From the Dean

It’s finally starting to feel like fall around here with the cooler temperatures!

I am thrilled to announce two well-deserved new appointments within the college. Filo Maldonado, our long-time Assistant Dean of Admissions, has been promoted to Associate Dean of Admissions. Filo does excellent work with our prospective students and is truly and ambassador for the college. Additionally, Dr. Paul Brandt has been appointed Assistant Dean of Academic Technology. Dr. Brandt has been a longtime champion for technology at the college, and I am confident he will do a great job in this post. Congratulations to Filo and Dr. Brandt!

The College of Medicine and Scott & White are co-hosting an Open House for the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Scott & White on Thursday, November 13 at 9:30 a.m. at the IRM’s facility on the Scott & White West Campus in Temple. The event will serve to welcome institute director Dr. Darwin Prockop and his colleagues to the College of Medicine and to Scott & White. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Brenda Long in my office at bklong@medicine.tamhsc.edu.

A campus dedication ceremony for the new Health Science Center campus in Round Rock will be held Thursday, November 20 at 9:30 a.m. More details will be forthcoming.

Dr. Rob Hash and the Curriculum Committee are continuing to move forward with plans for the college’s curriculum redesign. A special thanks to subcommittee leaders Dr. Paul Brandt and Dr. Ben Green, as well as the rest of the committee, for all the hard work and time you’ve put into this effort.

There are ongoing searches for department chairs of Internal Medicine, OB/GYN and Pediatrics at Scott & White, each in varying stages of the process. The IM search committee is hoping to recommend a slate of candidates by December 1, the OB/GYN committee has narrowed its potential candidates to a short list and the Pediatrics search committee was recently formed and is in the initial stages of the search process. Thanks to the search committee members for all their hard work. We look forward to the hiring of these new chairs soon!

With just a month and a half to go before the end of the semester, our first year students are just a few weeks away from finishing their Gross Anatomy course. Our annual Cadaver Memorial Service is in the planning stages – watch your email for details.

With that, I hope everyone has a great month and Thanksgiving holiday!
 
Christopher C. Colenda, M.D., M.P.H.
The Jean and Thomas McMullin Dean
Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine
147 Joe H. Reynolds Medical Building

 

Dates to Remember

• November 13: Institute for Regenerative Medicine Open House; IRM suite at S&W West Campus – 9:30 a.m
• November 13: Sam Black Memorial Tree Dedication; RMB courtyard – 4 p.m.
• November 20: Round Rock Campus Dedication Ceremony; HSC campus site – 9:30 a.m.
• November 25: Dean’s Harvest Lunch for faculty and staff; RMB lobby – 11:30 a.m.
• November 27-28: Thanksgiving Holiday Break (COM offices closed)

College News

Junior Faculty Group Created

The College of Medicine’s new Junior Faculty Group is dedicated to providing opportunities for career guidance, collegiality, and collaboration for new and junior faculty at the TAMHSC-COM. It is also an added bonus the HSC can offer when recruiting new faculty.

The group will have monthly informal lunch meetings where invited senior faculty members will provide us career advice.  Also, members will have the opportunity to present specific aims of grants to the group for confidential and informal peer review. The group plans to collaborate with and is sponsored by the Office of Faculty Development. In addition, each month the group will highlight a new faculty member in the Dean’s newsletter.

The Junior Faculty Group’s first meeting will take place Tuesday, November 11 at 1 p.m. with Dr. Rajesh Miranda serving as the invited discussion leader. Attendees should meet in the lobby of the Reynolds Medical Building. For more information, suggestions and to RSVP, please email Dr. Ian Murray at IVMurray@medicine.tamhsc.edu, Dr. Tina L. Gumienny at gumienny@medicine.tamhsc.edu or Dr Kelly Hester hester@medicine.tamhsc.edu (Office of Faculty Development).

Bioprofile of new researcher: Dr. Ian V.J. Murray

Ian V.J. Murray, Ph.D., joined the Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics Department as an Assistant Professor in September 2007.

Dr. Murray received his B.Sc. in Biology from University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada in 1993. He earned his Ph.D. in Physiology from the McGill University, Quebec, Canada in 1999, working with Drs. Katherine Cianflone and Allen Sniderman.  He trained as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania with Drs. Virginia Lee and John Trojanowski, and further trained in mass spectrometry with Dr. Axelsen and Dr. Ian Blair both at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Murray has been working on the pathogenesis of Diseases of Aging such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. His novel discoveries related to causation of protein misfolding in these diseases have appeared in a number of top journals including Science, Journal of Biological Chemistry and Biochemistry. Dr. Murray has been invited to speak at international scientific meetings and his work funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, American Health Assistance Foundation, Alzheimer’s Disease Research, and the NIH.

His long-term goals are to identify the etiogenic factors involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Currently research in his laboratory focuses on the detrimental feedback of oxidative damage and protein misfolding in Alzheimer’s disease.

Avenues of research are:

1. Development of proteomic/lipidomic biomarkers,
2. Identification of pathological role of oxidative stress in Alzheimer’s disease models,
3. Development of drugs to prevent oxidative stress and protein misfolding in these diseases.

Dr. Murray invites you to visit his lab in Room 134. His bio page is located at: http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/basic-sciences/next/faculty/ian-murray.html

Bobbie Ann White Named Employee of the Quarter

Bobbie Ann White, Learning Resources Manager in Temple, was awarded the Employee of the Quarter award for the third quarter of 2008. Bobbie Ann has been with the college since the summer of 2006 and has proven to be a great asset.

Her nominating colleagues had the following to say about her:

“Bobbie Ann has great work ethics, is very well organized, thoughtful, very professional yet friendly, works great with students and is always really helpful. She consistently goes beyond what she is expected to do.”
 
“She plays a very important role in holding both the Temple and College Station Learning Resources Centers together, as she conducts and coordinates weekly meetings in between both centers. With increasing numbers of students on the Temple campus, small and large issues arise that require someone that can foresee, prepare and resolve. Bobbie Ann has been managing everything as smoothly as it can be done, and she is someone that everybody loves to work with.”

Congratulations, Bobbie Ann and keep up the good work!

 

 

Physician, Navy Lieutenant to Present Lecture to COM Students

U.S. Navy Lieutenant Andy Baldwin, M.D., 31, is an Undersea Medical Officer, Ironman triathlete, Navy Diver, and humanitarian currently stationed in Washington, D.C. at the Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Baldwin has won humanitarian awards from Triathlete and Competitor Magazine for his participation on a military mission in Laos, where he treated over 600 Laotians in remote mountain villages.

Dr. Baldwin was also the star of ABC's hit show "The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman." After his television appearances, he has become increasingly involved with domestic and global humanitarian projects. In order to help the families of America's fallen heroes, Dr. Baldwin started Got-Your-Back, and has overseen the project through all of its success. He recently transferred from Hawaii to Washington, D.C. where he is working as a Navy medicine advocate at the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. He remains active in his athletic and charitable pursuits.

Dr. Baldwin will be speaking at the College of Medicine on Monday, November 3 at 5:30 p.m. in Lecture Hall 1. College of Medicine faculty, staff and students are invited to stop by and listen to him speak about his experiences as an undersea medical officer, Ironman triathlete, Navy diver and humanitarian, as well as career opportunities as part of the Navy Medicine Team.

 

 

 

Faculty

Sulak Receives First Baker Endowed Professorship

Patricia J. Sulak, M.D., professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Scott & White, was named the inaugural Dudley P. Baker Endowed Professor of Research and Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology at a ceremony held Friday, October 24 in the Mayborn Auditorium.

In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Sulak is the Medical Director of the Division of Departmental Research and Director of the Adolescent Sex Education Program in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Scott & White.

Dr. Sulak received her B.S. in pharmacy from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy in 1975 and her M.D. degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio in 1980. She completed her residency in OB/GYN at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) in Washington, D.C. in 1985 where she was named the Outstanding Resident of the Year among all WRAMC residency training programs and received the Armed Forces District Award for "Best Scientific Research Paper." She served as a major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps until 1987 and was awarded their Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Achievement Medal.

Dr. Sulak is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) and is also a Board Examiner for ABOG. She was named the 2006 Distinguished Alumnus at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Medicine.

For the full story, visit: http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/communications/news/30october2008.html

Kotrla Appointed to TCOOMMI Advisory Committee

Kathryn Kotrla, M.D., Associate Dean of the college’s Round Rock campus, has recently been appointed to the Advisory Committee of the Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments as a gubernatorial member. Dr. Kotrla will serve in this capacity until February 1, 2009.

TCOOMMI’s mission is to provide a formal structure for criminal justice, health and human service, and other affected organizations to communicate and coordinate on policy, legislative, and programmatic issues affecting offenders with special needs. Special needs include offenders with serious mental illnesses, mental retardation, terminal or serious medical conditions, physical disabilities and those who are elderly.

Pace Article Published in Journals “Centennial Series”

C. Nick Pace, Ph.D., McMullin Professor of Genetics in the Molecular and Cellular Medicine Department, had one of his papers republished in The Journal of Biological Chemistry for the journal’s “Classics” series, celebrating its

centennial. (See the publication).

Dr. Pace has been on the College of Medicine faculty since 1990 after spending 22 years in the Biochemistry and Biophysics Department at Texas A&M. His research focuses on protein folding, which is significant to finding a cure for diseases. Diseases such as cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer’s, Mad Cow disease and some types of cancers are associated when proteins fail to fold correctly.

Highly accomplished in his field, Dr. Pace has published nearly 100 papers, which have been cited by other scientists on more than 5,000 occasions. He has been honored with many prestigious awards, including his selection as a Texas A&M University Regents Professor in 2001 and Health Science Center Distinguished Professor in 2004. In addition, he was awarded The Association of Former Students Faculty Distinguished Achievement Awards for both teaching and research.

Students

Medley Wins Top Honors at Society Meeting

Fourth-year student Dylan Medley attended the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine’s 11th Annual Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting held at the end of September by Penn State University in Hershey, Pa. Dylan was awarded “Best Medical Student Presentation” at the meeting for his research project entitled "Is there an association between occupancy rates in the Emergency Department and violence toward staff?" 

Dylan’s project was completed under the mentorship of Dr. James Morris during a four-week Emergency Medicine research elective at Scott and White. He was looking to see if there is a higher rate of violence toward EM staff when it is more crowded.  The results of the project suggest that the current overcrowded conditions seen in Emergency Departments across the country are not only effecting patient care, as seen in previous published literature, but could also be effecting departmental functioning.  
 
"I was very proud to represent Texas A&M Health Science Center and the Scott and White Department of Emergency Medicine at the 2008 SAEM Mid-Atlantic Regional Research Conference,” Dylan said. “The support from both the faculty and department has been awesome.  Research is a critical part to the advancement of any field in medicine.  I hope this demonstrates the future of Texas A&M/Scott and White Department of Emergency Medicine's pursuit in establishing itself as a leader in the field of EM.”

Congratulations, Dylan!

Temple Students Volunteer at Scott & White’s Kidfest

Temple students from the classes of 2010, 2011 and 2012 volunteered at Scott & White’s Kidfest on October 31. The event was hosted by the Children’s Miracle Network and raises money for The Children’s Hospital at Scott & White.  It also provides a safe, fun environment for the children in the community and has had between 1,200 and 2,000 children attend each year.  The classes each adopted at least one game and provided workers for their game for the entire night.

Administration

OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Pliego, JF, "How to Integrate Clinical Simulation into the Curriculum" presentation, "How to Develop Scenarios"  workshop and "Principles of Debriefing" workshop, Center for Advancing Professional Excellence at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, October 6-7, 2008.

OFFICE OF RESEARCH

Funding Opportunities

The Seed Grant Research Program offered by the AMA Foundation provides grants of $2,500 to medical students, physician residents and fellows to conduct basic science or clinical research projects. Grants are awarded in five categories: cardiovascular/pulmonary diseases, HIV/AIDS, leukemia, neoplastic diseases, and secondhand smoke. The Application deadline is December 12, 2008.

The AMA Foundation also offers the National and Regional Research Forums. These four annual forums offer medical and graduate students the opportunity to present their research, receive meaningful feedback, and participate in scholarly discussions with peers and established scientists. Awards are given to both the top-rated oral and poster presentations. Students should submit an abstract directly to the forum of their choosing. Forums include:
Western Student Medical Research Forum: Jan. 28-31, 2009, Carmel, California
Abstract Deadline-Oct. 3, 2008
Eastern-Atlantic Student Research Forum: Feb. 25-28, 2009, Miami
Abstract Deadline-Nov. 30, 2008
Midwest Student Biomedical Research Forum: Feb. 27-28, 2009, Omaha, Neb.
Abstract Deadline-Dec. 5, 2008
National Student Research Forum: April 23-25, 2009, Galveston, Texas
Abstract Deadline-January 2009

For more information, please visit http://www.amafoundation.org.

American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation Minority Scholars Award

In collaboration with Minority Affairs Consortium and support from Pfizer, the AMA Foundation offers 10 Minority Scholars Awards of $10,000 each year. Applicants must be current first or second year medical students and citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Eligible backgrounds include African American/Black, American Indian, Native Hawaiian, Alaskan Native, and Hispanic/Latino.

Fogarty International Clinical Research Scholars Program:

This program offers one year of clinical  research training experience for graduate level U.S. students in health professions. Students will be able to gain research experience in countries such as Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Peru, Tanzania, and Uganda. Applications are due December 5, 2008.

McKnight Scholar Awards:

These awards are given to exceptional young scientists who hold an M.D. or Ph.D. degree and who are in the early stages of establishing an independent laboratory career. Scholars must demonstrate interest in solving important problems in relevant areas of neuroscience, including the translation of basic research to clinical neuroscience. Each scholar chosen will receive $75,000 annually in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Applications are due no later than January 2, 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.mcknight.org/neuroscience.

McKnight Technological Innovations In Neuroscience Awards:

 These awards can provide $100,000 (per year) for two years to  support scientists working on the development of novel and creative approaches to understanding brain function. The deadline for letters of intent is December 1, 2008. For more information, please visit http://www.mcknight.org/neuroscience.

The HHMI Research Training Fellowships for Medical Students Program:

Offers a $27,000 stipend, as well as $5,500 for health care/other expenses and $5,500 allowance for research. Medical, veterinary, and dental students will spend a year conducting basic, translational, or applied biomedical research at any school or nonprofit research institute in the U.S. The application deadline is January 11, 2009.

The HHMI-NIH Research Scholars Program (Cloister Program):

Enables medical, dental, and veterinary students to spend a year conduction basic, translational, or applied biomedical research in one of the main laboratories on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland. Students will receive $27,000 along with other benefits. The application deadline is January 10, 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.hhmi.org/medstudent, or contact Melanie Daub at (301) 951-6708. Informational posters will also be posted on the COM-Research Office bulletin board, which is located across from room 153 in the Reynolds Medical Building.

The Dana Foundation Program in Brain and Immuno-Imaging:

This program is designed to enable investigators to obtain pilot data more quickly than possible through other funding processes, and consists of two tracks: Track A is for conventional imaging, and Track B is for cellular and molecular imaging of biochemical actions of specific brain cells, or their interactions with immune cells. Institutions may only submit one application per track. The Dana Foundation program provides support to faculty researchers  at the assistant professor level or in the early years of their career; However, proposals from senior investigators will be considered if they represent a new direction of research. Both tracks may allow up to $200,000 in funding. The application deadline is Tuesday, November 18, 2008. For more information, please visit http://www.dana.org.

Association for Institutional Research (AIR) publications, and membership:

AIR provides resources such as electronic portfolios and various publications to its members. Included in the information attached is a study showing the positive influence of maintaining an electronic portfolio on student success and performance. Publication prices vary on the type and amount of publications requested and whether or not the person is a member. For more information about these publications or how to become a member of AIR, please call 850-385-4155, or email AIR at air@airweb2.org.

Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Foundation Medical Student Research Fellowship Award:

This program offers medical students to spend a year conducting intensive work in a biomedical research laboratory located in the U.S. Applicants do not need to have prior research experience, and second or third year medical students are encouraged to apply. The Sarnoff Fellowship awardees receive a $27,500 stipend for the 2009-2010 fellowship year, and other financial support for program expenses. The application deadline is Wednesday, January 7, 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.SarnoffFoundation.org or contact Dana Boyd at 703-759-7600.

Pfizer Funding Opportunities:

Pfizer Fellowships

Pfizer supports the career development of talented junior physician-scientists or researchers through fellowship programs. These nationally competitive awards provide up to $130,000, payable over 2 years, to support talented postdoctoral researchers in Health Disparities, and Oncology.

Pfizer Scholars Grants

Pfizer supports the career development of talented researchers through scholars grants programs. Up to 2 grants of $130,000 each, payable over 2 years, are presented in each discipline. These nationally competitive awards augment specialty training and encourage the development of junior faculty scientists in Health Policy, and Public Health.

Pfizer Visiting Professorships

The Visiting Professorships program creates opportunities for selected institutions to invite a distinguished expert for 3 days of teaching and professional exchange with students, faculty, research fellows, physicians, nurses, community members, and others at the host institution. Pfizer awards up to 10 grants of $7500 each to host medical experts in the following therapeutic areas: Diabetes, Health Literacy, Infectious Diseases, Neurology/Psychiatry, Obesity, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Pain Medicine, Pulmonology, Rheumatology, and Urology.

For more information, please visit http://www.promisingminds.com.

Other Pfizer Partnerships:

The CDC Experience

The CDC Experience: Applied Epidemiology Fellowship at CDC is a Pfizer-funded grant that provides medical students with hands-on experience conducting public health and infectious disease research. Students spend up to a year at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention facility, located in Atlanta, Georgia, performing epidemiologic research and analysis. For more information, please visit http://www.cdcfoundation.org/fellowships/cdcexperience/index.aspx.

NIH Clinical Research Training Program (CRTP)

Since 1998, Pfizer has partnered with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to fund the CRTP for medical and dental students. This 12-month program attracts creative, research-oriented medical and dental students who spend a year in an individualized program of mentored clinical or translational research at the NIH. For more information, please visit http://www.cc.nih.gov/training/crtp/crtp.html.

American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Foundation/Pfizer Visiting Professorship Program in Family Medicine
In partnership with the AAFP, Pfizer offers the opportunity to apply for 3 days of expert teaching and interaction during the 2009-2010 academic year. Six institutions will receive $7500 each to invite a prominent physician-scientist of their choosing. The guest faculty member may give lectures, as well as participate in rounds, seminars, and conferences. For more information, please visit http://www.aafpfoundation.org/x500.xml.

Basic Science

MICROBIAL & MOLECULAR PATHOGENESIS

Grants Received

Dr. James Samuel received a notice of award:  Newly funded NIH/NIAID (Felgner, PI)~$57,500/year 10/1/08-9/30/13. “A multiplex serodiagnostic protein microarray”.  (J.E. Samuel Subcontract).

Dr. David McMurray received the Award Notice for the next year of funding on the NIH sub-contract to Colorado State University entitled “TB Vaccine Testing and Research Materials”. The total award for the period from 9/24/08-9/23/09 is $306,368.

Dr. McMurray also received the Award Notice for the next year of funding from the Japan BCG Laboratory for the continuation of a project entitled “Pre-clinical evaluation of novel tuberculosis vaccines”. The total award, for the period from 1/1/09 to 12/31/09, is $41,605.

Recent Publications

McFarland, CT, Fan, YY, Chapkin, RS, Weeks, BR and McMurray, DN. Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids modulate resistance to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in guinea pigs. J Nutr. Nov;138 (11): 2123-8 (2008).

Mertens, K, Lantsheer, L, Ennis, DG and Samuel, JE. Constituitive SOS expression and damage-inducible AddAB-mediated recombinational repair systems for Coxiella burnetii as potential adaptations for survival within macrophages. Mol. Microbiol. 69:1411-1426. PMID18647165 (2008).

Bogomolnaya, LM, Santiviago, CA, Yang, HJ, Baumler, AJ and Andrews-Polymenis, HL. Form Variation’ of the O12 Antigen is Critical for Persistence of Salmonella Typhimurium in the Murine Intestine.  Molecular Microbiology, early online November (2008).

Sivula, CP, Bogomolnaya, LM and Andrews-Polymenis, HL. A Comparison of Cecal Colonization of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium in White Leghorn Chicks and Salmonella-resistant Mice. BMC Microbiology 8: 182 (2008).
Scientific Presentations

Dr. Cirillo presented seminar in September at University of Maryland, Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics Department, “Using Molecular Tools to Dissect Bacterial Pathogens”.

Dr. Tesh, with Dr. David Holmes of the CDC, delivered a presentation entitled “Case Studies on Select Agents and Infectious Diseases Research” at IBC 201, the Second Joint Meeting of the Institutional Biosafety Committees of the Texas A&M University System and the University of Texas System in Austin, TX.

MOLECULAR & CELLULAR MEDICINE

Grants Received

Dr. Siegfried Musser received an NIH/NINDS Grant entitled “High Throughput Screening for Tat Transport Inhibitors”, $146,500 total cost beginning 9/30/08 for 1 year. A second year of support ($36,625 total) is awarded for projects accepted by the NIH Roadmap Molecular Libraries Production Centers Network.

Scientific Presentations

Dr. Gregory Bix gave an invited seminar for the Department of Pathology at Louisiana State University Health Science Center in Shreveport, La. on October 9, entitled "Matrix Revolutions: Perlecan Domain V in Angiogenesis and Stroke."

Dr. Bix also presented an invited seminar for the Department of Integrative Biology & Pharmacology at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston on October 27, entitled "Matrix Revolutions: Perlecan Domain V in Angiogenesis and Stroke."

NEUROSCIENCE & EXPERIMENTAL THERAPEUTICS

Faculty

Dr. Rajesh Miranda served as an ad-hoc member of the NIH study section, Molecular Neurogenetics (MNG) on October 16-17 in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Samba Reddy participated in the discussions at NIH Study Section – ANIE (Acute Neuronal Injury and Epilepsy), formerly CND, Clinical Neuroscience and Disease study section.

Dr. Farida Sohrabji attended the NNB Study Section meeting (Oct 6-8) and began a 4-year term as permanent member, reviewed 7 grants. She also was invited to attend the Advisory Committee for Research on Women’s Health, Office of Research on Women’s Health/NIH meeting in Washington, D.C., on October 30, as a prospective member of the 2009 committee.  The establishment of the ACRWH was statutorily mandated by Congress in the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 as a mechanism for eliciting advice and recommendations on priority issues affecting women's health research.

Recent Publications

Selvamani, A and Sohrabji, F. Reproductive age modulates the impact of focal ischemia on the forebrain as well as the effects of estrogen treatment in female rats.Neurobiol Aging. Sep 29. PMID: 18829137 (2008).

Lewis, DK, Woodin, HR and Sohrabji, F. Astrocytes from Acyclic Female Rats Exhibit Lowered Capacity for Neuronal Differentiation. Aging Cell. Sep 5. PMID: 18778412 (2008).

Scientific Presentations

Dr. Bill Griffith presented a seminar entitled “Physiology and calcium homeostasis of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons during aging” to the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, Texas on October 2.

Dr. Farida Sohrabji presented a seminar to the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at Columbia University in New York on October 27. She also was a speaker at the Texas A&M Health Science Center sponsored Women’s Health Summit in Dallas on October 29.

SYSTEMS BIOLOGY & TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE

Faculty

Dr. Cindy Meininger participated as a member of the American Heart Association grant reviews for the Vascular Biology/Blood Pressure Regulation Study Section of the National Office, October 2008.

Grants Received

Dr. Cindy Meininger received $27,664 in bridge funding through the University of South Florida from the James and Esther King Biomedical Research Program entitled “Regulation of the Endothelial Citrulline-Nitric Oxide Cycle for the period 07/01/08-06/30/09.

Dr. J.D. Humphrey and Dr. Emily Wilson received a $383,905 National Institutes of Health R21 grant entitled “Constrictor/Mitogen Induced Remodeling of Cerebral Arterioles” for the period 08/01/08-06/30/10.

Recent Publications

Boggess, A, Dwilewicz, R and Jupiter, D. CR Runge sets on hypersurface graphs. J Geometric Anal 18: 980-1001, 2008.

Scientific Presentations

Hung-Chung Huang, Daniel Jupiter and Dr. Vincent VanBuren presented “Identification of genetic switches and biomarkers via the expression profiles of microarray data” at the "Biotechnology and Bioinformatics Symposium" (BIOT-2008) at the University of Texas at Arlington in October.

Soon-Mi Lim, Bryan A. Kreipe and Dr. Andreea Trache  presented “Extracellular matrix effect on RhoA signaling modulation studied by integrated scanning and optical microscopy” at the Cell Migration Consortium conference held at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland in September, as well as “Dual imaging of live cells using AFM and fluorescence microscopy to study RhoA effect on focal adhesions and cytoskeleton remodeling” at the AFM Biomed 2008 meeting in Monterey, California in October.

Dr. Trache also presented “Integrated atomic force-optical microscopy applied to live cell biophysics” at the AFM Biomed 2008 meeting.

Clinical Science

INTERNAL MEDICINE

The departmental report is available online at http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/dean/newsletter/2008/files/imed-summary-nov08.pdf.

News

Graduate student Heather Francis was promoted from Research Assistant II to Research Associate.

Recent Publications

Marzioni, M, Invernizzi, P, Candelaresi, C, Maggioni, M, Saccomanno, S, Selmi, C, Rychlicki, C, Cassani, B, Miozzo, M, Fava, G, Alpini, G and Benedetti, A.  Human cholangiocarcinoma development is associated with dysregulation of opioidergic modulation of cholangiocyte growth.  Dig Liver Dis. Oct 21; [Epub ahead of print].  PMID: 18948067 (2008).

Marzioni, M, Alpini, G, Saccomanno, S, Candelaresi, C, Venter, J, Rychlicki, C, Fava, G, Francis, H, Trozzi, L and Benedetti, A. Exendin-4, a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist, protects cholangiocytes from apoptosis. Gut. Oct 1. [Epub ahead of print].  PMID: 18829977 (2008).

Omenetti, A, Porrello, A, Jung, Y, Yang, L, Popov, Y, Choi, SS, Witek, RP, Alpini, G, Venter, J, Vandongen, HM, Syn, WK, Svegliati-Baroni, G, Benedetti, A, Schuppan, D and Diehl, AM. Hedgehog signaling regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition during biliary fibrosis in rodents and humans.  J Clin Invest 118:3331-3342 (2008).

Academic Medicine

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