Not quiet on the western front but close, ooh so close...

To the great and valiant members of the Casali lab, this post is for you. I realize that these past couple of weeks have been quite daunting, oftentimes overwhelming. During the course of these weeks we have tirelessly marched towards our objectives. I have only to look upon our condition with admiration. With the hard work we are putting in, we are now beginning to reap the fruits of our labor, and I believe the word "beginning" underscores the situation. So in these few passive lines, I simply wanted to take the well spent time of extending my "hang in there guys we're doing great!" gesture to all of you. Also, to remind ourselves that it is only when it seems like there is no light at then end of the tunnel, that we have been plunged into the dark, inner recesses of a cave, that we see the light from a nearby turn, welcome us from the other side. We are close people, oh so close, keep the great work that you do.

Congratulations Brenden: UROP Grant Recipient

The Casali Lab would like to congratulate Brenden Yee for being awarded the 2006 Fall UROP Grant. This grant is awarded by the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program each year to undergraduate students who submit meritorious research proposals. Funds from the grant will help towards funding of laboratory equipment and reagents for the completion of Brenden's project.
His research project addresses the role of PI3K in B-Cell class-switch DNA secombination and somatic sypermutation. "Studying the effects of PI3K on B-cell CSR and SHM will yield significant understanding of its role in both mechanism and its implications. ", says Brenden. Brenden will play a large role in the project as he will be the one to genotype, and immunize mice, as well as conduct fluorescence microscopy and ELISA analysis.
The findings of the project will be presented at the 2007 Undergraduate Research Symposium which is organized by the Division of Undergraduate Education and UROP.
Brenden is really excited about receiving the grant and is more enthusiastic about undertaking his project. Those who work with him say that he is not only a very avid learner but quite punctual, efficient, and independent thinker. In truth, this aspect of research which includes grant writing and presentation of data is key to the success of any researcher, and for an undergraduate student to compose his own research grant and successfully compete with the grants of his peers, who come from all walks of academia is an honorable accolade. Asides from grant writing and research, Brended is also studying very hard for the April MCAT.
So from all of us at the Casali Lab and the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program we would like to congratulate you Brenden on being awarded on your very first (certainly not the last) grant application. You have competed well and will succeed just as well on your MCAT!