Study Identifies Molecular Mechanisms of Rare Neurodevelopmental Disorder

Investigators have discovered new molecular mechanisms of PACS1 syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder, according to findings published in Nature Communications.

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New 3D Spatial Approach Reveals Interactive View of Glioblastoma and Therapeutic Targets

A multidisciplinary team of investigators has developed a first-of-its-kind interactive 3D spatial approach that reveals new therapeutic targets and provides a comprehensive three-dimensional view of glioblastoma tumors, detailed in a recent study published in Cell.

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Northwestern Medical Orchestra Sees Strong Growth, Unites Feinberg and Bienen

Co-founded and co-led by seventh-year Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) student Bettina Cheung, the Northwestern Medical Orchestra also entered its seventh year with growth in participants and audience alike.

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Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics

Yaping Liu, PhD, joined Feinberg in September 2023 as an assistant professor and opened the EpiFluid Lab, which develops computational methods for circulating cell-free DNA and new biotechnologies for single-cell epigenomics to understand the non-coding genetic variants in different pathological conditions, including cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. Yaping, who is also a Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center member, earned his PhD from the University of Southern California and completed his postdoctoral fellowship at MIT.

Rama Mishra, PhD, rejoins Feinberg this month as an assistant professor on the team scientist track and as a member of the Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (NUCATS) after serving as principal scientist at Bristol Myers Squibb. The Mishra Lab will carry out in-silico drug discovery science using AI/ML and cutting-edge molecular modeling techniques. During Rama's previous tenure at Feinberg, he held positions as research assistant professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, as well as senior cheminformatics specialist at ChemCore.

Cell and Developmental Biology

Saba Parvez, PhD, starts his role as an assistant professor this month. Before joining Feinberg, Saba received his PhD in chemistry and chemical biology and completed his postdoctoral training at the University of Utah, where he developed a novel tool – Multiplexed Intermixed CRISPR Droplets or MIC-Drop, a platform that enables high-throughput functional genetic screens in zebrafish. The Parvez Lab will leverage this tool to understand the functions of various highly conserved noncoding genomic regions in regulating animal development.

Lisandra Vila Ellis, MD, joined the department as an assistant professor in October 2023. Her lab studies the mechanisms for endothelial cell heterogeneity in the lung during development and regeneration with the ultimate objective of elucidating the transcriptional mechanisms underlying endothelial heterogeneity, endothelial cell fate, and the molecular and cellular components of lung angiogenesis. Lisandra received her medical degree at Tecnológico de Monterrey, in Monterrey, Mexico, and subsequently completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Pharmacology

Daniel Arango, PhD, started in September 2021 as an assistant professor and as a member of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center. He investigates the molecular mechanisms by which RNA modifications regulate protein synthesis and how these mechanisms affect cell fate decisions. By integrating RNA biology, transcriptomics and cell biology, the Arango Lab aims to uncover novel mechanisms of gene expression regulation and generate new tools that can be leveraged into targeted cancer therapies. Daniel earned his PhD at The Ohio State University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship with the National Cancer Institute.

Joshua Ziarek, PhD, joined the department in July 2023 as an associate professor. His research interests are in the characterization of biomolecular interactions, the molecular mechanisms of allostery, and the rational design of molecular therapeutics/tools, with a long-standing interest in G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Previously, he was an assistant professor of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry at Indiana University. He earned his PhD in Biochemistry at the Medical College of Wisconsin and completed his postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School.

The following faculty were promoted in FY23: 

Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics

• Issam Ben-Sahra, PhD – to associate professor with tenure
• Marc Mendillo, PhD – to associate professor with tenure
• Zibo Zhao, PhD – to assistant professor on the team scientist track
• Bin Zheng, PhD – to Feinberg Fellow

Cell and Developmental Biology

• CongCong He, PhD – to associate professor with tenure

Pharmacology

• Alexis Demonbruen, PhD – to associate professor on the team scientist track
• Carlos Vanoye, PhD – to research professor
• Megumi Yamashita, PhD, DDS – to research associate professor

Leadership Updates

Debra Duquette, ’92 MS, associate professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology and Center for Genetic Medicine member, was named the new director of Feinberg’s Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling, effective August 1, 2023.

Alan Hauser, MD, PhD, vice chair and professor of Microbiology-Immunology, was named the new director of Feinberg’s Medical Scientist Training Program, effective April 15, 2023.

Geoffrey Swanson, PhD, professor of Pharmacology, was named the new vice chair of Pharmacology, effective September 1, 2023.

Daniel Arango, PhD, assistant professor of Pharmacology, was among just 15 scientists named Searle Scholars for 2023. The Searle Scholars Program supports high-risk, high-reward research in the biomedical sciences and chemistry.

Yogesh Goyal, PhD, assistant professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, was named a 2024 Forbeck Scholar by the William Guy Forbeck Research Foundation. The award recognizes early-career cancer clinicians and scientists with significant achievements and contributions to the field of oncology.

Luisa Iruela-Arispe, PhD, chair and the Stephen Walter Ranson Professor of Cell Biology, was named the 2023 recipient of the Stephen Schwartz Award by the North American Vascular Biology Organization for outstanding mentorship. 

Ann Kennedy, PhD, assistant professor of Neuroscience, received a 2023 Sloan Research Fellowship in Neuroscience.

Huiping Liu, MD, PhD, associate professor of Pharmacology and Medicine (Hematology and Oncology), was among three Feinberg faculty members to have been inducted into the American Society for Clinical Investigation.

Elizabeth McNally, MD, PhD, the Elizabeth J. Ward Professor of Genetic Medicine and director of the Center for Genetic Medicine, has been awarded the 2023 Martin E. and Gertrude G. Walder Award for Research Excellence. 

Hank Seifert, PhD, the John Edward Porter Professor of Biomedical Research, has received a third Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award from the National Institutes of Health.

D. James Surmeier, PhD, the Nathan Smith Davis Professor and chair of Neuroscience, was named the recipient of the 2023 Annemarie Opprecht Parkinson Award, an international award recognizing significant contributions to the field of Parkinson’s disease research.