{"id":6787,"date":"2021-08-19T10:01:14","date_gmt":"2021-08-19T15:01:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin-new\/?post_type=campus_story&p=6787"},"modified":"2021-08-19T10:01:14","modified_gmt":"2021-08-19T15:01:14","slug":"uw-eau-claire-genetics-research-connects-students-with-alumni","status":"publish","type":"campus_story","link":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/story\/uw-eau-claire-genetics-research-connects-students-with-alumni\/","title":{"rendered":"UW-Eau Claire genetics research connects students with alumni"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo
r. Jamie Lyman Gingerich, a UW-Eau Claire associate professor of biology, works in a Phillips Hall laboratory with students Kati Sadowska, center, and Caterra Leavens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Blugolds work together to prepare future scientists, medical leaders<\/h3>\n

Student researchers are getting a glimpse of their potential futures as scientists and medical leaders through a collaborative research project that connects them with alumni working in the field of human genetics.<\/p>\n

\"Photo
Dr. Jamie Lyman Gingerich, associate professor of biology<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The research, led by Dr. Jamie Lyman Gingerich, a UW-Eau Claire associate professor of biology, examines genetic disorders of unknown cause and whether specific changes in patients\u2019 DNA may have a role in their symptoms. The findings could help lead to a formal medical diagnosis, thus benefitting the patients.<\/p>\n

Lyman Gingerich and other UW-Eau Claire faculty and students are working on the project with Blugold alumni at the Marshfield-based genetic testing company PreventionGenetics and Mayo Clinic Health System.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is really exciting to be working with alumni from UWEC,\u201d Lyman Gingerich says. \u201cMy undergraduate students have commented that they appreciate seeing where alumni go and what they do with their degrees.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cIt is really exciting to be working with alumni from UWEC,\u201d Lyman Gingerich says. \u201cMy undergraduate students have commented that they appreciate seeing where alumni go and what they do with their degrees.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blugold alumnus Dr. Greg Fischer, a 2011 graduate who is a human molecular geneticist at PreventionGenetics, says working with UW-Eau Claire faculty and student researchers is one of the most rewarding parts of his career.<\/p>\n

Fischer recalls his undergraduate research experiences at UW-Eau Claire being the \u201cNo. 1 driving force\u201d behind his decision to pursue a Ph.D. in genetics.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur corporate-academic partnership is one of the ways I can give back to UW-Eau Claire as an alum,\u201d Fischer says. \u201cMany of our previous interns go on to pursue graduate studies or become full-time employees at PreventionGenetics. It\u2019s pretty great to know I helped them gain the skills necessary to achieve their career goals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lyman Gingerich\u2019s research project grew out of a faculty-alumni connection between Fischer and his undergraduate research mentor, Dr. Julie Anderson, associate professor of biology and director of UW-Eau Claire\u2019s Health Careers Center.<\/p>\n

In 2018, Anderson, Fischer and others at PreventionGenetics developed a workshop for a UW-Eau Claire molecular genetics course so students could interact with alumni at the company. Anderson says the interactions from the workshop led to several students landing jobs at PreventionGenetics.<\/p>\n

During a lunch meeting, Anderson and Fischer discussed a potential collaborative research project that Anderson later shared with colleagues in the biology department. Lyman Gingerich obtained funding from Mayo Clinic Health System for the collaboration that could impact patients and involve UW-Eau Claire undergraduate students in cutting-edge research.<\/p>\n

Lyman Gingerich was attracted to the research project because she saw potential to engage students and learn from colleagues and collaborators.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love puzzles, and science involves so many puzzles and questions,\u201d Lyman Gingerich says. \u201cFiguring out how nature works is both inherently fascinating and an unending challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Multiple members of UW-Eau Claire\u2019s biology department \u2014 Lyman Gingerich, Anderson, associate professor Dr. Derek Gingerich and assistant professors Dr. Crystal Del Valle and Dr. Bradley Carter \u2014 are members of the faculty research team and contribute different expertise to the project along with their shared background in science.<\/p>\n

For example, Del Valle trained Lyman Gingerich and the first student researcher in tissue culture techniques, while Carter will coordinate assessment efforts when the project moves into the classroom. Gingerich mentors students in analyzing the DNA sequences.<\/p>\n

\"Photo
Dr. Greg Fischer, associate human molecular geneticist at PreventionGenetics, specializing in autism disorders<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At PreventionGenetics, Fischer uses his undergraduate and graduate research background in genetics and molecular biology to help students identify variants where further experiments could lead to or rule out a diagnosis. Determining whether a genetic variant is disease-causing could mean a patient may be able enroll in a clinical trial or receive a particular treatment, Fischer says.<\/p>\n

For example, Fischer says, the research could help diagnose conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa or Leber congenital amaurosis, which cause extreme visual impairment over time. If the research can identify disease-causing genetic changes, a patient may be eligible for gene therapy that could restore some vision.<\/p>\n

Dr. Angela Gruber, another UW-Eau Claire alumna who works at PreventionGenetics as a human molecular geneticist, was involved in the project, recruiting talented undergraduates for the company\u2019s summer internships and mentoring them during the project.<\/p>\n

Gruber, who graduated with a bachelor\u2019s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, says she provides the environment for students to make mistakes and encounter obstacles, then guides them to think through the issues.<\/p>\n

Working with her former professors and mentors has been special for Gruber.<\/p>\n

\"Photo
Dr. Angela Gruber, associate human molecular geneticist at PreventionGenetics, specializing in muscle and kidney disorders<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI think it is rewarding for them to see previous students succeed, but also rewarding for me to prove that I have developed into a contributing member of the scientific community,\u201d Gruber says.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it is rewarding for them to see previous students succeed, but also rewarding for me to prove that I have developed into a contributing member of the scientific community,\u201d Gruber says. \u201cThe academic-industry partnership allows for students to see that what they are learning in their classes is actually useful for real life and real patients. It allows them to apply classroom concepts and, therefore, better retain the information they are learning. Students also see UWEC alumni leading successful scientific careers and hopefully value the education and experiences that UWEC provides.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another Blugold, Christina Zaleski, is director of genetic counseling at PreventionGenetics. She is a 1996 biology graduate.<\/p>\n

Student researchers<\/h3>\n

Daniel Reither, a 2020 UW-Eau Claire graduate in biochemistry\/molecular biology, was looking for undergraduate laboratory research experience when he became the first student researcher on the project. Reither worked with faculty to set up new equipment and learn new techniques.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s one thing to learn about biological processes from a book or a lecture,\u201d Reither says. \u201cIt’s another thing to see their application in the \u2018wet lab.\u2019 At the time, I was unsure of what path to pursue after graduation, and I hoped that the experience of working in Dr. Lyman Gingerich\u2019s lab would help point me in the right direction. The experience exceeded my expectations.\u201d<\/p>\n

The research prepared Reither for the future and had a direct application for his present job as a lab technician at a company that focuses on manufacturing regenerative treatments for clinical trials for patients with congenital heart disease.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing able to be a part of this research project was a true privilege that was only made possible via the collaboration of UWEC alumni,\u201d Reither says. \u201cIt was encouraging to see the strong community that UWEC helped build between organizations that made the project possible. It made me realize that if I ever need help as I move onward, I will have a community I can rely on.\u201d<\/p>\n

UW-Eau Claire freshman Kati Sadowska of Marshfield wanted to be part of the faculty-student research project to help her develop critical laboratory skills while helping medical patients.<\/p>\n

Sadowska, who is part of the Blugold Biomedical Innovator Program, is considering changing her major from chemistry to biochemistry\/molecular biology because of her experience with the project. She\u2019s now looking at a career in the genetics field.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am so glad to be involved, not only for the undergraduate research, but to be able to better the lives of patients as well,\u201d Sadowska says. \u201cI never expected to be able to have such an impact on others so early in my college career.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am so glad to be involved, not only for the undergraduate research, but to be able to better the lives of patients as well,\u201d Sadowska says. \u201cI never expected to be able to have such an impact on others so early in my college career.\u201d<\/p>\n

Classroom applications<\/h3>\n

UW-Eau Claire biology professors are working to integrate their research into the department\u2019s genetic inquiry lab course, Lyman Gingerich says, so students can be involved in research while they learn the concepts.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the biology department \u2014 as within the sciences and the university as a whole \u2014 we work to help students develop the skills and knowledge to critically engage in their field,\u201d Lyman Gingerich says. \u201cWe hope that by doing this research, the students will identify as scientists, refine their skills and maybe discover a new passion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Katie Plamann, who graduated from UW-Eau Claire in 2015 with majors in biology and psychology, is a genetic counselor in Mayo Clinic Health System\u2019s department of clinical genomics. She will provide curriculum development input for the research project.<\/p>\n

As an undergraduate researcher, Plamann worked with Lyman Gingerich and now can share her expertise about what is needed in the medical field from the perspective of genetic counseling.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo move health care and scientific knowledge forward, we need to combine strengths and expertise across disciplines,\u201d Lyman Gingerich says.<\/p>\n

Research was an important part of Plamann\u2019s undergraduate training in biology and psychology, she says, adding that research projects like Lyman Gingerich\u2019s are important in a rapidly advancing field like genetics.<\/p>\n

\u201cStudies like this one continue to advance our ability to accurately interpret genetic variants, and ultimately genetic testing results, for patients and families,\u201d Plamann says. \u201cWork like this is also important in preparing future health care providers for work in genetics by providing them experience during their undergraduate training.\u201d<\/p>\n

Support undergraduate research opportunities at UW-Eau Claire<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

By Gary Johnson<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Blugolds work together to prepare future scientists, medical leaders Student researchers are getting a glimpse of their potential futures as scientists and medical leaders through a collaborative research project that connects them with alumni working in the field of human genetics. The research, led by Dr. Jamie Lyman Gingerich, a UW-Eau Claire associate professor of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":6789,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","institution":[96],"story_category":[],"class_list":["post-6787","campus_story","type-campus_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","institution-uw-eau-claire"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campus_story\/6787","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campus_story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/campus_story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6787"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6789"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6787"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"institution","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/institution?post=6787"},{"taxonomy":"story_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story_category?post=6787"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}