS)—the process of regulation of gene expression in response to fluctuations in bacteria density. Learning how to perturb QS in a density-independent way presents an intriguing possibility of regulating bacterial virulence. The study is partially attributed to CBC funding via a CBC High-throughput Screening Award (2015) to Michael Federle (UIC) and Tiara Pérez Morales (currently at Benedictine University). Pérez Morales is first, and Federle senior author on the paper. Kiira Ratia, UIC is one of the co-authors. Federle and Ratia have many additional links to CBC (see the article). Congratulations to all involved in the study!
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February 13, 2018
DIRECTOR’S CORNER
What do we mean by ‘discharging translational risk’?
Decision-making in biotech and pharma is often governed through an analysis of risk (and reward) and much of my prior career has been focused on management of varying aspects of risk. How to best identify risk, how to balance it against potential reward, how to allocate it across a portfolio of programs/assets, and importantly how to ‘discharge it’ systematically and efficiently. In drafting the initial RFA for the CBC’s new Phase 2 translationally focused program, the Accelerator Award, I found that my colleagues liked the concept, but often found it somewhat poorly defined…
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February 13, 2018
NEWS
Celebrating the 2000th publication resulting from CBC funding—Jia Chen and Rich Longnecker (NU) with the milestone paper
Among the measures of impact of CBC-supported research, publications in top-tier journals is a prominent and important metric. Earlier this year, as the publications attributed to the CBC funding exceeded 1900, CBC began a countdown to 2000. The CBC is pleased to announced that the milestone—2000th—CBC publication is the February 2018 Nature Microbiology paper with Jia Chen as first author and Richard Longnecker (NU) as senior author. The publication is partially attributed to a CBC Postdoctoral Research Award made to Chen and Longnecker in 2014 and subsequently renewed for 2015. The winning publication has been featured as a new CBC Success Story (see below).
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February 13, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
CBC-sponsored researchers discover a potential Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) receptor—the Longnecker lab, NU, in a spotlight
Using a clever bioinformatics approach to subtract the gene expression profile of epithelial cells susceptible to EBV infection from that of the cells resistant to the infection, the Longnecker lab at NU identified Ephrin receptor A2 as a functional entry receptor for the virus. The study opens doors to deciphering the exact mechanisms of the virus entry and to the development of targeted treatments to prevent it. Published in the February issue of Nature Microbiology, the study is partially attributed to the CBC funding to Richard Longnecker and his postdoctoral fellow, Jia Chen, through the CBC 2014 Postdoctoral Research Award (PDR) and its renewal for 2015. Chen is first author on the publication. Longnecker, who is senior author on the paper, has strong ties to the CBC: he was a member of the CBC Scientific Recruitment Board (2007-2012) and a recipient of CBC Catalyst Award (2012). Another co-author on the study, Bethany Perez White is also a past CBC PDR Award recipient (2014 & 2015 renewal). Congratulations to all involved in the research!
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February 12, 2018
NEWS
CBC Accelerator Network (CBCAN) meeting: Accelerator Award proposals round one, part 2
On February 8, 2018, CBCAN hosted the second group of Live Presentations for the CBC’s newest award program, the Accelerator Award, which is in the midst of its first round. This newest offering from CBC, which is primarily focused on translational research, has drawn great interest from the community, with 32 Letters of Intent (LOIs) submitted covering a broad range of translational efforts toward therapeutics and/or their associated diagnostics or biomarkers. Of the nine promising LOIs that were advanced to the live CBCAN presentation stage, the first four were presented at the CBCAN event on February 1. The remaining five LOIs were presented at the February 8 event.
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February 8, 2018
DIRECTOR’S CORNER
Analyzing the Past to Predict the Future of Pharmaceutical R&D
Since 2010, Deloitte has analyzed the performance of biopharma R&D and the linked report is their most recent analysis. Drug discovery remains costly, complex and challenging and novel approaches are needed to better create value for patients and investors. Harnessing new technologies is a component, as are new discovery and development strategies, often made feasible as a result of technological advances. Additionally, these costs and complexities are leading biopharma to increasingly partner with academia, public research institutions, and private foundations, as well as tech companies (both established and start-ups) and other pharma to turn the tide back in favor of greater innovation and impact.
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February 7, 2018
“In the NEWS”
CBC, MATTER and CIM@MATTER recognized as “accelerator programs to turn research into start-up” in Chicago area
In the article, Matt Baker discusses the Chicago area potential to compete with the Bay Area and Boston-Cambridge in life sciences industry. Having an unparalleled number of world-renowned research universities, including the three CBC schools, Northwestern, UChicago and UIC, two major federal research labs, Fermi and Argonne Labs, and a large cluster of pharmaceutical and biotech companies—Chicago is well positioned for further growth. The CBC is proud to be recognized, along with MATTER and CIM@MATTER, as an important accelerator of the Chicago area’s progress to become a biotech hub. Two of the most recently launched CBC programs—Accelerator Award and CBC Accelerator Network (CBCAN)—particularly well fit the bill as they aim to support translational research and provide university researchers with “early commercial guidance.”
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February 7, 2018
ANNOUNCEMENT
Introducing Director’s Corner
Director’s Blog is a new experiment for the CBC website and will feature stories, opinions and other items of interest to the growing biomedical, translational research and entrepreneurial communities in Chicago (and beyond).
▸ Read the first post
February 2, 2018
NEWS
CBC Accelerator Network (CBCAN) meeting: Accelerator Award proposals round one, part 1
Live Presentation of proposals at CBCAN is an integral component of CBC’s newest award program, the Accelerator Award, which is in the midst of its first round. The program has drawn great interest from the community, with 32 Letters of Intent (LOIs) submitted covering a broad range of translational efforts toward therapeutics and/or their associated diagnostics or biomarkers. Nine promising LOIs were advanced to the live CBCAN presentation stage and the first four were presented at the February 1 CBCAN. Five additional proposals will be presented at a second CBCAN event on February 8.
▸ Read more
February 2, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Awards keep pouring in for the past CBC Lever awardee, Chad Mirkin, NU—congratulations on the prestigious 2018 Nano Research Award!
Chad Mirkin’s achievements in nanoscience and nanotechnology continue to be recognized, with the latest in the form of the 2018 Nano Research Award. The CBC is proud to have supported his research in the past. Mirkin, NU is a co-recipient of a CBC Lever Award (2010) for the project: “Nanomaterials for Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics.”
▸ Read more
February 2, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
New therapeutic opportunities open up for congenital glaucoma – two recent studies from the Quaggin lab, NU
Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness worldwide and its congenital form can be devastating for children. Two new glaucoma studies led by Susan Quaggin, NU, have recently been published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Both publications report on a discovery of a genetic mutation associated with the congenital glaucoma and discuss a potential mechanism leading to elevated ocular pressure. Congratulations to all scientists involved in the studies! Quaggin has ties to CBC: in 2014 she was a co-organizer and a speaker at the CBC Exploratory Workshop dedicated to the topic of vascular biology.
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February 1, 2018
BIOTECH & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
A Discussion of the Legal, Regulatory, and Business Concerns for Biosimilars in 2018
Date: February 21, 2018
Organizer: Women in Bio (WIB) – Chicago
Women in Bio (WIB) Chicago is hosting A Discussion of the Legal, Regulatory, and Business Concerns for Biosimilars in 2018. Last year was a big one in the world of biosimilars: from doubling the number of approved biosimilar products to obtaining clarity on the legal landscape. Our distinguished panel will discuss the myriad legal, regulatory, scientific, pricing, and access issues that biosimilar applicants will be facing this year–issues which will determine whether the public will see another banner year for the availability of life- and cost-saving drug therapies. The panel will include Rekha Hanu, Executive Director, Chief IP Counsel, Akorn Pharmaceuticals and Chistine Simmon, Senior Vice President, Policy & Strategic Alliances, Association for Medicines.
▸ More info and registration details
(flyer)
January 30, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Visualizing exposed potassium channels to evaluate myelin damage in multiple sclerosis—a novel PET tracer technique developed by UChicago team with ties to CBC
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disorder characterized by a disruption of the myelin sheet surrounding the neurons leading to the inability to properly conduct electrical signals. The results can be devastating, ranging from numbness to progressive weakness to paralysis. A UChicago team led by Brian Popko and Pancho Bezanilla has developed a novel PET tracer that can accurately measure the extent of demyelination in MS. The method may nicely complement existing MRI-based evaluation techniques and be very helpful in assessing therapeutically-induced re-myelinatin efforts. Chin-Tu Chen, (UChicago) who received a CBC Postdoctoral Research Award in 2015 is one of the co-authors on the publication describing the new PET tracer. Congratulations to the entire team!
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January 30, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
“The meat in the sandwich”—scale-like calcite matrices that could help affix biological tissues to medical implants developed by a UChicago team led by a CBC awardee, Bozhi Tian
Congratulations to a 2014 CBC Postdoctoral Research Award recipient, Yucai Wang, who is the second and a corresponding author on a recent publication in Nature Communications: “3D calcite heterostructures for dynamic and deformable mineralized matrices.” Wang, currently a full professor at the University of Science and Technology of China, contributed to the published work during his postdoctoral studies in Bozhi Tian’s group at the Department of Chemistry, UChicago. Tian, the senior author on the paper, studies interactions between hard and soft materials at the molecular level, with a goal of utilizing them in applications in regenerative medicine.
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January 30, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Native nano-vesicles and synthetic nano-particles: both can trigger an immune response that significantly reduces cancer metastasis—reports a NU team led by a CBC awardee, Shad Thaxton
Congratulations to Shad Thaxton, NU, and a graduate student in his lab, Michael Plebanek, for two recent publications in Nature Communications and Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. These papers explore the role of the immune system in preventing metastasis in cancer. Plebanek is first author on both publications. In 2014, Thaxton and a postdoc in his lab, Linda Foit, received a CBC Postdoctoral Research Award.
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January 25, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Past CBC awardees, Chad Mirkin and Vinayak David, NU, develop a “mind-bending” technology to build “light-bending” materials from DNA and gold nanoparticles
Two past CBC awardees, Chad Mirkin and Vinayak David, NU, are senior co-authors on a recent paper published in Science, “Building superlattices from individual nanoparticles via template-confined DNA-mediated assembly.” The paper describes a novel technology to fabricate optically active metamaterials that can be modified with DNA with nanoscale precision. Mirkin was a co-recipient of a CBC Lever Award (2010), whereas David was a co-recipient of a CBC Spark Award (2009). Congratulations to all scientists involved in this research!
▸ Read more
January 25, 2018
BIOTECH & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
BioPathways: 2018 Outlook for Healthcare VC Funding in the Midwest; Featuring Nicole Walker, MBA; Partner, Venture Capital – Healthcare Baird Capital
Date: February 20, 2018
Organizer: SmartHealth Activator & Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
▸ More info and registration details
(flyer)
January 25, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Learning from a predator… about learning. Two CBC awardees, Stephanie Palmer and Jason MacLean, UChicago, dissect the process of visual prediction in a hungry salamander
Stephanie Palmer and Jason MacLean, Congratulations to Stephanie Palmer and Jason MacLean, UChicago, for their recent publication in PNAS, titled “Learning to make external sensory stimulus predictions using internal correlations in populations of neurons.” Palmer and MacLean are co-recipients of a CBC Catalyst Award (2015), for the project: “Reading the cortical code for natural motion.” In addition, since 2017, Palmer has served on the CBC Catalyst Review Board (CRB).
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January 24, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
A past CBC symposium speaker, Peter Penzes, NU, named director of the newly launched Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment
Congratulations to Peter Penzes, NU, who has been named director of the new Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment. The Center aims to stimulate collaborations between basic and clinical researchers to further our understanding of the biology of autism and to facilitate development of novel, targeted treatment options. Currently, one in 68 children is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, creating a huge need to augment research efforts in this field. Penzes, the Ruth and Evelyn Dunbar Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, was an invited speaker at the 14th Annual CBC Symposium, “Genetics of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders” (2016), where he presented his research on genetic risk factors in schizophrenia and autism.
▸ Read more
January 24, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
A past CBC awardee Chad Mirkin, NU, to add prestigious 2018 Remsen Memorial Lecture Award to the fast growing list of his accolades
Congratulations to Chad Mirkin, NU, for being recognized with prestigious 2018 Remsen Memorial Lecture Award for his outstanding discoveries in chemistry. Chad Mirkin is a co-recipient of a CBC Lever Award (2010) for the project: “Nanomaterials for Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics.”
▸ Read more
January 18, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
ClostraBio, a startup co-founded by UChicago scientists with ties to CBC, called a “promising, emerging venture”
Congratulations to Cathryn Nagler, PhD, Bunning Food Allergy Professor at UChicago. Her biotech company—ClostraBio—was recently highlighted in the UChicago News and in Crain’s Chicago Business (see below). Nagler’s work focuses on new therapeutics that could benefit patients with increasingly common food allergies. Prior work published in 2015 in The ISME Journal, “Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG-supplemented formula expands butyrate-producing bacterial strains in food allergic infants,” was partially supported by the CCSB/CBC Fellowship, awarded to Aly Azeem Khan—a postdoctoral fellow in her lab and co-author on the paper. This Fellows program was financed by the first CBC Lever Award (2008) to the Chicago Center for Systems Biology (CCSB). ClostrBio’s co-founder, Jeffery Hubbell, UChicago, is also a CBC awardee—he received a CBC HTS Award (2016).
▸ Read more
January 16, 2018
ANNOUNCEMENT
CBC is inviting new applications for the Catalyst Award program
One-time incentive awards (up to $250,000), focused on basic biological/biomedical or translational research, made to teams with principals and other strong representation from at least two of the CBC institutions.
If you plan to apply, please make sure that you are conforming to the MOST RECENT RFA revised Jan. 16, 2018. Applications not conforming to the specified guidelines will NOT be accepted.
Spring 2018 round submissions open at 8:00 AM on February 19, 2018 and close at 5:00 PM on February 23, 2018.
▸ CBC Catalyst Award RFA, rev. Jan. 16, 2018
January 11, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
“Tag, You‘re It!” Tagging proteins with ubiquitin by different E3 ligases may be key to specificity of the ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation
In 2011, a collaboration between Hiroaki Kiyokawa, NU and Jun Yin, currently at Georgia State University but formerly at UChicago, led to a CBC Catalyst Award to “Identify Cell Cycle-Regulatory Substrates Ubiquitinated by the Apoptosis Inhibitor BRUCE.” In 2014, Kiyokawa and his postdoc, Xianpeng Liu, applied and received a CBC Postdoctoral Research Award to “Identify ubiquitination substrates specific for the non-canonical E1 enzyme UBA6.” Two recent publications in Nature Communications and in Science Advances resulted from the CBC funding. Yin and Kiyokawa are senior co-authors, and Liu a co-author on both publications. The papers describe a clever technology to study the role of distinct E3 ligases in the specificity of ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation, a process implicated in the pathology of many human diseases including cancer and autism. Congratulations to both teams!
▸ Read more
January 11, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
“Mind-plus-machine partnership” — a past CBC Scholar, Adam Pah, NU, encourages keeping up with the progress in machine learning and artificial intelligence
Adam Pah, clinical assistant professor of management and organizations, teaches an MBA course on Human-Machine Intelligence at the NU Kellogg School of Management. As a part of the Kellogg Architectures of Collaboration Initiative, the course is intended for the ever-growing cadre of MBA students who would employ machine learning in their future endeavors. Adam was a CBC Scholar, Class of 2011. He received his PhD in 2013 from the NU Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, while working in Luis Amaral’s lab. Congratulations on a successful career!
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January 11, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
How gut bacteria can help in fighting cancer—a CBC awardee, Thomas Gajewski, UChicago, explains
A UChicago group, led by Thomas Gajewski, has recently published in Science that the presence of certain bacteria species in the gut significantly correlated with an improved outcome of immunotherapy in both melanoma patients and in mice. These encouraging results call for further studies to decipher the mechanism of the observed “cooperation” between the bacteria and the anti-cancer drugs. They also suggest potential clinical applications of the “helpful bacteria” to become used in conjunctions with the anti-cancer treatments. Gajewski is a recipient of two CBC Awards: a Catalyst Award (2013) and a Postdoctoral Research Award (2014). Congratulations to all scientists involved in this fascinating study.
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January 10, 2018
NEWS
The CBC is proud to announce that over 2000 publications have been attributed to CBC funding!
The winning 2000th publication will be announced soon! The publication will be featured on the CBC homepage and the CBC awardee(s) will receive a surprise gift to commemorate the occasion!
▸ CBC Publications
January 10, 2018
NEWS
“Lunch & Learn” at the University of Illinois at Chicago
CBC started off the new year with its third Lunch & Learn event which took place in the Molecular Biology Research Building at the University of Illinois at Chicago on January 8, 2018. The “Lunch & Learn” series was inaugurated on September 2017 by Jim Audia, CBC Executive Director, with the first meeting held at The University of Chicago. The second meeting of the series was held at the UIC Forum on November 17, 2017 as an event built into CBC’s Annual Symposium program. Both “Lunch & Learn” events have revolved around the introductions of new CBC programs and the CBC Accelerator Network (CBCAN).
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January 4, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
CBC Awardee, Dr. Louis Philipson, UChicago, named first James C. Tyree Professor in Diabetes Research and Care
Congratulations to Dr. Louis Philipson, the Pediatrics Director of the Kovler Diabetes Center at UChicago, for being named first James C. Tyree Professor in Diabetes Research and Care. Philipson, together with his colleagues Graeme Bell (UChicago), Nissim Hay (UIC) and Joseph Bass (NU), was a co-recipient of a 2011 CBC Spark Award.
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January 4, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
CBC awardee, Elizabeth McNally, NU and her collaborators, induce muscle regeneration in mouse model using human stem cells
Muscular dystrophy progressively and irreversibly damages both skeletal and heart muscle. As there is yet no treatment to stop the degenerative process, scientists are looking to offset the loss of muscle mass by stimulating muscle regeneration. Elizabeth McNally and her postdoc, Mattia Quattrocelli, NU, have just published a study in Nature Communications where they describe an ability of human stem cell-derived mesodermal progenitors to induce muscle regeneration in a mouse model of muscle degeneration. This exciting result opens the door to potential clinical translation in the future. McNally was a recipient of two CBC Awards in the past: a Catalyst and a Spark, both awarded in 2008. Congratulations!
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January 4, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
New molecule with promise to combat multiple myeloma discovered in NU center established with CBC support
Congratulations to Gary Schiltz and Rama Mishra, NU, for their recent discovery published in the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry: “Development of GLUT4-selective antagonists for multiple myeloma therapy.” The paper describes a group of new compounds that inhibit a specific type of glucose transporter found in multiple myeloma thus causing cancer cell starvation and death. The inhibitors were synthesized at the NU’s Center for Molecular Innovation and Drug Discovery (CMIDD). The center evolved from the NU core funded by a CBC Lever Award (2009) to Karl Scheidt (NU), Jie Liang (UIC) and Sergey Kozmin (UChicago). Schiltz, who joined CMIDD in 2010 is currently CMIDD deputy director; Mishra’s expertise is cheminformatics.
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January 3, 2018
“IN THE NEWS”
CBC recognized among important local resources for entrepreneurs as Chicago becomes a hub for biomedical innovation
In the article below, Anna Williams, NU Office of Communications writer, discusses Feinberg School of Medicine as an example of a growing number of universities where academic research meets industry. In other words, entrepreneurship among faculty is becoming more common—being now actively encouraged by the universities. The new trend resonates with the CBC Phase 2 mission which aims to support translational processes which bring promising research results into the commercialization pipeline. CBC is pleased to be acknowledged in the article. As senior director of Corporate Partnerships and Business Development at Feinberg, Jeff Masters, notes “with the city of Chicago becoming a hub for biomedical innovation, there are also several important local resources for entrepreneurs, including MATTER, the Chicago Biomedical Consortium, iBIO and the iBIO Institute’s PROPEL.”
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January 3, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Past CBC symposium speaker, Mark Ratain, UChicago, comments on the new Personalized Therapeutics Clinic at UChicago
Mark Ratain, MD, the Leon O. Jacobson Professor of Medicine at UChicago, is an attending physician at the Personalized Therapeutics Clinic (PTC). Ratain was an invited speaker at the 5th Annual CBC Symposium (2007) titled “Where Science Goes Next: Translation of Basic Discovery for Human Health.”
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January 3, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
CBC community member Laimonis (Lou) Laimins, NU, named Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Congratulations to Laimonis Laimins and Richard J. Miller, NU, for being elected AAAS Fellows! Laimins, the Guy and Anne Youmans Professor and chair of Microbiology-Immunology at the NU Feinberg School of Medicine, was a co-organizer of the 13th Annual CBC Symposium titled “The Unseen Majority: Microbes in Health and Disease.”
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January 3, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
CBC affiliate Teresa Woodroof among three NU scientists named to National Academy of Inventors
Congratulations to the NU Engineering’s Walter Herbst, Mark C. Hersam, and Teresa K. Woodruff recently named 2018 fellows of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). Woodruff was closely affiliated with the CBC Spark (2009) team of Thomas O’Halloran and Vinayak Dravid (NU) and Jonathan Silverstein (UChicago). This Spark Award leveraged core funding from the W. M. Keck Foundation to purchase and install the Cryo STEM at NU.
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January 2, 2018
SUCCESS STORY
Improving immunotherapy—impact of UChicago scientists, including three CBC community members: Thomas Gajewski, Melody Swartz and Everett Vokes
Congratulations to UChicago scientists for their outstanding contributions to develop new immunotherapy-based methods to fight cancer. In the article below, John Easton, senior science writer for the UChicago Medicine At the Forefront, summarizes recent discoveries including the results of clinical trials designed to test novel anti-cancer drugs such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab. Three among the featured UChicago scientists have links to CBC: Thomas Gajewski, Melody Swartz and Everett Vokes. Gajewski is a recipient of two CBC Awards: a Catalyst Award (2013) and a Postdoctoral Research Award (2014). Swartz and Vokes participated in two CBC-organized events: Swartz was an invited speaker at the 9th Annual CBC Symposium (2011) and Vokes was a panelist at the Celebration of the CBC Funding Renewal (Dec. 16, 2016), where he spoke about the recently established 5-year partnership between AbbVie and UChicago to advance research in oncology.
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