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BiophysTO Lunchtime Talks

2022/2023 Schedule: Our page has moved to biophysto.ca --
see you there!

2021/2022 Schedule:


2021

October 21: Mamatha Bhat, UHN Multi-Organ Tansplant Program and UofT Division of Gastroenterology

A Systems Biology approach to improve long term outcomes after liver transplantation

Abstract/Bio


November 4: Michael Levin, Department of Biology, Tufts University

Developmental bioelectric networks instruct growth and form: from basic mechanisms to electroceuticals

Abstract


November 18: Ulrich Keyser, Cavendish Lab, Cambridge University

Driven polymers: From basic biophysics to identification of RNA viruses

Abstract


December 2: John Parkinson, Molecular Medicine Program, SickKids and Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, UofT


December 16: Heather Pinkett, Department of Molecular Bioscience, Northwestern University

2022


January 27: Nir Gov, Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science

The geometry of decision-making in individuals and collectives

Abstract


February 10: Benjamin Gilbert, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UofT

Species coexistence and the distribution of species diversity

Most ecosystems in the world host a stunning amount of species diversity, and ecologists have proposed numerous mechanisms that could sustain this diversity. Modern coexistence theory synthesizes many of the proposed mechanisms and, in doing so, isolates those processes that promote coexistence from those that limit it. In this seminar, I will first show the usefulness of modern coexistence theory by testing a prominent hypothesis about species diversity and how it is impacted by invasive species. I will then discuss how our research has identified shortcomings to modern coexistence theory and present theory designed to address these shortcomings.

https://utoronto.zoom.us/j/83793936562


February 24: Claudiu Gradinaru, Department of Chemical and Physical Science, University of Toronto Missisauga


March 10: Alan Davidson, Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, UofT


March 24: Justin Kenney, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory


March 31: Special seminar: Joseph Berkovitz, Department of Philosophy and Institute for History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, UofT


April 7: Joaquin Ortega, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University


April 21: Pankaj Mehta, Physics Department, Boston University


PAST SEMINARS


2020/2021 Schedule: every other Thursday at noon on Zoom:


October 8: Sidhartha Goyal, Department of Physics, University of Toronto

Beyond the yin and yang of cell competition in mammals

Abstract


October 15: Matthieu Schapira, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto

Chemical probes for all human proteins: an impossible project?

Abstract


November 5: Anton Zilman, Department of Physics, University of Toronto

Biophysics of the Nuclear Pore Complex

Abstract


November 12: Cecile Fradin, Department of Physics, McMaster University

The early fly embryo as a test tube for microscopists

Abstract


November 26: Vincent Tabard-Cossa, Department of Physics, University of Ottawa

Quantifying Biomarker Concentration Using  Solid-State Nanopores


Abstract


January 14: Jorg Matysik, University of Leipzig, Germany


January 28: Jean-Philippe Julien, Hospital for Sick Children

Protein engineering to leverage binding avidity against infectious diseases

Abstract


February 11: Ashleigh Tuite, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto

The COVID-19 end game

Abstract


February 25: Ruby Sullan, University of Toronto Missisauga

Breaking through the barriers: a multi-pronged strategy towards targeting bacteria

Abstract


March 11: Aidan Brown, Physics Department, Ryerson University

Abstract


March 18: Dwayne Miller, Chemistry Department, University of Toronto

Fundamental Space-Time Limits to Imaging Chemistry and Biology: Towards Making a Molecular Map of the Cell

Abstract


March 25: Andreas Mayer, Lewis-Siegler Institute, Princeton University

A Langevin approach to dynamics of the human immune system

Abstract


April 8: Jennifer Gommerman, Department of Immunology, University of Toronto

Understanding Multiple Sclerosis Using Translational and Reverse-Translational Approaches

Abstract


April 15: Wade Zeno, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Southern California

Abstract


May 6: Patrick Lusk, Department of Cell Biology, Yale University

Abstract


May 20: Mario Ostrowski, Department of Immunology, University of Toronto and St. Michael's Hospital


June 3: Alon Oyler-Yaniv, Institute for Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School

Spatial and temporal feedbacks in the immune system balance host defense and tissue integrity

Abstract


What is BiophysTO?

BiophysTO aims to bring together the Toronto Biophysics community and promote scientific interactions and potential collaborations among scientists, across departments and campuses, with the focus on the quantitative characterization of biological molecules, processes, and systems. The talks are meant to attract a wide audience of students and PIs with diverse backgrounds and will feature local as well as national and international speakers.

The talks will be held twice a month on Thursdays between 12 – 1 pm in either the McLennan Physical Laboratories room 606 (at the St. George campus) or in  the Davis Building room 3129 (at UTM). They will be streamed online between the two campuses through a video conferencing setup.  All are welcome.

Who's Organizing These Events?

If you have suggestions for speakers or would like to get more involved, please contact one of the members of our organizing committee:

Walid Houry (Biochemistry)

Anton Zilman (Physics/IBME)

Sid Goyal (Physics/IBME)

Andrea Guljas (Biochemistry)

Wilson Zhi (Biochemistry)

James Otis (Biochemistry)

Who's Paying for This?

This series has been made possible through the generous financial support of the following Departments:
UofT St. George: Chemistry/ Biochemistry/Physics/IBBME/Medical Biophysics

Who's Involved in BiophysTO?

Alan Davidson, Alan Moses, Andrew Woolley, Anton Zilman, Avi Chakrabartty, Charlie Deber, Chris McCulloch, Christopher M. Yip, Claudiu Gradinaru, Craig Simmons, Dave McMillen, David Williams, Emil Pai, Gerold Schmitt-Ulms, Gil Privé, Hue Sun Chan, James Rini,John Glover, Jonathan Rocheleau, Joshua Milstein, Julie Forman-Kay, Lewis Kay, Mitsu Ikura, Oliver Ernst, Paul Fraser, Régis Pomès, Reinhart Reithmeier, Rodrigo Fernandez-Gonzalez, Rongmin Zhao, Scott Prosser, Sergio Grinstein, Sidhartha Goyal, Simon Sharpe, Tigran Chalikian, Trevor Moraes, Virgis Barzda, Walid A. Houry, Warren Chan, Will Ryu, William Trimble

Past Events

01 - 03
May 2020
8:15 a.m. - 8:15 p.m.
TBA
Chemical Biophysics Symposium
The Chemical Biophysics Symposium (CBP) is a student-organized conference, which provides an informal venue for discussions on some of the most intriguing topics at the interface of chemistry, biology, and physics.
06
Apr 2017
noon - 1 p.m.
St. George, MP606
Dr. Oliver Ernst
TBA
23
Mar 2017
4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
St. George, MP102
Dr. Cristina Marchetti
TBA
09
Mar 2017
noon - 1 p.m.
St. George, MP606
Dr. Kandice Tanner
Probing the biophysical regulation of the de novo tumor microenvironment
23
Feb 2017
noon - 1 p.m.
St. George, MP606
Dr. Roman Melnyk
How Bacterial Toxins Deliver Proteins Across Membranes and into Cells
Protein translocases, found in all kingdoms of life, facilitate the transport of proteins across biological membranes. How these membrane-embedded translocases recognize and transport their heterogeneous and structurally unwieldy protein substrates across membranes is poorly understood.
09
Feb 2017
noon - 1 p.m.
St. George, MP606
Dr. Gregoire Altan-Bonnet
Single-cell modeling of the dysfunctional signaling in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Novel methods in biological physics are becoming critical in clinical application, to functionally interpret cancer genomic alterations. For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), a heterogeneous disease of B-lymphocytes maturing under constitutive B-cell receptor (BCR) stimulation, the functional role of diverse clonal mutations remains largely unknown. We present here a combination of single-cell measurements and computational modeling to demonstrate that alterations in BCR signaling dynamics underlie the progression of B-cells toward malignancy. We apply nonlinear dynamics methods to reveal emergent dynamic features, namely bimodality, hypersensitivity, and hysteresis, in the BCR signaling pathway of primary CLL B-cells. We demonstrate that such signaling abnormalities in CLL quantitatively derive from BCR clustering and constitutive signaling with positive feedback reinforcement, as demonstrated through single-cell analysis of signaling motifs, computational modeling, and superresolution imaging. Such dysregulated signaling segregates CLL patients by disease severity and clinical presentation. Our findings provide a novel quantitative framework and illustrate how approaches borrowed from biological physics help assess complex and heterogeneous cancer pathology.
26
Jan 2017
noon - 1 p.m.
St. George, MP606
Dr. Sevan Hopyan
TBA
12
Jan 2017
noon - 1 p.m.
St. George, MP606
Dr. Tony Harris
TBA
08
Dec 2016
4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
St. George, MP102
Dr. Massimo Vergassola
TBA
01
Dec 2016
noon - 1 p.m.
UTM (streamed to MP606)
Dr. Guillaume Salbreux
Physics of Tissue Morphogenesis: from cellular forces to tissue shape
17
Nov 2016
noon - 1 p.m.
MP606
Dr. Carlos Ramos
Studies on structure, function and interactions of the heat shock protein Hsp40
03
Nov 2016
noon - 1 p.m.
St. George, MP606
Dr. Will Navarre
How bacterial gene silencing proteins contribute to the evolution of pathogens
20
Oct 2016
noon - 1 p.m.
UTM
Dr. Kari Dalnoki-Veress
TBA
06
Oct 2016
noon - 1 p.m.
St. George, MP606
Dr. Gil Prive
Protein-lipid complexes in the lysosome
22
Sep 2016
noon - 1 p.m.
St. George, MP606
Dr. Simon Sharpe
TBA
08
Sep 2016
noon - 1 p.m.
St. George, MP606
Dr. Patrick Barth
Reprogramming membrane protein function by design
21
Apr 2016
noon - 1 p.m.
TBA
Dr. Jonathon Rocheleau
The design and application of genetically encoded Apollo-NADP+ sensors to image cellular metabolism in tissues
07
Apr 2016
noon - 1 p.m.
Davenport Room, Chemistry Building
Dr. Craig Peterson
Chromatin Remodeling Machines
24
Mar 2016
noon - 1 p.m.
TBA
Dr. Nelly Pante
How viruses cross the gate much traveled: Transport of viruses into the cell nucleus
10
Mar 2016
noon - 1 p.m.
UTM, Davis Building 3129
Dr. Elizabeth Rhoades
Order from disorder - defining structure in disordered proteins
In contrast to globular proteins, intrinsically disordered proteins do not form stable, compact structures under physiological conditions. Rather, often their functions are derived from their properties as extended, flexible polymers.
25
Feb 2016
midnight - 1 p.m.
TBA
Dr. Hue Sun Chan
How Does an Enzyme Unknot DNA? Statistical Mechanics of Disentangling by Topoisomerases
11
Feb 2016
midnight - 1 p.m.
Davenport Room, Chemistry Building
Dr. Chris Yip
New Initiatives in Combinatorial Microscopies: From Single Molecules to Developmental Events
28
Jan 2016
midnight - 1 p.m.
TBA
Dr. Chris Bergevin
The Active Ear
The ear is a remarkable detector: It is both highly sensitive and selective, and operates over a large dynamic range spanning more than 12 orders of magnitude. Not only does it respond to sound, but emits it as well. These sounds, known as otoacoustic emissions (OAEs), provide a means to probe the fundamental biophysics underlying transduction and amplification in the ear. This talk will describe the empirical nature of OAE data, as well as theoretical approaches describing the underlying biomechanics using coupled oscillators. While this modeling focuses on the auditory system, an underlying goal is to identify emergent behavior (e.g., phase coherence) that arises universally in qualitatively similar complex biological systems (e.g., neural networks).
14
Jan 2016
midnight - 1 p.m.
Davenport Room, 3rd Floor, 80 St. George Street
Dr. Ran Kafri
Hearing the shape of life: mathematical explorations of cell biology.
Hidden inside of a single individual living cell there exists a dynamical system of multiple, interrelated, chemical processes. Collectively, it is these dynamics and chemical interrelations that define life.
17
Dec 2015
noon - 1 p.m.
Davenport Room, 3rd Floor, 80 St. George Street
Dr. Walid Houry
Formation of an amyloid state by a bacterial protein: structure and consequences
03
Dec 2015
noon - 1 p.m.
Davenport Room, 3rd Floor, 80 St. George Street
Dr. Rodrigo Fernandez-Gonzalez
Collective Cell Migration: Junctional and cytoskeletal dynamics at the interface
19
Nov 2015
noon - 1 p.m.
Davenport Room, 3rd Floor, 80 St. George Street
Dr. Yong Wang
To Cluster or Not to Cluster: New insight into the the segregation mechanism of high-copy bacterial plasmids
05
Nov 2015
noon - 1 p.m.
Davenport Room, 3rd Floor, 80 St George Street
Dr. Sergio Grinstein
Integrins form an expanding diffusion barrier that enables Src-family kinase activation during phagocytosis
15
Oct 2015
noon - 1 p.m.
Davenport Room, 3rd Floor, 80 St. George Street
Dr. Alan Moses
Stochastic models for the evolution of quantitative molecular traits
01
Oct 2015
noon - 1 p.m.
Davenport Room, 3rd Floor, 80 St. George Street
Dr. Scott Prosser
The Biophysics of GPCR Signalling - Mapping the conformational landscape by NMR
17
Sep 2015
noon - 1 p.m.
Davenport Room, 3rd Floor, 80 St. George Street
Dr. Amy Caudy
Expanding the biochemical network with full scan metabolomics
21
Apr 2015
2:10 p.m. - 3 p.m.
60 St. George Street, MP 408
Prof. Dr. Dieter W. Heermann
The Physics of Chromosomes: Loops and Entropy, that's what it's all about
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Event series  BiophysTO Lunchtime Talks