Recent News
Could Reading our Circadian Clocks According to DNA Repair Optimize Chemotherapy?
For the first time, UNC School of Medicine scientists led by Nobel laureate Aziz Sancar analyzed whole-genome DNA repair in an animal over 24 hours to find which genes were repaired, where exactly, and when, laying the groundwork for a more precise use of anti-cancer drugs.
How Does Plant DNA Avoid the Ravages of UV Radiation
The lab of Aziz Sancar, Sarah Graham Kenan Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, reveals the first-ever repair map of an entire multicellular organism to illuminate the inner workings of the plant kingdom’s highly efficient DNA repair system special thanks to the research of Onur Oztas, PhD, Christopher Selby, PhD, Ogun Adebali, PhD.
Large Aggregates of ALS-causing Protein Might Actually Help Brain Cells
UNC School of Medicine scientists led by Nikolay Dokholyan, Michael Hooker Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, add to evidence that small aggregates of SOD1 protein are the brain-cell killing culprits in ALS, but the formation of larger, more visible, and fibril-like aggregates of the same protein may protect brain cells.
Brian Strahl Awarded NIGMS Outstanding Investigator Grant
Congratulations to Brian Strahl, Professor & Vice-Chair of the Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, for being selected to receive an R35 Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA) from the National Institutes of Health.
Prognostic tool could identify high-risk breast cancer patients
In the journal Cell Chemical Biology, researchers led by Biochemistry and Biophysics Associate Professor and Faculty Director, Quantitative Proteomics Center for Disease Marker Discovery, Xian Chen, PhD, report on potential prognostic tool that could be used to identify high-risk patients within particular subtypes of breast cancer.
Researchers define structure, function of enzyme key to blood cancers
In the journal Nature, Greg Wang, PhD, assistant professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Cell biology Program, and colleagues reported findings about the structure and function of the DNMT3A enzyme complex, which helps control gene expression.
We rank 4th nationally in NIH funding in 2017!
The Department ranks fourth among all Biochemistry departments in the US, (both public and private institutions not just public) in 2017.
Gene therapy researchers find viral barcode to cross the blood-brain barrier
Congratulations to Aravind Asokan PhD, Assistant Professor of Genetics with a Joint Appointment in Biochemistry and Biophysics and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center member who led UNC scientists to reveal how certain gene-carrying AAV vectors can penetrate the brain more efficiently to treat brain and spinal cord conditions, while reducing liver payload.
Strahl named Smithies Investigator
Congratulations Brian Strahl, PhD, professor and vice chair of the department of biochemistry and biophysics, and Jen Jen Yeh, MD, professor and vice chair of research for the department of surgery, who were selected by the UNC School of Medicine for the annual award in honor of Oliver Smithies, UNC’s first Nobel Prize winner.
Holiday Party 2017 Highlights
Our department gathered at the Carolina Club to celebrate the holidays on December 13, 2017.
UNC Scientists Discover Proteins Keeping Stem Cells in their Undifferentiated State
The lab of Jean Cook, PhD, in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, found how a chain of proteins called an MCM complex could enable the fast cell-division that makes some forms of cancer so dangerous. The study first author Jacob Matson, a PhD candidate in the Cook lab performed most of the experiments.
Graduate student Tom Lane receives his PhD
Tom Lane under the direction of Dr. Kevin Slep, successfully defended his dissertation on November 3, 2017 and received his PhD!
Campbell receives Liebscher Distinguished Professorship
Congratulations to Sharon Campbell who has been appointed the Gary F. Liebscher Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, effective November 1.
Dokholyan Meets with President of Armenia
Nikolay Dokholyan, Ph.D. from Biochemistry/Biophysics and Alexander "Sasha" Kabanov, Ph.D. from Pharmacology met with the President of Armenia on Nov. 8, 2017.
Halloween 2017 - special thanks to...
Thanks to students Hanna Trzeciakiewicz (Cohen Lab) and Aaztli Coria (Laederach Lab) and office staff Jamie DeSoto, Lynn Ray, and Susan Sarvis for organizing a fun Halloween party. Prizes for best individual costume went to Dr. Edward Moreira Bahnson with the white skeleton face and bow tie. Best group costume went to the Parise Lab with the mice costumes. Winner of the Pumpkin weight contest went to Bobby Lee (Bergmeier Lab). Actual weight was 33 pounds. Winner of the Candy Corn Count went to Aleksandra Skrajna (McGinty Lab). Actual count was 1340 candy corns.
Welcome Anita Jackson, MD, MPH to the department!
Anita Jackson, MD, MPH is our new Development Officer
Parise helps bring Nobel Prize winning CryoEM technology to UNC and RTP
Leslie Parise has been working for years to bring the technology that won a Nobel Prize. "We are going from nothing to three instruments."
Grad Student Cassandra Hayne receives her PhD!
Hayne successfully defended her dissertation and received her PhD on August 31, 2017.
The Science of Fluoride Flipping
Zhang lab develops a new imaging technique helps UNC researchers study tiny, time-sensitive biological processes – the crucial underpinnings of human health and disease.
Solar Eclipse Viewing Party
The Biochemistry and Biophysics department gathered together to view the solar eclipse on August 21, 2017 with cereal box projectors and protective eclipse glasses. The moon blotted out 93% of the sun. Monday's eclipse was the first one since 1918 that traveled across the United States.
Changes to School of Medicine VPN Access
Beginning on Monday, September 18, 2-Step Verification will be required to utilize the UNC School of Medicine Campus VPN to access resources from off-campus locations. The Cisco VPN Client is typically used when off campus to access shared network resources such as the J: drive, and on-campus printers, as well as connecting to your office desktop using the Remote Desktop Connection. Read more for information on registering for 2-Step Verification (Duo).