Issue 131 July-August 2016

A NEWSLETTER OF THE ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY What Else Inside? Ten Minutes with... Click the Clock, While It’s Ticking! Sohail Tavazoie Senior Attending Physician, Leon Hess Associate Professor NYU’s “Street Science” CourtesyCompany Some of Photo FIlm F e r n a n d o B e j a r a n o STEM and Younger Generation 3 Imagine that you are just out of graduate high enough? Will I publish in good jour- B y J o h a n n e s B u h e i t e l school and about to embark on a biomedi- nals fast enough?” Faster, Higher, Stron- cal science post doc in a world-renowned ger... And you dive in, that moment when The RU Nobel Prize Laureate research institute. You have your Ph.D., the Olympic motto expresses the career Paul Greengard you feel self-assured, confident, and cer- aspirations of a well-driven scientist. 5 tain of your path in life. You are excited Most would agree if I said that many B y J o s e p h L u n a about this next step and don’t care how of us dreamt from the start of achieving demanding it could be compared with greatness in our careers, and embraced All Aboard the BioBus your Ph.D. But in a moment of doubt, you this motto just as if we were getting ready pause to consider what it might mean to to run the Olympic marathon. Science 6 B y A i l e e n M a r s h a l l be an academic scientist: what have you can be compared to endurance running, gotten yourself into? Many thoughts and where the stamina of researchers is tested CrossFit: unanswered questions about your future and culminates with the ultimate goal, a career will run through your mind. “Will groundbreaking, game changing publica- 7 Everything You Need to Know I be strong enough to withstand the pres- B y F r a n c e s c a C ava l l o sure? Will the impact of my research be CONTINUED TO P.2 Free Summer Park Events 8 in NYC B y S u s a n R u s s o Culture Corner The Violent Brilliance of Peaky 11 Blinders B y B e r n i e L a n g s For Your Consideration 12 Ones to Watch, Vol. 1 Edition B y J i m K e l l e r INTERVIEW 15 NYSOM: Brian Fabella B y G u a d a l u p e A s t o r g a A Piece of Our Mind By George Ba r a n y a nd NATURAL SELECTIONSNATURAL Chr istopher A da ms 16-17 Wobegon by Robert Mark and George Barany Life on a Roll Venetian Holiday

18 Fernando Bejarano/ B y Q i o n g Wa n g Sohail Tavazoie, M.D., Ph.D. 1 CONTINUED FROM P.1 time he would let me do research. That was great to do experimental science again Editorial Board tion that will help them secure a top aca- during college, but looking back I would demic position or that sought-after indus- really say that it was my high school ex- EDITORIAL BOARD try job. perience, when I was 16 and worked with Jim Keller Our guest, Dr. Sohail Tavazoie, is a John, who made bacterial genetics super Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor great example of a top player achieving exciting, that is what definitely got me Aileen Marshall greatness in this scientific field, breaking hooked on science and I could never go Assistant Copy Editing Manager records every step of the way. He received back from that. Susan Russo his Bachelor of Arts in Molecular and Cell NS: Explain your work to a five-year- Copy Editor, Distribution Biology at the University of California, old. Qiong Wang Berkeley. He also has an M.D. from Har- ST: When people get cancer some- vard Medical School and a Ph.D. in Neu- times the cancer can spread to other or- Copy Editor, Webmaster, Public Relations Manager Nan Pang roscience from Harvard University. Dr. gans in the body and that is called metas- Tavazoie then spent time as an oncology tasis. When it is spread to other places, Production Designer fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Can- the cancer cells can grow in those organs Peng Kate Gao cer Center and conducted postdoctoral destroying them and patients can die. The Copy Editor research in Joan Massague’s lab. During biological question is how is it that some selections.rockefeller.edu this time, he changed fields from develop- of those cells that belong at the primary [email protected] mental to cancer biology where he began tumor site can colonize other tissues. Ex- to focus on the control of breast cancer by periments have shown that out of every microRNAs. This was a fortuitous tran- ten thousand cancer cells in circulation, sition, because shortly after, he crossed roughly one is able to ultimately form a tions. Manhattan’s York Avenue to start his very metastatic colony. We are trying to un- NS: Scientists are not only focused on own lab at The Rockefeller University. Dr. derstand how this single cell is able to do science. They are usually passionate people Tavazoie’s lab has been trying to under- that and how it can shift its gene expres- devoted to other extra-curricular activi- stand different cellular situations where sion program to be successful in coloniz- ties. Do you have any other passions be- cancer cells are being regulated by small ing other tissues. We have seen how those sides science? RNAs. Every project in his lab poses a new cells are able to change the lifespan of their ST: I used to. Right now my free time challenge. As a result of his continued suc- RNAs. By increasing the stability of those goes to my children...I used to play sports, cess, Dr. Tavazoie has received much rec- RNAs of genes that promote growth and I love[d] to run track and field, played a lot ognition and many honors: ASCO Young metastasis, and suppressing the genes that of basketball, skiing, rock climbing. Once Investigator Award, Emerald He Founda- negatively impact on them, they are able to you have children, things change and kids tion Young Investigator Award, and the form the malignant colonies. We are inter- become your hobby. Right now, the kids Pershing Square Sohn Prize among others. ested in better understanding the process drain all my free time, but every now and I met Dr. Tavazoie at his office, and by which those cells are able to shift the then, my wife and I take some time for what was supposed to be a ten minute level of those genes’ RNAs and we have ourselves and enjoy this beautiful city. chat turned into an afternoon of riveting seen that this can be achieved post-tran- NS: What would you be if you weren’t conversation. Whether it was because scriptionally by diverse small RNA types. a scientist? I also work in microRNAs and tumor We have observed that similar gene regu- ST: … I trained as a physician, I am a progression, or perhaps it was because I latory mechanisms also operate in normal medical oncologist and I am still seeing enjoyed his fascinating responses to our cells to control the levels of gene expres- patients at MSKCC. If I wasn´t a scientist questionnaire, or maybe even, because sion normally. Probably not for a five year I think I would do that full time. In my he mentioned a fondness for Madrid, my old kid though. opinion, medicine has become … more hometown, I sat there enthused by his NS: If you could sum up the most im- and more scientific, and medicine and sci- passion for science and his wonderful portant characteristics of a scientist in ence have a lot in common. We need more achievements in such a short career. three words, what would they be? effective cancer therapies for patients and ST: A scientist should be passionate, that motivates me to continue to under- NS: Who, or what, inspired you to en- rigorous and hard working. stand how cancer behaves. I think being a ter your field of achievement? NS: How does creativity play a role in scientist is the best job one can … have, ST: It happened during a science sum- science? and being a physician would be the second mer program when I was in high school. ST: I think that creativity plays two best job. John Roth, who was a bacterial geneticist, roles. The first is that creativity is impor- NS: Did you have any big rejections in exposed me to science for the first time tant in the initial inception of what you are your life? and that was what hooked me. Later, when going to study and what you want to pur- ST: Absolutely. As you grow up, there I was in college, I got a job in a lab wash- sue, the biological question that you are are things you aspire for that you don’t ing the glassware to pay for my college tu- interested in. Creativity also comes into achieve. In track and field, there was al- ition. While I was there, I made a deal with play by enabling you to utilize new tech- ways someone faster than me. During high the scientist from the lab I was in, half the nologies and creating new approaches in time I would wash the glasses and half the order to specifically address your … ques- CONTINUED TO P.3 2 CONTINUED FROM P.2

school and college there were rejections. When I applied for grants there have been many rejections. There have been rejec- tions also in paper submissions. I think re- jections are key, because you want to know

that not everything is easy and you need to NATURAL SELECTIONS get a sense that you can’t have everything you want. That you have to work hard for what you want. Life is many times not fair and you can work very hard and not get what you fought for. Rejection builds char- acter and forces you to elevate your game. Buheitel/ Johannes In science in particular, you need thick skin and can’t let frustration take over. NS: Who, of all the historic or current personalities, would you most want to meet and why? ST: That’s a good question. I would like The New York Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) invited attendees of all ages to meet Oswald Avery of Avery-MacLeod- to help build this huge geometric structure McCarty fame. He was a professor here … and they were the first [group] to show NYU’s “Street Science” Aims to Bridge the Gap that DNA constitutes the molecular basis of heredity. It is sad that he never got full Between STEM Fields and the Younger Generation recognition for that. From what you can Jo h a n n e s B u h e i t e l read about him he seems to have been an outstanding scientist, an incredible think- “Cool” and “Awesome” are just two of ed indoors due to an unfavorable weather er, and someone with tremendous integ- many joyous exclamations I hear while I forecast. At countless stations, helpers rity. I´d love to meet him and have a bet- am trying to squeeze through the crowd from NYU and other institutes inside and ter understanding of his persona and how of children, parents and other interested outside of the city demonstrated exciting he could inspire the younger scientist[s] individuals filling up the NYU Kimmel experiments, interesting natural phenom- around him who transmitted his own ap- Center to the brim. On Sunday, June 5, ena and brainteasing mathematical co- proach. citizens from all boroughs came to Wash- nundrums among other things designed NS: What’s your idea of a perfect holi- ington Square Park to engage in “Street to bridge the gap between STEM (Science, day/vacation? Science,” a free educational experience, Technology, Engineering and Mathemat- ST: I would say … in a Mediterranean which concluded the World Science Fes- ics) disciplines/topics and the (mostly) beach resort with great food, enjoying tival hosted by NYU during the preced- young audience. time with my family and having time to ing week. The helpers and organizers were Even though the excitement and the read books about history and science that positively surprised by the huge interest in light-hearted nature of events like “Street I am really into. the event despite that it had to be relocat- Science” is sincere, the apparent need for NS: Do you have any advice for young such events does highlight current is- researchers? sues in STEM education in the United ST: Take your time to find the question States. According to the 2012 report of the you are interested in. Talk to senior scien- President’s Council of Advisors on Sci- tists who could be your role models and ence and Technology (PCAST), which is inspire you. Try to find out how they take rather fittingly titled “Engage to Excel,” their path in science. Try to push yourself the US is facing a shortage of up to one into areas that are understudied. Find a million STEM professionals by the end of good environment that allows you to grow 2018. The country has a history of relying and express yourself. One doesn’t have to on foreign professionals to satisfy those stay in academia, if you find it in biotech work-force demands. Increasing educa- [biotechnology companies], just go for tion and job opportunities in the foreign it. There’s great science done in biotech, job markets pose serious threats for the as it is in academia. Communication is a domestic STEM job sector and, ultimate- big part of science, so I would tell them to ly, the US economy. Therefore, in their practice their teaching skills, it helps your report for President Obama, the experts lectures and your ability to write, and the from PCAST (whose roster reads like a better you communicate, the better scien- tist you will be. n Motivated helpers CONTINUED TO P.4 3 engaged kids in all sorts of experiments and projects CONTINUED FROM P.3

Who’s Who of science and technology, and includes minds such as Eric Lander of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, as well as Google’s Eric Schmidt) make it clear that in order to close one gap, one has to close another. Specifically, in order to pro- duce enough STEM graduates, the younger generation of today (including K-12 and college students) must be engaged early and made aware of the wonders of science and technology, and the importance of STEM issues for our everyday lives. Public science education events like “Street Science” but also the rising number of afterschool STEM programs, are practical steps in the right di- rection, but it will require continuous effort from both the public and the private sectors to keep STEM careers looking “Cool” and “Awesome” in the eyes of the bright minds The Bowdoin College RoboCup Team demonstrated how programming can make of tomorrow. n robots spring to life, communicate with each other and even cooperate to play soccer

Natural Selections wants your ART! Whether you can’t stop drawing while waiting for the bus, or taking a walk around the city; if photography is your passion, or if you’re more of a painter, this is your chance to share your art.

This well-mannered tarantula helped attendees to overcome their fear of the unknown Beginning in 2016, Natural Selections will publish a picture of the art we receive every month. To take advantage of this opportunity, email us your work with a title, a brief description, and your name. We’ll make sure to include it in a future issue. We hope to receive several images to create an open space for art! NATURAL NATURAL SELECTIONS We’ll be delighted to receive your artwork, please email hi-res image or vector files to: Johannes Buheitel/ Johannes An array of blinking lights on strings illustrated how neutrinos travel through the [email protected] detector at the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the south pole 4 Twenty-four visits to Stockholm: a concise history of the Rockefeller Nobel Prizes Part XX: Paul Greengard, 2000 Prize in Physiology or Medicine Jo s e p h L u n a Of the 37.2 trillion cells in the human body ron releases specific (excluding microbes), there are about 100 molecules to stimu- billion, or about 0.2%, that are a breed late a neighboring apart. These supercharged cells are indeed neuron, a bit like just that, charged to carry electrical signals passing a message to communicate with one another. They are with a direct hand- organized into a dense and almost unfath- shake. This fast syn- omably complex network that uses gobs of aptic transmission energy to act as a command center for ev- as it was called, was erything humanly imaginable. These cells carried out in mil- control your breathing, your ability to see, liseconds. But there and initiate every movement you make. were dozens of oth- They are responsible for every idea you’ve er neurotransmit- ever had, every feeling you’ve ever felt, and ters that appeared to every memory you’ve ever recalled. act much slower, on I’m writing of course, of the neuron, the the scale of dozens

basic cellular unit of the brain. Because of of milliseconds to Courtesy Rockefeller the University of Photo their almost mystical properties, genera- seconds, sometimes Paul Greengard, Ph.D. tions of scientists have dedicated entire ca- minutes. This slow synaptic transmission the enzyme. This was a first peek inside reers toward understanding how neurons presented a bit of a puzzle. No one knew neuronal machinery, and it confirmed that work. Nowadays, we call such devotees how it worked, or largely what it was for. the signaling that went on inside of neurons neuroscientists, but this wasn’t always so. Greengard’s great insight was to pay at- was consistent with other cell types. Sud- When our next future Stockholm visitor tention to the biochemists. Starting from denly an entirely different layer of commu- got started, the basic truths outlined above the premise that a neurotransmitter was nication and regulation of neurons was on were known about neurons. But they re- a small chemical messenger between two the table. mained a black box: so little was understood cells, Greengard was encouraged by work Starting with a dopamine-sensitive ade- about neuronal insides that neuroscience with hormones, as a similar form of cellu- nyl cyclase, over the next three decades (and wasn’t yet a distinct field in the mid-1950s lar communication. What made hormones persisting to this day), Greengard and his and early 1960s. For a newly minted PhD remarkable was their ability to act at long laboratory, in no small part, created much named Paul Greengard, this soon became distances, a hormone made in the pancre- of molecular and cellular neuroscience by an inspiring frontier. as could travel through the bloodstream charting the order of intracellular events Trained as a neurophysiologist at Johns and instruct a distant liver or muscle cell. triggered by a neuron engaging a neu- Hopkins, Greengard was thoroughly Greengard hypothesized that neurons rotransmitter. First with biochemistry and grounded in the electrophysiological school might be using similar principles, without neurophysiology, and later with molecular that viewed neurons essentially as living the long distances. It was a bit like saying biology and mouse genetics, the Greengard electric cables. In other words, everything that in a world where quick handshakes lab showed that these slower signaling path- important about the brain could be ex- were king, neurons were also using phones, ways didn’t replace the fast communication plained through an electrical understand- fax and email to talk to one another. between neurons, but rather they modu- ing of how neurons communicated with The early neuroscience community was lated them: they acted like the knobs and each other at short timescales. By under- skeptical that any long distance communi- dial settings that enabled the brain to run standing the biophysics of a firing neuron, it cation was needed in a fast synaptic trans- smoothly. These discoveries had enormous was believed that a largely complete under- mission world, but Greengard had a deci- implications for a variety of neurological standing of the brain was possible. And yet, sive edge. He knew from the biochemists and psychiatric diseases associated with ab- neurons weren’t inert conduits: to the bio- that when a hormone reached its target cell, normal dopamine signaling, from Parkin- chemists, they contained scores of unique a specific enzyme called an adenyl cyclase son’s disease, schizophrenia, ADHD, and enzymes and molecules that at first glance was activated to make a molecule called drug abuse. Molecular explanations of how had little to do with the rapid electrical wiz- cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), drugs worked on the brain were now pos- ardry for which neurons were famous. As and both the enzyme and cAMP could be sible, not to mention inspiring whole new living entities, they were likely much more reliably measured. Then at Yale, Greengard avenues of therapeutic intervention. complicated tha