The nine lives of a gene
Hugo A. Barrera-Saldaña
Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (Monterrey, México) & Laboratorios Columbia SA (Ciudad de México y Houston, Texas)
Theatre room, CiMUS
About
After isolating and sequencing the human growth hormone (HGH) gene family, we elucidated their differential expression patterns and investigated their remarkable evolution in primates. Our work on HGH deficiency led to the development of the first companion diagnostic test, as well as to recombinant production of the hormone in yeast. To target tumors that overexpress HGH, we subsequently engineered a selectively replicating oncolytic virus. Most recently, we have devised a strategy to reprogram endogenous hormones synthesis in vivo through mRNA delivery.
Bio
Biologyst tained at UANL (México), with a PhD from UT- Houston and postdoctoral training in Strasbourg. A specialist in technology-to-capital conversion (UT-Austin), he has founded academic programs, tech centers, and companies in Mexico. He has 300+ publications, 100 supervised theses, six books, and two patents. He received the National Prize for Sciences and Arts (2019), an alumni award from UT-Houston, and has been profiled in Nature Medicine. His work focuses on growth hormone biology, evolution, medicine, and biotechnology.
Hosted by PI Ángel Carracedo. Genomics and Bioinformatics group, CiMUS
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