(9-16-20) David Ford published part of his dissertation research on the MLR complex role in regulating the microRNA bantam differentially in the context of cell fate. The work is in press in Developmental Biology (https://authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S0012-1606(20)30254-2). . (6/18/20) Jeff Ng recently accepted a new position at Washington Univ in St. Louis as a bioinformatics research analyst with Dr. Tychele Turner in the Department of Genetics. David Ford completed his PhD research and successfully defended his dissertation in April. Congratulations Dr. Ford! Our lab had a major paper published in Nucleic Acids Research this year that described the full developmental ChIP-seq, RNA-seq and genetics of the Drosophila MLR COMPASS-like complex. Co-authors included students Abdul Zakkar, Jeff Ng and Jack Perez, with Drs. Kevin White and Matthew Slattery as co-authors (doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkaa082). A former undergrad in the lab, Suzanne Quinn, has recently been working as a research technician with Dr. Mike Nishimura on CAR-T immunotherapy and will soon matriculate as a PhD student here at Loyola!
(5-27-19) Carlee Bettler joined the laboratory as a summer research intern. Carlee is completing her BS/MS in Bioinformatics at LUC and will be working on several projects over the summer.
(2018-2019) Abdul Zakkar matriculated into the University of Illinois College of Medicine-Chicago, Michael Serwetnyk will be matriculating into the Chemistry doctoral program at the University of Notre Dame, Suzanne Quinn has accepted a position as a research technician following her graduation in May (2019), Jeff Ng graduated with his MS degree in Bioinformatics from Loyola University Chicago and is the co-author on a submitted manuscript and Rick Fagan completed his MD degree as well as published a first-author paper in Cancer Letters.
Dr. Dingwall has assumed the co-directorship of the graduate program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Tim Nickels won the Outstanding Thesis of the Year award from Loyola University Chicago, which includes all students among the LUC campuses.
(6-8-18) Tim Nickels completed his MS degree in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology. Tim's work has been centered on the functions of the Cmi/Trr complex in both oogenesis and embryogenesis. Tim will be matriculating into the Cell, Molecular, Developmental Biology and Biophysics PhD program at The Johns Hopkins University in the Fall. (6-1-18) We welcome two undergraduate students into the lab this summer, including Suzanne Quinn and Michael Serwetnyk, both from the Loyola lakeshore campus. Suzanne is part of the Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, working with David Ford on the functions of the COMPASS complex in eye development. Michael is returning for his second summer, with projects focused on complex functions in oogenesis and early embryos. We also welcome Jeff Ng, a MS student in bioinformatics at LUC, working on ChIP-seq and RNA-seq studies.
(1-31-18) The lab welcomes two new M1 medical STAR students. Andrew Knapp did his undergraduate work at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Michael Perrin completed his undergraduate studies at Fordham University, followed by an MS in Public Health from Yale University and a Fullbright Fellowship. Michael is studying the functions of the complex in HER2+ breast cancers, and Andrew is supported through an NHLBI T32 training grant fellowship to study the role of the COMPASS-like complex in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
(Fall 2017) David Ford placed first in the Loyola University Chicago Three-minute Thesis Competition, which qualified him for the regional competition in Michigan.
(7/1/2017) Dr. Dingwall is appointed as the Department of Pathology Vice Chair for Research.
(6/1/17) Michael Serwetnyk was selected as an NSF REU recipient to work in the lab for the summer of 2017 to study the role of the Cmi-Trr complex in cell growth and proliferation. Michael is a rising junior at Loyola University Chicago. A Loyola Bioinformatics and Computer Science student, Abdul Zakkar (NSF REU recipient 2016/17), has returned to complete his research on protein structural modeling and high throughput ChIP-seq and RNA-seq analyses. Abdul is working on the structural modeling along with Dr. Richard Schultz.
(May 2017) David Ford (GS4) participated in theCatalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering program in Washington D.C., sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). This program introduces PhD students to the advocacy field, and in particular, the role of science in policy-making on Capitol Hill. Over the course of three-and-a-half days, David learned about the structure and organization of Congress, the federal budget and appropriations process, and tools for effective science communication and civic engagement, as well as participated in interactive seminars about policy-making and communication. As a follow-up, David will be working on a program that will give Loyola students teaching opportunities at libraries and schools in the local community to enhance participation in STEM fields. (1/31/17) Timothy Nickels has joined the lab as a graduate student focused on the role of the COMPASS-like Cmi-Trr complex in germline and embryonic development.
(1-31-17) The lab welcomes two new M1 medical STAR students. Matthew Kroll did his undergraduate work at Wash U in St. Louis, followed by a research technician position in the Hultgren lab at Wash U. and Mary Alyssa Varsanik completed her undergraduate studies at Notre Dame University. Alyssa is studying the functions of the complex in therapy resistant breast cancers, and Matt is supported through an NHLBI T32 training grant fellowship to study the role of the COMPASS-like complex in lung cancer.
(1-31-17) David Ford was selected to represent the Biochemistry/Molecular Biology Graduate Program in the University-wide Three Minute Thesis competition in February.
(6-6-16) Abdul Zakkar, an undergraduate from Loyola University Chicago majoring in computer science, bioinformatics and biology has joined the lab for the summer. Abdul is supported through an NSF-REU award to analyze protein structures, investigate innate immunity in Drosophila and develop informatics analyses of RNA-seq data.
(12-15) The lab welcomes two new M1 medical STAR students, FrankOspino and RickFagan, who will begin research in the Spring of 2016. Frank received his undergraduate degree from Cal State-Fullerton before working at Stanford University and Houston Methodist Research Institute. Frank is Vice President of the Latin Medical Student Association (LMSA). Rick graduated from Univ Colorado-Boulder and received his MA degree in Medical Sciences from Loyola Univ Chicago. Rick is supported through an NIH T32 training fellowship from the NHLBI.
(8-15) John (Jack) Perez, our research assistant, matriculated at the University of Illinois as a student in the MPH program.
(6-15)DavidFord passed his doctoral qualifying exam!
(6-1-15) Alison Rhodes from Hope College (MI) has joined the lab for a 10-week summer research opportunity through the Dept. of Microbiology & Immunology Undergraduate Summer Research Program (USRP). Alison is supported through an NSF-REU supplement.
( 3-1-15) Dr. Hanh Mai, a resident fellow in Hematology/Oncology has joined the lab to explore the functions of the COMPASS-like complex in breast cancer.
(1-15-15) Mirza Palacios, a high school student from the Proviso Math and Science Academy in Maywood, joins the lab for the semester as part of the student research program.
(1-1-15) A new review on the cancer COMPASS was published by David Ford and Andrew Dingwall in Cancer Genetics (see publications).
(6-3-14) Jeewanjot (Jolly) Grewalhas joined the lab as a participant in the Department of Microbiology & ImmunologyUndergraduate Summer Research Program. Jolly is currently a student at Dominican University in River Forest (IL).
Michael Leis volunteering to carry out summer research. Michael is a high school student attending Lyons Township High School in La Grange (IL).
Kelly Boyd(LUC undergraduate, Bioinformatics Program) will join the project this summer, working on informatic analyses using RNA-seq data.
(5-15-14) The lab welcomes David Ford as a graduate student in the lab in the Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Graduate Program. David earned his BS degree from Loyola University Chicago and is pursuing his PhD. David is focused on the identification and regulation of target genes controlled by the COMPASS-like complex.
(4-3-14) The final brochure for the Cancer Epigenetics Symposium on April 23 is now available. This day-long symposium sponsored by the Oncology Research Institute will focus on emerging functions of epigenetic gene regulation in development and cancer. An internationally recognized group of speakers will highlight their recent progress on leading edge epigenetics research, including the development of new cancer therapeutics. The symposium will be held at the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center.
(2/10/14) Welcome to our new lab member, John (Jack) Perez. Jack recently completed his undergraduate studies (B.S.) in Health Sciences at Boston University and joined the lab in mid-February.
(1/1/14) Dr. Dingwall was appointed to the editorial board of Developmental Biology, the official journal of the Society for Developmental Biology.
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