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Gillian M. Schiralli Lester, Ph.D.

Contact Information

Faculty Appointments

Biography

Research

In general, I am interested in the regulation of gene expression and how that relates to disease progression. My previous studies have centered on investigating cell signaling mechanisms which regulate Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) replication with the goal of identifying novel factors which could then be targeted for therapeutic development. I now turn my focus onto developing gene delivery strategies to treat acute lung injury. I am particularly interested in dissecting cellular pathways which are required for cytoplasmic trafficking fo plasmid DNA into the nucleus, the site of efficient transcription. Understanding the minimal signals and cell machinery that are required for DNA movement will provide the needed background for developing novel routes for targeted gene delivery in specific cell types.

Credentials

Education

2003
BS | Niagara University
Biology

2009
PhD | Pennsylvania State University, State College
Immunology of Infectious Disease

Post-doctoral Training & Residency

07/2009 - 01/2015
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA

Awards

2014
Young Investigator Award
Sponsor: Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI)

2011
Young Investigator Award
Sponsor: Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI)

2010 - 2011
Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Fellowship
Sponsor: Boston University Immunology Training Program

2008
Graduate Student Travel Award
Sponsor: The Huck Institute of Life Sciences
Location: Pennsylvania State University

2003 - 2004
Graduate Fellowship Award
Sponsor: The Huck Institute of Life Sciences
Location: Pennsylvania State University

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Publications

Journal Articles

9/6/2013
Natarajan M, Schiralli Lester GM, Lee C, Missra A, Wasserman GA, Steffen M, Gilmour DS, Henderson AJ. "Negative elongation factor (NELF) coordinates RNA polymerase II pausing, premature termination, and chromatin remodeling to regulate HIV transcription." The Journal of biological chemistry.. 2013 Sep 6; 288(36):25995-6003. Epub 2013 Jul 24.

2/5/2013
Schiralli Lester GM, Akiyama H, Evans E, Singh J, Gummuluru S, Henderson AJ. "Interleukin 2-inducible T cell kinase (ITK) facilitates efficient egress of HIV-1 by coordinating Gag distribution and actin organization." Virology.. 2013 Feb 5; 436(1):235-43. Epub 2012 Dec 20.

2012
Schiralli Lester GM, Henderson AJ. "Mechanisms of HIV Transcriptional Regulation and Their Contribution to Latency." Molecular biology international. 2012 2012:614120. Epub 2012 Jun 03.

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