Students researchers find award “encouraging”
Deep in the labs of the Cristol Chemistry building, CU Professor Hubert Yin’s hard work is paying off.
Yin recently became the first CU recipient of the Kimmel Scholar Award, a $200,000 award that will help to fund research for Yin and his team of student researchers.
Yin studies the interface of chemistry and biology for breakthrough research involving cancer treatment and prevention, which earned him the prestigious award.
Specifically, Yin has made progress on developing probes that will allow scientists to study the delicate cell membrane proteins that regulate many biological processes within cells. A lack of probes to study these membranes has left many unanswered questions.
“We don’t have a lot of probes to study membranes,” Yin said. “Most of our body is made of water, but the cell membrane is the exception. It is a chunk of grease in our body of water.”
Before Yin’s breakthrough, few scientists had looked into the system of researching probes.
The Sidney Kimmel Foundation for Cancer Research Web site lists a few previous recipients of the award. Many have been from highly esteemed universities including Stanford, Vanderbilt, Johns Hopkins, Duke and Purdue.
Yin is a recent addition to CU’s chemistry and biochemistry departments, having started in 2007. Most recipients are fourth or fifth year professors at their respected universities, however, Yin has only been a member of CU faculty since last July.
“A lot of the recipients are from big schools, so it’s good for notoriety,” Yin said.
Yin and his researchers use their computer expertise to test cellular membrane probes. The team then combines the research with their knowledge of chemistry and biology for progress toward finding a successful way to use membrane probes in the fight against cancer.
The successful development of a probe could also lead to pain reducing drug development.
Junior biochemistry major Madison Buchanan has been working with Yin on designing a molecule like a drug that will inhibit receptors on the cell that stimulate pain.
“They are all interrelated because the drug discovery targets a protein that is on the membrane of the cell,” she said.
The team uses computers to help design peptide agents to go into the cell membrane and disrupt the development of a protein that regulates the development of lymphomas.
The production of malignant lymphomas causes cancer.
Peter Slivka is a graduate student pursuing a Ph.D. in bioorganic chemistry. Slivka is also a member of Yin’s research team.
“Pharmaceutical companies have researched outside of the cellular membrane, but Yin’s research targets the area inside the membrane,” he said.
According to Yin’s research, the results will help lead to discoveries about the Epstein-Barr Virus, a virus that is common in nearly 90 percent of the world population.
“If we are successful, we can provide prevention and treatment for cancer,” Yin said.
Yin’s team of researchers includes seven undergraduate students from sophomores to seniors along with graduate students working from MCD biology.
“It is a fantastic group,” Yin said.
Receiving the Kimmel Scholar Award has also been very encouraging to the students working alongside Yin.
“The biggest thing right now is that it is so encouraging,” Buchanan said. “We’re a young lab and it’s encouraging to be working with a professor who is like me, new to the university.”
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Brittany Sovine at Brittany.sovine@colorado.edu.
