Cecilie Kirkeby Skeby: Understanding Diabetes Mellitus through circular RNAs
PhD defence, Wednesday 13 June 2018, Cecilie Kirkeby Skeby.
During her PhD studies, Cecilie Kirkeby Skeby has researched how circular RNA molecules contribute to the development of Diabetes Mellitus. The circular nature of circular RNAs separates them from other types of RNA and gives them unique properties, such as high stability in cells. Furthermore, circular RNAs have distinct functions and most of the circular RNAs investigated to date, functions as so-called sponges that bind and inhibit other RNAs or proteins.
Cecilie Kirkeby Skeby has studied how specific circular RNAs could regulate the function of the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas, which are dysregulated in diabetic patients. Furthermore, she has explored a method of creating artificial circular RNA sponges for inhibition of microRNAs in cells.
The findings contribute to our current understanding of circular RNAs and expand our understanding of how circular RNAs can play a role in Diabetes Mellitus.
The PhD degree was completed at the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Science and Technology, Aarhus University.
This résumé was prepared by the PhD student.
Time: Wednesday 13 June 2018 at 13.15
Place: Building 1593, room 012, Lecture Theatre, iNANO, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus C.
Title of PhD thesis: Role of Circular RNAs in ?-Cell Function
Contact information: Cecilie Kirkeby Skeby, e-mail: cks@inano.au.dk
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Gunter Meister, Lehrstuhl für Biochemie I, Fakultät für Biologie und Vorklinische Medizin, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
Associate Professor Jan Christiansen, Computational and RNA Biology, Biocenter, University of Copenhagen
Senior Researcher Morten Foss (chair), iNANO, Aarhus University
Main supervisor:
Professor Jørgen Kjems, iNANO and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Co-supervisor:
Head of Research Birgitte Brock, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English
The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Science and Technology/GSST, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1520, rooms 128-134, 8000 Aarhus C.