Molecular and Cellular Medicine-Research Affinity Group (MCM-RAG)
The Molecular and Cellular Medicine-Research Affinity Group (MCM-RAG) will create synergy among researchers and trainees with a common interest in elucidating disease mechanisms at the cellular and molecular levels. Researchers attempting to elucidate the complex etiology of human disease at the molecular and cellular level are challenged with keeping pace with technological advancements, tools, shared equipment, and their subsequent application to answer fundamental questions. There is a growing need to stimulate new collaborations, particularly to solve complex problems that require multidisciplinary expertise. The MCM-RAG will provide a mechanism for regular infusion of ideas and knowledge that combine traditional modern research approaches with cutting-edge technologies to uncover disease mechanisms at the cellular and molecular levels. The MCM-RAG will stimulate the scientific interchange between researchers from the Abigail Wexner Research Institute (AWRI) at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University (OSU) who utilize molecular, cellular, and bioinformatics approaches to elucidate disease mechanisms. While the target organ systems differ, approaches often overlap in the tools utilized to disentangle disease etiology. Hence, although many of the same molecular/cellular technologies and tools are routinely utilized in member principal investigator laboratories, the infusion of outside expertise and novel applications will benefit principal investigators and their teams.
We envision the MCM-RAG as helping to foster research synergy and collaboration across centers, departments, and campuses in the effort to find solutions to more complex problems. Our regular seminar series will feature both researchers with well-established track records, and newer (especially early career) AWRI/OSU faculty with interests in cellular and molecular mechanisms of disease. We view this biweekly faculty/principal investigator seminar series as a mechanism to 1) educate/inform MCM-RAG members/teams, plus the broader AWRI community; 2) highlight existing collaborators, thus increasing their exposure to a broader audience; and 3) foster future collaborations (both internal and external to AWRI).
Our Activities
MCM-RAG will host a regular (biweekly) seminar forum to stimulate scientific interchange among principal investigators, and importantly their trainees, on the use of technologies and approaches that may apply to current (and future) research projects.
- Seminars will be held September through May on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. (in-person and online).
- MCM-RAG anticipates to host 5-6 external speakers per academic year.
Our Goals
- Provide a regular interdisciplinary scientific exchange opportunity among AWRI research teams who dissect molecular and cellular mechanisms of disease, in particular sharing knowledge on cutting-edge tools and approaches.
- Promote locally available resources/core facilities (Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University) that may be leveraged to strengthen research programs/collaborations.
- Stimulate and strengthen multidisciplinary collaborations among AWRI principal investigators, OSU faculty, and physician scientists dissecting disease mechanisms.
MCM-RAG Research Areas
The MCM-RAG encourages synergy among basic, translational, and clinical researchers who are utilizing molecular, cellular, and bioinformatics approaches to elucidate disease mechanisms.