UC Berkeley researchers studying cancer and infectious disease are joining forces in an attempt to maniupulate the immune response for both invaders through immunotherapy. The recently formed IVRI, Immunotherapeutics and Vaccine Research Institute, is at the forefront of this collaborative work.
Department News
Below are articles from various sources about members of MCB and their research.
January 13, 2017
The lab of MCB Associate Professor Lin He has reprogrammed embryonic stem cells from mice to act as “totipotent-like” stem cells, capable of generating any cell type within a developing embryo. This research could augment the selection of cell types and tissues made from stem cells, expanding the potential for stem cell therapy.
December 22, 2016
MCB's Professor Jennifer Doudna, in collaboration with Professor Jill Banfield (of earth & planetary sciences and of ESPM), have "discovered simple CRISPR systems similar to CRISPR-Cas9 — a gene-editing tool that has revolutionized biology — in previously unexplored bacteria that have eluded efforts to grow them in the laboratory."
December 20, 2016
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. Have a great winter break, everyone! ...And with all that free time, catch up on reading the Fall 2016 Newsletter.
December 20, 2016
Professor Jennifer Doudna will be given a Luminary Award at the Precision Medicine World Conference on January 23rd-25th, 2017. Doudna will also be one of the key speakers at the conference -- read a recent PMWC Q&A with Professor Doudna.
Are you interested in attending the conference? PMWC has created a discount code for UC Berkeley attendees -- It is "berkeley_discount_pmwc2017" (expires on January 11, 2017). Or register here and have the code applied automatically.
December 15, 2016
MCB Professor Steve Brenner (also Professor in PMB and Bioengineering) co-authored a study identifying the rare mutation that causes severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), or “boy in the bubble” disease. The finding demonstrates new advancements in molecular diagnosis in clinical medicine, especially regarding congenital diseases.
December 14, 2016
MCB Professor Nicole King, her graduate student, Arielle Woznica and collaborators have found the first demonstration that bacteria can drive sexual mating in eukaroyotes. "Researchers seeking the evolutionary roots of the animal kingdom have discovered a bacterium, Vibrio fischeri, that acts as an aphrodisiac on a species of protozoan choanoflagellates, the closest living relatives of animals, by releasing an enzyme that sends Salpinogoeca rosetta, into a full mating frenzy."
November 17, 2016
On the morning of the Big Give (Nov 17th), the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology was one of the winners of a "Random Alumni Donor" drawing. That means that whatever that alumnus donated, the university will contribute an additional $2K! Check out the Big Give Leaderboard for more stats and thanks to all of you who supported our research, education, and students here at MCB!
November 08, 2016
The Department of Molecular and Cell Biology (MCB) at UC Berkeley invites applications for a pool of full-time or part-time, temporary non-tenure track Lecturer positions to teach MCB courses as the need arises.
October 27, 2016
MCB Assistant Adjunct Professor Jacob Corn was one of the lead authors on a recent study revealing significant progress in the fight against sickle cell disease.