August’s Paper of the Month reveals how the RAS/ERK pathway orchestrates the opening notes of life

Timing is everything in development — and a new study reveals what happens when key molecular signals strike too soon. In a recent Cell Reports paper, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences graduate Han Bit Baek, PhD, explores how mistimed activation of ERK during oocyte maturation disrupts early embryonic development in C. elegans, shedding light on the molecular dynamics that may influence reproductive success in humans. 

Meet the Staff: Shelli Manning

Shelli Manning brings strategy, creativity, and collaboration to her role as communications manager at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. From celebrating students’ research milestones to creating content that supports recruitment efforts, she focuses on capturing and sharing the meaningful moments that define the Graduate School community. Get to know more about Manning's journey, work, and what inspires her inside and outside of the office.

Mekenzie Peshoff explores brain tumor immunology through prestigious NIH fellowship

PhD student Mekenzie Peshoff was awarded a National Institutes of Health (NIH) F31 fellowship to investigate how TREM2 expression in brain-resident immune cells contributes to the development and progression of gliomas. Her work could help define new immune targets for aggressive brain tumors. Peshoff shares why she chose this fellowship path, what advice she’d give future applicants, and how this award helps position her for the next step in her academic career.