2011 Research Highlights

Developed an enzymatic assay to screen for small-molecule activators of glucokinase.

Worked on mapping the DISC1/GSK3β interaction to develop novel chemical probes for GSK3β inhibition as a potential treatment for schizophrenia.

Characterized models of cancer cachexia in terms of their relevance to the pathophysiology of the disease.

Studied the evolution of regulatory elements involved in the osmotic stress response of seven ascomycete yeasts.

Studied genes associated with the Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome for their role in influenza virus entry.

Quantified β-catenin levels by GSK-3β inhibition in HEK293T cells using ELISA.

Analyzed exome sequencing to discover Mendelian dyslipidemias in six Dutch families with extreme lipid phenotypes.

Developed a diastereoselective, intramolecular oxa-Michael reaction as a new method to synthesize morpholine-derived fragments.

Studied the relationship between gene expression and compound sensitivity in cancer cell lines.

Designed potential inhibitors of the DOT1L methyltransferase via structure-based optimization of the S-adenosyl methionine cofactor.

Studied the signaling pathways of mutant melanoma that modify sensitivity to PLX4720 in B-RAFV600E mutation.