News

Dr. Arturo Vegas Presents Research to Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus

From BU Chemistry News:

On October 5th, 2016 Dr. Arturo Vegas, who is a leader in the development of targeted therapies, discussed the recent progress to overcome challenges in the field including the development of automated insulin dosing, the production of mature insulin-producing cells from human stem cells, and new materials that can be used to prevent the rejection of transplanted insulin-producing tissue to the Coalition for the Life Sciences Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus.

Lynn Marquis, the Director of the Coalition for the Life Sciences Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus, invited Dr. Vegas to present his exciting research on Type 1 diabetes to a varied group of Congressional Representatives from across the country.

Type 1 diabetes, formally known as juvenile diabetes, is a disease characterized by the inability of patients to produce their own insulin hormone. It currently afflicts an estimated three million Americans. While a rigorous regimen of blood glucose monitoring coupled with daily injections of insulin remains the leading treatment, diabetics still suffer ill effects due to challenges with daily compliance and imperfect blood glucose control. The technologies Dr. Vegas is researching and discussed are bringing us closer than ever to mitigating this disease and improving the quality of life for these patients.

“The words of Sir Winston Churchill are applicable regarding the impact of their significant advances on a potential cure for diabetes: ‘This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is perhaps the end of the beginning.’” –Stock et al. Cell Stem Cell 18: 431-433. 2016

Watch his presentation here: “Are We Close to a Cure for Type 1 Diabetes?” – Arturo Vegas Presents to CBRC

Dr. Khalil Receives NIH “New Innovator Award”

Ahmad "Mo" Khalil, a College of Engineering assistant professor of biomedical engineering, has received a New Innovator Award under the High-Risk, High-Reward program sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Read more >>

Xue Han and Wilson Wong, both MCBB faculty in ENG, have also received the NIH New Innovator Award.

Dr. Klapperich to Join Board of Directors in the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)

From ENG News:

Professor Catherine Klapperich (BME, MSE), associate dean for Research and Technology Development, will join the Board of Directors for a term spanning 2016-2019. The board is the main governing body of BMES and performs tasks ranging from electing an executive director to managing society resources and public image while maintaining accountability.

“It’s a great honor to participate in the leadership of BMES,” said Klapperich. “It gives us a great avenue to promote the field and engage in efforts to diversify and strengthen the pool of students and advanced trainees in biomedical engineering.”

Dr. Ngo Receives Career Development Professorship

From ENG News, by Amy Laskowski, BU Today:

The Reidy Family Career Development Professorship, which recognizes College of Engineering and Questrom School of Business faculty, goes his year to John Ngo, an ENG assistant professor of biomedical engineering. The Ralph Edwards Career Development Professorship, given to MED junior faculty, has been awarded to Joshua Campbell (MED’12), a MED assistant professor of computational biomedicine.

Ngo’s research applies principles of evolution, chemistry, and engineering to develop new tools for visualizing, measuring, and controlling biomolecules in cells and organisms. Currently, his lab studies how proteases—proteins that “chop up” other proteins—are used by cells to regulate gene expression in response to different biological signals.

He says his Career Development Professorship came as a complete surprise, and that upon learning that he had been selected, he immediately wrote to thank his former mentors. “As somebody who is just starting an independent career, I know that much of my success is owed to the scientists who coached me along the way,” says Ngo, whose undergraduate degree is from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and PhD in biochemistry and molecular biophysics from the California Institute of Technology. “To me, this award is a big reminder of how lucky I am to have been trained by such great teachers. So, in honor of my mentors, I’m going to pay it forward and use this award to enhance the training environment of my lab for my own students.”

Ho Lab Research Featured in CAS Magazine

The research of the Ho lab, directed by Associate Professor of Biology Angela Ho and Research Assistant Professor Uwe Beffert, was recently featured in the College of Arts & Sciences magazine. Their research, funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Harold and Margaret Southerland Alzheimer’s Research Fund, investigates the cellular and molecular basis of human brain diseases, including Alzheimer's Disease and autism.

Dr. Daniel Segrè at the White House

Dr. Daniel Segrè, a Professor of Biology and Biomedical Engineering, and a member of the Bioinformatics program, recently attended an event at the White House as part of the launch of the National Microbiome Initiative by the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy. This event coincides with BU’s own microbiome initiative, which will be launched with a Fall 2016 conference: Microbes at Multiple Scales: From Genes to the Biosphere. These initiatives will involve modeling microbial systems, environmental and human health impacts, and applying the techniques of synthetic biology to microbiome research.

Read the BU Today article for more information >>

Dr. Aaron Beeler awarded NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Grant

From BU Chemistry News:

Dr. Beeler, who has been a tenure track faculty member in Boston University’s Chemistry Department since 2012, was recently awarded a 5-Year early investigator award through the NSF CAREER grant program. The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation’s most prestigious awards in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organizations. Such activities should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research.

Research in the Beeler Group is very multidisciplinary.  They are focused on synthesis and medicinal chemistry of biologically active small molecules by developing efficient and scalable processes to synthesize scaffolds of interest. One of the core components in their research is development of continuous flow technologies to develop photochemical reactions, electrochemical reactions, and reactions utilizing highly reactive intermediates.

With the CAREER award, Dr. Beeler plans to focus his research on the development of powerful flow reactions that will transform the way chemists think about challenging chemical reactions. In parallel to these efforts he will continue expanding our activities in outreach and education to further the growth of Chemistry in STEM education.

To learn more about the Dr. Beeler and his group research activities visit his Faculty Page at http://www.bu.edu/chemistry/faculty/beeler/and his group page at: http://www.beelerlab.com/