serial: '575'
sid: '9146'
uuid: 1db4d8e7-4841-4825-b4ed-7b4e86533c54
uri: /urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal
created: '1692976057'
completed: '1692976057'
changed: '1696610763'
in_draft: '0'
current_page: ''
remote_addr: 128.186.231.253
uid: '0'
langcode: en
webform_id: urop_project_proposal_portal
entity_type: node
entity_id: '1116'
locked: '0'
sticky: '0'
notes: ''
data:
  approximately_how_many_hours_a_week_would_the_research_assistant: '10'
  are_you_currently_looking_for_students_: 'No'
  confirmation_1: '1'
  contact_email_fsu_email: p.sandoval-sanchez@med.fsu.edu
  contact_email_fsu_email2: ''
  contact_email_fsu_email_if_affiliated_: julia.wang@med.fsu.edu
  fsu_college: Medicine
  fsu_department_if_applicable_: 'Biomedical Sciences'
  headshot_optional_: ''
  if_the_project_location_is_off_campus_does_the_student_need_to_p: ''
  mentoring_philosophy: 'As a mentor, I endeavor to convey the message that research is a thrilling journey to seek the truth. I aim to promote students’ self-confidence and cultivate a sense of good scientific citizenship. '
  mentor_handbook_and_faqs: '1'
  name_of_other_faculty_collaborator_if_applicable_: ''
  number_of_assistants_needed_faculty_postdoc_max_6_graduate_stude: '2'
  other_faculty_collaborator_s_preferred_pronouns: ''
  overall_research_project_description: |
    Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the blood glucose is dysregulated mainly due to a shortage of pancreatic beta cells. There are two major types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is caused by the autoimmune destruction of beta cells which results in a decrease of insulin production. Type 2 diabetes develops when there are not enough functional beta cells to compensate for higher insulin demand often as a result of obesity.
    Overall, there is a decrease in beta cell mass in both types of diabetes which can lead to other health issues. As of now, there are treatments to manage diabetes, but there is no cure yet. One of the approaches currently being studied is genetic editing to increase beta cell proliferation. If beta cells are replenished at a higher rate, the onset of diabetes will be delayed, and diabetes can potentially be reversed.
    Adenoviral vectors have high transduction efficiency in pancreatic beta cells. Leveraging this system, in our previous research, we have established a high throughput cloning strategy to generate large-scale CRISPR knockout constructs. These constructs can be used for targeted loss-of-function genetic modulation in pancreatic beta cells. Specifically, we have designed these constructs to target known cell cycle inhibitors. Loss-of-function in these negative regulators of cell cycle is expected to promote beta cell proliferation. 
    To complement this CRISPR knockout strategy, we are currently developing CRISPR mediated transcriptional activation system (CRISPRa). Instead of mediating targeted loss-of-function, the CRISPRa system mediates targeted gain-of-function. Using CRISPRa, we can target known cell cycle activators.  Gain-of-function in these positive regulators of cell cycle is expected to promote beta cell proliferation as well. Combining the CRISPR loss-of-function and the CRISPRa tools, we will be able to perform targeted genetic modulation in either direction to achieve maximal effect in promoting beta cell replication.
  please_add_any_additional_information_here: ''
  please_provide_a_link_to_your_publications_a_video_clip_or_a_web: 'https://www.jwanglab.com/'
  please_select_the_choice_that_most_accurately_describes_your_exp: In-person
  please_select_the_location_of_your_project_: 'On FSU Main Campus'
  position_availability_for_student_research: 'During Business Hours'
  position_title: Faculty
  primary_research_mentor_name: 'Julia Wang'
  project_keywords: 'CRISPR, diabetes, beta cells, genetic engineering'
  relevant_student_major_s_: 'Biology, Biochemistry, IMS, Pre-med'
  research_mentor_preferred_pronoun2: ''
  research_mentor_pronouns: ''
  research_mentor_supervisor_if_different_from_above_: 'Pamela Sanchez'
  research_tasks_for_student_research_assistant_s_: 'cloning of different CRISPR-gRNA constructs, transformation, plasmid isolation, transduction, adenovirus production, and cell culture.'
  roundtable_times_and_zoom_links: ''
  skills_that_research_assistants_may_need_: 'Basic molecular biology skills are recommended.'
  title_of_the_project: 'Genetic Engineering of Cell Cycle Genes in Pancreatic Beta Cells'
  update_url: 'https://cre.fsu.edu/urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?token=jOumWg47aFTjzwdWsWpQx3wcs5twQowyYvppJgNwfb0'
  urop_performance_evaluation: '1'
  urop_poster_presentation: '1'
  when_potential_research_assistants_are_reaching_out_via_email_2: ''
  when_potential_research_assistants_are_reaching_out_via_email_wh: ''
  when_students_are_reaching_out_via_email_what_is_your_preferreda: ''
  would_you_like_to_participate_in_the_urop_research_mentor_roundt: ''
  year: '2023'