{"633465":{"#nid":"633465","#data":{"type":"event","title":"PhD Proposal by David Wolfson","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDavid Wolfson\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBMED PhD Proposal Presentation\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EDate: Tuesday, March 24, 2020\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ETime: 2:00 PM\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ELocation: HSRB E260\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAdvisor:\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EHee Cheol Cho, PhD (Emory University)\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ECommittee:\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EPhilip Santangelo, PhD (Georgia Tech)\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESung Jin Park, PhD (Emory University)\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EChunhui Xu, PhD (Emory University)\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EJennifer Kwong, PhD (Emory University)\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUse of modified mRNA as a gene delivery tool for modulating cardiac electrophysiology\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ECurrent somatic gene transfer techniques in cardiomyocytes largely rely on recombinant viral vectors. For instance adenoviral delivery of the transcription factor, TBX18, has proven successful in converting ventricular myocytes to pacemaker cells. Though effective, viral vectors may elicit adverse\/catastrophic immune reaction. Conversely, in vitro transcribed, modified mRNA (IVT mRNA) offers a versatile, easy-to-make gene transfer modality with a lower immunogenic profile. Thus, this project seeks to test the functional efficacy of somatic gene transfer of IVT mRNAs in cardiomyocytes for modulating their electrophysiological phenotype. IVT mRNA will be generated from codon-optimized DNA templates, incorporating modified nucleotides for enhanced stability. In order to visualize functional and successful transfection, fluorescent and bioluminescent reporter-encoded IVT mRNAs will be used as a readout for success. In terms of electrophysiological modulation, TBX18-encoded IVT mRNA will be used to test for known phenotypic changes both in vitro and in vivo. If successful, this will be the first study making use of IVT mRNA for cardiac delivery of TBX18 as a gene therapy for cardiac pacing. Compared to traditional viral vectors, IVT mRNA will mitigate concerns of potential off-target and inflammatory effects, thus advancing the clinical translation of electrophysiological therapies, such as biological pacemakers.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":"","field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Use of modified mRNA as a gene delivery tool for modulating cardiac electrophysiology"}],"uid":"27707","created_gmt":"2020-03-10 19:12:55","changed_gmt":"2020-03-10 19:12:55","author":"Tatianna Richardson","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","field_event_time":{"event_time_start":"2020-03-24T15:00:00-04:00","event_time_end":"2020-03-24T17:00:00-04:00","event_time_end_last":"2020-03-24T17:00:00-04:00","gmt_time_start":"2020-03-24 19:00:00","gmt_time_end":"2020-03-24 21:00:00","gmt_time_end_last":"2020-03-24 21:00:00","rrule":null,"timezone":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"221981","name":"Graduate Studies"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"102851","name":"Phd proposal"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[{"id":"1788","name":"Other\/Miscellaneous"}],"invited_audience":[{"id":"78761","name":"Faculty\/Staff"},{"id":"78771","name":"Public"},{"id":"174045","name":"Graduate students"},{"id":"78751","name":"Undergraduate students"}],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}