Graduate Seminar Series: Molecular Stream – Tahmid Hussain

Graduate Seminar Series: Molecular Stream
Graduate Seminar Series for the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME). This day is for molecular stream presenters.
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Presentation Title: Towards reconstructing the Human Olfactory System in-vitro
Abstract: G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) form a large group of cell surface receptors that is involved with the majority of physiological responses to a variety of molecules, both biological and synthetic. As a result, the function and response of GPCRs is a major target for drug development research and studies of intercellular signalling mechanisms. Almost 50% of drugs present in the market target GPCRs. Another fascinating aspect of GPCRs is that the human genome encodes for more than 800 different GPCRs and almost half of them are olfactory receptors. However, the expression of olfactory receptors (ORs) in other non-olfactory cells like the kidneys and heart leads to the theory that olfactory receptors may have other physiological functions beyond olfaction. However, due to the nature of ORs, their sheer number and current receptor observation methods, the identification of receptors and linking them to a particular molecule is a daunting task. In fact, presently, only a small fraction of olfactory GPCRs have been linked to a particular ligand. The goal of the research project is to create a microfluidic platform that can act as a bioelectronic nose which can simulate the sense of smell as faithfully as it exists in nature. The platform will utilize heterologous expression of olfactory GPCRs on HEK-293 cells detect real-time activation of GPCRs in a manner that allows for rapid, reliable, and repeatable measurements using the same cell culture.
Supervisor Name: Michael Garton
Year of Study: 4
Program of Study: PhD
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89610372821?pwd=azd4SCtYVWtreVovaGNPV1c2NGY2Zz09
Meeting ID: 896 1037 2821
Password: 483329
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