GSI Seed Grant Awards for 2009

First Annual Genome Science Institute Seed Grant Award Recipients

The BUMC Genome Science Institute (GSI), established in 2008, fosters collaboration and serves as a resource for Boston University investigators engaged in genetics and genomics research and education. The GSI is pleased to announce the recipients of the first annual GSI Seed Grant Award.

Of fourteen applications, the following recipients were selected following peer review of the proposals.

1. “Changes in Chromatin Accessibility of the Distal and Proximal

IL1RL1Promoter Upon Activation: Dependence on Cell Type

Ellen O. Weinberg, PhD
Boston University School of Medicine
Cardiovascular Proteomics Center

Barbara Nikolajczyk, PhD
Boston University School of Medicine
Department of Microbiology

2. Role of microRNAs in thyroid carcinogenesis”

Jennifer Rosen, MD
Boston University School of Medicine
Department of General Surgery
Section of Surgical Oncology

Stephanie L. Lee, PhD
Boston University School of Medicine
Department of Medicine
Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Nutrition

Antonio de las Morenas, MD
Boston University School of Medicine
Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine

3. “Possible functional diversification of the CP2 and p53 protein

families from a common ancestor early in animal evolution—

Evidence from the basal animal model, Nematostella vectensis”

John R. Finnerty, PhD
Boston University College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Biology

Ulla Hansen, PhD
Boston University College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Biology

Zhi-Xiong Jim Xiao, PhD
Boston University School of Medicine
Department of Biochemistry

4.  “Integrating genetics and genomics of COPD”

Jemma B. Wilk, DSc
Boston University School of Medicine
Department of Neurology

Avrum Spira, MD, MSc
Boston University School of Medicine
Department of Medicine
Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Allergy Medicine

GSI Seed grants are intended to support:

The expansion of research at Boston University by supporting new collaborations between groups with diverse expertise to address an important scientific question in genetics and genomics research.

Development of new and emerging areas of genetics and genomics research.

The GSI Seed Grant Committee and GSI Directors thank the applicants and reviewers who participated in this process and look forward to continued growth in genetics and genomics research at Boston University.

Please contact the GSI at gsi@bu.edu with questions or with your ideas on how the GSI can better facilitate or develop genetics and genomics research at BU.