2025-26 Journal Clubs

2025-26 Journal Club Schedule

 Chris Hsiung, MD, PhD (faculty)

"Latent functions of the non-coding genome in tissue injury responses"

Lin W, Jia X, Shi X, He Q, Zhang P, Zhang X, Zhang L, Wu M, Ren T, Liu Y, Deng H, Li Y, Liu S, Huang S, Kang J, Luo J, Deng Z, Wang W. Reactivation of mammalian regeneration by turning on an evolutionarily disabled genetic switch. Science. American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS); 2025 Jun 26;388(6754):eadp0176. PMID: 40570123

Edward Valenzuela (student)

"Long-range cholinergic input promotes glioblastoma progression"

Yang, Y., Yang, C., Chen, X., Jiang, Y., Lei, X., Ma, K., Quan, Y., Li, T., Guo, C., Meng, Y., et al. (2025). Long-range cholinergic input promotes glioblastoma progression. Cancer Cell. 10.1016/j.ccell.2025.07.024.

Moderators: Brindha Rathinasabapathi and Feeling Chen

Location: Room S-214, Parnassus; Viewing Room (for senior students and faculty ONLY) located in MH-1405

 

Gabriel Avillion (student)

TBD

Jeffries, A.M., Yu, T., Ziegenfuss, J.S. et al. Single-cell transcriptomic and genomic changes in the ageing human brain. Nature (2025). Https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09435-8

Coaches: Andrew Yang, PhD and Kristen Berendzen, MD, PhD

Naomi Cinque (student)

"Distinct adipose progenitor cells emerging with age drive active adipogenesis"

Guan Wang et al., Distinct adipose progenitor cells emerging with age drive active adipogenesis. Science388,eadj0430(2025). DOI:10.1126/science.adj0430

Coaches: Kyle Cromer, PhD and Ed Hsiao, MD, PhD

Moderators: Bivas Nag and Carine Joubran

Location: HSW-302, Parnassus; Viewing Room (for senior students and faculty ONLY) located in MH-1405

Max Hammer (student)

"Actin-based deformations of the nucleus control mouse multiciliated ependymal cell differentiation"

Basso M, Mahuzier A, et al. Actin-based deformations of the nucleus control mouse multiciliated ependymal cell differentiation. Dev Cell. 2025 Mar 10;60(5):749-761.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.11.008. Epub 2024 Dec 10.

 

Ashley Fox (student)

"Disrupted endosomal trafficking of the Vangl-Celsr polarity complex underlies congenital anomalies in Xenopus trachea-esophageal morphogenesis"

Edwards, N. A., Rankin, S. A.et al (2025). Disrupted endosomal trafficking of the Vangl-Celsr polarity complex underlies congenital anomalies in Xenopus trachea-esophageal morphogenesis. Developmental cell, 60(18), 2487–2502.e4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.devcel.2025.04.026

Location: MH-1407, Mission Bay

Gabriella Cox (student)

"Early lineage segregation of primary myotubes from secondary myotubes and adult muscle stem cells"

Toulouse, G., Jarassier, W., Jagot, S., Morin, V., Le Grand, F., & Marcelle, C. (2025). Early lineage segregation of primary myotubes from secondary myotubes and adult muscle stem cells. Nature communications, 16(1), 7858. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61767-1 

 

Daniel Bernstein (student)

"Actomyosin forces trigger a conformational change in desmoplakin within desmosomes"

Dong, Y., Elgerbi, A., Xie, B. et al. Actomyosin forces trigger a conformational change in desmoplakin within desmosomes. Nat Commun 16, 9052 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-64124-4

Location: MH-1407, Mission Bay

Bivas Nag (Student)

"3D-generation of high-purity midbrain dopaminergic progenitors and lineage-guided refinement of grafts supports Parkinson’s disease cell therapy"

Zhang, Xinyue et al. Cell Stem Cell, Volume 32, Issue 11, 1758 - 1772.e8

Coaches: Alex Pollen, PhD and Corey Harwell, PhD

Carine Joubran (Student)

"Myocardium and endocardium of the early mammalian heart tube arise from independent multipotent lineages specified at the primitive streak"

Sendra, Miquel et al. Developmental Cell, Volume 60, Issue 18, 2434 - 2444.e5 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2025.05.002

Coaches: Faranak Fattahi, PhD and Benoit Bruneau, PhD

Moderators: Gabriel Avillion and Naomi Cinque

Location: HSW-302, Parnassus; Viewing Room (for senior students and faculty ONLY) located in MH-1405

Annie Adachi (Student)

“Range extender mediates long-distance enhancer activity.”

Bower, G., Hollingsworth, E.W., Jacinto, S.H. et al. Range extender mediates long-distance enhancer activity. Nature 643, 830–838 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09221-6

Lea Baskin Monk (Student)

"Evidence for improved DNA repair in long-lived bowhead whale"

Firsanov, D., Zacher, M., Tian, X. et al. Evidence for improved DNA repair in long-lived bowhead whale. Nature (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09694-5

Location: MH-1407, Mission Bay

Brindha Rathinasabapathi (student)

"Dissecting Epigenetic Regulation of Fibrosis in Heart Disease"

Aguado-Alvaro, L.P., Garitano, N., Esser-Skala, W. et al. Identification of epigenetic regulators of fibrotic transformation in cardiac fibroblasts through bulk and single-cell CRISPR screens.Nat Commun 16, 11660 (2025). 

Coaches: Todd Nystul, PhD and Michael Alexanian, PhD

Feeling Chen (student)

"Repair of DNA double-strand breaks leaves heritable impairment to genome Function"

Susanne Bantele et al.,Repair of DNA double-strand breaks leaves heritable impairment to genome function.Science390,eadk6662(2025).DOI:10.1126/science.adk6662

Coaches: Kelsey Collins, PhD and Saul Villeda, PhD

Moderators: Edward Valenzuela and Patrick Taylor

Location: HSW-300, Parnassus

Patrick Taylor (student)

"Radial astroglia cooperate with microglia to clear neuronal cell bodies during zebrafish optic tectum development"

Barber, Heather M., et al. 2025. “Radial Astroglia Cooperate with Microglia to Clear Neuronal Cell Bodies during Zebrafish Optic Tectum Development.” Cell Reports 44 (11): 116509.

Sarah Soliman (student)

"Tissue fluidity mediates a trade-off between the speed and accuracy of multicellular patterning by cell sorting"

Garner, Rikki M. et al. Tissue fluidity mediates a trade-off between the speed and accuracy of multicellular patterning by cell sorting. Biophysical Journal, Volume 124, Issue 23, 4157 - 4175. doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2025.10.001

Location: MH-1407, Mission Bay

Patrick Taylor (student)

"Excitatory-neuron-derived interleukin-34 supports cortical developmental microglia function"

Devlin, B. A. et al. Excitatory-neuron-derived interleukin-34 supports cortical developmental microglia function. Immunity 58, 1948–1965.e6 (2025).

Coaches: Trent Watkins, PhD and Yadong Huang, MD, PhD

Sarah Soliman (student)

"Illuminating the interplay between tissue mechanics and BMP4 signaling in gastruloid symmetry breaking"

De Santis, R., et al. (2025). Crosstalk between tissue mechanics and BMP4 signaling regulates symmetry breaking in human gastrula models. Cell Stem Cell 32, 1691-1704.e6. doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2025.09.006.

Coaches: Todd Nystul, PhD and Jeff Bush, PhD

Moderators: Tiffany Pham and Olivia Sclafani

Location: HSW-300, Parnassus

Tiffany Pham (student)

"FABP4 inhibition suppresses bone resorption and protects against postmenopausal osteoporosis in ovariectomized mice"

Xie, Q., Du, X., Liang, J. et al. FABP4 inhibition suppresses bone resorption and protects against postmenopausal osteoporosis in ovariectomized mice. Nat Commun 16, 4437 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59719-w

Olivia Sclafani (student)

"Reconstruction of endocrine subtype-complete human pluripotent stem cell-derived islets with capacity for hypoglycemia protection in vivo"
 

Location: MH-1407, Mission Bay

Tiffany Pham (student)

"Selective remodeling of the adipose niche in obesity and weight loss"

Miranda, A.M.A., McAllan, L., Mazzei, G. et al. Selective remodelling of the adipose niche in obesity and weight loss. Nature 644, 769–779 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09233-2

Coaches: Diana Alba, MD and  Kelsey Collins, PhD

Annie Adachi (student)

 “A human-specific regulatory mechanism revealed in a pre-implantation model” 

Fueyo, R., Wang, S., Crocker, O.J. et al. A human-specific regulatory mechanism revealed in a pre-implantation model. Nature 647, 238–247 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09571-1

Coaches: Nicole DelRosso, PhD and Diana Laird, PhD

Moderators: Vincent Ling and Anush Margaryan

Location: HSW-300, Parnassus

Vincent Ling (student)

"Spatially organized cellular communities shape functional tissue architecture in the pancreas"

Alejo Torres-Cano et al. ,Spatially organized cellular communities shape functional tissue architecture in the pancreas.Sci. Adv.11,eadx5791(2025).DOI:10.1126/sciadv.adx5791

Anush Margaryan (student)

"Tumor-derived erythropoietin acts as an immunosuppressive switch in cancer immunity"
Chiu, D. K.-C., et al (2025). Tumor-derived erythropoietin acts as an immunosuppressive switch in cancer immunity. Science, 388(6745). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adr3026

Location: MH-1407, Mission Bay

Vincent Ling (student)

"Single-cell multiome and spatial profiling reveals pancreas cell type–specific gene regulatory programs of type 1 diabetes progression"

Rebecca Melton et al., Single-cell multiome and spatial profiling reveals pancreas cell type–specific gene regulatory programs of type 1 diabetes progression.Sci. Adv.11,eady0080(2025).DOI:10.1126/sciadv.ady0080

Coaches: Julie Sneddon, PhD and Dan Wagner, PhD

Anush Margaryan (student)

"Development of Clinical-Grade hiPSC-Derived Ovarian Support Cells for IVF"

Paulsen, B., et al. (2026). Development of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived ovarian support cells as a clinical-grade product for in vitro fertilization. Cell Stem Cell. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2025.12.020

Coaches: Serine Avagyan, MD, PhD and Diana Laid, PhD

Moderators: Ashley Fox and Max Hammer

Location: HSW-300, Parnassus

Ashley Fox (student)

"Endothelial-zippering proceeds by sensing heartbeat-driven force through cadherin-6 during heart-vessel connection"

Moe Fukumoto, et al. Endothelial-zippering proceeds by sensing heartbeat-driven force through cadherin-6 during heart-vessel connection in zebrafish, Developmental Cell, Volume 61, Issue 2, 2026, Pages 308-321.e6, ISSN 1534-5807, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.devcel.2025.10.011.

Coaches: Orion Weiner, PhD and Todd Nystul, PhD

Max Hammer (student)

TBD

Luo, Jingchuan et al. Cell, Volume 188, Issue 20, 5589 - 5604.e17

Coaches: Dan Wagner, PhD and Semil Choksi, PhD 

Moderators: Daniel Bernstein and Gabriella Cox

Location: HSW-302, Parnassus

Nitya Kopparapu (student)

"Crowd control: how do neutrophils self-limit swarms?"

Elysse Phillips (student)

TBD

Location: MH-1407, Mission Bay

Rose Zhou (student)

"Cellular dynamics and neuroimmune interplays in human medial ganglionic eminence development"

TBD (student)

TBD

Location: MH-1407, Mission Bay

Daniel Bernstein (student)

TBD

Rozema D, Fagotto-Kaufmann C, Ruppel A, Lasko P, Fagotto F. Remodeling of cadherin contacts in embryonic mesenchymal tissues during differential cell migration. Dev Cell. 2025 Nov 3;60(21):2915-2930.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2025.06.009. Epub 2025 Jul 3. PMID: 40614715.

Coaches: Jeff Bush, PhD and Diane Barber, PhD

Gabriella Cox (student)

TBD

Agius SC, et al. Accessory subunits of PRC2 mimic H3K27me3 to restrict the spread of Polycomb domains. Mol Cell. 2026 Mar 19;86(6):1032-1045.e10. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2026.02.011. Epub 2026 Mar 4. PMID: 41785858.

Coaches: Barbara Panning, PhD and Daniel Lim, PHD

Moderators: Annie Adachi and Lea Baskin Monk

Location: HSW-302, Parnassus

Olivia Sclafani (student)

"Efficient control of enterochromaffin versus islet differentiation from human pluripotent stem cell-derived pancreatic progenitors"

Misra, P.S., McGaugh, E.C., Huang, H. et al. Efficient control of enterochromaffin versus islet differentiation from human pluripotent stem cell-derived pancreatic progenitors. Nat Commun 17, 4137 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-70666-y

Coaches: Julie Sneddon, PhD and Semil Choski, PhD

Lea Baskin Monk (student)

"Restoring circadian rhythms in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus reverses aging biomarkers and extends lifespan in male mice"

Zhao, H., et al. Restoring circadian rhythms in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus reverses aging biomarkers and extends lifespan in male mice. Cell, 2026; 189, 2007–2023.e20. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2026.01.016

Coaches: Ying-Hui Fu, PhD and Kristen Berendzen, MD, PhD

Moderators: Sarah Soliman

Location: HSW-302, Parnassus