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, PhD, receives R35 MIRA award

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

photo of John Hutton and Tina Leisner PhD

UNC Chapel Hill department of Biochemistry and Biophysics gives out Staff Excellent Award every year. This award is given to a staff member who displays dedication, service and commitment to Biochemistry and Biophysics. On December 13, 2017 at the Carolina Club, this award was presented by Dr. Beverly Errede and Lynn Ray to staff in …

Biochemistry & Biophysics Year End Holiday Party 2017

Our department gathered at the Carolina Club to celebrate the holidays on December 13, 2017.

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.

Tom Lane under the direction of Dr. Kevin Slep, successfully defended his dissertation on November 3, 2017 and received his PhD!

Congratulations to Sharon Campbell who has been appointed the Gary F. Liebscher Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, effective November 1.

Nikolay Dokholyan, Ph.D., shake hands with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.

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.

Tag: news_dept

Large Aggregates of ALS-causing Protein Might Actually Help Brain Cells

Brian Strahl Awarded NIGMS Outstanding Investigator Grant

Prognostic tool could identify high-risk breast cancer patients

Researchers define structure, function of enzyme key to blood cancers

Gene therapy researchers find viral barcode to cross the blood-brain barrier

Strahl named Smithies Investigator

2017 Staff Excellent Award winners John Hutton and Tina Leisner PhD

Holiday Party 2017 Highlights

UNC Scientists Discover Proteins Keeping Stem Cells in their Undifferentiated State

Graduate student Tom Lane receives his PhD

Campbell receives Liebscher Distinguished Professorship

Dokholyan Meets with President of Armenia