Marc Tessier-Lavigne, Ph.D., will step down from his position as president of The Rockefeller University September 1, 2016, to become the 11th president of Stanford University, it was announced today. More »
Rockefeller University president Tessier-Lavigne chosen to lead Stanford University
Tags: Marc Tessier-Lavigne
A newly discovered form of immunity helps explain how bacteria fight off viruses
Scientists have discovered an immune-defense mechanism in bacteria that allows these microorganisms to respond to viral infections with remarkable precision. Their findings could have implications for the development of new therapies against infectious diseases. More »
Study reveals how herpes virus tricks the immune system
Scientists have captured atomic images of the virus that causes cold sores in action. Structural details reveal that the virus inserts itself into another protein, jamming an important immune system pathway that normally allows immune cells to recognize and destroy foreign invaders. More »
Jean-Laurent Casanova honored with the Korsmeyer Award
Jean-Laurent Casanova is the recipient of the 2016 Stanley J. Korsmeyer Award. The award recognizes Casanova for discovering that vulnerability to life-threatening infectious illnesses in otherwise healthy children and young adults can arise from single-gene inborn errors. More »
Lewis Thomas Prize to be awarded to Sean B. Carroll
Evolutionary biologist and author Sean B. Carroll to receive Rockefeller University’s science writing prize. The award recognizes Carroll’s body of work, including his 2013 book Brave Genius: A Scientist, A Philosopher and their Daring Adventures from the French Resistance to the Nobel Prize. More »
The neurons in our gut help the immune system keep inflammation in check
The immune system must protect against potential infections, but over-vigilant reactions can cause problems. New research from Rockefeller shows that neurons in the intestine send signals to immune cells to curb inflammation. More »
New findings challenge popular explanation for why a social insect becomes a worker or queen
Many scientists have come to believe that DNA methylation, a mode of genetic regulation in which chemical tags turn genes on or off, is involved in determining an insect’s caste. However, a new study of ants finds no evidence to support this role for methylation. More »
Winrich Freiwald, who studies facial processing, is promoted to associate professor
A leading neuroscientist in his field, Freiwald investigates how a specialized system of brain areas responds to the sight of a face. His work has implications for understanding the biology of social interaction and human cognition. More »
Study identifies signals that make early stem cells
Where and when do stem cells first appear during development? Researchers investigated this question by examining how cells organize as the hair follicle first appears in mouse embryos. They uncovered signaling pathways that may provide insights into some skin cancers. More »
Researchers develop gene-filtering tool to identify disease-causing mutations
Genes that are frequently mutated in the general population are unlikely to cause disease, because variations of these genes are often found in healthy people. A new tool from researchers at Rockefeller uses this concept to help scientists identify the mutations in genes that matter. More »
Newly discovered windows of brain plasticity may help with treatment of stress-related disorders
Even under repeated stress, the brain maintains the potential to adapt and recover. Researchers have shown how changes in gene expression cause these transitory opportunities to open up. Their results suggest well-timed treatment could change the trajectory of a brain suffering from depression or other disorder. More »
Study links epigenetic processes to the development of the cerebellar circuitry
Researchers have, for the first time, described the pivotal changes responsible for controlling the formation of the part of the brain that allows us to learn and execute complex movements. These changes involve modifications to chromatin, which is DNA packaged with protein. More »
Experiments explain the events behind molecular ‘bomb’ seen in cancer cells
Sometimes, in cancer cells, a part of a chromosome looks like it has been pulverized, then put back together incorrectly, leading to multiple mutations. New research from The Rockefeller University describes the cellular events leading to this molecular explosion, which serves as a precursor to cancer. More »
New research explores how the fly brain reroutes odor information to produce flexible behavior
Taking advantage of the simple architecture of the fruit fly brain, scientists examined how the molecule dopamine acts like an operator at a switchboard, changing the flow of information. Their work helps explain why the same stimulus can lead to different responses, and quite likely has parallels in the human brain. More »
Widespread skewed expression of mRNA components correlate with fine tuning of protein production
In numerous tissues and genes, the researchers found lopsided ratios in two parts of mRNA transcripts of genes, one of which carries the code for a protein and one that doesn’t. They suspect some of these skewed ratios may help control protein production, particularly in the embryo, but also in the adult. More »
Luciano Marraffini receives the Hans Sigrist Prize for work on antibiotic resistance
This award, bestowed by the University of Bern, honors Marraffini for his work developing a new approach to fight antibiotic resistance. Marraffini studies CRISPR-Cas systems, which enable some bacteria to acquire immunity against viruses, and is investigating ways to use them to fight off microbial pathogens. More »
Mosquitoes are tuned to seek out temperatures that match warm-blooded hosts
Researchers have described a process that allows the insects to distinguish between temperatures with high precision to find their prey. Studies like this one may help generate better repellents, traps, and other ways to control mosquitoes. More »
Groundbreaking ceremony marks start of construction on East River seawall repairs
The university has started to refurbish the damaged seawall that supports the East River Esplanade between 63rd and 68th Streets as part of the campus extension project. The esplanade will also be improved, with a new bike lane, landscaping, and a noise barrier along the FDR Drive. More »
Researchers discover new aspect of gene regulation and a possible target for cancer drugs
The expression of about three-quarters of a cell’s active genes is controlled by a process in which the DNA-transcribing enzyme hesitates before going to work. Experiments have identified the complex of proteins that helps restart this enzyme when it stalls, and so helped to explain how some promising cancer drugs work. More »
Study suggests new way to help the immune system fight off sleeping sickness parasite
There are currently few treatments for the disease, and those that exist have substantial side effects. A new study reveals a method, involving epigenetic mechanisms, that causes the African sleeping sickness parasite to change into a new state, potentially making it easier for the host immune system to eliminate it. More »
