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Archive for the ‘Molecular Genetics’ Category

Researchers Uncover One Million New Components of the Human Genome – India Education Diary

Sunday, February 18th, 2024

Researchers Uncover One Million New Components of the Human Genome  India Education Diary

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Ancient retroviruses played a key role in the evolution of vertebrate brains – EurekAlert

Sunday, February 18th, 2024

Ancient retroviruses played a key role in the evolution of vertebrate brains  EurekAlert

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New Scientific Reports publication reveals major difference in genomes of American and Chinese chestnut – EurekAlert

Wednesday, January 17th, 2024

New Scientific Reports publication reveals major difference in genomes of American and Chinese chestnut  EurekAlert

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The Crucial Role of Molecular Biology in Cancer Therapy: A Comprehensive Review – Cureus

Wednesday, January 17th, 2024

The Crucial Role of Molecular Biology in Cancer Therapy: A Comprehensive Review  Cureus

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Cells of the future: A key to reprogramming cell identities – EurekAlert

Friday, December 22nd, 2023

Cells of the future: A key to reprogramming cell identities  EurekAlert

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Mainz Biomed Expands Corporate Health Program for ColoAlert with the Addition of Three New Companies in Germany – Marketscreener.com

Friday, April 7th, 2023

Mainz Biomed Expands Corporate Health Program for ColoAlert with the Addition of Three New Companies in Germany  Marketscreener.com

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Molecular Genetics and Metabolism | Journal – ScienceDirect

Sunday, December 11th, 2022

Molecular Genetics and Metabolism contributes to the understanding of the metabolic and molecular basis of disease. This peer reviewed journal publishes articles describing investigations that use the tools of biochemical genetics and molecular genetics for studies of normal and disease states in humans and animal models.

In addition to original research articles, minireviews reporting timely advances and commentaries providing novel insights are considered.

Research Areas include:

- Newborn Screening and Diagnosis of Inherited Metabolic Diseases- Clinical Management and Treatment of Inborn Errors of Metabolism- Normal and Pathogenic Functioning Related to Biochemical Genetic Disease- Biochemical Studies of Primary and Secondary Enzyme Defects- Thresholds, Moonlighting Functions of Proteins and Biochemical Network Modules- Intercellular and Intracellular Metabolic Relationships

Authors are also welcome to submit to the journal?s open access companion title, Molecular Genetics and Metabolism Reports, which welcomes brief research articles, sequence reports, case reports and letters to the editors.

Molecular Genetics and Metabolism contributes to the understanding of the metabolic and molecular basis of disease. This peer reviewed journal publishes articles describing investigations that use the tools of biochemical genetics and molecular genetics for studies of normal and disease states in

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People don’t mate randomly but the flawed assumption that they do is an essential part of many studies linking genes to diseases and traits – The…

Friday, November 25th, 2022

People don't mate randomly but the flawed assumption that they do is an essential part of many studies linking genes to diseases and traits  The Conversation Indonesia

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Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics – Master of Science / PhD …

Friday, October 7th, 2022

The Molecular & Cell Biology & Genetics (MCBG) program is an interdisciplinary graduate program recognizing the need for highly trained scientists conversant across various disciplines.

The program provides a broad education-training program for graduate students interested in biomedical problems that cross disciplinary boundaries and offers the opportunity for students to choose from approximately 70 faculty in 10 different departments/centers to pursue their research interests. This program offers both MS and PhD degrees and focuses on the study of the structure, function and makeup of biologically important molecules within the context of the living cells. Our curriculum and research activities are tailored to students needs and interests. See our areas of research interest.

Our faculty are at the forefront of new advances in the biomedical sciences and new developments in techniques for understanding the genetic and molecular basis of developmental pathways and disease states such as cancer, aging, AIDS, malaria and neurological disorders. Consequently, students can pursue a diverse variety of projects that range from the design and development of new therapeutic treatment strategies to the characterization of the molecular mechanisms that underlie various cellular processes and diseases. This intensive and research-oriented program provides students with opportunities to perform cutting edge biomedical research employing multidisciplinary strategies. Learn more about our faculty.

Learn more about the curriculum for the Molecular & Cell Biology & Genetics program.

Recent Molecular & Cell Biology & Genetics program graduates are at:

Academic or Clinical Institutions Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Columbia University Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Duke University Drexel University College of Medicine Fox Chase Cancer Center Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Institute for Protein Innovation Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center Rutgers University Thomas Jefferson University University of California Los Angeles, School of Medicine University of Minnesota University of Pennsylvania Center for Innovation University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Academic Institutions (PhD Studies after MS completion) Drexel University College of Medicine Emory University Medical University of South Carolina Ohio State University Temple University Thomas Jefferson University University of Delaware University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

Biotech and Pharmaceutical Companies Alcon Absorption Systems BioTek Instruments Biomeme Boehringer Ingelheim Carisma Therapeutics Castle Creek Biosciences CellOxess EMD Serono Eurofins Scientific Fishawack Group of Companies Genewiz GlaxoSmithKline Illumina Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson Merck & Co. Opentrons Labworks Pharmaceutical Product Development Quest Diagnostics Rockland Immunochemicals Sana Biotechnology Spark Therapeutics Tmunity Therapeutics Incorporated UCB

MCBG/Cancer Bio Graduate Programs Seminar Series Spring 2022

Learn more about the Spring 2022 Seminar Series.

Alyssa Sanders (Mentor: Mauricio Reginato, PhD): Outstanding Junior Graduate Student Poster, Honorable Mention

Daniel Kantner has started his PhD studies in the Biological Sciences PhD program at Temple University. Daniel conducted his MS research in the laboratory of Joris Beld, PhD, Department of Microbiology & Immunology.

Daniel Slusaw has started his PhD studies in the Biological Sciences PhD program at University of Delaware. Daniel conducted his MS research in the laboratory of Srinivas Somarowthu, PhD, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology.

Emily Esquea has successfully transitioned into the MCBG PhD Program at Drexel University College of Medicine. Emily will be conducting her PhD research in the laboratory of Mauricio Reginato, PhD, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology.

Nima Sarfaraz has successfully transitioned into the MCBG PhD Program at Drexel University College of Medicine. Nima will be conducting his PhD research in the laboratory of Michael Bouchard, PhD, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology.

Mitchell Parker received the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (F30) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIH-NIGMS).Mentor: Roland Dunbrack, PhD, Fox Chase Cancer CenterProject title: "Creating a Unified RAS Structural Nomenclature to Compare the Impact of Oncogenic Mutations on KRAS, NRAS, and HRAS"

John Chojnowsky received the 2020 Dean's Fellowship for Excellence in ResearchMentor: Todd Strochlic, VMD, PhD, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular BiologyProject title: "Evaluating a novel mechanism of regulation for a master kinase"

Theodore Gurrola has successfully transitioned into the MCBG PhD Program at Drexel University College of Medicine. Ted will be conducting his PhD research in the laboratory of Brian Wigdahl, PhD, Department of Microbiology & Immunology.

See a complete listing of this year's Discovery Day winners.

Stephano Iglesias will start his PhD studies in the Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology PhD program at Thomas Jefferson University. Stephano has been conducting his MS research in the laboratory of Shae Padrick, PhD, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology.

Manali Potnis has been serving as a student representative on the Women in Medicine and Science Committee (WIMSC). The mission of the committee is to support and promote the professional development, career advancement and leadership of women in medicine and science at Drexel University College of Medicine. WIMSC hosts seminars, networking events, and awards that focus on empowering women in science. The committee is currently headed by Dr. Karen Berkowitz. The multidisciplinary group includes scientists, physicians, technicians, and graduate student representatives. Members attend monthly meetings with agendas working toward increasing representation of women in science, a fair representation of women, and empowerment of minorities. Manalitransitioned from the MS to the PhD program in July 2019, and is a student in the laboratory of Christian Sell, PhD (Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine)

Jasmine Peake's presentation was selected as a top poster at the DNA Damage, Mutation, and Cancer Gordon Research Conference in 2020. She received the 2019 Outstanding Graduate Student Mentorship Award for her commitment to mentoring and supporting undergraduate and junior graduate students. She was also the College of Medicine finalist for the 2019 Drexel Common Good Award. Jasmine is a Southern Regional Education Board State doctoral fellow for the 2019 Institute on Teaching and Mentoring. Jasmine has been conducting her doctoral dissertation research in the laboratory of Eishi Noguchi, PhD (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology).

Drexel graduate and medical students met Dr. James Allison, 2018 Nobel Laureate and 2019 Benjamin Franklin Medal winner. Pictured from left to right: Maggie O'Connor (MCBG MD/PhD Candidate); Samuel Flashner (MCBG PhD Candidate); Dr. James Allison; Dr. Brad Jameson (Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology); Mitchel Parker (MCBG MD/PhD Candidate); Jasmine Peake (MCBG PhD Candidate); and Joseph Assali (MD Candidate).

Drexel graduate and medical students met with 2018 Nobel Prize winner Dr. James Allison to discuss his work, following his seminar entitled "Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Cancer Therapy: New Insights, Opportunities and Prospects for Cures." Dr. Allison's lecture at Drexel University was held in conjunction with his receipt of the 2019 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Life Sciences. Dr. Allison received the Nobel Prize in Medicine for work on immune checkpoint blockade as a treatment for cancer. He is credited with devising an entirely new approach to cancer therapy and saving many lives.

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NIPD Genetics: Leading Genetic Testing Company

Friday, October 7th, 2022

General Statement

NIPD Genetics is a leading, innovative biotechnology company that designs, develops, and provides a broad spectrum of healthcare services to its customers through its expansive portfolio of molecular and clinical laboratory tests in all disciplines.

At NIPD Genetics we are committed to protecting and respecting our customers privacy and personal information. Personal information or personal data means any information that identifies, relates to, describes, is capable of being associated with, or could be reasonably linked, directly or indirectly, with a particular individual, such as name, identification number, location data, an online identifier or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that individual.

NIPD Genetics collects and processes your personal information according to the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and the Cypriot law providing for the protection of natural persons with regards to the processing of personal data and for the free movement of such data (L. 125(I)/2018). The following principles lie at the heart of our approach to handling personal data:

NIPD Genetics has appointed a Data Protection Officer (DPO) who is responsible for overseeing and ensuring that personal information is collected and processed in line with these principles. The contact details of the Data Protection Officer (DPO) can be found below:

Email address: dpo@nipd.com

Postal address: 31 Neas Engomis street, 2409 Engomi, Nicosia, Cyprus

Telephone number: + 357 22266888

By accessing or using our products or services, or by transmitting information to us by email or other electronic means, you accept our policies, procedures and practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies, procedures and practices as described, you can choose not to access or use our products or services or not to transmit personal information to us.

This Privacy Policy applies to NIPD Genetics facilities, its websites http://www.nipd.com, http://www.nipdlabs.com, http://www.nipdlabs.com.cy and their subdomains, that link to this privacy pol icy.

We collect and process several types of personal information from and about users of our websites and of our products and services, including:

If you are under 18 years of age, do not register on our website or provide any information about yourself to us. We do not provide our products or services directly to children or proactively collect their personal information. Despite this prohibition, it is possible that we may sometimes be given information about children while handling samples from our customers in our clinical labs, or through use of our products and services by our customers and partners. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from children under the age of 18, without parental consent, we will take the necessary steps to delete it as soon as possible in compliance with applicable laws.

Your personal information is collected by NIPD Genetics for the following purposes:

To provide our products and services, NIPD Genetics may collect, receive and process biological samples to isolate and sequence DNA. NIPD Genetics may then store resulting genetic information and use genetic information to provide our products and services. In some cases, NIPD Genetics may provide interpretations of genetic information on behalf of its customers, including healthcare providers. This is only done pursuant to a written contract or a Sample Information Form with a patients informed consent and is subject to applicable legal and ethical safeguards.

This sensitive information described above is collected by NIPD Genetics for the following purposes:

Your information, including personal data, may be transferred to - and maintained on - computers located outside your province, country or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ than those from your jurisdiction.

If you are located outside Cyprus and choose to provide information to us, please note that we transfer the data, including personal data, to Cyprus and process it there.

Your consent to this Privacy Policy followed by your submission of such information represents your agreement to that transfer.

NIPD Genetics will take all reasonable steps necessary to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy and no transfer of your personal information will take place to an organization or a country unless there are adequate controls in place including the security of your data and other personal information.

NIPD Genetics complies with the General Data Protection Regulation and will not sell or trade your personal information.

NIPD Genetics may disclose your personal information in the good faith that such action is necessary:

Cookies are files with small amount of data which may include an anonymous unique identifiers. Cookies are sent to your browser when you visit a website and stored on your device. Tracking technologies used on the website are beacons, tags and scripts, to collect and track information and to improve and analyze our websites.

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track the activity on our websites and collect certain information. This includes information about the computer or device you are using, such as Internet protocol (IP) address, information about the browser type or version, the pages of our website that you visit, the time and date of your visit, the time spent on those pages, unique device identifiers and other diagnostic data.

You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of our websites.

Examples of Cookies we may use:

Session Cookies. We use Session Cookies to operate our websites.

Preference Cookies. We use Preference Cookies to remember your preferences and various settings.

Security Cookies. We use Security Cookies for security purposes.

Visitor behavior cookies. To understand how visitors use and navigate the websites

Keyword cookies. To understand how visitors discover the websites.

We may use third-party Service Providers to monitor and analyze the use of our websites.

Google Analytics is a web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic. Google uses the data collected to track and monitor the use of our service. This data is shared with other Google services. Google may use the collected data to contextualize and personalize the ads of its own advertising network.

You can opt-out of having made your activity on the Service available to Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on. The add-on prevents the Google Analytics JavaScript (ga.js, analytics.js, and dc.js) from sharing information with Google Analytics about visits activity.

For more information on the privacy practices of Google, please visit the Google Privacy & Terms web page

We are committed to protecting the security of the information we collect, and we take reasonable physical, technical, and administrative safeguards such as data anonymization and encryption to help protect personal information from unauthorized or inappropriate access or use. It is your responsibility to protect the confidentiality of your passwords, and any other access features associated with your access or use of the website or our products and services, as well as to adhere to any applicable Terms of Use or other contract between us and you or your organization.

We may retain collected information even after you remove it from the website, our Services, or our Products, to comply with applicable law, to resolve disputes, to enforce any rights in connection with the website, our Services, or our Products, and to use as provided in this Privacy Policy, the Terms of Use, or an applicable contract between us and you or your organization. How long we retain specific personal information varies depending on the purpose for its use and we may delete or retain your personal information in accordance with applicable law.

We may employ third party companies and individuals to facilitate, maintain or operate our websites (Service Providers), to provide the websites on our behalf, to perform service-related services or to assist us in analyzing how our websites are used.

These third parties have access to your Personal Data only to perform these tasks on our behalf and are obligated not to disclose or use it for any other purpose.

Our websites may contain links to other sites that are not operated by us. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party's site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit.

We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies or practices of any third-party sites or services.

This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page.

We will let you know via email and/or a prominent notice on our website, prior to the change becoming effective and update the effective date at the bottom of this Privacy Policy.

You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.

NIPD Genetics ensures that it can respond immediately to requests that you make for the exercise of your legal rights in accordance with data protection laws. These rights are as follows:

You also have the right to lodge a complaint at any time to the Office of the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection.

We encourage you to contact us, should you wish to practice any of your legal rights or you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, by sending an email to NIPD Genetics Data Protection Officer at dpo@nipd.com.

Effective date: 18/06/2021

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Skeletal Biology and Regeneration Students Recognized For Research Excellence – UConn Today – University of Connecticut

Friday, October 7th, 2022

Students and faculty gathered in Keller Auditorium for the first-ever poster presentation and awards ceremony to highlight the research achievements and accomplishments of students in the Skeletal Biology and Regeneration (SBR) Area of Concentration in the Biomedical Science Graduate Program at UConn Health.

Two highly prestigious awardsthe William B. Upholt Achievement Award and Eric N. James Scholar Award were announced at the ceremony after the student poster presentations.

Emma Wentworth Winchester presents her research during the poster session

Sandro D. Cloiseau presents his research during the poster session

Adam Tanguay presents his research during the poster session

Kaitlyn Flint presents her research during the poster session

Prachi Arpitbhai Thakore presents her research during the poster session

Students present their research during the poster session

Steven Toro presents his research during the poster session

Patricia Hare presents her research during the poster session

Dr. Marja Hurley and Kai Clarke during the student poster presentation

Stephanie Wong presents her research during the poster session.

Students present their research during the poster session

Dr. Laura Doherty accepts the 2021 William B. Upholt Achievement Award

Dr. Laura Doherty accepts the 2021 William B. Upholt Achievement Award

Dr. Marja Hurley and family of Dr. Eric N. James present the Eric N. James Scholar Award

Rosalie Bordett accepts the 2021 Eric N. James Scholar Award

SBR students, faculty, and family of Dr. Eric James and William B. Upholt gather for a group photo

The SBR program at UConn Health focuses on the cellular, molecular, and genetic processes related to skeletal development, diseases, injuries, and their regeneration. The program, which includes over 25 research labs, spans both the Schools of Dental Medicine and Medicine.

The multidisciplinary research and broad expertise within SBR is a strength of our program, said Dr. Rosa Guzzo, director of the SBR program, in her opening remarks. There is vast richness and diversity within SBR research.

Dr. Bruce Liang, dean of the UConn School of Medicine and interim CEO of UConn Health, in his remarks congratulating the students noted that the program is a true collaborative effort at UConn Health.

Dr. Caroline Dealy, associate professor in the Department of Craniofacial Sciences and the alumni and awards committee chair for the SBR program, introduced the William B. Upholt Achievement award and reflected fondly on Upholts research and leadership at UConn Health.

Scientifically, his work was always on the cutting edge, Dealy said. He was a leader in developing programs, establishing them, keeping them going, and being the glue holding them together.

Upholts wife, Mary Lee Morrison Upholt, was also in attendance.

The 2020 winner of the William B. Upholt Achievement Award, Dr. Elise Pitman, delivered virtual remarks from her postdoctoral program in Scotland. Pitman discussed her research including treating autoimmune colitis and colorectal cancer, as well as her avid role as a student advocate for students in research fields.

The 2021 winner, Dr. Laura Doherty, discussed her thesis in fracture healing using mass models, as well as her passion of supporting women in aviation.

The William B. Upholt Achievement Award was established to honor Upholts impact on research and graduate education, as well as his lifelong personal commitment to human rights, civic activism, and to the environment.

Dr. Lakshmi Nair, associate director of the SBR program, professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Connecticut Convergence Institute, and Dr. Marja Hurley, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Orthopedic surgery and associate dean of the Health Career Opportunity Programs at UConn Health, introduced the Eric N. James Scholar Award. Nair and Hurley both recounted Dr. Eric N. James time at UConn Health and his involvement mentoring young men of color.

Eric was humble, genuine, and committed to education, research, scholarship, and community service. He was always willing to assist others. I am truly pleased we are able to honor Dr. James in this manner, said Hurley.

James family was also in attendance for the award ceremony.

The winner of the 2021 Eric N. James Scholar Award, Rosalie Bordett, accepted the award and talked about her desire to help students discover their passion for science and make academia a more welcoming place for students. Bordett also discussed her experience serving as mentor for high school, undergraduate students and her desire to reach students in underrepresented backgrounds.

The Eric N. James Scholar Award honors James scientific achievements and reflects his deep commitment to helping others through teaching and mentorship. Consistent with James mission to promote education and training of diverse individuals, the Award emphasizes service to underrepresented groups, as well as scholarly and research achievement, especially by members of underrepresented groups.

The William B. Upholt and Eric N. James Scholar awards are made possible by donations from SBR alumni and faculty, private donors, and the School of Dental Medicine; additional support for this event was provided by the UConn Foundation and the Connecticut Convergence Institute.

Contribute to the William B. Upholt Student Achievement Award Fund.

Contribute to the Eric N. James Scholar Award Fund.

The full list of award winners is below:

2020 William B. Upholt Achievement Award

Elise PitmonPh.D. thesis mentor: Dr. Kepeng Wang, Department of Immunology

2021 William B. Upholt Achievement Award

Laura DohertyPh.D. thesis mentor: Dr. Archana Sanjay, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

The 2021 William B. Upholt Achievement Award nominees

Patricia HarePh.D. thesis mentor: Dr. Wendy Mok, Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics

Patrick McMullanPh.D. thesis mentor: Dr. Emily Germain-Lee, Department of Pediatrics

Adam TanguayPh.D. thesis mentor: Dr. Tannin Schmidt, Department of Biomedical Engineering

Stephanie WongPh.D. thesis mentor: Dr. Alix Deymier, Department of Biomedical Engineering

2021 Eric N. James Scholar Award

Rosalie BordettPh.D. thesis mentor: Dr. Sangamesh Kumbar, Departments of Orthopedic Surgery, Biomedical Engineering, and Materials Science

2021 runner-up of the 2021 Eric N. James Scholar Award

Britta PetersenPh.D. thesis mentor: Dr. Marc Hansen, Departments of Medicine, Genetics and Developmental Biology

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Skeletal Biology and Regeneration Students Recognized For Research Excellence - UConn Today - University of Connecticut

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Mary Munson elected fellow of the American Society for Cell Biology – UMass Medical School

Friday, October 7th, 2022

Mary Munson, PhD

Mary Munson, PhD, professor of biochemistry & molecular biotechnology and vice chair of diversity for the department, is one of 22 scientists named a fellow by the American Society for Cell Biology for 2022.

Election as a fellow is an honor bestowed upon society members by their peers. Fellows are recognized for their lifetime achievement in advancing cell biology, meritorious efforts to advance cell biology and its applications, and for their service to the society.

Dr. Munson will be among the new cohort of fellows to be formally recognized in Washington, D.C., in December at Cell Bio 2022, the joint meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology and the European Molecular Biology Organization.

I am honored to be recognized in this years cohort and to join such a distinguished group of cell biologists, said Munson.

An expert in the mechanistic basis for regulation of spatial and temporal membrane trafficking, Munson is interested in understanding how cargo arrives at the correct location at the right time throughout the cell and is either released to or internalized from the extracellular space. The Munson Lab aims to answer questions about membrane trafficking through a multifaceted approach that combines biochemical, structural and biophysical techniques with yeast and mammalian genetics, microscopy and cell biological methods.

Munson joined UMass Chan Medical School in 2001. Prior to joining the faculty, she was a postdoctoral fellow in the department of molecular biology at Princeton University, where she was awarded American Heart Association and National Institutes of Health fellowships. She was a double major in chemistry and biology at Washington University (St. Louis) and received her PhD from Yale University in molecular biophysics and biochemistry. In 2015, Munson was awarded the inaugural Bassick Family Worcester Foundation Award.

Since joining UMass Chan, Munson has been closely involved with teaching and curriculum development for the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and has been recognized by the institution several times for her outstanding contributions to curriculum development and student mentoring. She is the faculty advisor for the UMass Chan student chapter of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science. She is a leader of the diversity action committee in the Department of Biochemistry &Molecular Biotechnology and leads the new Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Faculty Focused on Inclusive Excellence committee, focused on engaging and educating faculty to promote diversity, equity and inclusion on campus.

She is the co-chair of the American Society for Cell Biologys Women in Cell Biology committee and a co-investigator of its AMP MOSAIC program. She recently became a trained facilitator for Entering Mentoring, a program sponsored by the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research to enable strong and supportive scientific mentors.

Munson joins Gregory J. Pazour, PhD, professor of molecular medicine; Thoru Pederson, PhD, the Vitold Arnett Professor of Cell Biology and professor of biochemistry & molecular biotechnology; and George B. Witman, PhD, professor emeritus of radiology, in being named fellows of the American Society for Cell Biology.

Related UMass Chan News storiesAt MLK tribute,Mary Munsonrecognized for commitment to diversity and inclusion in science fieldUMMS researcher co-directs project to enhance diversity in biomedical sciences workforce.Thoru Pederson named fellow of theAmerican Society for Cell BiologyGregory Pazour elected fellow of theAmerican Society for Cell Biology

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Every Body’s Talking at Them: an Interview with Jon Lieff – CounterPunch

Friday, October 7th, 2022

Dr. Jon Lieff.

Dr. Jon Lieff is a neuropsychiatrist with a BA in Mathematics from Yale University and an MD from Harvard Medical School. He pioneered the creation of integrated treatment units that focus on complex patients with combined medical, psychiatric, and neurologicalproblems.

For many years, in addition to his clinical work, Dr. Lieff has been researching the question of where mind can be found in nature. At first, his inquiry related to neuroscience. He then expanded his study to include intelligence in a wide range of animals, and eventually individual cells, microbes, and viruses.

This research has resulted in the publication of the 2020 book, The Secret Language of Cells: What Biological Conversations Tell Us About the Brain-Body Connection, the Future of Medicine, and Life Itself. This book concentrates on communication between the bodys cells. He is working on a new book about molecular communication.

Speaking of cellular communication, Lieff is busy on Twitter and welcomes engagement: @jonlieffmd . And he has a website Searching for the Mind Blog.

The following interview was conducted by Zoom on 8/26/2022. It has been edited.

John Hawkins: In the Introduction to The Secret Language of Cells you write:The greatest secret of modern biological science, hiding in plain sight, is that all of lifes activity occurs because of conversations among cells.Why has this secret been kept for so long? Who benefits from the secret? Who benefits from listening in on the conversation?

Jon Lieff: Well, part of the reason its a secret is because of the jargon. Things are so complicated in molecular biology. At the hospital, they ask, What language do you speak? I say, well, I speak molecular biology and molecular genetics. It really is a foreign language. And I view myself on my website as translating, as a translator for the top [science] journals. I would translate [and synthesize] the information. But, basically, there are names of receptors, there are names of genes, there are names of signals cells, and there are all kinds of duplicate names from different experiments. Its just a huge hodgepodge, and its almost impossible to decipher unless you sit, like I do, and translate word by word from this gobbledygook. People wont even be able to read their material [its] so specialized and so complicated.

But, the other thing is that, if you looked around, you didnt find anything written, any book that [told you how] this fundamental part of life works is [by means of] communication which is true. And this implies intelligence in cells, and no one has any way to explain that.

So, you go to philosophical questions. Im not much of a philosopher, because I vowed to myself that I would not speculate unless I stated I was doing so. Whereas in philosophy, you speculate, what I do is find facts, things that are actually proven. And then I use that to paint a panorama of the behavior of life at [the cellular]t level. So I view it as sort of a visual description of whats happening. I didnt I deliberately didnt try to explain it, because its impossible to explain without getting into questions of what is mind? what is intelligence? what is consciousness? And, the truth is, we have no definitions for any of those at all. We cannot define intelligence in nature. We cannot define mind; we cannot define consciousness; we cannot defined life. Even Carl Zimmer wrote a book about all the so called definitions of life, and theyre all inadequate. Well, [he writes], its a cell that replicates. Well, I dont replicate anymore. Am I dead? I mean, every definition when you go into it is faulty.

John Hawkins: Yeah, well, what a project to be a synthesis-translator [of scientific jargon]. That seems a little grandiose.

Jon Lieff: Well, Im a neuropsychiatrist. Ive spent many, many years treating medical patients who have, mental issues; and, mental patients, who have physical issues. And I was constantly in the border zone of the physical and the mental and always wondering what mind was. So, you know, I became very knowledgeable in neuroscience and became convinced that theres no center, no module for the subjective experience that we all have, but that isnt true. Each cell really communicates widely throughout the brain. There are more associative areas [extant] than has been previously thought.

But in any case, I then studied smaller and smaller brains. I wrote some articles, even with Mark Bischoff, one of the great animal scientists, about bees, birds and lizards how amazingly intelligent they are. And you mentioned the hive. Well, Im not going to talk about the hive, because thats a way you sort ofdenigrate the intelligence of the individual bee. Actually, the bee and the ant and the termite are extremely intelligent. Ants know 50 different ways to measure where they are. And you can teach them new ones. You can teach them to use magnetism, for example. Bees know symbolic logic. They have a language that uses angles of the sun. They memorize thousands of flowers and rate them, and theyre able to track them. They self-medicate. Extreme intelligence in tiny little brains.

But then as I studied more, I found intelligence in cells and in microbes, in particular, starting with bacteria. This led to all the cells. And then everywhere I looked. Everywhere I looked, I saw intelligent cells signalling. And then it dawned on me: signalling is the way it works, and thats the way all biology works and all life works.

So I wrote, The Secret Language of Cells. The editors kept putting in jargon and I kept taking it out. They would say, leukocyte. Id say no white blood cell, because I didnt want any jargon in the book. And I tried to write it for [non-specialists] who did not need jargon, and who wouldnt have to look up anything. I was using regular English words to describe the panorama of the life of the cell and how amazingly intelligent these cells are. How does a capillary cell know to communicate halfway around the body to the bone marrow, to ask for certain cells to come, specific cells? How do they know to talk so widely? So anyway, it dawned on me that that was what was happening. And I tried to convey that in the book.

John Hawkins:But who benefits from keeping it all secretive and jargonese?

Jon Lieff: Most of it is not a deliberate attempt to keep it secret. Its just so complicated that they use jargon [as a kind of shorthand]. But there is a hidden agenda for some materialists who pooh-pooh human intelligence as epiphenomena. Its a lot easier to pooh-pooh intelligence in a cell. What is intelligence in the cell? And the group of cells is that how we get bigger intelligence, by combining smaller intelligences. It raises all kinds of questions that we dont have answers [for yet].

John Hawkins:Last year, I interviewed a British Columbia ecology professor, Suzanne Simard, author of Finding the Mother Tree, in which she writes about forests, and how they communicate by a root system. And that was a fascinating.

Jon Lieff:Communicate through fungal, fungal wires. But were part of that. Were all tied into the fungus as well. The microscopic fungus. Fungi are in some ways the most fundamental, dominant form of life on the earth that weve studied very little. They connect everything and they send signals and energy. And anyway, thats another story.

John Hawkins: Your notion of conversation is highly nuanced. We have digital, atomic, human, electrical and chemical signalsthese are all instances of conversation, you say. There is something profound about it if we could only come up with a unified translator. Can you say more about this power of communication?

Jon Lieff: Well, its vast. You know, everyone knows neurons talk to each other through axons, sending an electrical signal, and then a chemical across the synapse. But they dont really realize that that same axon is talking to T cells locally through breaks in the myelin and sending signals. Its also sending electrical signals to cells next to each other in electrical connections. Theres also an electrical field around it. Theyre also probably using photonics. They have nanotubes, they have vesicles. Its remarkable how much communication is going on. We just scratched the surface of it.

One editor wanted me to reorganize The Secret Language of Cells in terms of communication. But, the fact is, the vast amount that we know is almost all secreted chemicals. But that doesnt mean its the most important or the only communication. When I started writing my second book and was working on that, and I was going even deeper, it became apparent to me that large protein molecules that form these droplets, which is how all the action occurs, are actually creating little niche where they communicate [and] have quantum effects and have photonic communication, electromagnetic communication. So we just dont know. I mean, were just scratching the surface of this subject.

But when you look at all of life you have the Internet at the highest communicating [level], you have humans communicating, you have humans communicating in a jazz band with their brainwaves synchronize. You have light and sound going between us. You have touch going between us. But, then, all the way down, theres this communication going on at the deepest level, and my last chapter, Talking Molecules? The Case for mTOR, is about a molecule and I threw that in as a teaser but thats really where my next book is heading, because molecules communicate. And I learned a lot more about how that can happen. The information I have now was not even available three years ago. But a lot of it is through forming droplets, forming the large molecules, condensed together, forming a separate containment. Its like a little organelle, and they communicate rapidly in a way that is impossible. In other words, a lot of the theories of the cell are random diffusion, but its impossible to explain it that way. Its much too accurate. Its much too rapid. The communication pathways.

John Hawkins: Where do you suppose the impetus for such communication comes from in nature? Is it physical or metaphysical?

Jon Lieff: As I said, Im not a philosopher, and I avoided speculation. Theres enough just [raw] information coming out of the massive data [stream] thats going on to draw some inferences that this intelligent communication is occurring at all these levels that were describing. But how exactly that works; its really much too early to know how it all fits together. We dont [even] know what information is. But somehow this transfer of information or knowledge is a fundamental aspect of life. Right. That much we can say. I mean, if you look at Eastern religions, they that intelligence is one of the basic substances of nature. We [in the West] dont assume that. We just have to figure it out, and that whole view of what is information has begun. The questioning [has begun].

To me, it comes down to physics of matter, whatever that is. You have all kinds of levels of energy. Is information some form of this energy, or is it a separate type? Substance is a bad word, I mean, whatever matter, energy and information are.

John Hawkins: Speaking of that divide, I note that you say Brain/Body rather than Mind/Body. This interests me because I majored in philosophy as an undergrad and struggled with mind/body problems; but modern minds seem to think were bodies with brains and that minds are electro-chemical abstract we invent, and immaterial minds can be grounded. Philosopher Philip Goff in Galileos Error, a book that came out a year before your book was born, asks:

To be clear, Im not saying that scientist ought to explain why the fundamental laws of nature obtain The point is if its okay for the physicist to postulate basic and unexplained laws governing the causal interactions of matter, why isnt it also okay for the dualists to postulate basic and unexplained laws governing the causal interactions of mind and brain?

Do your conversations make dualism dead? Is there still a mind or have we finally lost it?

Jon Lieff: To me, many physicists have become arrogant and grandiose, as if they know more than anyone else, and theyre allowed to create multiverses with absolutely zero zero proof of any kind. I mean, modern physics has become more of a religion than a science in some aspects. Not everyone is aware of that. But the fact is, sometimes you need to postulate something in order to prove something eventually.

I mean, to me, science is observing something. And then we talk with other humans. And agree to measure it. And that this is what were observing together, and we agree on what were observing. The main thing we know is this unified, subjective experience that we all have thats the one thing we do know. [But] for the materialists say that our subjective experience doesnt exist; its epiphenomena. That is absurd. Its fundamentally absurd. So Descartes was correct about that. We know that we have subjective experience. The problem is we dont know what it is. We dont know how to measure it.

Eastern science assumes subjective experience, and then studies the variations and the modifications and the changes. And what happens when you do this and when you do that, when you meditate, when you go deeper. They have a huge silence, meaning groups of people have observed it and come up with similar things. And starting from that assumption that mind is the fundamental substance and then it gradually coalesces into matter.

Now, in Western Science, We have matter is everything, and then somehow energy and somehow mind it grows out of matter, which doesnt make any sense really. So to me, our science is deficient, not having something about information or mind in it, but it will eventually, and these two views will merge. The [Eastern and Western] scientific views will eventually merge. But Im wedded to Western science and committed to the fact that theres so much research; that theres enough for me to take the best of Western science and show, with that, that intelligence exists in these cells in matter, etc..

John Hawkins: So at the same time though, I mean, you talk about like the I Ching the book of changes and how it could be sort of developed into a science from an Eastern point of view. But also, even though youre not a philosopher, you probably believe in panpsychism.

Jon Lieff: Well, panpsychism is probably where I would end up. Yes. But again, you get into all kinds of logical conundrums with panpsychism. I studied math. So Im aware of Turing and Gdel and all the different proofs of the limits of logic. We dont know. We dont know what it is. We dont have an explanation. But clearly subjective experience, mind, whatever that is, somehow is connected, in my view, to this intelligence and communication at every level..

John Hawkins:But it means to some degree, when we reach out to another subject to communicate and negotiate a shared reality, we have a beam of light between us. Thats logic. Right? It has to have that kind of coherence so that we can understand a common set of data. So, in a sense, you know, it gets into a mathematical thing. Thats probably the fascinating thing about AIs and algorithms.

Jon Lieff: Yeah, its a question in math. I think were in a no mans land now in that arena. I must say, Im very impressed with DeepMinds protein [work]. Its about 60 to 80% accuracy on how proteins fold. Thats a huge advantage through AI. I think that is like a Nobel Prize worthy event. Its changing the ability to study proteins. We know almost nothing about them. And were [also] just scratching the surface of lipids, because they have infinite variety. You can make long chains, you can have branches. So the structure is you can have different saturation points, the variations in creating lipids and of course, the brain is more than half lipid. So were just getting into lipid biology, and sugar biology, sugar molecules on viruses and on cells. These are all signals as well. These are brain signals. So Im delighted that were getting a handle on protein structure.

John Hawkins: Your list ofsignalling devices is fascinating:

+ secreted chemicals+ launched sacs filled with genetic instructions+ electric currents+ electromagnetic waves+ physical contact by cells+ biological nanotubes between cells

The potential for the development (or realization) of a universal language is brain-boggling, especially in the coming quantum computing era. Is such universal language acquisition plausible? (Goff thinks so, referencing the hive mind and a dystopian brain-share scenario.)

Jon Lieff:Well, I dont know. Chemistry is all quantum. Its all based upon electron orbitals that combine with other molecules. And then some of the extraordinary quantum stuff like tunneling and entanglement, and all that, does occur. They didnt think it could possibly occur in biology because its so messy. But with our latest understanding, these large protein molecules precipitate into very structured environments inside of droplets, where all the action occurs, and then you have rivulets in between them, and in these rivulets its like a semiconductor you phosphorylated at one point, and you open and close different channels of these huge combined multiple multi proteins. Deep inside of those the crevices tunneling occurs and you get rapid, almost instantaneous chemical reactions. And the basis of life is the chemical reactions that occur so rapidly. So quantum is very much part of the picture and were just beginning to see how it can work in biology. But were nowhere near understanding it enough to talk about this language of communication.

John Hawkins:The Secret Language of Cells is divided up into four parts Body, Brain, Microbes, and Inside Cells. Can you provide a brief description and example for each?

Jon Lieff:So I divide my book into four parts: Body, Brain, Microbes and Communication within Cells. You really cant separate the brain and the body because the communication between the immune cells, between the capillary cells, between the brain cells is so constant that theres no separation. And everyone knows that microbes are important in humans. We hear that on the news every day. This microbe is doing this in the gut and affecting the brain, affecting anxiety, affecting diabetes, but they dont state why. And the reason why the microbes can be so influential in our lives is because they speak the same language as ourselves. So the microbe is talking in the same language. Now we know about the chemical signals and the receptors. The others, the nanotubes are constant between cells. Were finding more and more of them everywhere. Cancers are particularly use nanotubes to transfer mitochondria. They transfer material. HIV and COVID use nanotubes to go between cells so they can replicate, in many ways, where they dont go outside of a cell. We know a lot about the signals and the molecules and the chemicals. So the fact that the microbes manipulate the same molecules as our cells means they can talk to our cells, and thats why they can be so influential. Then the fourth section is deeper inside of the cells. There are these compartments called organelles, and I show that organelles are communicating just as much as cells, which means that the communication goes much deeper inside the cell.

And then the last chapter pointing to the future book is a molecule, this one mTOR. Its one of the most important molecules. How can a molecule act like its an organelle? Well, at the time I was writing the book, I wasnt so sure how that happened. Now, I know the molecule forms these droplets that attract the proteins to a little factory, a structure, and then they do the work. And then because of the chemistry, they can dissolve the droplet. Its called a phase separation and the phase separations are the way they operate. Molecules then can trigger major communication like organelles, but, also inside when a molecule and these proteins are working together, theyre communicating. Also probably through photons, probably through electromagnetics. But again, the science is early on that. So we have to wait for the science. But it is proven that they form these little cavities that definitely have quantum environments that allow quantum effects to occur. So all of this is happening between molecules.

John Hawkins: When I think of how such cellular communication could benefit man-and/or-womakind, I naturally think of the monoclonal solutions, and RNA-driven vaccines for Covid-19 and their seemingly miraculous speed of development within a year of the pandemics heyday.. Some said (the NYT , for instance), no vaccine had ever been created in less than 4 years and then voila! an avalanche. Theres CRISPR talk. Cloned baby twins with 200 IQs. Im reading that sex cells are being created in the lab. On the commuter train there are whispers of artificial cells being created. Stem cells are being sold on the black market underneath raincoats where once were slung knockoff Rolexes.Synthetic biology is all the rage.

Where do you and your conversations fit into this cocktail party?

Jon Lieff: I guess we have to have patents. But I used to think that patenting a gene, like the way they patent that cancer gene. It seems crazy to allow something that is not invented by anyone, but is a natural occurring thing to be patented by some human who can then make money off of it. It just seems wrong to me.

On the one hand, I mean, CRISPR, its a wonderful invention. Dont get me wrong, Im all for it. But its one of 50 ways that microbes developed to defend against viruses. Its a bacterial virus system, antivirus system. And the bacteria thought this up. We didnt think this up. And we took it from one particular set. There are now 50 of them. And thats the whole question of the life of the virus and the bacteria and how they work together and they work against each other. But this is a defense system. And then the virus language was discovered and we found that they had ways to attack the CRISPR. So the virus has sent kamikaze suicidal pilots after CRISPR to help the virus community. So I have a lot of skepticism about synthetic biology because we dont know enough not to have unwanted occurrences.

Thats the problem. Theres a lot of arrogance, a lot of hubris. And weve certainly shown that we can take science beyond where we should and be very destructive. And theres every reason to believe that synthetic biology could easily do that. So, having said that, we learned from it. You know, they do experiments to find out, but even the most advanced scientists making cells are not making cells. Theyre taking existing stuff and finding a minimal set.

John Hawkins:In your books concluding remarks, you reference viruses and their peculiar nature. Most folks believe theyre neither alive nor dead; just parasitic. In your section on the Origins of Evolution and Intelligence you write:

many researchers dont consider viruses to be living entities, yet viruses have very elaborate lifestyles, with the ability to specifically counter actions of large complex cells through signaling and other processes.

I recall an article I read way back now in Live Science on the possibility that consciousness is the result of a virus. It was titled, An Ancient Virus May Be Responsible for Human Consciousness. In the piece, they cite: A review published in Cell in 2016 found that between 40 and 80 percent of the human genome arrived from some archaic viral invasion.

Fascinating, as Spock would say. Do you want to weigh in?

Jon Lieff: Yeah, so, viruses. I consider viruses the most fundamental life form on earth and as the the filing cabinet of all information. In the form of an infinite variety of DNA strands that they then mix and match and send around and take here and there and are used by cells. You know, people talk about the shiga toxin, but the bacteria doesnt make that toxin. A virus makes the toxin. Many, many parts of us are from viruses now. So, when the Genome Project found that less than 2% of our DNA were genes, so called genes, we dont even know what a gene is really. But because we cut them up and manipulate them but less than 2%.

They then found that 8% are areas that are somewhat active making RNAs. That are from retroviruses. Thats more than four times as much as all of our DNA comes from just a group of retroviruses. The Nobel Prize winners, John Gurdon from the UK and Shinya Yamanaka from Japan they made stem cells, made a muscle cell into a skin cell and a neuron. And the way they did that is they found molecules that trigger DNA called transcription factors that are from viruses. So we need viral DNA and signals in order to make stem cells. Thats just one of many things.

It turns out that placentas come from a spike protein like the COVID spike. Just a month ago, it was discovered that myelin, which is completely critical to our brain function, comes from a virus.

88% of these retroviruses, another 50%, are whats called jumping genes. Jumping genes are viroid-like strands of DNA that also can cut themselves out, and sew themselves in, and jump around. But they make products. We try to silence all the jumping genes with CRISPR-like techniques, but many still create products.

It turns out that the human brain developed very rapidly over 30 million years into this vastly more complicated thing. And one of the reasons, maybe the major reason they were able to do that, is because they learn to do alternative splicing like alternative RNA splicing. When you have a DNA and you make an RNA molecule and youre about to make a protein in our cells, they edit it, cut out these things that cut out the introns, they put together the exon, and they put it into one molecule that then makes a protein. It turns out, we learned not too long ago, that our cells can manipulate those edits. And, so then, together in up to 500 different ways, theyre wondering how can we have hundreds of thousands of proteins with 20,000 genes? Well, its through alternative splicing. Turns out most dramatic alternative splicing is in the brain, in the human brain. Thats the place where most of it occurs.

And those are from virus genes. Those are there deep in the jumping genes. Theyre called lines and theyre deep in the jumping gene area. But because these jumping genes can be so influential, theres a constant battle between our defense systems and the jumping genes to make products or to silence the products. And basically, evolution is a product of that battle. Its not what people think it is. Its not. Its basically strands of DNA, from the infinite varieties that viruses have, trying to express themselves, and our brain deciding to accept it or not accept it. And this battle goes on all the time. And so, we cant live without viruses. Were finding viruses in the gut that defend our friendly bacteria. Were finding viruses that come into the cell. Viruses are more good than bad.

And the reason for that is because our lifestyle is chaotic and were destroying ecology and nature. And so we step on an area where a bat virus has been happy there for a long, long time, and then suddenly, oh, heres a human. The virus says, Wow, this is cool. I can really manipulate. I can really go to town in this in this creature. Not only that, there are billions of them. This is great. And that can multiply.

John Hawkins: Can you say a little bit more about myelin? Because I thought that was an interesting concept. Many people think that the myelin sheath is an insulator of some sort. But youre saying its more.

Jon Lieff: Just think how actions in the brain occur in milliseconds. And so an MRI is work in about a second. So what you see on an MRI is way after the fact. The action occurred a long time ago and they find something about blood flow that occurs way after the action. The action itself is milliseconds all over the brain. But, in order for a number of signals or thousand of signals to converge at one exact millisecond, in one particular spot, the speeds have to vary. And how do they vary? Well, they vary by creating myelin patterns. So what were learning is that myelin is not this trivial insulating thing. Myelin creates a huge number of varieties of patterns that have many, many different functions that were barely scratching the surface of in the cortex. They seem to be most prominent in these cortical columns. Myelin creates areas that allows the neuron to signal sideways to the immune cells.

They used to think its a simple thing, but actually building myelin is one of the most complicated things in nature. They used to think the spindle that the spindle is the most complicated structure in nature, but I would have to put myelin up there. Its extremely common. You can read about it, how they lay down a layer, they condense it, they move it, they create channels in between them to maintain them. It goes on and on and on how complicated it is. And then they lay it down with signals from capillary cells to stem cells to make particular myelin in a particular area of the brain. This is all based on signalling, and they discovered that signalling from the neuron to the myelin, they send sacks between them. Theyre sending communications between the myelin and the neuron. So all of this is occurring through information, through signalling.

So its like a vastly complicated thing that were just scratching the surface of.

John Hawkins:Its great stuff. You have a similar section where you talk about cancer and how it signals from one end of the body to the other.

Jon Lieff: Cancers are much smarter in their community. Theyre sending all kinds of signals. They communicate. Theyll redesign a mitochondria to do their special rapid reproduction, and then theyll multiply that mitochondria and send it through nanotubes to their comrades. They will send genes that defend against cancer drugs like microbes and resistance genes to their colony. Cancer colonies are very smart.

John Hawkins: You are a neuropsychiatrist. So signalling in the brain must be an interesting phenomenon to observe and treat from that perspective. How do you decide, for instance, what psychotropic to prescribe for a particular mental malady?

Jon Lieff: All the biochemical theories of psychiatry are wrong. We just dont know enough. Were just scratching the surface. The truth of the matter is, all psychiatric meds were found by accident. And then we studied them and tried to figure out whats going on. So when you look at the brain. You have dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, histamine. nicotinic. All of these are 2% of the brain. A sprinkling on the vast structure of glutamate and GABA, for which we know virtually nothing. And there are probably thousands of different glutamate types of neurons; we know maybe five. If you look at all the drugs, we have 250 drugs. Theyre all based upon the ones I mentioned. Only five have anything to do with glutamate and GABA, which are the fundamental structure of the brain.

John Hawkins: Well, while were at it, how does neuropsychiatry justify the jargon and mystification of the DSM conversation?

Jon Lieff: You say its the best you can come up with. How do you describe a psychiatric illness when you dont know the biochemistry? You do it through symptoms and you create symptoms. But when you look at depression, there are eight basic symptoms. If you look at clusters of four. Thats 64 different subsets. Huge amount of subsets. Now, some subset of depression is based upon inflammation and immune. Some subset deals with other things. There are many different subsets of depression, so we have to learn about all of those.

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TriBeta invites students to explore opportunities to work with faculty at research fair on Oct. 11 – Ohio University

Friday, October 7th, 2022

TriBeta, the National Biological Honor Society, hosts a research fair for undergraduate students to learn about and potentially join research labs onTuesday, Oct. 11, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Grover Atrium.

Biological Sciences seniors say working in faculty labs results in exciting research, lasting friendships, and critical experience for future careers.

I invite all students to come and explore the research fair. There is going to be a vast array of research being presented by fantastic faculty and their students. It is truly a wonderful experience to learn about some of the research being conducted here at OHIO that you can become a part of. Everyone is excited for this years research fair, so even if you are not in TriBeta, you are more than welcome to come and take a look! said Aurelia (Ray) Johnson, a senior biological sciences pre-professional major in the College of Arts and Sciences. For more information, contact her at rj265318@ohio.edu.

Over the past three years, Ive gotten the opportunity to conduct research in several labs at OHIO. Being involved in research has allowed me to see the intersections of many fields within biological sciences. For instance, my current research combines anatomy, genetics, molecular biology, and evolution to study birds. In class it can feel like these disciplines are separate, but research shows you how they come together under one roof. Finally, research at OHIO is amazing because there are labs for every interest, so you get to explore what gets you really excited! said Nick Sze, a senior in the Honors Tutorial College biology program and a member of the OHIO Marching 110.

Being in Dr. Viorel Popescu's wildlife conservation lab has taught me skills and expanded my mind in so many ways that you cannot get in classes alone. It has also given me amazing mentors and life-long friendships in my field. I feel like I will be graduating a much more well-rounded biologist thanks to my time aiding in amphibian research, said Era Bakia, a senior majoring in biological sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Working in Dr. Xiaozhuo Chens lab has allowed me to explore and grow my knowledge and skill in the field I hope to go into after graduation. I have also gotten the valuable experience of learning how to plan and conduct scientific research, as well as how to relate lab-based work to the real world, allowing me to experience the translational side oncology research. I knew coming into college that I wanted to participate in research, but it has given me more than I ever expected, so I always recommend trying it out and seeing what you like! OHIO has so many different disciplines that you will definitely find one you love! said Nicole Stone, a senior major in biological sciences pre-professional in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Working in the Ronan Carroll Laboratory has allowed me to take part in the scientific process by creating knowledge in my field, as well as practicing what I learn in class in a hands-on setting. The skills I've learned as an undergraduate researcher were vital in my summer internship in Berlin, Germany, an opportunity I found through connections in the Carroll laboratory, said Riley Zielinski, a senior in the Honors Tutorial College biology program, with minors in chemistry and anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Beta Beta Beta() is a national honor and professional society for students in the biological sciences. A TriBeta chapter offers its members activities and experiences that enrich and extend but do not duplicate the primary requirements for the biology major. TriBeta was established in 1922 in Oklahoma; Ohio University's chapter of TriBeta was established in 1994.

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Genetics: the Vatican Does Not Intend to Be Behind the Times – FSSPX.News

Friday, October 7th, 2022

The Holy See has just organized an unprecedented symposium on molecular and cellular engineering. The goal: to keep control of a constantly evolving science, which requires the development and updating of solid ethical safeguards for scientists.

This science is rolling; the train is moving. But instead of lamenting over this, we need to take the initiative and hop on that train, intervene, and, if needed, divert it onto another track, said Ralf Stutzki, head of the ethics Molecular Systems Engineering at the National Center of Competence in Research at the University of Basel, Switzerland. He considers it urgent for the Church to help researchers formulate ethical standards to guide their work.

This is the whole meaning of the first international conference on the Ethics of Engineering Life, jointly organized by the Pontifical Academy for Life, Molecular Systems Engineering, and the Bambino Ges childrens hospital in Rome, on September 26 and 27, 2022.

To address the ethical aspects of engineering molecules, cells and cellular functions, the academy said, the conference invited scientists and stakeholders involved in developing and applying approaches that edit and control biological systems; ethicists; philosophers; communicators; and others.

In his introductory remarks, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Academy challenged for certain progressive positions said that the objective of this meeting was to reflect on todays scientific-technological developments, particularly in the area of life and health.

At the present time, with the aim of treating very diverse pathologies, research has succeeded in manufacturing cellular micro-tissues from adult or embryonic stem cells: in the latter case, the Church opposes this practice because it involves the destruction of the embryo, while it supports research on adult stem cells for therapeutic purposes.

But the digital age is moving the cursor ever further, as Hans Clever, Dutch geneticist, director of pharma Research and Early Development (pRED) at Roche, a powerful pharmaceutical company based in Switzerland, explained in his speech.

Indeed, scientists cross ethical standards and work on embryonic stem cells and have now manage to create embryoids, i.e., an embryo-like structure of aggregated pluripotent stem cells . . . [that] lacks the essential cell types needed to develop beyond this early stage.

Hans Clever states, as research advances, these embryoids will look more and more like real embryos, which will bring up even more ethical concerns. There we need really strong guidelines.

Present at the colloquium, Marie-Jo Thiel, a medical doctor who teaches ethics at the University of Strasbourg, recalled important contribution that Catholic theology can and must bring to this specialized matter: Values and ethics are not limits or obstacles to innovation and change; they represent the compass indicating what responsible, inclusive and sustainable ways are best for the future, she said, quoting a 2021 report by the European Commission on ethics and science.

Hans Clever summarized the problem well, according to him, scientists are not the best ethicists, at least biologists are not the best ethicists, in general, because they're just curious, they want to know the next step, they have not learned easily to step back, he said. But some scientists have learned it is important to involve ethicists in their meetingsto help them step back and see what it is they really want to do.

Even if it means running into the wall: Knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul, Rabelais already warned in his time. It remains to be seen whether the echo of this symposium in the scientific world will live up to the hopes of its organizers.

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Molecular pathways of major depressive disorder converge on the synapse | Molecular Psychiatry – Nature.com

Friday, October 7th, 2022

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Yield10 Bioscience Appoints Willie Loh, Ph.D., to the Board of Directors – citybiz

Friday, October 7th, 2022

Willie Loh, Ph.D.,

WOBURN, Mass., Oct. 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. (Nasdaq:YTEN), an agricultural bioscience company, today announced that Willie Loh, Ph.D., was named to the Companys Board of Directors effective October 4, 2022. Dr. Loh previously served as a Special Commercial and Technical Advisor to the Company. Dr. Loh was formerly Vice President, Market Development of Cargill Inc.s Global Edible Oils Solutions group in North America. Cargillis a global food and agriculture company.

We are delighted that Willie is expanding his role with Yield10 by serving on our Board of Directors, said Oliver Peoples, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Yield10 Bioscience. His extensive knowledge of the commercial landscape for commodity and specialty oils including leading the development of omega-3 canola oil as well as his global business and operational management experience in grain seed, grain and oil sales will provide our team with important insights as we continue to advance our commercial plans for Camelina and shape the future of Yield10. Willie brings critical value chain experience at a time when Yield10 is transitioning to a commercial operation to supply Camelina grain to the seed processing and biofuel sectors.

Despite recent supply chain challenges, there remains an unprecedented global demand for vegetable oil production across biofuels, human nutrition and animal feed markets, said Dr. Loh. Yield10s leadership in the development of Camelina as a new commercial crop has the potential to address the growing gap between vegetable oil supply and demand. Based on the positive attributes of the crop, I believe Camelina represents a viable solution for long-term production, benefitting growers, energy users and consumers alike. I look forward to continuing to work with the Yield10 team and contributing to the Companys commercial success.

Dr. Loh retired in 2020 as Vice President of Cargills Global Edible Oil Solutions group in North America, where he was responsible for the market development of novel oil products and led its Project Management Office. Prior to this assignment, Dr. Loh led marketing professionals at Cargill responsible for strategic planning, new business development, product management and innovation in food ingredient oils, foodservice oils and planting seed. Dr. Loh joined Cargill in 1995 and led the specialty oils sales team for 10 years.

Dr. Loh earned a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the Ohio State University. He earned an M.S. in Botany from Rutgers University and a B.S. in Biology from Columbia University. Dr. Loh also worked as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Virginia. He has published original research articles in Oil Chemistry, Oilseed Biochemistry, Microbial Physiology and Plant Molecular Genetics and has been granted more than a dozen patents in these areas.

AboutYield10 Bioscience

Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. is an agricultural bioscience company that is using its differentiated trait gene discovery platform, the Trait Factory, to develop improved Camelina varieties to produce proprietary seed products, and to discover high value genetic traits for the agriculture and food industries. Our goals are to efficiently establish a high value seed products business based on developing superior varieties of Camelina to produce biofuel feedstock oils, PHA bioplastics and omega-3 (DHA+EPA) oils and to license our yield traits to major seed companies for commercialization in major row crops, including corn, soybean and canola. Yield10 is headquartered in Woburn, MA and has an Oilseeds Center of Excellence in Saskatoon, Canada.

For more information about the company, please visitwww.yield10bio.com, or follow the Company onTwitter,FacebookandLinkedIn.

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Yield10 Bioscience Appoints Willie Loh, Ph.D., to the Board of Directors - citybiz

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Sigyn Therapeutics Strengthens Board of Directors With the Appointments of Richa Nand, Jim Dorst and Christopher Wetzel – Yahoo Finance

Friday, October 7th, 2022

Sigyn Therapeutics, Inc.

- Independent Directors Bring Expertise in Intellectual Property, Finance, Healthcare Delivery, and More -

SAN DIEGO, CA, Oct. 04, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire Sigyn Therapeutics, Inc. (Sigyn or the Company) (OTCQB: SIGY), a development-stage company focused on creating therapeutic solutions to address unmet needs in global health, today announced the appointment of Richa Nand, B.S., J.D.; Jim Dorst, B.S., M.S.; and Christopher Wetzel, B.S., M.B.A. to its Board of Directors, effective October 10, 2022.

As we transition toward the next phase of our clinical endeavors, it is an opportune time to bolster our Board with the appointment of these three accomplished individuals, who bring forth a diverse set of expertise, yet each have experience with extracorporeal blood purification technologies, stated Jim Joyce, co-founder and CEO of Sigyn Therapeutics.

Richa Nand is a senior legal executive with more than 20 years of experience as an intellectual property (IP) attorney and strategic business advisor for biotechnology and medical device companies. She is the founder of Insight Patents, a legal and consulting firm providing IP and transactional corporate services for the life sciences industry. Ms. Nand previously served as Vice President of Corporate Development and Legal at Bird Rock Bio a Johnson & Johnson-backed biopharmaceutical company in San Diego and Vice President of Intellectual Property and Licensing; Director of Business Development; and In-House Patent Counsel at Cytori Therapeutics. Prior to law school, she was a biomedical researcher at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills, California. Ms. Nand received a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Juris Doctor degree from Boston University School of Law.

Jim Dorst has more than 30 years of senior management experience in finance, operations, planning and business transactions at both private and public companies. He was most recently Director of Corporate Development at SYNNEX/Concentrix, where he was primarily responsible for mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Dorst was previously Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at SpectraScience, Inc.; CFO of Aethlon Medical, Inc. and Vice President of Finance and Operations for Verdisoft Corporation. In addition, he previously served as Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration at SeeCommerce; CFO and COO of Omnis Technology Corp; and CFO and Senior Vice President of Information Technology at Savoir Technology Group, Inc. Mr. Dorst practiced as a Certified Public Accountant with Coopers & Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP); and holds a Master of Science degree in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Oregon.

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Christopher Wetzel has more than 25 years of leadership experience in various aspects of the healthcare delivery system and since 2004, has served as Chief Executive Officer for the Surgery Center at Hamilton in New Jersey. His career has focused on building organizations, increasing operational efficiency, increasing profitability, maximizing revenue, and managing change in the complex and high-growth healthcare environment. Mr. Wetzel applied his broad background in strategy, finance, and operations to guide various entities starting new ventures, entering new markets, and reengineering business processes. He is a long-term investor in the extracorporeal therapy space. Mr. Wetzel received a Master of Business Administration degree in Healthcare Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Thomas Jefferson University (formerly Philadelphia University).

About Sigyn Therapeutics

Sigyn Therapeutics is a development-stage company focused on the creation of therapeutic solutions that address unmet needs in global health.

Sigyn Therapy is a broad-spectrum blood purification device designed to address pathogen-associated inflammatory disorders that are not addressed with an approved drug therapy. To accomplish such unmet medical needs, Sigyn Therapy extracts pathogen sources of life-threatening inflammation in concert with dampening down the dysregulated overproduction of inflammatory cytokines.

In vitro blood purification studies have demonstrated the potential of Sigyn Therapy to address a broad-spectrum of relevant therapeutic targets, including endotoxin (gram-negative bacterial toxin); peptidoglycan and lipoteichoic acid (gram-positive bacterial toxins); viral pathogens (including SARS-CoV-2); CytoVesicles (extracellular vesicles that transport inflammatory cytokine cargos); and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1b), and interleukin 6 (IL-6), which are inflammatory cytokines that play a prominent role in each Sigyn Therapy treatment indication. Subsequent to these milestone achievements, Sigyn Therapy has been demonstrated to be well tolerated in animal studies.

Based on Sigyn Therapys ability to isolate and extract viral pathogens, bacterial toxins, and inflammatory cytokines from the bloodstream, candidate treatment indications include pathogen-associated sepsis (leading cause of hospital deaths), community acquired pneumonia (a leading cause of death among infectious diseases), emerging pandemic threats, and inflammation & endotoxemia that commonly occurs in end-stage renal disease patients.

To learn more about our therapeutic endeavors, market opportunities and management team, we encourage to visit our website at: http://www.SigynTherapeutics.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This information in this press release contains forward-looking statements of Sigyn Therapeutics, Inc. (Sigyn) that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements contained in this summary are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that involve risks and uncertainties. Statements containing words such as "may," "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "will," "projections," "estimate," "potentially" or similar expressions constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Sigyn's current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Factors that may contribute to such differences may include, without limitation, the Company's ability to clinically advance Sigyn Therapy in human studies required for market clearance, the Company's ability to manufacture Sigyn Therapy, the Company's ability to raise capital resources, and other potential risks. The foregoing list of risks and uncertainties is illustrative but is not exhaustive. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements can be found under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements contained in this report speak only as of the date on which they were made. Except as may be required by law, the Company does not intend, nor does it undertake any duty, to update this information to reflect future events or circumstances.

Contact:

Stephen KilmerSigyn Therapeutics, Inc.Investor Relations(646) 274-3580stephen@sigyntherapeutics.com

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Sigyn Therapeutics Strengthens Board of Directors With the Appointments of Richa Nand, Jim Dorst and Christopher Wetzel - Yahoo Finance

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UTHSC Researcher Co-Leads Study of Genes that Modulate Aging, Lifespan – UTHSC News – UTHSC News

Friday, October 7th, 2022

Scientists led by the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) and thecole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerlandareexploring the elaborate interplay between genes, sex, growth, and age and how they influence variation in longevity.Their findings, which are being published in the peer-reviewed journal Science, arean important step in understanding why some people live longer than others and provide a basis for future studies to improve healthspan.

Robert Williams, PhD, chair of theDepartment of Genetics and Genomics in UTHSCs College of Medicine, along withJohan Auwerx, MD, PhD, professor and director of theLaboratory for Integrated and Systems Physiologyat EPFL, started a program in 2016 to define genetic factors underlying aging and lifespan. Finding common molecular pathways that control differences in rate of aging is critical to our understanding of how individuals differ in their health and lifespan, Dr. Williams said. Such insights may help us work out ways to intervene rationally.

Drs. Williams and Auwerx worked with colleagues at the National Institute on Agings Interventions Testing Program (ITP), which donated DNA of over 12,000 mice to the project. ITP mice are genetically heterogeneous. Each of the 27,574 mice studied is a full sibling, sharing half its genetic inheritance with each other mouse in the program, and each has a known lifespan, making them an ideal system to study.

EPFL and UTHSC researchers measured the genetic makeup of more than 3,000 mice, all of them genetic brothers or sisters. The mice were then genotyped and allowed to live until their natural death. The researchers then explored the relationship between DNA difference and differences in the lifespan of each mouse. This genetic mapping allowed the teams to define stretches of DNA in genomes that affect longevity. The results show the DNA segments, or loci, associated with longevity are largely specific to sex, with females having a region in chromosome 3 that affects lifespan. When the males who died early due to non-aging-related reasons were removed from the analysis, additional genetic signals started to emerge, suggesting some genetic variations only affect lifespan after a certain age.

In addition to finding genetic determinants of longevity, the researchers explored other contributors. In general, bigger mice die younger. The researchers found that some, but not all, of the genetic effects on longevity are through effects on growth. One of the non-genetic effects may be how early access to food affects growth. They observed that mice from smaller litters tended to be heavier adults and live shorter lives. Mice from larger litters that had to share their mothers milk with more siblings, grew more slowly and lived longer on average. The researchers corroborated these trends of early growth versus longevity in large human datasets with hundreds of thousands of participants.

Beyond characterizing how longevity is affected, the researchers worked to find genes most likely to play a role in longevity determination. They measured the effect of DNA variation on how genes are expressed and compared their analyses with multiple human and non-human databases. From this they nominated a few genes likely to modulate aging rates. They then tested the effects of manipulating these genes in roundworms and found that a subset of gene perturbations did in fact affect the lifespan.The results of this study will be a rich resource of aging genes that will hopefully guide the design of therapies that not only extend lifespan, but also healthspan.

Funding for the project was provided by the NIA,EPFL, the European Research Council, the Swiss National Science Foundation, and the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research.The paper, titledSex- and age-dependent genetics of longevity in a heterogeneous mouse population,is in the October 2022 issue of Science.

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GATC Health Investor Conference to Feature First Public Demonstration of Its AI Platform’s Drug Discovery Capabilities – PR Newswire

Friday, October 7th, 2022

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GATC Health ("GATC" or "the Company"), a science and technology company revolutionizing drug discovery and disease prediction using artificial intelligence (AI), today announced that the company is welcoming private investors to attend a GATC conference at Avenue of the Arts Hotel in Costa Mesa, CA on Wednesday, Oct. 5, for the first public demonstration of its proprietary Multiomics Advanced Technology (MAT) platform that discovers both small and large molecule drug candidates with 88% accuracy.

In addition to this demonstration, the agenda of the closed event includes key speakers from GATC Health as well as industry experts and thought leaders, who will provide additional context on how GATC's drug discovery and development abilities could be used in multiple areas of medicine, including addiction treatments, diabetes, oncology and other disease states.

GATC Health has attracted significant interest from sophisticated investors. The company expects its private conference to close its current Regulation D offering, representing the final opportunity for individuals to invest in the company. Invitations to GATC's event were limited to individuals who invested $100,000 or more in the company or who recently invested via referral. Following this round of funding, GATC Health is seeking institutional investment and is in conversations with several prospective funding institutions.

At the investor conference, GATC will also detail recent company developments, including a new study that shows its platform can predict drug candidate success with 88% accuracy, an increase to pre-clinical lead optimization 11x industry performance.

The company also recently announced a partnership with globally recognized music artist, entrepreneur and activist, Akon, to study and interpret genetic and other biological data to identify predisposition to diseases and enable life-saving preventative care for Africans and people of African heritage. Using the company's proprietary AI platform, which can process and analyze the entire human genome, the initiative will study the genetics of 1 million people across Africa and use that data to identify personalized healthcare solutions for the African participants, in addition to providing deep population health insights that can change the course of healthcare on the African continent.

Speakers at the day-long conference will include:

GATC Health company leadership scheduled to speak include:

About GATC HealthGATC Health Corp is a science and technology company using whole genome analysis and multiomics-based artificial intelligence to revolutionize disease detection and drug discovery. The company's patented AI platform reduces risk, time and costs for life science companies by digitally reproducing the human body to find non-obvious answers to biology's most complex questions. GATC Health is accelerating healthcare's transition to predictive, individualized medicine.

DISCLAIMER:Any offer to sell securities will be made only pursuant to a definitive fully executed Subscription Agreement and will be made in reliance on an exemption from registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933. Securities are offered by Entoro Securities, LLC, member of FINRA and SIPC. Additional disclosure information can be found at http://www.entoro.com/disclosures

SOURCE GATC Health

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GATC Health Investor Conference to Feature First Public Demonstration of Its AI Platform's Drug Discovery Capabilities - PR Newswire

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