Pathology Presents: The Critical Importance of microRNA Localization in Human Disease Studies

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Speaker

Marc K. Halushka, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Pathology
Division of Cardiovascular Pathology
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Faculty Sponsor

Chuck Murry, MD, PhD


Date & Time

January 13, 2016 at 4:30pm - 5:30pm

Location

Health Sciences Building, T-739


Description

Why Attend?

The Critical Importance of microRNA Localization in Human Disease Studies

microRNAs are cool. Really cool. Consequently, lots of investigators have jumped onto the microRNA bandwagon and have evaluated microRNAs for a variety of roles. microRNAs, small regulatory RNAs, are believed to play critical roles in neoplasia and disease. Additionally, because microRNAs are stable in blood and other fluids, they have been proposed as biomarkers for a range of maladies. Hundreds of studies have described dysregulation of microRNAs across a variety of diseases and have implicated microRNAs as useful blood-based biomarkers in neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions. Despite all of the research into these areas, there has been little effort invested in figuring out which microRNAs are expressed in certain cell types. This lecture is going to highlight work by the Halushka laboratory toward determining microRNA localization. Most importantly, it will show you why microRNA localization matters and how a lack of understanding regarding microRNA localization is becoming a major impediment to scientific inquiry.