 | Welcome to the Spring 2024 edition of MoGeNews! Dear MoGen Community, Welcome to the latest edition of MoGeNews for Spring 2024! We're excited to share success stories, research breakthroughs, and upcoming events. In this edition, you'll find an interview with Sun Ooi, our Career Advisor, exciting research highlights on AI and targeted treatments, alumni achievements, and upcoming workshops and events. Register now for our Career Symposium to connect and grow with the MoGen community. Thanks to our students, staff, and faculty who have contributed to this newsletter, including Teresa Brooke-Lynn Coe, Ishmal Amir, Liza Saitova, Martina Steiner, Anika Hazra, Betty Zou, Jovana Drinjakovic and Marcia Iglesias. Share your stories on events, awards, and research updates by contacting mogen.news@utoronto.ca. ▪ The Editorial Team
|  Spring at U of T | | | Interview with Sun Ooi: MoGen’s Career Advisor Transitioning from graduate school to a professional career can be challenging. Sun Ooi, MoGen’s new career advisor, can provide useful tips and guidance to support students in this transition. Check out our latest interview with Sun to discover her experiences as a career advisor and how she can assist you. | AI Research on Cellular Diversity Dr. Kieran Campbell, Investigator at the LTRI and an assistant professor at the Departments of Molecular Genetics and Statistical Sciences, University of Toronto, led a study along with other researchers from the Department of Molecular Genetics at Mount Sinai on novel computational workflow to streamline the identification of cell types. | Taipale Lab has developed a new method to identify specific proteins for targeted treatment of diseases A team of researchers from the University of Toronto and Mount Sinai, led by Mikko Taipale along with visiting scientist Juline Poirson, have developed a new method to identify proteins that can manipulate the stability of other proteins, offering the potential for targeted disease treatment. Their study, published in Nature, uncovered over 600 new effector proteins, some of which could be utilized therapeutically for protein degradation or stabilization. This approach, which explores the entire human proteome, presents promising opportunities for drug discovery for conditions such as skeletal muscle disorders and chronic myeloid leukemia. | New Glioblastoma Treatment from Dr. Xi Huang’s Lab Researchers from the Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto, led by Dr. Xi Huang and Dr. Weifan Dong, made a breakthrough in targeting glioblastoma, a common and aggressive brain cancer. Their study aimed to discover the mechanism of a potassium channel complex in glioblastoma tumours, and subsequently develop methods to mitigate the channel’s function. | Teaching Highlight with Nicholas Watkins Nicholas Watkins, a two-time MoGen alumnus, is a Genomic Diagnostic Data Specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital, a clinical GC at the University Health Network, and a course coordinator within the Genetic Counseling program. Read our highlight to learn more about how he supports and shapes the genetics space and the MoGen department. | MoGen chair Dr. Tim Hughes leads research in discovering one million new components of the human genome Led by Tim Hughes, researchers at the University of Toronto have found one million new exons in the human genome that arise mainly due to random mutation. Documenting these exons can help demystify the dark genome, as well as their potential role in disease. | U of T receives $10 million from Ontario government for modernization of high containment facility The University of Toronto's High Containment Facility (THCF), managed by MoGen Professor Scott Gray-Owen, who is also the academic director of the facility, has received a $10 million grant from the Ontario government. This funding is a direct investment in supporting the department's research in infectious diseases, and it will facilitate training for researchers while enhancing Canada's health security. | Individual Development Plan (IDP) Career Exploration Workshop Series MoGen's online Career Workshop series helps students develop their career plans and job market skills. The workshops are led by Dr. Jessica Velez from the Genetics Society of America as part of the MoGen Career Connections Mentorship program. Upcoming Workshops April 22, 1-2 pm - Informational interviews
May 13, 1-2 pm - Career assessments and goal setting | Science Rendezvous Join us at Science Rendezvous on Saturday, May 11th, at Front Campus (King's College Circle). GSA volunteers are organizing MoGen's booth and will showcase interactive science demonstrations geared toward kids and families. | Career Development Alumni Symposium The 2024 Career Development Alumni Symposium is coming on June 25th! Join us to hear panellists discuss their experiences, engage with alumni in roundtable discussions, and get career advice from keynote speakers. Featuring mentors and speakers from various fields such as industry, academia, and healthcare, this symposium offers an opportunity to explore a wide range of topics. | David Dime Family Catalyst Fund - Catalyzing the Talent Pipeline Scholarship Congratulations to Tasneem Al Mudarris, the recipient of the David Dime Family Catalyst Fund - Catalyzing the Talent Pipeline Scholarship for 2023-2024. New Faculty Announcement Join us in welcoming Shu Wang as our newest Assistant Professor! | The Department of Molecular Genetics is contacting postdoctoral researchers in MoGen labs to join us on LinkedIn. Here, you can connect with other postdocs, collaborate, share publications, discuss career development, and stay updated on events and opportunities. | | |
