METHODOLOGY The Research and Education Newsletter of Houston Methodist
Fall 2017
Siemens Healthineers and Houston Methodist launch imaging innovation hub in Houston by Maitreyi Muralidhar
When neurologist Joseph Masdeu first saw anatomical images of the brain from a Siemens 7 Tesla (7T) MRI machine, he marveled at their photographic quality. “The precision is remarkable − it gives us insights into the diseases of the brain and spinal cord that have been impossible to realize until now,” said Masdeu, MD, PhD, Graham Family Distinguished Chair for Neurological Sciences in the Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology. Over the course of his career, Masdeu has seen imaging technologies the ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography have a revolutionary effect on the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases. He sees 7T MRI as the next big leap in imaging innovation. The 7T MRI scanner is one of the world’s most powerful MRI machines. It is coming to the Texas Medical Center in 2018 through a Siemens Healthineers and Houston Methodist multi-year consortium agreement and will be accessible to all institutions in the TMC. The consortium currently includes The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, University of Houston, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas A&M, and Rice University. Scientists from Siemens will be housed full time at Houston Methodist to collaborate with consortium physicians and researchers. >> CONT. PAGE THREE
are building on our decades-long partnership “ We with Siemens to combine their frontline imaging technology with our unique translational research infrastructure and clinical care facilities.
”
– Mauro Ferrari, PhD President and CEO Houston Methodist Research Institute
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Contents
Hurricane Harvey hit Houston shortly after our last issue of Methodology and we are still recovering with our fellow Texans. More than 5,300 of our employees were personally impacted by the storm. I am truly thankful to work an organization that
Cover
has supported all our employees – those impacted and those
Siemens Healthineers and Houston Methodist launch imaging innovation hub in Houston............... 1
that continue to volunteer and rebuild our community. The hurricane brought some unexpected attention to our ongoing infectious disease research. A deadly bacterial disease called
Research Highlights:
necrotizing fasciitis or flesh-eating disease claimed multiple victims
$21 million propels translational research................................................4
in the aftermath of Harvey. Muthiah Kumaraswami, PhD, and
Researchers unlock potential pathway to treat flesh-eating bacteria................................................6 Two forces collaborate to create new biocompatible implants..............8
his team had been studying the bacteria responsible for this disease, and they discovered a promising target for a treatment and a vaccine that may help prevent future flood-borne tragedies. Their findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal about the time the storm hit. This work is a timely reminder of why we invest in research and innovation. Our friends Evan and Nicole Katz
RNA therapeutics slow the effects of accelerated aging............ 9
and the Katz family share this vision. I am overwhelmed with gratitude by their unprecedented $21 million
Treatable condition could be mistaken for schizophrenia............10
time to read more about how this gift will impact our mission by supporting the work of our dedicated
Resident immune cells provide clues to liver inflammation.............12
gift from the Jerold B. Katz Foundation that will support our research efforts. Please take some faculty and physicians. In this time of recovery, may we remember our blessings. Together we lead medicine. Together we heal.
Education News Ideas to clinic: Mentors equip clinicians with the power of research............................................. 14
Mauro Ferrari, PhD
Sherilyn A. Gordon Memorial Award for Leadership and Professionalism................................ 15
Ernest Cockrell Jr. Presidential Distinguished Chair President and CEO, Houston Methodist Research Institute Director, Institute for Academic Medicine at Houston Methodist Executive Vice President, Houston Methodist
Houston Methodist Interprofessional Education Day.................................. 16
Senior Associate Dean and Professor of Medicine Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY
Summer Internship Program inspires the next generation of health professionals........................ 17
Of Interest Awards & accolades.......................18 New faculty.............................................20 Upcoming events..................................22
>> CONT. FROM PAGE ONE
Ultra-high-field 7T MRI boosts resolution for clear visualization of previously unseen structures. In addition to anatomical details, images from 7T MRI can also show physiology or biological function. “MRI is the cardiovascular imaging modality of the future. While most modalities show structure, MRI allows for imaging the dynamics of blood flow and the opening and closing of heart valves,”
facility and the cGMP-compliant cyclotron
explained Alan Lumsden, MD, Walter W. Fondren III
facility. Access to such high-throughput
Distinguished Endowed Chair in the Houston Methodist
multi-modality imaging equipment in a translational
DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center and chair of the
research setting enables Houston Methodist and its
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery.
consortium partners to seamlessly translate research
Siemens’ 7T MRI machine, called the MAGNETOM Terra, is
findings to a true clinical setting.
the first 7T MRI scanner cleared for clinical use in the United
As part of the agreement, Siemens will also outfit the
States by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “The FDA
Houston Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation
approval could not have come at a better time for us,” said
& Education (MITIESM) and the newly constructed North
Christof Karmonik, PhD, associate research professor of
Tower with triple hybrid operating suites. These will be
translational imaging and director of the MRI Core at Houston
equipped with the most advanced CT, angiography
Methodist. “Though the FDA has currently approved the
and MRI technology. Houston Methodist will also receive
device for diagnostic imaging of the head and the knee, the
a dual PET and CT scanner that can image specific
possibilities with 7T are endless,” Karmonik said. Houston
biochemical activations in the brain, such as the presence
Methodist researchers have already begun developing projects
of pathological proteins and inflammation in Alzheimer’s
that will leverage the exceptional capabilities of this technology.
and other types of neurodegenerative diseases.
For instance, Masdeu expects to apply the higher spatial resolution and stronger image contrast of 7T to better understand the role of tau protein in Alzheimer’s disease, a research interest of his for many years.
As part of their partnership, Houston Methodist and Siemens will conduct joint research in several areas of common interest, including 7T MRI research; PET and molecular theranostics; and outcomes research in the
The new 7T machine will be located within the Houston
context of imaging and image-guided intervention. Houston
Methodist Research Institute’s Translational Imaging Core,
Methodist investigators will also have the opportunity to
in close proximity to the positron emission tomography
visit Siemens for collaborative research rotations.
physicians and investigators are eager to explore the 7T MRI “ Our scanner’s applications a clinical research setting. It provides significantly higher resolution and faster acquisition times than the 3T we use today.
”
– Christof Karmonik, PhD Director, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Core Houston Methodist
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RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
$21 million propels translational research Houston Methodist received a $21 million commitment from the Jerold B. Katz Foundation to advance the translation of medical discoveries and bring them quickly to patients.
This gift from the Katz family, dedicated supporters of medical research, empowers the Houston Methodist Research Institute by establishing a translational research academy, launching a research and development catalyst fund, and acquiring specialized technology required to drive translational research. According to Evan H. Katz, one of Jerold B. Katz’s sons and a trustee of the Jerold B. Katz Foundation, the gift is designed to continually seed innovation, facilitating the discovery of improved treatments and medications. The research institute will enlist the brightest researchers from various fields, encouraging them to develop collaborative, interdisciplinary solutions to combat the most challenging diseases patients face. Of the $21 million gift, $12 million will endow eight Katz Investigators as members of the Jerold B. Katz Academy of Translational Research, funding their corresponding research projects. Translational research is at the forefront of medical breakthroughs and is the foundation for the establishment of the research institute. This gift will support researchers seeking to progress through the cycle of a cure to see their ideas go from invention to potential treatments and therapies.
Nicole and Evan Katz
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typically take two decades and billions of dollars to go from the lab to the patient’s bedside. This generous donation can speed up the process by stimulating a cross-pollination of ideas among clinicians and scientists, and mobilizing them to innovate.
QUICK FACTS HOUSTON METHODIST
8 2,165 810,880 103,783 21,195
”
– Mauro Ferrari, PhD President and CEO Houston Methodist Research Institute
This gift also creates a $5 million matching fund, initiating the second phase of the Translational Research Initiative that helps researchers avoid the “Valley of Death” – the time between a scientific discovery and its successful use in humans, when many projects are lost due to lack of funding. Houston Methodist will raise the matching funds, increasing the donation’s philanthropic impact to $26 million. Finally, the Katz award designates $4 million to the Jerold B. Katz Translational Research Infrastructure Fund to support state-of-the-art laboratories with the latest research equipment, ensuring the success of these new research projects. This large gift assures funding and provides an avenue for the continued support of medical discoveries stemming from translational research endeavors.
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
“ New medical therapies
“
5,591 1,843 647 46 412 23,319 1,075
Hospitals Operating beds Outpatient visits Admissions
Employees
Physicians Credentialed researchers Faculty GME programs Trainees
(residents, postdoctoral fellows & students)
CME, GME & MITIE learners
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 Dec 31;109(6)
Clinical protocols
440,000
Sq.ft. dedicated research building with 12 stories and 150 lab benches
100,000
Additional sq.ft. research space embedded throughout the hospital
$49.6 M $131 M
– Jenny Chang, M.D. Emily Herrmann Chair in Cancer Research & Director, Houston Methodist Cancer Center
Annual extramural funding Annual research expenditures
5
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RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
Researchers unlock
potential pathway to treat
flesh-eating bacteria by Lisa Merkl
Researchers at Houston Methodist have solved a 100-year-old mystery, providing them a possible key to unlock a pathway for treating diseases caused by flesh-eating bacteria. Also called necrotizing fasciitis, flesh-eating disease is caused by Group A Streptococcus infections. A rare but deadly bacterial disease, it claimed multiple lives in Houston after Hurricane Harvey when these bacteria were still lurking in the debris left behind by the floodwaters. Unless detected early, flesh-eating disease is very challenging to treat and has a high mortality and morbidity rate. Muthiah Kumaraswami, PhD
“
Group A Streptococcus infections are pretty widespread. Not only do they cause several million cases of strep throat every year, but also can lead to more severe infections, such as flesh-eating disease and acute rheumatic heart disease. If you don’t treat strep throat in children, for instance, recurring infections can lead to those more serious
“
diseases and are very difficult to treat. We don’t have a vaccine, so basic research is geared toward finding targets for vaccine development.
– Muthiah Kumaraswami, PhD Assistant Professor of Pathology and Genomic Medicine Houston Methodist
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Muthiah Kumaraswami, PhD, an infectious diseases
“The signal we found is compact and doesn’t have
researcher at Houston Methodist, is the corresponding
many of the features we traditionally see in other
author of an article published in the Proceedings of
bacterial peptides, which is probably why it was so
the National Academy of Sciences. Kumaraswami and
hard to find for such a long time. There could be
his team have found a critical target that can be used
similar atypical signals in other bacteria that have
to develop a potential Group A Streptococcus (GAS)
been overlooked, so we believe the discovery of
vaccine or antibiotic. By manipulating this target with
this peptide will make it easier to find more bacterial
vaccines or drugs, they hope to either reduce the
peptide signals in other pathogens.”
severity of these infections or clear them up faster. Moving forward, there are several different avenues Kumaraswami and team discovered a peptide secreted
researchers could take to target this peptide signal
by the bacteria that signals its neighbors to produce
for either antibiotic or vaccine development. They can
a toxin called streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin B
develop antibodies to target it or a competing peptide
(SpeB). The production of SpeB is critical for the
to jam the communication path, which would allow
development of necrotizing fasciitis. Blocking
them to block toxin production and reduce disease
production of this toxin will be crucial for disease
severity. A second strategy involves triggering the
prevention and treatment.
toxin production at an early stage when the toxin level would be minimal. Then, the host’s immune response
“Researchers have known for more than 100 years
would be triggered to clear the bacterial infection
that GAS uses the toxin SpeB and that it is crucial
much earlier.
for disease development,” Kumaraswami said. “We did not know, however, what signals the timely
Collaborating institutions include the Genome Biology
production of SpeB by GAS. Now that we have
Unit of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory
discovered how GAS bacteria communicate with
in Germany and the Ludwig-Maximilians-University
each other to coordinate the production of this toxin,
of Munich.
we can target the signaling pathway to develop vaccines and fight infections.”
Visit vimeo.com/233845662 to learn more about this work.
Kumaraswami says that the fact that bacteria talk to each other and produce toxins is not new. Their communication codes have been characterized for a long time, so researchers know a lot of the classic features in these signals. What’s different in his
The work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of
team’s discovery, is the nature of the language.
(Exc114-2) and Fondren Foundation.
Health (1R01AI109096-01A1), Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
The GAS communication signal they found lacks a majority of those classic features. “Typically, the signal is quite long and has a number of characteristic hallmarks,” Kumaraswami said.
Do H, Makthal N, VanderWal AR, Rettel M, Savitski MM, Peschek N, Papenfort K, Olsen RJ, Musser JM, Kumaraswami M. Leaderless secreted peptide signaling molecule alters global gene expression and increases virulence of a human bacterial pathogen. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017 Sept. 18;114(40)
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RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
Two forces
collaborate to create new
biocompatible implants by Gale Smith
Researchers at the Houston Methodist Research Institute have established a collaboration with super sports car maker Automobili Lamborghini to identify biocompatible carbon fiber composite materials for use in prosthetic implants and drug delivery devices. Orthopedic implants are typically created from biocompatible and corrosion resistant metal alloys like titanium and stainless steel. The joint project aims to make them better – by identifying new, lighter, moldable materials that are well tolerated by the human body and have improved mechanical properties. Over the next three years, this collaboration aims to combine Lamborghini’s advanced carbon fiber composite technology with the Houston Methodist Research Institute’s nanomedicine applications to design innovative and lightweight surgical tools and biomedical devices. Mauro Ferrari, PhD, president and CEO of the Houston Methodist Research Institute, signed the agreement with Stefano Domenicali, chair and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., officially launching the collaboration in June 2017. Alessandro Grattoni, PhD, chair of the Department of Nanomedicine at the Houston Methodist Research Institute, will lead Stefano Domenicali and Mauro Ferrari, PhD
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the study as principal investigator.
RNA therapeutics slow the effects of accelerated aging Children with Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome age at eight times the normal rate, causing complications and premature death, usually from heart attack or stroke in their teens. by Patricia Akinfenwa
Progeria is a rare genetic disorder caused
A Houston Methodist team led by John P. Cooke, MD, PhD,
by an autosomal mutation in the LMNA
chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at
gene encoding lamin A. This scaffolding
Houston Methodist, has developed an mRNA therapeutic
protein forms the protective envelope
that reverses cellular senescence in progeria cells.
around the nucleus – the home of a cell’s DNA. Mutations in the envelope expose the John P. Cooke, MD, PhD
nucleus to damage that ultimately leads to
premature cell senescence. While most research has been focused on restoring the nuclear envelope by repairing the gene or mutant lamin A, Houston Methodist researchers are taking a
Cooke hypothesized that restoration of telomere length could improve progeria cell function and the ability of these cells to divide and respond to stress. This is exactly what his team found – delivery of telomerase mRNA into the cells lengthened telomeres, stimulated growth, and lengthened their lifespan.
different approach. They are focusing on the observation that progeria cells have accelerated telomere shortening. Telomeres protect the ends of chromosomes from deterioration and serve
Li Y, Zhou G, Bruno IG, Cooke JP. Telomerase mRNA reverses senescence in
as biological timekeepers of cells, naturally shortening as we
Progeria cells. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017 Aug 8; 70(6):804–805.
get older.
erode over time as cells age. Telomerase mRNA can “ Telomeres reverse the erosion and can potentially delay problems associated with premature aging in conditions like progeria. ”
– John P. Cooke, MD, PhD Joseph C. "Rusty" Walter and Carole Walter Looke Presidential Distinguished Chair in Cardiovascular Disease Research, Houston Methodist 9
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
Treatable condition could be mistaken for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder by Hannah Pietsch
Researchers at Houston Methodist believe that a significant number of people diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder may actually have a treatable immune system condition. Joseph Masdeu, MD, PhD
A new research study could have a significant impact on the millions diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, including many homeless.
The study was inspired by the 2007 discovery of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, a disease that causes symptoms similar to schizophrenia or bipolar disorder but can be treated with existing immunotherapy medications. The immune system normally produces antibodies to attack foreign substances in the body, such as bacteria. When this process goes wrong, antibodies are produced that attack receptors in the brain, causing the receptor to stop listening to the signals being sent to it. In cases of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, antibodies attack N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the brain. Conditions that cause the brain’s receptors to stop functioning properly are often mistaken for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder because these diseases are associated with a decrease in activity of the NMDA receptors, which control how someone thinks, makes decisions, and perceives the world around them. Classic schizophrenia and bipolar
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disorder symptoms seen in anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis and similar conditions include hearing voices and paranoia.
could suppress the production of the attacking antibodies. Masdeu plans to use study results to develop more sensitive
“We know that nearly 1 percent of the U.S. population –
tests to aid in the detection of attacking antibodies. He
or more than 3.5 million people – have schizophrenia,”
first began researching possible autoimmune causes of
Masdeu said. “Another 2.6 percent of American adults
schizophrenia in the early 2010s while working at the
have bipolar disorder. What we don’t know is how many
National Institutes of Health and published early papers
of these patients actually have one of these treatable
on the subject. Masdeu is now collaborating with Josep
immune system disorders.”
Dalmau, MD, PhD, who first described how antibodies
The study will enroll 150 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia
can attack NMDA receptors.
or bipolar disorder and 50 healthy people between the ages
Houston Methodist is leading this study, which includes
of 18 and 35 who are willing to undergo a spinal tap to
Ben Taub Hospital, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs
collect a small amount of their cerebral spinal fluid, which
Medical Center, Texas Children’s Hospital, Harris County
will be screened for the presence of antibodies attacking
Psychiatric Center, and The University of Texas Health
NMDA and other receptors. If abnormal antibodies are
Science Center at Houston.
discovered, researchers will notify the patient or caregiver, so that they may consider asking their health care provider
For more information on this study, call 346.238.0083.
about treatment options, such as using existing drugs that
“
We suspect that a significant number of people believed to have schizophrenia or bipolar disorder actually have an immune system disorder that affects the brain’s receptors. If true, those people have diseases that are completely reversible – they just need a proper diagnosis and treatment to help them return to
”
normal lives.
– Joseph Masdeu, MD, PhD Graham Family Distinguished Chair for Neurological Sciences in the Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology Houston Methodist
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RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
Resident immune cells
provide clues to
liver inflammation by Gale Smith
Liver disease has long been associated with excessive alcohol consumption and viral infections like hepatitis C. Both can lead to liver inflammation, cell damage and, in severe cases, cirrhosis. Immune cells that reside in the liver are key suspects in the inflammation that precedes liver disease, but when and how they trigger inflammation is a complicated mystery that immunologists are just beginning to solve. One of the immune cells found in abundance in the liver is the invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell. Normally, iNKT cells aid in the host defense system and immune tolerance, but the mechanism governing their survival Xian C. Li, MD, PhD
remains an active area of research.
Houston Methodist scientists have identified that liver iNKT cells constitutively express the cell surface tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily receptor OX40. OX40 serves as a costimulatory signal for circulating T-cells, aiding in cell division and survival by suppressing the differentiation of T-regulatory cells, which inhibit T-cell function. OX40 in the liver, however, takes on an entirely different role.
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“ Instead of helping liver resident immune cells survive, OX40 drives a messy inflammatory cell death. ”
– Xian C. Li, MD, PhD Director, Immunobiology & Transplant Science Center Houston Methodist
In a study led by Xian C. Li, MD, PhD, director of
In addition, they would like to see this research open
the Immunobiology & Transplant Science Center at
new avenues of intervention such as OX40 inhibitors.
the Houston Methodist Research Institute, findings
In the future, the group plans to run clinical studies to
revealed that hepatic expression of OX40 triggers
see if the effects shown in their models are present in
the death of liver-resident iNKT cells. Unlike its
patients with liver disease. According to the American
enhancing effects on systemic T-cells, Li and his
Liver Foundation, 30 million Americans suffer from
team observed a negative effect — in the liver, OX40
some form of liver disease.
stimulation results in massive destruction of iNKT cells through pyroptosis, a programmed cell death characterized by high levels of inflammation.
Lan P, Fan Y, Zhao Y, Lou X, Monsour HP, Zhang X, Choi Y, Dou Y, Ishii N, Ghobrial RM, Xiao X, Li XC. TNF superfamily receptor OX40 triggers invariant NKT cell pyroptosis and liver injury. J Clin Invest. 2017 Apr 24;
Li theorizes that the OX40 liver threat is a two-step
127(6):2222–2234.
process. First, OX40 activates a chain reaction resulting in caspase-1 production. Caspase-1, in turn, activates gasdermin D, which forms pores in cell membranes. Once the membranes become permeable to circulating molecules, the immune cells swell and burst, releasing inflammatory cytokines and causing liver inflammation, a response that is even more pronounced in the liver due to the large amount of iNKT cells present. These findings provide a potential mechanism of liver damage and disease. Li and colleagues are interested in learning how the liver microenvironment increases iNKT cell susceptibility to pyroptosis.
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EDUCATION NEWS
Ideas to clinic:
Mentors equip clinicians with the power of research by Thomas Ellington
The Mentored Clinical Research Training Program, a joint program between Weill Cornell Medicine and Houston Methodist, provides early career physicians with concentrated training to turn their ideas for clinical research into successful project plans. “Cultivating the skills to do high-quality, prospective clinical
During these sessions, participants present their research
research really requires you to partner with a mentor who has
idea and the mentors provide their critique by teasing it
experience conducting this type of research,” said Eric Salazar,
apart, helping to shape it, and providing guidance on how
MD, PhD, assistant professor of pathology and genomic
to improve it. For Salazar’s project idea – comparing the
medicine at Houston Methodist. Salazar, who just finished his
use of a fibrinogen concentrate to the use of cryoprecipitate
first year as faculty at Houston Methodist, is a member of the
for fibrinogen replacement in liver transplant patients – his
current program cohort.
mentors advised beginning with a pilot study to test the
The program begins with four days of didactics and small group sessions in New York City, before which participants must identify two mentors from either Houston Methodist or Weill Cornell. “In addition to lectures on biostatistics and grant writing, they review simple but critical concepts such as the elements
feasibility of a larger study. “With a pilot, we can assess whether a larger study would generate enough statistical power, and whether the study’s logistics – which will involve coordination between pharmacists and anesthesiologists – are sustainable,” said Salazar.
of a good research question and a good hypothesis, and time
After the four-day intensive training, participants meet with
management, which is especially important when balancing
their mentors at six-month and one-year intervals to discuss
clinical practice and research work,” Salazar said when explaining
the progress of their projects. For Salazar, the program has
the program. “But the real meat is in the small group sessions.”
been an excellent experience. “So far, this program has been a very exciting step in furthering my goal of integrating clinical research into my career. I expect to have this pilot project started in the next few months and I look forward to where the results of this study will lead me,” said Salazar.
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Sherilyn A. Gordon Memorial Award for Leadership and Professionalism by Patricia Akinfenwa On March 19, 2017, Houston Methodist Hospital lost an extraordinary leader, mentor, colleague, surgeon, and friend, Sherilyn A. Gordon, MD. A skilled and compassionate transplant surgeon at Houston Methodist since 2009, Gordon transformed the Houston Methodist Hospital Residency in General Surgery after becoming program director in 2012. Gordon took a special interest in each resident, and was known for her commitment to mentorship and professionalism. In memory of Gordon, the Houston Methodist Graduate Medical Education Committee has established an award in her name. The award recognizes an outstanding resident or fellow, a program director or faculty member, and a residency program coordinator who exhibit the Houston Methodist I CARE values of integrity, compassion, accountability, respect, and excellence, and demonstrate leadership and professionalism. Gordon Memorial Award recipients are honored at the annual graduation ceremony for residents and fellows. The recipients receive a certificate of recognition and up to $1,500 of travel support to a leadership development meeting. Awardees for 2017 include resident and fellow awardee, Stephanie G. Yi, MD; program director and faculty awardee, Donald A. Briscoe, MD; and residency coordinator awardee, Erika L. Robinson.
Houston Methodist Earns Continuing Medical Education Accreditation Houston Methodist has earned accreditation with commendation from the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, a distinction awarded for implementing best practices in pedagogy, engagement, evaluation, and change management, and for focusing on generating meaningful outcomes. Accreditation as a CME provider continues through 2023.
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EDUCATION NEWS
Houston Methodist
INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION DAY
In May, Houston Methodist held an inaugural Interprofessional Education Day. The conference focused on training multidisciplinary health professional teams to cultivate collaborative practice. Over one hundred and fifty professionals attended the conference from Houston Methodist and other Texas Medical Center institutions including Baylor College of Medicine, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
Keynote speaker, Ashley Hughes, PhD, discussed team-based
Interprofessional Education Day was led by Jessica Uriarte,
health care research evidence showing that interprofessionalism
DrPH, manager of the Houston Methodist Office of Academic
reduces medical error and mortality. With real-world examples,
Development, who specializes in interprofessional collaboration
Hughes demonstrated how communication between specialists
and training.
saved time, money, and prevented physical and emotional distress of patients.
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SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Summer Internship Program inspires the next generation of health professionals The Institute for Academic Medicine hosted its annual summer internship for the recent graduates of 26 universities including Johns Hopkins, Duke, Columbia University, and Washington University in St. Louis. Each intern was paired with a mentor to shadow during their 10-week clerkship. Interns were placed in either a research or clinical setting, according to preference, and concluded the program with a poster or oral presentation detailing their project and their future goals. Read about the experience and background of two of our 2017 interns.
MATTHEW REYES
KIERRA CRAWFORD
From: Houston Interests: Surgery & engineering Mentor: Sherry Lim, MD
From: Kentucky Interests: Wellness & dietetics Mentor: Colin Barker, MD
Born and raised in Houston, Matthew Reyes knew early
For Kierra Crawford, college was an opportunity to leave her
on that he wanted to be in health care. Now a biomedical
hometown in Kentucky and see the world. Crawford became
engineering major at Texas A&M University, Reyes says that
a Fulbright Scholar and received support to travel abroad
the summer internship enlightened him about the rigors of
to the Dominican Republic, Germany, and South Korea.
being a surgeon, and strengthened his resolve to pursue
She says these experiences shaped her appreciation for the
medicine. Reyes was paired with Sherry Lim, MD, a breast
education and resources she has access to in the US. That
cancer surgeon, and described his days in the operating
realization inspired her to apply to the Houston Methodist
room like an adventure, which started with him scrubbing
Summer Internship Program after graduating from the University
in as a member of the operating room staff bright and early
of Kentucky with a bachelor’s in Dietetics. She was paired with
at 7:30 a.m. Reyes aspires to be a physician engineer and
Colin Barker, MD, an interventional cardiologist. After the
plans to pursue a dual degree in medicine and engineering
internship, Crawford was offered a position at the Houston
in the Engineering and Medicine (EnMed) program, a
Methodist Wellness Center. The next step, Crawford says,
partnership of Houston Methodist and Texas A&M School
is becoming the first doctor in her family.
of Engineering.
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OF INTEREST
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
James M. Musser, MD, PhD, named president-elect of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology James M. Musser, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine at Houston Methodist Hospital and the Fondren Presidential Distinguished Chair at the Houston Methodist Research Institute, has been named president-elect of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) for 2017-2018. Musser will serve as FASEB president for 2018-2019 and for 3 years as a member of the FASEB executive committee. FASEB represents 125,000 international members and is recognized as the international policy voice of biological and biomedical researchers around the world.
A. Osama Gaber, MD, elected secretary of American Society of Transplant Surgeons J.C. Walter Jr. Presidential Distinguished Chair and Director of the J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center, Osama Gaber, MD, has been elected secretary of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS). He started a 3-year term in May 2017 after completing his term as councilor-at-large. He has served in several ASTS leadership roles over the past 12 years.
Omaima Sabek, PhD, receives the Network of Minority Health Research Investigators award Omaima Sabek, PhD, assistant research professor of surgery, has been recognized by the Network of Minority Health Research Investigators (NMRI) with the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) award. In April 2017, Sabek was acknowledged for her many years of service, contribution, and loyalty to the NMRI, and received a medallion, representing the highest commitment to improving the understanding of minority health.
Barbara L. Bass, MD, made an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons Barbara Bass, MD, John F., Jr. and Carolyn Bookout Presidential Distinguished Chair and executive director of the SM
Houston Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation & Education (MITIE ), has been made an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. Bass was recognized for her contributions to the development of surgical quality measurement systems in the United States, innovation and leadership in surgical education and policy, advancement of women in surgery, and contributions to advance the surgical profession.
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Mauro Ferrari, PhD, appointed as a corresponding member of the Pontifical Academy for Life Mauro Ferrari, PhD, president and CEO of the Houston Methodist Research Institute, has been appointed as a corresponding member of the Pontifical Academy for Life. The members advise the Vatican on issues related to human life and bioethics. Ferrari joined the assembly in the New Synod Hall in Vatican City.
Katherine K. Perez, PharmD, appointed to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee of the CDC Katherine K. Perez, PharmD, assistant professor of allied health sciences, has been appointed to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for a 4-year term beginning in 2017. Perez and other advisors will provide scientific and technical advice and guidance to the Department of Health and Human Services. The committee comprises members from across various laboratory specialties, laboratory management, physicians, nurses, and a consumer representative.
Robert A. Phillips, MD, PhD receives distinguished service award from the American Society of Hypertension Robert A. Phillips, MD, PhD, chief medical officer of Houston Methodist and CEO of Houston Methodist Specialty Physician Group, received a distinguished service award from the American Society of Hypertension for 30 years of service, and most recently, for his pivotal role in merging the society with the American Heart Association. Phillips accepted the award and delivered a podium presentation at the American Heart Association meeting held in September in San Francisco. Phillips presented research conducted in collaboration with Leif Peterson, PhD, and Susan Xu, PhD, that identified a specific population of patients with increased cardiovascular risk who would benefit from intensive blood pressure lowering.
Julia D. Andrieni, MD, named in Modern Healthcare’s women leaders to watch in 2017 list Julia Andrieni, MD, vice president of population health and primary care, and president and CEO of Houston Methodist Coordinated Care and the Houston Methodist Physicians’ Alliance for Quality, was selected by Modern Healthcare as one of 25 women leaders to watch in 2017. This program honors female executives from all health care sectors who are developing policy, leading change, and guiding the improvement of health care delivery across the country.
Patient advocate Anne H. Meyn, MEd, named Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Program advisor Anne H. Meyn, MEd, a patient advocate for the Department of Nanomedicine at Houston Methodist, was selected as one of eight members of the Susan G. Komen Advocates in Science Steering Committee and Komen Scholar. This group guides the organization's education and advocacy work, public health efforts, and help direct Komen's $920 million research program. 19
NEW FACULTY
OF INTEREST
CENTER FOR OUTCOMES RESEARCH Bita A. Kash, PhD, MBA Bita Kash, PhD, MBA, joined Houston Methodist as director of the Center for Outcomes Research. Kash is also an associate professor at Texas A&M University and director of the National Science Foundation Center for Health Organization Transformation – an industry/university cooperative that conducts research supporting management, clinical and information technology innovations in health care. Kash's research goals are to improve patient outcomes in acute-care settings, throughout the cycle of care in the ambulatory environment, the community, and globally.
Terri Menser, PhD Terri Menser, PhD, joined the Center for Outcomes Research in October 2017. Previously, she was a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Family Medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. She earned her PhD in health services research at Texas A&M University and received her MBA at Florida State.
Farzan Sasangohar, PhD Farzan Sasangohar, PhD, joined the Center for Outcomes Research in June 2017. He is also an assistant professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering as well as the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at Texas A&M University. His research interests are centered around understanding and improving human decision-making and performance in multi-task, safety-critical work environments. He earned his PhD in mechanical and industrial engineering from the University of Toronto.
CENTER FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY RESEARCH Shu-Hsia Chen, PhD Shu-Hsia Chen, PhD, joined Houston Methodist as the founding director of the Center for Immunotherapy Research. Previously, She was a tenured professor of oncological sciences at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Her research focuses on harnessing the immune system to fight cancer by developing and identifying new therapies that can change the tumor microenvironment and render tumors responsive to treatment. She brings with her a team of ten.
Ping-Ying Pan, PhD Ping-Ying Pan, PhD, joined Houston Methodist as the associate director of the Center for Immunotherapy Research. Previously, he was an associate professor of oncological sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. Pan earned his PhD in immunology from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Maen Abdelrahim, MD, PhD, BPharm Maen Abdelrahim, MD, PhD, BPharm joined Houston Methodist in September 2017 as the medical director for the Cockrell Centers for Advanced Therapeutics and as a GI medical oncologist. Previously, he was a fellow in the Department of Medical Oncology at Duke University School of Medicine. He earned his MD and PhD from Texas A&M University and his pharmacy degree from Isra University. He will be leading the Phase I clinical trials program, and pursuing research in targeted therapy and immunotherapy for GI oncology. 20
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Houston Methodist Research Institute Steven D. Arnold
Mauro Ferrari, PhD
David C. Baggett, Jr.
Antonio M. Gotto Jr., MD, DPhil
John F. Bookout, Jr.
Mark A. Houser
John F. Bookout, III
Catherine S. Jodeit
Marc L. Boom, MD
Evan H. Katz
Timothy Boone, MD, PhD
Rev. Kenneth R. Levingston
Giorgio Borlenghi
Kevin J. Lilly
Carrie L. Byington, MD
Vidal G. Martinez
Joseph R. "Rod" Canion
Gregory V. Nelson
Albert Chao
Andrew C. von Eschenbach, MD
Stephen I. Chazen
Joseph C. "Rusty" Walter, III
Augustine M.K. Choi, MD
Martha Walton
Ernest D. Cockrell, II
Elizabeth Wareing
John P. Cooke, MD, PhD
Judge Ewing Werlein, Jr.
NEW FACULTY
Dan O. Dinges
Nhat Tu Le, PhD Nhat Tu Le, PhD, joined as an associate member of the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at Houston Methodist. Previously, she was an assistant professor in the Department of Cardiology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Le earned her PhD from Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea.
Yulin Li, MD, PhD Yulin Li, MD, PhD, joined the Houston Methodist Biomarker Research Program in September 2017. He was previously an instructor and postdoctoral researcher at the Stanford University School of Medicine. His research interests include early tumorigenesis, differentiation therapy, and rare diseases. He earned his PhD in genetics from Pennsylvania State University, and his MD from Beijing Medical University.
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OF INTEREST
UPCOMING EVENTS
UPCOMING EVENTS January 12, 2018
March 3, 2018
Cytopathology and Small Biopsy Update in
Delivering Excellence In Critical Care Conference
Texas Medical Center
January 22, 2018
Clinical Ethics Case Consultation: Tips and Pitfalls
CME credit available
CME credit available
March 23, 2018 4th Annual David M. Underwood Center for
February 6, 2018
Digestive Disorders: Exploring Frontiers in
MAPTA Workshop Series: Entrepreneurship
the Management of Digestive and Liver Disorders
& Start Up
CME credit available
February 9, 2018
April 5, 2018
3 Annual Houston Heart Failure Summit
9th Annual Re-Evolution Summit - Minimally Invasive
rd
Cardiac Surgery (MICS): The Ultimate Hands-On Summit
CME credit available
February 10, 2018
CME credit available
Updates in Hospital Medicine
April 16, 2018
CME credit available
Intensive Bioethics Course
CME credit available
February 16, 2018
Nantz National Alzheimer Center 7th Annual Symposium
CME credit available
February 17, 2018 Below the Beltline 2018: An Insider's Guide to Neuro-Urology and Urological Emergencies
CME credit available
February 23, 2018 8th Annual Multimodality Cardiovascular Imaging for the Clinician
22
CME credit available
Go to houstonmethodist.org/hpeventslist for more information.
OF INTEREST
METHODOLOGY The Research and Education Newsletter of Houston Methodist
Editor-in-Chief Rebecca M. Hall, PhD Editors and Writers Maitreyi Muralidhar, MS Thomas Ellington Design & Creative Lead Doris T. Huang
Contributing Writers Patricia Akinfenwa, PhD Lisa Merkl Hannah Pietsch Gale Smith 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-009 | 12.2017 | 1500