D epartment
of
M edicine
Con ne c ti ng T e c h n o lo g y , Ed uca t i o n a n d D i s cove ry w ith H um anis m in Me dicine
Vol. 6, Issue 1: Jan. 2017
Amyloidosis Research
connections with clinical staff in the Medical Center and undergraduates who come from UTK to work with them. Their amyloid research investigates agents that have diagnostic and therapeutic potential as well as those that serve both functions (“theranostics”). Their findings have had implications for diagnosis and treating amyloid-related disorders such as light chain (AL) amyloidosis, type 2 diabetes, and potentially, Alzheimer’s disease. Success breeds success; the team’s gains in knowledge have led to successful bids for funding additional research. In 2008, the team received a $1.5 million NIH grant to develop an imaging agent to detect systemic amyloid deposits in amyloidosis patients. The grant was renewed in 2012 to the tune of $1.3 million. The proposal for re-renewal, submitted this year, scored very well; the team is hopeful the grant will be renewed again. In addition to this NIH grant, the team is expected to obtain a second NIH-funded award. The Amyloidosis Foundation continued on page 2 recently awarded Dr. Emily Martin,
Academic medical centers play a major role in medical education and patient care. They also have a unique contribution to make in research. Poised at the intersection of basic science and bedside care, “translational medicine” is especially important when it comes to rare diseases. Rare conditions are often under-studied by industry because they are usually not profitable to treat. The people affected by rare diseases often suffer more than those with common disorders because their condition often takes years to diagnose correctly, and they have fewer resources to effectively manage their disease. In many ways, UT Medical Center is the perfect setting to study amyloidosis, a serious, uncommon group of diseases in which amyloid proteins form deposits in the tissues and interfere with organ function. Dr. Alan Solomon began work on this disease here in the mid-1960s. Today, the UT Amyloidosis and Cancer Theranostics Program (ACTP) boasts eight worldrenowned researchers with more than 100 years of experience in amyloid research between them. The team also has strong
Points of View
Rajiv Dhand, MD, Chair
in these years. The quarterly In Touch Newsletter was started in July 2012 as a means of disseminating information and also to share the humanistic aspects of the department. On the educational front, we expanded the number of categorical residents from 9 to 12 each year, started fellowships in critical care and interventional cardiology, and clerkships in neurology, psychiatry and pediatrics. A new conference room, enhanced simulation center training, dedicated lectures, use of electronic educational resources, and electronic medical records have provided greater opportunities for our learners and helped us to stay in good standing with the ACGME. The house staff teams have been restructured to ensure long-term sustainability and the schedule revised continued on page 4
In the midst of the holidays, it is natural to reflect on the activities and achievements of the past year(s). Unbelievably, it is now 5 years since I had the privilege of becoming chairman of the department. Let me take this opportunity to share with you, especially the residents, fellows, faculty and staff who have recently joined the department, and alumni some of the signature developments 1