New Insights into Spinal Column Development

Scientists from the Özbudak Lab have uncovered new details about how the spinal column forms in developing vertebrates, according to a study published in Developmental Cell.

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Chronic Pain Can Be Predicted Within Three Days of an Injury

Within a few days of injury, scientists can predict which patients will develop chronic pain based on the extent of cross "talk" between two regions of the brain, and the person's anxiety level after the injury, according to a new Northwestern study published in Nature Mental Health.

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Winner of 2025 Kimberly Prize Announced

Distinguished biochemist Ron Evans, PhD, director of the Gene Expression Laboratory and professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, has been named the winner of the annual $250,000 Kimberly Prize in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, administered by Feinberg through the Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics.

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Breakthroughs Podcast: New Insights into Cellular Metabolism

New research published in the journal Science, from the lab of Issam Ben-Sahra, PhD, could rewrite textbooks on our understanding of cellular metabolism and potentially identify new targets for cancer and metabolic diseases such as obesity.

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Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics

Yuki Aoi, PhD, joined Feinberg as a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Ali Shilatifard, PhD, before transitioning to his current role as assistant professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and of Medicine (Nephrology and Hypertension) on the team scientist track in September 2024. Collaborating with the Shilatifard and Quaggin labs, Aoi studies transcriptional elongation/termination control associated with cancer and epigenetic regulation in cardiorenal disorders. He earned his PhD in Science and MS from the University of Tokyo, where he also served as a JST-ERATO project researcher. 

Pharmacology

Katherine Borden, PhD, joined Northwestern as a professor of Pharmacology in November 2024. Borden, who is also a Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center member and a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, investigates how dysregulated RNA metabolism, particularly involving the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E), drives cancer progression by hijacking RNA processing pathways and enhancing oncogenic behaviors like metastasis. These findings have led to clinical trials targeting the eIF4E protein, demonstrating novel therapeutic potential. Prior to joining Feinberg, Borden was a professor of Pathology and Cell Biology at the University of Montreal. She has also held professorships at Dalhousie University and Mount Sinai School of Medicine. She earned her PhD from Yale University and completed postdoctoral fellowships at the National Institute for Medical Research (now Crick Institute) and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (now Cancer Research UK). 

Smriti Sangwan, PhD, started her role as an assistant professor of Pharmacology in October 2024. The Sangwan Lab investigates the molecular basis of protein quality control, a crucial process for cellular health that ensures proper protein folding and localization. Using advanced structural tools like cryo-electron microscopy and tomography, combined with biochemical, sequencing and computational techniques, the lab aims to uncover the mechanisms of protein homeostasis and its dysfunction in diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders and metabolic diseases to identify potential therapeutic targets. Sangwan earned her PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and completed her postdoctoral training at the University of California, San Francisco. 

Wen Lu, PhD, research assistant professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, earned second place in the Microscopy Today Micrograph Awards competition for her submission, "Fruit Fly Ovaries." The competition highlights how scientific images can be both fascinating and visually impactful. More recently, "Fruit Fly Ovaries" was selected as the Category 2 winner of the 2024 Proteintech Group Microscopy Image Competition. 

Key Travel Reservation Platform Launch Date Postponed

The discontinuation date for Egencia has been revised to February 28, 2025, due to changes in Key Travel's launch timeline. At this time, please continue to use Egencia but expect to transition to Key Travel on March 1, 2025. Additional updates will be shared as they become available.

Travel 100 (nutravel@t100g.com; 847-256-7570), a physical travel agency that has been a preferred vendor for several years, is the recommended alternative. Travel 100 charges an agent fee of $30 for domestic travel and $40 for international travel, which will be applied to the chart string you provide.

If you have a credit in Egencia, please plan accordingly and book travel before the credit expires. Domestic flight credits can only be used for domestic flights and the same applies to international flights. However, some airlines, such as United, allow for ticket name transfers, which may be another option for using your credit. Please note that any unused credits will be forfeited after December 31, 2024. 

NUCore New Users and Awards

NUcore is a transaction processing system that permits shared facilities to accept and track orders and to bill for their services. If your team needs to update a user or a chart string in NUCore, please contact your research administrator. They will assist you in updating access in the system to ensure a smooth processing of your team's NUCore access.

New Feinberg Branded Templates Available

Feinberg's visual identity has been refreshed. The update features new templates with a contemporary look that aligns Northwestern Medicine with Northwestern University's guidelines, reflecting a spirit of innovation and collaboration, and a commitment to accessibility.

Key changes include:

• Updated Feinberg brand guidelines
• Recolored logos
• New templates for PowerPoint presentations, research posters, reports, meeting agendas, flyers, and more

Please begin to use the updated materials from the Feinberg Branding SharePoint site and discontinue using previous versions where possible. 

Request access to FSM Branding site

Maintaining Your Web Presence: Reminder to Update Lab Websites and Feinberg Faculty Profiles

Keeping an accurate Feinberg Faculty Profile and lab website is essential for showcasing your work and enhancing your professional visibility.

Why It Matters

• Faculty Profile: This is your primary tool for documenting career accomplishments, attracting collaborators and mentees and informing donors. It serves as a trusted source of information to a variety of audiences. Visit the Faculty Affairs Office website for instructions on how to edit your profile and consult the Quick Reference Guide for tips.
• Lab Website: Your lab site is a dynamic platform to feature your research, publications, and team. A recent Nature Metabolism editorial highlights its value — read more here.

Faculty are encouraged to take a moment to review and update these platforms — they’re vital tools for amplifying your impact.