FROM THE DEAN

Thank you to all who participated in the Chancellor’s Century Council visit on February 21! I appreciate your efforts and I thank you for covering for me as I was out of town.

Here are the most recent news bullets:

• Mini-Medical School was a great success this year! Thanks to all faculty who participated and helped make this such a successful community outreach program for the college. I’d also like to recognize the staff in my office that handle all the planning and organization for this event – thank you for all your hard work!
• The HSC is hosting an Open House for the Round Rock campus on Tuesday, March 11 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. This is a great opportunity to see our new facilities in Round Rock.
• Our own Dr. Don Wesson has been invited by the Dean of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine to serve as speaker at their 2008 Commencement on Friday, May 16. We know Dr. Wesson will represent us well in Chicago!
• Our fourth-year students will be participating in the 2008 Match Day on March 20 in Temple. This is a huge event for our soon-to-be graduates and their families as they find out where they will be headed for the next step in their medical journey.
• We are interviewing candidates for the position of Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs this month. We have two candidates coming to campus during early March and one sometime in April. Have a great month!

COLLEGE NEWS

Spring 2008 “Aggie Medicine” Newsletter Now Available

The Spring 2008 edition of the “Aggie Medicine” newsletter, aimed primarily at College of Medicine alumni and donors, is now available online.

View the newsletter: http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/audiences/alumni/news/aggie-med-spring08.pdf.

Prodigene Open House Scheduled for March 18

There will be an Open House at the newly leased Prodigene space on March 18, with a general open house from 2-3:30 p.m., followed by comments from the dean, a Q&A session about the facility and a talk from Dr. Mary Pat Moyer. A reception will follow at 5 p.m.

Prodigene is located at 101 Gateway Blvd, Suite 100, off Hwy. 6 in College Station. View a map.

Faculty Research Colloquium Slated for March 19

The College of Medicine Faculty Advisory Committee is sponsoring a Faculty Research Colloquium on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. The event will take place in Room 109 of the Medical Education Building in Temple and be simulcast to Lecture Hall 1 of the Reynolds Medical Building in College Station.

College of Medicine researcher Dr. Jose Pliego will be giving the talk, “Changing the Culture of Health Care: The Role of Clinical Simulation.” A reception including light snacks and adult beverages will follow the colloquium in Temple and College Station. Please RSVP to MaryAnn Wolff before Friday, March 14th and provide the location you will be attending.

FACULTY NEWS

Alaniz Joins Microbial & Molecular Pathogenesis Department

Robert C. Alaniz, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Microbial and Molecular Pathogenesis, joined the College of Medicine officially on February 1, 2008. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Laboratory Medicine at the University of Washington in Dr. Brad Cookson’s laboratory before coming to us.

His current research is directed to understanding both host and microbial factors involved in the development of effector, memory and protective T-cell immunity to infection with intracellular pathogens. Dr. Alaniz’s current and future research interests are aimed at understanding how the unique immunobiology of the gut-associated lymphoid compartment and gut associated microbiota influence CD4+ T-cell mediated immunity to oral infection with Salmonella typhimurium.

McNew Recognized at Student-Hosted Luncheon

The College of Medicine’s chapter of the Organization of Student Representatives (OSR) held a lunch reception on Monday, February 4 to honor Dr. Lamar McNew for his nomination to the 2007 AAMC Humanism in Medicine Award. The Humanism in Medicine award is sponsored by the AAMC, the OSR and the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative.

Dr. Chuck Sanders and Dr. Rachel Bramson spoke about Dr. McNew's impact on students' lives and then Dr. McNew spoke for a few minutes. The students formally presented him with a plaque and a memory book of the essays submitted with his nomination, photos of him with students and pages with student notes and signatures.

STUDENT NEWS

Graduate Student Organization Plans 13th Annual Symposium for April 17

The 13th Annual Student Research Symposium, hosted by Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine Graduate Student Organization (GSO), will be held this year Thursday, April 17, 2008, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Reynolds Medical Building in College Station. The student research symposium provides a platform for young investigators of the College of Medicine and affiliated components to share their research among themselves, as well as present to our faculty and visiting participants.

The format of this year’s symposium will be reminiscent of previous symposia and features oral and poster presentations from students and postdocs, a vendor show, continental breakfast, catered lunch and a keynote presentation. The 2008 keynote speaker is Dr. Bryan Cullen, the James B. Duke Professor and the Director of Center for Virology in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at Duke University School of Medicine. Dr Cullen is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, and an internationally known expert in the field of HIV-1 and many human herpes viruses.

For the full story, visit: http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/communications/news/13feb2008.html.

2nd Physician Heal Thyself Slated for March 17

The College of Medicine chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society will be hosting the annual "Physician Heal Thyself" conference in College Station for the M1-M4 classes March 17 from 1-7 p.m. at the Memorial Student Center on Texas A&M’s main campus, with Dr. Jim Rohack as speaker. The event is focused on teaching and demonstrating techniques for improved physician health and well being. Activities and lectures are organized around the bio-psycho-social model of health, with three sessions being offered and twenty seminar choices available. Sample seminar titles include: Yoga for the Body, Drug and Alcohol Addiction in MDs, Emotional Needs of Physicians, Managing Finances, and Massage Therapy.

Scherer, Widmer Elected to TMA Leadership Positions

Two College of Medicine students were recently appointed to leadership positions within the Medical Student Section of the Texas Medical Association (TMA).

Now in his sixth year of the M.D/Ph.D. program, Jay Widmer was appointed as a TMA alternate delegate to the American Medical Association, and also serves as the medical student representative on the AMA’s Political Action Committee Board of Directors.

"I’ve been involved in organized medicine for nearly all of my six years in medical school," Jay says. “I hope to improve the care of our patients and lives of the docs and medical students who take care of them. Progress is always slow, but every little step in the right direction is a rewarding victory – especially for medical students working so hard.

Second-year student Liz Scherer was elected as Chair of the Medical Student Section (MSS) of TMA.

"My three main goals are to facilitate the improved dissemination of information, encourage greater communication among the Texas medical schools and create a mentoring program,” Liz says. “I know have big shoes to fill, as Rob Bour was the Chair two years ago, but I’m looking forward to the opportunity to lead the MSS this year."

Congratulations, Jay and Liz!

Francis Receives American Association for Cancer Research Award

Graduate student Heather Francis was recently notified that she has been selected to receive an American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Warner Fund Scholar-in-Training Award. The $1,000 award will support Heather’s travel and expenses to attend the 2008 AACR Annual Meeting in San Diego in April.

The Warner Fund donates funds to the AACR to support young investigators presenting meritorious proffered papers relating to cholangiocarcinoma research. With Scholar-in-Training Awards presented to fewer than 10% of applicants, the process is highly competitive.

Congratulations, Heather!

BASIC SCIENCE DEPARTMENTAL NEWS

MICROBIAL & MOLECULAR PATHOGENESIS

Grants Received

Dr. David McMurray received the Award Notice for the next year of funding of NIH sub-contract to Colorado State University (G-4401-1) for the project entitled “TB Vaccine Testing and Research Materials”. The total award for the fiscal year (9/24/07 to 9/23/08) is $298,889.

He received the Award Notice for the next year of funding of his NIH sub-contract to Johns Hopkins University (AI 30036) for the project entitled “New animal models for tuberculosis”. The total award for the fiscal year (8/22/07 to 8/21/08) is approximately $192,258.

Dr. McMurray also received the Award Notice for Year 26 of his NIH R01 grant (AI 15495), entitled “Dietary deficiencies and tuberculosis vaccine efficacy”. The total award for the next year of funding (2/1/08 to 1/31/09), is $220,737.

Recent Publications

Rosas-Acosta, G and Wilson, VG. Identification of a Nuclear Export Signal Sequence for Bovine Papillomavirus E1 Protein. Virology [Epub] (2008).

Wilson, VG and Heaton, PR. Ubiquitin proteolytic system: focus on SUMO. Expert Rev Proteomics 5:121-135 (2008)

Scientific Presentations

Dr. McMurray traveled to Haikou, Hainan Island, China, from 2-7 December to attend the 12th International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases in the Pacific Rim, entitled “Antimicrobial Resistance in Respiratory Infections”. The Conference was sponsored by the US-Japan Cooperative Medical Science Program USJCMSP. He chaired the US-Japan Tuberculosis and Leprosy Panel of the USJCMSP, and was involved in the planning and organization of the Conference. He served as a moderator for one of the scientific sessions.

Dr. McMurray also traveled to Rockville, MD, from 12-14 February to attend the quarterly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation. Aeras is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to carry several novel TB vaccines through Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials, and to begin large-scale Phase 3 efficacy trials for the most promising of those vaccines in high-burden countries in the next seven years.

Dr. Vernon Tesh had the following poster presented at the 47th Meeting of the American Society of Cell Biology in Washington, D.C.: Lee, M.-S., S.-Y. Lee, R.P. Cherla, and V.L. Tesh. Shiga toxin 1 induces apoptosis in the human myelogenous leukemia cell line THP-1 through the ER stress response.

MOLECULAR & CELLULAR MEDICINE

Recent Publications

Trevino, SR, Scholtz, JM, and Pace, CN. “Measuring and Increasing Protein Solubility”. J. Pharm. Sci. Jan. 31 [Epub] doi:10:1002/jps.21327 (2007).

Alston, RW, Lasagna, M, Grimsley, GR, Scholtz, JM, Reinhart, GD, and Pace, CN. “Peptide Sequence and Conformation Strongly Influence Tryptophan Fluorescence”. Biophys. J. 94: 2280-2287 (2007).

Alston, RW, Lasagna, M, Grimsley, GR, Scholtz, JM, Reinhart, GD, and Pace, CN. “Tryptophan Fluorescence Reveals the Presence of Long-Range Interactions in the Denatured State of Ribonuclease Sa”. Biophys J 94: 2288-2296 (2007).

Alder, NN, Sutherland, J, Buhring, AI, Jensen, RE, and Johnson, AE. “Quaternary Structure of the Mitochondrial TIM23 Complex Reveals Dynamic Association between Tim23p and Other Subunits,” Mol. Biol. Cell, 19(1): 159-170 (2008).

Soltani, CE, Hotze, EM, Johnson, AE, and Tweten, RK. “Structural Elements of the Cholesterol-Dependent Cytolysins that Are Responsible for their Cholesterol-Sensitive Membrane Interactions,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.(USA), 104 (51): 20226-20231 (2007).

Bowden, MG, Heuck, AP, Ponnuraj, K, Kolosova, E, Choe, D, Gurusiddappa, S, Narayana, SVL, Johnson, AE, and Höök, M. “Evidence for the “Dock, Lock, and Latch” Ligand Binding Mechanism of the Staphylococcal MSCRAMM SDRG,” Journal of Biological Chemistry 283, 638-647 (2008).

Nelson, L, Johnson, AE, and London, E. “How the Interaction of Perfringolysin O with Membranes Is Controlled by Sterol Structure, Lipid Structure, and Physiological Low pH: Insights into the Origin of Perfringolysin O-Lipid Raft Interaction,” Journal of Biological Chemistry, in press (2008).

Lakkaraju, AKK, Scherrer, MC, Johnson, AE, and Strub, K. “SRP maintains nascent chains translocation–competent by slowing translation rates to match limiting numbers of targeting site” Cell, in press (2008).

Wells, GB. (2008) “Structural answers and persistent questions about how nicotinic acetylcholine receptors work,” Frontiers in Bioscience, in press (2008).

Scientific Presentations

Dr. Allison Ficht attended a one day workshop titled Analysis of Antigens of Intracellular Bacteria for Biodefense Research: Prospects for Establishing Collaborations sponsored by the Western Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases on the University of Texas Medical Branch campus in Galveston on January 25, 2008.

Dr. Kayla Bayless attended the NAVBO Developmental Vascular Biology Workshop in Monterey, CA from January 30-February 3, 2008. She presented a talk entitled “Nonlinear Optical Microscopy Reveals Invading Endothelial Cells Anisotropically Alter 3D Collagen Matrices”.

Dr. Siegfried Musser attended the Biophysical Society 52nd Annual Meeting and IUPAB International Biophysics Congress, February 2-6, 2008 in Long Beach, CA. He presented a poster entitled “Dissociation of Importin Alpha/Cargo Complexes at the Nuclear Pore Requires CAS and RanGTP”.

Dr. Arthur Johnson attended the Biophysical Society 52nd Annual Meeting and IUPAB International Biophysics Congress – Chair of Symposium on “Translation and the Translocon,” February 2, 2008 – February 6, 2008, Long Beach, CA. An invited speaker at the meeting, he also presented a talk entitled “FRET-detected Nascent Protein Folding Inside the Ribosomal Exit Tunnel” on February 4, 2008.

Dr. Gregory Bix presented a seminar entitled “Matrix Revolutions: Perlecan Domain V in Angiogenesis and Stroke” as part of the Texas A&M Toxicology Seminar Series on February 18, 2008.

SYSTEMS BIOLOGY & TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE

Grants Received

Wayne Sampson and Christopher Chaput received a $15,000 Texas A&M Health Science Center Research Development Grant entitled “Carbonic anhydrase I as a serum biomarker for osteoporosis” for the period 02/01/08-01/31/09.

Xin Wu and Mariappan Muthuchamy received a $15,000 Texas A&M Health Science Center Research Development Grant entitled “Integrins mediated mechanotransduction in diabetic cardiomyopathy” for the period 02/01/08-01/31/09.

Recent Publications

Behnke, BJ, Zawieja, DC, Gashev, AA, Ray, CA and Delp, MD. Diminished mesenteric vaso- and venoconstriction and elevated plasma ANP and BNP with simulated microgravity. J Appl Physiol Jan 24 (2008).

Trache, A and Meininger, GA. Atomic force microscopy. In “Current Protocols in Microbiology,” R Coico, T Kowalik, JM Quarles, B Stevenson and RK Taylor eds, Wiley & Sons Inc., pp. 2C.2.1-17 in press. Invited book chapter (2008).

Wu, X, Yang, Y, Gui, P, Yoshiro, S, Meininger, GA, Davis, GE, Braun, AP and Davis MJ. Potentiation of BK channels by [alpha]5[beta]1 integrin activation in arteriolar smooth muscle. J Physiol, published January 24, 2008, 10.1113/jphysiol.149500 (2008).

Scientific Presentations

Carl Tong, Xin Wu, R. Moss and Mariappan Muthuchamy presented “Ablation of myosin binding protein C accelerates the kinetics of cross-bridge cycling during the myocardial twitch” at the Biophysics Meeting, February 2008.

Wayne Sampson presented “Bone Health and Osteoporosis” at the sixth session of the 2008 Mini-Medical School in February.

CLINICAL DEPARTMENTAL NEWS

INTERNAL MEDICINE

View the full Internal Medicine department report (PDF).

Recent Publications

Choudhary, R, Baker, KM and Pan, J. All-Trans Retinoic Acid Prevents Angiotensin II and Mechanical Stretch-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species Generation and Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis. J Cell Physiol, 215 (1): 172-81 (2008).

Kumar, R, Singh, VP and Baker, KM. The Intracellular Renin-Angiotensin System - Implications in Cardiovascular Remodeling. Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension, 17: 168-173 (2008).

Booz, GW and Baker, KM. Protein Phosphorylation. In Hypertension Primer: The Essentials of High Blood Pressure, Fourth Edition, Eds. By JL Izzo, Jr.; D Sica; and HR Black, Baltimore, Maryland: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Chapter A 5, 16-21 (2008).

RADIOLOGY

Dr. Michael Middleton, Director of the Division of Nuclear Radiology and Advanced Molecular Imaging in the Department of Radiology, received the 2007-2008 American College of Nuclear Physicians Presidents Leadership Award at the Society of Nuclear Medicine Mid-Winter Educational Symposium 2008 held in conjunction with the America College of Nuclear Physicians Annual Meeting in Newport Beach, California (February 14 - 17, 2008).

ACADEMIC MEDICINE NEWS

For the latest AAMC news, visit http://www.aamc.org/newsroom/aamcstat/aamcnews.htm.  A subscription option is available to receive free weekly updates.

GENERAL NEWS

Upcoming Opportunity to Support Neglected & Abused Children in Temple

Courtesy of Laurin Wilkinson, wife of M4 Ben Wilkinson.

The Junior League of Bell County in Temple is hosting our annual fundraiser, Divine Desserts, on Saturday, March 8, benefiting The Children's Advocacy Center of Central Texas. The event will feature a wide array of scrumptious desserts created by local caterers and a diverse silent and live auction, and will run from 8 p.m. to midnight at the beautiful Tenroc Ranch in Salado (5471 Thomas Arnold Road, Salado, TX). Tickets are $45 each and $80 per couple and are available by calling 254-939-2946, ext.4.

All of the proceeds from Divine Desserts will benefit the CACCT in ensuring that child abuse victims in our community receive quality services that reduce pain and promote healing. The services provided by the CACCT are vital, as evidenced by confirmed reports from Bell and Coryell counties of 1,595 victims of child abuse in 2006. Of these cases, 967 abused or neglected children were removed from their homes and five children died as a result of abuse. CACCT is fighting to reduce these statistics, serving more than 825 abused children in 2007 through its Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) programs.

Traditionally, this is something that College of Medicine students, residents, and Scott & White faculty have attended. We would love to have an even better turn out from College of Medicine people this year!

DATES TO REMEMBER

• March 17: Physician Heal Thyself; 1-7 p.m. – Memorial Student Center @ Texas A&M
• March 18: Prodigene Open House; 2-6 p.m. – 101 Gateway Blvd, Suite 100, College Station
• March 19: Faculty Research Colloquium; 5 p.m. – Room 109 MEC (Temple); simulcast to Lecture Hall 1 (College Station)
• March 20: 2008 Residency Match Day; 10 a.m. – Hilton Garden Inn (Temple)
• April 4: Cadaver Ball; 6:45 p.m. – Pebble Creek Country Club
• April 17: GSO Symposium; 8 a.m.–5 p.m. – Reynolds Medical Building (College Station)
• May 16: Senior Banquet – Reed Arena
• May 17: Class of 2008 Commencement; 2 p.m. – Rudder Auditorium

Christopher C. Colenda, M.D., M.P.H.
The Jean and Thomas McMullin Dean
Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine