View source for On two problems in medicine - a view from a crossroad of disciplines

'''Abstract for Public [[Lecture]] #6 (Reception at 6:30 PM, talk begins at 7 PM, April 21, 2009 at [http://sfcomplex.org/wordpress/ Santa Fe Complex]):'''

'''ON TWO PROBLEMS IN MEDICINE – A VIEW FROM A CROSSROAD OF DISCIPLINES'''

'''Arup K. Chakraborty, Massachusetts Institute of Technology'''

I will describe work that brings together approaches from statistical physics and cell biology to consider the following problems related to human disease.

'''Elite controllers of HIV infection:'''  Some individuals can control HIV infection without need for therapeutic intervention.  These individuals are called elite controllers and have certain genes that are also correlated with greater proclivities for autoimmunity.  I will describe a phenomenon of the immune system that may contribute to the ability of elite controllers to live with HIV infection while escaping disease (AIDS).

'''Patient-specific stem cells for regenerative medicine:'''  Cellular states are plastic, and even terminally differentiated cells can sometimes be reprogrammed to a pluripotent state; i.e., the state of an embryonic stem cell.  This raises the possibility of creating patient-specific stem cells for regenerative medicine. I will describe theoretical work that takes a small step toward elucidation of the mechanistic principles that make reprogramming of cellular identity possible.

'''About Dr. Chakraborty:'''

[[image:chakraborty.png]]

Arup K. Chakraborty is the Robert T. Haslam Professor of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, and Biological Engineering at MIT, and a founding member of the Ragon Institute for Infectious Disease of MIT, MGH, and Harvard.  After graduating from IIT Kanpur (India), he obtained his PhD in chemical engineering at the University of Delaware.  After postdoctoral studies at the University of Minnesota, he joined the faculty at the University of California at Berkeley in December 1988.  He rose through the ranks, and ultimately served as the Warren and Katherine Schlinger Distinguished Professor and Chair of Chemical Engineering, Professor of Chemistry, and Professor of Biophysics at Berkeley.  He was also Head of Theoretical and Computational Biology at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.  In September of 2005, Arup moved to MIT. Arup’s research until 2000 focused on quantum and statistical mechanical descriptions of polymers and catalysts.  Since then, the central theme of his research has been the development and application of theoretical/computational approaches to study how T lymphocytes, orchestrators of the adaptive immune response, function. A characteristic of his work is that he collaborates extensively with leading immunologists.  Arup’s work at the interface of the physical, life, and engineering sciences has been recognized by many honors that include a ''NIH Director’s Pioneer Award'', the ''E.O. Lawrence Memorial Award for Life Sciences'', the ''Allan P. Colburn and Professional Progress awards'' of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, a ''Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar'' award, a Miller Research Professorship, and a ''National Young Investigator'' award.  Arup is a member of the ''National Academy of Engineering'' and a Fellow of the ''American Academy of Arts & Sciences'' and the'' American Association for the Advancement of Science''.