image: This is Linzhao Cheng, Ph.D. view more
Credit: Johns Hopkins Medicine
Three Johns Hopkins researchers have been elected by their peers as fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine's Linzhao Cheng, Ph.D., of the Department of Hematology; Svetlana Lutsenko, Ph.D., of the Department of Physiology; and Duojia Pan, Ph.D., of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics are among 701 new fellows from around the world. AAAS fellows are honored for their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications.
The names of the awardees were published in the "AAAS News and Notes" section of Science on Nov. 30. The newly elected fellows will be awarded a certificate and a rosette pin during the AAAS Fellows Forum at the 2013 AAAS annual meeting in Boston on Saturday, Feb. 16.
Linzhao Cheng is the Edythe Harris Lucas and Clara Lucas Lynn Chair in Hematology and the associate director for basic research in hematology. He was elected for distinguished contributions to the field of stem cell research, particularly using human stem cells for gene targeting and developing new disease models and treatment. His research team works on human stem cell biology and engineering, and applications in regenerative medicine for curing blood diseases. His team's current focus is on using human pluripotent stem cells, such as iPS cells from healthy donors and patients, to investigate human stem cell biology and diseases.
Svetlana Lutsenko, a professor in the Department of Physiology, was elected for distinguished contributions to the field of metals in biology with respect to elucidating the mechanisms of copper transport in health and human disease. Her laboratory's research focuses on molecular mechanisms that regulate copper concentration in normal and diseased human cells, with the aim of better understanding copper transport-related disorders such as Menkes disease and Wilson's disease.
Professor Duojia "DJ" Pan of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics was elected for studies of molecular mechanisms controlling organ size, particularly his discovery of the Hippo signaling pathway and its roles in normal and cancerous growth. His research group showed that the Hippo pathway is required to stop organ growth, and that it does so by simultaneously promoting cell death and restricting cell division. The group is working to identify additional components of the Hippo pathway, including the elusive signal that triggers its activation.
Related Stories:
Linzhao Cheng on why research in academia trumps industry: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/institute_cell_engineering/experts/meet_scientists/linzhao_cheng.html
Svetlana Lutsenko on the importance of copper metabolism: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/institute_basic_biomedical_sciences/about_us/scientists/svetlana_lutsenko.html
DJ Pan on Hippo and Cancer: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/institute_basic_biomedical_sciences/about_us/scientists/dj_pan.html