Kudos | August 2024

Faculty

Geoffrey W. Abbott, PhD – Senior author of Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience article “A novel autism-associated KCNB1 mutation dramatically slows Kv2.1 potassium channel activation, deactivation and inactivation” July 29, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2024.1438101

Senior author of Communications Biology article, “Polymodal K+ channel modulation contributes to dual analgesic and anti-inflammatory actions of traditional botanical medicines” August 28, 2024. This article is written in collaboration with the labs of Drs. Michael D. Cahalan and Shivashankar Othy, also in the Department of Physiology & Biophysics, School of Medicine, UCI. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06752-y

Kevin T. Beier, PhD – Senior and corresponding author of Neuron article “Molecular and circuit determinants in the globus pallidus mediating control of cocaine-induced behavioral plasticity” August 16, 2024. This article is written in collaboration with the lab of Dr. Geoffrey W. Abbott. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2024.07.018

Philip L. Felgner, PhD – Corresponding author of Journal of Infection article “Children with hemoglobin C or S trait have low serologic responses to a subset of malaria variant surface antigens” August 29, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2024.106257

Vaccines and Monoclonal Antibodies for Pandemic Preparedness (ReVAMPP) U19 grant kick-off with NIH officials.  

Michael R. Hicks, PhD – Recipient of the R01 grant as PI titled, “Modulating the Stem Cell Niche Set Point to Improve Skeletal Muscle Regeneration.”

Lan Huang, PhD – Contributing author of Journal of Materials Chemistry B article “Proximity labeling expansion microscopy (PL-ExM) evaluates interactome labeling techniques” August 28, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/d4tb00516c

Devon A. Lawson, PhD – Contributing author of Neuron article “Microglia are not necessary for maintenance of blood-brain barrier properties in health, but PLX5622 alters brain endothelial cholesterol metabolism” August 8, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2024.07.015

Mitradas M. Panicker, PhD – Contributing author of Journal of Affective Disorders article “Altered transcriptomes, cell type proportions, and dendritic spine morphology in hippocampus of suicide decedents” August 25, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.08.144

Lisa Wagar, PhD – Recipient of a grant as co-PI from the Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) Global titled, “Establishment of an in vitro human tonsil organoid model for studying Plasmodium vivax immune response and predicting vaccine effectiveness”. The program run by CRDF Global is specifically designed to support pilot projects that bring together a lab in the Pacific Region and a lab in the U.S. Dr. Lisa Wagar is co-PI with a colleague at Mahidol University in Thailand.

Qin Yang, MD, PhD – Contributing author of Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity article “Association Apo B/Apo a-1 Ratio and Prognostic Nutritional Index with 90-Day Outcomes of Acute Ischemic Stroke” August 13, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/dmso.s473385

Contributing author of Communications Biology article “Rhein targets macrophage SIRT2 to promote adipose tissue thermogenesis in obesity in mice” August 16, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06693-6

Labs

Beier Lab

May Hui (MSTP Student) – Recipient of the MD/PhD Outstanding Service Award

Hicks Lab

Benjmain Clock (Graduate Student) – Recipient of the MAXImizing Training in MUScle Research (MAXIMUS) T32 training grant.

Lawson Lab

Isam Adam (MSTP Student) – Re-appointed to the Cancer Biology T32 training grant for a second year.

Skowronska-Krawczyk Lab

Emily Tom (MSTP Student) – Recipient of the 2024-2025 ARCS (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists) Scholar Award.

Villalta Lab

Philip Farahat (Graduate Student) – Recipient of the Immunology T32 training grant.

Wagar Lab

Erika Joloya (Graduate Student) – Recipient of the Virology T32 training grant.