12 Rutgers professors were named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science - of which 2 are DLS professors: Tara Matise and Andrew Singson, both from the Genetics Department. Congratulations to Tara and Andrew!
Tara Matise, Department of Genetics
Honored for her distinguished contributions to developing human genetic maps and for critical efforts to bring genetics to diverse human populations. Tara Matise is devoted to increasing the understanding of how genes impact human health.
Her early research focused on mapping genes for genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis, which causes persistent lung infections, limits the ability to breathe and has no cure.
Today, Matise is considered a leader in large-scale genetic study management, facilitating collaborative research that allows scientists to collect and analyze large amounts of information more quickly.
The mapping software Matise developed led to genetic maps that serve as crucial tools for pinpointing sites on the genome that can cause debilitating disease, one of the first steps toward better understanding the genetic makeup of individuals and improving diagnosis and treatment of inherited diseases.
The coordinating centers she directs, which are funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes of Health, study multi-ethnic populations in an attempt to increase genetic discoveries that will reduce health disparities in minority populations.
Matise said she believes that more diversity and better scientific methods in genetic studies will lead to equal access in precision medicine and said data from these research studies is critical to identifying genetic mutations that may cause chronic diseases like diabetes.
She said her work at Rutgers exposes her to new discoveries because of collaboration. “I am most proud of the highly collaborative nature of my work, which is a theme that applies to nearly all of my work,” Matise said. “Although I do not do my work in order to be recognized or to receive accolades for my achievements, it is nice to be reminded that my efforts are valuable and on par with other esteemed scientists.”
– Robin Lally
Andrew Singson, Department of Genetics
Honored for his distinguished contributions to the field of fertilization, particularly for discovery and characterization of genes required for fertilization in Caenorhabditis elegans. Andrew Singson is working to uncover the molecular and genetic mechanisms of fertilization and provide insight into how sperm and egg develop, interact and initiate embryonic development through his research into reproduction in tiny roundworms.
“Fertilization is a process of great social, medical and economic importance,” said Singson. “This award is recognition of our scientific approach. It is an honor for me and reflects the outstanding work of my research team, both past and present.”
Singson has been researching the biological process of fertility in roundworms, known as C. elegans, for more than 25 years, using genetic analysis to find healthy adult worms having trouble having babies, similar to the one in five couples in the United States that experience infertility.
After finding strains of worms with fertility problems, the Singson lab does tests to see if infertility issues are related to the sperm or eggs. He and his team have discovered several proteins in roundworms that together work like molecular Velcro and help the egg and sperm bind and fuse, which may function the same way in humans. The findings, he said, have provided a better understanding of fertility and could lead to more effective treatments for infertility as well as the development of reliable contraceptives.
Singson and his team of fertility gene hunters want to identify the molecular events that occur during fertilization that lead to the cell-cell fusion. Limited to only a few cells in animals or plants, this knowledge will provide insight into other cell-cell interactions besides fertilization and could lead to new treatments for cancer and other diseases.
“While we have made great progress, our genetic experiments with C. elegans tell us that we have not yet found all the pieces to the fertilization puzzle,” Singson said. “We hope that our work will continue to help us understand the diversity of how nature solves the question of conception.”
– Kevin Lorincz
About AAAS
Rutgers faculty elected to the newest class of fellows for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) are engaging in research to tackle some of the greatest mysteries of human health, build a better understanding of the body’s response to disease and advance the growth of green energy.
Their work demonstrates the breadth of ongoing research at the university that is changing the world and making a difference in people’s lives. The dozen faculty members, the largest group ever selected from Rutgers, are working to restore the brain function of people suffering from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and Alzheimer’s disease, have been recognized for their efforts advocating for public health and are working to understand the causes of the long-term effects of COVID-19.
AAAS, the world's largest multidisciplinary scientific society and a leading publisher of cutting-edge research through its Science family of journals, announced the newest members of the class of fellows on Jan. 26. It is among the most distinct honors within the scientific community.
To read the full article, please visit:https://www.rutgers.edu/news/four-rutgers-professors-named-aaas-fellows.
