Better
Brains
B Y
E D I T E D
K A L E N E
B Y
A L I
M C C O U R T
E I C K H O LT
photo by Tom Kimmell
I
6
magine a world where autism, Down syndrome, Fragile X, and
schizophrenia could be identified early and aggressively treated.
Eugenia Olesnicky Killian, an assistant professor of biology at
UCCS, is uncovering methods that may revolutionize the treatment
given to patients suffering from these neurological disorders.
“By identifying genes that are important for making neural
connections, we can start to design therapeutics that specifically
target these genes in an attempt to treat patients suffering from
such illnesses,” said Killian, who takes great pride in perpetuating
change in the medical field.
“My work focuses on identifying genes that regulate how nerve
cells take on specific shapes,” said Killian, who received her Ph.D.
from NYU in developmental genetics. “Although this may seem like
an elementary question, it is in fact a very important question in
neural development that the field knows surprisingly little about.”
Oftentimes neurological disorders are a result of inappropriate
wiring or loss of nerve cell connections. Killian focuses on painsensing neurons, and also does substantial work on nerve cells
that control muscle movements, termed motoneurons.
“I’ve identified quite a few genes that are required for various
aspects of nerve cell development and connectivity,” said Killian.
“My work aims to explain how these shapes and connections
are made in the first place to try to understand what happens in
neurological disorders.”
Always fascinated by the general makeup of life, Killian
reflects on her early years growing up in a close-knit Ukrainian
R e s e a r c h
I n n o v a t i o n s
F a l l
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community on the East Coast. From childhood, she was filled with
the kind of inquisitiveness that fuels a desire for lifelong discovering.
“I fell in love with nature and had an insatiable appetite for
learning about animals and natural phenomena from a very young
age,” said Killian. “Growing up I spent a lot of time outdoors,
which fueled my curiosity for how life works.”
It didn’t hurt that all of Killian’s Ukrainian family were also
involved in the medical field. From her parents to her siblings,
everyone played a role in working toward uncovering new advanced
methods of treatment. While the love of science was radiating strongly
at home, Killian credits her college mentors with helping her realize
that biology was the direction her life would take.
“I distinctly remember my future graduate mentor lecturing in
a molecular genetics course about the complexity of embryonic
development,” said Killian. “He pointed out what an impressive
“
Discovery is
a powerful
motivator. It also
ensures that my
work is never
boring.
”
feat it is for an embryo to begin as a single cell and
somehow develop into an incredibly complex organism.
With that single sentence I was hooked.”
Since that time, Killian has studied various aspects
of development ranging from evolution to cell migration
and generating neural connections. “Throughout
my career, I had been fortunate to have had very
encouraging and supportive mentors,” said Killian. “It is
for this precise reason that I wanted to pursue a career
in academia, where I could also help guide students
along their academic and career paths.”
For the past decade, Killian has served as a mentor
to countless aspiring scientists. From high schoolers
Electron microscope image of a fly’s brain. Eugenia’s
to college and graduate students, she always finds
research on fly brains has helped in the study of
collaboration with up-and-comers refreshing. Currently,
pain receptors.
Killian is working with UCCS students in her lab.
Together, they have done extensive analysis on twentyfive different genes identified by Killian as radiators of
nerve cell development.
“It will be interesting to see if patients suffering from diverse
“We are currently analyzing all of the data and hope to
craniofacial congenital defects have mutations in the gene that
submit a manuscript for publication by the end of this year,” said
encodes this particular protein, as it will suggest a causal link for
Killian. “I am proud to have three outstanding UCCS students as
the disorder,” said Killian.
co-authors on this manuscript.”
Killian’s recent article, “Combinatorial Use of Translational
“I particularly enjoy watching students evolve their critical
Co-Factors
for
Celltype-Specific
Regulation
During
thinking skills and start thinking ‘like a scientist,’ said Killian. “There
Neuronalmorphogenesis in Drosophila,” published in the May
is no greater sense of accomplishment for a mentor than seeing
2012 issue of Developmental Biology, has shone a light on certain
students attain their career and academic goals.”
aspects that cause neurons to stop functioning or die.
“The best piece of advice I can give to a biology student is to
Killian’s research, funded by the National Institute of Child
be open-minded and explore different topics in biology. Biology
Health and Human Development, focused on a gene that when
offers many unique career opportunities including environmental
rendered inactive, caused massive brain tumors in fruit flies. Defects
protection, wildlife conservation, basic science research, health
in the same gene in mice were associated with neurodegeneration
related/Biotech research, as well as medical careers.”
and in humans were associated with various types of cancers,
“Whether in the lab or classroom, the most rewarding aspect of
brain tumor formation and schizophrenia.
my job is seeing students get excited about biology and research,”
“This was a particularly exciting study surrounding the role of a
said Killian. “There are still so many things we do not understand in
gene called Brain Tumor in the development of pain sensing neurons
biology. I think when students realize they can make new discoveries
and motoneurons. I was able to glean insight not only into the function
and important contributions; they fall in love with science.”
of the gene, but also show that Brain Tumor interacts with a number of
“Discovery is a powerful motivator,” said Killian. “It also
other genes to regulate nerve cell development,” said Killian. “Perhaps
ensures that my work is never boring. I still get incredibly excited
the most exciting aspect of this work was showing that perturbing the
when we get new results in the lab.”
function of certain genes causes neurons to degenerate. The results of
During her post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Colorado
the study have opened up many avenues of research regarding the
Denver, Killian made some relevant discoveries of her own in the field
molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration.”
of craniofacial biology. According to Killian, many nerve cells are
When not mentoring students and working in the lab to
born quite a distance from where they ultimately function, and must
combat disorders that wreck havoc on bodies, Killian enjoys
migrate to their final destination during embryonic development.
communing with nature. An avid cyclist, she takes on both the
“I worked on a population of stem cell-like cells called neural
road and the mountain.
crest cells,” said Killian. “These cells migrate impressive distances
“I relish every opportunity to be outdoors and experience
in the embryo and give rise to the ganglia of the head, as well as
nature. I particularly enjoy coupling cycling and camping,” said
many of the bones of the face. Inappropriate migration of these
Killian. “I find it is the perfect way to spend time with my husband,
cells can lead to numerous disorders including DiGeorge syndrome,
unwind and also see new and beautiful parts of Colorado.
Treacher Collins syndrome, cleft lip and cleft palate syndromes.”
“You will also find me spending an incredible amount of time
While working at the school, Killian identified one of the first
gardening,” said Killian. “We have a large vegetable garden in
proteins that serves as an attractive cue for neural crest cells as they
our yard and I suppose it is no surprise that a biologist would be
migrate to their final destinations in the developing embryonic head.
completely enthralled watching plants grow!”
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o f
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