zur Nieden Research Group at UC Riverside
2014 - 2015 News Archive
Nicole Sparks presents at Teratology Society 55th Annual Meeting in Montréal, Québec
July 1, 2015
Nicole joined hundreds of researchers from a variety of disciplines such as clinical, epidemiological, and public health backgrounds at the Teratology Society 55th Annual meeting this past week. Highlights of the meeting included discussions in updates on reproductive risk assessment in the workplace, assisted reproductive technologies as well as oxidative stress and developmental toxicology.
Nicole was able to attend though the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) travel award and presented her most recent work during an evening poster session.
Dr. Dorota Kaniowska, Devon Duron-Ehnes, and Lauren Walker present at ISSCR 2015 in Stockholm, Sweden
June 27, 2015
This past week, zur Nieden lab joined researchers in Stem Cell research from academic, government, and industry backgrounds at the 2015 International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) Annual Meeting held this year in beautiful Stockholm, Sweden.
Dr. Kaniowska, Devon, and Lauren presented posters on their respective projects during the evening poster sessions on Wednesday and Thursday.
Nicole Sparks wins Fukuto Award Honorable Mention at Annual ETOX Symposium
June 20, 2015
The zur Nieden lab is pleased to announce that Nicole Sparks was awarded the Fukuto Best Student Presentation Award Honorable Mention at this year's Environmental Toxicology (ETOX) Annual Student Symposium for her presentation on her research from this past academic year.
The ETOX Annual Student Symposium showcases the work of all of the students in the Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program at UCR.
Congrats, Nicole!
Pictured at right: Nicole and Dr. Yinsheng Wang, director of the UC Riverside ETOX Graduate Program.
Linh Blackney awarded MARC U* Traineeship
May 11, 2015
Linh is the newest student to join the Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) U* Program, a 2-year training program starting this June.
MARC U* aims to provide research training to traditionally underrepresented undergraduate students and provide them with a competitive edge for future applications to PhD programs in biomedical-related sciences.
Great work, Linh!
Nicole Sparks awarded TRDRP Dissertation Research Award
April 3, 2015
Among competition from over 80 research insitutions in California, Nicole was one of the individuals awarded a Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP) Dissertation Research Award. This research award will support the next two years of Nicole’s research on the genetic and biochemical mechanisms of tobacco-related adverse effects on development.
Congratulations, Nicole!
Lauren Walker awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
March 31, 2015
Lauren was one of the 2,000 individuals awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) out of more than 16,500 applicants this application cycle. The fellowship will support the next three years of Lauren’s research through the Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program.
Congratulations, Lauren!
Nicole Sparks and Lauren Walker respresent zur Nieden lab at Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA
March 26, 2015
This past Friday, zur Nieden lab joined researchers in toxicology from academic, government, and industry backgrounds at the 2015 Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting held this year in sunny San Diego, CA.
Both Nicole and Lauren presented posters on their respective projects during the Late-Breaking Abstract poster session on Thursday.
Kevin Keller and Ivann Martinez pass final defense
December 19, 2014
zur Nieden lab is very proud to announce that both Kevin and Ivann passed their final defenses this past week.
Kevin presented his work further elucidating the biochemical mechanism underlying the effects of the noncanonical Wnt5 signaling pathway on osteogenesis (as well as subsequent cell fate decisions) under both normal and high glucose conditions.
Later in the week, Ivann presented his work on a novel approach to analysis of bone teratogenesis using a human embryonic stem cell model through image-based analysis.
Congratulations, Kevin and Ivann!
zur Nieden lab well represented at the 2014 Inland Empire Stem Cell Consortium Symposium
November 7, 2014
This past Friday, zur Nieden lab joined fellow stem cell researchers and enthusiasts at the 3rd annual Inland Empire Stem Cell Consortium (IESCC) Symposium held this year on the Cal State San Bernardino campus.
Devon Duron-Ehnes, Adriane Ocampo, and Lauren Walker all presented posters on their respective projects during the midday poster session while Nicole Sparks was a featured speaker during the afternoon student oral presentations.
Great job, everyone!
More on the Inland Empire Stem Cell Consortium
The IESCC is a coalition of approximately 24 research laboratories actively engaged in stem cell research at the University of California, Riverside, Loma Linda University, and California State University at San Bernardino.
The Consortium aims to foster a collegial forum for researchers engaged in stem cell research in the Inland Empire, provide training opportunities for students in stem cell biology, and educate the public on the far-reaching benefits of stem cell research in this region.
The Consortium gathers annually to share and discuss members’ work accomplished within the past year.
Dr. zur Nieden gives keynote lecture at 2014 Fraunhofer Symposium on Medicinal Stem Cell Products in Leipzig, Germany
October 18, 2014
Dr. zur Nieden's lecture was one of the highlights at this year's Fraunhofer Symposium on Medicinal Stem Cell Products in Leipzig Germany.
Invited as a keynote lecturer, Dr. zur Nieden spoke about 'stem cell-assisted drug discovery and risk assessment' giving an overview of our lab's work on the screening of pharmaceutical compounds and environmental chemicals, such as tobacco smoke, using stem cell in vitro models of embryogenesis.
Using such cell-based models, we have developed predictive assays that allow making conclusions on toxicity and teratogenicity of chemicals for human use.
zur Nieden lab represented by Lauren Walker at 2014 SACNAS National Conference
October 17, 2014
Lauren presented a poster today entitled Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell in Vitro Models of Differentiation Allow for the Prediction of Cardiac and Skeletogenic Teratogens at the 2014 Society for the Advancement of Chicano and Native American Students (SACNAS) National Conference.
The poster features on Lauren and Nicole Sparks' work on using human induced pluripotent stem cells and as as alternatives to mouse embryonic stem cells in the in vitro embryotoxicity assay, the embryonic stem cell test.
Good work, Lauren!
Lauren Walker awarded SACNAS National Conference Travel Award
July 22, 2014
zur Nieden lab is proud to announce that Lauren Walker was selected for a Travel Award for the 2014 Society for the Advancement of Chicano and Native American Students (SACNAS) National Conference!
Lauren will be presenting a poster on her work on updating the Embryonic Stem Cell test with human induced pluripotent stem cells at the 2014 SACNAS National Conference this October.
Congratulations, Lauren!