Stephanie van de Wall, Ph.D. was the lead author of the study. Co-authors include Scott Anthony, Lisa Hancox and Lecia Epping from the Harty lab, Vladimir P. Badovinac Ph.D., also from U. Iowa Pathology as well as Ryan Langlois (U. Minnesota) and Dietmar Zehn (Technical University of Munich). The work was supported by grants from the NIH to VPB and JTH.

Nastaran Daneshgar successfully defended her doctoral thesis in early June and graduated from the Experimental Pathology Ph.D. Program. Her thesis, Klotho-Sirt1-CHK2 Pathways in the Regulation of Cardiac Function in Aging and Post-Myocardial Injury, focuses on aging and cardiac function, offering promising insights into potential therapeutic interventions for age-related cardiac diseases. She conducted her thesis work in the laboratories of Dr. Dao-Fu Dai and Dr. Chad Grueter, utilizing a combination of human tissue, mouse models, and human-derived stem cell models.

Dr. Harty received a new five-year grant from the NIH entitled “Mechanisms of compromised CD8 T cell responses to vaccination in malaria experienced hosts.” The award totals $3,442,760, the project started June 24, 2024 and concludes April 30, 2029.

Cancer researcher Steven Offer, PhD investigates the genetic factors that increase the risk of a toxic reaction to the cancer drug Fluorouracil (5-FU). 5-FU, used since the 1970s to treat many cancers including colorectal, stomach, breast and cervical cancer, can be toxic to certain patients. While many cancer drugs can be toxic, what sets 5-FU apart is that severe illness and death is largely preventable.

Dr. Marco Hefti received a five-year NIH R01 award entitled “A non-canonical role for tau in early human brain development” from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The award totals $561,007 and the project starts May 1, 2024 and concludes February 28, 2029.