Wells Center News and Events

The Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research is home to a vibrant community of experts who proudly share their latest advances in pediatric research through scholarly publications, news, stories and engaging seminars.

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Wells Center Seminar Series

The Wells Center Seminar Series seeks to foster the rich dynamic and collaborative culture of the center while promoting regular interaction between investigators at all levels.

The program is overseen by Jason M. Spaeth, PhD, assistant director of faculty enrichment and development at the Wells Center, and organized by Shari Parker, program manager of special events.

The series features educational presentations from external experts, discussions with professionals within the institution’s vast internal network, interactive breakout sessions and more.

Upcoming Seminars and Events

05 Mar

Mar 05 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Wells Center Seminar Series: Joana Almaça, PhD

1044 W. Walnut Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202

12 Mar

Mar 12 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Wells Center Seminar Series: Robert McKenna, PhD

1044 W. Walnut Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202

19 Mar

Mar 19 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Wells Center Seminar Series: Chaitra Rao, PhD

1044 W. Walnut Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202

Featured News and Stories

Cancer Research

Recent publications featuring Wells Center authors

“A disrupted compartment boundary underlies abnormal cardiac patterning and congenital heart defects.” Published in Nature Cardiovascular Research. Contributing IU author: Swetansu K. Hota
“A Phase I study targeting the APE1/ref-1 redox signaling protein with APX3330: First clinical agent targeting APE1/ref-1 in Cancer.” Published in The Oncologist. Contributing IU authors: Mark R. Kelley, Jun Wan, Sheng Liu, Eyram Kpenu, Randall Wireman, Amber L. Mosley, Hao Liu, Mateusz Opyrchal
“Acute kidney injury following fatty liver ischemia-reperfusion injury: indirect protection by hepatic ferroptosis inhibition.” Published in Frontiers in Physiology. Contributing IU authors: Wenjun Zhang, Zachary Rokop, Shan Li, Shunhua Guo, Weinian Shou, Pierre Dagher, Chandrashekhar Kubal
“Adipocyte-specific ablation of plakoglobin in mice does not affect adiposity but results in sexual-dimorphic effects on weight gain.” Published in Physiological Reports. Contributing IU author: Weinian Shou
“Altered B cell metabolic pathways characterize type 1 diabetes progression.” Published in Journal of Immunology. Contributing IU authors: Holly Conway, Jessica Bernard, Rachel Ramos, Sama Zahran, Dianna L. Perez, Mugtaba Swar-Eldahab, Jon Piganelli, Carmella Evans-Molina, Jamie L. Felton
“Baseline Insulin Secretion Determines Response to Abatacept in Stage 1 Type 1 Diabetes.” Published in Diabetes. Contributing IU authors: Emily K. Sims, Carmella Evans-Molina, Heba M. Ismail
“Cardiomyopathy-Associated Pathogenic Variants in Pediatric Myocarditis: A Study From the Pediatric Cardiomyopathy Registry.” Published in Circulation: Heart Failure. Contributing IU author: Stephanie M. Ware
“Chemical inhibition of a bacterial immune system.” Published in Cell Host & Microbe. Contributing IU authors: Zhiyu Zang, Olivia K. Duncan, Yanyao Cai, Chengqian Zhang, Shelley A. H. Dixon, Steven P. Angus, Robert H. Pepin, Joseph P. Gerdt
“Depletion of Fibrinogen Suppresses Growth of Primary Tumors and Metastasis of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.” Published in Gastroenterology. Contributing IU authors: Nayela N. Chowdhury, Dana K. Mitchell, Kierra Eldridge, Silpa Gampala, Kylee Brewster, Paul R. Territo, D. Wade Clapp, Jia Wang, Omer Saeed, Chi Zhang, Melissa L. Fishel
“Distinct populations of lung capillary endothelial cells and their functional significance.” Published in Communications Biology. Contributing IU authors: Joel James, Aleksandr Dekan, Sedat Kacar, Maki Niihori, Takanori Sano, Mathews Varghese, Dinesh Bharti, Odunayo Susan Lawal, Huanling Gao, Robert S. Tepper, Olga Rafikova, Ruslan Rafikov
“Dual CDK4/6-PI3K/mTOR inhibition reinforces cytostatic programs and tumor control in preclinical models of primary and metastatic osteosarcoma.” Published in Neoplasia. Contributing IU authors: Farinaz Barghi, M Reza Saadatzadeh, Erika A. Dobrota, Harlan E. Shannon, Barbara J. Bailey, Courtney Young, Rada Malko, Ryli Justice, Niknam Riyahi, Christopher Davis, Khadijeh Bijangi-Vishehsaraei, Keiko Kreklau, Lauren K. Stevens, Jenna Koenig, Shirzat Sulayman, Sheng Liu, Jun Wan, Melissa A. Trowbridge, Kathy Coy, Felicia M. Kennedy, Anthony L. Sinn, Marissa Just, Kyle W. Jackson, George Sandusky, L. Daniel Wurtz, Christopher D. Collier, Dana Mitchell, Emily E. Seiden, Edward M. Greenfield, Emma Doud, Amber Mosley, Steven P. Angus, Pankita H. Pandya, Karen E. Pollok
“Dystrophin rescue in the brain for DMD.” Published in Molecular Therapy - Nucleic Acids. Contributing IU authors: Mengzhen Li, Renzhi Han
“Early Life Food Desert Status Is Associated With Alpha and Gamma-Tocopherol Levels and Infant Lung Function.” Published in Pediatric Pulmonology. Contributing IU authors: Garen S. Wolff, Angar Tsoggerel, Aki Hoji, Sydney E. Ross, Jay Colbert, Unai Miguel Andres, James E. Slaven, Joan Cook-Mills, Kirsten M. Kloepfer
“Focused ultrasound-mediated drug delivery of bevacizumab in treating NF2-related schwannomatosis in an animal model.” Published in Scientific Reports. Contributing IU authors: D. Wade Clapp, Simon J. Conway
“Genetic risk-targeted islet autoantibody screening for presymptomatic type 1 diabetes in adults.” Published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. Contributing IU author: Carmella Evans-Molina
“Glycoproteins, Glycolipids, or Both: Why do Glycosyltransferases Recognize Different Acceptors?” Published in ChemBioChem. Contributing IU author: Radoslaw Kaczmarek
“Gpr101 expression during early stages of murine development.” Published in Gene Expression Patterns. Contributing IU authors: John R. Wells, Maria B. Padua, Stephanie M. Ware
“Inhibition of focal adhesion kinase impairs tumor formation and preserves hearing in a murine model of NF2-related schwannomatosis.” Published in Science Advances. Contributing IU authors: Dana K. Mitchell, Kylee Brewster, Li Jiang, Henry Mang, Waylan K. Bessler, Xiaohong Li, Qingbo Lu, Shaomin Qian, Eric York, Sarah K. Morrow, Shelley A. H. Dixon, Christopher Davis, Ka-Kui Chan, Abbi Smith, Alyssa C. Flint, Victor V. Le, Steven D. Rhodes, Steven P. Angus, D. Wade Clapp
“iNKT cell activation exacerbates isoproterenol-induced cardiac injury through macrophage IFN-γ-STAT1 signaling.” Published in Life Sciences. Contributing IU authors: Ying Liu, Weinian Shou
“IL-33-mediated mast cell and eosinophil function requires isoprenylation.” Published in Frontiers in Immunology. Contributing IU author: Tamara T. Haque
“Ligand binding drives proteolysis of the SmcR master transcription factor and controls quorum sensing-state transitions in Vibrio species.” Published in mBio. Contributing IU authors: Tanmaya A. Rasal, Chelsea A. Simpson, Abigail D. Padgett, Logan J. Geyman, Finley J. Andrew, Laura C. Brown, Julia C. van Kessel
“Malignancy and gene therapy in hemophilia.” Published in Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis. Contributing IU author: Radoslaw Kaczmarek
“Mutant p53 promotes clonal hematopoiesis through generating a chronic inflammatory microenvironment.” Published in Journal of Clinical Investigation. Contributing IU authors: Sasidhar Vemula, Yuxia Yang, Ed Simpson, Hongyu Gao, Rudong Li, Farzaneh Behzadnia, Sarah C. Nabinger, David A Schmitz, Maegan L. Capitano, James P. Ropa, Aidan Fahey, Reuben Kapur, H. Scott Boswell, George E. Sandusky, Lindsey D. Mayo, Yunlong Liu
“Seasonal Variability in Nasal Nitric Oxide Measurements: The Role of the Respiratory Therapist in Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Screening.” Published in Respiratory Care. Contributing IU author: Michael D. Davis
“Targeting IL-1/IRAK1/4 signaling in acute myeloid leukemia stem cells following treatment and relapse.” Published in Leukemia. Contributing IU authors: Tzu-Chieh Ho, Baskar Ramdas, Reuben Kapur

Wells Center News and Events

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Wells Center Seminar Series

Upcoming Seminars and Events

Featured News and Stories

IU blood cancer researcher receives 2026 ASH Scholar Award

Leader in medical innovation: Longtime chair of pediatrics fosters spirit of discovery at IU

Pediatrics researcher awarded funding to advance respiratory disease treatment

IU researchers uncover targetable weakness in hard-to-treat blood cancer

Pediatric oncology researcher elected to National Academy of Inventors

Fact vs. myth: HIV/AIDS in pediatrics with infectious disease expert Alka Khaitan

Diabetes researcher recalls past experiences, shares excitement for the future

Gut bacteria associated with life-threatening complications in African children with severe malaria

More stories from the Wells Center and Department of Pediatrics

Recent publications featuring Wells Center authors

Wells Center News and Events

Explore More

Wells Center Seminar Series

Upcoming Seminars and Events

Featured News and Stories

More stories from the Wells Center and Department of Pediatrics

Recent publications featuring Wells Center authors

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