New research from the lab of MCB Associate Professor Diana Bautista demonstrates that a single molecule, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), can cause both pain and itch in the skin of male mice. In the future, treatments that block the receptor for that molecule may control pain and itch sensations in those who suffer from certain skin diseases.
MCB graduate student Rose Hill is first author of the paper, published this week in The Journal of Neuroscience.
Hitomi Asahara and Alison Killilea were recently recognized for their contributions to the University with campus staff awards. Both scientists are directors of MCB research facilities and have found creative, innovative ways to improve or enhance their facilities. In turn, their work will help other UC Berkeley scientists perform their research more efficiently.
Recent MCB graduate Carolyn Elya, who studied with HHMI Investigator and Professor of GGD Michael Eisen, discovered a fungus that infects fruit flies, invades their nervous system, and manipulates the fly's behavior to its advantage. Infecting flies back in the lab, they were able to study how the E. Muscae pathogen infected the host and induced the behavioral changes. A paper was just published in eLife with their findings.
New Research from the lab of MCB Assistant Adjunct Professor and Scientific Director of the Innovative Genomics Initiative Jacob Corn sheds light on the 'black box' of how cells repair their DNA after the CRISPR-Cas9 enzyme makes its incision, and demonstrates that many of the common assumptions on how this repair occurs are incorrect.
MCB graduate student Kurtresha Worden and I&P Assistant Professor Kaoru Saijo are one of 45 student-adviser pairs to receive a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Gilliam Fellowship. Designed to support students aspiring become academic leaders from groups who are underrepresented in science, and to help their thesis advisers build inclusive training environments, they will receive an annual award including a student stipend and training allowance for up to three years.
Dr. Saijo's mentoring skills will be honed by a year of mentor development activities, crucial to supporting a student's research and professional skills. The pair will help to build a strong community of scientists who are committed to advancing diversity and inclusion. Congratulations Kurtresha and Kaoru!
Who was your favorite professor? My favorite professor was Prof. David Presti from MCB 61. Prof. Presti is engaging, passionate, and tries to start interesting and genuine discussions with students in the classroom.
University of California, Berkeley
Dept. of Molecular & Cell Biology
142 LSA #3200
Berkeley, CA 94720-3200
Phone: (510) 643–3406
Email: mcbchair@berkeley.edu
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