The Shiffman Medical Library resumed full service in its newly renovated location in the Richard J. Mazurek, M.D., Medical Education Commons this week.

The library’s hours are as follows:
May 26 - June 7
Monday - Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: noon to 8 p.m.

Starting June 8
Monday - Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to midnight
Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: noon to 8 p.m.

Gerald A. Shiener, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences for the Wayne State University School of Medicine, was recently recognized for excellence in education by the American Psychiatric Association.

At its recent annual meeting in San Francisco, the association presented Dr. Shiener with its Nancy C.A. Roeske, M.D., Award for Excellence in Medical Student Education.

“I was honored to receive recognition from my peers,” he said. “I have always been proud of being a psychiatrist, and especially proud of having trained at Sinai Hospital and Wayne State. I have done my best to represent psychiatry to the community and to other branches of medicine as an effective specialty with treatments that are rational and that work.

“All of my teaching activities are aimed at helping students understand the role of psychiatry in medicine,” he added. “I was fortunate to have had excellent teachers as role models who were always patient with me and supportive of me.”

The chief of Consultation and Liaison Psychiatry at Sinai Grace Hospital, Dr. Shiener was also elevated to Distinguished Fellow, the association’s highest membership status. Distinguished Fellowship is awarded to those psychiatrists who have made significant contributions to patient care, education, administration and public service, and who have worked to represent the profession to the community.

“Whether Dr. Shiener is teaching medical students, providing excellent clinical service or mentoring students as they hope to choose the most suitable specialty, he does well, and is always a vital and integral part of our department,” said Mary Morreale, M.D., who nominated Dr. Shiener for the honor. Dr. Morreale is an assistant professor and director of Medical Student Education in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences.

Dr. Shiener was named the department’s Most Outstanding Faculty Member in 2000, 2001 and 2007.

The Wayne State University School of Medicine says farewell and wishes David Lawson, Ph.D., professor emeritus of the Physiology Department, a wonderful retirement – for a second time.

Dr. Lawson came out of retirement in 2007 to continue serving the School of Medicine as interim chairman of the Physiology Department while a search for a new full-time chair was conducted.

Robert M. Mentzer Jr., M.D., dean of the School of Medicine and senior advisor to the president for Medical Affairs, noted that Dr. Lawson returned to lead the department, stepping away temporarily from retirement and the construction of his retirement home in another state.

“Dr. Lawson did a stellar job serving as interim chair,” Dean Mentzer said. “Although Dr. Lawson retired from his full-time faculty position, he remained actively engaged as a faculty member. His willingness to accept the appointment as interim chairman is a testament to his commitment and dedication to Wayne State University and the School of Medicine.”

In a letter to Dr. Lawson, who has already left the campus to return to his retirement plans, Dean Mentzer wrote, “On behalf of the School of Medicine and from me personally, please accept our heartfelt appreciation for your contributions and service as interim chair of the Department of Physiology at Wayne State University School of Medicine. Your loyalty to the department and the school’s mission is truly evident by your willingness to step out of retirement to serve the school in yet another capacity. I can say with all sincerity that you have made invaluable contributions to the department and graduate program.”

A member of the American Physiological Society, the Endocrine Society and the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science, Dr. Lawson served for 21 years as a member of the Wayne State University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, including distinguished service as the committee’s chair.

He is able to return to retirement with the appointment of Jian-Ping Jin, M.D., Ph.D., who takes over chairmanship of the department June 1. Dr. Jin comes to the School of Medicine from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, where he served as chief of Molecular Cardiology and professor of Medicine.

The next Wayne State University School of Medicine-Henry Ford Cardiovascular Seminar, set for June 5, will feature a physician who changed cardiac medicine.

Piero Anversa, M.D., professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and director of the Center for Regenerative Medicine, is a world leader in the field of cardiac stem cells and has revolutionized the field of cardiac pathophysiology by pioneering the concept that the heart is a regenerative organ. He will speak on “Redefining Myocardial Biology” at noon in room 2268 of Scott Hall.

As part of his visit, Dr. Anversa has a limited number of 30- to 45-minute slots available the afternoon of June 4 to meet with faculty individually or in small groups. If you have an interest in regenerative medicine and would like to take advantage of this unique opportunity to discuss your research with an internationally recognized expert in the field, contact Cardiovascular Research Institute Director Karin Przyklenk, Ph.D., at kprzykle@med.wayne.edu or Christina Niarhos at cniarhos@med.wayne.edu.

The Wayne State University School of Medicine was well-represented at the 32nd annual Michigan Family Medicine Research Day, a statewide research conference.

A number of members of the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences won awards for their presentations at the May 21 conference, which next year will be held at Wayne State University.

School of Medicine winners included:

Michael Kopec, who won in the student research category for his presentation, “Factors Associated with Depressive Symptoms among Adolescents Attending School-based Health Centers.”

Sanket Kunde, M.D., won in the resident chronic disease research category for his presentation, “Self-Monitoring of Blood Pressure among MetroNet Primary Care Patients: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study.”

Dawn Misra, Ph.D., won in the faculty research category for her presentation, “Fathers Matter: Depressive Symptoms Among Black Fathers in the Prenatal Period.”

William Murdoch, M.D., gave a faculty presentation, and other resident poster presenters included Tywanda Crawford-Johnson, M.D.; Shamoon Din, M.D.; Aisha Khan, M.D.; and Basil Qandil, M.D.

A paper written by a Wayne State University School of Medicine researcher and his M.D./Ph.D. student has received the Editor’s Choice Award from the Organization for Human Brain Mapping.

Bruce Berkowitz, Ph.D., professor and director of Small Animal MRI Facility in the Departments of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Ophthalmology, and David Bissig won the award for their article, “Manganese-enhanced MRI of layer-specific activity in the visual cortex from awake and free-moving rats.”

The award, which will be presented at the organization’s annual meeting, honors the best paper of the year in the journal NeuroImage. Through the generosity of the Departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, and Ophthalmology, and the School of Medicine, Bissig will attend the June meeting in San Francisco to accept the award.

“Dr. Berkowitz and I are excited by this honor, which came as a complete surprise,” Bissig said. Dr. Berkowitz serves as his mentor in the M.D./Ph.D. program.

The research outlined in their article describes “a new method for using magnetic resonance imaging to measure brain activity non-destructively and in greater detail than is currently possible,” Dr. Berkowitz said. “With this technique, brain activity that occurred outside the magnet in awake and free-moving subjects is studied, and this provides a new area of research for brain studies.”

While the research and methods are only in experimental studies, Dr. Berkowitz and Bissig said, the findings establish an important “test bed” for investigating disease models and new treatment options.

An international association, the Organization for Human Brain Mapping is dedicated to neuroimaging research. One of its primary goals is providing an educational forum for the exchange of up-to-the-minute and groundbreaking research.

Wayne State University School of Medicine leaders and faculty members gathered this week to celebrate the establishment of two new endowed chairs in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Hosted by Robert M. Mentzer Jr., dean of the School of Medicine and senior advisor to the president for Medical Affairs, the May 20 reception convened the family and colleagues of Robert J. Sokol, M.D., and John M. Malone Jr., M.D., to mark the establishment of the John M. Malone Jr., M.D., Endowed Chair and Director of the C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, and the Robert J. Sokol, M.D., Chair in Molecular Genetics and Gynecology.

“I'm proud to report that the department now has eight endowed chairs and joins pediatrics as one of the best-endowed departments in the school,” Dean Mentzer said. “This illustrates our commitment to women and children's health and how investing in these disciplines serves the world health community.

“The men we are honoring tonight, Drs. Malone and Sokol, represent the ideals of the department and the medical school. Dr. Malone, as I'm sure you all know, was much loved and was renowned for caring for patients, academic pursuits and teaching medical students. We honor his memory through an endowed chair in his name and uphold his commitment to improving women's health. Bob Sokol was dean of the medical school for nearly a decade and now successfully directs the Mott Center. Dr. Sokol has been pivotal in securing the Perinatology Research Branch and now Wayne State's portion of the National Children's Study. These initiatives provide substantial federal funding to the school and continue our involvement in the most important research in the county.”

Theodore B. Jones, M.D., chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, paid tribute to Dr. Malone, who died several months ago. Dr. Malone had served as chairman of the department.

“We all feel this loss very deeply and our sincere condolences go out to his family members, many of whom are here tonight,” Dr. Jones said. “He was respected and adored. He could be gruff, but everyone knew that underneath there was a heart of pure gold. He is missed every day.”

Dr. Jones presented a plaque of appreciation to Dr. Malone’s father, John Malone Sr., M.D.

Valerie Parisi, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., Vice Dean of Hospital Relations & Clinical Affairs for the school, honored Dr. Sokol, who in addition to having a chair established in his name, serves in the chair named for Dr. Malone the save evening.

“In Bob's world, nothing is beyond our reach if only we work hard enough and consider every possibility. He truly believes in the inherent good of every human being and is certain that if we can behave peaceably with one another, we can achieve anything,” said Dr. Parisi, who has known Dr. Sokol for decades. “It is this philosophy that enables Bob to achieve so much. He is universally respected as a scientist, a physician and a leader. If there's a seemingly impossible project to manage or irreconcilable difference that must be overcome, Bob is the man for the job.”

Dr. Sokol, she noted, began serving as chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1983, followed by his tenure as dean and senior vice president for Medical Affairs. During his tenure, the school rose in National Science Foundation rankings from the 70s to 22nd.

“I more than appreciate having a chair named in my honor and couldn't be more pleased,” Dr. Sokol said. “Endowed chairs are the coin of the realm in academia. I've had the opportunity to develop my career here at Wayne; this reflects continuity of effort and excellence and is a marvelous capstone of recognition and accomplishment for me, professionally and personally.”

He noted that the honor of occupying a chair named for his colleague of 25 years was bittersweet. “It is terribly sad that John passed away before we could celebrate an endowed chair in his honor together. He told me how much this meant to him. It means a great deal to me to occupy a chair named for him.

“John was an accomplished physician, leader and a wonderful person,” he added. “His patients meant the world to him. He didn't just treat their cancer – he treated them as human beings. John knew all about his patients and their families. His patients were ever grateful for his unparalleled ability to help them view their illness with hope, reality and humor. He loved taking care of people and was happiest in the operating room. He was arguably the best gynecologic surgeon in the greater Detroit area.”

The two new chairs, Dr. Sokol said, are critical to the department as it embarks upon a “rebuilding phase.”

“We must be able to recruit, not only clinically, but also for research -- young, aggressive and smart scientists -- the best and brightest. We have to have the research excellence making it sensible for a National Institutes of Health branch to be based here in Detroit. I won't be working forever; the endowed Malone chair will be crucial in recruiting a successor.”

The second endowed chair, he explained, will allow for the “fast-track” recruitment of new leadership for the Systems Biology program.

“This will help keep Detroit on the forefront of perinatal and women's health research and will have a tremendous positive impact on the medical school and university,” he said.

Mary C. Myrand, manager of Design Services & Digital Imaging for the Department of BioMedical Communications for the School of Medicine, has worked diligently on completing a glass window design for the meditation room in the new Richard J. Mazurek, M.D., Medical Education Commons, set to open next month.

When walking on the second floor of the new facility, it is easy to notice the intricate patterns and stunning colors emanating in the atrium. The meditation room’s four large paneled glass windows have been transformed into a piece of art through the work of Myrand.

She was asked to work on the project by Chuck Pokriefka, director of facilities and support services for the School of Medicine. While Myrand holds both a bachelor's degree in fine arts and a master’s degree in teaching, she had never undertaken a process quite like this.

At first glance the design looks like stained glass. But it is not. Poly-film panels have been applied to the glass from the inside of the room and coupled with lead piping on both sides of the glass, to give the windows that stained glass effect.

Myrand was chosen to spearhead the project because of her experience using vinyl film, examples of which can be seen at Scott Hall, specifically the School of Medicine shields located on the windows of the front entrance. While Myrand said that the two types of films are similar in concept, they require different processes.

“There was a definite learning curve,” Myrand said. “This was something completely new to me, but it was something I loved and have had a lot of fun with.”

Myrand was able to utilize her graphic design talents to come up with a full-sized template to assist her in bringing the design to fruition. She came up with a design for the window on her computer, printed it, and placed it in the windows. She then carefully cut out the film pieces and placed them in accordance with the template.

The project was not without frustration. There where a couple times she contacted the company that provided a similar paneled design in the meditation room in Scott Hall for help.

“It has been a very time-consuming project, but it’s something I’ve really loved. As an artist, it’s another medium to express myself,” Myrand said.

When observing the design, the first things you notice are the colors. The windows are filled with sweeping shades of red, orange and yellow. These colors work well with the lighting of the new Mazurek facility and provide the piece with a natural glow. The colors were selected by Pokriefka, but the implementation was left solely to Myrand. In the window, the colors are stacked upon one another, creating a beautiful layered look. The inspiration for the piece stems from the way a sedimentary rock looks when cut open with its many layers.

“I just wanted to provide people with a place where they could go and collect their thoughts and relax. I felt that this design was very calming and in line with what a meditation room seeks to do,” Myrand said.

A Wayne State University School of Medicine physician has co-written a new definition and national treatment recommendations for transient ischemic attacks, so called “mini-strokes.” The new guidelines call for much faster intervention treatment for TIA symptoms than previously practiced

Seemant Chaturvedi, M.D., F.A.A.N., F.A.H.A., professor of Neurology at the Wayne State University School of Medicine and director of the WSU/DMC Stroke Program, played a key role in research that reviewed 17 years worth of findings to develop the new definition and recommendation.

The findings and new recommendations, affirmed by the American Academy of Neurology, indicate that while TIAs were previously defined as any focal cerebral ischemic event with symptoms lasting 24 hours, that time frame was too broad. Review of the research showed that with use of the 24-hour rule, 30 percent to 50 percent of TIA cases developed permanent brain injury.

In effect, the paper says, waiting for a TIA symptom to last 24 hours delays treatment that could prevent further damage to the brain or stroke.

Some physicians, Chaturvedi said, are reluctant to initiate acute stroke intervention because of concerns that symptoms may resolve spontaneously. The former standby of a 24-hour definition for TIA encourages a “wait and see” approach over immediate intervention. Patients with TIA symptoms lasting more than just a single hour, however, are “highly likely” to develop permanent damage if treatment is not provided immediately.

"TIAs are often not recognized by patients as well as primary care physicians,” Dr. Chaturvedi said. “This document provides current thinking on the appropriate diagnosis and evaluation of suspected TIAs. TIAs are an important warning sign of a potential future stroke, and this paper from the American Heart Association/Stroke Association reinforces this message."

The previous yardstick of defining TIA with a 24-hour duration has the potential to delay the initiation of effective stroke therapies, the authors state. That 24-hour definition encourages a “wait and see” approach over immediate application of urgent stroke intervention.

Acute stroke interventions such as intravenous tissue plasminogen activator must be administered much sooner than 24 hours after symptom onset. The sooner tissue plasminogen activator is administered, the greater its efficacy.
Chaturvedi, co-author of the 2004 book “Transient Ischemic Attacks,” serves as president of the Michigan Neurological Association.

His new diagnostic recommendations include that suspected TIA patients undergo neuroimaging evaluation within 24 hours of symptom onset, preferably with magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, noninvasive imaging of the cervical vessels should be performed and noninvasive imaging of intracranial vessels is considered “reasonable.”

The paper, “Definition and Evaluation of Transient Ischemic Attack: A Scientific Statement for Healthcare Professionals From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Stroke Council; Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia; Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention; Council on Cardiovascular Nursing; and the Interdisciplinary Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease,” was published in the May issue of Stroke, the online Journal of the American Heart Association.

Harold E. Usndek, M.D., a former clinical associate professor of Dermatology for the Wayne State University School of Medicine, died May 19. He was 93.

Dr. Usndek and Mrs. Barbara Usndek have a long history with Wayne State University and the School of Medicine. Dr. Usndek graduated from the College of Liberal Arts in 1939 and went on to attend the School of Medicine. While in medical school, he met Mrs. Usndek, another WSU student, who was pursuing a degree in medical technology. Part of her degree requirement was class-work with second-year medical students. It was during this time that the Usndeks met. Both graduated in their respective programs in 1944 – she in medical technology, he from the School of Medicine. They married a year later.

Dr. Usndek decided to specialize in dermatology and was accepted into a three-year fellowship at WSU. The first year was performed in Chicago through a collaborative program between the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois, Northwestern University and what is now Rush University Medical Center. Nine months later, Dr. Usndek was back at WSU for the final two years of the fellowship. After completing his training in 1950, Dr. Usndek went into private practice.

“Dr. Usndek always kept Wayne State University and the School of Medicine close to his heart,” said Robert M. Mentzer Jr., M.D., dean of the School of Medicine and senior advisor to the president for Medical Affairs. “His interest in the future of our school, our students and medicine will be greatly missed by our School of Medicine family.”

In addition to serving as clinical instructor, assistant professor and associate professor of the Department of Dermatology, he served as chairman of the section of Dermatology for the Michigan State Medical Society.

Dr. Usndek’s death comes nearly one year to the day he, his family and School of Medicine administrators celebrated a commitment of $1.5 million by the doctor and his wife in support of the Usndek Chair in Dermatology.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara; children, Susan (James) Kaler, Cathy (Richard) Magreta, Christopher Usndek and Dr. David (Dr. John Carney) Usndek; grandchildren, Veronica Magreta and James Kaler; and his brother, Russell Usndek.

Visitation will take place from 2 to 9 p.m. May 21 and from 10 to 11 a.m. May 22 at the Wasik Funeral Home – Shelby Township, 49150 Schoenherr Road. A service is scheduled for 11 a.m. May 22 at the funeral home. Burial will take place in Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township.

Jennifer Mendez, Ph.D., director of Co-Curricular Programs for the Wayne State University School of Medicine, has been appointed member at large of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education.

As member at large, Dr. Mendez will chair the Geriatrics Education Committee, which for the next two years will focus on workforce development as outlined in the Institute of Medicine’s report, “Retooling for an Aging America: Building the Health Care Workforce.” The report states that the United States faces a health care crisis because the number of elderly patients is rapidly outnumbering the cadre of health care providers with the skills to care for them. Calling for “bold initiatives,” the report recommends better education and preparation of caregivers and health care providers for the elderly.

“I was offered a job since I did not know anything about geriatrics, and the person who had faith in my abilities knew I would take the time to learn and give it my all,” Dr. Mendez said of her interest in the specialty. “After I got into the field, I realized that there was not much on ethnic groups. I was especially concerned as there were many minorities like myself and my parents who the physicians did not know much about, especially our diet and how it affects our lifestyles. My dad is diabetic and my mother has had a few episodes of cardiac arrest. That led to my interest in the care of ethnic minorities as they age.”

Dr. Mendez, an assistant professor, has been a member of the association and a member of its Geriatric Education Committee since 1993. She has served as an exhibit area chair or co-chair since 1998, and in 2004 was named an association fellow. She also served as a member of the executive committee and conference chair in 2007. From 2005 to 2008, Dr. Mendez served as co-editor on the editorial board of Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, the organization’s official journal.

Dr. Mendez also serves on the board of directors of the Detroit Wayne County Long Term Care Connections and is a member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Senior Advisory Council. In 2004, she was appointed to the Governor’s Medicaid Long Term Care Task Force and the Detroit Mayor’s Task Force on Seniors Dying before Their Time.

Almost 30 male students at the Wayne State University School of Medicine will be getting sun tans on parts of their bodies they least expected this summer.

And their daring will help fund research to battle children’s cancer.

The first ever “Buzz it for Boards” wrapped up this week, after challenging students to shave their heads – or for those a little less daring to at least radically crop their tresses – for charity.

The idea behind “Buzz it for Boards,” explained Brandon Mancini, Student Senate president for the Class of 2011, was to allow students to blow off a little steam during the high pressure period of exams while raising funds for a worthy cause.

Mancini said 28 students stepped up to the trimmer or razor, and with additional donations, the effort raised $860 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

There were two ways to participate: If students or faculty members shaved their heads before May 19, the Class of 2011 donated $5 on their behalf to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Those wary of going under the clippers could make a lump sum donation to the cause or pledge an amount for each head shaved.

Mancini said the success of this year’s effort should lead to it becoming an annual event. Next year, he said, the class hopes to recruit female students early in the academic year to grow their hair long and commit to donating their tresses to Locks of Love, which provides wigs for female cancer patients.

Neurology residents from the Wayne State University School of Medicine were hard at work in Seattle for the 2009 American Academy of Neurology’s annual meeting.

An outstanding effort was made this year in the number of posters and participation in the annual meeting. More than 12 posters were presented this year from residents and fellows alone, including some being selected for special poster presentation and integrated neuroscience courses.

Many members of the neurology staff, in addition to acting as mentors, led by example, also presenting posters, scientific sessions and integrated neuroscience courses.

The topics covered ranged from endovascular techniques such as stenting to the imaging techniques in Alzheimer's. Below are examples of the work displayed at the meeting:

Ambooj Tiwari, M.D.: "In-Stent Restenosis on Follow-Up Angiography among Patients Treated with Stenting in Acute Ischemic Stroke" and "Safety of Stent Supported Intracranial Revascularization in the Setting of Acute Ischemic Stroke."

Amit Kansara, M.D.: “Late Stent Thrombosis following Self-expanding Intracranial Stent Placement" and “Stenting in acute basilar artery occlusion beyond 8 hours of stroke onset."

Mahmoud Rayes, M.D.: "Peri-Procedural Complications During Endovascular Treatment Of Intracranial Aneurysms Managed By Interventional Neurologists" and “Safety Of Treatment Of More Multiple Aneurysms In The Same Session.”

Pratik Bhattacharya, M.D.: “Radiographic Characteristics and Their Effects on Outcomes of Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage,” “Effect of Comorbidities and Complications on Outcomes of Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage” and "Automated Data Mining: An Innovative and Efficient Web Based Approach to Maintain Resident Case Logs."

Temenuzhka G. Mihaylova, M.D.: “Cervical Anterior Horn Cell Loss from Subdural Hygroma – A Late Sequela of Spontaneous CSF Leak.”

Yvan Tran, M.D.: “Cranial Imaging in Prolonged Refractory Status Epilepticus.”

Antao Du, M.D.: “Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging in Mild Cognitive Impairment.”

Jai Perumal, M.D.: “Six Year Prospective Multi-Voxel Brain MRS Study of Two Cohorts in RRMS To Examine The Effect of Glatiramer Acetate on Neuronal/Axonal Metabolic Injury” and “Long-Term Safety And Efficacy of Intense Immunosuppression As First Line Therapy in Clinically Active Relapsing MS: A New Treatment Algorithm.”

The meeting provided a great arena for exploration and presentation of novel concepts, giving residents a chance to add their discoveries into the ever-expanding universe of scientific knowledge.

Robert Frank, M.D., executive vice dean of the Wayne State University School of Medicine, will forever be remembered and celebrated for his commitment to medical education in the new Richard J. Mazurek, M.D., Medical Education Commons.

A group of about 100 faculty, employees and students of the school surprised Dr. Frank on May 12 when they lured him to a dedication of the Student Organization Suite on the second floor of the new building. There, Dr. Frank found a plaque and his portrait honoring him for his dedication to the school.

The plaque, in part, reads, “The Student Organization Suite is dedicated to Robert R. Frank, M.D., Class of 1973 and Interim Dean 2004-2006. A resolute advocate for making medical school a humane experience enriched by extra curricular experiences.”

Thomas Roe, M.D., associate dean of Undergraduate Medical Education, addressed the group, which included Dr. Frank’s wife, Sharon Popp.

“Throughout his career, Dr. Frank has been devoted first to his family, and then to serving and supporting the people and patients of Detroit, the students here at the Wayne State University School of Medicine and their student organizations. He has preached a philosophy that is well reflected in a quote from Woodrow Wilson: 'There is no higher religion than human service. To work for the common good is the greatest creed.' This creed is one that Dr. Frank has preached throughout his life by word, but even more so by his example to his students and to all of us,” Dr. Roe said.

Ron Spalding, chief administrative officer of Academic and Student Programs for the School of Medicine, said that a group of staff and faculty thought it was important to name an area of the new building for Dr. Frank in recognition of his commitment to the facility, from its inception – it was Dr. Frank’s idea -- through fundraising and construction.

“It was decided that the Student Organization Suite was very fitting as Dr. Frank has always been a great supporter of students and their community outreach programs, and has set a great example of public service for all of us,” Spalding said.

A Wayne State University School of Medicine researcher has secured additional funding to further research training methods to lessen the health impacts of stress on first-responders like police officers and firefighters.

The Swedish Royal Foundation (Kungafonden), a research foundation concentrating specifically on research relating to and assistance to first-responders, recently granted funding in the amount of $135,000 for the second phase of a study under way by Bengt Arnetz, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H. The first phase, funded by the foundation with a $75,000 grant, was conducted from 2006 to 2009. The second phase is expected to last two to five years, said Dr. Arnetz, a professor in the Department of Family Medicine and director of the Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

“First-responders play a vital role to protect our nation and our civil society. They are potentially exposed to numerous critical incidents, for example, threat to their life, terror attacks, death and suffering,” Dr. Arnetz said. “These events are well-researched and are established risk factors for mental and somatic health consequences, including post traumatic stress disorders, depression and anxiety. However, during recent years there has been an increased interest as to possible effects from sustained/chronic low-level stress among first-responders and health and performance effects. This kind of stress, on the face not looking that dramatic, might exert a significant toll on first-responders.”

The first-responders in the study included police officers, firefighters, members of the military and coast guard, and customs officers in Sweden. These are the people first “in the line of fire” in an emergency or catastrophic situation. Dr. Arnetz has applied for funding from the National Institutes of Health to conduct a study using imagery training with a sample of Detroit police officers.

The first phase of the study, using qualitative methods and focus group interviews, found that organizational factors, productivity performance assessment systems, organizational change, lateral expansion of job duties – including jobs for which first-responders were not trained -- were stressful.

“Soldiers reported less time for skills training, police officers thought administrative work took an increasing amount of time, as did a more formal reporting system,” Dr. Arnetz said. “But, there were also significant tensions in the work-family intersection. For example, undercover police and customs officers might see drug sales going on as they visit a restaurant with their spouse. When they brought this up with their spouse, she/he said the undercover person was ‘hallucinating’ since they were not trained to see these things.”

Other significant low-level stress, Dr. Arnetz noted, included the demand and expectation to constantly be prepared and trained for the “Big Event,” for example a major terrorist attack or other catastrophe. While such events are rare, changing mental and physical gears -- for example waking in the middle of the night in a fire station to respond to an alarm – creates substantial stress.

The initial findings, published this year in the Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, demonstrated that practicing lifelike scenarios coupled with incorporating mental relaxation cues resulted in “substantial" stress reduction in police officers, and decreased the risk of suffering cardiovascular events, mostly from increased risk from blood clots during exposure to challenging stress.

The pre-event training resulted in significantly less negative moods, a lesser rise in heart rate during a simulated emergency and a larger increase in antithrombin (a chemical in the bloodstream that decreases the propensity for blood clots caused by stress).

Dr. Arnetz said the study’s results suggest that imagery and skills training have the potential to reduce negative trauma exposure in police officers and other first-responders. Such training, coming before emergencies, could prove more beneficial than post-incident debriefing and counseling. It could also result in fewer lost work days and less human suffering, and may be more acceptable to officers than seeking psychological assistance.

“In a controlled intervention, we found that mental training, getting ready for various critical events by using a combination of technical skills training and stress management resulted in decreased stress (lower heart rate response) and decreased clotting reaction of the blood as compared to police officers trained as usual,” Dr. Arnetz said.

In the second phase, Dr. Arnetz will survey a random sample of all Swedish first-responders. The survey will establish the prevalence of stressors, means to deal with stressors, the role of psychology and impact on performance and health.

“Since we will collect random and representative data from all major first-responders, we will be able to establish and test various models,” he explained. “These models will look at how, via what mechanisms, low-intensity stress impacts health and performance, and identify both risk factors for and resiliency factors for low-impact sustained stress disorders.”

The Wayne State University School of Medicine Alumni Association recognized an outstanding member of the faculty and two graduates during a dinner capping the annual Medical Alumni Reunion & Clinic Day.

The three men were recognized at a reunion dinner following a day of continuing medical education at the School of Medicine. The event allowed members of graduating classes to reconvene and catch up with their classmates.

The awards were presented by Dean Robert M. Mentzer Jr., M.D., and Gregory Zemenick, M.D., president of the Wayne State University School of Medicine Alumni Association.

Michael P. Diamond, M.D., received the 2009 Lawrence M. Weiner Award, which honors outstanding contributions of non-alumni to the School of Medicine through the exceptional performance of teaching, research or administrative duties.

Dr. Diamond is the Kamran S. Moghissi Professor and associate chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and assistant dean for Clinical and Translational Research at the School of Medicine. He became director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at WSU in 1994. He conducted seminal studies that led to the classification (and differentiation) of post operative de novo adhesions from adhesion reformation after open and laparoscopic surgery. He serves as WSU’s principal investigator on the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Cooperative Reproductive Medicine Network grant, and has conducted clinical trails on diagnosis of luteal phase defects and ovulation induction for women with polycystic ovarian syndrome, as well as collaborated in trials examining the effect of organochlorines on male factor infertility and studies examining the effect of testosterone replacement on cognitive function in hypogonadal men. He has served on multiple study sections and special review committees for the National Institutes of Health, as well as international granting agencies. Dr. Diamond has also served on the Obstetrics and Gynecology Device Panel of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health of the Food and Drug Administration.

He is actively involved in enhancing infrastructure and educational opportunities to conduct clinical and translational research at Wayne State University.

The 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to Leonard Shlain, M.D., (Class of 1961), and Allan Collins, M.D., F.A.C.P., (Class of 1975). The award is presented annually to alumni who have made outstanding contributions to humanitarian causes, whose contributions to the health field in the broader sense are outstanding or for service to the School of Medicine.

Dr. Collins has more than 25 years of experience in nephrology and end-stage renal disease treatment. His clinical experience and research have focused on acute and chronic care of ESRD patients and prospective and retrospective focused clinical studies on dialysis techniques and associated outcomes. He has also performed extensive work with high-efficiency dialysis and therapy prescription, the technical elements of dialysis, billing systems of ICD-9 and CPT-4 claims elements, and computer systems and operations.

He trained under Dr. Fred L. Shapiro, an innovator in kidney disease care and founder of the Regional Kidney Disease Program, the first program of its kind for dialysis and transplant patients. Dr. Collins served as the RKDP medical director, and assumed responsibility for research operations in 1983.

Building on RKDP data systems and biostatistical support, Dr. Collins and the National Academy of Sciences created a comprehensive ESRD database of demographic, clinical and provider information capable of answering a variety of observational research questions. With a research agenda expanded to include chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, anemia, dementia and other chronic conditions, Chronic Disease Research Group investigators use large public and private pharmaceuticals, claims and clinical databases to analyze healthcare practices and systems, and evaluate their impact on morbidity, survival, quality of life and healthcare costs.

Dr. Shlain, M.D., was a 1961 graduate of the Wayne State University School of Medicine. He was battling brain cancer and could not attend the event at which he was recognized. He died several days after the ceremony.

He was a surgeon and author of three award-winning books: “Art & Physics: Parallel Visions in Space, Time & Light,” “The Alphabet Versus the Goddess: The Conflict Between Word and Image,” which achieved national bestseller status, and “Sex, Time, and Power: How Women’s Sexuality Shaped Human Evolution,” which also achieved best-seller status.

Dr. Shlain was a keynote speaker for such diverse groups as the Smithsonian, Harvard, Florence Academy of Art, Salk Institute, Los Alamos National Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center and the European Union Ministers of Culture.

He was the chairman of laparoscopic surgery at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. He was an associate clinical professor of surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, where he has trained many future surgeons in the techniques of laparoscopic surgery.

Patrick J. Mueller, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Wayne State University School of Medicine’s Department of Physiology, received the New Investigator Award from the Neural Control of Autonomic Regulation Section of the American Physiological Society. The award was presented at the recent Experimental Biology '09 meeting in New Orleans.

The award, consisting of $1,000, recognizes an outstanding investigator in the early stages of his career.

“I am honored to have received this award and accept it on behalf of my laboratory, the Department of Physiology and the members of the Neural Control of Cardiorespiratory Function group at Wayne StateUniversity,” Dr. Mueller said. “I would like to recognize my previous and current mentors who have helped guide me to this point in my career, and I proudly share this award with them as well.”

Dr. Mueller specializes in the research of neural control of blood pressure, and exercise and physical inactivity dependent neuroplasticity. He joined the School of Medicine in March 2007.

His research to date has focused on how the brain controls arterial blood pressure.

“The brain contributes significantly to several cardiovascular-related complications, including hypertension,” Dr. Mueller said. “Most recently, I have become interested in how brain areas that control our blood pressure adapt to regular exercise versus sedentary conditions.”

This research has obvious health-related implications given the beneficial effects of exercise and detrimental effects of physical inactivity on the cardiovascular system, he said.

Data from the laboratory of Dr. Mueller and others suggest that the brain neurons that control blood pressure are altered in their structure, function and input depending on whether individuals exercise regularly. This neuroplasticity may help explain why people who lead sedentary lifestyles are more likely to die of cardiovascular disease, and how regular exercise may improve this outcome in individuals susceptible to cardiovascular disease, Dr. Mueller explained.

The Cardiovascular Research Institute of the Wayne State University School of Medicine has secured grant funding to lay the initial groundwork for research collaboration with medical institutions in Argentina.

Using a Faculty Global Grant from the Wayne State University Office of International Programs, Javier A. Sala Mercado, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of the Department of Physiology and the CVRI, and Karin Przyklenk, Ph.D., director of the CVRI, will bring a researcher and cardiologist from Argentina to work here this fall.

The Argentine researcher and cardiologist for the Wayne State University-Latin American Cardiovascular Research Collaborative have not yet been selected, but Drs. Przyklenk and Mercado recently returned from Argentina, where they met with the leaders of several institutions and interviewed more than 20 potential candidates. The two who are selected are expected to begin working in the CVRI by early September, and may be here anywhere from one to four weeks. The candidates are to be among the top-ranked cardiologists and cardiology researchers at their respective universities and centers.

The objective of the project, Dr. Przyklenk and Dr. Mercado said, is to promote the mission of the CRVI and the global educational mission of Wayne State University by developing a formal cardiovascular research collaborative between WSU and three prestigious Latin American institutions: the Instituto Modelo de Cardiologia, the Cordoba Cardiology Foundation and the Catholic University of Cordoba, all located in Cordoba, Argentina.

Researchers at the three targeted institutions conduct cutting-edge cardiac research and clinical investigations, said Dr. Mercado, who was born in Argentina. The $6,000 grant will spark the beginning of an intellectual exchange that, Dr. Przyklenk said, “should be viewed as a marriage of equals.”

Dr. Przyklenk said she and Dr. Mercado met with the leaders of the three targeted institutions, all of whom expressed extreme enthusiasm over the plans for research collaboration. “If they didn’t know about Wayne State before, they sure do now,” Dr. Przyklenk said.

The fledgling project’s long-term goals are to develop mutual exchange visits in which the CVRI continues to select trainees and faculty from Argentina to work at WSU, and the university sends CVRI researchers to the institutes in Argentina to work with collaborators there.

Drs. Przyklenk and Mercado said that they will now begin seeking additional grant funding from U.S. and Latin American sources to further the collaboration.

When it came to featuring one of the region's hot docs, Ambassador Magazine didn't hesitate to include Anthony Shields, M.D., Ph.D., in its special 2009 Hot Docs feature in the May/June edition.

Dr. Shields, professor of Medicine and Oncology at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, is associate center director for Clinical Research and program leader for Developmental Therapeutics at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.

Dr. Shields' commitment to the science of oncology, his compassion for his patients and his desire to share his knowledge with the next generation of physicians are highlighted in the article.

Click here to read the full article from Ambassador Magazine.

Permission to show/use this article and image, courtesy of Ambassador Magazine, was given to the Wayne State University School of Medicine for its Web site only. Any other reprinting or use of this article and image is strictly prohibited.

Bonita Stanton, M.D., the Schotanus Professor and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the Wayne State University School of Medicine and pediatrician-in-chief at Children’s Hospital of Michigan Center, has been appointed to the advisory board of the John E. Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health.

The advisory board, made up of scientists, physicians and representatives of the global health community, addresses global health challenges via innovative and collaborative research. It supports training programs and international partnerships. Board members provide advice on how resources can be most effectively used to advance research and training in poorer countries.

"I am deeply honored and thrilled by the opportunity to serve in an advisory capacity to the institute at the NIH devoted to global health research and research training,” Dr. Stanton said. “The conduct and training of researchers worldwide are critical components of any strategy seeking to improve our world's health and to achieve the long-range vision of global rather than national or regional expectations of well-being.”

The board, she said, plays an active role in helping to lead ad hoc groups and consultative workshops to advance the center’s mission. The group meets three times annually and is responsible for second-level review and approval of Fogarty Center grants. Board members serve for four years.

“We are honored that these outstanding scholars and clinicians would serve on Fogarty's advisory board,” said center Director Roger I. Glass. “The diversity of their backgrounds is in keeping with the center's long tradition of tackling global health challenges from a multidisciplinary perspective.”

One of six new board appointees, Dr. Stanton has served as a maternal child health specialist with the World Bank and directed the Urban Volunteer Program at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research in Bangladesh.

After receiving her medical degree from the Yale University School of Medicine, Dr. Stanton served as medical director of the Hill Health Center in New Haven, Conn. After that, she and her family lived for five years in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where she served as director of the Urban Volunteer Program, directed toward the health of Bangladeshis living in the slums of Dhaka, and as the World Bank Maternal Child Health Specialist for Bangladesh. She also spent six months in Cairo, Egypt, working with United States Agency for International Development on a healthy mother and child project.

Dr. Stanton has consulted with many national and international groups, including the World Bank, World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health and the International Vaccine Institute on issues related to urban health, HIV/AIDS transmission in youth, maternal child health, vaccines and health services research. She serves on the editorial boards of several journals and is an editor of the 18th edition of "Nelson’s Textbook of Pediatrics."

It’s fairly common knowledge that medical students are under a lot of pressure, especially during exams.

Looking for a way to ease that strain, create some camaraderie and benefit medical research, the Wayne State University School of Medicine’s Class of 2011 has come up with “Buzz it for Boards.”

The class is recruiting students and faculty to shave their heads – or at least get a crew cut -- before May 19 as part of a fundraiser to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

“The Class of 2011 will be tackling the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 in a few short weeks and we believe this is a great way to unite the second-year class and any other supporters while raising money for charity in the process,” said Brandon Mancini, Student Senate president for the Class of 2011, who came up with the idea.

There are two ways to participate: If you shave your head between now and May 19, the Class of 2011 will donate $5 on your behalf to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to assist children battling cancer. Those who are gun shy of parting with their own locks can either make a lump sum donation to the cause or pledge an amount for each head shaved.

“Since we are shaving our heads for a cause, we thought that it would be appropriate to donate to a research hospital for cancer patients who unfortunately lose their hair due to the treatment they receive,” Mancini said. “With this in mind, we wanted to contribute to St. Jude Research Hospital, which helps so many children diagnosed with cancer. We hope that future classes will continue this tradition and select a variety of charities to support over the years.”

So far, 17 students have committed to shaving their heads. While no faculty members or administrators have yet opted for the Yul Brynner look, a number have made monetary contributions.

Mancini himself will head to a barber shop for an appointment with a razor Monday immediately after his final pathophysiology exam.

On May 19, those with freshly shaven scalps will gather at Scott Hall for a group photo, which will be sent, along with the collected funds, to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Because the fundraiser got a late start this year, Mancini said, organizers don’t expect women to shave their heads. However, next year they hope to recruit female students early in the year to grow their hair long and commit to donating their tresses to Locks of Love, which provides wigs for female cancer patients.

For more information, email Mancini at bmancini@med.wayne.edu.

The Wayne State University School of Medicine is proud to acknowledge the following faculty members who have been recommended for promotion and/or granting of tenure by the president and provost of the university.These recommendations will be presented to the Wayne State University Board of Governors for approval this summer. Each member was chosen for outstanding academic achievements and continued commitment to the School of Medicine.

TENURE GRANTED
Donald DeGracia - Physiology
Daniel Rappolee - Obstetrics & Gynecology
Gabriel Sosne - Ophthalmology/Anatomy & Cell Biology
Youming Xie - Cancer Institute/Pathology

PROMOTION TO ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Ibrahim Abdulhamid - Pediatrics (Pulmonary)
Muneer Abidi - Internal Medicine (Hematology & Oncology)
Luis Afonso - Internal Medicine (Cardiology)
Ahdi Amer - Pediatrics (General Medicine)
Jay Berman - Obstetrics & Gynecology
Bassil El-Rayes - Internal Medicine (Hematology & Oncology)
Susan Land - Obstetrics & Gynecology
Phillip Levy - Emergency Medicine
Michael Pettersen - Pediatrics (Cardiology)
Karoline Puder - Obstetrics & Gynecology
John Roarty - Ophthalmology
Arlene Rozzelle - Surgery
Firdous Siddiqui - Internal Medicine (Gastroenterology)
Herbert Smitherman - Internal Medicine (General Medicine)
Renee Van Stavern - Neurology
Jeffrey Zonder - Internal Medicine (Hematology & Oncology)

PROMOTION TO PROFESSOR
Judith Andersen - Internal Medicine (Hematology & Oncology)
Elizabeth Puscheck - Obstetrics & Gynecology
MaryJean Schenk - Family Medicine
Shijie Sheng - Pathology
Christopher Steffes - Surgery
Paul Swerdlow - Internal Medicine (Hematology & Oncology)
Jeffrey Taub - Pediatrics (Hematology & Oncology)

A mentorship with a Wayne State University School of Medicine professor has led to the establishment of Egypt’s first lab devoted to research of inflammatory breast cancer, a disease that affects 1 percent to 5 percent of women in the United States, but makes up at least 15 percent of breast cancer cases in North Africa.

Bonnie Sloane, Ph.D., chairwoman of the Department of Pharmacology for the School of Medicine, recently flew to Egypt to attend the opening of the new lab, one result of her relationship with Mona Mostafa Mohamed, Ph.D. Dr. Mohamed is associate professor of the Physiology and Molecular Biology Department of Zoology at Cairo University. And now, because of Dr. Sloane’s assistance, she is director of the Cancer Biology Research Laboratory at her university.

Dr. Sloane met Dr. Mohamed when the Egyptian mother of two daughters applied for, and was accepted into, the Avon Foundation’s American Association for Cancer Research International Scholars-In-Training Program. The program, according to the foundation, “enhances the quality of cancer research internationally through competitive awards to junior faculty members who reside in and conduct breast cancer research in countries with limited opportunities for specialized training.” Avon Scholars receive a two-year placement at a university or organization in the United States. They are teamed with a prominent scientist – in this case Dr. Sloane – who serves as a mentor and provides research oversight. At the end of the fellowship, the scholars are supposed to return to their countries to continue their research and improve breast cancer care.

“It is a crucial part of the Avon program that the scholars return to their home country and bring their skills back with them to improve research there and better the lives of women there,” said Dr. Sloane, who also is a Distinguished Professor of the Karmanos Cancer Institute. “Some of them end up preferring to remain in the U.S., but right from the start Mona was adamant about returning to Egypt to establish her own lab.”

Dr. Mohamed arrived in the U.S. in 2005, and worked with Dr. Sloane in her lab, researching inflammatory breast cancer, an aggressive form of cancer that is prevalent in North Africa, including Egypt.

Dr. Mohamed returned to Egypt in April 2007 and began working to establish her own breast cancer research lab at Cairo University. With additional assistance from the Avon Foundation, she developed her lab – the first of its kind in Egypt -- and in February 2009 invited Dr. Sloane to attend its opening.

Dr. Sloane noted that at the university she was given the “red carpet treatment” quite literally, as a red carpet was indeed rolled out to greet her. She was given the honor of cutting the ribbon for the lab’s official opening at the university. The university presented her with three medals and plaques for her dedication to research and her assistance with establishing and equipping Dr. Mohamed’s lab.

Dr. Sloane and Dr. Mohamed were interviewed by Egypt television, which aired an extensive 30-minute program on the lab and inflammatory breast cancer right after the national evening news.

“We could not have created this lab without Dr. Sloane’s assistance. I deeply appreciate her help and everything I learned at Wayne State University,” Dr. Mohamed said. “This will allow us to continue working to find a cure for inflammatory breast cancer.”

The lab will now allow Dr. Mohamed to begin applying for grants of her own to fund her research.

While the two will continue research collaboration, the lab, Dr. Mohamed said, will allow her to collect and study breast cancer tissue from the primary population it affects most significantly. She noted that a cultural modesty prevents many Egyptian women from seeking medical aid for breast cancer in its early stages, a decision that often costs them their lives. However, she is working to break down those cultural barriers and educate women about breast cancer, self-examination and treatment. She has an ally in Mohamed El-Shinawi, M.D., assistant professor of General Surgery at Ain Shams University in Cairo. Dr. El-Shinawi, she said, convinces women being treated for the cancer to donate tissue samples for study in the lab.

While this was Dr. Sloane’s first trip to Egypt, her collaboration with Dr. Mohamed assures it won’t be her last. But no matter how many times she visits, Dr. Sloane said, she will never get over the size of Cairo University, which has an enrollment of 260,000 students.

Four Wayne State University School of Medicine students are presenting posters at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

The students have the opportunity to speak about their research with members of the world’s largest vision research organization, which is meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., this week. The theme for this year’s meeting is “Reducing Disparities in Eye Disease and Treatment.”

Maheen Haque, a fourth-year student, will present “The Effect of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty With Heavy Versus Light Pigmentation of the Trabecular Meshwork.”

Michael Siegel, a fourth-year student, will present “The Effect of Intravitreal Bevacizumab (Avastin) on Intraocular Pressure in Patients With and Without Glaucoma.”

Clint Simpson, a fourth-year student, will present “The Effect of Brimonidine on IOP Spike Prophylaxis After Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty or Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty Procedures in Chronic vs. Non-chronic Users of Brimonidine.”

Andrea McNab, a third-year student, will present “The Effect of Cataract Surgery on Intraocular Pressures in Patients With and Without Glaucoma.

Bret A. Hughes, M.D., associate professor of the Department of Ophthalmology for the Wayne Sate University School of Medicine and physician at the Kresge Eye Institute, worked with all four students, and Anju Goyal, M.D., assistant professor of the Department of Ophthalmology for the School of Medicine and physician at the Kresge Eye Institute, assisted with Simpson’s and McNab’s projects.

Scientists from the Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit presented data recently at the American Association for Cancer Research’s 100th Annual Meeting that signifies advancements in the treatment of the more aggressive forms of breast cancer.

The researchers gave an oral presentation about compounds derived from an FDA-approved drug used for the treatment of alcoholism that could provide viable treatment options for breast cancer patients.

Angelika Burger, Ph.D., director of the Translational Research Laboratory at the Karmanos Cancer Institute and professor of the Departmtent of Pharmacology at the School of Medicine, served as principle investigator. Doctoral candidate Daniela Buac of the School of Medicine gave the oral presentation.

Researchers from the Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University, Cardiff University in Great Britain and the Sunnybrook Research Institute in Toronto designed a series of compounds based on Disulfiram (DSF) and found that one of the compounds was more potent than DSF itself in inhibiting an enzyme that spurs the growth of breast cancers. More than 50 percent of invasive breast cancers have the presence of the enzyme that could be treated by the DSF-derived compound.

“DSF is a very safe drug,” said Dr. Burger. “It could be given to cancer patients alone or in combination with standard therapies used to treat breast cancers.”

The researchers are encouraging additional preclinical testing. They are building upon past research employing the use of DSF in fighting breast cancers.

“Another colleague at Karmanos has worked with this drug too, and we already have animal data showing that DSF treatments work,” Dr. Burger said. “I anticipate that we’ll collaborate with our breast cancer clinicians to translate the findings into clinical trials.

“There are many drugs that are being studied,” she added. “Down the road, they might be useful drugs for the treatment of breast cancer. I’m very excited about the research.”

Philip Pellett, Ph.D., professor of the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at the Wayne State University School of Medicine and a cytomegalovirus researcher, along with Suzy Migrin, a Livonia resident and mother of a CMV child, will co-chair the 2009 annual CMV Awareness Walk-n-Rollathon at the Detroit Zoo on May 16.

The event, sponsored by the Brendan B. McGinnis Congenital CMV Foundation, aims to raise awareness of CMV infection and generate support for development of a vaccine that may eliminate the devastating effects this virus can have on an unborn baby. In addition to Detroit, the foundation is hosting 10 other events across the U.S. on May 16.

CMV is a common virus that has infected 50 percent to 80 percent of Americans by the time they are 40 years old. When contracted after infancy, CMV seldom causes significant disease in individuals with healthy immune systems. In an unborn baby, however, the virus can have devastating, and even fatal effects, causing a wide range of neurodevelopmental disabilities.

CMV is the virus most commonly transmitted from pregnant women to their unborn children. Approximately one in 150 children is born with congenital CMV infection, and approximately 20 percent of these children (one in 750) are born with or develop permanent disabilities, including deafness, microcephaly (small brain), blindness, seizures and more. CMV is the second-leading cause of mental retardation, and is one of the leading causes of cerebral palsy and childhood hearing loss. Half of all expectant mothers in the U.S. have never contracted CMV, and therefore have never built immunity to the virus; their babies are at especially high risk for severe effects of congenital CMV if the mother is infected while pregnant. To complicate matters, even women who were infected with the virus before becoming pregnant can transmit the virus to their unborn children. Although these infections are usually less severe, they are more common and can still cause significant damage.

"Our goal for this event is to enhance public awareness of this virus and how it can tragically alter the lives of unborn babies and families," Dr. Pellet said. "My goal is to contribute to development of systems that would prevent CMV infections in unborn children, such as improved diagnostic methods and development of a vaccine. For now, we need to raise public awareness of these common, and too often devastating, infections because we already know enough to reduce their number."

To learn more about the CMV Awareness Walk-n-Rollathon or for registration materials, visit www.cmvfoundation.org, or contact local event organizers at cmv.walk.mi@gmail.com.