PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Salk scientist Jesse Dixon named 2024 Pew Biomedical Scholar

Salk scientist Jesse Dixon named 2024 Pew Biomedical Scholar
2024-06-18
(Press-News.org) LA JOLLA (June 18, 2024)—Salk Institute Assistant Professor Jesse Dixon has been named a 2024 Pew Biomedical Scholar by The Pew Charitable Trusts. This honor provides funding to early-career investigators who demonstrate outstanding promise in science toward advancing human health. Dixon and the other 21 awardees will each receive $300,000 over four years to support their research.

“Through his development and use of leading-edge genetic tools, Jesse has already made a major impact on how we study diseases such as cancer,” says Salk President Gerald Joyce. “His work has the potential to transform diagnostic tools and therapies for many human diseases, and we are glad to see him recognized by The Pew Charitable Trusts for these ongoing contributions.”

Dixon, a physician-scientist, is a member of both the Gene Expression Laboratory and the Salk Cancer Center faculty. His research uses molecular and computational approaches to explore how our genomes—the totality of genetic information in each of our cells—are organized, and how abnormal genome folding leads to disease.

Dixon’s recent work has helped define the relationship between our genomes and cancer. In 2022, he pinpointed certain genetic mutations that turn cancer genes “on,” helping scientists better understand where cancer originates and how best to treat it. In 2023, he discovered that the protein Foxp3 determines the genome structure and activity of T cells—important cancer-fighting immune cells. Scientists can now work to target Foxp3 to create T cells that more effectively contribute to the fight against cancer.

Dixon also invents tools to advance and expedite genetics research. His lab recently developed a technique for studying two levels of gene regulation at once, which can be used to clarify how genetic variations contribute to human disease. Currently, his team is developing new methods to study gene organization and gene function in single cells.

“I’m very grateful to have support from The Pew Charitable Trusts and to be named a Pew Biomedical Scholar,” says Dixon. “This funding will help my lab continue studying how structural alterations to chromosomes rewire the genome and how this contributes to various human diseases.”

Dixon received a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Early Independence Award in 2016, was selected as a Rita Allen Foundation Award Scholar in 2023, and was named one of the most highly cited researchers in the world in 2022 and 2023 by Clarivate. The honor of being named a Pew Biomedical Scholar is another validation of his work’s positive impact on science and human health, and the enormous potential of his research career.

About the Salk Institute for Biological Studies:

Unlocking the secrets of life itself is the driving force behind the Salk Institute. Our team of world-class, award-winning scientists pushes the boundaries of knowledge in areas such as neuroscience, cancer research, aging, immunobiology, plant biology, computational biology, and more. Founded by Jonas Salk, developer of the first safe and effective polio vaccine, the Institute is an independent, nonprofit research organization and architectural landmark: small by choice, intimate by nature, and fearless in the face of any challenge. Learn more at www.salk.edu.

About The Pew Charitable Trusts:

Founded in 1948, The Pew Charitable Trusts uses data to make a difference. Pew addresses the challenges of a changing world by illuminating issues, creating common ground, and advancing ambitious projects that lead to tangible progress.

END

[Attachments] See images for this press release:
Salk scientist Jesse Dixon named 2024 Pew Biomedical Scholar Salk scientist Jesse Dixon named 2024 Pew Biomedical Scholar 2 Salk scientist Jesse Dixon named 2024 Pew Biomedical Scholar 3

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Pew supports 22 researchers leading scientific innovation

2024-06-18
PHILADELPHIA—The Pew Charitable Trusts today announced the 22 researchers who have been selected to join the Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences. These early-career scientists will receive four years of funding to explore some of the most pressing questions in human health and medicine. “Pew believes that supporting promising early-career researchers is key to scientific innovation, and for nearly 40 years our scholars have helped change the world—creating lifesaving therapies and responding to emerging health crises around the globe,” ...

Discovery of ‘new rules of the immune system’ could improve treatment of inflammatory diseases, say scientists.

Discovery of ‘new rules of the immune system’ could improve treatment of inflammatory diseases, say scientists.
2024-06-18
Scientists at the University of Cambridge have discovered that a type of white blood cell - called a regulatory T cell - exists as a single large population of cells that constantly move throughout the body looking for, and repairing, damaged tissue. This overturns the traditional thinking that regulatory T cells exist as multiple specialist populations that are restricted to specific parts of the body. The finding has implications for the treatment of many different diseases – because almost all diseases and injuries trigger the body’s immune system. Current anti-inflammatory drugs treat the whole ...

5 Pew-Stewart Scholars chosen to advance innovative cancer research

2024-06-18
PHILADEPHIA—The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Alexander and Margaret Stewart Trust announced today the 2024 class of the Pew-Stewart Scholars for Cancer Research, five early-career scientists who will each receive four-year grants to explore new avenues in cancer development, diagnosis, and treatment. This is the 11th year the Alexander and Margaret Stewart Trust has partnered with Pew to cultivate a legacy of cutting-edge cancer research. “Despite decades of groundbreaking research and innovative breakthroughs, millions of Americans are still all too familiar with the devastation and uncertainty of a cancer diagnosis,” ...

Pew funds 10 Latin American scientists conducting biomedical research

2024-06-18
PHILADELPHIA—The Pew Charitable Trusts today announced the 2024 class of the Pew Latin American Fellows Program in the Biomedical Sciences. The 10 postdoctoral fellows from six Latin American countries—Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, and Peru—will receive two years of funding to conduct research in laboratories across the United States. They will work under the mentorship of prominent biomedical scientists, including alumni from the Latin American fellows program and the Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences. “The grave threats to human health over the past few years—from COVID-19 to growing rates of cancer in younger adults—underscore ...

Accelerating drug discovery with the CCDC, AWS, and Intel

Accelerating drug discovery with the CCDC, AWS, and Intel
2024-06-18
Thanks to the combined computing power of Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Intel, the CCDC announces that a potentially significant advancement in drug discovery has been achieved. A curated data set of protein structures from the Protein Data Bank (PDB) with predicted hydrogen positions is now available for download. This project was supported by an Intel RISE Technology Initiative contribution. Historically, collaborations with the pharmaceutical industry have enabled the development of reliable methods for interpreting interactions within protein binding sites using proprietary information not publicly available. Repeating these studies ...

Updates from the 2022 WHO classification of kidney epithelial tumors

2024-06-18
Renal tumor pathology has evolved considerably, expanding from two main types of renal malignant tumors to over 20 distinct types. Diagnostic criteria have advanced from purely morphological features to include histochemistry, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and molecular genetics. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Society of Urologic Pathology (ISUP) have been instrumental in updating these criteria, resulting in a comprehensive framework essential for accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and improved patient outcomes. The field of renal tumor pathology has undergone ...

Interdisciplinary team at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center maps role of P. gingivalis in drug resistance

Interdisciplinary team at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center maps role of P. gingivalis in drug resistance
2024-06-18
A new paper from an interdisciplinary team at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center describes how the bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis interferes with chemotherapy-induced mitophagy, allowing oral cancer tumors to become resistant to the drug’s effects.   Besim Ogretmen, Ph.D., SmartState Endowed Chair in Lipidomics and Drug Discovery in the College of Medicine, and Ӧzlem Yilmaz, D.D.S., Ph.D., a professor, clinician-scientist and microbiologist in the College of Dental Medicine, worked with graduate ...

Astronomers see a massive black hole awaken in real time

Astronomers see a massive black hole awaken in real time
2024-06-18
In late 2019 the previously unremarkable galaxy SDSS1335+0728 suddenly started shining brighter than ever before. To understand why, astronomers have used data from several space and ground-based observatories, including the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT), to track how the galaxy’s brightness has varied. In a study out today, they conclude that they are witnessing changes never seen before in a galaxy — likely the result of the sudden awakening of the massive black hole at its core. “Imagine you’ve been observing a distant galaxy for years, and it always seemed calm and inactive,” ...

A review and update on therapy of gastrointestinal tract tumors: from the bench to clinical practice

2024-06-18
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, encompassing esophageal, gastric, small bowel, and colorectal carcinomas, represent a significant global health burden due to their high incidence and mortality rates. This review by M. Jesús Fernández-Aceñero et al. provides an in-depth analysis of the molecular characteristics, prognosis, and current therapeutic strategies for these malignancies, highlighting the latest advancements and challenges in the field. Esophageal carcinoma is among the ten most prevalent tumors globally, with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) being the most common subtype. ...

Study suggests hepatitis E may be a sexually transmitted infection

2024-06-18
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Discovering that hepatitis E virus is associated with sperm in pigs suggests the virus may be both sexually transmitted and linked to male infertility, according to a new study. Hepatitis E (HEV) is the leading cause of the acute viral liver infection in humans worldwide, mostly in developing regions where sanitation is poor. The virus is also endemic in pigs in the United States – though it is present mostly in organs rather than muscle, and is killed when the meat is cooked. Because HEV has been linked to fatal pregnancy complications and reports of male infertility ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Intra-arterial tenecteplase for acute stroke after successful endovascular therapy

Study reveals beneficial microbes that can sustain yields in unfertilized fields

Robotic probe quickly measures key properties of new materials

Climate change cuts milk production, even when farmers cool their cows

Frozen, but not sealed: Arctic Ocean remained open to life during ice ages

Some like it cold: Cryorhodopsins

Demystifying gut bacteria with AI

Human wellbeing on a finite planet towards 2100: new study shows humanity at a crossroads

Unlocking the hidden biodiversity of Europe’s villages

Planned hydrogen refuelling stations may lead to millions of euros in yearly losses

Planned C-sections increase the risk of certain childhood cancers

Adults who have survived childhood cancer are at increased risk of severe COVID-19

Drones reveal extreme coral mortality after bleaching

New genetic finding uncovers hidden cause of arsenic resistance in acute promyelocytic leukemia

Native habitats hold the key to the much-loved smashed avocado’s future

Using lightning to make ammonia out of thin air

Machine learning potential-driven insights into pH-dependent CO₂ reduction

Physician associates provide safe care for diagnosed patients when directly supervised by a doctor

How game-play with robots can bring out their human side

Asthma: patient expectations influence the course of the disease

UNM physician tests drug that causes nerve tissue to emit light, enabling faster, safer surgery

New study identifies EMP1 as a key driver of pancreatic cancer progression and poor prognosis

XPR1 identified as a key regulator of ovarian cancer growth through autophagy and immune evasion

Flexible, eco-friendly electronic plastic for wearable tech, sensors

Can the Large Hadron Collider snap string theory?

Stuckeman professor’s new book explores ‘socially sustainable’ architecture

Synthetic DNA nanoparticles for gene therapy

New model to find treatments for an aggressive blood cancer

Special issue of Journal of Intensive Medicine analyzes non-invasive respiratory support

T cells take aim at Chikungunya virus

[Press-News.org] Salk scientist Jesse Dixon named 2024 Pew Biomedical Scholar