Enrique Ostrea Jr., M.D., professor of Pediatrics, recently received an R01 grant for more than $2.8 million from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) to investigate the damage to neurological development caused by pesticides in the fetal environment. The research is a continuation of an earlier R01 NICHD study on a group of children in Malolos, Bulacan, a town in the Philippines, who experienced varying degrees of environmental pesticide exposure while in utero and as toddlers.

The most prevalent pesticides the children were exposed to before birth were propoxur and pyrethroids – two of the most common toxins found in household pesticides worldwide. Neurotoxicants can cause an array of damage to developing brains, including areas involved in communication, movement, hearing/language and hand-eye coordination; yet detecting infants who have been exposed has been a largely imprecise science before Dr. Ostrea’s research.

“This has been a major problem, because most of what we previously knew about exposure rates came simply from questionnaires,” Dr. Ostrea said. “Secondly, if they did screen for the toxicants in biomarkers such as blood and urine, these are only indicators of recent exposure.”

In his previous NICHD funded study, Dr. Ostrea found a more effective biomarker in meconium – the earliest stools of an infant. Unlike blood and urine, meconium can detect not just recent pesticide exposure, but can indicate exposure starting from the first trimester of pregnancy. Although not as sensitive as meconium, maternal hair also proved an effective biomarker for the two pesticides, which, when combined with measurements taken from meconium, improves detection capabilities almost twofold.

The emergence of these reliable biomarkers facilitated the second goal of Dr. Ostrea’s previous study – to obtain a better understanding of what exactly propoxur and pyrethroids do to the developing human brain. For babies exposed to propoxur in utero, Dr. Ostrea found significant deficits in motor skills and hand-eye coordination once they reached their second year. The pyrethroid-exposed group did not see dysfunctions that were significantly different from the unexposed group, but this may have been due to small sample size, Dr. Ostrea said.

Dr. Ostrea’s study will pick up where his previous one left off, testing the children, now 4 to 6 years of age, to determine if any of the previously observed neurotoxic effects persist, improve or increase in severity. He will also look for new neurological deficits that may not have been observable by age 2 but have since become apparent. Finally, he will factor in any post-birth pesticide exposure that has occurred.

“It’s a universal rule in the human body to attempt to repair as much damage as possible,” Dr. Ostrea said. “But eventually, it comes to a point when compensation can only go so far and eventually, the neurological insults become more evident using more sensitive tests.”

Dr. Ostrea expects the results of his work will bring to light the neurological damage pregnant women could be causing their unborn children when exposed to toxins as simple as household pesticides. Once the effects are known, it will encourage a standardized screening for pesticide exposure.

“Although meconium is the more sensitive biomarker of fetal exposure to environmental pesticides, the advantage of being able to detect the toxicant in maternal hair is that you can intervene during pregnancy,” Dr. Ostrea said. “That way you can tell her that she’s being exposed when she otherwise may not realize it.”

Robert M. Mentzer Jr., M.D., dean of the School of Medicine and senior advisor to the president for Medical Affairs, said Dr. Ostrea’s  pursuits strongly support the research mission of the school.

“One of our ongoing goals is to improve the lives of people through research,” Dean Mentzer said. “Research, while often not commanding the spotlight, plays a crucial role in medicine and treatment. Dr. Ostrea’s efforts will have long-term implications for people around the world. This is the type of impact the School of Medicine and its family of physicians, researchers and students will continue to have on the world of medicine.”

Deepak M. Kamat M.D., Ph.D., F.A.A.P., professor of Pediatrics and vice chair of Education for the School of Medicine, and director of the Institute of Medical Education Department of Pediatrics, co-edited the “American Academy of Pediatrics Textbook for Pediatric Care.”

“It is a great honor to be selected among thousands of pediatricians in the country to edit the first edition of textbook of pediatrics published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the nation's premier organization for pediatricians,” Dr. Kamat said.

Thomas McInerny, M.D., editor in chief of the book, asked Dr. Kamat to co-edit the textbook because of his reputation and service on a number of editorial boards.

“When he asked me to co-edit the book three years ago, he knew that I served on the editorial board of three pediatric journals and he had seen many (about 100) of my articles in a number of different pediatric journals,” Dr. Kamat said.

He serves on the editorial boards of five journals.

While this is the first textbook Dr. Kamat has edited, he is editor in chief of Pediatric Care Online Quick Reference, a first of its kind in pediatrics, for the American Academy of Pediatrics. The reference is an integrated point of care service available on handheld devices and therefore can be used at patient bedside.

Dr. Kamat also is editing the "Textbook of Pediatric Global Health" for the American Academy of Pediatrics. He called the book a comprehensive and practice-focused, with step-by-step and evidence-based approaches to clinical situations.

The guest speaker, Ting Xie, Ph.D., is an investigator for the Stowers Institute for Medical Research in Kansas City, Mo.

The noon presentation will take place Room 8366 in Scott Hall.

On Nov. 14, John Perfect, M.D., professor at the Duke University Medical Center Division of Infectious Diseases, will present “Cryptococcus Neoformans: Is it a Brainy Yeast or What?” at noon in Room 3125 of Scott Hall.

Theodore Standiford, M.D., professor of Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine for the University of Michigan Medical Center, will be the guest speaker Nov. 19. He will present “Sepsis-Induced Immunosuppression: Role of Toll-Like Receptor Signaling Cascades” at noon in Room 8366 of Scott Hall.

This seminar is co-sponsored by the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, and the Department of Ophthalmology.

On Nov. 25, Fei Song, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Neurology and the Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, will present “Immunomodulation and Immunotherapy in CNS Inflammatory Autoimmune Diseases.” The program begins at noon in Room 7364 of Scott Hall.

A first-year student at the Wayne State University School of Medicine has been selected to receive a research grant from the American Society of Nephrology.

Karan Singh, 21, will use the $8,000 ASN Student Scholar Grant to study the link between maternal diet during pregnancy and its relation to the development of complications in kidney donors.

While new surgical techniques and drugs have made kidney donation more common, the long-term post-operative consequences for donors have not been thoroughly studied, Mr. Singh explained. Because donating a kidney is stressful, it is possible donors may develop hypertension, which can lead to renal failure, and thus possibly require a transplant for donors.

“We need accurate and efficient methods to screen potential donors for predictable outcomes so as to minimize subsequent health issues to them,” he said.

Mr. Singh explained that there is a strong link between the quality of maternal nutrition during pregnancy and the health of offspring. Several studies using rat models demonstrated that a low-protein diet during pregnancy results in offspring with low birth weight and hypertension. Using that model, Mr. Singh plans to test a hypothesis that the offspring of female rats on a low-protein diet during pregnancy will develop hypertension after they undergo the surgical removal of one kidney (simulating kidney donation).

Mr. Singh wrote his grant proposal based on his earlier work as an undergraduate studying with Noreen F. Rossi, M.D., and Robert Augustyniak, Ph.D., the effect of maternal nutrition on kidney function and blood pressure in offspring. Dr. Rossi is a professor of Internal Medicine in the Department of Physiology and director of the Nephrology Program. Dr. Augustyniak is an assistant professor of Research in the Departments of Medicine and Physiology.

“Karan has already demonstrated a keen investigative mind. He’s creative and inquisitive. He is also precise and organized. These are all very important qualities in a future clinician scientist,” Dr. Rossi said. “Even at this very early stage of medical training, Karan has shown himself to have a keen awareness of disease processes and the many questions that remain to be answered to help people with kidney disease. Besides all this, he is a delight to have in the lab, where he has shown himself able to function so well as a member of the team. This is a characteristic that is important not only in the research setting but more and more in the clinical setting as well.”

Born in Bombay, India, Mr. Karan has lived in ShelbyTownship since the age of 12. He completed his undergraduate work at Wayne State University, with a bachelor’s degree in Honors Biology. He first became interested in a career in medicine through his own experiences as a patient and through job-shadowing opportunities.

“Ever since I realized that suffering, especially in regards to health, is universal, it was clear to me that medicine was my path,” he said.

“Before I was first exposed to clinical nephrology, the only thing I really knew about the kidneys was that they existed somewhere in the body and somehow filtered blood,” Mr. Singh added. “High school and even undergraduate courses were oriented toward cardiology and neurology. When I learned more about the kidneys by talking to nephrologists, attending conferences and by researching information, I was simply amazed at the vital role they play. In fact, in terms of importance of organs in the body, I would rank the kidneys just below the brain and the heart. I simply kept exploring and simply kept becoming more and more passionate about nephrology. Along the way, through my shadowing experiences, I was able to witness the high incidence of renal disease in the Detroit area and I was motivated to do my best to be a part of the solution.”

The high incidence of kidney failure in the community, as well as the “excellent experience” he had at WSU as an undergraduate, convinced Mr. Singh to purse his medical education at the School of Medicine.

“Mr. Singh is just one example of the caliber of student attracted to the School of Medicine,” said Robert M. Mentzer Jr., M.D., dean of the School of Medicine and senior advisor to the president on Medical Affairs. “He is also enhancing the reputation our physicians-in-training have developed as people who truly care about the community in which they live and serve.”

Dr. Rossi and Dr. Augustyniak, said Mr. Singh, have played major roles in his development.

“Ever since my first day in the lab, they always been there to help me and guide me with everything from grant proposals to teaching me surgical techniques,” he said. “We simply have good people at our lab. I am always learning something new, and it has been a pleasure to work with everyone. That combination of fun and learning keeps me motivated to do my best.”

In addition to furthering the research, the award also provides Mr. Singh a travel stipend and the chance to present his findings at the national meeting of the American Society of Nephrology next year in San Diego, Calif., where he will meet other clinician scientists and trainees.

That’s a very important function in a budding career, Dr. Rossi noted. “I certainly hope Karan will become an academic nephrologist.”

Two Republicans squared off over the proposal during the Oct. 30 forum, hosted by WSU President Jay Noren, M.D., Dean Robert M. Mentzer Jr., M.D., and the School of Medicine.

Former U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz, M.D., made the case for the proposal, while state Sen. Tom George, M.D., who chairs the Senate Health Policy Committee, opposed the language in the current proposal.

Detroit Free Press editorial page editor Ron Dzwonkowski served as moderator.

“We wanted the forum to offer both perspectives about the proposal,” said Dean Mentzer. “This is an important issue, a hotly debated one, and the School of Medicine felt it valuable to offer this forum.”

Dr. Schwarz noted that Michigan is one of only five states restricting embryonic stem cell research. While President George Bush has twice vetoed legislation that would fund an expansion of embryonic stem cell research, Dr. Schwarz said, presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain have endorsed pending legislation that will be one of the first bills placed before the new president.

“It will pass,” Dr. Schwarz said. “I don’t want Michigan to be left out of the game.”

While adult stem cell research – the only type now allowed under existing Michigan law – offers possibilities, Dr. Schwarz said, embryonic stem cell research offers many more possibilities for future cures, and researchers and residents would be remiss not to explore them.

The state Legislature, Dr. Schwarz said, will eventually develop oversight rules and guidelines for embryonic stem cell research.

Sen. George praised Wayne State University for inviting the opposing view to be heard, noting that other universities had not done so during their forums.

While not saying he opposed embryonic stem cell research, Sen. George contended that the language in Proposal 2 is “fatally flawed,” and should be defeated. He said state residents who support embryonic stem cell research should still find reason to reject this specific proposal.

Sen. George pointed to the phase “for any research,” indicating that is too broad a license to allow researchers without oversight. He also objected to amending the state constitution to allow such research, claiming Proposal 2 would prevent legislative regulation of the industry.

“We regulate hospitals, hair stylists and soon tattoo artists,” he said. The language, as proposed, would create “an industry that wants a special shield,” he added.

President Noren, while noting that his position prevents him from speaking for or against Proposal 2, said he favors embryonic stem cell research. He also said that if voters approve the language, he would expect WSU researchers to press him to fund embryonic stem cell research, and he would seek ways to provide that funding.

Jeffrey Loeb, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Neurology and associate director of the Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics at the School of Medicine, seemed to sum up the feelings of the many researchers in the audience who favor lifting state restrictions on embryonic stem cell research.

“Those embryos not implanted during in-vitro fertilization would be lost,” Dr. Loeb said. “Shouldn’t we use those embryos to save lives? To save somebody’s life, that’s why we went into medicine, and if this can save a life, that’s pro-life.”

The forum attracted widespread media attention. It can be viewed at http://www.med.wayne.edu/news_media/streamingmedia/somevents/index.asp

Dr. Garneau-Tsodikova, the John G. Searle Assistant Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, will present “Biochemical and Structural Studies of Proteins Involved in Thiocoraline Biosynthesis.” The presentation will take place in Room 3105 of the College of Pharmacy, 259 Mack Ave. Refreshments will be available before the seminar.

Call (313) 577-1711 for more information.

Jinsheng Zhang, Ph.D., an associate professor for the Wayne State University School of Medicine’s Department of Otolaryngology, has developed the world’s only animal model of an electrical stimulation strategy used to suppress tinnitus. He currently serves as assistant research director of the Department of Otolaryngology and director of the Laboratory of Auditory Prostheses Research. He also holds a joint appointment with the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Wayne State University.

Dr. Zhang was recently asked to address the 2009 conference in Auckland, New Zealand. He will speak on "Cortical Electrical Suppression of Tinnitus" at the Asian-Pacific International Tinnitus Symposium. He has already served as a featured speaker, describing his work with the animal model of auditory cortex electrical stimulation (ACES), at the second Tinnitus Research Initiative International Meeting, held in Monaco in July 2007.

Tinnitus is a phantom sound in the ear or head that occurs in the absence of external stimulation. If chronic, Dr. Zhang explained, it can have debilitating effects on patients. Tinnitus can disrupt concentration, interrupt sleep patterns, alter emotional well-being, and produce anxiety, annoyance, irritability and depression. The disorder affects an estimated 10 percent to 15 percent of the adult population and 33 percent of the elderly. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that the financial impact of tinnitus costs the VA more than $500 million annually, creating a significant economic impact on society.

“Although numerous tinnitus management methods have been attempted, there is no reliable treatment for tinnitus,” Dr. Zhang said. “None of them have become a routinely accepted treatment to reliably manage tinnitus.”

ACES has recently been used to suppress tinnitus in patients with promising results. The process, Dr. Zhang said, has the potential to become an important approach in tinnitus management. However, variability in the efficacy of such suppression has hindered its development into a reliable therapy. The obstacles, he explained, mainly rest in the fact that many issues cannot be comprehensively addressed in patients because of ethical reasons.

To overcome those hurdles, Dr. Zhang’s lab has initiated an animal model of ACES, to date the only research group that has this animal model.

Dr. Zhang’s lab focuses on developing prostheses to treat tinnitus and improve hearing. His team is interested in suppression of tinnitus and tinnitus-related neural activity through electrical stimulation. Electrical stimulation has been used to suppress the percepts or reduce the loudness of tinnitus in patients when applied to somatosensory structures, cochlea and auditory brain structures. Due to lack of understanding of the mechanisms underlying tinnitus and its suppression, electrical stimulation has not been well established as a reliable therapy. In his animal research, Dr. Zhang’s technical approaches combine surgical implantation, electrical stimulation, behavioral testing, electrophysiology and mapping of neural or neurotransmitter pathways. The immediate goal of his animal model of ACES is to identify brain areas and neural pathways for stimulation and optimize the stimulation strategies to effectively suppress tinnitus. His eventual goal is to translate the findings in the animal model to applications in patients through development of tinnitus prosthesis.

In addition, Dr. Zhang is collaborating with WSU engineering colleagues to develop advanced neural implants to be used in central auditory prosthesis, which recovers hearing for patients who cannot benefit from cochlear implantation. Currently, the available prosthesis includes both the auditory brainstem implants (ABI) and auditory midbrain implants (AMI).

While the available central auditory prosthesis systems have demonstrated benefits in hearing recovery, there is a large variability in speech performance. Low speech performance has been attributed to multiple factors, including neural damage from surgery to physiological processing pathway specialized for modulation and speech, channel interactions, low resolution of stimulation or inadequate target for stimulation. Dr. Zhang and Dr. Gregory Auner, professor in WSU’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and director of the university’s Smart Sensor and Integrated Microsystems Lab, are developing advanced neural implants to minimize trauma from insertion and reduce interactions among stimulation electrodes/channels. Dr. Zhang also is collaborating with other scientists at Wayne State University to further develop the implantable electrode arrays used for hearing recovery. In addition to development of these implantable devices for hearing recovery, he and his collaborators plan to use them for tinnitus suppression. Clincally, Dr. Zhang works with clinician-scientists at Henry Ford Health System to conduct electrical stimulation to suppress tinnitus in patients.

He has continuously received extramural funding for his research. Recently, he received a three-year, $300,000 grant from the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, a Wayne State University President’s Translational Enhancement Program Award of $292,000 and a Tinnitus Research Initiative grant of $30,000 to further his research.

Mark Marunick, D.D.S., M.S., who serves in the Wayne State University School of Medicine’s Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, was a keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the International Society of Maxillofacial Rehabilitation in Bangkok, Thailand.

The meeting took place Sept. 25-28. Dr. Marunick spoke on “Rehabilitation of Patients with Tongue-Mandible Defects Following Treatment for Head and Neck Cancer, Surgical and Prosthodontic Considerations.”

Dr.  Marunick, an associate professor, was also recently chosen by his peers to be included in the field of Prosthodontics/Maxillofacial Prosthetics as one of Hour Detroit’s “Top Dentists” of 2008.

Construction continues to move rapidly on the Richard J. Mazurek, M.D., Medical Education Commons. The structure will be completely closed in during the month of November. Windows are being installed, and, in "sealed" areas, drywall installation and painting are under way. In fact, the construction team office is now situated in the southwest corner of the first floor of the building, which indicates that all mechanical systems are operational.

The construction of this facility cost $35 million, $30 million of which has been raised through philanthropy. Generosity of alumni and alumnae, community leaders, faculty members and grateful patients makes possible this new building and the state-of-the-science educational experience that it will offer. At the same time, the additional $5 million is still needed to complete construction of the education commons.

Many prominent recognition and naming opportunities are available to those who join this effort. Please contact any of the following development office staff: Patty Paquin at (313) 577-0026, Lori Robitaille at (313) 993-4070 or Bill Winkler at (313) 577-6482 to discuss philanthropy at the medical school.

Dr. Chaturvedi presented “Medical therapy for asymptomatic carotid stenosis” at the Oct. 13 meeting of Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics in Washington, D.C.

He also was recently appointed to a national committee for the American Stroke Association, which will publish guidelines on “Prevention of a First Stroke,” including how to best modify risk factors for stroke such as cholesterol, diabetes, carotid stenosis and hypertension.

Dr. Chaturvedi, a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, saw his research on elderly people who take cholesterol-lowering drugs after a stroke or mini-stroke lowering their risk of having another stroke just as much as younger people in the same situation published in the Sept. 3 online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Andre Porchia, 25, a third-year medical student, and his friend, Bethany Rowe, a nurse at University of Michigan Hospital, had just parked outside the store on a recent Sunday when a frantic woman approached them. The woman said her husband was having a heart attack and she was seeking directions so that she could advise an emergency phone operator of her location.

Mr. Porchia and Ms. Rowe ran to the woman’s car and found the man, in his 50s, slumped in the car seat, unresponsive and with no pulse. The pair pulled the man from the car, laid him on the ground and began CPR.

“I had my breathing mask in the glove compartment of my car, so I ran and got it,” Mr. Porchia said. “Bethany performed chest compressions and I did the breathing for about 5 minutes until the ambulance arrived.”

Mr. Porchia said he had completed his required Advanced Cardiac Life Support class just two days earlier. The techniques he learned in the class prepared him for the emergency.

The wife of the victim, Mr. Porchia said, told them her husband had recently been treated and released for a heart attack.

Mr. Porchia, who has an interest in general medicine and emergency medicine, said he discovered from the victim’s family later that the man underwent emergency heart surgery and initially was not expected to live through that evening. He survived, however, and after eight days in the hospital, was released and is recuperating well.

The family tracked Mr. Porchia to thank him for his efforts through an advertisement placed on Craigslist.

The lectures will take place in the Green Auditorium in Scott Hall.

Thomas Steitz, Ph.D., of the Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry at Howard Hughes Medical Institute, will present “The Structural Basis of the Function of the Large Ribosomal Subunit, a Major Antibiotic Target.”

Ada Yonath, Ph.D., of the Weizmann Institute of Science, will speak on “The Stunning Ribosomal Architecture and Cotranslational Folding.”

Joachim Frank, Ph.D., of Columbia University, will present “The Ribosome at Work --Snapshots of the Elongation Cycle Depict a Highly Dynamic Molecular Machine.”

Retinal prostheses, Dr. Cottaris explained, are miniature electronic devices implanted on the back of the eye in blind patients. The implants inject electric pulses that excite surviving retinal neurons, which in turn activate the visual cortex, thus initiating visual perception.

“One of the largest obstacles that we currently face is that the electric signals generated by present state-of-the-art retinal prostheses cannot be interpreted by the brain as useful vision,” he said. “Instead, patients report amorphous, scattered light sensations, called ‘phosphenes,’ that cannot be integrated into a percept of a coherent object.”

To determine how retinal prostheses can communicate more efficiently with the brain, Dr. Cottaris’s group decided to look at how the primary visual cortex responds to artificial (electrical) and natural (visual) excitation of the retina. By analyzing and contrasting the two types of activations, an error signal is derived. A learning algorithm monitors how this cortically-generated error signal is affected by variations in the patterns of electrical retinal stimulation and draws conclusions about how to improve the patterns. In the next cycle, a different electrical stimulation pattern is generated, inducing a cortical response that looks more similar to that induced by visual stimulation.

The three-year grant will allow Dr. Cottaris to test how well this idea works in a normally-sighted animal model. The results will have major implications for the development of image encoding algorithms for next generation retinal prostheses that strive to move beyond phosphene vision to an era of spatially-patterned vision.

“Such prostheses would be most advantageous to patients who have recently lost their sight, in which case the visual system has not yet undergone major reorganization,” Dr. Cottaris said.

Other collaborators at work on the study, titled, “Neurophysiologically-based computational platform for the characterization and optimization of retinal prosthetic stimulation," include Sylvia Elfar, Ph.D., and Raymond Iezzi, M.D., both assistant professors in the School of Medicine’s Department of Ophthalmology, and Yong Xu, Ph.D., assistant professor in WSU’s College of Engineering.

Millions of people who have lost their sight due to retinal neurodegenerative diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration could benefit from retinal prostheses, Dr. Cottaris said. His research will serve as a standardized model for testing and optimizing retinal prostheses developed by different groups around the world.

This is Dr. Cottaris’s first large grant. He has received two other grants previously from private foundations (MidWest Eye Banks, $15,000; and Research to Prevent Blindness, $5,000).

Todd Leff, Ph.D., associate professor, will speak on “The Role of PPARy in the Etiology and Treatment of Diabetes.”

The seminar will be held in Room 8366 Scott Hall.

Alexander Gow, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Medicine’s Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics (CMMG), the Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, and the Department of Neurology; and James Garbern, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of neurology and of molecular medicine and genetics at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, secured the grant to further their research for a faster diagnostic test for PMD.

PMD is a rare neurodegenerative disease that usually affects children younger than 1 year. The disorder belongs to a group of rare diseases called leukodystrophies. They stem from different causes but are similar in that the white matter in the brain fails to develop. Because PMD is caused by a genetic mutation in the PLP1 gene, located on the X chromosome, the disorder mainly affects boys. Girls carry the mutation from generation to generation but generally have very mild or no symptoms.

PMD can be relatively mild, with patients living into their 50 or 60s, or so severe that patients may die in their teens or 20s. There is no treatment, only palliative care. However, increased awareness over the last few decades has dramatically increased life span.

Mild forms are characterized by lower limb spasticity with gradual deterioration and eventual need for a wheelchair. The patient’s awareness is not dramatically impaired and they can attend school. Severe forms include uncontrollable eye movements, difficulty breathing, swallowing and communicating, seizures and paralysis.

Dr. Gow explained that PMD is caused by at least 3 genetic lesions: deletion of the PLP1 gene, duplication of the PLP1 gene and small mutations that change the protein encoded by the PLP1 gene. The last category accounts for approximately 20 percent of all PMD patients and is the group for which Dr. Gow and Dr. Garbern designed their test.

They have examined more than 20 different PLP1 mutations from patients in which the disease severity is known. In all but a couple of mutations their test matches the severity seen in patients. They want to examine another 10 patients to conclude their study, a goal they believe they can reach with this recent grant.

Dr. Gow explained that it usually takes many months to arrive at a diagnosis. Their test, however, takes about 2 weeks to complete.

“Once we identify the mutation in the PLP1 gene from a patient, we generate this mutation in our lab as a synthetic gene,” Dr. Gow said. “We then introduce the gene into cells growing in a culture dish and they express the mutant protein. After a couple of days we examine the cells to find out what has happened to the protein. If the mutant protein behaves similarly to the normal form of the protein (i.e. PLP1 in normal people), then the mutant protein will cause a mild form of the disease in the patient. However, if the mutant protein behaves badly in the cultured cells, then the patient is likely to develop severe symptoms.”

A problem with PMD is that “we don’t know how severe the disease will be until the patient is about 5 years old,” he added. “By then, the disease has done a great deal of damage and any treatment we come up with will not be very effective. If our test is reliable, we may be able to predict severity by 2 years of age, when the disease is at an early stage. In this case, treatments should be more effective.”

An important part of the PMD grant, Dr. Gow noted, is that it pays to bring patients to Detroit from around the world. Dr. Garbern and Angela Trepanier, a certified genetics counselor with the CMMG, schedule patients, and Dr. Garbern determines clinical severity, performs MRIs and interacts with parents to provide counseling.

“Another reason for pursuing this test is genetic counseling,” Dr. Gow said. “If a couple has a son with PMD there is a 50 percent chance that another son will also have the disease. We hope to predict disease severity to allow the parents to decide if they wish to have additional children.”

The test would not only help parents with awareness of the disorder, it will help inform mothers who are carriers about what they can expect as they age.

“Mild symptoms can occur in carrier mothers. This is more likely if the mutation causes mild disease in the son,” Dr. Gow explained. “We would then make the mother aware of the types of symptoms she may develop as she ages. Thus, the prognostic test will help us determine how to counsel the mother about any illness.”

The Wayne State University School of Medicine honored two of its own medical pioneers while celebrating with a masquerade gala, “A Night Behind the Mask,” at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

The Oct. 11 fundraiser, which supports student scholarships at the School of Medicine, was attended by Wayne State University President Jay Noren, M.D.; dean of the School of Medicine Robert Mentzer Jr., M.D.; political dignitaries, friends of the school and many members of the SOM family. In all, there were 450 people present.

The event raised almost $100,000 for student scholarships. Since 2002, this event has raised nearly $600,000 for the Charles F. Whitten, M.D., Post-Baccalaureate Fund, the Community Champions Scholarship and the Black Medical Association of Wayne State University Endowed Grant Fund.

Herbert  Smitherman Jr., M.D., received the Trailblazer Award. The award recognizes outstanding alumni and faculty, both rising stars and pathfinders, who have made substantial contributions, demonstrated courage, initiative, innovation, risk-taking and leadership.

Dr. Smitherman is assistant dean of Community and Urban Health and assistant professor of Internal Medicine and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine. He is also president and CEO of Health Centers Detroit Medical Group, a Federally Qualified Health Center in the city of Detroit. His research focuses primarily on health issues related to under-represented populations of color and access to care.

Dr. Smitherman has spent the past 21 years working with diverse communities in Detroit to develop urban-based primary-care delivery systems that integrate the health and social goals and concerns of the community. He has been successful establishing and working with best-practice models that have community participation and collaboration as the key element in creating sustainable primary care programs. Early results suggest that generating a sense of community ownership may lead to healthier communities overall.

Robert Frank, M.D., received the Ambassador Award, which honors individuals and corporations who, through their deeds, epitomize the spirit of Wayne State University and the School of Medicine. This spirit represents world-class vision, leadership and progress demonstrated through outstanding service, commitment to the school’s teaching and research missions, and dedication to the city and the community.

Dr. Frank serves as professor of Medicine and executive vice dean. He has been a member of the faculty since 1977.

As executive vice dean, Dr. Frank has been primarily responsible for shaping a comprehensive medical curriculum. He has made social responsibility an intrinsic component of medical education, bringing an important and appropriate balance to the medical student experience. He has incorporated subjects such as doctor-patient communication, end-of-life care, geriatric medicine, palliative care, environmental health exposure and understanding cultural differences into the school curriculum.

Dr. Frank’s major clinical interests are in geriatrics and end-of-life care. He was chief of Medicine at Detroit Receiving Hospital from 1983 to 1985. He co-founded the Palliative Care Service at Detroit Receiving Hospital.
Dr. Frank has been active in university and School of Medicine administrative and academic initiatives, and spearheads the fund drive for the construction of the Richard J. Mazurek, M.D., Medical Education Commons, a new building that will greatly enhance the medical school’s ability to recruit top-caliber students and ensure them an unparalleled education.

He is a member of Physicians for Social Responsibility and is a strong advocate for often-forgotten patient groups like the elderly and the indigent. He was the geriatrician in charge of the St. Pat’s Senior Center Medical Clinic in Detroit for 20 years. He has twice been a finalist for the Association of American Medical College’s Humanism in Medicine Award, and Crain’s Detroit Business named him a “Health Care Hero” in 2003.

The Wayne State University School of Medicine honored two of its own medical pioneers while celebrating with a masquerade gala, “A Night Behind the Mask,” at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

The Oct. 11 fundraiser, which supports student scholarships at the School of Medicine, was attended by Wayne State University President Jay Noren, M.D.; dean of the School of Medicine Robert Mentzer Jr., M.D.; political dignitaries, friends of the school and many members of the SOM family. In all, there were 450 people present.

The event raised almost $100,000 for student scholarships. Since 2002, this event has raised nearly $600,000 for the Charles F. Whitten, M.D., Post-Baccalaureate Fund, the Community Champions Scholarship and the Black Medical Association of Wayne State University Endowed Grant Fund.

Herbert  Smitherman Jr., M.D., received the Trailblazer Award. The award recognizes outstanding alumni and faculty, both rising stars and pathfinders, who have made substantial contributions, demonstrated courage, initiative, innovation, risk-taking and leadership.

Dr. Smitherman is assistant dean of Community and Urban Health and assistant professor of Internal Medicine and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine. He is also president and CEO of Health Centers Detroit Medical Group, a Federally Qualified Health Center in the city of Detroit. His research focuses primarily on health issues related to under-represented populations of color and access to care.

Dr. Smitherman has spent the past 21 years working with diverse communities in Detroit to develop urban-based primary-care delivery systems that integrate the health and social goals and concerns of the community. He has been successful establishing and working with best-practice models that have community participation and collaboration as the key element in creating sustainable primary care programs. Early results suggest that generating a sense of community ownership may lead to healthier communities overall.

Robert Frank, M.D., received the Ambassador Award, which honors individuals and corporations who, through their deeds, epitomize the spirit of Wayne State University and the School of Medicine. This spirit represents world-class vision, leadership and progress demonstrated through outstanding service, commitment to the school’s teaching and research missions, and dedication to the city and the community.

Dr. Frank serves as professor of Medicine and executive vice dean. He has been a member of the faculty since 1977.As executive vice dean, Dr. Frank has been primarily responsible for shaping a comprehensive medical curriculum. He has made social responsibility an intrinsic component of medical education, bringing an important and appropriate balance to the medical student experience. He has incorporated subjects such as doctor-patient communication, end-of-life care, geriatric medicine, palliative care, environmental health exposure and understanding cultural differences into the school curriculum.

Dr. Frank’s major clinical interests are in geriatrics and end-of-life care. He was chief of Medicine at Detroit Receiving Hospital from 1983 to 1985. He co-founded the Palliative Care Service at Detroit Receiving Hospital.

Dr. Frank has been active in university and School of Medicine administrative and academic initiatives, and spearheads the fund drive for the construction of the Richard J. Mazurek, M.D., Medical Education Commons, a new building that will greatly enhance the medical school’s ability to recruit top-caliber students and ensure them an unparalleled education.

He is a member of Physicians for Social Responsibility and is a strong advocate for often-forgotten patient groups like the elderly and the indigent. He was the geriatrician in charge of the St. Pat’s Senior Center Medical Clinic in Detroit for 20 years. He has twice been a finalist for the Association of American Medical College’s Humanism in Medicine Award, and Crain’s Detroit Business named him a “Health Care Hero” in 2003.

“We’ve revamped Komen’s research program, challenging the best minds to solve the most difficult issues in breast cancer,” said Hala Moddelmog, president and chief executive officer of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. “These grants are geared to results -- finding cures, tailoring treatments and resolving the issues that have stymied the search for a breast cancer cure.”

Of the $450,000 grant awarded to Dr. Boerner, an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacology who also works with the Karmanos Cancer Institute, Komen Detroit Race for the Cure co-funded her grant with $300,000.

Dr. Boerner’s grant, titled “Transphosphorylation of the EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) by Met and other receptor tyrosine kinases in breast cancer,” involves studying the treatment of patients with advanced breast cancer. The majority of breast cancer deaths arise from the cancer spreading from the breast to lymph nodes and distant sites such as the lung and bone. Once the cancer spreads beyond the breast, the relative five-year survival rate drops from 98 percent to 26 percent. These statistics tell physicians and scientists that improvements need to be made in the treatment of patients with advanced disease.

Dr. Wu’s $450,000 grant was co-funded with $90,000 by the Komen Greater Lansing Affiliate. Dr. Wu is an assistant professor in the Department of Pathology and also works with the Karmanos Cancer Institute.

Dr. Wu’s grant, titled “Investigation of oncogenic properties and therapeutic application of PIK3CA mutations in breast cancer,” focuses on the crucial need for information about a target gene that contributes to breast tumorigenesis and the possibility of using this target to design specific drugs to block the development of breast tumors.

The grants were among 26 Career Catalyst Grants made by Komen to fill a critical gap in support and stimulate the transition from training to independence among promising cancer investigators.

“The funding from Komen for the Cure has been so important to low-income women in Detroit and southeastern Michigan for breast cancer prevention and care, as well as providing research funds that are invested in Wayne State University and the Karmanos Cancer Institute researchers to further their research in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer,” said Gloria Heppner, associate vice president for Research at Wayne State University and chair of the grants committee of the Komen Detroit Race for the Cure. “Komen Detroit is unique in supporting community outreach and service locally, as well as research on a national level. Because of this two-fold commitment to the community and cutting-edge research, they are truly an amazing organization.”

In addition to the grants funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Komen Detroit recently awarded local breast cancer screening, treatment support and education program grants of $1.58 million from proceeds raised at the 2008 Komen Detroit Race for the Cure.

The funds raised were distributed among five grants supporting the work of Robert Burack, M.D., professor of Internal Medicine for the School of Medicine who also works at Karmanos Cancer Institute; Adnan Hammad, Ph.D., Arab American Center for Economic and Social Services; Laura Zubeck, Karmanos Cancer Institute; Lisa Berry-Bobovski, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Kelly Brittain, Karmanos Cancer Institute, William Stengle, National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service; and Michelle Graham, M.S.W., Deaf Community Advocacy Network. In addition to these program grants and Dr. Boerner’s research grant, Komen Detroit also contributed $376,000 to research grants made by Komen for the Cure.

“The grants we are funding locally will deliver life-saving screening and support to those in our community who are in greatest need,” said Maureen Meldrum, Susan G. Komen Detroit Race for the Cure chair and director of Breast Cancer Special Programs at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. “The record revenue achieved by sponsors, donors and advocates working together will make a substantial impact on the breast health of metro Detroit. Together with Komen’s research grants, this represents an amazing step in our promise to end breast cancer forever.”

Dr. Burack’s project will provide Breast Cancer and Cervical Control Program services to underinsured and at-risk women in Wayne County. Dr. Hammad’s ACCESS project will continue to provide an extensive breast cancer education, outreach and screening program in the low-income Arab American community of southeastern Michigan. Zubeck’s project benefits the Alexander J. WaltComprehensive Breast Center of the Karmanos Cancer Institute to cover breast diagnostic and limited treatment services for patients who lack financial means and other resources to pay for their care. The grant to Berry-Bobovski, Brittain and Stengle will enhance existing infrastructures to bring breast health awareness and screening to underserved Detroit and Wayne County African-American women. Graham’s project will establish a breast cancer education and screening program for deaf and hard of hearing women living in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

For more information about Komen Detroit Race for the Cure, scheduled for May 30, 2009, visit http://www.karmanos.org/detroitraceforthecure/.

The event provides information on the school and the services available for new faculty members.

The agenda includes:

7:45 to 8 a.m.: Registration and continental breakfast

8 to 8:25 a.m.: Welcome and introduction by Stephen A. Lerner, M.D., associate dean of Faculty Affairs

8:25 to 9 a.m.: School of Medicine overview presented by Valerie Parisi, M.D., vice dean of Hospital Relations and Clinical Affairs

9 to 9:20 a.m.: Undergraduate Medical Education presented by Thomas Roe, M.D., associate dean of Undergraduate Medical Education

9:20 to 9:40 a.m.: Graduate Medical Education presented by Mark Juzych, M.D., associate dean of Graduate Medical Education

9:40 to 10 a.m.: Graduate Programs presented by Kenneth Palmer, Ph.D., associate dean of Graduate Programs

10 to 10:45 a.m.: Coffee break, and Faculty Resources and Information Fair

10:45 to 11:45 a.m.: Clinical Research presented by Jack Sobel, M.D., distinguished professor and chief of Infectious Disease; and Basic Research presented by Daniel Walz, Ph.D., associate dean of Research/Graduate Programs

11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.: Dr. Lerner will address the career development environment.

The Faculty and Resources Fair will include representation by the Animal Investigation Committee, BioMedical Communications Department, Computing & Information Technology, Continuing Medical Education, The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Detroit Orientation Institute, Human Investigation Committee, Medical School Information Systems, Medical Education Support Group, Office for Teaching and Learning, School of Medicine Human Resources Office and the Shiffman Library.

To attend, please notify Trina Young at tyoung@med.wayne.edu or (313) 577-9877. For detailed information, visit http://www.med.wayne.edu/facaffairs/career/development.asp.

The School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 5.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit.

Tickets for the Jan. 17, 2009, game against the Hornets are available at a cost of $85. Seating is in section 107B, Rows AA through DD.

To reserve tickets, call Lisa Link at (313) 577-1380.

To understand why some practices have succeeded and others have struggled, McInerney’s research group analyzed more than 160 family practices across the country in terms of clinical and financial outcomes to identify key contributors to success. She will discuss her team’s work to date and future efforts to help health care practices focus on health care using knowledge management tools and techniques.

Please RSVP online at https://events.wayne.edu/rsvp/improvinghealthcare.

Felix Fernandez-Madrid, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Internal Medicine, will serve as principal investigator of the research, which is a collaboration of School of Medicine faculty, including Judith Abrams, Ph.D.; Wei Chen, Ph.D.; and Naimei Tang, Ph.D.; as well as members of the Henry Ford Health System Departments of Pathology (Azadeh Stark, Ph.D.; Richard Zarbo, M.D.; and Arun Dhananjay, M.D.), Radiology (Matthew Burke, M.D.); and Surgery (David Nathanson M.D.).

The research will attempt to develop a diagnostic test based on proteins called autoantibodies that could detect accurately the earliest forms -- as well as the invasive forms -- of breast cancer.

The outcome of the project, Dr. Fernandez-Madrid explained, may be a new antibody-based diagnostic instrument that could prove to be an accurate, relatively inexpensive, accessible, rapid and easy-to-administer blood test for the early diagnosis of breast cancer.

“If successful, this test -- used in conjunction with mammography -- has the potential to complement and increase the accuracy of the screening process,” Dr. Fernandez-Madrid said. “By reducing the false negative results of mammography, the increased accuracy of the screening process would lead to earlier recognition of breast cancer and better responses to therapy, while the decrease of false positive mammography results would alleviate women’s anxiety, and would diminish the cost incurred in unnecessary additional diagnostic procedures and surgery.”

The spark for the research occurred, Dr. Fernandez-Madrid explained, when he was treating a rheumatoid patient, who later developed breast cancer. He drew a blood sample after her cancer treatment and found the autoantibodies. He compared the post-treatment sample with a sample drawn before treatment and found the autoantibodies in her blood. That catalyst led to the proposition that the autoantibodies could be a primary indicator for breast cancer.

Dr. Fernandez-Madrid, who is also a member of the School of Medicine’s Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, and the Karmanos Cancer Institute, said the NIH grant runs for three years.

The research secured a previous three-year NIH grant for $223,500 in 2001.

The Wayne State University School of Medicine Development and Alumni Affairs Department has secured a $3 million grant from The Kresge Foundation to be used in the construction of the Richard J. Mazurek, M.D., Medical Education Commons.

The Kresge Foundation committed the grant with the condition that the School of Medicine first raise $30 million for the building, destined to become the new face of the school. The School of Medicine’s development team met that goal with a recent gift from an anonymous donor, triggering the Kresge challenge grant.

“With the awarding of this grant, we are saluting your efforts to improve conditions and advance opportunities in your community," said Rip Rapson, president of The Kresge Foundation. "We must partner with nonprofit organizations such as the School of Medicine if we are to pursue our grant-making vision. You enable our work as much as we try to enable yours.”

The Kresge Foundation is a private foundation that supports communities by building the capacity of nonprofit organizations in health, the environment, arts and culture, education, human services and community development.

“This gift from The Kresge Foundation means so much to the School of Medicine, to our students, and to the patients and community they serve,” said Robert M. Mentzer Jr., M.D., dean and senior advisor to the President on Medical Affairs. “This type of commitment from the foundation is recognition of the vital role the School of Medicine has in southeast Michigan. The foresight of the foundation, as well as the commitments made by our alumni and friends and family of alumni, will help us push medical education not only into a new building, but into a new millennium.”

Dean Mentzer also praised the School of Medicine’s Development and Alumni Affairs Department, which worked diligently to raise the $30 million in contributions required to secure the Kresge Foundation’s challenge grant.

Doug Czajkowski, chief development officer for the School of Medicine, noted that many financial gifts backing the construction of the new building are from former students who maintain strong ties with the school and who want to remain part of the family continuing its legacy.

“Those who graduated from the School of Medicine are strongly committed to carrying forward the mission of the school,” Mr. Czajkowski said. “And yet while many of our contributors are students who have gone on to become successful doctors, quite a few who contributed to the construction of the new Mazurek Education Commons are not in the medical field, but know the school’s reputation for providing health care for the uninsured and underinsured, and in providing world class physicians to care for the people of Michigan and the world.”

Mr. Czajkowski also thanked the School of Medicine’s Board of Visitors and Executive Fundraising Committee. “Their dedication to the school really helped this to come to fruition,” he said.

David Ripple, vice president of Development and Alumni Affairs for Wayne State University, noted that through the development process, the university discovered generous donors who believe in investing in medical education.

"The Richard J. Mazurek, M.D., Medical Education Commons will be an invaluable resource for the medical research and practical training that prepare our medical students to provide services for those in need across the state,” Mr. Ripple said. “By offering the $3 million grant on a challenge basis, The Kresge Foundation has helped the School of Medicine raise the standard of fundraising at Wayne State. The challenge also assisted the school in discovering some incredibly generous donors, most notably Nick Labedz, who are making major investments in the future of medical education at Wayne State. I am grateful to every donor who is helping make this project a reality and am tremendously proud of the School of Medicine development staff for its perseverance in raising funds for this important educational facility."

Expected to open in spring 2009, the Richard J. Mazurek, M.D., Education Commons will optimize the on-campus educational experience for students and clinicians at every career stage, and provide new spaces and services that will enhance campus life and convenience for students, faculty, health professionals and guests. New classrooms and laboratories and new educational opportunities such as the latest patient simulation technology will play a key role in enriching medical education for our students.

A $10 million gift in honor of a School of Medicine alumnus set the tone for the launch of construction, which began in September 2007. The gift, which was made by Mr. Labedz in memory of his partner, Richard J. Mazurek, M.D., is the largest in Wayne State University history. Dr. Mazurek, who died of cardiac arrest in 2002, graduated from the School of Medicine in 1961. He interned at the University of California-Los Angeles and Wadsworth Veterans Hospital. He entered private practice in Playa Del Ray, Calif., in 1964, and was considered an excellent diagnostician. He served as a clinical instructor on UCLA College of Medicine's faculty and was among the first physicians to become board certified in family medicine, although his primary certification was in surgery as an ear, nose and throat specialist.

Dr. Mazurek was active in real estate, most notably apartment buildings and commercial properties. In 1988, he retired from medicine after 25 years in private practice.

The Oct. 8 event, conducted at Scott Hall, honored faculty members and students who distinguished themselves in teaching and academic achievement during 2008.

"The Honors Recognition Program recognizes the intellectual vitality and vigor our faculty and students bring to academics and medicine," said Robert M. Mentzer Jr., M.D., dean of the School of Medicine and senior advisor to the President for Medical Affairs. "The people we honor today helped build the School of Medicine's reputation as one of the finest institutions in this nation, and will continue to do so."

Executive Vice Dean Robert Frank, M.D., who served as master of ceremonies for the program, recalled that when he became dean of students in 1986, he wanted to organize an event to celebrate honors students. That first event consisted of a poster containing the names of honors students and a cake.

“We’ve come a long way since,” Dr. Frank noted. “And next year we’re going to be able to celebrate in our new building (the Richard J. Mazurek, M.D., Medical Education Commons).”

Dr. Frank also announced that Dean Mentzer has provided a $500 scholarship from the School of Medicine for each honors student.

The presentation of the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards to Gary Krause, M.D.; Robert Swanborg, Ph.D.; Vainutis Vaitkevicius, M.D.; Colin Orton, Ph.D.; and Kamran Moghissi, M.D., highlighted the ceremony.

Patricia Dhar, M.D., received the Lamp Award based on her selection by sophomore class students.

“It was such an honor to receive this award, especially coming from the students,” said Dr. Dhar, a rheumatologist and principal investigator for the Wayne State University Lupus Database in the Departments of Internal Medicine and Obstetrics & Gynecology Division of Rheumatology. “Teaching medical students has always been so rewarding and the most wonderful part of my job here. I will always treasure it and no award will ever mean more."

Diane Levine, M.D., was selected by senior class students to receive the Staff Award.

“It’s a privilege and an honor to be selected by the students,” Dr. Levine said. She serves as vice chair for Education and clerkship director, as well as associate professor, in the Department of Internal Medicine. “We’re here for the students, and that’s what it’s all about. I always try to put the students first. When I’m teaching and mentoring, I always try to do it with the perspective of the students in mind.”

As a special tribute this year, Charles Whitten, M.D., Pediatrics; and Helene Lycaki, Ph.D., Psychiatry, received posthumus awards. Both Whitten and Lycaki died this year.

“We all remember them and hold them near and dear to our hearts,” Dr. Frank said. “We will miss them both greatly.”

The honorees include:

2008 Graduate Alumni Laureate Award
Michael R. Emmert-Buck, M.D., Ph.D., Head, Pathogenetics Unit and senior investigator Laboratory of Pathology and Urologic Oncology Branch Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute.

2008 Graduate Students Academic and Research Awards
Nicholas Brown, Immunology/Microbiology; David Craig, Cancer Biology; Michael Frezza, Cancer Biology; Hsueh-Liang Fu, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Wei Huang, Pathology; Samar Nasser Physiology; Anna Valina-Toth, Physiology – M.D./Ph.D.; Paula Whittington, Immunology/Microbiology – M.D./Ph.D.; Danielle Worthy, Medical Physics; Jonathon Wojkowiak, Pharmacology; Yi Zhang, Anatomy & Cell Biology; and Qing Zhong, Pharmacology.

2008 Research Excellence Awards
Donal S. O’Leary, Ph.D., Physiology; Shijie Sheng, Ph.D., Pathology; Maik Huttemann, Ph.D., Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics; Terrance Lynn Albrecht, Ph.D., Cancer Institute; Jeffrey Taub, M.D., Pediatrics; and Vaibhav Diwadkar, Ph.D., Psychiatry.

Academic Achievement Awards
Class of 2009: Angela Liang and Mary Tanski
Class of 2010: Emily McLaren
Class of 2011: Edward Shields

Honors in Year 1 Class of 2011
Bernard Acho, Rounak Bafana, Julian Barbat, Pravir Baxi, Katherine Caretti, Jordan Castle, Myungwon Chang, Erica Chimienti, Cierra Colbert, David Crawford, Patrick Dantzer, Daniel Demos, Scott Denstaedt, Ross Eppelheimer, Ciprian Gradinaru, Chad Green, Adrienne Hoban, Michael Jurewicz, Sarah Kenning, Steffany Kerkstra, Bonita Kozma, Ashlee Krisko, Nicholas Mischel, Jesse Morrison, Laura Most, Andrew Petraszko, Kyle Pfeifer, Christine Poisson, Tim Reynolds, Zain Rizvi, Jamie Segel, Scott Selle, Gurpriya Sethi, Neil Shah, Edward Shields, Wendy Simanton, Gilbert Tang, Jesse Veenstra, Benjamin Workman, Joseph Yang, Daniel Zeldes and Danielle Zwier

Honors in Year 2 Class of 2010
Sayf Al-katib, Grant Bailey, Jane Beimer, Jaida Bourke, Britton Carter, Stephanie Dean, Samantha Dewundara, Iuliana Dit, Justin Dueweki, Joy Dunn, Elizabeth Frayer, Ryan George, Pooja Gupta, Aaron Heindle, Levi Hilton, Levi Hinkelman, Joanna Hooten, Marian Ibrahim, Cerine Jeanty, Kia Jones, Aaron Kang, Christopher Lam, Thomas LaRoche, Allison Long, Emily McLaren, Kristin Moore, Dominic Pelle, Lindsay Petersen, David Prior, Deepti Reddy, Jason Rose, Johanna Scheer, Eirwen Scott, Adam Skrzynski, Matthew Stemer, Shezad Tejani, Erica VanderKooy, Timothy VanderKooy, Amber Warnat, Leah Weitz, Danielle Welch, Andrea Wudyka and Nathan Zwagerman.

Honors in Year 3 Class of 2009
Ukamaka Atueyi, Andrea Barbieri, Amanda Born, William Braaksma, Autumn Broady, Qing-Min Chen, Johanna Coughlin, Jason Domina, Jessica Dornbush, Adrian Gasperut, Nathan Gonik, Bianca Gruber, Katherine Gurchak, Anna Hehl, Zachariah Hicks, Mark Kelly, Ryan Kelly, Michael Kopec, Alla Kwitny, Rachel Laarman, Joshua Leese, Laurel Leithauser, Angela Liang, Victor Mangona, Brian Mott, Patricia Myers-Gurevitch, John Otremba, Mihailo Popovic, Meredith Price, Crystal Ritsema, Richard Schildhouse, Nicole Seleno, Saloni Shah, Kelly Smith, Sakiko Suzuki and Mary Tanski.

2008 College Teaching Awards
Harry Goshgarian, Ph.D., Anatomy & Cell Biology; Alexander Gow, Ph.D., Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics; Angela Trepanier, M.S., Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics; Cynthia Aaron, M.D., Emergency Medicine; Melissa Barton, M.D., Emergency Medicine; Thomas Holland, Ph.D., Immunology/Microbiology; Roy Sundick, Ph.D., Immunology/Microbiology; Syed Muneer Abidi, M.D., Internal Medicine; Elizabeth Arnold, M.D., Internal Medicine; Lois Ayash, M.D., Internal Medicine; Lavoisier Cardozo, M.D., Internal Medicine; Diane Levine, M.D., Internal Medicine; Donald Levine, M.D., Internal Medicine; Milton Mutchnick, M.D., Internal Medicine; Renato Roxas, M.D., Internal Medicine; Charles Schiffer, M.D., Internal Medicine; Suneja Anupam, M.D., Internal Medicine; Wilhelmine Wiese-Rometsch, M.D., Internal Medicine; Richard VanderHeide, M.D., Ph.D., Pathology; Eishi Asano, M.D., Ph.D., Pediatrics; Jorge Lua, M.D., Pediatrics; Kathleen Moltz, M.D., Pediatrics; Ann Mortenson, M.D., Pediatrics; Athina Pappas, M.D., Pediatrics; Debbie Toder, M.D., Pediatrics; Mark Zilberman, M.D., Pediatrics; Michael Bannon, Ph.D., Pharmacology; Stanley Terlecky, Ph.D., Pharmacology; Donald DeGracia, Ph.D., Physiology; and Eti Gursel, M.D., Surgery.

2008 Academic Teaching Awards
Patricia Dhar, M.D., the Lamp Award
Diane Levine, M.D., the Staff Award.

2008 WSU Faculty Awards
William Crossland, Ph.D., Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, the WSU President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching; Rodney D. Braun, Ph.D., Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, the Career Development Award; Jeffrey Loeb, M.D., Ph.D., Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, the Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award; Jack D. Sobel, M.D., Departments of Internal Medicine, Immunology & Microbiology, and Obstetrics & Gynecology, the Charles J. Gershenson Distinguished Faculty Fellowship; and Judith Whittum Hudson, Ph.D., Departments of Immunology & Microbiology, Internal Medicine, and Ophthalmology.

2008 Lifetime Achievement Awards
Gary Krause, M.D., Emergency Medicine; Robert Swanborg, Ph.D., Immunology/Microbiology; Vainutis Vaitkevicius, M.D., Internal Medicine; Colin Orton, Ph.D., Radiation Oncology; and Kamran Moghissi, M.D., Obstetrics and Gynecology.

This annual benefit, which begins at 5:30 p.m., takes place at Henry Ford Community College’s Administrative Services Conference Center, Roseneau Room, located at 5101 Evergreen Road, in Dearborn.

The Wayne State University School of Medicine has a long, proud tradition of community service and volunteerism among its students. Generations of graduates have cut their teeth serving in free medical clinics and providing much needed healthcare, related education and services to the communities of Detroit and Wayne County. These community outreach programs are primarily managed and perpetuated by the student body providing a number of services, including free medical care for the homeless, school-based healthcare education, services for the disabled and underserved and more.

As with most good things, funding support is needed to continue these noble missions and support the deep tradition of social consciousness fostered by the school. The proceeds from this benefit will provide direct support to several student outreach organizations and help them continue their efforts in our community.

Guest tickets cost $100; student tickets cost $40. Business attire is requested. For ticket information, contact Robert Sherwin, M.D., at rsherwin@med.wayne.edu, (734) 231-3857 (cell) or (313) 745-0203 #3623 (DMC page).

This institution-wide trial, open to all Wayne State University and Karmanos Cancer Institute faculty, staff and students, runs through Oct 31.

If you would like to take a look and help us evaluate this resource, visit Henry Stewart Talks: the Biomedical and Life Sciences Collection http://www.lib.wayne.edu/blog/?p=684). Library officials are interested in your comments.

Dr. Hashimoto and his wife divide their time between their home in Ann Arbor and their birthplace in Niigata City, spending the winter in Japan. Dr. Hashimoto enjoys gardening and farming, and owns four tractors.

“When I retired from the Department of Dermatology, the faculty gave me a John Deere tractor as a retirement gift,” Dr. Hashimoto recalled.

The Hashimotos have four grown children, a son and three daughters, all with advanced college degrees. Their daughters are employed in various health care fields, and their son works in finance.

Satinder Kaur, M.D., received her medical degree from the Jahlum Valley College of Medical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, and J&K, India. Dr. Kaur relocated to the United States and pursued a master’s degree in Health Care Administration at the University of Michigan-Flint. She served here as an OB/GYN resident from 2004 to 2008. 

“She expressed a desire to pursue a career in academic medicine and we were pleased to have the opportunity to offer her a position in the Division of Gynecology,” said Dr. Jones, who also serves as director of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and chief of Obstetrics for Wayne State University/Hutzel Women’s Hospital. “We are excited about her talents as a teacher, caregiver and mentor."

Lara A. Friel, M.D., Ph.D., has joined the department in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Dr. Friel is a graduate of the Finch University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School, where she completed a master’s degree in Applied Physiology, followed by a doctorate degree in Neuroscience and a medical degree in Clinical Immunology. She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York. Dr. Friel came to Wayne State University in 2005 to join the combined fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine with the Perinatology Research Branch.

“As her fellowship neared completion, we were fortunate to have Dr. Friel accept our invitation to join the faculty here at Wayne State University,” Dr. Jones said. “She is a talented clinician and teacher, and has aspirations to continue her maturation as a physician-scientist.”

Neil Simmerman, M.D., M.S., a native of Canada, is the newest addition to the Division of Gynecology. He received his bachelor’s degree with honors from Concordia University and a master’s degree in Experimental Surgery from McGill University. He obtained his medical degree from the Ben-Gurion University/Columbia University International Health and Medicine Program. Dr. Simmerman is a 2008 graduate of the Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program at New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York.

“In his residency program, Dr. Simmerman developed a diverse range of clinical and research interests that included sexual dysfunction, minimally invasive surgery and robotic surgery,” Dr. Jones said. “He comes to us with an outstanding record of performance in residency and a commitment to a career in academic medicine.”

The seminar by Dr. Loeb, associate director of the Wayne State University School of Medicine’s Center for Molecular Medicine & Genetics and associate professor of neurology, will be presented by the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology.

Dr. Yoo, who also serves as vice president of Medical Affairs, is the leader of the Head and Neck Multidisciplinary Team at Karmanos.

"Dr. Yoo is committed to exceptional patient care and treatment," said John C. Ruckdeschel, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Karmanos. “His expertise and dedication make him well-qualified to lead the clinical affairs of Karmanos and to continue to raise the bar for exceptional patient care."

As associate center director and chief medical officer, Dr. Yoo is responsible for medical staff development and directing clinical care activities throughout Karmanos to ensure high quality care. His new duties include overseeing the 13 multi-specialty teams, business services and clinical operations, networking, contracting, and hospice. He will also work with senior leadership to recruit physicians to Karmanos.

He received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Kansas and his medical degree from the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Yoo completed his residency and fellowship in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

WSU spearheads prenatal assessment portion of study

Wayne State University is playing a major role in the most ambitious children’s health research project in history.

The National Institutes of Health has expanded Michigan’s role in its National Children’s Study with a $57 million grant announced Oct. 3. The National Children’s Study is the largest research project ever undertaken to study children’s health and the causes of ailments such as autism, cerebral palsy and asthma.

Wayne State University will oversee the assessment and care of pregnant women in the study. Michigan State University will lead the study overall with project collaborators from Wayne State University, the University of Michigan, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Henry Ford Health System, Michigan Department of Community Health, and Wayne County and city of Detroit Health Departments.

As part of an alliance with Michigan’s top research universities, health care systems, and state and local health agencies, the National Children’s Study will monitor more than 100,000 children across the nation from before birth to age 21.

“Working cooperatively with the other major biomedical institutions in the state allowed us to bring together a team of unmatched expertise,” said Robert J. Sokol, M.D., director of the C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, and Distinguished Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Wayne State University School of Medicine. “It also assured that our joint efforts would be adequately funded so we will be able to perform all portions of the study well.”

The $57 million in funding will allow the consortium to study children in Genesee, Grand Traverse, Lenawee and Macomb counties. This award is in addition to $18.5 million announced last fall for study work in Wayne County.

“This is the largest human health study ever undertaken,” said Nigel Paneth, MSU professor of epidemiology, and pediatrics and human development, and the project’s principal investigator. “By following children from before birth and studying their environment, we will be able to seek out ways to prevent many of the diseases children now suffer from.”

The project will follow about 1,000 participants in each of the five counties to study the environmental influences that affect them, including toxins, nutrition, physical living conditions and socioeconomic factors, Paneth said. Children will continually be assessed throughout their development.

Planning for this project began in 2002 when the partners formed the Michigan Alliance for the National Children’s Study. The idea, said Paneth, was that each institution brings unique skills to the table:

WSU will oversee the assessment and care of pregnant women.

Children’s Hospital of Michigan has responsibility for managing for biological samples.

Henry Ford Health System has responsibility for managing environmental samples and will perform medical examinations of children.

U-M will be responsible for enrolling and interviewing study participants and assessing postnatal child development.

MSU will coordinate the overall work of the study and house the project at its East Lansing.

MDCH will provide information related to live birth characteristics and locations in Wayne County.

MSU Extension will help develop community support for the study.

Participants for the study will begin being enrolled in 2009 in Wayne County, 2010 in Grand Traverse and Lenawee counties, and 2011 in Genesee and Macomb counties.

“The National Children’s Study will provide new insights into maternal-child health and development for the next 50 years and will, I’m sure, be considered a brilliant initiative, well worth the effort and cost,” Dr. Sokol said. “Our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will reap the benefits.” 

Omar Kahn, M.D., who recently returned from the 24th congress, held Sept. 17-20 in Montreal, said the Wayne State University Multiple Sclerosis Center, in conjunction with the Detroit Medical Center Multiple Sclerosis Clinic, presented more research papers than any other MS clinic or center in the United States.

This marked the first time the clinics earned these rankings, said Dr. Kahn, professor of Neurology and director of the Multiple Sclerosis ClinicalResearch Center and Image Analysis Laboratory for the Wayne State University School of Medicine. He also serves as director of the MS Clinic for HarperUniversity Hospital.

Dr. Kahn said this year’s congress was the largest, with almost 6,000 attendees from around the world. Nearly 1,000 research papers (platform presentations and posters) on all aspects of multiple sclerosis were presented at the meeting.Of the 25 papers presented by the WSU-DMC Multiple Sclerosis Program, 13 were WSU-DMC investigator-initiated projects and 12 were multi-center collaborations, Dr. Kahn said.

Of the top 10 national MS centers based on the number of research papers presented at the 2008 congress, Wayne State University and the DetroitMedicalCenter ranked first with 25. Globally, the team ranked third.

“It is a pretty good group of centers from the U.S. to be part of, and what makes it even better is that we are at the top of that group,” Dr. Kahn said.

This showing, Dr. Kahn said, “put Detroit on the map and gave one more reason to be a proud member of the WSU-DMC community.”

The state of Michigan, Dr. Kahn noted, is home to approximately 30,000 patients with multiple sclerosis, making it the third-largest state with multiple sclerosis patients, after California and New York.

Site visits are conducted every three years. Site visitors are James Elliott, D.V.M., D.A.C.L.A.M., D.A.C.V.P.M., and David Ruble, D.V.M., D.A.C.L.A.M. Dr. Elliott is director of the Department of Lab Animal Resources at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center. Dr. Ruble is senior director of Bioresources at Wyeth Corp.’s Pearl River, N.Y., research facility.

AAALAC International is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the responsible treatment of animals in science. Site visits are a peer review process conducted by expert teams of veterinarians, researchers and other professionals. During the site visit emphasis is placed on reviewing animal facilities, research labs, standard operating procedures, and policies and procedures of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

AAALAC accreditation is recognized as the best means to demonstrate to extramural funding agencies, that a high quality laboratory animal care and use program is in place.

Dr. Merlin Ekstrom, director and attending veterinarian of the Division of Laboratory Animal Resources and associate professor of the Department of Pathology, said Wayne State University has been accredited since 1977. WSU was one of fewer than 20 major research universities to obtain accreditation at the time of its initial accreditation.

Dr. Wali, associate professor of Surgery and Pathology for the Wayne State University School of Medicine, informed WSU staff, faculty, students and armed services veterans about mesothelioma incidence, prevalence and translational research efforts into the condition’s early detection and treatment options.

The event took place at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center.

Mesothelioma is a malignant tumor caused by environmental or industrial asbestos exposure around the lining of the lung and abdomen.

Dr. Wali has secured funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Protection Agency and the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation to identify the early detection biomarkers of the disease.

Michael Emmert-Buck, M.D., Ph.D., a 2008 graduate of the School of Medicine and senior investigator of the Head, Pathogenetics Unit of the National Cancer Institute, will speak on “An Integrated Approach to Studying Clinical Samples” from noon to 1 p.m. Oct. 8. Dr. Emmet-Buck received his medical and doctorate degrees from the School of Medicine.

Dr. Buck’s address will cap research day, which begins at 10 a.m. with a poster session in the Physiology Library in Scott Hall.

The method utilizes a thromboelastograph, a small instrument that provides a graphic representation of the formation and break down of blood clots using a small sample of blood. By determining the strength of a clot, the instrument could enable doctors to understand the severity of a patient’s hemophilia before and after they receive treatment.

This new information will help to better gauge the best treatment regimens for individual patients and prevent bleeding complications.

Hemophilia, which is a group of hereditary disorders that impair the body's ability to produce blood clots, is typically managed by intravenously administering a “clotting factor” – a protein that the patient lacks. To prevent bleeding, patients are generally given the clotting factor every 48 to 72 hours. Although varying severities of hemophilia require the factor to be given more or less frequently, these cases typically aren’t discovered until bleeding complications occur.

Now, with the use of thromboelastography to gauge the correct treatment regimen ahead of time, some of the most devastating complications of hemophilia can be avoided. One of those severe complications is bleeding into joints, a condition that causes debilitating joint deterioration over time.

“The whole purpose of putting someone on a preventative treatment regimen is to preserve their joints,” Dr. Chitlur said. “What we’re trying to do is prevent joint bleeds from happening, so that patients can live more productive lives.”

Thromboelastography requires less than one milliliter of blood in order to produce an image, while standard clotting factor assays call for much more.

“That’s the biggest advantage,” Dr. Chitlur said. “It’s very important in children, and especially in newborns. If you want to test something frequently, drawing that much blood can itself become a problem. Additionally, while clotting factor assays take several hours to perform, thromboelastography can provide results in less than one hour.”