spring/summer 2006, Vol. 28 No. 3 The Magazine of The University ...

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ects, visit http://www.loreegriffinburns.com/. “Scientists, by .... the scientific rationale for the project, documents his or her efficacy results to ..... postdoctoral research at prestigious institutions, join a .... Function for VPR and VPX of Primate. Lentiviruses ..... recently an assistant professor of medicine at Eastern Virginia. Medical ...

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• Publié par: paul.vallen
• Nombre de lectures: 39
• Langue: English

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spring/summer 2006, Vol. 28 No. 3 When I Grow Up The Magazine of The University of Massachusetts Medical School ‘World-Class’ Discovery Making It Real   GI  7 G - O      L., the plural of life The name of this magazine encompasses the lives of those who make up the University of Massachusetts Medical School community, for which it is published. They are students, faculty, staff, alumni, volunteers, benefactors and others who aspire to help this campus achieve national distinction in education, research and public service. As you read about this dynamic community, you’ll frequently come across references to partners and programs of UMass Medical School (UMMS), the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ only public medical school, educating physicians, scientists and advanced practice nurses to heal, discover, teach and care, compassionately. Commonwealth Medicine UMass Medical School’s innovative public service initiative that assists state agencies to enhance the value and quality of expenditures and improve access and delivery of care for at-risk and uninsured populations. The Research Enterprise UMass Medical School’s world-class investigators, who make discoveries in basic science and clinical research and attract over $175 million in funding annually. UMass Memorial Foundation The charitable entity that supports the academic and research enterprises of UMass Medical School and the clinical initiatives of UMass Memorial Health Care by forming vital partnerships between contributors and health care professionals, educators and researchers. www.umassmed.edu/foundation UMass Memorial Health Care The clinical partner of UMass Medical School and the Central New England region’s top health care provider and employer. www.umassmemorial.org   GI  7 G - O     Contents News and Notes 2 Features 7 Grants and Research 20 Alumni Report 22 The Last Word 28 When I Grow Up 7 Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences alumna Loree Griffin Burns, PhD ’98, moved from practicing science to writing about it—for kids. ‘World-Class’ Discovery 10 UMass Cancer Center Director Dario Altieri, MD, receives a unique federal award to seamlessly guide a disease-killing compound from lab to clinic. Making It Real 14 At UMass Medical School, simulated patient experiences in medical education enjoy a healthy history—and a technological tomorrow.   GI  7 G - O     News and Notes UMMS Ranks Fourth in Nation in Primary Care Education UMass Medical School repeated its see public affi rmation of our efforts to fourth place ranking in primary care provide high quality, primary care education among the nation’s 125 ac- education to tomorrow’s physicians.” education, thanks to the remarkablecredited medical schools and 19 schools In the U.S. News listing of top PhD contributions of scores of the Common-of osteopathic medicine in weekly news stprograms, UMMS ranked 51 , through its wealth’s most brilliant thinkers,” saidmagazine U.S. News & World Report’s Graduate School of Biomedical University of Massachusetts Presidentannual review, “America’s Best Graduate Sciences, and in the category of top Jack M. Wilson. “The Medical SchoolSchools.” thresearch schools—48 . Beyond its core is a vibrant and exciting institution that “Through unparalleled service and mission of distinction in health sciences has built a stellar reputation as a magnet education, our outstanding faculty education, the past decade has seen for the highest caliber leaders in medi- has a lasting and profound impact on UMMS explode onto the national scene cine, research and public service. We the health of the Commonwealth and as a major center for research. applaud Dr. Lazare and his colleagues the nation,” said Chancellor and Dean “UMass has shown great successes for setting the standard of quality in Aaron Lazare. “It’s greatly rewarding to in countless areas of public higher medical education.” Antibody Shows Potential for Lung Cancer Therapy While attempting to yield new data about mechanism that causes the cancer cells to as a new therapy for lung cancer and receptors that control the development self-destruct without affecting healthy tis- perhaps other tumors.” of the body’s infection-fi ghting T-cells, sue. The antibody also helps direct other To further the clinical development of researchers at UMass Medical School natural immune mechanisms to target and the antibody, and to make the necessary developed a monoclonal antibody, DMF kill the tumor cells, and it is particularly modifi cations that will allow for DMF 10 10, which they found is a likely treatment effective against human lung cancer cells. to be tested in people, UMMS has part- for lung cancer. “Lung cancer is a devastating disease nered with EvoGenix, a leading antibody Created in the laboratory of Kenneth L. and we sorely need better, more effec- therapeutics company in Sydney, Austra- Rock, MD, professor and chair of pathol- tive therapeutics for it,” Dr. Rock said. lia. EvoGenix has licensed the rights to ogy, DMF 10 destroys lung cancer cells by “While we still have some important DMF 10 and Rock will join the company’s binding to the surface of tumor cells and work ahead of us, I believe this antibody scientifi c advisory board to help direct initiating apoptosis, an internal cellular has excellent prospects to be developed further development of the antibody. “Magnifi cent 7” (left) is one of over 140 teams whose members honor cancer survivors—as well as those lost to the disease—at the annual Walk to Cure Cancer on the UMMS campus. Thousands will join “The 7” to raise funds for cancer research on September 10, 2006, at noon. For 2 information, visit www.walktocurecancer.com.   GI  7 G - O     New Cancer Biology Program Offered to Students The Graduate School of Biomedical tumor pathology, cancer medicine and Sciences and the Department of Can- cancer biology, followed by advanced cer Biology are prepared to take cancer courses in these and other topics includ- research at UMass Medical School to a ing biochemistry, genetics, and molecu- new level with the establishment of the lar and cell biology. Monthly conferences PhD Program in Cancer Biology. Working will bring together scientists, physi- closely with physicians beginning early cians and students to explore common in their doctoral education, Cancer Biol- interests and identify mutual goals for ogy students will conduct translational research, clinical trials and patient care. studies—basic scientifi c research with Dr. Mercurio was recruited to UMMS direct implications for improving clini- in 2004 from Harvard Medical School cal prevention, diagnosis and treatment and brings more than 20 years of experi- of human cancers. “Exposing the next ence in tumor cell biology to the new generation of cancer biologists to study PhD program. His laboratory is currently of the disease itself early in their careers studying the mechanisms that contrib- will lead to better scientifi c inquiries,” ute to the metastasis, or spread, of solid explained Arthur M. Mercurio, PhD, tumors like breast and colon cancers. professor and vice chair of Cancer Biol- Metastasis causes most of the morbidity ogy and the new PhD program’s director. and mortality associated with cancer and The innovative curriculum features a is thus a key target of Cancer Biology’s fi rst-year foundational course covering translational research. Professor and Vice Chair of Cancer Biology Arthur Mercurio, PhD, is the new program’s director. Achievements in Medicine, Nursing and Science Celebrated of Medicine, the Graduate School of 19th century to the present day. In her Biomedical Sciences and the Graduate current role as editor-in-chief of JAMA, School of Nursing—were inspired by DeAngelis has made an effort to publish keynote speaker Catherine D. DeAngelis, substantive scientifi c articles on women’s MD, MPH, editor-in-chief of The Journal health issues. of the American Medical Association, Honorary degrees were awarded to whose own career has included roles as a Barbara R. Greenberg, a community registered nurse, an early advocate of nurse School of Medicine graduate Lara Antkowiak leader in Central Massachusetts who practitioners, an epidemiological research-checks on her fellow graduate Tobin Abraham has been a vital force for UMass Medical before ceremonies begin. Abraham was the er, an academic and a practicing physician. School and UMass Memorial Health CareSOM class speaker; Destin Heilman spoke for the GSBS and Patricia MacCulloch for the GSN. Dr. DeAngelis was recently recognized as chair of the UMass Memorial Foun- by the National Library of Medicine in its dation Board of Directors, and Paul La The University of Massachusetts Worces- “Changing the Face of Medicine: Celebrat- Camera, general manager of WBUR, who ter awarded 160 degrees, including two ing America’s Women Physicians” began his relationship with UMMS in honorary degrees, at its 33rd Commence- exhibition—recently on display in the UMMS 1993 when his son, Peter, was a fi rst-year ment Exercises held at Mechanics Hall Lamar Soutter library—that celebrates the student; that year, he and his wife, Mimi, in Worcester on June 4. Graduates of the lives and careers of some of America’s established the UMass Medical School institution’s three schools—the School extraordinary women physicians from the Parents Association. 3   GI  7 G - O     News and Notes Scientists Report DNA Sequencing of Extinct Mammoth relationships between wooly mammoths drial DNA possesses its own genome and elephants. that exists outside of the cell nucleus and is inherited only from the mother,Evgeny Rogaev, PhD, and colleagues found that Dr. Rogaev and his collaborators the wooly mammoth and Asian elephant, sister allowing for the tracing of a more direct reported the sequence of the completespecies, diverged soon after their common gene