Researchers at JABSOM have made a significant breakthrough in gene editing technology that could revolutionize how we treat genetic diseases. Their new method offers a faster, safer, and more efficient way to deliver healthy genes into the body, potentially leading to treatments for hundreds of conditions.

It was a special night at the Elks Lodge on May 6, 2024, as two John A. Burns School of Medicine graduate students were recognized by Honolulu's chapter of the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation for their accomplishments in doing vital, high-impact research.

The 71st Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI) wrapped up last month, and all three of JABSOM's Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellows returned with some significant recognition.

JABSOM faculty, Drs. Bradley Willcox and Richard Allsopp, and collaborators have found a way to make mice live longer! In a special study with mice, two substances made the male mice live longer. One is called Astaxanthin (Asta), and it made male mice live 12% longer. The other one is called Meclizine (Mec), and it makes male mice live 8% longer. These results are significant.

The Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR) has named Dr. Monika Ward a distinguished fellow, putting her in an exclusive class of scientists who made outstanding contributions to the field of reproductive biology.

In an intimate, small group conversation, Victor A. Ruthig, PhD returned to JABSOM last Friday to share some secrets of being a post-doc in Hawaiʻi.Ruthig, now doing a second postdoctoral at the Weill Cornell Medicine Genitourinary Development and Fertility program, spent five years at JABSOM researching Y chromosome genetics, male fertility, male anatomy and male development work. Ruthig, a Developmental and Reproductive Biology (DRB) graduate student, was mentored by Dr. Monika Ward and worked closely with the Institute for Biogenesis Research.

Making waves at the University of Hawaiʻi (UH) is the Institute for Biogenesis Research’s (IBR) youngest full-time faculty member, 36-year-old Jesse Owens. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) just awarded him $2.3 million dollars over the next five years to develop a new, safer and more efficient approach to gene therapy.

Dr. Thomas Kosasa, professor emeritus of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health at the University of Hawaiʻi (UH) medical school, established the Kosasa Graduate Student Assistantship. This provides free tuition and a modest living stipend for a student in the Developmental and Reproductive Biology (DRB) Graduate Program.

The JABSOM Developmental and Reproductive Biology (DRB) Graduate Program Students 2019 Retreat took place on November 6 at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Institute of Biogenesis Research (IBR). Thirteen students (7 PhD and 6 MS) presented their work. The topics covered various aspects of reproductive and developmental biology, such as stem cells in reproduction, oogenesis, fertilization, assisted reproduction technologies, embryonic and fetal development, placentation and other aspects of pregnancy, transgenesis, behavior, etc.

“I never expected my life could be this good when I arrived here in 1966. I thank everyone.” – Yana said.At 5pm, in the Sullivan Center, “Yana” will be saluted with the screening of a specially-produced video and a proclamation signed by Hawaiʻi Governor David Ige and Lt. Gov. Douglas Chin.