Funding – Chromatin, Metabolism, and Radiation Resistance in Breast Cancer
Dr. Karmella Haynes is leading a new 1-year research collaboration aimed at deepening our understanding of breast cancer treatment resistance, with a specific focus on radiation resistance. Breast cancer tumors contains groups of cells that can behave differently, termed “cellular heterogeneity,” with some being resistant to radiation therapy. Epigenetic states are known to produce differences between cells that share the same DNA. Epigenetic states are influenced by cellular metabolism and chromatin reorganization, which play pivotal roles in cancer progression. However, the combined impact of metabolism and gene regulation on radiation resistance remains poorly understood. By leveraging advanced techniques such as metabolomics, single-cell expression profiling, and cell engineering, we aim to uncover the mechanisms governing these interactions. This collaboration, led by Dr. Karmella Haynes (Emory) and Dr. Melissa Kemp (GA Tech) promises not only to expand our understanding of cancer biology but also to identify potential new drug targets and treatment strategies. Developmental funds from the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University were awarded through Winship Invest$, a peer-reviewed program that provides pilot funding for novel, innovative cancer research projects.
Invited Talk – HudsonAlpha
Dr. Haynes presented an invited talk, “Combining ‘omics with synthetic biology to investigate epigenetic control in human cells,” for the HudsonAlpha Research Seminar series on March 20, 2024 at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville, AL. Special thanks to Bri Rogers, Aida El Kholi Starling, Rick Myers, and all of the scientists and trainees who took the time to meet at this beautiful and inspiring facility for cutting edge genomics research!
Invited Talk – Winter q-Bio 2024
Dr. Haynes presented an invited talk, “Exploring Signal Processing Within Chromatin with Protein Engineering,” at the11th annual Winter Quantitative Biology Conference (q-Bio) that took place February 19 – 23, 2024 in Oahu, Hawaii. q-Bio brings together scientists and engineers who are interested in all areas of quantitative biology. Special thanks to Professor Wendell Lim and the organizing committee for the invitation, and congratulations on assembling an exceptionally inclusive line-up of invited speakers, with over half being women scientists.
Invited Talk – GA Tech Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Dr. Haynes presented an invited talk, “Exploring Signal Processing Within Chromatin with Protein Engineering,” for the Georgia Tech School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Seminar Series on Wednesday, January 31, 2024. Special thanks to Professor Corey Wilson and Hanna Hawthorne for your invitation and assistance!
Ph.D. Graduate Student Researchers
Interested in completing your Ph.D. thesis work with us? The Haynes lab at Emory carries out work that provides opportunities for Ph.D. students to pursue a thesis in biomedical applications of epigenetic engineering. When there is space, we consider students from the GA Tech/ Emory Biomedical Engineering program, and the Emory GDBBS Genetics and Molecular Biology and Cancer Biology programs.
Invited Talk – BMES CMBE
Dr. Haynes presented an invited talk, “Exploring the Chromatin-Phenotype Connection in Breast Cancer by Engineering Epigenetic Signaling in Chromatin,” for the 2024 BMES Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering (CMBE) Conference “Systems Bioengineering: From Molecules to Cells to Tissues” in Carolina, Puerto Rico on Thursday, January 4, 2024.
Invited Talk – Asilomar Chromatin, Chromosomes & Epigenetics
Dr. Haynes was invited to present her work, “Epigenome Actuation: Engineered Protein Regulators That Translate the Epigenetic Code” as a keynote lecture for the 2023 Asilomar Chromatin, Chromosomes & Epigenetics Conference (ACCEC) on Thursday, December 7, 2023. Thank you to the organizers for the opportunity to demonstrate how engineering concepts can be integrated with chromatin to learn more about its structure and function.
Kierra Franklin presents research at the 2023 Mammalian Synthetic Biology Workshop
PhD student Kierra Franklin presented her latest research as a poster at the 10th International Mammalian Synthetic Biology Workshop (MSBW) which took place June 22 – 23, 2023 in San Jose, CA. Her poster presentation “Development of engineered synthetic reader-effectors with enhanced binding to H3K27me3” was supported by an LGSC Travel/Research Grant from the Laney Graduate School at Emory.
Undergraduate Researchers
The Haynes lab at Emory is seeking bright, talented, and motivated undergraduate students from Emory University or Georgia Tech to gain course credit or non-credit research experience. This position is a great opportunity to gain hands-on, discovery-driven experience in synthetic biology as it applies to health and medicine*. Dr. Haynes has several years of experience co-mentoring undergraduate research in the classroom and in her research lab.
*Please note that the Haynes lab does not conduct clinical research and we do not offer medical training opportunities.
This opportunity is currently [OPEN]
Type: Volunteer or Course Credit
New Member – Ranjit Pelia
Ranjit Pelia has joined the Haynes lab this summer as a PhD student from the Emory GDBBS Genetics and Molecular Biology graduate program. He earned his Associate Degree at Emory University Oxford College in 2015, his B.S. in Biology from Emory University in 2018, and his M.P.H. from the Emory Rollins School of Public Health in 2022. Ranjit is originally from Mumbai, India but is a native Atlanta resident. His past experience includes working as a clinical research coordinator, lab technician, and data analyst in pediatric Crohn’s disease at the Emory School of Medicine. His research interests include identifying the epigenetic roles of noncoding RNAs in controlling downstream gene regulation using integrative ‘omics. Welcome to the Haynes lab! We look forward to working with you.
Haynes Lab | Emory 