Neuroscience

Study of Mice Watching Movies Reveals Brain Circuit That Ensures Vision Remains Reliable – SciTechDaily

By David Orenstein, MIT Picower Institute for Learning and MemoryOctober 21, 2021

A new study finds that our brain cells rely on a circuit of inhibitory neurons to help ensure that the same images are represented consistently.

A study of mice watching movies shows our brain cells rely on a circuit of inhibitory neurons to help ensure that the same images are represented consistently.

When it comes to processing vision, the brain is full of noise. Information moves from the eyes through many connections in the brain. Ideally, the same image would be reliably represented the same way each time, but instead different groups of cells in the visual cortex can become stimulated by the same scenes. So how does the brain ultimately ensure fidelity in processing what we see? A team of neuroscientists in the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT found out by watching the brains of mice while they watched movies.

What the researchers discovered is that while groups of excitatory neurons respond when images appear, thereby representing them in the visual cortex, activity among two types of inhibitory neurons combines in a neatly arranged circuit behind the scenes to enforce the needed reliability. The researchers were not only able to see and analyze the patterns of these neurons working, but once they learned how the circuit operated they also took control of the inhibitory cells to directly manipulate how consistently excitatory cells represented images.

The question of reliability is hugely important for information processing and particularly for representation in making vision valid and reliable, says Mriganka Sur, the Newton Professor of Neuroscience in MITs Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and senior author of the new study in the Journal of Neuroscience. The same neurons should be firing in the same way when I look at something, so that the next time and every time I look at it, its represented consistently.

Research scientist Murat Yildirim and former graduate student Rajeev Rikhye led the study, which required a number of technical feats. To watch hundreds of excitatory neurons and two different inhibitory neurons at work, for instance, they needed to engineer them to flash in distinct colors under different colors of laser light in their two-photon microscope. Taking control of the cells using a technology called optogenetics required adding even more genetic manipulations and laser colors. Moreover, to make sense of the cellular activity they were observing, the researchers created a computer model of the tripartite circuit.

It was exciting to be able to combine all these experimental elements, including multiple different laser colors, to be able to answer this question, Yildirim says.

The teams main observation was that as mice watched the same movies repeatedly, the reliability of representation among excitatory cells varied along with the activity levels of two different inhibitory neurons. When reliability was low, activity among parvalbumin-expressing (PV) inhibitory neurons was high and activity among somatostatin-expressing (SST) neurons was low. When reliability was high, PV activity was low and SST activity was high. They also saw that SST activity followed PV activity in time after excitatory activity had become unreliable.

PV neurons inhibit excitatory activity to control their gain, Sur says. If they didnt, excitatory neurons would become saturated amid a flood of incoming images and fail to keep up. But this gain suppression apparently comes at the cost of making representation of the same scenes by the same cells less reliable, the study suggests. SST neurons meanwhile, can inhibit the activity of PV neurons. In the teams computer model, they represented the tripartite circuit and were able to see that SST neuron inhibition of PV neurons kicks in when excitatory activity has become unreliable.

This was highly innovative research for Rajeevs doctoral thesis, Sur says.

The team was able to directly show this dynamic by taking control of PV and SST cells with optogenetics. For instance, when they increased SST activity they could make unreliable neuron activity more reliable. And when they increased PV activity, they could ruin reliability if it was present.

Importantly, though, they also saw that SST neurons cannot enforce reliability without PV cells being in the mix. They hypothesize that this cooperation is required because of differences in how SST and PV cells inhibit excitatory cells. SST cells only inhibit excitatory cell activity via connections, or synapses, on the spiny tendrils called dendrites that extend far out from the cell body, or soma. PV cells inhibit activity at the excitatory cell body itself. The key to improving reliability is enabling more activity at the cell body. To do that, SST neurons must therefore inhibit the inhibition provided by PV cells. Meanwhile, suppressing activity in the dendrites might reduce noise coming into the excitatory cell from synapses with other neurons.

We demonstrate that the responsibility of modulating response reliability does not lie exclusively with one neuronal subtype, the authors wrote in the study. Instead, it is the co-operative dynamics between SST and PV [neurons] which is important for controlling the temporal fidelity of sensory processing. A potential biophysical function of the SSTPV circuit may be to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio of excitatory neurons by minimizing noise in the synaptic inputs and maximizing spiking at the soma.

Sur notes that the activity of SST neurons is not just modulated by automatic feedback from within this circuit. They might also be controlled by top-down inputs from other brain regions. For instance, if we realize a particular image or scene is important, we can volitionally concentrate on it. That may be implemented by signaling SST neurons to enforce greater reliability in excitatory cell activity.

Reference: Reliable Sensory Processing in Mouse Visual Cortex through Cooperative Interactions between Somatostatin and Parvalbumin Interneurons by Rajeev V. Rikhye, Murat Yildirim, Ming Hu, Vincent Breton-Provencher and Mriganka Sur, 20 October 2021, JNeurosci.DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3176-20.2021

In addition to Sur, Yildirim, and Rikhye, the papers other authors are Ming Hu and Vincent Breton-Provencher.

The National Eye Institute, The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of the National Institutes of Health, and the JPB Foundation funded the study.

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Study of Mice Watching Movies Reveals Brain Circuit That Ensures Vision Remains Reliable - SciTechDaily

Neuroscience

Global Neuroscience Market Analysis 2021 to 2027 Top Key Players are GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthineers, Noldus Information Technology EcoChunk -…

The complete study Global Neuroscience Market from 2021 to 2027, the MarketsandResearch.biz gives an in-depth examination of the present situation and key elements in the given industry. It provides accurate information and conducts in-depth research to assist in the creation of the best business plan and the identification of the best path for market participants to achieve maximum growth.

Previous growth trends, current growth factors, expected future changes, market growth opportunity in the coming years, and successful traders are all examined in this article. Financial revenues, regional presence, business overview, items sold, and significant methods used by players to keep ahead of the competition are all included in this part.

This analysis includes market shares and growth potential by product type, application, leading manufacturers, important areas, and countries. According to the analysis, the global Neuroscience market is expected to grow at a significant rate, as evidenced by current trends and the studys findings.New product launches, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic partnerships are all part of the market research. The study supports in the discovery of new marketing prospects and gives a complete picture of the present global Neuroscience market.

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Market segmentation based on applications:

Region Covered in the report:

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Key Features of Global Neuroscience market report are, growth rate, regional bifurcation, new product, major manufacturers, market problemsandRevenue forecasts.Further, based on primary research and extensive secondary research, the report was produced based on recent trends, pricing analysis, potential and historic demand and supply, economic conditions, COVID-19 influence, and other aspects.

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Neuroscience

What Can Mapping the Whole Brain Tell Us About Ourselves? – Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence

The worm and fly brains have been mapped. The mouse brain has, in part, been mapped. But the human brain offers the real challenge for the researchers working around the clock. Our brains are not just more complex; they are more complex on a number of dimensions:

To truly understand how the brain works, neuroscientists also need to know how each of the roughly 1,000 types of cell thought to exist in the brain speak to each other in their different electrical dialects. With that kind of complete, finely contoured map, they could really begin to explain the networks that drive how we think and behave.

We hear about these new types of cells as they are identified (there is even a census in the works) . The hope is that a complete map will enable new therapies for cognitive disorders like Alzheimer. But the brain mapping projects, begun nearly a decade ago, are still in the early stages:

The consortium [BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network (BICCN)] has mapped the cell types in around 1% of the mouse brain, and has some preliminary data on primate brains, including humans. It plans to complete the whole mouse brain by 2023. The maps already hint at some small differences between species that could help to explain our susceptibility to some human-specific conditions such as Alzheimers disease.

Its a big job:

In 2006, the Allen Institute created a gene-expression atlas showing where in the mouse brain each of its roughly 21,000 genes are expressed. It took 3 years for around 50 staff to build the Allen Brain Atlas one gene at a time and its value was instantly recognized by the neuroscience community. It is updated regularly and continues to be widely used as a reference, helping scientists to locate where their gene of interest is expressed or to study the role of a particular gene in a disease.

Still, the community wanted more. We wanted to be able to see every gene that is expressed in every cell at the same time, says Hongkui Zeng, director of the Allen Institute for Brain Science. The different patterns of gene expression in individual cells would allow researchers to define which type of cell they were an ambitious task because the mouse brain contains more than 100 million cells, two-thirds of which are neurons. (The human brain is three orders of magnitude larger, with more than 170 billion cells, of which half are neurons.)

Human brains differ from mouse brains in more than just size. We have more different cell types and a different balances in types of neurons. Neuroscientist Ed Lein of the Allen Institute offers, These cumulative differences could lead to profound changes in how the human cortex is organized and functions.

So then, what makes the human brain special?

What makes the human brain special will come down to differences in the cellular diversity, the proportions of the cell types, the wiring of the brain and probably much more, says neuroscientist John Ngai at the University of California, Berkeley, who heads the US BRAIN Initiative. Theres no simple answer to this age-old question.

No simple answer indeed! The brain is full of surprises. Much that happens is not what we might expect. Here are some of the situations brain mappers must confront to provide the rest of us with insight:

A computer model of the brain wont really work. Our brains are not like computers although they do have some resemblance to billions of them working together. Even the axons in our nerve cells are smart PCs. As a result, we are told, far-flung regions (thousands of cell body widths from their nucleus) can even make independent decisions.

A complete DNA map of the brain wont be a Big Answer either. Our brains break DNA in order to learn more quickly: to express learning and memory genes more quickly, brain cells snap their DNA into pieces at many key points, and then rebuild their fractured genome later Quanta

The brain is both eclectic and orderly at the same time. For example, gray matter isnt the simple big big explanation many of us have assumed: Connectionthe connectomeis the astonishing feature of the brain. Mapping the connectome all the connections in the brainresearchers expected a huge, random tangle. They found a street map.

In the brain, things may not be in one place or in a place we expect. Most parts of the brain are involved in processing signals. Mouse studies found brain waves that can bypass synapses and gaps and even communicate with severed nerves. Our conscious visual perception lies outside our visual field. And memories can drift from neuron to neuron.

Damaged or deficient brains can work well in ways that are just baffling at present. People with brains that have been split in half to control epilepsy function normally. Some people think and speak with only half a brain or even less.

The proposed whole brain map will probably shed light on many of these situations. Those it doesnt shed light on are probably a new frontier.

You may also wish to read:

Study: The human brain and the universe are remarkably similar. It looks as though the universe is not random but rather patterned in the way it unfolds. When an astrophysicist and a neurosurgeon compared notes, they were surprised by the way the brain follows the same pattern as the universe.

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What Can Mapping the Whole Brain Tell Us About Ourselves? - Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence

Biochemistry

What is biochemistry? | Biochemistry

Biochemistry is the branch of science that explores the chemical processes within and related to living organisms. It is a laboratory based science that brings together biology and chemistry. By using chemical knowledge and techniques, biochemists can understand and solve biological problems.

Biochemistry focuses on processes happening at a molecular level. It focuses on whats happening inside our cells, studying components like proteins, lipids and organelles. It also looks at how cells communicate with each other, for example during growth or fighting illness. Biochemists need to understand how the structure of a molecule relates to its function, allowing them to predict how molecules will interact.

Biochemistry covers a range of scientific disciplines, including genetics, microbiology, forensics, plant science and medicine. Because of its breadth, biochemistry is very important and advances in this field of science over the past 100 years have been staggering. Its a very exciting time to be part of this fascinating area of study.

To find out more about careers in biochemistry read our bookletsBiochemistry: the careers guideandNext Steps.

The life science community is a fast-paced, interactive network with global career opportunities at all levels. The Government recognizes the potential that developments in biochemistry and the life sciences have for contributing to national prosperity and for improving the quality of life of the population. Funding for research in these areas has been increasing dramatically in most countries, and the biotechnology industry is expanding rapidly.

The Biochemical Societyaims to inspire and engage people in the molecular biosciences. We offer study and careers advice toschool students,higher education studentsandteachersas well as carrying outpublic engagementevents.

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What is biochemistry? | Biochemistry

Biochemistry

Biochemistry: Free For All – Open Textbook Library

Reviewed by Jeffry Nichols, Associate Professor, Worcester State University on 6/1/21

Comprehensivenessrating:3see less

The material covered is fairly similar to other biochemistry textbooks, but does lack some of the details of a more comprehensive biochemistry text (i.e. Lehninger's text). This isn't a negative, just an observation. The order in which the concepts are presented is different, but again still fairly complete.

Content Accuracyrating:4

From what I could tell, the information is accurate. Examples appear to be unbiased and give good everyday correlations to biochemistry ideas.

Relevance/Longevityrating:3

The material for the basics and background for biochemistry are unlikely to change, so in that sense they are relevant. The way in which the material is presented, i.e. the formatting, does make it difficult to follow at times. The tables and figures are not always near the relevant text and often there are figures/tables that appear before the section in the text. Again, this could be a formatting issue.

Clarityrating:4

The text is easy to follow, avoids jargon for the most part (until it needs defining). As mentioned above, references to tables/figures are hard to follow and some tables/figures seem "stuck in" at random points. This hurts the clarity of the text while reading.

Consistencyrating:4

Each chapter sticks to a familiar layout and walks the student through the various topics in a coherent manner.

Modularityrating:3

Overall the text could be broken up, but again, possibly due to formatting, many of the links do not work, interrupting the flow, On all the end of chapter sections, I couldn't get any of the links to work, with a message about "to be developed" or "coming soon". This is unfortunate as these links could be great for further exploration and follow up assignments.

Organization/Structure/Flowrating:3

Yes, the organization is pretty good, although I think the introduction of electron transport and electrochemistry should come after an understanding of WHERE these molecules are coming from, i.e. metabolism, breakdown of sugars, fats, amino acids, etc. This doesn't make it "bad", just no my personal preference. And as mentioned previously, the plethora of tables/figures can be overwhelming when they don't always line up with the discussion of them in the text.

Interfacerating:2

Couldn't get the links to work--although it appears many of the links are "printed" after the end of entire book. So the material might be there, but as it is currently put together, it would be difficult for instructors or students to use these links effectively.

Grammatical Errorsrating:4

From what I can tell, the grammar is fine throughout the text.

Cultural Relevancerating:4

Again, from what I read, I didn't notice any insensitive or offensive parts. Examples were clear and highlighted the biochemical aspects without a need address social or other issues. (which could actually be good depending on the nature of the class and student's interest in how science touch many aspects of our lives)

I have hope for this book, but I couldn't readily tell if this book is being maintained or updated on a regular basis, or if it is just a framework for others to build upon. The organization isn't ideal, and there are problems with links and such, but the overall material and coverage looks pretty good.

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Biochemistry: Free For All - Open Textbook Library

Biochemistry

Biochemistry Open & Free OLI

Biochemistry is an introductory course, designed for both biology and chemical engineering majors.

A consistent theme in this course is the development of a quantitative understanding of the interactions of biological molecules from a structural, thermodynamic, and molecular dynamic point of view. A molecular simulation environment provides the opportunity for you to explore the effect of molecular interactions on the biochemical properties of systems.

This course assumes that students have taken introductory chemistry, including basic thermodynamics, as well as introductory organic chemistry. An introductory biology course is not a prerequisite for the course, but students would benefit from some prior exposure to biology, even at the high school level. Required mathematical skills include simple algebra and differential calculus.

The two main learning goals of the course are:

The course begins with amino acids and transitions into protein structure and thermodynamics. Protein-ligand binding is treated for both non-cooperative and cooperative binding using immunoglobulins and oxygen transport as examples. The enzymatic function of proteins is explored using serine and HIV proteases as examples. Enzyme kinetics is treated using steady-state kinetic analysis. Enzyme inhibition is treated quantitatively, using HIV protease as a key example.

Carbohydrate and lipids are presented in sufficient depth to allow the student to fully understand major aspects of central metabolism. The discussion of metabolism is focused on energy generation, fermentation, and metabolic control.

The course concludes with an extensive section on nucleic acid biochemistry. The focus of this section is to provide the student with sufficient background so that they are literate in the recombinant DNA technologies as they relate to protein production using recombinant methods.

After a treatment of molecular forces and solution properties, the course builds on molecular and energetic descriptions of fundamental monomeric building blocks to develop a comprehensive understanding of the biological function of polymers and molecular assemblies at the molecular and cellular level. In addition to multiple case studies, the course concludes with a capstone exercise that leads students through the steps required to produce recombinant proteins for drug discovery. The major topics in the course are:

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Biochemistry Open & Free OLI

Biochemistry

Assessing Early Biochemical Alterations in Tumors – Technology Networks

Researchers at the University of Arkansas have demonstratedthe first use of a noninvasive optical technique to determine complex biochemical changes in cancers treated with immunotherapy.

We show that optical spectroscopy provides sensitive detection of early changes in the biomolecular composition of tumors, said Narasimhan Rajaram, associate professor of biomedical engineering. This is important because these changes predict response to immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Thus, our work is the first step in determining whether Raman spectroscopy can identify treatment responders and non-responders early during the course of therapy.

Immune checkpoints act as brakes on the immune system to ensure that the bodys immune response is proportional to the threat level detected. Immune checkpoint inhibitors effectively remove these brakes and unleash the bodys immune system against cancer cells.

The study, published inCancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, describes the use of Raman spectroscopy to determine the molecular composition of colon cancer tumors in mice treated with two types of immunotherapy drugs currently used in the clinical treatment of patients.

Raman spectroscopy uses optical fibers to direct near-infrared laser light to biological tissue. The Raman signal scattered from the tissue is especially sensitive to the molecular composition of the tissue.

For this study, the researchers used machine-learning approaches to train hundreds of Raman datasets acquired from colon cancer tumors treated with different immunotherapy drugs. They then tested the data from each tumor against the overall dataset to determine the difference between tumors that had received various types of immunotherapy and tumors that did not receive any therapy.

The Raman technique demonstrated sensitive detection of early changes in the biomolecular composition of tumors and differentiated tumor response to different treatments. Changes picked up by the non-invasive Raman probe were consistent with changes described by detailed tissue analysis, the researchers found.

Unlike other forms of cancer treatment, immunotherapy does not result in an immediate and predictable reduction in tumor size, and there are currently no accurate methods to determine treatment response in patients. Only a small group of patients benefit from immunotherapy, and there are severe side effects associated with specific combinations of immunotherapy.

Rajaram partnered with Ishan Barman, associate professor of mechanical engineering at Johns Hopkins University, and Alan J. Tackett, deputy director of the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute and professor of biochemistry at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Joel Rodriguez Troncoso, graduate student in biomedical engineering at the U of A, and Santosh Kumar Paidi at Johns Hopkins University were lead authors on the paper.

In addition to Rodriguez Troncoso and Kumar Paidi, co-authors of the paper were Paola Monterroso Diaz, Jesse D. Ivers and David E. Lee at the University of Arkansas, Piyush Raj from Johns Hopkins University, and Nathan L. Avaritt, Allen J. Gies, Charles M. Quick, and Stephanie D. Byrum from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

This research was supported by the Society of Laboratory Automation and Screening Graduate Education Fellowship Grant, the Arkansas IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence, the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute and grants from the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

Reference:Paidi SK, Troncoso JR, Raj P, et al.Raman spectroscopy and machine learning reveals early tumor microenvironmental changes induced by immunotherapy. Cancer Res. 2021. https://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2021/09/28/0008-5472.CAN-21-1438

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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Assessing Early Biochemical Alterations in Tumors - Technology Networks

Biochemistry

Changing the face of science | @theU – @theU

Adapted from a story that originally appeared here in the University of Utah Health newsroom.

When Faith Bowman was deciding where to attend graduate school, the University of Utah wasnt exactly at the top of her list. Coming from Wisconsin, she didnt know much about the school or the state. But during her recruitment visit, an informal gathering with students from the all-inclusive University of Utah SACNAS (Society for Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science) chapter helped her see things differently. After talking with them, she knew that if she came, she would be surrounded by a supportive community. She chose the U, and three years later, that prediction has held true.

To me, SACNAS is a community away from home, says Bowman, now president of the U chapter. Its a place that has created a sense of belonging for me on campus while helping me to achieve my professional goals.

Bowmans experience isnt unique. The Bioscience graduate programs have collaborated with the U SACNAS community in its annual recruitment activities since 2017. These efforts, which included hosting the 2017 SACNAS National Conference in Salt Lake City, have resulted in tripling recruitment of students from historically underrepresented (UR) backgrounds. UR students now comprise 33% of the domestic class, and racial and ethnic minorities comprise 28%, reflecting the national talent pool.

Knowing this diverse, all-inclusive community is here helps recruits decide, in parallel to the awesome research, that we are their best fit, says Jeanette Ducut-Sigala, U SACNAS manager.

The ability to make meaningful change in diversity and inclusion has earned U SACNAS national recognition. In a virtual ceremony held on October 13, the national organization designated the U group Chapter of the Year along with six other local chapters of the 133 located in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

U SACNAS officially launched in 2014 with the goal of training and supporting the next generation of diverse STEM talent. From students to professionals, the parent organization fosters success in attaining advanced degrees, careers and positions of leadership within STEM. The U chapter mainly serves graduate students, postdocs and staff while a sub-chapter centered on main campus is open to both undergraduates and graduate students. Ducut-Sigala, biochemistry faculty Minna Roh-Johnson and Paul Sigala and human genetics faculty Clement Chow operate as advisors.

Its clear that across the country there is a great need for organizations like this one. According to SACNAS, the national STEM workforce is only 6% Hispanic, 4.8% Black, and 0.2% Native American, numbers that are significantly lower than in the overall U.S. workforce. A lack of diversity hurts all of us, the organization explains, because diverse voices bring creative solutions to our worlds most pressing scientific problems.

U of U SACNAS helps its members to grow through authentic inclusion: hosting talks by professionals to inspire career aspirations and create connections with role models, supportive peer mentoring, outreach and leadership development. In collaboration with the University Counseling Center, Health and Wellness Center and Center for Student Wellness, they hold sessions where members can talk through troublesome issues and learn strategies for balancing their lives in and outside of science. Knowing that role modeling can make all the difference, particularly in young children, they also perform outreach with local K-12 schools to show that science is for everyone.

The organization has provided a sense of belonging to member Jesse Velasco-Silva, a biochemistry graduate student and the chapters vice president. The SACNASfamiliaalways encourages me to bring, show and celebrate my strength, resilience, culture, traditions and science, he says. He explains that being a first-generation Mexican-American immigrant and college student has come with challenges. The guidance and support hes received from the SACNAS community has helped him to overcome them.

As for Bowman, her experience has come full circle. She benefitted from the openness of the U SACNAS community when she was making the difficult decision of where to get her doctoral degree. Now, she does the same for the next sets of prospective students.

I get to show the recruits, particularly the first-gen BIPOC students, how we belong on campus, belong in our programs, and thrive here because we have a community like SACNAS, she says. We have a supportive, collaborative environment at Utah and really, a university committed to equity and inclusion.

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Changing the face of science | @theU - @theU

Biochemistry

Hani Goodarzi, PhD, Awarded Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in the Biomedical Sciences – UCSF News Services

Last month, Hani Goodarzi, PhD, received a $50,000 award for his work in the early detection of cancer and identification of therapeutic targets in cancer metastasis.

Dr. Goodarzi, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics with affiliations in the Department of Urology, Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, earned the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in the Biomedical Sciences in September. The prize is awarded to young immigrant professionals who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in their early careers. Dr. Goodarzi is one of three winners in the biomedical sciences this year.

I was ecstatic to learn I was awarded this prize, Dr. Goodarzi said. This is important to me because there is not really any other award in the biomedical sciences dedicated to immigrants in the US. I have always been very passionate about the issues and challenges immigrants face.

In 2006, Dr. Goodarzi moved to the US from Iran to pursue his doctorate degree in computational biology and genomics at Princeton University. After completing his postdoctoral fellowship at Rockefeller University in cancer systems biology, he started his multidisciplinary lab at UCSF in 2016.

Using modeling and computational methods to study breast cancer metastasis, Dr. Goodarzi regards his lab as an amalgamation of computational and experimental biology. He loves collaborating with a diverse group of scientists who are at the top of their fields to look at cancer from new perspectives.

[Dr. Goodarzi] is absolutely a rising star at UCSF, said Jeremy Reiter, MD, PhD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Biochemistry. He is choosing his research questions wisely, and having two realms of expertise makes him a particularly effective discoverer of new biology.

Dr. Goodarzi believes it is important to be in an environment that fosters and augments his interests, citing that as the motivation behind his immigration to the US he wanted to surround himself with people dedicating their careers to the pursuit of knowledge. He states that science and technology in the US are really driven by immigrants. Unfortunately, he thinks there are few international students in the graduate programs at UCSF.

That is something we have to change if we want to capture that broader global diversity and enrich our student body, Dr. Goodarzi said. Every single one of my mentors were themselves immigrants.

Going forward, Dr. Goodarzi hopes to advocate for younger generations to make the pursuit of knowledge in a foreign country easier for them. He knows that more diversity among investigators means more vantage points and more opportunities to solve problems.

These vantage points are very much driven by our upbringing, culture, and where we come from, Dr. Goodarzi said. There is not a one-size-fits-all approach in how we think about science.

Dr. Reiter said that Dr. Goodarzi exemplifies some of the many things immigrants bring to our society, including scientific advances. Good-natured, humble, and conscientious, Dr. Goodarzi is deeply devoted to his group members, ensuring they are well-supported in their abilities to do good science.

The department is extremely happy for him and very proud of him to be recognized by the Vilcek Prize.

[Dr. Goodarzi] is a great example of somebody who has followed their curiosity and is making impactful discoveries that are driven by pure love of discovering the new, Dr. Reiter said. There is no one who is better suited to be recognized for his contributions.

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Hani Goodarzi, PhD, Awarded Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in the Biomedical Sciences - UCSF News Services

Biochemistry

Science is Looking at Ways to Self-Heal Cellphones – AZoNano

Almost all cellphone users experience a cracked screen at some point. This frustrating issue can be disappointing and is expensive to fix.

Two scientists from Concordias OH Research Group in the Faculty of Arts and Science are exploring ways to self-heal the cellphone, and their research could have wider implications.

One of the major difficulties in these types of projects is to maintain a balance between the mechanical and self-healing properties.

Twinkal Patel (BSc 17), PhD Candidate and Study First Author, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Concordia University

The study titled Self-Healable Reprocessable Triboelectric Nanogenerators Fabricated with Vitrimeric Poly(hindered Urea) Networks has been reported in the ACS Nano journal.

Patel states this study excels from similar work on the topic due to its focal point on temperature.

Our goal is to not compromise the toughness of the network while adding dynamic ability to self-heal damage and scratches. We focus on achieving complete healing of scratches at just room temperature. This feature sets our research apart from others.

Twinkal Patel (BSc 17), PhD Candidate and Study First Author, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Concordia University

The research group's self-healing polymer networks were made via highly simple synthetic routes. The materials developed showed outstanding results at room temperature.

These materials can quickly repair damages and cracks due to the self-healing mechanism. As a result, these materials save consumers time and money while also extending the lifespan of the material used and reducing environmental burden, stated Pothana Gandhi Nellepalli, Horizon postdoctoral fellow and co-author on the paper.

Patel credits the success of the project to the Oh Research Group, headed by John Oh, professor and Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Nanobioscience in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Oh stated, Working here has been a great experience. During my time here I have met amazing and supportive members who have made this lab feel like a second family. I am very thankful for the mentorship I received from my supervisor to publish my first paper. I feel accomplished to see the hard work Ive done be published.

In the future, I would like to use self-healing polymer networks for improving the battery life of triboelectric nanogenerators. This same technology could definitely be used to extend the lifespan of cellphone batteries. In the future, we would be able to charge them just by walking.

Twinkal Patel (BSc 17), PhD Candidate and Study First Author, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Concordia University

This technology enables a device to store energy and convert it into electricity by applying repeated movement. One can think of LED lights that are activated when they pass by.

Patel, T., et al. (2021) Self-Healable Reprocessable Triboelectric Nanogenerators Fabricated with Vitrimeric Poly (hindered Urea) Networks. ACS Nano. doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.0c03819.

Source: https://www.concordia.ca/

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Science is Looking at Ways to Self-Heal Cellphones - AZoNano