Achievement

IGERT trainee, Matthew Dubach is working on a novel project using fluorescent nanosensors to report sodium concentration in biological applications. This research at the forefront of biology and medicine is in collaboration with clinicians to help solve a critical problem. Currently available sodium ion indicators are not robust and do not provide any information on the dynamics of sodium ions. Through this project, a novel nanosensor using nanobeads has been developed to image sodium ions. The implication of this research will have tremendous impact in understanding signaling in brain and act as a tool to regulate heart disease. Results of this work have already resulted in several publications in peer-reviewed journals and have been presented at several conferences. Notably, parts of this research work have resulted in a publication in one of the most prestigious journals in field of science - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).