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Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry News

The curriculum offered by the Department of Chemistry meets the needs of students who intend to pursue advanced training in the sciences, medicine, and other professional and technical fields. With chemistry being known as the "central science," our students establish a strong understanding in the composition, structure, and properties of matter, especially in chemical reaction.

Current Chemistry and Biochemistry News

Sznajder
Research |

UNLV-led study in Nature Neuroscience expands our understanding of the disease linked with autism, opening possible new diagnostic and preventative approaches.

female student using lab equipment
People |

Motivated by the challenge of understanding the human body, Stephanie Yang is studying potential cures for C. diff infections.

David Hatchett in a science lab
People |

From growing the university’s research infrastructure to prioritizing personal passions, David Hatchett makes time to do it all.

Josh Hawkins, UNLV
Campus News |

News highlights featuring UNLV students and staff who made (refreshing) waves in the headlines.

Amid a sea of red graduation caps, a 2023 tassel stands out in the crowd
Campus News |

UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield honors six graduates for their unwavering commitment to excellence.

abstract artwork with las vegas strip in background
Campus News |

UNLV junior Rose Jiang is the artist behind 'Primum Non Nocere,' digital art gifted to the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine by the class of 2023.

Chemistry and Biochemistry In The News

KLAS-TV: 8 News Now

Researchers at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, have made a significant breakthrough in autism research. The UNLV researchers uncovered a connection to a type of neuromuscular disease called myotonic dystrophy.

Newswise

A recent discovery of a molecular connection between autism and myotonic dystrophy, a type of neuromuscular disease, may provide a breakthrough on how clinicians approach autism spectrum disorder. The new study by an interdisciplinary team of biomedical scientists, published on April 21 in Nature Neuroscience, used myotonic dystrophy as a tool or model to learn more about autism – effectively using one disorder to better understand the other.

Newswise

A recent discovery of a molecular connection between autism and myotonic dystrophy, a type of neuromuscular disease, may provide a breakthrough on how clinicians approach autism spectrum disorder. The new study by an interdisciplinary team of biomedical scientists, published on April 21 in Nature Neuroscience, used myotonic dystrophy as a tool or model to learn more about autism – effectively using one disorder to better understand the other.

Daily Mail

Autism may be caused by a little-known genetic condition, experts say. They've found children with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) are also 14 times more likely to develop autistic spectrum disorder.

Medical Xpress

Scientists from The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and the University of Las Vegas, Nevada (UNLV) have uncovered a genetic link between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and a rare genetic condition called myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1).

AARP

Germs are everywhere, but these spots in your home are extra ick!

Chemistry and Biochemistry Experts

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A medicinal chemist with expertise in mRNA, gene and drug delivery, and nanomedicine.

Recent Chemistry and Biochemistry Accomplishments

Łukasz Sznajder (Chemistry and Biochemistry) and Krzysztof Sobczak from the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poland have been awarded a grant through the “Initiative of Excellence - Research University” program, funded by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education. This grant will support…
Manisha Gun (Chemistry and Biochemistry) has been awarded the RNA Society Research Presentation Fellowship to support her presentation on RNA misprocessing in myotonic dystrophy at the 2025 RNA Society Meeting.
Radiochemistry professor Frederic Poineau (Chemistry) was recently published in the journal Frontiers in Nuclear Engineering. The article titled, Uranium fluoride micromaterials: a new frontier in nuclear engineering, explores recent advancements in the synthesis and application of uranium fluoride micromaterials, emphasizing their…
Łukasz Sznajder (Chemistry and Biochemistry) has received an Early Career Research in Myotonic Dystrophy Award ($140K) from the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation. His project, titled “Probing Expanded RNA Species and Their Role in DM2,” focuses on understanding how specific RNA molecules containing expanded CCUG repeats may contribute to myotonic…
Arumugam Jayaraman’s (Chemistry and Biochemistry) research engagement with researchers in Germany led to a publication in Wiley’s Angewandte Chemie International Edition journal. The work presents our endeavors to replicate the organometallic chemistry of transition metals using a boron-centered main-group compound called borylene. This work…
Jason Victor (Radiochemistry) published a paper in the Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry titled, "Preparation and arc melting decomposition of cerium trichloride."  The article explores high-temperature chemistry of cerium trichloride, a strategic material relevant to molten salt reactor technology in the nuclear field.…