Roy Parker: Adventures with RNA in Health and Disease

1725 Euclid Ave,Boulder CO 80309

05 April, 2022

Description

Roy Parker (Biochemistry) is the 119th recipient of the prestigious Distinguished Research Lectureship at CU Boulder. Lecture: 4–5 p.m.; reception to follow. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules and their regulation are central to normal human cellular function. RNA misregulation can lead to bone marrow failure disorders and contribute to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease. Disease-causing disruptions are diverse and include altered RNA longevity, storage and cellular trafficking. Our goals are to understand the lives of human RNAs from birth to death, determine how abnormalities in the normal RNA life cycle can lead to human diseases, and use that insight to suggest new therapeutic approaches. Roy Parker is a distinguished professor of biochemistry and Cech-Leinwand chair of biochemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator and director of the BioFrontiers Institute at CU Boulder. Parker is a global leader in the study of ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules, which are both molecular machines and the messenger of genetic information. His pioneering work has revealed new aspects of the life of RNA molecules and how abnormalities in RNA regulation can lead to bone marrow failure diseases and contribute to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease. He is an elected Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a Member of the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Parker’s excellence in mentorship is demonstrated by the success of his past trainees in many economic sectors and fields of study. His outstanding dedication to university service is particularly evident in his critical scientific leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and the CU Boulder response. The Distinguished Research Lectureship is among the highest honors bestowed by the faculty upon a faculty member at CU Boulder. Each year, the Research & Innovation Office requests nominations from faculty for this award, and a faculty review panel recommends one or more faculty members as recipients. COVID-19 event policyAs of Monday, March 7, the CU Boulder campus is mask-optional. View the latest announcement for more details. Registration is requestedIn order to get an accurate count for space requirements, refreshments and other concerns, registration for this event is requested. However, tickets will not be collected at the door.