Aaron Whiteley

ASM Award for Early Career Basic Research: Aaron Whiteley, Ph.D., ��«��Ƶ

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 15:45:43 +0000

ASM Award for Early Career Basic Research: Aaron Whiteley, Ph.D., ��«��Ƶ Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 09/29/2023 - 09:45

CU ��«��Ƶ researcher Aaron Whiteley is recognized by the American Society for Microbiology for his work exploring bacterial immune responses and how it translates to the human immune system

A ��«��Ƶ researcher has been recognized with the 2024 American Society for Microbiology Award for Early Career Basic Research for his work exploring how bacterial immune systems recognize and respond to phage infection.

Aaron Whiteley, an assistant professor of biochemistry, was honored for his research finding that bacterial and human immune systems are highly related and share a common ancestor. He and his research colleagues in the Whiteley Lab study what bacterial immune response can indicate about host-pathogen interactions and the mechanisms of signaling in human cells.

By focusing on specific signaling pathways in bacteria and human cells, particularly the cGAS-STING pathway, Whiteley hopes to better understand the role they play in resistance to infectious disease and cancer. Better understanding can inform better, more-targeted therapeutics. Click for the full feature - "Studying the surprising similarities between humans and bacteria" - in the Arts and Sciences Magazine.

The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) announced the recipients of its 2024 Awards and Prize Program. The awards recognize leading scientists and researchers in the field for their professional accomplishments and contributions to research, education, clinical laboratories, service and scientific diversity.

Aaron Whiteley was awarded an ASM Award for Early Career Basic Research. More information on the ASM website.

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CU ��«��Ƶ Biochemistry Professor Aaron Whiteley named a Pew Scholar

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 06:00:00 +0000

CU ��«��Ƶ Biochemistry Professor Aaron Whiteley named a Pew Scholar Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 06/13/2023 - 00:00

The biochemistry assistant professor is investigating how inflammatory proteins called NLRs establish the first line of defense against viral infection in bacteria and humans

Aaron Whiteley, an assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the ��«��Ƶ, has been selected to join the Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences, the Pew Charitable Trusts announced today.

“I am truly thrilled to be named a Pew Scholar,” said Whiteley. “Support from this grant will help my lab pursue high-risk/high-reward research on how the immune system recognizes pathogens. I hope one day our findings can inform design of the next generation of vaccines and antiviral treatments.”

Aaron Whiteley, an assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry at CU ��«��Ƶ, was recently selected to join the Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences. Whiteley’s recent research has identified unexpected similarities between how bacteria and human cells fight off viruses.

This award follows a recent publication from the Whiteley lab in the journal Cell that identified unexpected similarities between how bacteria and human cells fight off viruses. The article reveals that a part of the human immune system, called “NLRs,” actually originated from bacteria.

“Like studying a fossil, understanding bacterial ancestors of our NLRs will help us understand the human immune systems,” Whiteley said.

He added, “One of the most impactful aspects of being a Biomedical Scholar is connection to the fantastic network of Pew-supported scientists from across the country. This award is career milestone—I am grateful for the recognition and opportunity.”

Whiteley is one of 22 early career scientists who will receive four years of funding to spearhead innovative studies exploring human health and medicine. "This award is career milestone—I am grateful for the recognition and opportunity.”

The 2023 class—all early career, junior faculty—joins a rich legacy of more than 1,000 scientists who have received awards from Pew since 1985. Current scholars have opportunities to meet annually with fellow Pew-funded scientists to exchange ideas and forge connections across a wide variety of disciplines.

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Aaron Whiteley among three CU scientists to win support for high-risk, high-reward research

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 13:49:57 +0000

Aaron Whiteley among three CU scientists to win support for high-risk, high-reward research Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 10/04/2022 - 07:49

Whiteley, assistant professor of biochemistry, has won a NIH Director's New Innovator Award, which is reserved for “exceptionally creative early career scientists proposing innovative, high-impact projects.” It is a $1.5 million, five-year grant.

Whiteley’s research aims to shed light on why variations in bacteria in the gut microbiome correspond to variations in cancer patients’ responsiveness to immunotherapy. The mechanism is not well understood.

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Biochemistry Assistant Professor Aaron Whiteley wins prestigious Boettcher award

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 19:36:36 +0000

Biochemistry Assistant Professor Aaron Whiteley wins prestigious Boettcher award Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 07/05/2022 - 13:36

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Postdoctoral fellow Uday Tak awarded 2021 CRI Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 18:15:03 +0000

Postdoctoral fellow Uday Tak awarded 2021 CRI Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 10/28/2021 - 12:15

Dr. Uday Tak, a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Aaron Whiteley’s lab in the Biochemistry Department,
is the newest recipient of the 2021 Cancer Research Institute: Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship. This award was
established to provide support and training for young scientists performing cutting-edge research with
applications in cancer immunotherapy and tumor immunology. Founded in 1953, the Cancer Research
Institute was established with the goal of eradicating cancer and has played a key role in many ground-
breaking discoveries and advances in the field of cancer immunology. Previous awardees of this
fellowship include CU Biochemistry's Dr. Alexandra Whiteley.

Prior to joining CU ��«��Ƶ, Dr. Tak performed his doctoral research at the University of
Alabama Birmingham (UAB) in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Niederweis. There he characterized the
enzymology and secretion mechanism of the tuberculosis necrotizing toxin (TNT), which allows
Mycobacterium tuberculosis to kill macrophages. Dr. Tak's work revealed a novel mechanism of toxin
secretion relying on the formation of membranes pores by Esx/WXG100 proteins, whose biological
functions were a mystery for almost 20 years. This work was a major advancement in the field of
bacterial protein secretion and has implications for the functions of Esx proteins which are important for
the virulence of mycobacteria and gram-positive pathogens. His publication of these findings was highlighted as an
editor’s choice in Nature Communications Focus on “Microbiology and Infectious Disease”.

Fueled by a passion to continue studying enzymes involved in physiology and disease, Dr. Tak
joined the laboratory of Dr. Aaron Whiteley at CU ��«��Ƶ. The Whiteley lab focuses on the evolution
and function of the cGAS-STING pathway which is crucial for antiviral and anticancer immunity. Dr. Tak is
specifically interested in the primordial functions of the prokaryotic homologues which may generate
new hypotheses on the function of their eukaryotic counterparts. These findings have the potential to
generate new biological tools and concepts to guide STING-directed immunotherapies. As a CRI
Irvington Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Tak plans to use biochemistry, structural biology, and protein
engineering to accomplish these goals.

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Postdoctoral fellow Hannah Ledvina recipient of 2021 Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Postdoctoral Fellowship

Anonymous — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 20:47:14 +0000

Postdoctoral fellow Hannah Ledvina recipient of 2021 Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Postdoctoral Fellowship Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 06/04/2021 - 14:47

Dr. Hannah E. Ledvina, a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Aaron Whiteley’s lab in the Biochemistry Department, is a recipient of the 2021 Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Postdoctoral Fellowship. This prestigious award was first established in 1937 and aims to support cutting edge medical research at the early career level. Each year 25-30 applicants selected “from among the best young scientist” are awarded three years of funding in a rigorous, highly informed selection process conducted by the Jane Coffin Childs (JCC) Board of Scientific Advisors.

The JCC Memorial fund “has taken a broad approach to the study of cell growth and development, emphasizing the study of the basic biology and chemistry of the underlying processes.” Previous awardees include CUs own Dr. Edward Chuong (BioFrontiers and MCDB), Dr. Robert Batey (Biochemistry), and Dr. Aaron Whiteley (Biochemistry).

Prior to joining CU ��«��Ƶ, Dr. Ledvina did her PhD research at the University of Washington in the lab of Dr. Joseph Mougous. There, she characterized a novel family of enzymes encoded by bacteria that can manipulate host cell membranes and promote bacterial growth. Additionally, her work revealed a previously unrecognized mechanism utilized by the pathogen Francisella tularensis during infection to obtain essential nutrients from the host. In recognition of her contributions to the field of bacterial pathogenesis, Dr. Ledvina was awarded the Helen R. Whiteley Dissertation Award.

Motivated by the desire to continue studying the molecular mechanisms underlying host-pathogen interactions, Dr. Ledvina joined the lab of Dr. Whiteley here at CU ��«��Ƶ. Research in the Whiteley lab is focused on understanding the fundamental aspects of immune signaling and pathogenesis. Specifically, Dr. Ledvina is interested in the antagonist interplay between viruses and their host with the goal of uncovering novel antiviral therapeutic approaches.

Dr. Ledvina’s work funded by the JCC is focused on studying bacterial innate immune systems that defend against the viruses that invade bacteria, phages. Numerous facets of these pathways remain unknown, as do the mechanisms utilized by phages to evade immune detection. Dr. Ledvina plans to combine genetics, biochemistry, and microbiology to uncover to molecular mechanisms underlying these systems. Excitingly, bacterial immune systems are the progenitor to certain human innate immune pathways known to defend against viruses and cancer; therefore, findings from this work have the potential to be directly applicable to human health.

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Aaron Whiteley

ASM Award for Early Career Basic Research: Aaron Whiteley, Ph.D., ��«����Ƶ

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CU ��«����Ƶ Biochemistry Professor Aaron Whiteley named a Pew Scholar

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Aaron Whiteley among three CU scientists to win support for high-risk, high-reward research

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Biochemistry Assistant Professor Aaron Whiteley wins prestigious Boettcher award

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Postdoctoral fellow Uday Tak awarded 2021 CRI Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship

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Postdoctoral fellow Hannah Ledvina recipient of 2021 Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Postdoctoral Fellowship

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ASM Award for Early Career Basic Research: Aaron Whiteley, Ph.D., ��«��Ƶ

CU ��«��Ƶ Biochemistry Professor Aaron Whiteley named a Pew Scholar