Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Tulane School of Medicine

01/30/2024

Tulane receives $1.6 million to develop nanoscale drug delivery.

11/28/2023

https://www.genengnews.com/topics/cancer/lung-cancer-may-be-halted-by-tumor-suppressor-protein/?MailingID=%DEPLOYMENTID%25&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_source=GEN+Daily+News+Highlights&utm_content=01&utm_campaign=GEN+Daily+News+Highlights_20231128&oly_enc_id=8010C3692790H2R

RBM10 can inhibit lung cancer growth by suppressing the function of c-Myc, a protein that drives cancer cell growth when overexpressed.

07/25/2023

Our congratulations to 2021 Masters Biochemistry graduate, Hunter Sikaffy, on his admission and matriculation to LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine! Since graduating from the masters program, Hunter has had various experiences both professional and volunteer. He has worked in the emergency department at Ochsner Hospital main campus as well as for a company using drones to deliver blood products throughout Subsaharan Africa. Hunter also spent time doing research with the LSU Department of Orthopedics. While in the program and after, he discovered meaningful volunteer opportunities both at Covenant House and Odyssey house. In his spare time, he enjoys going fishing with his dad in Cocodrie and Grand Isle as well as traveling when he can with his friends and family. Hunter has worked so hard and exemplified the meaning of the word "determination." Congratulations Hunter! We are so proud of you!

07/11/2023

The Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology is proud to announce that 2022 Masters graduate, Drew Argrave will attend Tulane School of Medicine this Fall! While achieving the highest standard of academics in the program, Drew also volunteered at Tulane Medical Center assisting with patient care. Drew also started doing research in Dr. Tony Hu's lab during the program, where he worked on a project pertaining to on-chip IGRA tests for patients with tuberculosis. After graduation, Drew joined Dr. Hu's lab full-time as a lab technician where he continued working on the previous project where he received a publication as a secondary author. Drew has also been spending his spare time getting back into reading, exercising, and exploring New Orleans restaurants with his friends from the masters program and future medical school classmates. Congratulations Drew!

07/07/2023

The Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology is proud to announce that 2022 Masters graduate, Cameron Myers will attend Tulane School of Medicine this Fall! After receiving her Master's degree from Tulane, Cameron went on to research organ-on-chip technology for AxoSim, Inc in New Orleans. Cameron was a tenacious and determined student while with us. She made many friends in the program and never stopped working to achieve. Congratulations Cameron! We will see you back here very soon!

07/06/2023

We wish to congratulate 2022 Masters graduate Alex Lafferty on his matriculating at Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine (CUSOM) this Fall! After graduating from the program last May, Alex accepted a position in a chemistry laboratory at a pharmaceutical manufacturer in Bloomington, Indiana. While hard at work this application cycle, Alex had the opportunity to spend the year with his fiancée, a student the Indiana University School of Optometry, while working full time in the field of science. Alex wanted to say about his experience in the program: "With the help of Kelly, Dr. Franklin, Dr. Han, Dr. Lustig, and the rest of the outstanding faculty I had the opportunity to learn from during my time in New Orleans I was accepted to all the schools I interviewed with!" Congratulations Alex! We are so proud of you!

06/16/2023

We would like to congratulate 2023 Masters graduate, Priya Yelemali on her admission and intent to attend Meharry Medical College this Fall! Priya has been a whirlwind of activity this year both inside and outside of the classroom. While successfully completing our Masters program here in New Orleans, Priya was also involved at the Tulane Cancer Center and Tulane Medical Center as a scribe for oncologists and a GI physician, respectively. Priya also served as the President for an organization known as SPICMACAY (The Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music And Culture Amongst Youth) at Tulane, where she organized a world class music concert and performed a piece. When not studying, Priya also spent her time shadowing several amazing physicians including an anesthesiologist and a cardiologist. She also volunteered at the Louisiana Children’s Museum and spent time with children there. Priya tells us, "I thoroughly loved my experience in New Orleans, made some lifelong friends, and built a supportive community. The support and camaraderie from my friends at Tulane is something I am forever grateful for and cherish!" Congratulations Priya!

06/12/2023

Congratulations to our own Dr. David Franklin for Winning the Owl Club Award for T1 Best CBL/TBL Facilitator and getting the highest average review scores for all T1 Lecturers this year! Dr. Franklin has been honored many times by the Owl Club for his excellence in teaching first year Medical Biochemistry. The Biochemistry & Molecular Biology department is proud to have him as a prominent member of the Faculty.

06/09/2023

We wish to congratulate 2022 Masters graduate, Chad Hall, on his acceptance to Tulane School of Medicine for this coming Fall! We also would like to congratulate him on a receiving a substantial academic scholarship for his medical school education. Since graduating the Biochemistry program, Chad has been working full time as a clinical research coordinator at the Oschner Sports Medicine Institute. Thanks to his PI and research team, he has managed to submit several manuscripts for publication this year. While a student in the program, Chad was able to get involved with the New Orleans Medical Relief Corps and New Orleans EMS as a volunteer EMT. Chad says his favorite experience was working in the medical first-aid tents during Mardi Gras and said it was a wonderful way to enjoy the parades while also helping. Congratulations Chad! Well done and good luck next year!

06/08/2023

The Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology would like to congratulate 2023 Masters graduate, Jonathan Vainer, on his acceptance and intention of attending Medical College of Georgia this coming Fall! Jonathan has been an outstanding student in our program achieving the highest level of excellence with us. Jonathan had this to say about his experience in our program: "The past year in New Orleans was truly an incredible experience. I love the city, from its people to its culture to its food. I made lifelong friends both in and out of the classroom and enjoyed hanging out with them on the weekends. I really enjoyed hearing about different pertinent health topics in Grand Rounds. Outside of the Masters, I volunteered at the Children’s Hospital of New Orleans in their dialysis unit. I really enjoyed passing the time with the kids by playing board games or fiddling with play dough and in the meantime getting to know their backgrounds. I also joined (fellow student) William Casey in coaching a little league baseball team in the spring." We are so pleased our students all had an amazing time this year and are so excited for Jonathan's next step in his journey. We expect great things from you Jonathan!

06/06/2023

The Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology is pleased to announce that 2022 Masters graduate, Tessa Vanooteghem, will be attending Tulane School of Medicine this Fall! Tessa was a strong, persistent, resilient, and accomplished student while in our program. Since her completion of the masters program, Tessa has been working in New Orleans clinics as a scribe and medical assistant. Along with preparing for medical school next year, Tessa has recently welcomed a new addition to her family, her newborn son Asher. Congratulations to Tessa and her family on both her medical school acceptance and on their new baby! We look forward to seeing you next year!

06/05/2023

We are pleased to announce that 2022 Masters graduate of the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Tahemina Munir, will be attending Tulane School of Medicine for her MD/MPH this coming Fall! While in the Masters program, Tahemina volunteered at both Tulane Medical Center and the New Orleans Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) as part of their Mental Healthcare Navigation Team. She also continued working remotely on a research project from her prior term of AmeriCorps service at the San Francisco Department of Public Health examining the effectiveness of a text message outreach campaign for COVID-19 vaccinations.
After graduating from the program, she returned to the San Francisco Bay Area where she has been working at an outpatient psychiatric clinic as a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation/Esketamine Technician treating individuals with treatment-resistant depression and anxiety. She also been volunteering as a Meal Prep Volunteer with the nonprofit organization Project Open Hand providing medically tailored meals to the elderly and individuals with various chronic medical conditions. Tahemina is passionate about public health and mental health and hopes to eventually pursue a specialty in psychiatry. Congratulations Tahemina!