The Rigor, Reproducibility, and Transparency (RRT) Seminar Series is a series in collaboration with the Fred Hutch Cancer Center presented by faculty from each of the several ongoing training grants at Fred Hutch and UW. Presenters include faculty from training grants at the Fred Hutch and the UW. The series is in response to NIH-mandated RRT training for trainees on training grants, F awards, and K awards. Lectures focus on a detailed discussion of common or emerging methodologies with the aim of describing strengths, limitations, and pitfalls so those employing or interpreting the data gain a realistic sense of what can and cannot be learned.

The November seminar will feature Melody Campbell, PhD, Assistant Professor, Basic Sciences Division, Affiliate Professor, Herbold Computational Biology Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Scientific Director, Electron Microscopy Core, Shared Resources, Member, Translational Data Science Integrated Research Center (TDS IRC), Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

“Can we trust a cryoEM structure? Understanding the strengths and limitations of structural evidence“

Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) has transformed structural biology, enabling us to visualize biological molecules and assemblies at high resolution and characterize structural and compositional heterogeneity. However, interpreting cryoEM structures requires an understanding of both the strengths and limitations of the method. This seminar will explore how cryoEM data are collected, processed, and interpreted, highlighting potential sources of error at each step and the approaches we use to evaluate the reliability of structural models. Through examples from the literature, we will discuss the importance of rigorous validation, reproducibility, and transparency, including how published structures can be reevaluated and refined as methods improve.

• Fred Hutch trainees: To receive RRT seminar credit, you must attend the Zoom seminar live (or watch the recording within 30 days of the live seminar) and then fill out this survey stating three things you learned.  Click here to find out more about the Rigor, Reproducibility and Transparency Seminar Series.
• UW trainees: To receive RRT seminar credit, you must attend the Zoom seminar live (or watch the recording within 30 days of the live seminar) and then fill out this survey stating three things you learned. Click here to visit the UW webpage to learn​​ more about the seminar series, including a recording of the seminar in the “Seminar Schedule” section for that seminar.