MBIB News

Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging (MBIB) interim Division Director Junko Yano announced a change in leadership of the Cellular and Tissue Imaging (CTI) Department, effective January 1, 2023. Carolyn Larabell is stepping down as the Department Head, a position she has served in since July 2020. She will continue to be a member of the MBIB management team, serving as senior advisor to the Division Director. Suzanne Baker, a staff scientist whose research focuses on the methodology behind PET imaging and pharmacokinetic modeling applied to research in aging and dementia, will serve as the new CTI Department Head.

With $10.65 million in support from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), a new Energy Frontier Research Center based at Michigan State University (MSU) has been established. Led by Cheryl Kerfeld, a professor in the MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, the Center for Catalysis in Biomimetic Confinement (CCBC) will explore how nature compartmentalizes some of its most important biochemical reactions.

The projects of 22 Biosciences Area scientists and engineers received funding through the FY23 Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program.

A team led by CRISPR pioneer Jennifer Doudna and her longtime collaborator Jill Banfield has developed a clever tool to edit the genomes of bacteria-infecting viruses called bacteriophages using a rare form of CRISPR. The ability to easily engineer custom-designed phages—which has long eluded the research community—could help researchers control microbiomes without antibiotics or harsh chemicals, and treat dangerous drug-resistant infections. A paper describing the work was recently published in Nature Microbiology.

Each year, the Berkeley Lab Director’s Achievement Award program recognizes outstanding contributions by employees to all facets of Lab activities. Several Biosciences Area personnel are among the 2022 honorees.