Laura Sherer, PhD, wins fellowship
Laura Sherer, PhD, wins fellowship
Laura Sherer, PhD
By Marena Keci and Naomi Gitlin
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., killing almost 700,000 people every year. Laura Sherer, PhD, a post-doctoral fellow at the Stritch School of Medicine, is investigating ways to reduce that toll with funding from the American Heart Association (AHA).
Sherer’s research focuses on the Bcl2-associated athanogene protein (commonly known as BAG3) and its relationship to heart failure. BAG3 helps maintain the contractile machinery that allows the heart to pump blood. People with heart disease have lower levels of BAG3. Increasing BAG3 levels in animal models improves cardiac function, making BAG3 a promising therapeutic target. As the heart expands and contracts, it is subject to high levels of stress, leading to protein damage. BAG3 helps ensure that damaged proteins are “repaired” (refolded) or removed, allowing new, undamaged proteins to be incorporated into the heart’s molecular machinery. When the heart is stressed, BAG3 is “cut” at the ends in a process known as cleavage. Sherer hypothesized that BAG3 cleavage prevents BAG3 from working effectively. Her goal: determine the effect of BAG3 cleavage on heart function after stress.
The AHA Fellowship aims to enhance the training of post-doctoral fellows who are not yet researching independently by providing financial support for their education and cardiovascular research, helping to improve heart health worldwide.
Sherer works in the lab of Jonathan Kirk, PhD, associate professor and vice chair, Stritch Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology. She worked with Kirk to develop a clear and rigorous proposal to submit to the AHA. She attributes her success to the strong scientific rationale for examining BAG3.
“Laura has been an amazing addition to the lab,” said Kirk. “She has the rare ability to distill complex concepts down to a story that is accessible to a broad audience. I am excited to see what Laura accomplishes in the next several years in the lab because she has the potential to accomplish great things!” he said.
Sherer enjoys the research environment at Stritch, which she describes as very collaborative, relaxed, and filled with opportunities. In addition to her research, Sherer mentored an undergraduate, which gave her a new perspective on experiments and sharpened her communication skills.
Sherer’s work in the Kirk Lab has honed her research skills and deepened her commitment to helping others. As an undergraduate, Sherer chose to study biology primarily because the subject fascinated her. As she grew as a scientist, she became increasingly motivated by how her research would benefit human health. Through her work in the Kirk Lab, she has had the opportunity to speak with cardiologists about their experiences with patients in the clinic, and these interactions have highlighted the realities of heart disease, inspiring her to work hard every day. Sherer hopes to improve the quality of life for people with cardiovascular diseases by working at a company that develops therapeutics. This AHA-funded research project will help her obtain the skills and background knowledge needed to succeed in this career path.
June 2024
By Marena Keci and Naomi Gitlin
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., killing almost 700,000 people every year. Laura Sherer, PhD, a post-doctoral fellow at the Stritch School of Medicine, is investigating ways to reduce that toll with funding from the American Heart Association (AHA).
Sherer’s research focuses on the Bcl2-associated athanogene protein (commonly known as BAG3) and its relationship to heart failure. BAG3 helps maintain the contractile machinery that allows the heart to pump blood. People with heart disease have lower levels of BAG3. Increasing BAG3 levels in animal models improves cardiac function, making BAG3 a promising therapeutic target. As the heart expands and contracts, it is subject to high levels of stress, leading to protein damage. BAG3 helps ensure that damaged proteins are “repaired” (refolded) or removed, allowing new, undamaged proteins to be incorporated into the heart’s molecular machinery. When the heart is stressed, BAG3 is “cut” at the ends in a process known as cleavage. Sherer hypothesized that BAG3 cleavage prevents BAG3 from working effectively. Her goal: determine the effect of BAG3 cleavage on heart function after stress.
The AHA Fellowship aims to enhance the training of post-doctoral fellows who are not yet researching independently by providing financial support for their education and cardiovascular research, helping to improve heart health worldwide.
Sherer works in the lab of Jonathan Kirk, PhD, associate professor and vice chair, Stritch Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology. She worked with Kirk to develop a clear and rigorous proposal to submit to the AHA. She attributes her success to the strong scientific rationale for examining BAG3.
“Laura has been an amazing addition to the lab,” said Kirk. “She has the rare ability to distill complex concepts down to a story that is accessible to a broad audience. I am excited to see what Laura accomplishes in the next several years in the lab because she has the potential to accomplish great things!” he said.
Sherer enjoys the research environment at Stritch, which she describes as very collaborative, relaxed, and filled with opportunities. In addition to her research, Sherer mentored an undergraduate, which gave her a new perspective on experiments and sharpened her communication skills.
Sherer’s work in the Kirk Lab has honed her research skills and deepened her commitment to helping others. As an undergraduate, Sherer chose to study biology primarily because the subject fascinated her. As she grew as a scientist, she became increasingly motivated by how her research would benefit human health. Through her work in the Kirk Lab, she has had the opportunity to speak with cardiologists about their experiences with patients in the clinic, and these interactions have highlighted the realities of heart disease, inspiring her to work hard every day. Sherer hopes to improve the quality of life for people with cardiovascular diseases by working at a company that develops therapeutics. This AHA-funded research project will help her obtain the skills and background knowledge needed to succeed in this career path.
June 2024