METHODOLOGY
The Research and Education Magazine of Houston Methodist Fall 2019
Fighting Two Silent Killers
Immunotherapeutic Antibody Blocks MFAP5 in Deadly Cancers
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Bringing the Outside In 14
Harnessing Gold Nanorods 16
Fighting Two Silent Killers
The Core of Discovery
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Cardiovascular Boot Camp
NeuralCODR Crosses Gaps 08
Rethinking the Unthinkable
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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
FEATURES
Viewing the Future in 360°
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EnMed Class of 2023 22
What I Did on My Summer Vacation 24
Robotic Ultrasound Monitors for Stroke 26
News Briefs
Moving Forward with Music
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Industry and Academic Collaboration Drive Imaging Innovation
Front cover: Rendering of a monoclonal antibody (pink and turquoise) with the MFAP5 proteins (in yellow) “docked” on the ends, positioned in a blood vessel. Read the article on page 4. Cover art by: Matthew Landry
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Endowed Positions Honor Centennial Year 31
Recruitment & Accolades 32
Upcoming Events
Houston Methodist Institute for Academic Medicine Executive Leadership
FROM THE INSTITUTE FOR ACADEMIC MEDICINE Diversity of thought is powered by diversity of experience, and as we welcome the 25 engineers into Houston Methodist’s EnMed class of 2023 we also enter a new era of medical thinking. In parallel, we are celebrating the cardiovascular fellows that completed the 2019 Cardiovascular Boot Camp and the students that completed the 2019 Summer Undergraduate Research Internship Program. These trainees bring new ideas and ways of thinking that challenge the status quo and inspire our culture of innovation. To you all, thank you for joining us and we wish you success on your future journey to change the practice of medicine. Our translational education programs continue to grow with the new NeuralCODR postdoctoral fellow program led by Philip Horner, PhD, in the Center for Neuroregeneration and Cindy Farach-Carson, PhD, at UTHealth. This program is designed for postdocs who want to
H. Dirk Sostman, MD, FACR President, Institute for Academic Medicine MD Anderson Foundation Distinguished Chair in Molecular Imaging Houston Methodist Emeritus Professor of Radiology Weill Cornell Medical College
collaborate with clinicians to understand how communication between the central nervous system and the body’s organ systems contributes to disease and healing. The power of this combination of multi-institutional collaboration with a “science in service of clinicians” approach recently took on two of the most challenging cancers. On page 4, the Houston Methodist Cancer Center’s Stephen Wong, PhD, explains his collaboration with Samuel Mok, PhD, at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and their development of monoclonal antibodies that tackle late-stage ovarian and pancreatic cancers. Also in this issue, Gavin Britz, MD, showcases the first Surgical Theater in Texas that brings 360° virtual reality to Houston for planning complex neurosurgical procedures—and helping patients feel more prepared. And Alan Lumsden, MD, explains the first in the nation Lucid Robotic System for noninvasive monitoring of brain blood flow. Thank you to our alumni and to our collaborators—together we are leading medicine.
H. Dirk Sostman, MD, FACR Edward A. Jones President and CEO Houston Methodist Research Institute Senior Vice President Houston Methodist
President, Institute for Academic Medicine MD Anderson Foundation Distinguished Chair in Molecular Imaging Houston Methodist Emeritus Professor of Radiology Weill Cornell Medical College
Board of Directors • Houston Methodist Research Institute
Timothy B. Boone, MD, PhD Director, Education Institute Chair, Department of Urology Houston Methodist
David C. Baggett, Jr.
John P. Cooke, MD, PhD
Gregory V. Nelson
John F. Bookout, Jr.
Martha DeBusk
Mary Eliza Shaper
John F. Bookout, III
Dan O. Dinges
H. Dirk Sostman, MD
Marc L. Boom, MD
Antonio M. Gotto, Jr., MD, DPhil
Douglas E. Swanson, Jr.
Timothy Boone, MD, PhD
Edward A. Jones
Andrew C. von Eschenbach, MD
Carrie L. Byington, MD
Evan H. Katz
Joseph C. "Rusty" Walter, III
Joseph R. "Rod" Canion
Edwin H. Knight
Martha Walton
David Chao
Pastor Kenneth R. Levingston
Elizabeth Wareing
Stephen Chazen
Kevin J. Lilly
Judge Ewing Werlein, Jr.
Augustine M.K. Choi, MD
Steven S. Looke
Ernest D. Cockrell, II
Vidal G. Martinez
Read more online: issuu.com/instituteforacademicmedicine
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FEATURES
Creating an Antibody to Fight Silent Killers Houston Methodist and MD Anderson Join Forces to Block MFAP5 Protein in Ovarian and Pancreatic Cancers by Lisa Merkl
Known as two of the most lethal cancers, ovarian and pancreatic cancers are called “silent killers,� often going undetected until too late to treat. Taking on this challenge, two cancer scientists at Houston Methodist and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have diligently sought more effective late-stage treatments, resulting in their creation of a new monoclonal antibody.
Stephen Wong, PhD, from Houston Methodist Cancer Center, and Samuel Mok, PhD, from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, are collaborating to create an antibody as a new type of immunotherapy.
In a study published in the July 22 issue of Clinical Cancer
Having demonstrated the feasibility of using their monoclonal
Research, co-corresponding authors Stephen T.C. Wong, PhD,
antibody to target MFAP5, the researchers are in the process
from Houston Methodist Cancer Center, and Samuel Mok, PhD,
of designing and generating an anti-MFAP5 antibody that can
from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center,
be used as a treatment in humans. They aim to have it ready
reported finding a new type of immunotherapy to fight the two
for efficacy and toxicity testing by the end of 2019 and begin
deadly malignancies. They developed the monoclonal antibody
a Phase I clinical trial in 2020.
to block the action of a protein, called MFAP5, which is secreted by the cells surrounding and supporting tumors in these two
“The convergence of biological science, computational science
malignant cancers.
and engineering has allowed us to achieve such translational discovery,” Wong said.
The MFAP5 protein appears to trigger the formation of the surrounding elements that supply and stimulate the tumor as it grows and spreads. The monoclonal antibody 130A developed and patented by Wong and Mok is able to block MFAP5, preventing new blood vessels and excess tissue from forming and thereby cutting off the tumor’s support for continued growth. Mok, endowed professor of gynecologic oncology and reproductive medicine at MD Anderson, states, “MFAP5 promotes fibrosis in ovarian and pancreatic cancers, and fibrosis promotes progression, chemoresistance and reduces survival of people with these cancers. By blocking this secretory protein with an antibody, we can treat the tumor by targeting multiple cellular types—fibroblasts and blood vessels—in the tumor microenvironment.”
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Wong and Mok created the antibody to block the action of the MFAP5 protein, secreted by the cells that surround and support ovarian and pancreatic tumor cells.
We found that blocking MFAP5 enhances the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatments and suppresses tumor growth in ovarian and pancreatic cancers, as well as inhibits progression of these two cancers in mice. This new immunotherapy drug targets supporting cells surrounding a tumor rather than just the tumor cells alone.
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– S tephen T.C. Wong, PhD John S. Dunn, Sr. Presidential Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Engineering Professor of Computer Science and Bioengineering in Oncology Cancer Center Houston Methodist
Yeung TL, Leung CS, Yip KP, Sheng J, Bover L, Maitra A, Birrer MJ, Wong STC, and Mok SC. Anticancer immunotherapy by MFAP5 blockade inhibits fibrosis and enhances chemosensitivity in ovarian and pancreatic cancer. 2019 July 22, Clinical Cancer Research, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-19-0187. This study was supported in part by grants from NIH (U54CA149196, U54CA151668, U01188388, RO1CA133057, RO1CA142832, RC4CA156551, CA177909 and UH2 TR000943); The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Ovarian Cancer Specialized Program of Research Excellence grant P50CA083639 from the NIH; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; the Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation; John S. Dunn Research Foundation; Gilder Foundation; the Ovarian Cancer Research Program, U.S. Department of Defense (W81XWH-17-1-0126, W81XWH-17-1-0146 and W81XWH-16-1-0038); and funding support from the Mary K. Chapman Foundation and the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. The Monoclonal Antibodies Core Facility is supported by the Cancer Center Support Grant NCI P30CA016672.
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FEATURES
NeuralCODR Crosses Gaps between Systems
Neuroscience fellows study connections between the central nervous system and organs A new Houston Methodist postdoctoral fellowship training program, Neural Control of Organ Degeneration and Regeneration (NeuralCODR), is designed to address gaps in mapping and studying how the central nervous system communicates with organ systems throughout the body. by Laura Niles NeuralCODR was conceived by Philip Horner, PhD, and a team of faculty that understands the value of collaboration across disciplines. They come from institutions across the Texas Medical Center, including Baylor College of Medicine, Rice University, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and MD Anderson Cancer Center. Two postdoctoral fellows have already begun learning firsthand about the distinctive opportunity to collaborate with clinicians and help provide clinical solutions based on their research experience. The year-long program includes a course of the participant’s choosing based on their research interests, a clinical rotation, a case report and other components. Caroline Cvetkovic, PhD, is working in the Krencik Lab to study the relationship between astrocytes and neurons in the brain. She is developing human stem-cell derived 3D neural tissue cultures, used to study various aspects of development and degeneration, to gain insight into potential regenerative clinical therapies. Secondarily, she has developed an early model system of bowel organoids with innervation by human-derived neurons. With her background in developing smart bioengineered materials,
Caroline Cvetkovic, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in the Krencik Lab, studies the relationship between astrocytes and neurons in the brain.
she was determined that the projects she worked on have a significant impact in the near term. After taking an NIH course on translational research and understanding the direct application her postdoctoral work could have at the Houston Methodist Research Institute, Cvetkovic applied for the fellowship. “As part of the NeuralCODR program, we have access to unique resources, like grand rounds and direct interaction with and advisement from neurosurgeons,” said Cvetkovic. The NeuralCODR training allows her to collaborate directly with clinicians, researchers and patients to learn about actual patient needs and the clinical limitations when addressing them. Cvetkovic’s clinical mentor is Gavin W. Britz, MD, MPH, MBA, FAANS.
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NeuralCODR is a novel program that brings together expert NIH-funded faculty across multiple institutions with a rich history of research training, clinical modeling and education to address the lack of collaboration and training among system or organ based laboratories and those focused on neural activity. – Philip Horner, PhD Scientific Director, Center for Neuroregeneration Professor of Neuroregeneration Houston Methodist
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Matthew Hogan, PhD, is working in the Horner Lab, studying the influence of neural activity on regeneration after spinal cord injury, stroke or other disease. He is developing an epidural stimulator and testing different frequencies of stimulation on the spinal cord to determine whether it can drive neural stem cell grafts to connect with local host circuitry. Hogan’s goals are to apply his engineering training in the vascular system to that of neural stimulation paradigms for neural plasticity. For Hogan, his decision to train at Houston Methodist centered on the research acumen of Horner, access to clinicians and the resources and access to intellectual capital available within the TMC. Like Cvetkovic, Hogan wanted to make an impact on patient lives. “I think we both came into the realization that we were doing something really neat–I was engineering heart tissue–but I questioned where I was going with it,” said Hogan. “I couldn’t really see any translational potential, so I decided I wanted to make a change and do something that I may eventually see in my lifetime become a therapy.” Hogan’s clinical mentor is Brian D. Dalm, MD, assistant professor of neurosurgery. In addition to Cvetkovic and Hogan, the Center for Neuroregeneration is recruiting for two additional NeuralCODR postdoctoral fellows through the Paula and Joseph C. "Rusty" Walter III Neurorestoration
Matthew Hogan, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in the Horner Lab, studies the influence of neural activity on regeneration after spinal cord injury, stroke or other disease.
Program Endowment. Interested candidates may contact Dee Woodson at dwoodson@houstonmethodist.org.
Visit neuralcodr.org for more on the program.
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FEATURES
Rethinking the Unthinkable Using multi-modal imaging and precision medicine to tackle dementia by LaVonne Carlson
Houston Methodist neurologist Joseph Masdeu, MD, PhD, tends to think outside the box. And he applies this skill to what may be medicine’s greatest mystery: the brain and how it works. Shortly after arriving at Houston Methodist in 2014, Masdeu took a bold step. He reported his findings that neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s was associated with abnormal tau, a protein that forms inside cells from the normal tau that maintains the integrity of microtubules. At the time, most Alzheimer’s experimental therapies focused on the amyloid protein. But Masdeu did not find a similar association with the amyloid protein, also found in this disorder.
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Joseph C. Masdeu, MD, PhD
In April, Masdeu pushed forward with the concept that abnormal tau may spread in the brain through the normal brain highways, the white matter tracts that connect brain hubs to each other in a complex network
arrangement. His study, published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, is the first to demonstrate this concept in vivo in humans. Using sophisticated neuroimaging, Masdeu and his team, particularly Belen Pascual, PhD, combined MRI and 18F-flortaucipir PET to study tau in a rare disease that affects the language-related syntactic brain network. The anterior node of this network, in the frontal lobe, was affected first. Sick neurons found here, containing tau, contacted and “infected” neurons in the separate, but connected, posterior node in the temporal lobe. The white matter tract connecting both nodes was affected, as would be expected when the neurons in the anterior node died first. This discovery reveals a window of opportunity for treatment, because to jump from neuron to neuron, tau appears to become extracellular—and possibly amenable to immunotherapy using antibodies that target this abnormal protein. Several pharmaceutical companies are interested in this approach: Three clinical trials are currently underway at the Nantz National Alzheimer Center of the Houston Methodist Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology using anti-tau antibodies from Abbvie, Biogen and Eli Lilly.
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A colorized image of tau, the protein that stabilizes microtubules in the central nervous system and may be the key to treating Alzheimer's.
The Nantz National Alzheimer Center also is a leading partner in the Houston Alzheimer Study, a precision medicine cohort based in the Texas Medical Center, which intends to enroll 550 participants over age 40 to explore a range of cognitive disorders using advanced imaging, chemical analysis and artificial intelligence.
“ The Houston Alzheimer Study is a
TMC-wide effort to define the abnormal chemistry leading to cognitive impairment, potentially earlier in life. By sharing data across institutions and connecting the dots using artificial intelligence, we will be empowered to understand how to prevent degeneration and tailor treatments to each patient’s unique personal profile.
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– J oseph C. Masdeu, MD, PhD Graham Family Distinguished Chair for Neurological Sciences, Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology Director, Nantz National Alzheimer Center Professor of Neurology Houston Methodist
Pascual B, Funk Q, Zanotti-Fregonara P, Pal N, Rockers E, Yu MM, Spann B, Román GC, Schulz PE, Karmonik C, Appel SH, & Masdeu JC. Multimodal 18F-AV-1451 and MRI findings in non-fluent variant primary progressive aphasia: possible insights on nodal propagation of tau protein across the syntactic network. 2019, Journal of Nuclear Medicine, vol. 60, no. 7.
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FEATURES
° 360
Viewing the Future in
Bringing Texas’ first Surgical Theater to neurosurgery
by LaVonne Carlson The future has arrived for brain surgery at Houston Methodist. Under the guidance of Gavin Britz, MD, Candy and Tom Knudson Centennial Chair in Neurosurgery, surgeons and patients alike can use 360° virtual reality to view the brain in preparation for complex neurosurgical procedures. Beyond 3D technology, the advanced 360° technology allows surgeons and patients to walk inside an anatomical image. Wearing virtual reality headsets, the neurosurgeon and patient can tour the patient’s pathology to increase their understanding of the condition and surgical treatment plan. In addition to offering comfort and reassurance to the patient, the technology is a powerful tool for providing surgeons with intraoperative visualization and navigation during complex surgical procedures.
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“ A good surgeon is like a commander, gathering intelligence
and planning ahead as much as possible. The Surgical Theater allows that extra step—a lifelike view—to anticipate what we’ll see and do before an operation.
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–G avin W. Britz, MD, MPH, MBA, FAANS Candy and Tom Knudson Centennial Chair in Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery Director, Neurological Institute Co-director, Center for Neuroregeneration Professor of Neurosurgery Houston Methodist
Aptly named Surgical TheaterTM, the visualization platform
“This technology can be a great equalizer for surgeons,” said
creates a 360° visual by combining cutting-edge fighter jet
Britz. “And linking it to artificial intelligence will develop even
flight simulation technology with a patient’s anatomy scans.
more efficient and effective processes for future surgeries.”
The scans draw on medical imaging that comes from CT scans, MRIs and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), a special type of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging that maps the brain’s white matter tractography, or nerve tracts. Britz, a teacher as well as a surgeon, highlights the technology’s value as a tool for those who are not as skilled or experienced in advanced visualization. It also allows surgeons to give instructions, in real time, across long distances during procedures. Used in several major academic and private institutions in the
From left to right: In addition to planning surgeries and consulting with patients, surgeons review the 3D scans immediately prior to surgery. During the procedure, a monitor displays the 360° scans alongside real-time video transmitted from a headset worn by the surgeon.
U.S., Europe and China, Houston Methodist has the only system available in Texas.
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FEATURES
Bringing the Outside In
Cancer Center researchers are measuring the health impacts of gardens—rooftop and virtual by Laura Niles Which came first, the
reality component, since not all study participants, such as those
rooftop garden or
who are immunocompromised, can get outdoors.
the directional sign
Renee Stubbins, PhD, RD
Ashley Verzwyvelt, RN, OCN
to the rooftop garden?
“The Impact of Virtual Reality/Biophillic Environment on Distress
In the case of a
and Pain in Oncology Patients” is designed to observe 36 solid
blossoming project
tumor oncology patients who receive infusions every two weeks
to measure the impact
for at least six cycles. The participants will be randomly assigned
of both a real garden
to one of three rooms at each visit: control, virtual reality or garden
and a virtual environment
view. Data collection will occur in patients with various stages
on Houston Methodist Cancer Center oncology patients, the sign
and types of cancer and will measure both subjective and
came first. While pointing to a nonexistent garden, it planted the
objective components, including pain, stress, heart rate, blood
seed for a new clinical study and potentially an innovative patient
pressure and saliva cortisol levels before and after infusion.
therapy. As word of the endeavor spread, interest from community groups The misplaced sign appeared in the Outpatient Center, the work site
and charitable organizations continued to grow. The project now
of Renee Stubbins, PhD, RD, senior research oncology dietitian,
includes entities offering their work pro bono, including Skyline
and Ashley Verzwyvelt, RN, OCN, oncology infusion nurse liaison.
Art Services, landscape designers Asakura Robinson, the Trevino
After realizing the sign was a "mistake"—a preliminary notice for
Group and others. It also attracted the attention of Houston
future plans—the two co-workers were inspired to make inquiries.
muralist Mario Figueroa, Jr, better known as GONZO247, who
They learned what was required and then submitted a proposal
has donated his talents to paint a gardenscape as part of the
for a simple study to see what nature could do to improve patient
installation.
health and wellbeing during infusion therapy. On October 11, a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrated the official
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To the researchers’ surprise and delight, the project grew
opening of the garden and mural installation, located on the 21st
exponentially. The Center for Health and Nature, the funding entity for
floor of the Outpatient Center. Data collection for the project is
the study, paired Stubbins and Verzwyvelt with Ann McNamara, PhD,
already underway. The next phase of the project will explore how
associate professor and associate head of the Department of
the garden may support clinician wellbeing, when used as a
Visualization at Texas A&M University. McNamara added a virtual
retreat for staff as well as patients.
“
These volunteers, who are passionately dedicated, are making a significant impact on the project. We’ve all, unfortunately, known someone who’s had to deal with cancer, so people have a personal connection and really want to help by donating their time and resources.
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–R enee Stubbins, PhD, RD, LD, CSO Senior Research Oncology Dietitian Cancer Center Houston Methodist
Supported by the Center for Health and Nature, this project will measure patient responses to natural settings when undergoing chemotherapy. Houston artist GONZO247 (top photo) is painting a mural that features an outdoor scene. Plans for the actual garden (bottom image) illustrated how the installation would look when complete.
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FEATURES
Harnessing Gold Nanorods for Potential Therapy
Clinician scientist designs gentler delivery device for heated chemotherapy by Laura Niles
Ashley M. Holder, MD, Houston Methodist clinician scientist and assistant professor of surgery, is forging ahead with research—with support from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and Houston Methodist's Translational Research Initiative. Holder is working on a new surgical device to improve a heated chemotherapy treatment for peritoneal malignancies that line the abdomen. In the completion stages of in vitro study, the next phase includes in vivo work. As these studies continue, Holder is looking for the right concentration of gold nanorods to include in the film, how quickly the film heats in each study and how the chemotherapeutics release from the film. She aims to deliver the new device to the clinic within five to seven years. Referred to as ChemothermixTM, Holder’s device uses a biocompatible, nontoxic film positioned by a surgeon to stay in place. It delivers chemotherapy by heating gold nanorods within the film once placed in the abdomen. Holder developed an interest in treating peritoneal surface malignancies as a fellow in surgical oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center. When tumors form within a gastrointestinal or gynecological organ, theoretically they grow through the organ wall and spread into the peritoneal cavity. The tumors then circulate in the naturally occurring abdominal fluid and plant throughout the abdomen. Current treatment includes two large, garden hose-sized catheters placed in the abdomen to input and remove heated chemotherapeutics. The entire abdomen is treated in similar fashion, often harming the intestines and diminishing quality of life for six months or more following the surgery. “There had to be a more elegant way to treat these patients,” said Holder, recalling what she experienced. “We were manipulating patients’ abdomens on the operating table to distribute the chemotherapeutics.”
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ANNUAL FACTS HOUSTON METHODIST
8 2,312
Operating beds
1.3 M
Patient encounters
540,000 $141 M A mold for the ChemothermixTM film, which contains gold nanorods, was created in the Houston Methodist Machine Shop. The film delivers chemotherapy when heated.
$55.3 M
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1,261 51
While brainstorming with a Houston Methodist colleague experienced in creating biomaterials, Arturas Ziemys, PhD, assistant professor of mathematics in medicine, Holder came up with the idea of developing a film for chemotherapeutic delivery. “Honestly, I think this was the seed and soil type of idea that would never have happened without Ziemys as my office mate,” said Holder. “We had built such a rapport that I felt comfortable telling him something I thought was initially a crazy idea.” Holder also had input from her husband, a mechanical engineer who helped draw up the design for the film’s original mold to be constructed in the Houston Methodist Machine Shop. With the help of thought partners and the support of philanthropic funders, Chemothermix now has the potential to change the future of TM
cancer care.
Hospitals
Sq.ft. research space
Research expenditures
Extramural funding
Clinical protocols
GME programs
29,408
Total learners
23,669
Employees
6,973
Dave B, Gonzalez DD, Liu ZB, Li X, Wong H, Granados S, et. al. Role of RPL39 in Metaplastic Breast Cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2016 Physicians Dec 31;109(6)
1,435
Trainees-in-residence
1,960
Credentialed researchers
681
Faculty
– Jenny Chang, M.D. Emily Herrmann Chair in Cancer Research & Director, Houston Methodist Cancer Center As of February 2019
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FEATURES
The Core of Discovery Houston Methodist partners to share in Good Laboratory Practice expertise by LaVonne Carlson
Comparative Medicine collaborations provide access to GLP facilities and expertise for efficient FDA approval strategies, ranging from gene therapy for atherosclerosis to a medical device for closed-loop drug delivery.
GENE THERAPY Testing Gene Therapy Technology to Treat Cardiovascular Disease in the Aging As director of Comparative
This new gene therapy could offer an alternative to taking
Medicine, Tanya Herzog, DVM,
statin medications daily, which have compliance issues
DACLAM, oversees the plans
among other side effects. The gene therapy requires an
and procedures for conducting
initial application with three boosters, which may cover a
preclinical studies. But a recent
span of 10 years.
collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine and an industry Tanya Herzog, DVM, DACLAM
partner also makes Herzog a co-investigator with George
Taffet, MD, chair in geriatric medicine and professor of medicine in geriatrics and cardiovascular research at Baylor. The team is working on a study to test a gene-based therapy for treating, and possibly preventing, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), a major cause of heart attack and stroke in the elderly. Coronary artery disease costs the U.S. a billion dollars every year, with strokes and peripheral vascular disease adding another billion.
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The adeno-associated virus-based gene therapy is derived from a technology developed by Kiromic Biopharma, a Houston start-up that received a small business innovation research grant (SBIR) with two sub awards totaling $850,531. Taffet initially developed a small animal model for testing the gene therapy. Impressed by the Comparative Medicine program’s Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) capabilities, he requested Herzog oversee the efficacy and safety studies. Awarded $136,597 by Baylor College of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health (R42), the two-year study will soon begin its second phase. It is entitled “Disease-limited AAV-FOXP3 Gene Therapy for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in Familial Hypercholesterolemia.”
DRUG DELIVERY Otricath Inventor Taps Oilfield Technology for Closed-Loop Drug Delivery TM
Rey Calderon, BSME, MD, is a pediatrician at Texas Children’s Hospital and a University of Texas Mechanical Engineering Distinguished Alumnus. He is also an inventor ahead of his time. Years before nanotechnology and immunotherapy came to the fore, Calderon designed the OtricathTM—a transportation pipeline with a visual communication catheter system that delivers a variety of agents, including today’s nanoparticles, immunotherapies and stem cells, in an entirely new way, using a closed loop that minimizes systemic toxicity. Rey Calderon, BSME, MD
“The device finds the sweet spot between push and pull, separating the venous side and arterial side,” said Calderon. “The sweet spot is between the venous to venous approach and the arterial delivery, allowing the two sides to interact, saturating the area and then drawing out the toxic medication.” In addition to faster drug delivery, the Otricath offers a safer alternative to arterial infusion systems, which deliver cancer drugs to the entire body, including organs where they’re not wanted. Testing for the Otricath focuses on the liver, saturating an entire lobe containing several cancer tumors with multiple agents over time that are then withdrawn. An additional advantage is that an external port allows taking samples and analyzing results—during delivery of treatment agents and using biopsies during treatment or for application in clinical trials that are testing new medications. Calderon devoted years to perfecting the device, tapping his original career as a mechanical engineer at Texaco. After attending medical school and completing his residency in 1981, Calderon identified the need for more precise drug delivery within the region of interest. He designed a push-pull process along the lines of a drill string using slant well oilfield technology and patented several designs between 2004 and 2011. Since then Calderon has worked with experts from Texas Children's Hospital and the Texas Heart Institute, and Stuart Corr, PhD, at Baylor College of Medicine, to develop the perfectly pressurized push-pull device. He also recruited a perfect business partner, his wife Delores Calderon, as operations officer. The Calderons applied and were accepted to the TMCx medical device inaugural cohort in 2016. They followed this with winning second place in Texas A&M’s “New Ventures” competition in 2017. This past summer, working with Houston Methodist’s Comparative Medicine program, MRI imaging and the Houston Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation & Education (MITIESM), the Otricath achieved another translational milestone: using magnetic resonance imaging between the new and the old to confirm, in real time, that the Otricath’s drug delivery is not applied systemically. MRI timing is crucial to the delivery process, while imaging and visualization impact the brain’s ability to integrate and interpret never before seen spatiotemporal mapping data. GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) studies are on the horizon, with plans for going to market in the next few years.
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FEATURES
r a l u c s a v t Cardio
a e f i L e ay in th
AD
ing
Train n o s d n d of Ha n e k e e ows dW l l e e k F c a r a P l A vascu o i d r a C for 134
Excitement was high among the 134 fellows and 81 faculty who attended the 2019 Houston Methodist Cardiovascular Fellows’ Boot Camp: Laying the Foundation, hosted in August by DeBakey CV Education. Now in its 11th year, the intense training event, designed for first- and second-year fellows, attracts a greater number of the brightest minds in their field every year.
HANDS-ON Moritz C. Wyler von Ballmoos, MD, PhD, MPH, Houston Methodist cardiothoracic surgeon, guides cardiology fellows through a tour of the heart. The hands-on lab training took place at the Houston Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation & Education (MITIESM).
Mark Mattos, MD, of Michigan Vascular Center, instructs fellows in vascular surgery. He was among the 81 faculty who came from institutions across the nation, including Mayo Clinic, UCLA, Duke, Ochsner, the Texas Heart Institute and others.
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A total of 134 fellows attended from institutions including University of Massachusetts Medical School, Medstar Washington Hospital Center/ Georgetown University Hospital, Emory University, Stanford University and University of Calgary.
TRAINING
ACROSS THE NATION
Mohammed Chamsi-Pasha, MD, assistant professor of cardiology and associate director of the echocardiography lab, works with cardiology fellows.
C. Huie Lin, MD, PhD, MPH, FACC, FSCAI, assistant professor of cardiology, teaches a technique for transradial access.
William A. Zoghbi, MD, Elkins Family Distinguished Chair in Cardiac Health, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, and Chair, Department of Cardiology, demonstrates a transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) procedure for cardiology fellows.
CARDIOLOGY The cardiology track admitted 54 fellows. Other tracks included 36 vascular surgery fellows, 29 cardiac anesthesiology fellows and 15 cardiac surgery fellows.
On Friday evening, a friendly game of family feud was emceed by Charudatta Bavare, MD, MPH—a Houston Methodist vascular surgeon with many talents.
EVENING FUN Saturday evening, the American Endo Warrior Challenge tested everyone’s skill.
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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
EnMed Class of 2023 by Brittany Miller
Meet two students who offer insight into what it takes to place among EnMed’s first class of ”physicianeers.” While the inaugural class of 25 students brings a great variety of backgrounds and interests, they all share a commitment to serving others as they graduate with both an MD and master’s in engineering in 2023.
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CAILIN O’CONNELL
KENNETH SIMS
EnMed Class of 2023
EnMed Class of 2023
BS in Nuclear Engineering 2019 Texas A&M University
BS in Mechanical Engineering 2019 The U.S. Military Academy at West Point
Cailin O’Connell believes in following her passions and
West Point grad Kenneth Sims has always chased
letting the accolades come in their own time. And for
challenges. Whether gathering the strength to get through
O’Connell, her varied passions have met at a unique
early morning exercise, finding time to study for the MCAT
intersection of engineering, medicine and serving people
or pursuing a dream that sometimes felt distant, Sims has
—with her acceptance into the EnMed program.
never backed away from challenges. With the strong work
“I love having multiple interests and being able to explore and combine them in unique ways,” said O’Connell. “I really
ethic his parents instilled in him, Sims knew he wanted to lead a life that would make a difference.
wanted to hold onto the engineering side of my education
Inspired by his mechanical engineer father and West
because I love problem-solving, and this program gives
Point’s top-notch engineering program, Sims found it easy
a unique opportunity to continue that.”
to pick a challenging major in mechanical engineering.
O’Connell hopes to use the knowledge from her nuclear engineering background at Texas A&M University to advance technology-related fields. “I am interested in pediatric oncology, and I would really like to take part in creating specialized treatments for children,” she said. “With my background in nuclear engineering, imaging is on my mind as a way to tie into oncology.” O’Connell, whose commitment is rooted in serving people, states, “What keeps me going is intrinsic motivation and having the grit to push forward. When it gets tough, I recall my deep calling to help people, and think of all the people who could be in my care in the future.”
Yet he always sensed he would study medicine and knew engineering had unique advantages and perspectives for those going into the medical field. When Sims heard about EnMed, he knew it was the perfect fit for him. “EnMed was exactly what I had hoped for, but didn’t even know it existed,” Sims said. “It’s a breeding ground for innovators.” Looking forward, Sims hopes to apply his foundation in innovation to taking care of patients. “I will become a military physician and prioritize taking care of soldiers and their families,” said Sims. “I want to integrate innovation throughout my career, and the EnMed program will help me do that naturally. At the end of the day, I do this because I love people and I love my country.”
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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
What I Did on My Summer Vacation
At Houston Methodist, the enthusiastic answer is �Research!� by LaVonne Carlson
Kiana Banafshay, shown with Sonia Villapol, PhD, in her lab, was assigned her own project. A highlight of the summer was presenting her poster at the MAPTA Summer Science Symposium, a grand finale that provided interns a forum for sharing their summer research projects. (Learn more about the symposium on page 29.)
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The summer of 2019 was well spent according to Kiana Banafshay, a pre-med student entering her senior year at the University of Texas at Austin. The 10-week Summer Undergraduate Research Internship achieved its goal of introducing highly motivated students to the excitement and challenges of research by pairing each one with a faculty member. The upshot for each intern is having a completed research project that shows their hard work. The 2019 program kicked off its ninth year on June 3, when
Banafshay was paired with Sonia Villapol, PhD, assistant
Banafshay was introduced to 62 college undergraduates and
professor of neurosurgery. The two knew instantly that
high school students from more than 50 schools, including
they would make a great team. And early in the summer,
New York University, Brown University, Emory University,
they discovered they even share the same birthday!
University of California-Berkeley, University of Southern
Villapol praised Banafshay as an exceptional student.
California and Vanderbilt University. In addition to providing mentorship, the interns enjoyed networking opportunities and weekly didactic lectures with Houston Methodist leadership.
“Students bring an innate curiosity and passion, one that is my responsibility to help amplify by focusing on exciting research projects related to discovering new treatments
For Banafshay, the lab experience opened her eyes to the
for patients with brain damage and neurodegenerative
possibilities of clinical research. “I learned how to contribute
diseases,” said Villapol. “There is nothing more rewarding
to research projects within a laboratory and teamwork
in the laboratory than to mentor a team that shares my
setting. I also learned several skills specific to preclinical
passion for science and scientific discovery.”
research conducted in the lab and how they connect to clinical applications,” said Banafshay. “And I learned that science is fun!”
Villapol guided Banafshay through completion of her project, “Brain-Gut Communication through Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide after Traumatic Brain Injury.” Villapol’s laboratory studies the inflammatory and neurodegenerative mechanisms triggered after brain trauma or stroke, based on gender. It also investigates the contribution of peripheral signals and the gut microbiome to brain pathology, and pursues novel neurorestorative treatments for brain recovery through the lens of the periphery.
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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Robotic Ultrasound Monitors for Stroke Houston Methodist is first in U.S. to use Lucid Robotic System to monitor brain blood flow noninvasively TM
by George Kovacik
Neurological disorders, such as stroke, present a major health care burden, affecting more than 795,000 people in the U.S. annually. Stroke is a time-sensitive disease that requires rapid assessment and intervention. And assessing it incorrectly can lead to misdiagnosis and treatment delays, resulting in death or disability for patients. Alan B. Lumsden, MD
In June 2019, Houston Methodist was the first in the United States to offer the LucidTM Robotic System, a new robotic ultrasound system designed to non-invasively measure and display objective brain blood flow information in real time and detect cerebral embolization. The FDA-cleared, fully autonomous robotic platform combines an all-in-one neurovascular ultrasound device with a medical robotic headset to collect blood flow data under the guidance of a health care professional. The Lucid™ Robotic System (Lucid™ M1 Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound System® and NeuralBot™ System) addresses several clinical challenges. It minimizes the need for highly skilled personnel to apply the probes that detect and measure flow and it autonomously adjusts the detection process on a continuous basis. The assessments can be performed both in an inpatient or outpatient setting, potentially without the need for more invasive and costly tests. The technology provides clinicians with critical information that empowers them to assess neurological disorders.
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The Lucid™ Robotic System (Lucid™ M1 Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound System® and NeuralBot™ System) is a robotically assisted ultrasound system for brain health assessment.
The new robotic system also makes the important monitoring
“At Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center,
technology available to a much larger group of patients and
we are particularly focused on reducing stroke and are
goes beyond providing just the initial neurological assessment.
committed to providing the best care for our patients,” said
It can be utilized throughout the patient care chain: from
Alan B. Lumsden, MD. “Being among the first centers to use
bubble studies in the identification of right-to-left shunts,
the robotic ultrasound technology reflects our commitment to
to monitoring for changes in cerebral blood flow velocities,
reducing the incidence of this life altering event. We think of
to emboli monitoring during or after a procedure.
this as a stethoscope to the brain.”
“
Integrating the LucidTM Robotic System gives clinicians a chance to look inside the brain at blood flow patterns in real time and rapidly identify physiological changes associated with neurological disorders, enabling efficient diagnosis and triage for treatment.
”
–A lan B. Lumsden, MD Walter W. Fondren III Distinguished Endowed Chair, DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center Professor and Chair, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery Houston Methodist
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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Moving Forward with Music by LaVonne Carlson
As a board-certified music therapist, Audrey Zybura, MT-BC, provides music therapy for patients on Houston Methodist’s inpatient behavioral health unit. Specializing in acute psychiatry, the unit currently serves 17 patients, typically those who are facing significant psychological or emotional distress. Such difficulties may stem from challenging life circumstances or from living with conditions such as mood or psychotic disorders. One innovative tool the unit offers to help patients improve their mood is a custom-built individual music listening station. This station utilizes sound dome technology, designed to have unique acoustic effects. It uses a directional speaker to allow a patient to listen to music privately, while those outside the dome cannot hear the music playing inside. After a series of individual music therapy sessions with Zybura, patients can listen to a strategically created playlist including songs of their own choosing to improve their mood. “Each playlist shows an emotional process the patient is facing and working to overcome or achieve,” said Zybura. “About seven songs are selected and organized to reflect a positive mood progression.” Zybura explains that the selected songs can safely and reliably connect with the patient when experiencing a vulnerable state. They then help the patient process those difficult feelings and step gradually into a better mindset or mood. Music therapy is increasingly used to help patients find non-pharmaceutical ways to understand and regulate their emotions. Zybura assists patients in selecting songs that increase self-awareness, while guiding them toward a healthy outlet that can lead to positive emotional responses. Zybura is an employee of Houston Methodist’s Center for Performing Arts Medicine (CPAM), which was originally established to address the specific health concerns of artists in the community. CPAM has grown to explore, research and apply the healing benefits of the arts in various ways, ultimately improving services for patients, families and artists alike.
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Industry and Academic Collaboration Drive Imaging Innovation Myra Cocker joins Siemens Healthineers scientists at Houston Methodist who are exploring novel imaging applications for research and clinical advances.
Myra Cocker, PhD
Innovative companies seek
Cocker is joining a team of Siemens Healthineers scientists
opportunities to collaborate, and
already in place at Houston Methodist. Together, they share
the arrival of Myra Cocker, PhD,
a common goal of facilitating research collaborations that
is evidence of that. She came
utilize advanced Siemens imaging technology, including the
to Houston Methodist in June,
new 3 Tesla MRI Siemens Vida, 7 Tesla MAGNETOM Terra,
representing Siemens
and the Biograph Vision PET/CT system at the Houston
Healthineers as a Senior
Methodist Translational Imaging Center.
Scientist and Collaborations Manager in Computed
“The programs and collaborations being developed will provide
Tomography (CT). Cocker is part of the CT Research
data and offer access to tools that are just beginning to emerge,”
and Development Collaborations team, which consists of
said Cocker. “Together, the Siemens scientists and TMC
11 scientists working with prestigious academic institutes
clinician researchers will develop novel imaging methods that
across the U.S.
reach beyond those currently in use for patient care.”
Cocker relocated from Canada with a clear mission in
The high level of training Cocker brings to her new position
mind: As a representative of Siemens Healthineers, she
leaves her well-equipped to explore the full capacity of
was charged with developing collaborations across the
new CT imaging technology. After earning her PhD in
Texas Medical Center. She has already begun working
cardiovascular MRI imaging at the University of Calgary
with Houston Methodist investigators and clinicians in
in Canada, she further pursued a postdoctoral fellowship
the Departments of Cardiology and Radiology, establish-
at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. There, Cocker
ing scientific collaborations that explore the utilization of
focused on hybrid PET and CT cardiovascular imaging. Now
state-of-the-art CT systems, such as the Somatom
in Houston, she is impressed by the Texas Medical Center.
Force CT scanner. To discuss potential projects, contact myra.cocker@siemens-healthineers.com.
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NEWS BRIEFS 1
Houston Methodist Makes Honor Roll For the third time in its history, Houston Methodist Hospital was named to U.S. News & World Report's prestigious Honor Roll. It was also named the No. 1 hospital in Texas for the eighth year in a row. The Honor Roll ranking is based on comprehensive analyses of factors such as outcomes, staffing, patient safety, patient satisfaction and the opinions of other physicians. It also ranked in nine specialties, more than any other hospital in Texas: cancer, cardiology/heart surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology/GI surgery, geriatrics, neurology/neurosurgery, nephrology, orthopedics, and pulmonology/lung surgery.
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Patient Engagement Award for Innovation Houston Methodist received the Transforming the Consumer Experience Award at the June 2019 American Well Client Forum, for its focus on video visits. This award recognizes the Houston Methodist Primary Care Group partnering with IT to deliver a new model of care in virtual health. The unique care platform successfully engages patients to create a strong, positive experience for them. Patient engagement is a key goal for the Houston Methodist Center for Innovation, which aims to transform the health care experience for patients.
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TMC Alpha Invites Innovators The TMC Innovation Institute kicked off its new TMC Alpha program in July, and Houston Methodist’s Kavya Sinha, MD, was among the first to sign up. The postdoctoral fellow in vascular research pitched her idea, which she calls the Medical Device Library, in a format split between pitching and coaching, when attendees can meet with advisors for personalized guidance. Open to anyone employed at the Texas Medical Center, the program aims to guide individuals or groups who have ideas for improving health care or are struggling to move beyond the earliest stages of innovation.
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Building Bridges for Clinical Trials Beatriz Efron, BSN, clinical research nurse in the department of surgery/GI medicine, was recognized in July for reaching out to drive research to the community. Efron built a partnership between Houston Methodist in the Texas Medical Center and the Houston Methodist Primary Care Group South-Pearland physician Mahendra Jain, MD, for a SIBS trial under the leadership of Eamonn Quigley, MD, David M. Underwood Chair of Medicine in Digestive Disorders and director of the Lynda K. and David M. Underwood Center for Digestive Disorders. They screened potential patients for participation in a microbiome study for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Efron is shown here with Darrel Cleere, BSN, clinical trials manager, who nominated her for the recognition, which awarded Efron with Astros tickets.
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The 2nd Annual Summer Science Symposium, hosted by the Methodist Association for Postdoctoral and Trainee Affairs (MAPTA) focused on “Frontiers in Translational Medicine: Bridging the Gap between Bench and Bedside.” Held August 8-9, it was attended by 230 participants, including medical residents, postdoctoral fellows, research trainees, summer interns from undergraduate and high school programs, and faculty members. The event offered opportunities for podium and poster presentations, followed by an awards ceremony and reception with 12 winners receiving travel awards.
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Workplace Violence in the Health Care Setting FRIDAY, OCT. 11 | 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. PROGRAM OVERVIEW Violence in health care settings is a growing epidemic. Health care workers account for 12% of the working population, but are the victims of more than 75% of workplace assaults. Workplace Violence in the Health Care Setting is a one-day multidisciplinary course designed to educate health care providers on strategies for identification, prevention, de-escalation and response to acts of aggression in the workplace. Physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses and other health care providers will be presented with best practices for maintaining staff and patient safety.
REGISTER AT:
Houston Methodist Research Institute 6670 Bertner Ave. John F. Bookout Auditorium Houston, TX 77030
events.houstonmethodist.org/WorkplaceViolence
CONTACT INFORMATION
Nurses: Houston Methodist is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Texas Nurses Association – Approver, an accredited approver with distinction by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Physicians: Houston Methodist is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
For more information, please contact: Susan Bionat, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC HMHNPConferences@houstonmethodist.org 713.441.3943 Offered by the Houston Methodist Hospital, Nurse Practitioner Service in collaboration with the HMH, Workplace Environment Council.
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Social Workers: Houston Methodist is an approved provider of CE contact hour(s) for Social Workers through the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners.
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072019
Preventing Workplace Violence Sheila Coggins, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, strategic HR business partner at Houston Methodist, was awarded $90,000 by Texas Health & Human Services to develop a program on “Prevention of Workplace Violence against Nurses.” It was incorporated in curriculum for an interprofessional course that was held October 11 at the Houston Methodist Research Institute. The program educates health care providers on strategies for identification, prevention, de-escalation and response to acts of aggression in the workplace. While health care workers account for 12% of the country’s working population, they are victims in 75% of workplace assaults.
REGISTER NOW!
LOCATION
MAPTA Symposium Celebrates Success
Female Innovation through Partnership Roberta Schwartz, PhD, chief innovation officer and executive vice president, represented Houston Methodist as one of 13 health care institutions that took part in Ignite Healthcare's Customer-Partner Program. The program paired female-owned and -led start-ups with a partner (who potentially could become a client) to prepare them to compete at The Fire Pitch Competition, held October 17 at the TMC's Innovation Institute. Ignite Healthcare, which organized the event, is a Houston-based nonprofit focused on increasing the number of female entrepreneurs in health care.
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2019 Bricker Award Announced Melinda Wenner Moyer, a visiting scholar at NYU’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, contributing editor at Scientific American and columnist for Slate, was named the 2019 recipient of the Bricker Award for Science Writing in Medicine. She will give a lecture at noon on December 10 in the John F. Bookout Auditorium. The Bricker Award recognizes gifted science writers and their contributions to advancing science and medicine through science writing. The award is named in memory of former Houston Methodist employee David Bricker, a masterful science writer, beloved family member and great friend.
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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Endowed Positions Honor Centennial Year In recognition of Houston Methodist’s 100-year anniversary in 2019, Paula and Joseph C. "Rusty" Walter
ACCOLADES & LEADERSHIP
and the Walter Oil & Gas Corporation made a philanthropic gift to attract and retain the most talented
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physicians and scientists to help pioneer lifesaving new treatments. The gift includes a matching fund designed to increase the number of endowed positions at Houston Methodist to 100. For every centennial commitment of $1 million or more, the gift provides a $500,000 match for up to 50 endowed positions. Four new appointees are listed here.
Craig C. Brown and Suzanne H. Smith Centennial Chair in Medical Education Timothy B. Boone, MD, PhD Director, Regenerative Medicine Program Chair and Professor, Department of Urology Houston Methodist
Diane Harkins Modesett Clinical Academic Scholar Eric H. Bernicker, MD Medical Director, Clinical Trials Office, Houston Methodist Oncology Partners Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine in Oncology Houston Methodist Cancer Center Houston Methodist
Frank J. and Jean Raymond Centennial Chair Alessandro Grattoni, PhD Chair and Professor, Department of Nanomedicine Houston Methodist
Nicole Mary Follansbee Centennial Chair in the J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center Richard J. Knight, MD, FACS Professor of Surgery, Department of Surgery J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center Houston Methodist
RECRUITMENT
Khurram Nasir, MD, MPH, joined Houston Methodist on October 7 as the Katz Investigator in Cardiovascular Prevention at the DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center. Previously, he was director of Population Health & Health System Research, Center of Research Evaluation, and associate professor of internal medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine, at Yale University. Nasir’s work in preventive cardiology focuses on identifying individuals and populations at high risk for heart attack or stroke. Having received postdoctoral training in preventive cardiology at Johns Hopkins Hospital and internal medicine training at the University of Pittsburgh, he also received an NIH award for the cardiac imaging training program at Massachusetts
ACCOLADES
General Hospital in Boston, MA.
David P. Huston, MD, W. Bryan Trammell Jr. Family Distinguished Chair in Allergy and Immunology, Houston Methodist, and professor, associate dean and director of the Clinical Science & Translational Research Institute of the Texas A&M College of Medicine, is the principal investigator of a $2.5 million Burroughs Wellcome Fund Physician-Scientist Institutional Award. It was awarded to develop and support two innovative programs that will enable physicians to enter research training pathways across the continuum of their medical education and clinical residency. One program, the Academy of Physician Scientists, will focus on helping Houston Methodist’s residents and fellows establish themselves as clinician scientists. The other program will follow a similar approach for medical students attending Texas A&M's Colleges of Medicine and Engineering and Houston Methodist. The five-year grant, which began September 1, involves collaboration between Texas A&M’s College of Medicine and College of Engineering and Houston Methodist. Four other institutions received the award: the University of California-Los Angeles, University of Chicago, Washington University and Weill Cornell Medicine Physician-Scientist Academia.
Richard P. Klucznik, MD, neurointerventionalist at the Houston Methodist Neurological Institute and associate professor of clinical radiology, was named president of the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery during the SNIS 16th annual meeting. As president, Klucznik will lead SNIS and its initiatives to advance excellence in minimally invasive neuroendovascular care.
Caroline Cvetkovic, PhD, postdoctoral fellow in the Astrocellular Therapeutics Lab of Robert C. Krencik, PhD, was awarded a 2019 BMES Career Development Award to attend the Biomedical Engineering Society annual meeting in 2019, held October 16-19 in Philadelphia, PA. (Read more about her fellowship on page 6.)
Eric H. Bernicker, MD, Diane Harkins Modesett Clinical Academic Scholar and associate professor of clinical medicine in oncology, was appointed as a committee member for the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer’s Tobacco Control & Smoking Cessation Committee for the 2019-2021 term. Bernicker also has joined the editorial advisory board of the Journal of Cancer.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
UPCOMING EVENTS November 2, 2019
January 18, 2020
10th Annual Myasthenia Gravis Health Care
Critical Care 2nd Annual Symposium*
Professionals and Patient Education Conference*
November 5, 2019 George P. Noon Conference Series 2019: Frontiers in Organ Failure and Transplant Management*
November 8, 2019 14 Annual Peggy and Gary Edwards Distinguished th
Heart of a Woman 2020*
March 14, 2020 10th Annual Multimodality Cardiovascular Imaging for the Clinician*
ALS Lecture: Rattling the Cage of Amyotrophic
April 2, 2020
Lateral Sclerosis
11th Annual Re-Evolution Summit: Minimally
November 11, 2019
February 15, 2020
Pumps & Pipes 13: Convergence Innovation
November 13, 2019
Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS)*
April 30, 2020 Fourth Annual System Patient Safety Symposium: Patient Safety Leadership and Teamwork*
George and Angelina Kostas Research Center for Cardiovascular Nanomedicine Annual International Meeting 2019*
December 10, 2019 Bricker Award for Science Writing in Medicine Annual Lectureship
METHODOLOGY
The Research and Education Magazine of Houston Methodist
Editor-in-Chief Rebecca M. Hall, PhD Managing Editor LaVonne Carlson Design & Creative Lead Doris T. Huang Photographers Khalil Abusharekh Fernando Castaldi Doris T. Huang Scott Jones Matthew Landry George Tripsas Cover Art Matthew Landry
Contributing Writers LaVonne Carlson George Kovacik Lisa Merkl Brittany Miller Laura Niles Public Relations Contact Gale Smith 832.667.5843 gsmith@houstonmethodist.org Read more online: issuu.com/instituteforacademicmedicine Office of Communications and External Relations Institute for Academic Medicine Houston Methodist news@houstonmethodist.org IAMNEWS-014 | 10.2019 | 1300
* CME credit available Visit attend.houstonmethodist.org for more information.