Graduate and Postdoc (GaP) Seminar Series

May. 16 2012 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Berkley Gryder - Advisor, Yomi Oyelere, PhD

Targeted Epigenetic Treatment: Exploiting the Androgen Receptor To Deliver Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors for Advanced Prostate Cancer

Clinically validated Histone Deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) are an exciting epigenetic therapy. However, HDACi suffers from an inability to accumulate to therapeutically relevant levels in solid tumors. Therefore, focusing on prostate cancer (PCa), we have designed duel acting HDACi that exploit the androgen receptor (AR) to target advanced PCa where AR is overexpressed.

Zhen Qi - Advisor, Eberhard Voit, PhD

Models of Dopamine Systems: Implications in Human Diseases

The brain’s nigrostriatal dopamine pathway is critical for movement control and regulation. Dysfunction of dopamine transmission through this pathway is associated with Parkinson’s disease. Dopamine transmission might be disturbed when a person is exposed to environmental risk factors and is affected by genetic predisposition. The processes constitute a complex system that operates at multiple time scales and organizational levels. The need to understand such complexity suggests the use of methods from systems biology that complement more traditional biological research and clinical experience. In the work presented here we have developed computational models that capture the dynamics of dopamine signal at different locations and levels. These models have been utilized to study dynamics of the dopamine system and generate hypotheses of mechanisms of pesticides. Eventually, the models are hoped to be useful in biomarker discovery, diagnostics, the prescreening of potential therapeutics, and the actual treatment of dopamine related diseases.

The Graduate and Post-Doc (GaP) Seminar Series is a weekly event of biotechnology related research presentations by two graduate students or post-docs of IBB and is co-sponsored by BME. It is held every Wednesday at 12:00pm in IBB 1128 and refreshments are provided. If your research group or department would like to present at future seminars, please contact Manu Platt, PhD.

GaP Seminar Series schedule