Jeff appointed Emeritus Professor
Jeff has been appointed Emeritus Professor of Neurology and Physiology at the Boston University School of Medicine. Although his laboratory is now closed, Jeff continues to teach, edit, write, and consult in neuromuscular diseases.
New DUX4 paper published
The paper we recently submitted has been accepted and published: Beermann, M.L., Homma, S., and Miller, J.B. (2022) Proximity ligation assay to detect DUX4 protein in FSHD1 muscle: A pilot study. BMC Research Notes 15:163. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-022-06054-8.
New DUX4 paper submitted
We've submitted a new paper on DUX4 protein expression. Co-authors Mary Lou Beermann, Sachiko Homma, and Jeff
FSHD manuscript now published
Our latest paper has now been published:
Masteika, I. F., Sathya, A., Homma, S., Miller, B.M., Boyce, F.M., and Miller, J.B. (2022) Downstream events initiated by expression of FSHD-associated DUX4: Studies of nucleocytoplasmic transport, γH2AX accumulation, and Bax/Bak-dependence. Biology Open vol. 11, bio059145 online access
New FSHD Paper Submitted
We've submitted a new article for publication in which we describe our experiments to identify additional mechanisms of DUX4-induced pathology relevant to FSHD.
FSHD Society Conference
Looking forward to participating in the FSHD Society's International Research Conference, June 24-25.
Friends of FSHD Conference
On Saturday, February 27th, Jeff participated in a conference sponsored by Friends of FSHD Research.
MDA grant
The Muscular Dystrophy Association has provided renewed support to continue our work on FSHD.
World Muscle Society
Jeff participated in the (online) World Muscle Society Congress held in early October. The conference was very well organized and facilitated much interaction between academic and industry researchers.
FSHD International Conference
Isabel Masteika and Jeff participated in the (online) FSHD International Research Conference on June 25-26.
BU Research Recovery toolkit
Boston University has established a research recovery plan for those labs that ramped down on-site activity at the start of the pandemic.
BU and coronavirus: Info site
The Boston University Medical Campus has a website devoted to information about the coronavirus pandemic. The site includes up-to-date information about steps being taken on campus, including research updates, in response to the current coronavirus pandemic.
UROP award continuation
The Boston University Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) has extended the grant to fund Anvitha Sathya, an undergraduate researcher in our group, for her work on FSHD during the spring semester.
Ravens vs. Red-tails field note by Jeff
Jeff has published a new field note, "Ravens versus Red-tails," in the December 2019 issue of Bird Observer, the birding journal of New England. You can read the article here.
UROP award
The Boston University Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) has provided a grant to fund Anvitha Sathya, an undergraduate researcher in our group, for her work on FSHD.
New undergraduate researcher
We're welcoming a new BU undergraduate to our lab group, Anvitha Sathya, who will join our ongoing FSHD research program.
New grant awarded to Dr. Homma
Our colleague, Dr. Sachiko Homma, has been awarded a new two-year grant from the FSHD Society to support her work on FSHD pathogenic mechanisms.
New collaboration
We have set up a formal collaboration with Peter and Takako Jones who are at the University of Nevada at Reno School of Medicine. Funded by the Muscular Dystrophy Association, our work will focus on FSHD pathogenesis.
New lab member
Isabel Masteika, soon to graduate from Hampshire College, will join the laboratory in early June. Welcome!
Trans-splicing paper published
Our paper on trans-splicing has now been published by Scientific Reports and can be accessed here. The citation is:
Mitsuhashi, H., Homma, S., Beermann, M.L., Ishimaru, S., Takeda, H., Yu, B.K., Liu, K., Duraiswamy, S., Boyce, F.M., and Miller, J.B.(2019) Efficient system for upstream mRNA trans-splicing to generate covalent, head-to-tail, protein multimers. Scientific Reports 9:2274 pp. 1-15. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-36684-7
Jeff publishes a birding field note on juncos
Jeff has published another birding field note: "Heart, Lefty, and Popsicle: A Winter with Three Identifiable Dark-eyed Juncos." This article appears in the February, 2019 issue of Bird Observer, which is the birding journal of New England. The online version of the article is available here.
New MDA grant awarded
The Muscular Dystrophy Association has awarded a new three year grant, with Jeff as P.I., to support our work on pathogenesis and therapeutic targets in FSHD.
Manuscript accepted for publication
Our manuscript on mRNA trans-splicing has been accepted for publication:
Mitsuhashi, H., Homma, S., Beermann, M.L., Ishimaru, S., Takeda, H., Yu, B.K., Liu, K., Duraiswamy, S., Boyce, F.M., and Miller, J.B. (2018) Efficient system for upstream mRNA trans-splicing to generate covalent, head-to-tail, protein multimers. Scientific Reports (in press).
New manuscript submitted
We've submitted a new manuscript describing development of an efficient system to generate trans-spliced mRNAs that encode covalent, head-to-tail protein multimers. Collaborators include Hiroaki Mitsuhashi (Tokai University) and Rick Boyce (Massachusetts General Hospital).
Presentation at FSHD Conference
Our colleague, Dr. Sachiko Homma presented her work on mechanisms of DUX4-induced pathogenesis at the FSHD International Research Conference, which was held in Las Vegas, June 8-9.