Zachary Barry - Advisor, Manu Platt, PhD
"Cathepsin S Cannibalism of Cathepsin K as a Mechanism to Reduce Type I Collagen Degradation"

Cathepsins S and K are proteases implicated in diseases such as atherosclerosis. While studies of individual cathepsins have provided insight into their binding and kinetics, cooperative activity between cathepsins K and S has been less well described. Here, we uncover cathepsin cannibalism, a novel mechanism by which cathepsins degrade each other. Cannibalism-aware kinetic models better predict observed matrix degradation processes.

Jonathan Suever - Advisor, John Oshinski, PhD
"Assessment of Regional Left Ventricular Mechanical Dyssynchrony using MRI"

Left ventricular (LV) mechanical dyssynchrony has been proposed as a parameter to select patients for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Placing the LV pacing lead in the most delayed region yields a better response to CRT; therefore, regional maps of LV dyssynchrony can improve LV lead placement. We developed a method to create a map of regional LV mechanical dyssynchrony from short-axis MRI images.

The Graduate and Post-Doc (GaP) Seminar Series is a weekly event of research presentations by two graduate students or post-docs conducting bio-related research.  The series is organized and sponsored by the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB) with additional support from the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering. It is held every Wednesday at 12:00pm in IBB 1128 and refreshments are provided. If your research group or department would like to present at future seminars, please contact Manu Platt, PhD.