Caᵥβ subunits bind to the pore-forming Caᵥ2.2α₁ subunit of the neuronal voltage-gated calcium channel Caᵥ2.2 with high affinity, stabilizing the subunit and enabling its trafficking to the plasma membrane. We are developing small molecules that disrupt Caᵥβ binding to Caᵥ2.2α₁ as a strategy to suppress neuropathic pain. I will also briefly describe our work developing small-molecule inhibitors of p190RhoGEF to promote axonal growth and to explore its role in TDP-43 aggregation and ALS.

Our work has elucidated the pathophysiology underlying impaired GABAA receptors and transporters. We identified a cascade in which mutations cause protein misfolding and retention in the endoplasmic reticulum, triggering ER stress and downstream abnormalities at the cellular, circuit, and behavioral levels. Importantly, these disease mechanisms can be ameliorated and the clinical trial is promising.

“Probing the Link Between Cellular Metabolism, Circadian Rhythms, and Inflammation at the Blood-Brain Interface”

Tanner Cress, Ph.D. Candidate
Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Towards Human-Prosthesis Symbiosis

Abstract: As the number of individuals living with limb loss in the United States reaches millions, there is an urgent need for advanced prosthetic technologies that can provide this large population with the best restoration of normal function possible. While commercially available robotic prostheses, such as dexterous prosthetic hands and motorized prosthetic legs, have become commercially available, their adoption and functional capabilities remain limited. 

This presentation highlights our research aimed at building a symbiotic relationship between humans and robotic prostheses, i.e., the prosthesis controller and the wearer’s motor control system coordinate and adapt to function as a seamless, unified entity. We investigate human-prosthesis interactions and develop learning-based control and neural-machine interfaces to enable prosthesis adaptation to its amputee users (physically and cognitively) and task contexts. Our innovative approaches may further advance the function of modern, intelligent prostheses and significantly improve the quality of life for individuals with limb amputations.

Biography: Dr. He (Helen) Huang is the Jackson Family Distinguished Professor in the Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at North Carolina State University (NC State) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), the Director of the Closed-Loop Engineering for Advanced Rehabilitation (CLEAR) core, and the launch director for NC State Robotics Initiative. Her research interests lie in neural-machine interfaces, rehabilitation and assistive technology (robotic prosthetics and exoskeletons), learning-based wearable robot control, wearer-robot interaction and co-adaptation, and human motor control/biomechanics. She was a recipient of the Delsys Prize for Innovation in Electromyography, NIDILRR Switzer Fellowship, NSF CAREER Award, ASA Statistics in Physical Engineering Sciences Award, and NC State ALCOA Foundation Distinguished Engineering Research Award. She is a Fellow of AIMBE, Fellow of IEEE, and NC State faculty scholar. She is currently the Editor-in-Chief for the IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering and an Editorial Board Member for the IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.

The “AI Conversation Toolkit” helps graduate students and faculty navigate if, when, and how to use AI in research, and was developed by the Graduate College, the University Library, and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation. In this workshop, we’ll walk students and faculty through the toolkit, which includes:

• Understanding responsible tool use (including legal, academic, and ethical considerations)

• Evaluating tools for all stages of the research process

• Assessing different forms of risk

• Communicating expectations clearly through agreements and disclosure statements

The materials emphasizes integrity, intentionality, and transparency through human-centered engagement with technology. The toolkit offers links to relevant campus resources, guided reflective activities, and customizable templates for committees to tailor to the specific needs of each dissertation and lab group. 

The event will be held both in-person and online. Registration is required.

Kelli Trei (B.S. Microbiology, 1999, and MLIS, 2012), Associate Professor and Biosciences Librarian, University of Illinois Library, will discuss her background in microbiology and work as liaison to the Schools of Life Sciences: Molecular & Cellular Biology (MCB) and Integrative Biology, (IB) as well as to the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology.

https://distributedmuseum.illinois.edu/about/women-in-science-lecture-series

The ability to craft an effective funding proposal is a skill that can reap a lifetime of rewards. As a graduate student, now is the time to hone your grantwriting proficiency. In this workshop, designed for students in STEM fields, you will learn how to identify funding opportunities, strategize the components of an effective proposal, and think like a grantwriter. Come with questions about this mysterious genre, leave with a template that you can adapt to become a competitive applicant for prestigious university, national, and international funding competitions. 

Register in advance for the link to this online workshop. 

See more Graduate College Workshops.

During this workshop, we will discuss the fundamentals of proposal writing, guiding undergraduate students to formulate successful research projects and explain their research in a concise and compelling manner that is understandable to a general audience. Students will leave the workshop with (1) basic knowledge about research proposals and their structure, (2) tactics and tools to write successful research statements, and (3) a list of resources for assistance in the writing process. This workshop is a collaboration between the Office of Undergraduate Research and the Writers Workshop and will be most well-suited for undergraduates who are drafting proposals for the first time, hoping to improve their proposal writing skills, and/or applying for an OUR Research Support Grant.

This event will be held in the Main Library in room 106 (Main Library floor plan). It is open to current University of Illinois affiliates (students, faculty, and staff). Please register using your Illinois email address by October 12, and Writers Workshop will send a reminder on the morning of the event.

Join Women@NCSA via Zoom on October 20 @ 2 p.m. CT for a free event featuring Ross Wantland, Interim Director of Academic Inclusive Excellence from the U. of I. Office of the Vice Chancellor for Access, Civil Rights & Community, to learn how to support undocumented students on campus.

Overview: Students who are undocumented, DACA or other temporary protected status experience unique challenges in higher education. Join Ross Wantland from Access, Civil Rights & Community to learn skills to better support undocumented students and learn about support resources at Illinois.

🗓️ Add this event to your calendar! Download the .ics file here

About Our Speaker: Ross Wantland

Ross Wantland is the Interim Director of Academic Inclusive Excellence in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Access, Civil Rights & Community. Ross has served for over 25 years at the university in violence prevention and culture change. He lives in Champaign with his partner, saxophone-playing teen, and animal menagerie.

Join us at the Beckman Institute for a Lunch and Learn focused on recruiting underrepresented populations in research. There will be a few short talks followed by a discussion section. 

Please sign up here. To guarantee a lunch, sign up by Oct 9

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