On March 15, Bemidji State University’s Rachel Hellmann Whitaker, associate professor of chemistry, will continue the Spring 2022 Honors Council Lecture Series with her research on Alzheimer’s disease at 6 p.m.
Though first identified in 1906 by Dr. Alois Alzheimer, the pathology and prevalence of the disease in certain populations remains largely a mystery, Hellmann Whitaker said. With research interests that include the structure and function of proteins and nucleic acids, like DNA and RNA, the BSU biochemist said she hopes her work can contribute positively to the field.
“Many of us know someone who has Alzheimer’s and I am no exception,” she said. “I really wanted to lend my expertise to the field in any way I could to further the knowledge and research base for the disease.”
Since joining Bemidji State in Fall 2021, Hellmann Whitaker has been working with a small team of students to better understand the gene LINC00298 – a ribonucleic acid (RNA) that turns genetic information into proteins – that can lead to early-onset Alzheimer’s disease in those under the age of 65.
“We see it, but we don’t know what it does, so that’s a really great place for me to start,” she said. “We have a large population that is aging and many of them will develop Alzheimer’s disease. It’s something that we need to explore more so that we can help people live longer, high quality lives.”
The lecture, titled “Unraveling the Developmental Mechanisms of Alzheimer’s Disease,” will be held in-person and is open free to the public.
“It won’t be very technical or too science heavy, it will be very relatable to everyone,” she said. “Hopefully it will give everyone an idea of what I am doing here with students here at BSU.”
About Hellman Whitaker
Hellmann Whitaker received her doctorate from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in biochemistry and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in nucleic acid chemistry. She was the recipient of a Fulbright Scholars Award at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina, where she served as the chair of the South Carolina Chapter of the American Chemical Society Executive Committee.
About the Honors Council Lecture Series
The Honors Council Lecture Series is hosted by the Bemidji State University Honors Council, the advisory group to BSU’s honors program. It is composed of 12 faculty members representing each of the university’s colleges. Student representatives are also elected to the council by their cohorts for one-year terms. The series provides BSU faculty with a forum to share their expertise and the results of their research with the Bemidji community. All Honors Council lectures are open free to the public.
Unraveling the Developmental Mechanisms of Alzheimer’s Disease
March 15 – Hagg-Sauer Hall 116, 6 p.m.
Contact
Links
2022-B-084