The tissues that make up our organs are not as homogeneous as they appear. In a series of discoveries over the last 20 years, scientists have revealed that they are made up of mosaic populations of cells in which fitter cells eliminate their less-fit neighbors in a process called cell competition. The phenomenon acts as a quality control mechanism during development and helps maintain healthy tissue in adult organs. The study of cell competition is also of great medical significance in terms of understanding how healthy and diseased tissue compete in human diseases such as cancer and rare genetic disorders.
Stephanie Ellis joined the Max Perutz Labs in early 2022 to study the mechanisms of cell competition in skin tissue. She obtained her PhD from the University of British Columbia and did postdoctoral research in the lab of Elaine Fuchs at Rockefeller University, where she established the skin epidermis as a new, physiologically relevant model for the study of cell competition in mammals. “With the funding that comes with the award we will be able to support our first project, which aims to elucidate the role of cell competition in X-linked diseases”, says Stephanie.
The Vallee Foundation was established in 1996 by scientists Bert and Natalie Vallee. Born in Germany, Bert Vallee received his M.D degree from New York University and later held faculty positions at MIT and Harvard Medical University. His research focused on zinc enzymology and the study of the molecular basis of alcohol abuse. He met his future wife, Natalie Kugris in 1943. Natalie studied biology at Boston University and became Professor of Biology at Lesley College and later lecturer at Harvard University. With no children and living frugally, the couple decided to invest their money in a foundation to promote dialogue between scientists around the world and advance the biomedical sciences. “I am excited to become part of the Vallee Scholar community and look forward to exchanging ideas, networking and collaborating with this international community of outstanding researchers”, Stephanie says.
18th Microsymposium on RNA Biology
The „Microsymposium on RNA Biology“ is an international conference that brings together young scientists, junior and senior group leaders, and company representatives from all over the world to present and discuss their latest findings in the exciting field of small RNAs and beyond. The Microsymposium was founded in 2005 and has established itself as the major small RNA meeting in Europe. It is organized by the four research institutions IMBA, IMP, GMI and the Max Perutz Labs as well as by the RNA community of the Vienna BioCenter.
Nickel impact on human health, from bacterial infections to cancer
Multiscale plant bioimaging using advanced microscopy
Parthenogenesis, cryptobiosis, and the survival in extreme environmental conditions
Evading ageing: Mitochondrial and proteostatic adaptations in oocytes
Genomes in Rhodnius prolixus symbiotic system
Stem cells, immune evasion and metastasis in colorectal cancer
Ubiquitin & Friends Symposium 2024
The Ubiquitin & Friends Symposium is an annual international meeting taking place in the beautiful capital of Austria, aiming to bring together scholars from various fields studying ubiquitin/Ubl biology and protein degradation in a personal, family-like atmosphere, as suggested by the name.
The evolution and development of mollusc shells
Unraveling the Complexity of Crossover Regulation in C. elegans
Dynamics of 3D Genome Structure and Function
How superworms can help to solve our plastic waste crisis
Title to be announced
New players in an old pathway: biology of methanogens of the TACK superphylum
Shaping morphogen gradients: from molecules to tissues and back
Title to be announced
Studying stressed cells by in situ structural biology
Exploring Microbial Resilience: Unravelling Escherichia coliand#x27;s Stress Response at the Level of Protein Synthesis
Arbuscular mycorrhiza development and function
Deep homology and deep diversity: Evolving genetic toolkits for making and sensing light
The evolution of cell type identity and tissue microecology at the fetal-maternal interface
The unanticipated roles of PICIs and phages in bacterial evolution
Chemical targeting of subcellular protein localization
Origin and diversification of gut-derived organs in chordates
Job's Dilemma for the Genome: Why Bad Things Happen to Good Chromosomes
Connections between carbon and nitrogen cycling in the ocean
Understanding how the DNA-loop-extruding protein complex Condensin folds a chromatinized genome into mitotic chromosomes
From Roads to Rivers? Occurrence and environmental fate of tire and road wear particles and of tire-related chemicals
FENS 2024 Satellite event: Home cage behavior monitoring at the interface of animal welfare and neuroscience
Striking physiology and cell biology of (marine) environmental microorganisms
Mechanisms controlling maintenance of cohesin dependent loops
Title to be announced