New grant for Dr. Sachiko Homma
Dr. Sachiko Homma in our group has been awarded a new grant from Friends of FSH Research to help support her work on mechanisms of pathogenesis in FSHD.
Boston’s March for Science 2018!
Time to join together again! Join me at Christopher Columbus Park in Boston's North End on Saturday, April 14, 1-3 pm. Speakers, music, and camaraderie.
FSHD paper accepted and published
Our paper describing functional domains in the DUX4 protein has been accepted and published. Details are:
Mitsuhashi, H., Ishimaru, S., Homma, S., Yu, B., Honma, Y., Beermann, J.L., and Miller, J.B.(2018) Functional domains of the FSHD-associated DUX4 protein. Biology Open Apr 4. pii: bio.033977. doi: 10.1242/bio.033977. online access
New paper submitted
We've submitted a new manuscript for publication that describes our work on functional domains of the DUX4 protein in FSHD pathogenesis. Authors include members of the group led by our collaborator Dr. Hiroaki Matsuhashi at Tokai University in Japan, as well as Sachiko Homma, Mary Lou Beermann, Bryant Yu and Jeff from our group at the Boston University School of Medicine.
Jeff publishes birding field note
Jeff has published a field note: "2E2: A Successful Gull" in the February, 2018 issue of Bird Observer, which is the birding journal of New England. The online version of the article is available here.
New paper accepted and published
Our paper on mechanisms of pathogenesis in MDC1A (laminin-alpha-2-deficiency) has been accepted and published by the Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases. Details:
Yoon, S., Beermann, M.L., Yu, B., Shao, D., Bachschmid, M., and Miller, J.B. (2018) Aberrant caspase activation in laminin-α2-deficient human myogenic cells is mediated by p53 and sirtuin activity. J. Neuromusc. Dis. 5: 59-73. published online Dec 20, 2017. doi: 10.3233/JND-170262. PubMed PMID: 29278895. online access
UROP Symposium presentation
Sweta Duraiswamy gave a presentation on her summer work investigating DUX4 function and structure at the BU undergraduate research symposium.
New manuscript submitted
We've submitted a new manuscript for publication in which we describe our studies of pathogenesis in laminin-alpha2-deficiency (MDC1A). This study has a particular focus on aberrant intracellular signaling, including p53, sirtuins, and protein kinases.
Jeff publishes Canvasback duck article
Jeff has published this article in the journal Bird Observer in which he discusses the history and current status of Canvasback Ducks in New England. The work arose from his observations at Fresh Pond in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
UROP student begins
Swetha Duraiswamy has begun her summer research project on DUX4-mediated mechanisms of pathology. She is supported by the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program at Boston University.
Boston’s March for Science!
It was an inspiring day at today's Boston March for Science! Tens of thousands braved the cold and rainy weather, including hundreds and hundreds of children who made good use of the many kids-themed activity tables. Former EPA administrator (and Boston native) Gina McCarthy gave an especially motivating and fiery speech. Very glad I could join everyone there!
UROP fellowship to Swetha Duraiswamy
The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program at Boston University has awarded a fellowship to Swetha Duaraiswamy to support her summer work in our laboratory. Congrats!
Join Jeff at the Boston March for Science
April 22, 2017 -- if you can't make it to D.C., then consider joining New England scientists and supporters of science at the Boston Common from 1pm - 4pm. Details are here: marchforscienceboston.com
New summer student
Swetha Duraiswamy, who is in BU's seven year Liberal Arts/Medical Education program, will be joining us this summer as an undergraduate researcher. Swetha has previous research lab experience at Brown University.
FSH Society grant
The FSH Society has made an award to support the work of Dr. Sachiko Homma on DUX4-induced mechanisms of pathogenesis.
Myogenesis and FSHD paper published
Our new paper has been published by Skeletal Muscle. We focus on reorganization of nuclear bodies (nucleoli, PML bodies, SC35 speckles) during normal myogenesis and on how expression of DUX4 affects these nuclear structures that are key to regulation of gene expression. The paper is available here.
FSHD paper accepted for publication
Homma, S., Beermann, M.L., Yu, B., Boyce, F.M., and Miller, J.B. (2016) Nuclear bodies reorganize during myogenesis and are differentially disrupted by expression of FSHD-associated DUX4. Skeletal Muscle (in press)
Work presented at FSHD conference
Sachiko Homma, Mary Lou Beermann, and Bryant Yu presented our work on how nuclear body organization is affected by DUX4 expression at the FSHD Research Connects Symposium.
Abstract submitted for FSHD conference
We've submitted an abstract for presentation at the FSHD Research Connects Conference which will be in Boston on November 10-11. The abstract describes our study of DUX4 and nuclear bodies, with Sachiko Homma, Mary Lou Beermann, Bryant YU, our MGH collaborator Rick Boyce, and Jeff as authors.
New research paper submitted
We've submitted a new research paper for publication that focuses on nuclear bodies in myogenesis and muscle disease. Authors include Sachiko Homma, Mary Lou Beermann, Bryant Yu, our MGH collaborator Rick Boyce, and Jeff.
Jeff publishes “Birds & Bats” article
Jeff has published this field note in the journal Bird Observer in which he discusses the reciprocal predator-prey relationships between birds and bats. The article arose from an observation of a Red-tailed Hawk attempting to capture a bat in Mt. Auburn Cemetery.
Bryant Yu joins our group
Bryant Yu, a recent BU graduate, has joined our group as a research technician. He will take up projects on MDC1A, LGMD, and FSHD.
UROP award for Kevin Liu
The BU Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program has given an award to Kevin Liu to support his summer research work in our lab. Congratulations Kevin!
Kevin Liu to join us this summer
Kevin Liu, a freshman in BU's seven year Liberal Arts/Medical Education program, will be joining us this summer as an undergraduate researcher. Kevin has previous research lab experience at Stanford.
Undergraduate summer research
We have an opening for an undergraduate to join our laboratory for the summer of 2016. This position will be sponsored through the BU Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). You can see our post under the heading "Cell Biology of Muscle Disease" on the opportunities page of the UROP website.