Mentor Areas
Molecular, cellular biology and biochemistry with an emphasis on studying stem cell biology, ribosome biogenesis, and genome integrity.
Description:
Blood stem cells (also called hematopoietic stem cells) give rise to all circulating blood cells throughout life. Maintenance of stem cell self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation is regulated by complex signaling pathways. Aberrant regulation leads to leukemia, which is a form of cancer. Genome integrity plays a critical role in the prevention of cancer and other age-associated diseases. The Tong laboratory studies the mechanisms that safeguard the genome during DNA replication and investigates how failures in these processes impact tissue homoeostasis, cancer risk, and, potentially, cancer treatments.
Allogenic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is used to treat a variety of hematopoietic malignancies and congenital blood diseases, such as aplastic anemia, bone marrow failure, myelodysplastic syndrome, or leukemia. However, HSCT is an invasive therapy with associated mortality and cytotoxicity. Thus, it is of great importance to elucidate the regulation of HSC expansion and differentiation, identify new druggable developmental regulators, explore novel therapeutic avenues and improve current clinical practices for the treatment of various benign and malignant blood disorders. The Tong laboratory studies the mechanisms that underlying HSC fitness and self-renewal, and prevention of leukemogenesis. Furthermore, we are investigating novel signaling pathways that underlie various blood disorders.
Projects will vary. Interested students should contact us to discuss possibilities.
Preferred Qualifications
Relevant cell biology, molecular biology and biochemistry courses. Some laboratory technical skills are necessary.
Details:
Preferred Student Year
Second-Year, Junior, Senior
Academic Term
Fall, Spring, Summer
I prefer to have students start during the above term(s).Volunteer
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to volunteers.Paid
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to paying students they engage in their research, regardless of their work-study eligibility.Work Study
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to hiring work-study-eligible students.