Ernesto Bongarzone
Email Address: ebongarz@uic.eduCollege: Medicine Department: Anatomy and Cell Biology
Title: Professor
Office: COMRB 7035 Phone: 53810
Participating in the Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Awards program: Yes
Research Interest:
Our lab has a long-standing interest in the neurobiology of myelination. Myelin is the sheath of apposed membranes that wraps and electrically insulates axons of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Numerous conditions including multiple sclerosis, genetic leukodystrophies, neurodegenerative pathologies, aging and intoxications increase myelin vulnerability, leading to disease, which remains largely incurable. The long-term goal of my research program is to translate pathogenic mechanisms of disease into rationalized therapies to cure demyelination. In particular, my laboratory is interested on:
1) Synergic therapies for genetic leukodystrophies. Demyelinating lysosomal storage orphan diseases are currently very difficult to treat. Early therapeutic studies performed on mouse models indicated the relevance that the disease phenotype exerts on the outcome of a therapy. We use mutant mice with neurological phenotypes resembling human leukodystrophies to test combinatorial cell, gene and small molecule-based therapies
2) Cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating remyelination in disease. The demonstration of de novo generation of neural cells (neurogliogenesis) in the adult brain and the presence of adult oligodendrocyte progenitors throughout the CNS provide a unique possibility to study the in vivo behavior and responses of these cells to disease and to identify molecular targets for therapy. Minimum time commitment in hours per week: 12 Qualifications of a Student:
1) Two volunteer undergraduate research assistant positions are open to freshman-early sophomores with orientation in neuroscience with GPA>3.8.
2) We will consider serious candidates dedicating >12 hours/week during the normal classes in the semester and >12 hours/week for 2-2.5 months in the summer.
3) If accepted, a commitment to work in the lab for at least two of years is required.
4) Candidates must have good grade standing, with good-to-very good knowledge of stoichiometry, general chemistry/organic chemistry and basics of biology, genetics, and/or cell biology.
5) Candidates should demonstrate commitment and seriousness to lab time and work, passion to learn multi-pronged set of neuroscience methods, and responsibility to working as part of a team. Brief Summary of what is expected from the student:
1) Candidates can expect a highly interactive lab environment.
2) Students will work under the supervision of senior researchers. Students are expected to learn, understand and follow protocols and techniques with precision, developing multi-tasking and problem solving skills and in time, becoming independent.
3) Real time communication is expected at all times regarding time-off, exams, vacations, etc.
4) Lab time is expected to be devoted to lab activities only.
5) Candidate students will undertake a training period (3-6 months), after which and -if successfully completed-, students will be invited to move to work under the supervision of 1-2 senior researchers.
5) Capstone projects can be discussed and expected as one product from this experience once incorporated to a project. Students can expect to present their results during lab meetings and UIC-related symposia
6) Once part of a project, -if their work becomes a substantial contribution to a manuscript-, students can expect being part of the authorship in peer-review publications as one product from this experience.
7) Positions are not paid (aka, are volunteer) but students are encouraged to present to CURA, Lasuri or any other undergraduate fellowship.
8) Students can expect to get research credit hours for their work (e.g., PSCH 399; BIOS399).
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