Bohjanen Lab Members

Lab Members of The Bohjanen Lab

Faculty:

David R. Boulware, M.D., M.P.H., 
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Career Advancement Program Clinical Research Scholar
Center for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Translational Research
e-mail:  [email protected]

Dr. Boulware’s research project is to evaluate the incidence, severity, and clinical features of HIV immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) and to identify biomarkers to predict and diagnose IRIS. 

Other Link: http://www.cidmtr.umn.edu/cidmtr/investigators/boulware/home.html

Irina A. Vlasova-St. Louis, M.D., Ph.D., 
Senior Research Associate,
Department of Microbiology, Center for Immunology, Cancer Center
Center for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Translational Research
Fellow of the Lymphoma Research Foundation 
e-mail: [email protected]

Research project involves the identification and analysis of novel conserved RNA sequence elements and trans-acting RNA-binding proteins that regulate differential mRNA stability in normal versus malignant T lymphocytes.

Other link: http://www.cidmtr.umn.edu/cidmtr/investigators/IrinaVlasovaM.D.Ph.D./home.html

Postdoctoral Associates:

Julius R. SternJohn, Ph.D.,
Center for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Translational Research
Minnesota Craniofacial Research Training Program Fellow
e-mail [email protected]
Research focuses on the role ARE/GRE containing transcripts play at the level of post-transcriptional gene regulation in T cell gene expression. The aim is to elucidate the machinery through which ARE/GRE cis-acting sequences mediate mRNA turnover.  

Bernd Rattenbacher, Ph.D.,
Center for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Translational Research
Novartis/Swiss National Fellow
e-mail: [email protected]

Research project involves the identification and analysis of novel conserved RNA sequence elements and trans-acting RNA-binding proteins that regulate differential mRNA metabolism in normal resting and activated T lymphocytes and during viral infection

Graduate and Undergraduate Trainees: 

Daniel J. Beisang 
Combined M.D./Ph.D training program
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and National Institute of General Medical Sciences partnership
e-mail: [email protected]

Research project involves the identification of novel conserved RNA sequence elements and analysis of their role in post-transcriptional regulation of T-lymphocyte gene expression.
Other link: http://www.med.umn.edu/mdphd/current/Currentstudents/Beisangbio/home.html

Maximilian von Hohenberg
Microbiology/Biochemistry Major
e-mail: [email protected]

Research delved into binding activity analysis of CUG repeat binding protein 1 (CUGBP1) RNA recognition motifs (RRM) to the putative GU-rich element (GRE), verifying its specificity. Work later focused on RRM3, conducting NMR structural analysis of the domain as well as quantizing the RNA binding activity.

Jonathan C. Jeschke
Biology/Biochemistry Major
e-mail: [email protected]

Jonathan develops a yeast-two hybrid screen system to identify CUGBP1 binding candidates and characterize the specific mechanism of mRNA decay elicited by the function of CUGBP1.

Laboratory Staff:

Darin L. Wiesner, B.S.
Junior Scientist
[email protected]

Darin is using novel approaches to investigate antigen-specific immune responses in persons at risk for developing immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). The goal of the project is to elucidate the immunologic mechanism underlying IRIS and develop a test which can predict and/or diagnosis IRIS.

Karin Rattenbacher, M.S.
 Assistant Scientist
e-mail:  [email protected]   
Projects involve T cell mRNA stability 

 

 

Former Pre- and Postdoctoral Trainees 
from Dr. Bohjanen’s Laboratory


Past and Current 
Trainees

Pre
or Post 

Training Period 

Prior Academic Degree

Title of Research Project

Degree (s)

Year (s)

Institutions (s)

Arvind Raghavan

 

2001-2004

PhD

1997

Jawaharlal Nehru University, India

T lymphocyte mRNA decay

Michelle Abelson

Post
Doc

2001-2004

PhD

2000

East Tennessee State University

mRNA decay in viral infection

Jay Vasdewani

Pre-MS

2002-2004

BE

2001

Nirma Institution of Technology, India

Role of ARE-containing transcripts in T cell activation

Rachel Ogilvie

Pre-PhD

2000-2006

BS

2000

Brigham Young University

Role of TTP in T cell activation

Heidi Hau

Pre-PhD

2001-2006

BS

1994

Colorado State University

Role of ARE-binding proteins in T cell activation

Nuzha Tahoe

Post
Doc

2004-2006

PhD

1989

University of Cranfield, UK

mRNA decay in viral infection

Richard Walsh

Post
Doc

2004-2006

PhD

2002

Iowa State University

Analysis of RNA-protein complexes

Sharon Chen

Post-MD
Pre-MS

2003-2005

MD

1994

Baylor College of Medicine

Infections in pediatric transplant patients

Joshua Rhein

Pre-MD

2005-2007

BS

1995

University of MN

HIV Immune Reconstitution

Irina Vlasova

Post
Doc

2002-2008

MD
PhD

1994
1998

Urals State Medical Academy, Russia

mRNA decay in cancer and radiation-induced cellular injury

David Boulware

Post-MD
Pre-MPH

2005-2007

MD

2000

Indiana University

HIV immune reconstitution

David Meya

Post
MD

2005-2007

MBChB
MMED

2002
2005

Makerere Univ., Uganda

HIV immune reconstitution

Julius SternJohn

Post
Doc

2006-2010

PhD

2006

Univ. of MN

Analysis of mRNA decay complexes

Bernd Rattenbacher

Post
Doc

2007-present

PhD

2007

Univ of Basel, Switzerland

Novel regulators of mRNA decay

Sarah Lee

Pre-MD
Pre-MPH

2006-2009

BA

2001

University of Chicago

HIV Immune Reconstitution

Shuli Bonham

Post

2007-present

MD

2004

University of Minnesota

HIV Immune Reconstitution

Darlisha Williams

Pre-MPH

2002-2007

BS

2002

University of Minnesota

HIV Immune Reconstitution