Hanley Wins Scholar-in-Training Award

February 26, 2015

The Office of the Vice President for Research would like to recognize Matthew Hanley, UConn Health graduate student, for receiving a prestigious American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Scholar-in-Training Award. This is the second award in as many years to come out of Daniel Rosenberg’s laboratory in the Center for Molecular Medicine.

The AACR Scholar-in-Training program is highly competitive, with fewer than 10 percent of applicants winning awards. The award recognizes outstanding young investigators for their meritorious work in cancer research.

Rosenberg is the director of UConn Health’s Colon Cancer Prevention Program. Recent work from his laboratory has defined a novel dietary intervention strategy for preventing colon cancer that has shown great promise in preclinical animal studies. Rosenberg, Hanley and their colleagues have recently identified key metabolic changes resulting from the consumption of this diet, which they believe underlie its cancer protective effects. It is their hope that this project will lead to a better understanding of the relationship between nutrition and cancer and to the development of improved strategies for chemopreventive intervention.

Cross-Departmental Grant Awarded

February 24, 2015

Stephen Crocker, Ph.D., from the Department of Neuroscience and Anthony Vella, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Immunology received a two-year R21 exploratory/developmental grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke division of the National Institutes of Health. This multi-PI project entitled, “Proteomic and Functional Analysis of Astrocyte Exosomes” explores the function of exosomes derived from glial cells and tests a role for their contents in assays indicative of central nervous system disease.

Trestman Named Interim Director of CPHHP

February 23, 2015

Robert Trestman, M.D., Ph.D., executive director of Correctional Managed Health Care, has agreed to also serve as interim director of the cross-campus Center for Public Health and Health Policy (CPHHP). He succeeds Ann Ferris, Ph.D. R.D., who is retiring after 37 years of service to the University of Connecticut but continuing part-time to lead her research team.

CPHHP, now in its tenth year, coordinates public health-related activities within the University. CPHHP is a leader in health policy analysis and research, population health management and evaluation, and has developed and deployed tools to integrate and analyze large public health data sets.

Dr. Trestman’s diverse background in medicine and administration are an excellent fit for the CPHHP. He received his Ph.D. in Psychology and M.D. from the University of Tennessee, and trained in psychiatry and neurobiology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. Dr. Trestman has served as clinical vice-chair of psychiatry at the Mount Sinai Medical Center and at the UConn Health Center, studied the neurobiology and treatment of people with severe mood and personality disorders, and conducts translational research on correctional health.

He has published over 140 articles and book chapters and is the senior editor of the forthcoming Oxford Textbook of Correctional Psychiatry in which he contributed eight of 72 chapters. Dr. Trestman has also been newly appointed to the editorial board of the Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law.

Recently, he was named chair of the Board of Directors of the Children’s Fund of Connecticut, a collaboration of UConn Health, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, and Yale. Dr. Trestman is also chair of the American Psychiatric Association Work Group on Persons with Mental Illness in the Criminal Justice System, consults to the National Institute of Mental Health, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Vera Institute of Justice.

2015 Carole and Ray Neag Medal of Honor Recipients

February 20, 2015

UConn Health and the UConn Foundation are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2015 Carole and Ray Neag Medal of Honor. Philanthropists Mark and Laura Yellin and corporate supporter Straumann USA will be honored at the 6th Annual White Coat Gala.

The White Coat Gala will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. Scot Haney, meteorologist and co-host of “Better Connecticut” on WFSB Channel 3, will host alongside University President Susan Herbst.

“We are proud to honor philanthropists Mark and Laura Yellin and Straumann USA. The Carole and Ray Neag Medal of Honor recognizes those individuals and corporate partners whose outstanding contributions to the field of medicine and UConn Health serve as an example of what we all hope to achieve: to make a difference in the lives of others. We are deeply grateful to the Yellins and Straumann USA for their longstanding generosity and partnership,” said Herbst.

Since 1984, Mark and Laura Yellin have been steadfast supporters of the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at UConn Health. In addition to their personal philanthropy, Mark Yellin has served as chairman of the UConn Cancer Research Golf Tournament for 26 years, leading a committee of dedicated volunteers who share a common goal to eradicate cancer. The tournament has raised more than $1.7 million since its inception for research projects, new technology and equipment, and faculty initiatives.

“Laura and I feel extremely privileged and honored to receive the 2015 Carole and Ray Neag Medal of Honor,” said Yellin. “Cancer is a deadly foe that indiscriminately attacks families and friends. We have spent the last 37 years raising funds to battle this deadly disease. At UConn Health, we have been able to clearly see that the funds raised are used directly, efficiently, and productively in the battle against cancer.”

Straumann USA is a global leader in implant dentistry and a pioneer of innovative technologies. As a leading developer of surgical, restorative, regenerative, and digital solutions for dentistry and laboratory use, Straumann USA’s partnership with the UConn School of Dental Medicine has provided profound benefit to faculty, students, and patients. Straumann’s longstanding support of the dental school’s academic, clinical, and research missions contributes toward UConn’s international reputation as a top-tier institution for groundbreaking research, extraordinary patient care, and unrivaled education and training for the next generation of leaders in dental medicine.

“Words cannot express our pride and delight in receiving this honor,” said Andy Molnar, EVP of Straumann North America. “Despite persistent difficult economic circumstances and pressure to cut costs, we as an organization have maintained our annual investment in research and development at more than 5 percent of net revenues. We are committed to high-quality research based on collaboration with a network of world renowned researchers, clinicians, and academics.”

The White Coat Gala has raised more than $3.2 million for UConn Health, Connecticut’s flagship public academic medical center. This special event celebrates UConn Health’s eminent physicians, dentists, and researchers who are translating discoveries made in the lab into advances in healthy aging, dentistry, orthopedics and intractable diseases like cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Proceeds from this year’s White Coat Gala will benefit UConn Health’s comprehensive campus revitalization project, called Bioscience Connecticut. Major projects include new state-of-the-art outpatient and hospital facilities and expansions for research laboratories and business incubator spacing. Additionally, a modern addition will be built on the academic building to accommodate a 30 percent increase in medical and dental students.

The White Coat Gala is supported by the generosity of sponsors. Media sponsorship is generously provided by WFSB Channel 3.

To purchase tickets, visit friends.uconn.edu/whitecoatgala or call (860) 486-1001. Contact Amy Chesmer at (860) 336-6706 or achesmer@foundation.uconn.edu for information about sponsorship opportunities. For all other questions, e-mail uchcgala@foundation.uconn.edu or call (860) 486-1001.

UConn Health March Programs, Events

Here is a list of UConn Health programs scheduled for March and early April 2015. This information will be updated with any additions or other schedule changes. (Updated 3/23)

Nutrition for a Healthy Heart
Wednesday, March 4, 2 to 4 p.m., UConn Health Outpatient Pavilion
The UConn Health’s Healthy Nutrition program invites you on a journey to a lower blood pressure, reduced cholesterol and healthier weight. This workshop is offered on the first Wednesday of the month. Registration fee is $30. Call 800-535-6232 to register or for more information.

Free IVF Information Session
Thursday, March 5, 6 to 8:30 p.m Cell and Genome Science Building, 400 Farmington Ave.
Specialists with the Center for Advanced Reproductive Services lead an informational session about current treatments for infertility, specifically in vitro fertilization (IVF). Each program includes an in-depth explanation of the IVF process, discussion of some of the emotional issues surrounding IVF, and discussion of options for financial planning. Registration is required: 860-679-4580 or www.uconnfertility.com.

UConn Health Center Auxiliary Book/cookie Sale
Friday, March 6, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., UConn Health, Connucopia Gift Shop
The UConn Health Center Auxiliary is holding a book and cookie sale fundraiser. Call 860-679-8004 for more details. More information about the Auxiliary is available at http://auxiliary.uchc.edu.

Bladder Cancer Support Group
Saturday, March 7, 2 to 3 p.m., UConn Health, Onyiuke Dining Room
Patients, family members and caregivers (not limited to UConn Health patients) are invited to join others whose lives have been touched by bladder cancer. This support group, established in partnership with the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, usually meets on the first Saturday of the month and is the only group of its kind in New England. Call 860-679-4410 or email hackett@uchc.edu for more information.

Celiac Disease Nutrition Class
Monday, March 16, 8 to 9 a.m., UConn Health Outpatient Pavilion
A registered dietitian leads a discussion for those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. This program now is scheduled to meet the third Monday of the month. Fee is $20. Call 800-535-6232 or 860-679-7692 to register or for more information.

Free Cosmetology Services for Cancer Survivors
Monday, March 16, 1 to 3 p.m., UConn Health, Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center
“Look Good…Feel Better” is a free program to help improve the self-image and self-esteem of women experiencing appearance-related side effects from cancer treatment. During this hands-on workshop, a trained volunteer certified cosmetologist will offer self-help instruction and education on hairstyling and coping with hair loss, skin care, makeup and nail care. Wigs, turbans and scarves will also be discussed. Classes are offered monthly, generally on the third Tuesday, and are not limited to UConn Health patients. Registration is required: call 800-227-2345 with your name, program date, phone number, and skin color. Kits are available in Light, Medium, Dark and Extra Dark.

New 6-week “Ready to Lose” Weight Management Program Starts
Tuesday, March 17. 5 to 6 p.m., UConn Health Outpatient Pavilion
The introductory session is followed by five weekly sessions through Tuesday, April 21, that include a weigh-in, discussion of progress, and a timely nutrition topic such as eating out strategies, cooking light and right, emotional eating, exercise and activity, smart shopping, and summer holiday eating. Registration fee is $70, $50 for past participants. Call 800-535-6232 for more information.

Free Program: “Non-prescription Ways to Improve Your Cholesterol”
Wednesday, March 18, 7 to 8:30 p.m., UConn Health, Low Learning Center
Physician assistant Bradley Biskup from the UConn Health Lifestyle Modification Program discusses “good” and “bad” cholesterol, the effects of diet and exercise on cholesterol levels, and cholesterol-lowering supplements. Call 800-535-6232 or 860-679-7692 to register or for more information.

Free IVF Information Session
Thursday, March 19, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Cell and Genome Science Building, 400 Farmington Ave.
Specialists with the Center for Advanced Reproductive Services lead an informational session about current treatments for infertility, specifically in vitro fertilization (IVF). Each program includes an in-depth explanation of the IVF process, discussion of some of the emotional issues surrounding IVF, and discussion of options for financial planning. Registration is required: 860-679-4580 or www.uconnfertility.com.

Free Discovery Series: “Is Spirituality Good for Your Health?”
Thursday, March 19, 7 to 9 p.m., UConn Health, Keller Auditorium
Dr. Harold Koenig, an internationally recognized expert in spirituality and medicine at the Duke University Medical Center is the special guest speaker. Register online, for free, at http://discoveryseries.uchc.edu or call 800-535-6232.

Infertility Peer Support Group
Thursday, March 19, 7 p.m., Center for Advanced Reproductive Services, 2 Batterson Park Road, Farmington.
The Greater Hartford chapter of RESOLVE, a national nonprofit resource for those facing the challenges of infertility, offers support, information and confidential, informal, peer-led discussions on the third Thursday of the month. To learn more or to check for weather-related cancellation, call 860-523-8337.

Free Hospital Maternity Tours
Saturday, March 21, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., UConn Health, Main Lobby
A representative will guide you through labor and delivery, postpartum, and the nursery at John Dempsey Hospital. Children and grandparents are welcome. Call 800-535-6232 to register or for more information.

Free Workshop: “Things to Consider Before Joining a Research Study”
Monday, March 30, 5 p.m., UConn Health, Onyuike Dining Room
The UConn Health Human Subjects Protection Office offers an educational session about the rights and responsibilities of participants in research projects on the last Monday of the month. Registration is required: 860-679-8802 or cagganello@uchc.edu.

Free Talk: “Exploring Knee and Hip Replacement”
Tuesday, March 31, 6 to 7 p.m., Southington Library, 255 Main St., Southington
Dr. Vincent Williams, UConn Health orthopedic surgeon, discusses knee and hip osteoarthritis and non-operative treatments, when to consider total knee or hip replacement, and what to expect from total knee or hip surgery. Call 800-535-6232 to register or for more information.

Nutrition for a Healthy Heart
Wednesday, April 1, 2 to 4 p.m., UConn Health Outpatient Pavilion
The UConn Health’s Healthy Nutrition program invites you on a journey to a lower blood pressure, reduced cholesterol and healthier weight. This workshop is offered on the first Wednesday of the month. Registration fee is $30. Call 800-535-6232 to register or for more information.

Free IVF Information Session
Thursday, April 2, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Cell and Genome Science Building, 400 Farmington Ave.
Specialists with the Center for Advanced Reproductive Services lead an informational session about current treatments for infertility, specifically in vitro fertilization (IVF). Each program includes an in-depth explanation of the IVF process, discussion of some of the emotional issues surrounding IVF, and discussion of options for financial planning. Registration is required: 860-679-4580 or www.uconnfertility.com.

Bladder Cancer Support Group
Saturday, April 4, 2 to 3 p.m., UConn Health, Onyiuke Dining Room
Patients, family members and caregivers (not limited to UConn Health patients) are invited to join others whose lives have been touched by bladder cancer. This support group, established in partnership with the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, usually meets on the first Saturday of the month and is the only group of its kind in New England. Call 860-679-4410 or email hackett@uchc.edu for more information.

(added 3/23)
Free Hospital Maternity Tours
Saturday, April 11, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., UConn Health, Main Lobby
A representative will guide you through labor and delivery, postpartum, and the nursery at John Dempsey Hospital. Children and grandparents are welcome. Call 800-535-6232 to register or for more information.

(added 3/23)
Free Program: “Managing Diabetes with Lifestyle Changes”
Wednesday, April 15, 7 p.m., UConn Health, Low Learning Center
Physician assistant Bradley Biskup from the Lifestyle Medicine Program describes a low-glycemic diet for diabetes, explains how exercise affects blood sugar, and discusses the connection between stress and diabetes. Call 800-535-6232 or 860-679-7692 to register or for more information.

Free IVF Information Session
Thursday, April 16, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Cell and Genome Science Building, 400 Farmington Ave.
Specialists with the Center for Advanced Reproductive Services lead an informational session about current treatments for infertility, specifically in vitro fertilization (IVF). Each program includes an in-depth explanation of the IVF process, discussion of some of the emotional issues surrounding IVF, and discussion of options for financial planning. Registration is required: 860-679-4580 or www.uconnfertility.com.

(added 3/23)
Infertility Peer Support Group
Thursday, April 16, 7 p.m., Center for Advanced Reproductive Services, 2 Batterson Park Road, Farmington
The Greater Hartford chapter of RESOLVE, a national nonprofit resource for those facing the challenges of infertility, offers support, information and confidential, informal, peer-led discussions on the third Thursday of the month. To learn more or to check for weather-related cancellation, call 860-523-8337.

Directions to UConn Health are available at www.uchc.edu/directions/index.html.

Follow UConn Health on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and SoundCloud.

UConn Health is One of America’s Best Hospitals for Heart Care in 2015

February 19, 2015

UConn Health’s John Dempsey Hospital earns the 2015 Women’s Choice Award as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Heart Care. This is the only national list that recognizes hospitals that both perform well clinically with regard to heart care measures and have a high recommendation rate among women.

“We’re pleased to be recognized for our commitment to women,” says Anne Diamond, CEO of UConn Health’s John Dempsey Hospital. “The fact is: Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year. That’s approximately one woman every minute! With heart disease being the biggest health threat that women will face, we’re committed to providing the highest in quality heart care for women and their families.”

An example of UConn Health’s exceptional cardiac care for women is highlighted in this video.

The Women’s Choice Award is based on robust criteria that considers patient satisfaction, clinical excellence, and what women really want when it comes to treatment and a quality hospital experience. “Our mission is to reduce the risk for women and their families so they can make smart healthcare choices,” says Delia Passi, CEO and founder of the Women’s Choice Award, and former publisher of Working Woman and Working Mother magazines.

The America’s Best Hospitals for Heart Care list is determined by first identifying the top 25 percent of hospitals across the nation that offer a minimum number of cardiac and/or vascular services. Only hospitals that perform well clinically with regard to heart care measures reported to Medicare, and also have a high Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) recommendation score, a measure that is very important to women in choosing a hospital, are selected. Data provided is totally objective and uniform. No subjective considerations are used to determine the award winners.

“UConn Health not only performed well clinically with regard to heart care measures, but it also had a high recommendation rate, a measure that is very important to women in choosing a hospital,” says Passi.

“As the primary health care decision makers, women account for about 90 percent of all family choices when it comes to matters of health. Making quick decisions goes against her grain and women are seeking more information than ever before when making healthcare or hospital selections,” adds Passi.

Clark Appointed to Editorial Board of Cellular Immunology

Congratulations to Dr. Robert Clark, professor in the Department of Immunology, who has been invited to serve on the editorial board of Cellular Immunology. The journal publishes original investigations concerned with the immunological activities of cells in experimental or clinical situations. Its scope encompasses the broad area of in vitro and in vivo studies of cellular immune responses.

Dr. Clark’s research focuses on the cell biology of the T lymphocyte as at relates to autoimmune diseases and the understanding of basic T cell function as it relates to autoimmune mediated pathology is the overall goal of his laboratory.

Grant Award for Healers Art Course

February 18, 2015

The UConn School of Medicine has received a grant to continue funding the Healers Art – Awaking the Heart of Medicine course for 2015.

The Hospice Education Institute (HEI) has supported this innovative and internationally recognized curriculum since 2006. “Because one of the course sessions is on grief and loss and we explore death and dying, the course goals and objectives align well with HEI’s mission to cultivate awareness and education about hospice care, as well as overall humanism and professionalism among health professionals,” says Dr. Mary Guerrera, professor of family medicine and director of integrative medicine.

The class is offered to first and second year medical students and is led by Guerrera, along with Dr. Elizabeth Plotkin Simmons, UConn Health ophthalmologist; Dr. Adam Simmons, neurologist at the Hospital for Special Care; and Katy Wilcox, UConn Health chaplain.

“Having Rev. Wilcox join us as a faculty facilitator adds a unique opportunity for students to learn about the work of a hospital chaplain and enriches our class dialogue about caring for patients and families at the end of life, as well as the importance of caring for ourselves,” adds Guerrera.

More than 80 institutions, both nationally and internationally, offer the Healers Art course which addresses many of the issues being encountered in the current medical education and health care systems.

The course includes five 3-hour sessions that cover a variety of topics including sharing grief and honoring loss, allowing awe in medicine, and service as a way of life.

Congratulations to UConn Health’s “Best Docs”

February 11, 2015

UConn Health physicians are well represented in the January issue of Hartford Magazine, which includes their annual “Best Doctors” list. Once again, the list represents the wide range of specialty expertise and world-class care we offer to patients every day.

Anesthesiology	Cardiovascular Disease	Dermatology	Endocrinology	Gastroenterology	Geriatrics	Hand Surgery
Dr. Edward Grimes	Dr. Steven R. Bergmann	Dr. Jane M. Grant-Kels	Dr. Andrew Arnold	Dr. Joel B. Levine	Dr. Patrick P. Coll	Dr. Craig M. Rodner
Dr. Marc Paradis	Dr. Peter Schulman	Dr. Hanspaul S. Makkar	Dr. Carl Malchoff		Dr. Anne M. Kenny
Dr. Amir Tulchinsky		Dr. Marti J. Rothe	Dr. Pamela Taxel		Dr. Margaret Rathier
Dr. James Charles Wickwire		Dr. James D. Whalen			Dr. Gail M. Sullivan
		Dr. Diane Whitaker-Worth

Internal Medicine	Medical Oncology & Hematology	Nephrology	Neurology	Ob/Gyn	Ophthalmology
Dr. Richard Abraham	Dr. Frank M. Torti	Dr. Andre A. Kaplan	Dr. Agnes Jani-Acsadi	Dr. Ramzi Alkass	Dr. William H. Ehlers
Dr. Rebecca Andrews			Dr. Louise Deborah McCullough	Dr. Claudio A. Benadiva
Dr. Elizabeth Appel				Dr. Molly A. Brewer
Dr. Lynn Kosowicz				Dr. Winston A. Campbell
Dr. Thomas M. Manger				Dr. Anthony A. Luciano
Dr. Michael Steinberg				Dr. John C. Nulsen
Dr. Gail M. Sullivan				Dr. Anne-Marie Prabulos
				Dr. Phillip P. Smith

Orthopaedic Surgery	Otolaryngology	Pathology	Pediatric Dermatology	Pediatric Neonatal Medicine	Psychiatry
Dr. Robert A. Arciero	Dr. Denis Lafreniere	Dr. Jane M. Grant-Kels	Dr. Hanspaul S. Makkar	Dr. Naveed Hussain	Dr. David C. Steffens
Dr. Bruce D. Browner	Dr. Gerald Leonard		Dr. Diane Whitaker-Worth		Dr. Andrew Winokur
Dr. Thomas M. DeBerardino	Dr. Jeffrey D. Spiro
Dr. Augustus D. Mazzocca
Dr. Vinayak M. Sathe
Dr. Kevin Shea

Pulmonary Medicine	Radiation Oncology	Rheumatology	Surgery	Surgical Oncology	Urology
Dr. Nausherwan K. Burki	Dr. Robert J. Dowsett	Dr. Micha Abeles	Dr. Peter J. Deckers	Dr. David W. McFadden	Dr. Peter C. Albertsen
			Dr. David W. McFadden		Dr. Carl K. Gjertson
					Dr. John A. Taylor III

Vascular Surgery
Dr. James O. Menzoian

Three UConn MD/Ph.D. Students Receive Prestigious National Research Service Awards

February 10, 2015

Obtaining funding for research is one of the most challenging tasks for any biomedical researcher. At the UConn School of Medicine, three MD/Ph.D. students have gotten an early start on this process, receiving competitive fellowship awards that will support their clinical and research training.

Justin Kirkham, a seventh-year MD/Ph.D. student, Sonali Bracken, a sixth-year student, and Alexander Adami, a fifth-year student, recently received prestigious National Research Service Awards (NRSAs) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the primary source of funding for biomedical research in the United States. NRSAs are a group of grants funded by the NIH to support trainees and young investigators. The awards received by these UConn students, termed F30 Fellowships, are designed specifically to support future physician-scientists, or those doctors who combine treating the sick and injured with a career researching the causes of and cures for the diseases they see in patients.

“I am so proud of our students for their achievements, particularly in a time of such great competition for research funding” says Carol Pilbeam, MD, Ph.D., director of the UConn MD/PhD Program. “Writing a strong grant proposal is very difficult, and obtaining this experience so early in their careers is excellent preparation for future success when they start their own laboratories.” The MD/Ph.D. Program encourages its students to apply for national fellowships, and Dr. Pilbeam has created a recurring workshop series to help students preparing their own fellowship proposals. Says Dr. Pilbeam, “Even if a student is not successful in obtaining an NRSA, the experience of writing the proposal will benefit students long after they graduate.”

The work of these three students spans the domains of medicine and science. Justin Kirkham and his mentor, Arthur Gunzl, Ph.D., are untangling the complex genetics of Trypanosoma brucei, the cause of lethal Human African Trypanosomiasis, commonly termed Sleeping Sickness, and a similar disease in livestock, nagana. Many researchers have sought to develop more effective therapies targeting the T. brucei parasite, without much success.

Justin’s F30 research, funded by the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, explores a key protein expressed by the parasite, termed class I transcription factor A (CITFA). The CITFA complex is required for the parasite to evade the human immune system, which it does by periodically changing its cell surface coat. This mechanism, termed Antigenic Variation, is a widespread strategy of pathogens to persist in their hosts. The goal of Justin’s research is to analyze how it works in trypanosomes, which may someday allow for new therapies. “In order to treat Trypanosomiasis effectively, we have to understand it better” says Justin. “This grant has helped both to focus and further my investigation, and it is my hope that this work will bring us closer to a day when Africa is no longer oppressed by this terrible disease.”

For Sonali Bracken, earning a fellowship has renewed her dedication to a physician-scientist career. “The NIH is investing in you and your ideas when they award an F30 fellowship, and that recognition is so rewarding at a time when I am working hard to write my PhD dissertation and prepare to return to my medical studies” notes Sonali. Her research focus is asthma and specifically the disease processes of asthma caused by house dust mite (HDM), the most common human allergen worldwide. Sonali is undertaking her dissertation work in the laboratory of Roger S. Thrall, Ph.D., a member of the Department of Immunology who has long studied asthma. With funding from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Sonali has developed a new animal model of HDM-induced asthma and has explored the role of alveolar macrophages, a type of white blood cell that patrols the lungs and airways, in asthma.

Members of the Thrall Laboratory including from left, MD/Ph.D. student Alex Adami, lab manager Linda Guernsey, MD/Ph.D. student Sonali Bracken, and principal investigator Roger Thrall, Ph.D.In addition to her work on the basic mechanisms of asthma, Sonali is also exploring allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT), a poorly-understood treatment that may someday help cure asthma. She aspires to a career as an academic physician-scientist and will someday apply her immunology training to a career as a hematologist-oncologist. Her fellowship will be a major asset as she advances in her training. Says Sonali, “I will be applying to competitive residency and fellowship programs in a few years, and having NIH support is an important achievement, especially for programs that focus on training physician-scientists.”

Alex Adami, who is also pursuing his PhD in the laboratory of Dr. Thrall, is studying the microbiome and its influence on asthma. “The microbiome is the community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, that live on and inside all of us. Understanding how the microbiome influences our health is one of the major challenges of modern medical science” explains Alex. “Many scientists now suspect that rising levels of asthma and other allergic diseases are in part due to disruption of our microbiomes, such as that caused by excessive antibiotic use.”

Alex’s project, funded by NHLBI, links the laboratory of Dr. Thrall with expertise in next-generation sequencing from Joerg Graf, Ph.D., associate professor of molecular and cell biology and director of the Microbial Analysis, Resources and Services facility. Alex’s work has uncovered evidence that the microbiome changes as asthma develops, and he hopes to find a way to harness our microbiomes to combat asthma. “It is a real privilege to be selected for an NRSA” says Alex. “Our applications were competing with hundreds of others from students across the country, and it is very gratifying to see that our work stands equal to the very best research being done at any other institution.