PhD candidate awarded NIH Kirschstein Award for research on Rett syndrome - UMass Medical School

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By Hallie Leo

UMass Chan Medical School Communications

February 02, 2023

David Keener, a PhD campaigner successful the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, has received a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Predoctoral Fellowship from the National Institute for Neurological Diseases and Stroke. The assistance volition assistance money Keener’s task connected Rett syndrome, a familial neurodevelopmental illness mostly diagnosed successful girls 6 to 18 months aged that yet robs patients of their quality to speak, locomotion oregon usage their hands.

“Being awarded the assistance means a batch to me. It represents maine being capable to wage my ain mode done the remainder of my postgraduate studies, and it means that the NIH recovered my task of precocious capable value and impact,” Keener said.

Rett syndrome is caused by mutations successful a cistron called MeCP2, which is simply a maestro regulator of cistron look successful the brain. Working with mentor Jonathan Watts, PhD, prof of RNA therapeutics, Keener is focused connected mRNA-based transportation of the premier editing machinery to neural cells, arsenic good arsenic the instauration of much nuclease-stable synthetic premier editing usher RNAs to people these mutations.

“Prime editing is uniquely well-placed to close galore kinds of familial mutations, including the astir communal origin of Rett syndrome,” said Dr. Watts. “It’s breathtaking to harvester this NIH fellowship with enactment from the Rett Syndrome Research Trust and determination a caller attraction enactment person to helping patients. The enactment David volition bash during this fellowship volition assistance make level technologies to marque premier editing easier to use and dainty different diseases.”

Keener remembers wanting to go a idiosyncratic arsenic a kid increasing up successful Needham. He earned a bachelor’s grade successful neurobiology and minored successful Spanish astatine the University of Rochester. When helium applied to UMass Chan, Keener thought he’d prosecute neurobiology oregon bacteriology due to the fact that of his erstwhile experiences moving arsenic a laboratory technician for a pharma startup that made antibiotic tiny molecules.

“Instead, I made a idiosyncratic transportation to the Watts Lab and recovered myself fitting successful good with that group,” said Keener. “I’ve had to larn each astir RNA biology and synthetic chemistry connected the fly, but I emotion it. To me, who you enactment with is of adjacent value to what you enactment on.”

Keener credits Emily Haberlin, PhD, elder subject writer successful the department, who assists RNA Therapeutics Institute students successful applying for grants, with helping him gain the award.

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