News
April 9, 2025
Seeing beyond chlorophyll’s glow
Mizzou researchers genetically engineer plants to optimize microscopy By Sophie Rentschler | Bond LSC Gary Stacey’s lab is a breeding ground for model plants, curated to get the most precise image of the plant leaf tissues. Those plants help scientists at Mizzou and the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) bridge plant science and microscopy to capture high quality snapshots of a plant’s cellular structure. The collaborators recently co-published their latest contributions to lattice light-sheet microscopy imaging in The Biophysical Journal. It shows a way to better see plant…
March 27, 2025
Donald Burke-Agüero among faculty honored as 2024 AAAS Fellows
Four MU researchers were recognized as 2024 AAAS Fellows, which represent some of the most distinguished leaders in science and innovation. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) recognized four University of Missouri Faculty as 2024 AAAS Fellows for their distinguished work in various fields of science. Among the list is Donald Burke-Agüero, a principal investigator at MU’s Bond Life Sciences Center and professor of biochemistry and molecular microbiology and immunology in the School of Medicine. Burke-Agüero is being recognized for his distinguished contributions to the development of RNA aptamers to investigate viral and cancer biology and…
March 19, 2025
Dai driven by the craft of recycling carbon
Susie Dai, engineering professor and Bond LSC principal investigator | photo by Roger Meissen, Bond LSC By Sophie Rentschler | Bond LSC Susie Dai doesn’t like to waste time, something obvious as she translates Emily Dickinson poems from English to her native Chinese while waiting for an oil change. She would much rather prefer to be doing research. “You cannot write a paper or a grant [in a waiting room lobby],” she explains about why she resorts to her hobbies. Dai gets bored easily, so she keeps busy in any way she can,…
Feb. 14, 2025
Bing Yang honored by St. Louis Academy of Sciences
ST. LOUIS, MO – The Academy of Science – St. Louis is proud to announce the recipients of the 27th Annual Outstanding St. Louis Scientists Awards, recognizing individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the advancement of science, engineering, and technology. The awards ceremony will be held on April 3, 2025, at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Since its inception, the Outstanding St. Louis Scientists Awards has honored some of the brightest minds in the region, celebrating their exceptional achievements, groundbreaking discoveries, and lasting impact on…
Feb. 4, 2025
Searching for alternative lung cancer treatment
Non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma occurs in the glandular tissue of the lung and is illustrated here with a histopathology light micrograph and the structure of Thomas’ aptamer used in their study. | Adobe Stock By Roger Meissen | Bond LSC Treating lung cancer is tricky business. Not only is it more deadly than other cancers due to late diagnosis, but resistance also grows quickly against its few existing treatments and therapeutics, so new approaches are vital to higher survival. That’s especially true for one subset of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), and University of Missouri scientists have shown promising progress toward…
Feb. 4, 2025
Searching for alternative lung cancer treatment
Non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma occurs in the glandular tissue of the lung and is illustrated here with a histopathology light micrograph. | Adobe Stock By Roger Meissen | Bond LSC Treating lung cancer is tricky business. Not only is it more deadly than other cancers due to late diagnosis, but resistance also grows quickly against its few existing treatments and therapeutics, so new approaches are vital to higher survival. That’s especially true for one subset of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), and University of…
Jan. 21, 2025
Bond LSC launches Joy of Discovery art contest
Joy of Discovery sculpture in McQuinn Atrium of Bond LSC. Help us connect the public with the artistic side of your science as we continue celebrating our 20th year. Bond LSC seeks Mizzou research images to refresh its Joy of Discovery sculpture in McQuinn Atrium. The contest begins spring semester of 2025. Final selections will be installed in the Joy of Discovery sculpture for 10 years. Important DatesJanuary 27, 2025 – Submission portal opensApril 2, 2025 – Submissions closeApril 30, 2025 – Artists are notified of selected images Find a full set of rules at https://bondlsc.missouri.edu/joy-of-discovery-art-submission/…
Dec. 11, 2024
A call for resilience
Plant scientists recommend concerted approach to global food security Adobe Stock image By Roger Meissen | Bond Life Sciences Center Climate change presents increasing dangers to crops, and plant scientists across the world recognize rapid changes are needed to prepare for its threats. That’s the message a coalition of plant and agriculture researchers detailed recently in Trends in Plant Science. Organized by Michigan State University’s Plant Resilience Institute (PRI), their paper spelled out how farmers, scientists and policymakers must…
Oct. 29, 2024
Revolutionizing disease prevention
Raymond Preston, research specialist, and Erin Barry, a senior in biological sciences, work in the Paul de Figueiredo lab at Bond Life Sciences Center. | Photo by Braiden Wade Understanding microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses is key to protecting human health — especially as experts predict new infectious diseases will continue to emerge worldwide in the coming years. But safely transporting samples of these microbes to labs for testing remains a challenge. That’s where University of Missouri Professor Paul de Figueiredo, his team and collaborators come in. De Figueiredo recently received more than $3.5 million as part of a…
Sep. 30, 2024
Ron Mittler’s quest to make soybeans smarter
For years, mid-Missouri has withstood unpredictable weather patterns, including drought, heat waves and flooding — conditions that are known to hamper agricultural yields and make it difficult for farmers to produce. | Photo by Sarah Kiefer MU Bond Life Sciences Center principal investigator and plant geneticist Ron Mittler is finding ways to breed soybean crops that can handle heat, drought and water-logging stresses, improving yields under pressure. Working with $2.4 million from the National Science Foundation, Mittler hopes to add to his more than two decades of research by investigating the mechanisms behind how plants cool themselves while under heat…
Sep. 23, 2024
Roman Ganta and Bing Yang among faculty named Curators’ Distinguished Professors
Nine University of Missouri faculty members Curators’ Distinguished Professors and one Curators’ Distinguished Professor Emeritus were named this year. The University of Missouri Board of Curators recently named nine University of Missouri faculty members Curators’ Distinguished Professors, two of whom are MU Bond Life Sciences Center principal investigators, Roman Ganta and Bing Yang. As the highest academic rank, the professorship is awarded once a year and selects a few reputable scholars distinguished by outstanding work. To read more, visit showme.missouri.edu.
Aug. 29, 2024
Plant biochemist puts down new roots at Bond LSC
By Sarah Rubinstein | Bond LSC Joe Lynch, Bond LSC principal investigator and assistant professor of Plant Science & Technology poses inside Bond LSC. | Photo by Roger Meissen, Bond LSC Whether growing plants in his garden or experimenting with moon dust, Joe Lynch is on the lookout for his next DIY project. As one of the newest principal investigators at Bond LSC and a MizzouForward hire, the plant biochemist brings a curiosity as he embarks on a new chapter at Mizzou. He is eager to dive deep into understanding how plants use aromatic amino acids to survive…