Homepage Archives 2017

Homepage Archives contain CBC announcements and news, success stories’ snippets and Chicago Biotech & Entrepreneurship news, that have been chronologically posted on the CBC homepage throughout the year.


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2017

December 13, 2017
ANNOUNCEMENT
CBC is inviting new applications for the Accelerator Award program
Accelerator Award is a milestone-driven award program ($100,000 for 1st year) focused on translational research toward therapeutics or associated biomarkers and diagnostics.
Spring 2018 round Letter of Intent (LOI) submissions open January 8, 2018 and close January 12, 2018.
Please note:
Applicants, if selected, MUST be available to present their projects at a CBCAN meeting on February 1 and/or February 8, 2018. Both meetings will be held on a Thursday, from 4:00-7:00 PM, at Prentice Women Hospital Conference Center downtown Chicago.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

▸ Program description
▸ RFA (Please make sure that you are conforming to the MOST RECENT RFA revised Dec. 13, 2017)


December 13, 2017
CBC NEWSLETTER, VOL. 24
CBC invites new applications for the Accelerator and Catalyst Award programs
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December 13, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
A NU team tracks down a novel protein involved in glioblastoma survival and resistance to current therapies
An important new finding with implications for developing a treatment for glioblastoma has just been published in Cancer Cell by a NU team led by Shi-Yuan Cheng. The group identified a protein kinase MST4-dependant pathway that plays a tumor-promoting role in glioblastoma through increasing autophagic activity. Autophagy is unfortunately frequently induced by anti-cancer treatments. However, the scientists discovered a novel protein called ATG4B—a substrate of MST4—that, when inhibited, led to reductions in tumor size and prolonged survival in mice treated with radiotherapy. A prior CBC awardee, Jack Kessler, NU, was part of the team which made this discovery. Kessler was a co-recipient of a CBC Catalyst Award (2008). He was also a keynote speaker at the 5th Annual CBC Symposium (2007), “Where Science Goes Next: Translation of Basic Discovery for Human Health.” Congratulations to all scientists involved in this project!
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December 11, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Understanding skin in health and disease at the center of interest of many CBC awardees at NU
The December 2017 issue of Northwestern Medicine Magazine features an article devoted to skin research conducted at NU. Remarkably, several NU scientists that are highlighted in the story have received CBC support in the past: Kathleen Green, Amy Paller and her postdoc, Duncan Dam, Jaehyuk Choi, Chad Mirkin and Bethany Perez White are included in this august group (for details see the notes below the article). Their research spans areas from studying properties of healthy skin to mechanisms underlying the development of severe skin maladies such as melanoma to developing skin permeable therapeutics using nanotechnology. As Jaehyuk Choi, a CBC Catalyst Award (2017) recipient states in the article, “We pride ourselves as a department that has a robust bedside-to-bench-to-bedside pipeline.” CBC congratulates each and every scientist mentioned in the article for their dedication and contributions to basic and translational science.
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December 11, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Spotlight on Samuel Stupp, NU scientist and CBC awardee, whose pioneering work on bone regeneration using nanotechnology may soon enter clinical trials
Non-immunogenic, self-assembling and biodegradable nanomaterials carry a high promise to revolutionize regenerative medicine as vehicles to deliver therapeutic molecules to a site of injury. Molecules such as growth factors, delivered in this fashion can be locally concentrated and guarded against degradation by the surrounding nanomaterials lattice, and can both stimulate and control a natural process of self-healing or regeneration. The NU group led by Sam Stupp is currently seeking FDA approval to enter clinical trials using nanomaterials to assist in spinal (vertebrate) regeneration in humans. In 2015, Stupp and his postdoc, Christopher Synatschke, received a CBC Postdoctoral Research Award for a different application of nanoparticles: “Intrathecally Injected Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery to the Brain.” Congratulations!
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December 11, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
NU scientists with close ties to CBC granted the 2018 Cornew Innovation Awards to develop new translational projects
Congratulations to two teams from the NU Chemistry of Life Processes Institute (CLP) for being honored with the 2018 Cornew Innovation Awards by the Institute’s Executive Advisory Board. A team investigating the ability of zinc to prevent glaucoma has a number of connections to the CBC: Hao F. Zhang received a CBC Catalyst Award (2015), Thomas O’Halloran a CBC Spark (2009) and Vadim Backman a CBC Lever (2015). In addition, Tom served on two CBC scientific boards and participated in CBC events as an invited speaker.
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December 5, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
UIC scientist and CBC Awardee, Ernesto Bongarzone, a co-recipient of a Dr. Ralph and Marian Falk Medical Research Trust Awards Programs 2017 Catalyst Award
Congratulations to the UIC research team, Ernesto Bongarzone and Maria Givogri, who recently received a Dr. Ralph and Marian Falk Medical Research Trust Awards Programs 2017 Catalyst Award. The team is working to develop a new technology for extracellular vesicles as carriers for a drug that could help treat multiple sclerosis. CBC is proud to have supported Dr. Bongarzone’s work: he is one of the newest recipients of a CBC Catalyst Award (2017). In addition, Bongarzone and his postdoc, Ludovic D’auria, received a CBC Postdoctoral Award (2014).
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December 5, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
UChicago scientist and CBC Awardee, Thomas Gajewski, receives a William B. Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Tumor Immunology
Congratulations to Dr. Thomas Gajewski, UChicago, who, along with Rafi Ahmed, PhD, Emory University, received the highest honors from the Cancer Research Institute for their fundamental contributions to the fields of immunology and cancer immunotherapy in 2017. Gajewski is honored with the 2017 William B. Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Tumor Immunology. Gajewski received two CBC Awards in the past: a CBC Catalyst Award (2013) and a CBC Postdoctoral Research Award (2014), the latter with Stefani Spranger, a postdoc in his lab at the time.
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December 1, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
NU scientists with links to CBC discover a new potential target for therapeutics reducing blood clotting
Congratulations to a team of NU scientists, led by Peng Ji, for their recent publication in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. The paper describes an exciting discovery of a Jak2 pathway component, Pleckstrin-2, which, when inhibited, reduces pathological, and potentially fatal, blood clotting in a Jak2-mutant animal model. The group has also begun to screen for small molecule inhibitors of Pleckstrin-2. Inhibitors of Pleckstrin-2 could become helpful in treating blood diseases with abnormally high thrombosis, such as myeloproliferative neoplasm. Three co-authors on the paper have ties to CBC: Ji, the senior author, received a CBC Catalyst in 2014. John Crispino received two CBC Catalyst Awards in 2007 and 2012, respectively. Matthew Schipma was a panelist at CBC Tech Day (2014), “Cutting-Edge Technologies — Driving Science Forward.”
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December 1, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Three Northwestern scientists, Sir Fraser Stoddart, Yonggang Huang and CBC awardee, Chad Mirkin, elected foreign members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Congratulations to the three Northwestern scientists, Sir Fraser Stoddart, Yonggang Huang and Chad Mirkin for being elected foreign members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences! The three scientists are among a total of 16 foreign nominees in 2017, from 8 countries. Mirkin and 2016 chemistry Nobel laureate Stoddart, were elected to the chemistry division, and Huang was elected to the technical sciences division. Chad’s links to CBC go back to 2010 when he became a co-recipient of a CBC Lever Award for the project: “Nanomaterials for Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics.”
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December 1, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Guillermo Ameer, NU bioengineer and CBC awardee, discusses the future of regenerative engineering
Regenerative engineering is a new interdisciplinary field which aims to develop systems that would facilitate tissue and organ regeneration. The ultimate goal is to provide an alternate treatment option to patients on long waiting lists for organ transplant. In the article below, Guillermo Ameer, NU, a pioneer in regenerative engineering, discusses the promise of the new technology. Ameer has multiple ties to CBC: he is a co-recipient of a CBC Catalyst Award (2013) and three fellows in his lab received CBC Postdoctoral Research Awards (twice in 2014 and once in 2015). In addition, Ameer’s startup company, VesselTek Biomedical, won the CBC Business Plan Competition in 2009. Ameer is a co-founder of several medical device companies in the areas of dialysis, vascular surgery, and orthopedic surgery. He was an invited speaker at the inaugural CBC Accelerator Network (CBCAN) meeting in March 2017.
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November 29, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
UIC scientist and CBC awardee, David Carley, collaborates with NU research team led by Dr. Phyllis Zee, to develop a medication to combat sleep apnea
Sleep apnea, a common breathing disorder characterized by frequent pauses in breathing during sleep, can be dangerous and is associated with many health problems, if left untreated. Unfortunately, no successful pharmacological treatment is yet available and those affected by severe apnea resort to mechanical breathing assistance devices at night. A new clinical trial study, funded by NIH and co-authored by research teams from two CBC institutions—UIC and NU—has just been published in the journal Sleep. The study shows that a synthetic cannabis-like molecule appears to be safe and effective in reducing both the frequency and severity of apnea episodes. The UIC team was led by David Carley and the NU team by Phyllis Zee. Carley, who is the first author on the publication, has ties to CBC: he and his postdoc, Michael Calik received a CBC Postdoctoral Research Award in 2014. Congratulations!
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November 29, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Cytoplasmic component of COMPASS identified as a promising target for cancer therapeutics development—a new finding supported in part through CBC funding!
A new study, recently published in the journal Genes and Development, titled “A cytoplasmic COMPASS is necessary for cell survival and triple-negative breast cancer pathogenesis by regulating metabolism,” pinpoints a novel, cytoplasmic function for a member of the COMPASS family, that may be a potential target for drug development in human diseases, including cancer. Two Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine professors, Ali Shilatifard and Jeffrey Savas, are senior co-authors on the publication. CBC funding to Savas—he is a recipient of a CBC Catalyst Award (2015)—has contributed to the published work. Congratulations!
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November 29, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
CBC Awardee Bob Grossman among four new experts added to strengthen the rapidly growing UChicago Department of Computer Science
Congratulations to Bob Grossman, UChicago, who recently received a co-appointment as Professor of Computer Science at the UChicago Department of Computer Science. Bob joins three new faculty hires with three additional faculty also committed to join the department in 2018. Grossman is the Frederick H. Rawson Professor of Medicine and Jim and Karen Frank Director of the Center for Data Intensive Science at UChicago. He also leads the National Cancer Institute’s Genomic Data Commons. Bob’s ties to CBC are long-standing—he is a co-recipient of a CBC Lever Award (2008), for the project: “Chicago Center for Systems Biology.”
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November 28, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Nobel Laureate Aaron Ciechanover, a past CBC Symposium keynote speaker, collaborates with NU investigators on research toward the prevention of hypoxia-induced lung injury
The Sznajder group at NU has recently published in PNAS a paper titled: “HIF and HOIL-1L-mediated PKCζ degradation stabilizes plasma membrane Na,K-ATPase to protect against hypoxia-induced lung injury.” Aaron Ciechanover, of Technion Integrated Cancer Center, Haifa, Israel, is a senior co-author on the publication. The CBC was privileged to host Ciechanover in 2005, a year after he won Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2004), as a keynote speaker at the 3rd Annual CBC Symposium, “Proteomics and Informatics.” Congratulations!
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November 28, 2017
BIOTECH & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
BioPathways: Challenges Developing a University Startup; Featuring Marcus Schabacker, Chief Operating Officer, Prenosis, and former Chief Scientific Officer, Baxter International.
Date: December 12, 2017
Organizer: SmartHealth Activator & Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
▸ More info and registration details
(flyer)


November 28, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
The promise of brain plasticity—featuring UChicago neuroscientist and CBC affiliate, Nicho Hatsopoulos, a mastermind behind robotic limbs.
For paralyzed patients or those who lost a limb, robotic arms hold the promise of restoring functionality and independence. The Nicho Hatsopoulos lab at UChicago works exactly towards this goal. The team has recently published a study in Nature Communications, showing that rhesus monkeys with amputated limbs due to past injuries were capable of learning to control the prosthetic arms using their minds. Dynamic analysis of their neuronal networks in the study beautifully demonstrated the phenomenon of brain plasticity accompanying the learning process. Nicho has links to the CBC: in 2014 he was chosen by the CBC Scholars to present his research at the CBC Scholars “Loop Connections” Seminar. Congratulations!
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November 23, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
CBC’s mission of collaboration embraced through inter-institutional teaching and mentoring. Featuring Northwestern’s Chemistry of Life Processes Institute (CLP) Predoctoral Training Program.
One of the CBC’s mission goals is to: “Stimulate research and education that bridge institutional boundaries.” Over the years, CBC has organized a variety of educational events such as workshops, forums and seminars which were always open to the entire grater Chicago biomedical research community. The annual CBC symposia are signature CBC educational events bringing the three consortium schools together. The institutions alternate as host, on a rotating basis and feature speakers from all three schools. CBC is pleased to see its collaborative spirit spread to other educational programs—Northwestern’s Chemistry of Life Processes Institute (CLP) Predoctoral Training Program being a prime example. Enjoy the article below which highlights CBC researchers and awardees from NU and UChicago who have also played key roles at CBC events over the years.
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November 21, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Obesity-associated cancers are on a rise, warns Dr. Ernst Lengyel, UChicago, a CBC awardee and an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of gynecologic malignancies
At the recent opening of the UChicago Medicine Family Birth Center, Dr. Ernst Lengyel discussed the less known but dramatic effects of obesity on cancer risk and progression, especially observed in women. He also emphasized the shocking lack of awareness among the population of this association between excess body fat and cancer. As the Arthur L. and Lee G. Herbst Professor of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology at UChicago Medicine, Dr. Lengyel has many links to the CBC. In 2013 he was a co-organizer and a speaker at the CBC Ovarian Cancer Workshop. He is also a recipient of a CBC HTS Award (2013) and a CBC Postdoctoral Award (2014), the latter being renewed for 2015.
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November 21, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Acoustics to the rescue—an ultrasound-based live microscopy technique developed by a CBC awardee, Vinayak Dravid, NU.
Congratulations to Vinayak Dravid, NU, senior author on a recent publication in Science Advances, titled “Development of ultrasound bioprobe for biological imaging.” The paper describes significant progress that has been made in non-invasive, high-resolution ultrasound imaging of biological systems by using acoustics under physiological conditions. Dravid is a co-recipient of a CBC Spark Award (2009) for the project: “Support for an Innovative CryoSTEM for Element Specific Imaging of Cells and Tissue.”
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November 20, 2017
NEWS
Small Molecule Drug Discovery of the highest caliber at 15th Annual CBC Symposium
On Friday, November 17, the Chicago Biomedical Consortium (CBC) held its 15th Annual Symposium, focused this year on Small Molecule Drug Discovery. Executive Director Jim Audia and Scientific Directors, Brian Kay (UIC) and Rick Morimoto (NU), served as hosts for the event. Interest in the meeting was extremely high as more than 300 registered for the meeting. Those who attended the event at UIC’s Forum were treated to an outstanding scientific program, a robust poster session with 40 poster presentations, an informative presentation covering the CBC’s newly launched Accelerator Award program over lunch, and a reception to conclude the event.

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November 16, 2017
CBC NEWSLETTER, VOL. 23
Announcing NEW Programs and Ongoing Funding Opportunities
CBC is proud to announce new programs in support of its Phase 2 mission.
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November 16, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Oxidized dopamine found a likely culprit in Parkinson’s disease development. A CBC awardee, Jeffrey Savas, NU, contributes to the research.
A recent paper in Science, “Dopamine oxidation mediates mitochondrial and lysosomal dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease,” describes identification of a cascade of interlinked oxidation-dependent pathological events in neurons that mimics the pathologies characteristic of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease. The discovery opens the door to investigating new treatment methods by slowing down the toxic cascade. Dimitri Krainc, NU, is senior author on the publication and CBC Catalyst awardee (2015), Jeffrey Savas, NU, is one of the co-authors. Congratulations!
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November 16, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
A CBC Lever Award recipient, Bob Grossman, UChicago, to help create the NIH Data Commons
Bob Grossman and Ian Foster (UChicago) and their respective teams are among 12 research groups recently awarded by the NIH a total of $9 million to launch an NIH Data Commons Pilot Phase. As stated in the NIH Press Release, the aim of the Pilot Phase is to “test ways to store, access, share, and compute on biomedical data in the cloud.” Grossman is a co-recipient of a CBC Lever Award (2008), which contributed to the establishment of the Genomic Data Commons (GDC), an initiative of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The GDC was launched at the University of Chicago in June 2016. The CBC congratulates Bob on this ambitious new endeavor to broaden data access at the national level.
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November 13, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
New insights into regulation of gene expression: work from the Shilatifard lab (NU) with contributions from two CBC scientists, Neil Kelleher and Jeffrey Savas.
Congratulations to the Northwestern University (NU) team led by Ali Shilatifard for their recent publication in Genes & Development, “A cryptic Tudor domain links BRWD2/PHIP to COMPASS-mediated histone H3K4 methylation”. Two CBC-supported NU scientists, Neil Kelleher and Jeff Savas, contributed to the work. Kelleher was recruited in 2010 with help of the CBC Recruitment Resources Award and was named a CBC Senior Investigator. Neil has participated in many CBC events as both speaker and organizer (see below). In addition, both, Kelleher and Savas are recipients of CBC Catalyst Awards in 2012 and 2015, respectively.
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November 11, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
CBC researchers’ start-up raises $11 million. Spotlight on Northwestern University’s Chad Mirkin and Shad Thaxton.
Congratulations to Chad Mirkin and Shad Thaxton (NU) who are featured in Crain’s Business Chicago! Mirkin and Thaxton are co-founders of a Northwestern University biotech spinout company, Exicure, that has just received a huge boost of over $11 million from a Chinese pharmaceutical company, bringing their total fundraising to $31.5 million in the past two months. Both researchers have received CBC support in the past: Chad is a co-recipient of a CBC Lever Award (2010) and Shad and his postdoc, Linda Foit, received a CBC Postdoctoral Research Award (2014). Mirkin and Thaxton are great examples of the translational potential in the Chicago community. With the CBC Phase 2 mission focused on such translation, it is rewarding to see the progress of companies like Exicure.
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November 11, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Chicago-based Tempus shows why Midwest healthcare companies drew preferential investment in 2017
Tempus Labs Inc., a healthcare company in Chicago that aims to improve personalized medical treatment for cancer, has been in the spotlight this year as one of the most successful startups in the Midwest. Tempus’ President, Kevin White, was recruited by the University of Chicago in 2006 and retains an appointment there as Professor at the Department of Human Genetics and Medicine. A CBC Recruitment Resources Award was instrumental in attracting Kevin to Chicago and he later became the first CBC Senior Investigator. Subsequently, Kevin and his team members won the first CBC Lever Award (2008) which he used to help establish the Chicago Center for Systems Biology. CBC is proud to have supported Kevin’s research over the years and pleased to see his entrepreneurship setting the example for the region’s biotech.
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November 10, 2017
BIOTECH & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
BioPathways: featuring Nancy Joseph-Ridge, MD, Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer, TerSera Therapeutics
Date: November 14, 2017
Organizer: SmartHealth Activator & Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
▸ More info and registration


November 10, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Enhanced anti-cancer activity with decreased side effects: a promising new technology developed by UChicago bioengineers with ties to CBC, Jeffrey Hubbell and Melody Swartz
Congratulations to Jeffrey Hubbell and Melody Swartz, UChicago, who are senior co-authors on a recent publication in Science Translational Medicine, “Matrix-binding checkpoint immunotherapies enhance antitumor efficacy and reduce adverse events.” Both Jeffrey and Melody are bioengineers working at the Institute for Molecular Engineering (IMI) at the University of Chicago. Each has ties to the CBC: Jeffrey received a CBC Catalyst Award in 2016 and Melody was an invited speaker at the 9th Annual CBC Symposium (2011), “Engineering Biology: From Tools to Insights.”
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November 10, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
A counterintuitive “cost” of mimicry. A study co-authored by three UChicago evolutionary biologists with links to CBC.
In butterflies, the ability to present the wing pattern of other, poisonous species—or mimicry—is controlled by an inverted copy of a supergene called doublesex. Surprisingly, mimicry among some butterfly females appears to be linked to a shorter life span. A fascinating story examining the origins of mimicry and a mystery behind what might have gone wrong when the doublesex gene “flipped,” has just been published in Nature Communications.Three UChicago scientists with links to CBC are among the co-authors on the paper: Markus Kronforst (senior author) received a CBC Postdoctoral Award in 2014 together with Erica Westerman, a postdoc in his lab at the time of the award, and Stephanie Palmer is a recipient of a CBC Catalyst Award (2015). Currently, Stephanie also serves on the CBC Catalyst Review Board. Congratulations! Congratulations!
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November 10, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Chuan He, University of Chicago chemist and CBC multiple-times awardee, receives the prestigious 2017 Paul Marks Prize for Cancer Research
Congratulations to Chuan He, UChicago, for being recognized as an influential contributor to cancer research and awarded the 2017 Paul Marks Prize. Chuan’s pioneering work on reversible RNA modifications such as methylation is foundational in our current understanding of epigenetic mechanisms involved in cell proliferation control and its malfunctioning in human pathologies including cancer. Over the years, Chuan’s scientific excellence has also been recognized by the CBC: he received a total of eight CBC Awards including three Catalysts, four Postdoctoral Research Awards and one HTS Award. In addition, he has been an invited speaker at several CBC-organized events. CBC is proud of his accomplishments and in having contributed to his scientific success.
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November 9, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Stress may be good for you, in small doses – a CBC scientific director knows it best
Congratulations to Rick Morimoto (NU) and his team who recently published their work in Cell Reports, titled “Mitochondrial Stress Restores the Heat Shock Response and Prevents Proteostasis Collapse during Aging.” Rick’s expertise in the areas of heat shock response, aging, and neurodegeneration is widely recognized. The published work while not directly funded through CBC award programs, obtained important data utilizing CBC-supported core facilities at NU: Biological Imaging Facilities and High Throughput Facility. As one of the CBC founding directors Rick has been instrumental in shaping and advising the CBC since its inception. The CBC is proud of his accomplishments and scientific contributions, and grateful for his unwavering dedication to the CBC success over the years.
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November 7, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Highlighting progress in cancer research supported in part through a CBC Lever Award. Spotlight on Vadim Backman, Tom O’Halloran and Andrew Mazar.
Vadim Backman (NU), Lucy Godley (UChicago) and Jack Kaplan (UIC) are Principal Investigators on the $1.5M CBC Lever Award (2015) which supported the “Chicago Center for Physical Science-Oncology Innovation and Translation.” Professors Backman, Godley, and Kaplan are members of a team led by Thomas O’Halloran (NU) and Jonathan Licht (NU) which won a $10M NCI U54 grant to fund the Chicago Region Physical Science-Oncology Center. CBC Lever funds support the Center’s instrumentation and shared resources. Three scientists with ties to the Lever Award are co-authors on a recent publication in Nature Biomedical Engineering: “Macrogenomic engineering via modulation of the scaling of chromatin packing density.” These are: Vadim Backman and Thomas O’Halloran (NU; senior co-authors) and Andrew Mazar (Monopar Therapeutics, Inc.). Congratulations!
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November 7, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
New insights into the function of synapses revealed in crystallographic study by NU researcher and CBC Catalyst Award recipient Jeffrey Savas
Jeffrey Savas, NU, received a CBC Catalyst Award in 2015. His current research has recently been published in the journal Neuron describing a novel finding that a protein, called MDGA, can interfere with the function of synapses. MGDA is thought to be able to perturb both healthy synaptic connections and those found in psychiatric and neurological disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. These structural studies may provide a valuable platform for the development of new therapeutics targeting the protein complexes that disrupt the synaptic function. Congratulations!
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November 6, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Guillermo Ameer, NU bioengineer and CBC awardee, elected fellow of AIChE
Congratulations to Guillermo Ameer who has just been elected as a fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). Ameer has received multiple awards from CBC: he is a co-recipient of a CBC Catalyst Award (2013) and three postdoctoral fellows in his lab received CBC Postdoctoral Research Awards (twice in 2014 and once in 2015). In addition, Ameer’s startup company, VesselTek Biomedical, won the CBC Business Plan Competition in 2009. Ameer is a co-founder of several medical device companies in the areas of dialysis, vascular surgery, and orthopedic surgery. He was an invited speaker at the inaugural CBC Accelerator Network (CBCAN) meeting in March 2017.
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November 6, 2017
ANNOUNCEMENT
Nancy Tyrrell joins CBC as Associate Director for Translational Activities (ADTA)
We are pleased to welcome Nancy Tyrrell, a long-time friend of the CBC and a fixture in the Chicago life science community, as the new Associate Director for Translational Activities (ADTA) and the newest addition to the CBC team.
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November 6, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
The social life of bacteria. Spotlight on Andrzej Joachimiak, an Argonne scientist with links to the CBC.
A recent publication, co-authored by a team of researchers at Argonne National Laboratories, describes the crystal structure of a three-part protein system that may be involved in how a strain of E. coli bacteria interact and communicate. One of the co-authors, Andrzej Joachimiak, Director of the Structural Biology Center at Argonne and a senior fellow at UChicago’s Computation Institute, has links to CBC: he was an invited speaker at the inaugural CBC Symposium in 2002. Congratulations!
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November 5, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
CBC cancer researchers and Globus will develop a HIPAA-protected cloud database to share collaborative cancer research
Congratulations to the University of Chicago Globus team for securing a $4.7 million grant from the National Cancer Institute. Globus, a cloud-based computing and storage platform was founded in 2010. The recent NCI grant will fund development of new protections for data transfer and storage, allowing scientists to securely share highly sensitive cancer research data. The Globus team will work with UChicago cancer research groups studying breast cancer, blood and bone marrow cancers, and pancreatic cancer. Among the co-Principal Investigators on the project are CBC Scientific Director Lucy Godley and CBC Senior Investigator Recruitment Resources Awardee Kevin White. Both Godley and White were co-recipients of CBC Lever Awards, with White being part of a 2008 team and Godley a member of a 2015 Lever team.
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November 5, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Three UIC researchers and CBC awardees featured in the UIC College of Pharmacy Annual Report 2017
Funding support from the CBC has been recognized and acknowledged in the UIC College of Pharmacy Annual Report 2017. UIC scientists whose research has been supported by the CBC are featured in the report: Michael Federle, Greg Thatcher and Alexander Mankin. They are recipients of multiple CBC Awards and were invited speakers at CBC Annual Symposia: Mankin in 2009, Federle in 2015 and Thatcher will speak at the upcoming 15th CBC Annual Symposium on November 17, 2017. Federle was also an invited speaker at the CBC Scholars “Loop Connections” Seminar (2012). In addition to being a prolific researcher, Thatcher has also been involved in several start-up companies, including TTC Oncology with Debra Tonetti. Tonetti has received several CBC awards and served as a reviewer for the CBC Catalyst program. Congratulations to these outstanding UIC scientists!
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November 2, 2017
NEWS
CBC Accelerator Network (CBCAN) meeting: Moving forward with CBC Phase 2 programming
The third CBCAN meeting took place on October 26, 2017 at the Prentice Women’s Hospital in downtown Chicago. The meeting was highlighted by lively discussion and a high level of engagement among the participants.
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November 2, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Navdeep Chandel, NU scientist and CBC awardee, identifies novel genes that may play a role in Parkison’s Disease pathology via herbicide-induced oxidative stress.
Congratulations to Navdeep Chandel, NU for his new publication in Nature Chemical Biology. Using a CRISPR-based screen, Chandel has identified three genes that may be involved in the oxidative stress metabolic pathway which is thought to play a role in many human pathologies. The findings have potential implications both in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Chandel has received two CBC awards: he is a co-recipient of a Catalyst Award (2011) and an HTS Award (2015). Additionally, Chandel has served on the Catalyst Review Board since 2014.
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November 1, 2017
BIOTECH & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
SBIR/STTR Grant Writing Workshop
Date: January 30-31, 2018
Location: MATTER
Organizer: PROPEL
PROPEL is hosting this 2-day Intensive Workshop, provided by BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting (BBCetc), that will cover all aspects of writing SBIR/STTR grants focused on life science technologies including: eligibility, sources of funding and agency differences, understanding what reviewers look for, step-by-step instruction on how to write each section of your proposal.
▸ More info and registration details


October 29, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Embracing collaboration to combat glioblastoma. Spotlight on the Northwestern University researchers and nanotechnology.
From idea, to basic discovery, to translational research — results of eight years of hard work get the green light to enter clinical trials. The stakes are high as the target is a deadly brain tumor — glioblastoma. A group of collaborating Northwestern researchers is behind these developments and their journey from “bench to bed” is featured in the Northwestern News. CBC is proud to have supported two of the scientists in the spotlight: Chad Mirkin (CBC Lever Award, 2010) and Leonidas Platanias (CBC HTS Award, 2013). Congratulations!
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October 29, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Two NU scientists and CBC awardees, Sam Stupp and Jack Kessler, pioneer the use of bioactive nanomaterials in medicine and beyond
The use of nanomaterials in biomedical applications is a rapidly growing field with a potential to transform how medicine is practiced. The Northwestern University’s Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, led by Sam Stupp, is especially interested in exploring the use of bio-nanomaterials in regenerative process. Stupp and Jack Kessler, NU—one of the many users of Stupp’s platform—are highlighted by Northwestern Research News as pioneers of the “bioactive revolution.” Both, Stupp and Kessler are past CBC awardees: Stupp and his postdoc Christopher Synatschke received a CBC Postdoctoral Research Award (2015) whereas Kessler is a co-recipient of a CBC Catalyst Award (2008). Kessler was also a keynote speaker at the 5th Annual CBC Symposium (2007), “Where Science Goes Next: Translation of Basic Discovery for Human Health.”
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October 28, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
On rivers and lakes – featuring CBC Researcher, Aaron Packman, NU
Aaron Packman, director of Northwestern’s Center for Water Research, and his postdoc, Nanxi Lu, received a CBC Postdoctoral Research Award (2015) for the project: “Using Metabolic Footprinting to Identify Biomarkers for Detecting and Quantifying Biofilm.” Packman’s fascination with water systems and his research, with an angle on “the most efficient and sustainable use of water” are featured in the Northwestern Research News. Congratulations!
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October 28, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Phil Hockberger (NU)—a strong supporter of the CBC Open Access Initiative—promoted to Research AVP
Congratulations to Richard D’Aquila and Phil Hockberger, Northwestern, on being promoted to associate vice presidents (AVP) to the NU Office for Research! Phil Hockberger has strong ties to CBC: as Director of Northwestern’s research facilities at the time, he was instrumental in both the 2014 launch and the annual renewals of the CBC Open Access Initiative. The initiative allows researchers from Northwestern, the University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois at Chicago access to a partner’s instrumentation and expertise at no additional charge. In addition, Phil was an invited speaker at the CBC Microscopy Forum (2009): “Seeing Small is Believing Big.”
▸ Read more


October 24, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
NU scientist and CBC awardee, Chad Mirkin, NU, recognized with a prestigious Austrian award
Please join the CBC in congratulating Chad Mirkin, Director of the International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN) at Northwestern University. Mirkin was recently awarded a 2017 Wilhelm Exner Medal, an Austrian award bestowed annually on exceptional scientists and researchers whose scientific achievements have directly boosted or enhanced business and industry. Mirkin received the award in recognition of his invention of spherical nucleic acids (SNAs), which have been applied to many biological and chemical diagnostic and therapeutic systems. Mirkin is a co-recipient of a CBC Lever Award (2010) for the project titled “Nanomaterials for Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics.”
▸ Read more


October 23, 2017
BIOTECH & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
NIH Funding Opportunity Announcement
(POSTED: October 20, 2017)
Regional Technology Transfer Accelerator Hubs for IDeA States (STTR)
Deadline: January 5, 2018
▸ Read more


October 23, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Two NU scientists and CBC awardees, Michael Jewett and Keith Tyo, together with Linda Broadbelt, NU, win a $12 million center grant to develop sustainable bio-fuels
Congratulations to three Northwestern bio-engineers, Michael Jewett, Keith Tyo and Linda Broadbelt, who will lead the Clostridia Foundry for Biosystems Design, a multi-institutional center dedicated to developing sustainable bio-fuels and other bio-products. The center’s support comes from a five-year, $12 million grant from the US Department of Energy. Jewett and Tyo have multiple ties to CBC: Jewett is a current (2016-2017) CBC Scientific Review Board member and a co-recipient of a CBC Catalyst Award (2013); Tyo is a twice co-recipient of the CBC Catalyst Awards (2011 and 2016). Both, Jewett and Tyo participated in the 12th CBC Annual Symposium (2014), “Protein Engineering: From Computers to Cells to Clinic:” Tyo—as a co-organizer of the symposium and Jewett—as an invited speaker. In addition, Jewett was an invited speaker at the CBC Scholars “Loop Connections” Seminar (2014), “The Science of Molecular Coercion.”
▸ Read more


October 23, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Richard Longnecker (NU), a CBC awardee and community member, contributes to the understanding of the mechanisms of herpesviruses infection
Congratulations to Richard Longnecker and his postdoc, Jia Chen (NU), who are co-authors on a recent publication in PNAS, that describes how Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) proteins function during the virus’s fusion with human cells during infection. These studies open doors for a development of a vaccine agains EBV. Jia and Longnecker received a CBC Postdoctoral Research Award in 2013, which was subsequently renewed for 2014. In addition, Longnecker is a co-recipient of a CBC Catalyst Award (2012) and a dedicated member of the CBC Scientific Review Board where he served for six years (2006-2012).
▸ Read more


October 23, 2017
announcement
15th Annual CBC Symposium “Small Molecule Discovery”
DATE: Friday, November 17, 2017
LOCATION: UIC Forum
Fantastic speaker lineup! Poster session! Lunch and Learn!
Deadline to register and submit poster abstract: EXTENDED until Monday, October 30, 2017.
Enjoy the symposium preview below!

▸ Symposium webpage


October 23, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
RNA suicide molecules may represent disruptive breakthrough in cancer treatment. Three studies from the Peter lab, NU.
Three recent publications by Marcus Peter, NU and his team describe a novel finding that certain small RNAs have a unique potential to kill cancer cells by eliminating genes required for cell survival. The finding may be a breakthrough in the development of a novel class of cancer therapeutics, particularly in solid tumors. Peter, a senior author on the three publications, together with one of the co-authors, Shad Thaxton, NU, have links to CBC. Peter was an invited speaker at a 2013 CBC Exploratory Workshop, focused to ovarian cancer. Thaxton and a postdoc in his lab, Linda Foid, received a 2014 CBC Postdoctoral Research Award. Congratulations!
▸ Read more


October 20, 2017
“IN THE NEWS”
As a critical component of Northwestern University’s record research funding, the 2017 renewal grant to CBC from the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust was recognized as unusually large and a significant factor in the increased funding from foundations
The CBC renewal grant received in January 2017 from the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust (SFCCT) will support research collaborations in biomedical sciences among the prime Chicago research institutions including The University of Chicago, Northwestern and the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). The grant, amounting to $21 million for 2017-2021 represents a renewal of the two previous grants to CBC from the SFCCT, which totaled $50 million over 2006-2016. Here, Northwestern University acknowledges the extreme generosity of SFCCT and its impact on record breaking fundraising in 2017. The collaborative culture of Northwestern, as catalyzed by the CBC initiative, is emphasized as a key to success.
▸ Read more


October 19, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Three NU scientists with links to CBC track down the ‘wasabi receptor’
Three NU scientists with links to CBC are co-authors on a recent Nature Neuroscience publication. The paper, “Activation of planarian TRPA1 by reactive oxygen species reveals a conserved mechanism for animal nociception,” supports a striking conservation—from flatworms to Drosophila to humans—of the response to noxious stimuli such as heat and irritant substances, like wasabi. The senior author on the paper, Marco Gallio, and a postdoc in his lab, Emanuela Zaharieva, also co-author on the paper, received a CBC Postdoctoral Research Award (2014). The second senior co-author, Christian Peterson, was an invited speaker at the CBC Scholars “Loop Connections” Colloquium (2012), “Signaling to Scale: Forging a path from the molecule to the organism.” Congratulations!
▸ Read more


October 18, 2017
NEWS
CBC’s Connection to CIM/MATTER
CBC Executive Director Jim Audia was introduced by Advisory Board Chair, Steve Gould to the Chicago Innovation Mentors (CIM) group at their monthly meeting on October 11 at MATTER.
▸ Read more


October 18, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Local expert and twice CBC awardee, Ravi Allada (NU), explains the circadian rhythm on Chicago Tonight
The announcement of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine awarded to three American circadian rhythm researchers, Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash and Michael W. Young, prompted Chicago Tonight to approach Ravi Allada for comments. Allada is a Northwestern University expert on the internal clocks and twice a CBC awardee for research related to the circadian rhythm. In 2015, an Allada lab postdoc, Dae-Sung Hwangbo, was awarded a CBC Postdoctoral Research Award to study a circadian metabolome. The following year, Allada, together with UChicago circadian rhythm expert, Michael Rust, received a CBC Catalyst Award for the project: “Transplanting a Prokaryotic Oscillator to Animals to Restore Circadian Clock Function.”
▸ Read more


October 18, 2017
announcement
The countdown is on!
The CBC is proud to announce that over 1900 publications have been attributed to CBC funding! The countdown to reach 2000 is on! The winning publication will be featured on the CBC homepage and the CBC awardee(s) will receive a surprise gift to commemorate the occasion! The current number to reach 2000 is: 96.
▸ Read more


October 17, 2017
NEWS
CBC at BioPathways Event
Continuing his efforts to engage the greater Chicago biomedical community, on October 10, 2017, CBC Executive Director Jim Audia visited Rosalind Franklin University Medical School (RFUMS) as the guest of Michael Rosen, Managing Director of Rosen Bioscience Strategies and longtime friend of the CBC.
▸ Read more


October 17, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Three UIC scientists with links to CBC contribute to our understanding of “explosive” cell death—pyroptosis—in lung infections
Congratulations to three UIC scientists with links to CBC for their recent publication in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, “Caspase-11-mediated endothelial pyroptosis underlies endotoxemia-induced lung injury.” The senior author on the paper, Asrar Malik, was a co-organizer of the 2014 CBC Vascular Biology Exploratory Workshop. In addition, two postdoctoral fellows in the Malik lab hold CBC Postdoctoral Awards: publication co-author Kit Man Tsang (2014) and Jeffrey Klomp (2016). Jalees Rehman, the second senior author on the paper is also a co-recipient of a CBC Catalyst Award (2011) together with David Eddington (UIC) and Navdeep Chandel (NU) for the project: “Oxygen Sensing in Endothelial Progenitor Cells.”
▸ Read more


October 16, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Cathy Nagler (UChicago), CBC community member and ClostraBio company founder, featured in Crain’s Chicago Business
Congratulations to Cathryn Nagler, PhD, Bunning Food Allergy Professor at UChicago. Her biotech company—ClostraBio—was recently highlighted in the Crain’s Chicago Business. Nagler’s work focuses on new therapeutics that could halt the development of increasingly common food allergies. Prior work published in 2015 in The ISME Journal, “Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG-supplemented formula expands butyrate-producing bacterial strains in food allergic infants,” was partially supported by the CCSB/CBC Fellowship, awarded to Aly Azeem Khan—a postdoctoral fellow in her lab and co-author on the paper. This Fellows program was financed by the first CBC Lever Award (2008) to the Chicago Center for Systems Biology (CCSB).
▸ Read more


October 16, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
CBC scientist at the frontier of nanotechnology. An interview.
CBC researcher Chad Mirkin, Director of the International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN) at Northwestern University is joined by Teri Odom, IIN’s Associate Director, in an interview for Northwestern Today where they discuss the present and the future of nanotechnology. Mirkin, together with Milan Mrksich (NU), David Eddington (UIC) and Joel Collier (UChicago) received a 2010 CBC Lever Award for the project titled “Nanomaterials for Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics.”
▸ Read more


October 13, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
CBC-funded core facility instrumental in uncovering a novel mutation involved in heart disease
Congratulations to a CBC scientist Elizabeth McNally (NU) and her co-workers for identifying a new mutation that may increase risk for heart disease characterized by cardiomyopathy. The discovery was recently published in the journal Circulation. McNally is twice a recipent of CBC Awards: a Catalyst (2007) and a Spark Award (2008). An essential part of the published work was performed in a NU core facility—the Center for Advanced Molecular Imaging (CAMI)—that CBC helped to fund. CAMI’s services are available to the CBC community at the “in-house” costs through the CBC Open Access Initiative.
▸ Read more


October 12, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Mending a damaged heart is close-to-heart for CBC researcher Edward Thorp
In 2013, Edward Thorp (NU), together with Godfrey S. Getz (UChicago) received a CBC Catalyst Award for their project: “ApoA-I Mediated Regulation of Inflammation and Heart Repair after Heart Attack.” Thorp is senior author on three recent publications addressing the mechanisms of heart muscle damage and the healing process following heart attack. CBC is proud to share that two of these articles resulted from the CBC Catalyst Award. Congratulations!
▸ Read more


October 12, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
CBC 2008 Lever Award co-recipient Bob Grossman continues to make an impact on brain research
A CBC Lever Award 2008 co-recipient, Robert (Bob) Grossman (UChicago), has been instrumental in the creation of BRAIN (Brain Research and Innovation Network) Commons, the launch of which was recently announced. Brain Commons is a cloud-based database accessible to any scientist or clinician interested in brain and other neurological disorders and diseases. Quoting its mission, “BRAIN Commons is designed to fuel data-driven discovery in brain science, and drive diagnostic and therapeutic innovation to reduce the burden of brain-based disorders.” Congratulations!
▸ Read more


October 10, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
CBC Researcher, Fotini Gounari, UChicago, secures a competitive ASH Bridge Grant!
Congratulations to Fotini Gounari, UChicago, for receiving a bridge grant from the American Society of Hematology (ASH). The ASH Bridge Grants are designed to sustain promising hematology researchers during the current period of reduced NIH funding. Fotini has been active in the CBC community since 2010 when she was awarded her first CBC Catalyst Award with Steven T. Rosen (NU, currently Provost and CSO for City of Hope).
▸ Read more


October 6, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Chicago-area holds the fourth highest number of this year’s NIH Director’s New Innovator Awards nation-wide
Three of the four Chicago-area scientists awarded the 2017 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, Jingyi Fei, Raymond Moellering and Jaehyuk Choi are CBC community members.

Jingyi Fei, Raymond Moellering (both at UChicago) and Jaehyuk Choi (NU) were recently recognized with the 2017 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award. These three awardees are active CBC community members: Jingyi is a 2016 CBC Catalyst Award co-recipient, Ray will be a guest speaker at the upcoming 15th Annual CBC Symposium, “Small Molecule Discovery” and Jaehuuk is a co-recipient of a 2017 CBC Catalyst Award. Jingyi, Jaehyuk and Ray, are joined by Seungmin “Sam” Hwang (UChicago) who also received the 2017 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award. It is notable that Greater Chicago takes fourth place in the number of this year’s awards (4 awards: 3 at UChicago and 1 at NU) after Greater Boston and New York, who tied for first place (6 awards each), and the Bay Area in third place (5 awards). CBC is proud to support such exceptionally innovative Chicago area-based researchers.
▸ Read more


October 5, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
CBC Catalyst Award co-recipient Jaehyuk Choi, NU, awarded the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award
Congratulations to Jaehyuk Choi, MD, PhD (NU), for being awarded the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award. In Spring 2017, Choi, together with Jun Huang (UChicago) received a CBC Catalyst Award to study tumor-specific T-cells in Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Established in 2006, the CBC Catalyst Award program is designed to stimulate ground-breaking research through collaboration among CBC scientists. It enables Chicago scientists to pursue cutting-edge, high-risk/high-reward research.
▸ Read more


October 5, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
CBC Senior Investigator, Neil Kelleher, NU, deciphers molecular assembly of a gut toxin, colibactin
Professor Neil Kelleher, PhD, joined Northwestern University in May 2010 as faculty of both the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences (WCAS) and the Feinberg School of Medicine (FSM). CBC supported his recruitment as a CBC Senior Investigator through its Recruitment Resources Fund. Professor Kelleher is also Director of Northwestern Proteomics. Follow the link below to read about his recent work on the structure of a toxin called colibactin.
▸ Read more


October 5, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
CBC Junior Investigator, Sadie Wignall, NU, sheds light on female reproduction and infertility
Congratulations to Sadie Wignall (NU), whose work has recently been featured in the NU News! Sadie was awarded a CBC Junior Investigator Award in 2010 when she joined NU as an Assistant Professor. Sadie also received a 2016 CBC Catalyst Award. Her lab uses C.elegans as an experimental model to study spindle formation and chromosome segregation during the asymmetric divisions of oocyte meiosis.
▸ Read more


October 2, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Featuring two CBC community members and experts in Alzheimer’s disease research
CBC is proud to feature two Chicago-based experts in Alzheimer’s disease research, Sangram (Sam) Sisodia (UChicago) and Robert Vassar (NU), who were asked to comment on a recent potential breakthrough in the field. Both scientists have strong links to CBC: both are co-recipients of a CBC Catalyst Award (2008) and past members of the CBC Scientific Review Board. Sam was also a co-organizer of the 8th Annual CBC Symposium (2010), titled “Protein Folding and Misfolding in Health and Disease.” Congratulations, Sam and Bob!
▸ Read more


September 28, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
CBC Awardee, Dr. Louis Philipson, Announced a 2018 Order of Lincoln Laureate
Congratulations to Dr. Louis Philipson, the Pediatrics Director of the Kovler Diabetes Center at UChicago, for being awarded a prestigious 2018 Order of Lincoln award! Philipson, together with his colleagues Graeme Bell (UChicago), Nissim Hay (UIC) and Joseph Bass (NU), was a co-recipient of a 2011 CBC Spark Award.
▸ Read more


September 27, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Cores Get Gold Star Treatment for Role in Advancing Transformative Science
Congratulations to the many NU core facilities recently recognized with a Gold Star! All of the awarded facilities are part of the CBC-initiated Memorandum of Understanding (Open Access Initiative; 2014) that allows researchers from the three CBC schools to access a partner’s core facilities without paying additional F&A charges.
▸ Read more


September 27, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Antibiotics weaken signs of Alzheimer’s disease in mice after just one week of treatment
Sangram (Sam) Sisodia (UChicago), together with Robert Vassar (NU) received a 2008 CBC Catalyst Award to investigate binding partners of amyloid beta (Aβ or Abeta) peptide, a major constituent of the amyloid plaques characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. An expert in protein folding disorders, Sam co-organized the 8th Annual CBC Symposium, titled “Protein Folding and Misfolding in Health and Disease.” His recent publication in Scientific Reports has received special recognition and is quoted below. Congratulations, Sam!
▸ Read more


September 26, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Systems analysis points to links between Toxoplasma infection and common brain diseases
Congratulations to Rima McLeod (UChicago), the senior author on a recent publication in Scientific Reports, “Toxoplasma Modulates Signature Pathways of Human Epilepsy, Neurodegeneration & Cancer.” The proteomics and informatics data reported in the paper were obtained at the CBC-UIC Research Resources Center Mass Spectrometry, Metabolomics, and Proteomics Facility (MMPF) that was established in part by a grant from the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust to the Chicago Biomedical Consortium.
▸ Read more


September 21, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
CBC Scholar Nicolás Peláez, PhD, selected an HHMI Hanna Gray Fellow
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) has just announced the selection of 15 exceptional early career scientists as the first group of HHMI Hanna Gray Fellows. Among the awardees is Nicolás Peláez, PhD, a CBC Scholar, Class of 2011. The CBC is proud to have supported Nico during the early phase of his scientific journey. Congratulations!
▸ Read more


September 21, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Double agents: Vessels that help cancers spread can also boost immune therapies
Congratulations to Melody Swartz, PhD (UChicago), on her recent publication titled “Tumor lymphangiogenesis promotes T cell infiltration and potentiates immunotherapy in melanoma,” describes novel findings that may have important implications for the use and predictions of response to immunotherapy. In 2011, Melody was a guest speaker at the 9th Annual CBC Symposium, “Engineering Biology: From tools to insights.”
▸ Read more


September 19, 2017
NEWS
CBC reflects on partnership with The Chicago Community Trust as a new era begins for both organizations
With the recent introduction of Dr. Helene Gayle as the incoming CEO of The Chicago Community Trust (CCT) and successor to outgoing President and CEO, Terry Mazany, the foundation ushers in a new era in its long and distinguished history of contributions to greater Chicago. This transition at CCT significantly coincides with CBC’s transition to Phase 2, and thus it seemed appropriate to share some reflections on the partnership with the CCT, to thank Terry for his support of the CBC, and to welcome Dr. Gayle to the community and as a partner in CBC’s ongoing efforts to enhance Chicago.
▸ Read more


September 13, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
New technology helps diabetics manage their health
A CBC 2011 Spark Award co-recipient, Dr. Lou Philipson of UChicago, was featured on WGN-TV. He described the most recent advances in automated insulin delivery systems for diabetic patients.
▸ Read more


September 1, 2017
NEWS
Jim Audia’s visit to UChicago inaugurates a series of “Lunch & Learn” events
The first of the meetings took place at the University of Chicago on September 1, 2017. Organized by Lucy Godley, CBC Scientific Director for UChicago, it was a “Lunch & Learn” type of event. Close to 20 faculty members attended the meeting. During the luncheon Jim introduced himself, spoke of his vision for the Chicago region, and gave a presentation on how the CBC could help realize it. The presentation, nicknamed “Looking back, moving forward,” highlighted the CBC accomplishments to date, and then swiftly moved on to the description of the three new initiatives proposed for the Phase 2.
▸ Read more


August 31, 2017
CBC NEWSLETTER, VOL. 22
Registration OPEN for CBC Annual Symposium 2017; Catalyst Award Program Updates; Staying informed
▸ Read more


August 31, 2017
biotech & Entrepreneurship
Cures Within Reach
Second Annual CureAccelerator Live! Pitch Event
Date: November 15, 2017
(event flyer)
▸ More info


August 31, 2017
biotech & Entrepreneurship
Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
New Course: Entrepreneurship for Science and Medicine
Dates: October 18 – November 15, 2017
▸ More info


August 25, 2017
biotech & Entrepreneurship
UICentre Drug Discovery Workshop
Date: October 6, 2017
Location: UIC
▸ More info


August 25, 2017
SAVE THE DATE
15th Annual CBC Symposium
“Small Molecule Discovery”

DATE: Friday, November 17, 2017
LOCATION: UIC Forum

Fantastic speaker lineup! Poster session! Lunch and Learn!
Registration and poster abstract submission are now open. Deadline: Friday, October 20, 2017.

▸ Symposium webpage


August 25, 2017
news
Spring 2017 Round Catalyst Awards Announced
The CBC is pleased to announce that three teams received Catalyst Awards in Spring 2017 application round:

PIs: Narayanan Kasthuri (UChicago) and Irina Balyasnikova (NU) for the project:
The Connectome of Newly Born Neurons

PIs: Jaehyuk Choi (NU) and Jun Huang (UChicago) for the project:
Novel Single-Cell Analyses of Tumor-Specific T-cells in Merkel Cell Carcinoma

PIs: Ernesto Bongarzone and Steven Roth (UIC), and Joshua Leonard (NU) for the project:
Targeted Delivery of Biomolecules to the CNS via Extracellular Vesicles

▸ Read more


August 21, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
New genomic data platform to focus on children’s health issues
A CBC Lever Award 2008 co-recipient, Robert Grossman of UChicago, will play a major role in establishment of the new NIH-sponsored initiative, called the Gabriella Miller Kids First pediatric data resource center.
▸ Read more


August 14, 2017
ANNOUNCEMENT
CBC Invites New Catalyst Applications
The Fall 2017 Catalyst application round is now open and will close at 5PM on Friday, August 18, 2017. As the CBC moves into Phase 2, the Catalyst Award program will continue to support basic biomedical research by multi-institutional teams. NEW in Phase 2: projects with translational potential will also be considered. The eligibility requirements and application instructions are included in the revised Catalyst RFA (rev. May 30, 2017) and must be followed.
▸ Catalyst RFA (rev. May 30, 2017)


August 11, 2017
success story
Big data yields surprising connections between diseases
CBC Lever Award (2012) to Andrey Rzhetsky (UChicago), Edwin Cook (UIC), and Richard Morimoto (NU).
▸ Read more


July 26, 2017
news
Members of the CBC Accelerator Network (CBCAN) discuss the new CBC Accelerator Award program at the second CBCAN meeting
The second CBCAN meeting took place on July 20, 2017 at the Prentice Women’s Hospital in downtown Chicago. Close to 90 people attended, including faculty and administration representatives of the three CBC universities, representatives of local industry such as AbbVie, Baxter, and Eli Lilly, biotech startups such as ClostraBio and Novalex Theurapeutics, additional companies including Shamrock Structures, and representatives of the local biomedical community, including members of MATTER, iBIO, PROPEL and Flavin Ventures.
▸ Read more


July 25, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Computer model simulates sense of touch from the entire hand
CBC Catalyst Award (2013) to Lee Miller (NU) and Sliman Bensmaia (UChicago).
▸ Read more


July 20, 2017
biotech & Entrepreneurship
SBIR/STTR Grant Writing Workshop
Date: October 3-4, 2017
Time: 9am – 4pm
Location: MATTER

PROPEL is hosting this 2-day Intensive Workshop, provided by BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting (BBCetc), that will cover all aspects of writing SBIR/STTR grants focused on life science technologies including: eligibility, sources of funding and agency differences, understanding what reviewers look for, step-by-step instruction on how to write each section of your proposal.
▸ More info and registration details


July 18, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Drug delivered during CPR may improve survival for heart attack
CBC Catalyst Award (2011) to Terry Vanden Hoek (UIC) and Alan Leff (UChicago).
▸ Read more


June 21, 2017
CBC NEWSLETTER, VOL. 21
Search for the CBC Associate Director for Translation Activities; Inviting New Catalyst Proposals; Announcing CBC Annual Symposium 2017
▸ Read more


June 21, 2017
ANNOUNCEMENT
Search for the CBC Associate Director for Translation Activities
The CBC has opened a search for the CBC Associate Director for Translation Activities (ADTA), who will be responsible for the day-to-day management of new Phase 2 programs. Applications will be accepted through September 1, 2017.
▸ Read more
▸ Download the Position Description and Requirements (PDF)
▸ Apply


June 20, 2017
“in the news”
6 largest gifts from individuals to healthcare organizations in 2017
According to the Becker’s Healthcare Report, Searle Funds gift to the CBC placed #3 among gifts and pledges from individuals to hospitals or healthcare organizations to date in 2017.
▸ Read more


June 14, 2017
“in-the-news”
Top 10 U.S. Biopharma Clusters
According to the Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), Chicagoland placed #10 among top 10 US Biopharma Clusters in 2017. The CBC and Jim Audia are featured.
▸ Read more


June 7, 2017
news
2016 Fall Round Catalyst Awards Announced
The CBC is pleased to announce that six teams received Catalyst Awards in 2016 Fall application round
▸ Read more


May 25, 2017
news
James E. (Jim) Audia, PhD to become Executive Director of CBC as Katie Stallcup Retires
Jim Audia, currently Chief Scientific Officer of Constellation Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge, Massachusetts, will become Executive Director of the CBC effective August 1, 2017. Dr. Audia succeeds Dr. Kathryn C. (Katie) Stallcup, who will retire in September.
▸ Read more


May 25, 2017
PRESS RELEASE
Distinguished scientific leader to head Chicago Biomedical Consortium
Drug developer on 100 patents will direct university partnership
▸ Press Release


May 19, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
First spherical nucleic acid drug injected into humans targets brain cancer
The CBC would like to congratulate Chad Mirkin and Alexander Stegh of Northwestern for developing a novel drug against the deadly brain cancer glioblastoma multiforme. The new drug was designed using the spherical nuclei acid platform technology developed by the team. The drug just entered a Phase 0 clinical trial and will be given to early-stage glioblastoma patients to investigate the drug’s ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and reach tumors in humans. The team developed the technology and the drug at the Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence. The Center was initially funded by the National Cancer Institute and the 2010 CBC Lever awarded to Chad Mirkin and Milan Mrksich (NU), David Eddington (UIC) and Joel Collier (UChicago) for the project: “Nanomaterials for Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics.”
▸ Read more


May 6, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Scaling up cancer research
The Genomic Data Commons (GDC), an initiative of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), is a centralized national database and information system, allowing researchers free access and sharing of cancer-related genomic and clinical data. A 2008 CBC Lever Award contributed to the establishment of the GDC, which was launched at the University of Chicago in June 2016. Since then, Bob Grossman, a member of the 2008 CBC Lever Award team, has expanded the GDC by establishing a new commons for cancer data called the Blood Profiling Atlas for Cancer (BloodPAC), which will be a home for liquid biopsy data with the goal of accelerating the discovery of new biomarkers.
▸ Read more


April 26, 2017
biotech & Entrepreneurship
UChicago Innovation Fest 2017
Date: May 1 – June 1, 2017
Location: UChicago; varied locations (see schedule)
Swing by on Monday, May 1, 2017 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the Polsky Exchange North (1452 E 53rd St., 2nd Floor, Chicago), which is the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation’s 34,000 square foot coworking and incubator space, to pick up your guide to UChicago Innovation Fest 2017. Learn more about the many opportunities to plug into and benefit from the vibrant UChicago innovation ecosystem. Please join us for any of the following events.
▸ Schedule of the events


April 26, 2017
biotech & Entrepreneurship
Accelerating Drug Discovery: New Approaches to Public – Private Partnerships
Date: May 2, 2017
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Location: Silverman Hall for Molecular Therapeutics and Diagnostics, NU, Evanston
NU Center for Developmental Therapeutics in the Chemistry of Life Processes Institute and the Innovation and New Ventures Office invites all to attend a special forum on Accelerating Drug Discovery: New Approaches to Public – Private Partnerships. The featured speaker will be Peter Schultz, PhD (Scripps Family Chair Professor, CEO & Vice Chair Research Administration, California Campus, The Scripps Research Institute). The forum will also include panelists from the greater Chicago area drug discovery and development community.

RSVP via email to Tiffany Leighton Ozmin

▸ More info


April 25, 2017
biotech & Entrepreneurship
Solving the Unsolvable: A Partnership to End IPF
Atul Butte, director of the Institute of Computational Health Sciences at UCSF, will give a seminar at this free event on Thursday, April 27, from 5:30–8:00pm. MATTER is also hosting the foremost experts and KOLs in to talk about their cutting-edge research and treatments for respiratory diseases. Any researchers, administrators, or students interested in pulmonology, bioinformatics, oxygen therapy, or cutting-edge treatments to respiratory disorders are especially encouraged to attend.
▸ Register here


April 7, 2017
NEWS
The CBC Accelerator Network (CBCAN) off to a great start!
The inaugural CBCAN meeting took place on March 30, 2017 at the University of Chicago Gleacher Center in downtown Chicago. It was the first new initiative organized by the CBC since the beginning of Phase 2 in January 2017.
▸ Read more


April 4, 2017
BIOTECH & Entrepreneurship
PROPEL: SBIR/STTR Grant Writing Workshop

June 14 – 15, 2017 @ 9am – 4pm @ MATTER
PROPEL is hosting this 2-day Intensive Workshop, provided by BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting (BBCetc), that will cover all aspects of writing SBIR/STTR grants focused on life science technologies including: eligibility, sources of funding and agency differences, understanding what reviewers look for, step-by-step instruction on how to write each section of your proposal.
▸ Register here


April 3, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
New Insights into the Regulation of Cellular Iron
Catalyst Award (2007) to E. McNally (NU; at UChicago at the time of the award), P. Schumacker and H. Ardehali (NU), and R. J. Solaro (UIC)
▸ Read more


March 14, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Chicago Tribune—Joe Biden highlights Genomic Data Commons at UChicago in a speech on the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative
Vice President Joe Biden at the South by Southwest conference in Austin, Texas, March 2017The CBC is excited to report that the Genomic Data Commons (GDC) at UChicago received world recognition in a presentation by former Vice President Joe Biden at the South by Southwest conference in Austin, Texas. A 2008 CBC Lever Award contributed to the establishment of the GDC, a platform containing anonymized genomic and clinical data from over 14,000 cancer patients.
▸ Read more


February 28, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
Insights Into Enzyme Targets Could Lead to New Cancer Therapies
Catalyst Award (2011) to Hiroaki Kiyokawa (NU) and Jun Yin (Georgia State University; at UChicago at the time of the award) and Postdoctoral Research Award (2014) to Xianpeng Liu and Hiroaki Kiyokawa (NU)
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February 27, 2017
announcement
CBC Invites New Catalyst Applications
Application submission site for the Spring 2017 Catalyst application round is now open and will close at 5:00 PM on Friday, March 3, 2017. The eligibility requirements and applications instructions are included in the Catalyst RFA (rev. Jan. 13, 2017) and must be followed.
▸ Catalyst RFA (rev. Jan. 13, 2017)


February 1, 2017
SUCCESS STORY
January 2017 CBC-funded publications
Twenty-one peer-reviewed research papers acknowledging CBC funding were published in January 2017. Congratulations to all!
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January 31, 2017
biotech & Entrepreneurship
NEW TechStart Program Fellowships
The TechStart Program at the UChicago Polsky Center is a competitive opportunity for current UChicago trainees to work with the Technology Commercialization & Licensing team at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The program is open to NU and UIC trainees as well.

Info sessions: Wednesday, February 1st, 10 – 11 AM in the Polsky Exchange North Theater and Thursday, February 9th, 12 – 1 PM in the GCIS atrium.

Application deadline: February 16, 2016.
▸ Read more
▸ Apply


January 30, 2017
biotech & Entrepreneurship
PROPEL: iBIO IndEX 2017
April 24, 2017 @ Hyatt Regency O’Hare
iBIO IndEx is a place to converge and connect with key thought leaders and peers from diverse backgrounds, and emerge with new insight to help drive industry-wide growth and transformation. This conference will include the finals of the PROPEL Business Plan Competition and the Innovation Showcase. More details on 2017 iBIO IndEx coming soon.


January 24, 2017
announcement
Search open for Executive Director
Katie Stallcup, CBC Executive Director since the CBC’s inception in 2006, has announced that she will be retiring this summer. Katie has been instrumental in CBC’s success and will be dearly missed. We wish her the best in her future endeavors. The CBC has opened a search for a new Executive Director. Applications will be accepted through March 1, 2017.
▸ Download the Position Description (PDF)
▸ Apply


January 24, 2017
CBC Newsletter, Vol. 19
Inviting New Catalyst Proposals; CBC Renewal for 2017-2021; Search for new Executive Director
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January 23, 2017
news
CBC: Celebrating 10 Years of Success and Unveiling New Initiatives
On December 16, 2016, a celebration of renewed CBC funding took place at VenueSIX10 in downtown Chicago. The CBC is profoundly grateful for past and future support from the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust.
▸ Read more
▸ Event Program (PDF)


January 18, 2017
news
The Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust pledge $21 million to support CBC 2017-2021
The CBC is delighted to share the news that the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust have renewed funding for the CBC. The new grant, for $21 million to be paid over five years (2017 through 2021), builds on the decade-long commitment of the Searle Funds to CBC since the CBC’s inauguration in 2006.
▸ Read more
▸ Official Press Release


January 13, 2017
ANNOUNCEMENT
CBC Invites New Catalyst Applications
Application submission site for the Spring 2017 Catalyst application round will open at 8AM on Monday, February 27, 2017 and will close at 5PM on Friday, March 3, 2017. The eligibility requirements and applications instructions are included in the Catalyst RFA (rev. Jan. 13, 2017) and must be followed.
▸ Catalyst RFA (rev. Jan. 13, 2017)