CCAM Events are typically held in the CCAM Conference Room, R1673
Cell & Genome Sciences Building (CGSB)
400 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030
CCAM Seminars - Thursdays, 12 p.m., September - June.
(Please note calendar for possible time changes.)
CCAM Lab Meetings - Fridays, 12 p.m., year round.
Upcoming Events
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Oct
8
CCAM Seminar Series - Dr. Timothy Duerr 4:00pm
CCAM Seminar Series - Dr. Timothy Duerr
Thursday, October 8th, 2026
04:00 PM
CGSB, 400 Farmington Ave
CCAM Seminar Series
Speaker: Dr. Timothy Duerr Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UConn Health
Title: “Cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating proximodistal positional identity during axolotl limb regeneration”
Abstract: Axolotl salamanders can regenerate their limbs following amputation anywhere along the proximodistal (PD) axis. During this process, resident connective tissue cells, including dermal fibroblasts and periskeletal cells, dedifferentiate and accumulate at the limb stump to form a blastema. Blastema cells retain their genetically encoded PD positional identity, enabling them to redifferentiate and regenerate the appropriate PD limb structures. Retinoic acid (RA) signaling is essential for establishing PD positional identity, as elevated levels of RA instruct blastema cells to adopt a proximal limb identity. We found that RA concentration along the PD axis is regulated by Cyp26b1 expression, which degrades excess RA to generate distal identity during limb regeneration. These differences in RA concentration lead to differential expression of homeobox genes that provide blastema cells with the correct PD positional identity. One such gene identified was Shox, which we show is required for activation of the PTHrP/IHH feedback loop in regenerating chondrocytes of proximally amputated limbs. Once blastema cells genetically adopt positional identity via RA, they express PD-specific cell surface proteins that modify cellular adhesivity. This enables self-sorting with cells of similar positional identities. We have identified several cell surface proteins, including LPHN2, TENM4, and FLRT3 that follow the same spatiotemporal expression patterns as 5’ Hox genes and are both RA responsive and differentially expressed between proximally and distally amputated limbs. Collectively, our results support a model whereby RA directs blastema cells to establish PD identity through transcription factors that regulate the expression of positional identity-specific cell surface proteins.
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Oct
9
CAM Research in Progress: Kshitiz 12:00pm
CAM Research in Progress: Kshitiz
Friday, October 9th, 2026
12:00 PM
CGSB, 400 Farmington Avenue
Speaker: Kshitiz
Title: “Ruminating over the cows: insights into how ruminants control cancer dissemination”
Via Webex: https://uconnhealth.webex.com/uconnhealth/j.php?MTID=mdacf393cf6a2ee5314a3b76525ea5e57
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Oct
16
CAM Presentation: Dr. Eran Agmon 12:00pm
CAM Presentation: Dr. Eran Agmon
Friday, October 16th, 2026
12:00 PM
CGSB, 400 Farmington Avenue
Speaker: Dr. Eran Agmon
Title:
Via Webex: https://uconnhealth.webex.com/uconnhealth/j.php?MTID=mdacf393cf6a2ee5314a3b76525ea5e57
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Oct
22
CCAM Seminar Series - Dr. Aiden Riley 4:00pm
CCAM Seminar Series - Dr. Aiden Riley
Thursday, October 22nd, 2026
04:00 PM
CGSB, 400 Farmington Ave.
Speaker: Aiden Riley, Ph.D.,
Title: TBD
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Oct
23
CAM Presentation: Rashmi Kaldera-Dissasekara 12:00pm
CAM Presentation: Rashmi Kaldera-Dissasekara
Friday, October 23rd, 2026
12:00 PM
CGSB, 400 Farmington Avenue
Speaker: Rashmi Kaldera-Dissasekara
Title:
Via Webex: https://uconnhealth.webex.com/uconnhealth/j.php?MTID=mdacf393cf6a2ee5314a3b76525ea5e57
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