The Rockefeller University has surpassed its NYC Carbon Challenge target, achieving a 41.27% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—far ahead of the 2030 deadline. This milestone highlights the university’s commitment to sustainability and its role as a leader among academic institutions. “This achievement is more than a number—it’s a testament to our community’s collective determination and the impact of forward-thinking strategies,” said Alex Kogan, associate vice president of Plant Operations & Housing and co-chair of the Sustainability Committee. Amy Wilkerson, associate vice president of Research Support and co-chair of the committee, added, “Our progress demonstrates the impact of our commitment to environmental stewardship and sets a high standard for others to follow.”
Neurons may get all the glory, but they would be nothing without glial cells. While brain cells do the heavy lifting in the nervous system, it’s the glia that provide nutrients, clean up waste, and protect neurons from harm. Now, scientists in the Shaham lab have discovered a new mechanism by which these crucial supporting players detect and respond to neuron damage. Published in Nature Communications, the study describes how two key proteins allow glial cells to actively monitor the hair-like cilia that extend out of nematode dendrites, so that the glial cells can respond to injuries and prevent damage. The findings may have implications for treating diseases caused by defective cilia, such as polycystic kidney disease. “Fleshing out the pathway by which glia interact with dendrites was our major goal,” says Shai Shaham, head of the Laboratory of Developmental Genetics at Rockefeller. “An important next question is whether one could manipulate these cells to address diseases related to cilia.”
A study from the Victora and Mucida labs reveals how immune cells in the gut distinguish between food and harmful pathogens, shedding light on the origins of both food allergies and intestinal diseases. “The big question is, how do we survive eating?” says lead author Maria C.C. Canesso, a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratories of Mucida and Victora. “Why do our bodies normally tolerate food, and what goes wrong when we develop food allergies?” Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4hyS18b
Join The Peggy Rockefeller Concerts on Feb 5 for a night with the SPA Trio, featuring soprano Susanna Phillips, violist Paul Neubauer, and pianist Anne-Marie McDermott. Discounted tickets are available for students & post-docs! Reserve your seat today:
New findings from Sohail Tavazoie's lab challenge conventional cancer paradigms, suggesting that a predisposition to metastasis may in fact be inherited rather than being rooted in the tumor itself. In this Q&A we ask them: Is metastasis a hereditary disorder?
A new study from Sohail Tavazoie's lab provides the first evidence of genetic predisposition to breast cancer metastasis, with far-reaching clinical implications—including a potential therapy that could prevent it. #RockefellerScience
