UNC Genetics Welcomes New Assistant Professor Jie Xu, PhD

January 9, 2026

The UNC Department of Genetics is delighted to announce the appointment of Jie Xu, PhD, to the UNC faculty. Dr. Xu joins us as an assistant professor in the Department of Genetics at the UNC School of Medicine and a member of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

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Cracking the Brain’s Code: New Sensor Wraps the Human Mind in 3D Insight

January 9, 2026

A new 3D sensor developed at UNC-Chapel Hill and designed to wrap around miniature brain models could give scientists an unprecedented view into human brain activity, accelerating drug discovery and opening new paths for understanding and treating psychiatric and neurological disorders.

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Five Teams Receive ECBR Grants for New Approach Methodologies Research Pilot Projects

January 9, 2026

The School of Medicine Office of Research sponsors an annual pilot program, Emerging Challenges in Biomedical Research (ECBR), that provides support for innovative, early-stage research relevant to external strategic priorities. The fall 2025 round of funding was focused on advancing translational biomedical research through the use or development of New … Read more

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UNC Researchers Build Stem Cell Models to Mimic Early Brain Development

January 9, 2026

A new study in the lab of Jason Stein, PhD, modeled brain development in a dish to identify cells and genes that influence infant brain growth, a trait associated with autism.

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Ting Receives AAI Lifetime Achievement Award

January 9, 2026

Jenny Ting, PhD, William R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor in Genetics has been announced as the recipient of American Association of Immunologists’ Lifetime Achievement Award. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Ting on achieving this tremendous distinction!

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Program for Precision Medicine Celebrates Phase One

January 9, 2026

The Program for Precision Medicine reflects on achievements across research, education and patient care missions since its launch 2019 in this comprehensive report.

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Gregory and Clissold Publish in Journal of Biomolecular Techniques

January 6, 2026

Dr. Chris Gregory (Professor, Department of Genetics and Director, Office of Research Technologies) and Kara Clissold (Associate Director, Office of Research Technologies) published a paper titled “Incentivizing collaboration with core facilities: Developing an impactful core facility voucher program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine” (JBT … Read more

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Ferris Promoted to Professor

January 6, 2026

Dr. Marty Ferris has been promoted to Professor, effective December 1, 2025.

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Department of Genetics Publications for November 2025

December 16, 2025

Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 29 papers in November 2025.

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Rachel Szymanski, GMB Graduate Student (Frank Conlon Lab), has received a Prestigious American Heart Association Fellowship

December 11, 2025

Rachel Szymanski, a PhD in the Conlon Lab, has received a prestigious American Heart Association fellowship to investigate the role of the CRL4 ubiquitin-ligase complex in embryonic heart development.

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