Shu-ou Shan – Biochemistry – Best Researcher Award 

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Prof. Shu-ou Shan - Biochemistry - Best Researcher Award 

California Institute of Technology - United States 

Author Profile

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🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Prof. Shu-ou Shan embarked on her academic journey at the University of Maryland, where she earned a B.S. in Chemistry and Biochemistry from 1991 to 1994. Her early research under Dr. R. N. Armstrong focused on substrate specificity in Glutathione-S-Transferase. She then pursued her Ph.D. at Stanford University (1994-2000) under Dr. Daniel Herschlag, exploring the energetics of hydrogen bonds and the role of metal ions in RNA enzyme catalysis. These formative years laid the foundation for her pioneering work in Biochemistry.

💼 Professional Endeavors

After earning her doctorate, Prof. Shan engaged in postdoctoral research (2000-2005) with Dr. Peter Walter at U.C. San Francisco, investigating the mechanism of Signal Recognition Particle (SRP)-dependent protein transport. She transitioned into academia as an Assistant Professor at the California Institute of Technology (2005-2011) and was later promoted to full Professor in 2011. Her leadership was further recognized when she was appointed Executive Officer of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics (BMB) program at Caltech in 2015.

🔬 Contributions and Research Focus

Prof. Shan has made groundbreaking contributions to Biochemistry, particularly in protein biogenesis and homeostasis. Her research integrates quantitative biochemistry, structural biology, and molecular cell biology to elucidate the mechanisms of protein targeting, translocation, and modification. She has provided high-resolution molecular models for the SRP pathway, studied molecular chaperones, and discovered novel mechanisms in membrane protein biogenesis. Her work has advanced understanding of nascent protein modification enzymes and the biogenesis of aggregation-prone proteins.

🌍 Impact and Influence

Prof. Shan’s research has transformed the field of Biochemistry by uncovering how conformational changes in targeting machines drive the localization of proteins. Her discoveries related to the GET pathway and chaperone-mediated protein assembly have broad implications for understanding cellular homeostasis and proteostasis. Additionally, her work has provided new paradigms for molecular chaperone function and protein quality control, influencing researchers worldwide.

🏆Academic Cites

Prof. Shan has an extensive publication record, with her research being cited in high-impact journals, including Nature, Science, and Cell. Her contributions have been widely recognized, and she has served as an invited reviewer for prestigious journals such as Nature Communications, Journal of Cell Biology, and Molecular Biology of the Cell. She has also been a board member of various scientific publications and editorial advisory boards, shaping the direction of future research.

🌟 Legacy and Future Contributions

Prof. Shan’s legacy in Biochemistry extends beyond her research. She has mentored numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, fostering the next generation of scientists. She has also played a vital role in academic service, founding the Biochemistry undergraduate track and the Chemical Biology & Molecular Biophysics graduate track at Caltech. Her recent honors, including the 2024 National Academy of Science Award in Molecular Biology, underscore her lasting influence. Moving forward, her research will continue to shape the understanding of protein biogenesis, with potential applications in biotechnology and medicine.

📝Notable Publication

📝Channel Gating in a Post-Translational Protein Translocase

Author: Shan, Shuou

Journal: Biochemistry

Year: 2024

Citations: 0

📝Dynamic Stability of Sgt2 Enables Selective and Privileged Client Handover in a Chaperone Triad 

Authors: Cho, Hyunju; Liu, Yumeng; Chung, Sangyoon; Weiss, Shimon; Shan, Shuou

Journal: Nature Communications

Year: 2024

Citations: 2

📝NAC Guides a Ribosomal Multienzyme Complex for Nascent Protein Processing

Authors: Lentzsch, Alfred M.; Yudin, Denis; Gamerdinger, Martin; Ban, Nenad; Shan, Shuou

Journal: Nature

Year: 2024

Citations: 3

📝An Ankyrin Repeat Chaperone Targets Toxic Oligomers During Amyloidogenesis

Authors: Gupta, Arpit; Lu, Chuqi; Wang, Feng; Chou, Tsuifen; Shan, Shuou

Journal: Protein Science

Year: 2023

Citations: 1

📝Dodecamer Assembly of a Metazoan AAA+ Chaperone Couples Substrate Extraction to Refolding 

Authors: Gupta, Arpit; Lentzsch, Alfred M.; Siegel, Alex R.; Cheng, Yifan; Shan, Shuou

Journal: Science Advances

Year: 2023

Citations: 4

📝Role of Hsp70 in Post-Translational Protein Targeting: Tail-Anchored Membrane Proteins and Beyond 

Author: Shan, Shuou

Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Year: 2023

Citations: 4

Tianmin Fu – Structural Biology – Best Researcher Award 

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Dr. Tianmin Fu - Structural Biology - Best Researcher Award 

Ohio State University - United States 

Author Profile

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🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. Tianmin Fu's academic journey began with a passion for biological sciences, earning his B.S. in Biological Sciences from Shandong University in 2005, where he was recognized with multiple scholarships, including the prestigious University-Admission Scholarship. He pursued his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Peking University, graduating magna cum laude in 2011. During his doctoral studies, he received the Tsai-Fan Yu and Gu Wenyu Fellowships, solidifying his foundation in structural biology and molecular mechanisms.

💼 Professional Endeavors

Dr. Fu's professional trajectory is marked by distinguished roles at leading research institutions. He started as a Postdoctoral Associate at Weill Cornell Medical College, followed by Research Fellow and Instructor positions at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital. Since 2020, he has been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology at The Ohio State University, contributing to groundbreaking research in structural biology and cancer biology. His research emphasizes molecular mechanisms underlying cellular and immunological processes.

🔬 Contributions and Research Focus

Dr. Fu’s research is focused on elucidating the structural and molecular mechanisms of critical biological pathways, with a particular emphasis on V-ATPases, inflammasomes, and cancer immunotherapy. His groundbreaking work has been supported by several major grants, including the NIGMS R35 GM147465-01 grant for studying V-ATPases and their role in assembly, biogenesis, regulation, and function. His contributions to understanding inflammasome modulation and mechanosensitive channels demonstrate his commitment to advancing structural biology for therapeutic development.

🌍 Impact and Influence

Dr. Fu’s impact extends across disciplines, evidenced by his significant contributions to structural biology and cancer immunotherapy. His research has not only advanced the understanding of molecular mechanisms but has also provided insights into novel therapeutic targets. Recognition from peers includes awards such as the Kenneth Fong Young Investigator Award, Research Excellence Award at Harvard Medical School, and multiple prestigious fellowships.

🏆Academic Cites

Dr. Fu's innovative research is well-documented in high-impact publications, earning significant citations that highlight the relevance and influence of his work. His investigations into inflammasomes, V-ATPases, and other molecular systems are frequently referenced, cementing his position as a thought leader in the field of structural biology.

🌟 Legacy and Future Contributions

Dr. Fu's legacy is defined by his pioneering research and dedication to mentorship. His current work on cancer immunotherapy and structural mechanisms promises to open new avenues for therapeutic interventions. By bridging the gap between molecular insights and clinical applications, Dr. Fu is poised to make transformative contributions to biomedical science and structural biology.

📝Structural Biology

Dr. Tianmin Fu's extensive research in structural biology focuses on molecular mechanisms of V-ATPases, inflammasomes, and mechanosensitive channels, which has advanced understanding in biochemistry and pharmacology. His commitment to structural biology is evident in his high-impact grants and publications. Through his innovative approach, Dr. Fu continues to shape the future of structural biology with applications in cancer immunotherapy and cellular biology.

Notable Publication

📝DdmDE Eliminates Plasmid Invasion by DNA-Guided DNA Targeting

Authors: Yang, X.-Y., Shen, Z., Wang, C., Nakanishi, K., Fu, T.-M.

Journal: Cell

Year: 2024

Citations: 2

📝Molecular Basis of Gabija Anti-Phage Supramolecular Assemblies

Authors: Yang, X.-Y., Shen, Z., Xie, J., Wysocki, V.H., Fu, T.-M.

Journal: Nature Structural and Molecular Biology

Year: 2024

Citations: 3

📝PtuA and PtuB Assemble Into an Inflammasome-Like Oligomer for Anti-Phage Defense

Authors: Li, Y., Shen, Z., Zhang, M., Fu, T.-M., Yu, Y.

Journal: Nature Structural and Molecular Biology

Year: 2024

Citations: 6

📝Human V-ATPases: Assembly, Function, and Regulation

Authors: Fosuah, E., Lin, Q., Fu, T.-M.

Book Title: Cryo-Electron Microscopy in Structural Biology: From Structural Insights to Tomography and Drug Discovery

Year: 2024

Citations: 0

📝Structures and Functions of Short Argonautes

Authors: Wang, C., Shen, Z., Yang, X.-Y., Fu, T.-M.

Journal: RNA Biology

Year: 2024

Citations: 0