PSF and PUPA mini-symposium: Interdisciplinary Approaches in Biomedical Research‏

If you are graduate students or research fellows who are doing biomedical/clinical research or interested in this booming field, you are cordially invited to join our Mini-symposium: Interdisciplinary Approaches in Biomedical Research.

Philadelphia Science Forum (PSF) and Peking University Philadelphia Alumni (PUPA) are holding this mini-symposium to facilitate interdisciplinary communication and potential collaboration.  This event is generously funded by SASgov at Penn.

We are glad to invite Dr. Hongming Zhuang, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Radiology at HUP and CHOP, as our keynote speaker to share his experience in biomedical/clinical research and career developement. Two postdoctoral fellows Dr. Hongchang Qu and Dr. Aizhi Zhao, and a PhD student Hualei Zhang will give talks on how they use interdisciplinary approaches to address specific biomedical questions. Do not miss this good opportunity to discuss and learn from the successful experiences of our speakers.  FREE dinner will be provided.

Location: Clinical Research Building (CRB) Room 302, 415 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Time: 2/18/2010 (Thursday), 5:30-7:00pm Keynote talk by Dr. Zhuang and Q&As; 7:00-7:30pm dinner; 7:30-9:00pm talks and Q&As.

We are looking forward to a constructive discussion among various disciplines such as biology, medicine, chemistry, mathematics, computational sciences, physics, psychology, engineering, etc.

费城科学论坛系列讲座/PSF series talk: 6-7:30pm Thursday (Feb. 11) at CRB Room 302

Please join us for the Philadelphia Science Forum series talk, 6-7:30pm Thursday (Feb. 11) at CRB Room 302.

Title: Seeking therapy for autoimmune diseases: from library screening to patient treatment

Speaker: Dr. Xuming Mao (Department of Dermatology, UPenn)

Abstract: Autoimmune diseases occur when an overactive immune response attacks tissues or cells normally present in the human body. Pemphigus represents one of the autoimmune disorders that target only the skin and mucous membranes. It is a potentially fatal blistering disease characterized by autoantibodies against desmoglein (Dsg) cell adhesion proteins. To study the role of autoantibodies in pathogenesis and seek new specific treatments, we isolated lymphocytes from patients with pemphigus, followed by mRNAs to establish a cDNA expression library. Using antibody phage display, we have isolated repertoires of human anti-Dsg mAbs as single-chain variable-region fragments (scFvs) from a patient with active mucocutaneous pemphigus vulgaris.  Injection of these pathogenic but not the nonpathogenic antibodies reproduced blisters in animal models or in organ-cultured human skin. In vitro studies showed mAb causes rapid internalization of Dsg during assembly in skin epidermal cells. Furthermore, we found the pathogenic antibodies triggered activation of certain signaling pathways that may contribute to antibody-mediated pathogenecity. Our preliminary results have demonstrated that interference of antibody binding or subsequent activation of cell signaling will help us to identify targeted therapy of pemphigus in the future.

Snack and beverage will be served. For event details, future event announcement, or subscription to the discussion group, please visit  www.newPSF.org

费城科学论坛系列讲座/PSF series talk: 6-7:30pm Friday (Jan. 29) at BRB2/3 Room 801

The first Philadelphia Science Forum talk in 2010 will be held at BRB2/3 Room 801 6-7:30pm Friday (Jan. 29).

Title: CREB deficiency suppresses the development of epilepsy

Speaker: Xinjian Zhu, PhD (the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)

Abstract: Epilepsy is a disease of recurrent seizures that can develop after brain insults. To prevent the morbidity and mortality associated with the epilepsy we need to better understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms that contribute to the development of epilepsy. Several lines of evidence suggest that cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) might be involved in the development of epilepsy. In this study, the chemoconvulsant pilocarpine and kindling model were used to investigate the role of CREB in the development of epilepsy. Our results implicated that deficiency of CREB suppressed the development of epilepsy in the pilocarpine and the kindling model. Blocking CREB activity following a brain insult may suppress the development of epilepsy.

Snack and beverage will be served. For event details, future event announcement, or subscription to the discussion group, please visit www.newPSF.org.

Photos here by Xiaoyu.

PSF Happy Hour Flashback

Photo courtesy by Xiaoyu.

PSF(费城科学论坛) career workshop/be a physician and a professor - 5:30 -7pm, Dec 15th , CRB Room 302

Please join a career development workshop organized by Philadelphia Science Forum (PSF).

Dr. Huayan Zhang, a physician and assistant professor of pediatrics at UPenn & CHOP will share her experience and viewpoints with us on how to make professional decisions and advance a meaningful career in the United States. In this talk she will review her career path of becoming an academic neonatologist, describe the "culture shock" she has experienced on this path and discuss what are the most important to have a successful career in the United States. Students/postdocs/professionals, particularly those who determine to be a physician scientist are welcome.

Time: 5:30 -7:00 pm, December 15 (Tuesday)
Location: CRB Room 302, 415 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA  19104
Pizza and beverage would be served.

Pre-registration is required for head count to secure food. Please send your confirmation to shangweih@gmail.com (Shangwei) with name and school (optional).

Mini-symposium: Interdisciplinary Approaches in Biomedical Research

If you are graduate students or research fellows who are doing biomedical research or interested in this booming field, you are cordially invited to join our Mini-symposium: Interdisciplinary Approaches in Biomedical Research, on Dec 19th (Saturday), 2009.

Philadelphia Science Forum (PSF) and Peking University Philadelphia Alumni (PUPA) are hosting this mini-symposium to facilitate interdisciplinary communication and potential collaboration. The program will be four to five talks in the morning, followed by a FREE social lunch and a panel discussion.

We are now calling for MORE speakers to share their successful experiences in biomedical research using interdisciplinary approaches as nowadays biomedical research involves experts coming from various disciplines such as biology, medicine, chemistry, mathematics, computational sciences, physics, psychology, engineering, etc.. You are more than welcome to present your research approaches in a short casual talk (~20 min). This is a good opportunity to discuss and learn.

Please contact yuting_zhao@hotmail.com if you want to join the event and/or to give a talk.

Postponed due to the weather issue. New schedule will be announced later.

PSF(费城科学论坛) happy hour/networking with industry professionals - 10:30am to 1pm, Dec 5th , CRB Room 302

You are cordially invited to join Philadelphia Science Forum (PSF) happy hour -networking with professionals from pharmaceutical industry. This will be a great chance to network with Penn alumni working in pharmaceutical industry. The speakers will talk about their life style and experience in pharmaceutical industry and share viewpoints on choosing industry. This event is aimed to help students, postdocs and professionals in academia to make career decision and get prepared for working in industry. Our panelists are:

1) Cheng, Yan, Principle Scientist, Johnson & Johnson (University of Pennsylvania faculty of pharmacology prior to joining J&J)

2) Li, Wenkai: Senior scientist, Merck  (University of Pennsylvania '07, Ph.D in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics)

3) Zhu, Peijuan :  Senior scientist, Schering Plough (University of Pennsylvania '07, PhD in Pharmacology)

Time: 10:30am to 1pm, Dec 5 (Saturday).
Location: CRB Room 302, 415 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA  19104

Lunch provided.

It is free but pre-registration is highly recommended for head count and food preparation. Please send your confirmation to jwwj@yahoo.com (Wenjie) with name and number of participants. If you need help to access the room, please call 215-275-7457.