Simons Foundation
Metagenomic DNA Sequencing to Detect and Diagnose Infections
Gerald D. Fischbach Auditorium 160 5th Avenue, New York, NY, United StatesNext-generation sequencing has the power to decode DNA in a matter of hours, but doctors still diagnose infections using methods developed decades ago. This lecture will describe how scientists are using the latest sequencing technology in combination with new, very fast algorithms to sequence a complex mixture of DNA from a sick patient and, in some cases, identify the causative agent of an infection.
The Monster at the Heart of our Galaxy
Gerald D. Fischbach Auditorium 160 5th Avenue, New York, NY, United StatesIn this lecture, Dr. Andrea Ghez will discuss the latest developments in the study of black holes, specifically how the environment around the black hole at the center of the Milky Way is quite different than astronomers expected. She will also describe how studying the orbits of stars at the galactic center could improve our understanding of gravity.
Tuberous Sclerosis: Shedding Light on the Neural Circuitry of Autism
Gerald D. Fischbach Auditorium 160 5th Avenue, New York, NY, United StatesGenetic disorders with high penetrance of autism symptoms provide an opportunity to investigate the cellular and circuitry abnormalities underlying autism spectrum disorder. Mustafa Sahin studies the basis of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) in cell culture, in animal models and in the clinic and will present an update on translational research in TSC.