newshttps://medicine.iu.edu/news/rss-feednewsen{F85DACC2-EEFC-4498-9930-B5653180513E}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2024/03/match-day-2024IU School of Medicine celebrates Match Day 2024<h3 style="margin: 0in;"><span><strong>338 students to continue their training at residency programs across the country</strong></span></h3> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span>INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana University School of Medicine is celebrating a successful Match Day for 338 fourth-year medical students who will soon begin their residency training.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span>Match Day is an annual event happening on the IU Indianapolis campus and at medical schools across the country, where students simultaneously learn where they will continue their training after graduation in May.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span>“We are so proud of these 338 students and all they have accomplished throughout their time in medical school with us,” said Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA, dean of the IU School of Medicine and IU’s executive vice president for university clinical affairs. “We are excited to see all they will continue to learn and accomplish as they move on to the next phase of their training.”</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span>While medical school gives students foundational knowledge to become a physician, residency provides intensive clinical and research experience in their chosen specialty and is required before a physician can practice independently. Residency programs range from three to nine years, depending on the specialty.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span>The IU School of Medicine class of 2024 matched 338 students with training programs in 39 states, including Harvard, Johns Hopkins and Washington University – St. Louis. From that group, 86 will enter residency programs affiliated with IU School of Medicine or IU Health, joining graduates from other medical schools across the country to bring a total of 317 new residents to train in IU programs. These programs include 23 different specialties, including internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine, anesthesiology and surgery.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span>In addition, 43.8% of students will enter primary care residencies, helping fulfill a need for primary care physicians in Indiana and across the country.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span>At the Match Day 2024 event at the IU Indianapolis campus, school leaders spoke to students and their families, congratulating them on their accomplishment.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">“The school of medicine has been preparing people to be doctors for over 100 years, and we know that you’re going to be really well prepared,” Hess said. “Regardless of what specialty you go into, and regardless of where you end up in the country, I want every single one of you to know that you are a success story.”</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">“Doctors of the Class of 2024, you’re about to learn where you are going to do the next step of your training,” </span><span>said Paul Wallach, MD, executive associate dean for educational affairs<span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">, “and we are so proud of you.”</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span><em><a href="https://iusmimages.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000rL4kOVihD4E/G0000up61I3FtwSI/Match-Day-2024">View </a></em><a href="https://iusmimages.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000rL4kOVihD4E/G0000up61I3FtwSI/Match-Day-2024"></a></span><em><span><a href="https://iusmimages.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000rL4kOVihD4E/G0000up61I3FtwSI/Match-Day-2024">and download video and photos of the event.</a></span></em></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><em><span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEMW31K26qQ">Watch the event livestream.</a></span></em></p> <p> <strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p>The IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. According to the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, the IU School of Medicine ranks No. 13 in 2023 National Institutes of Health funding among all public medical schools in the country.</p>Fri, 15 Mar 2024 00:00:00 Z{101A902B-1342-4B65-A137-F93CB92A30F1}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2024/03/neuroscience-innovation-gift$1 million gift to support professorship focused on neuroscience innovation<p>INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana University School of Medicine alum and renowned neurosurgeon Joseph Maroon, MD, has provided a $1 million gift to support a leader in research dedicated to neuroscience innovation.</p> <p>The contribution creates the Joseph C. Maroon, MD, Professorship in Neuroscience Innovation within the school’s Department of Neurological Surgery. Through this generous support, IU will recruit a leader to help revolutionize how we prevent, treat and rehabilitate brain-related disabilities that affect up to 5.3 million Americans.</p> <p>"As a medical student and resident in neurosurgery at Indiana University, I learned never to be satisfied with the status quo, to always seek constant improvement in the art and science of medicine — and in my life,” Maroon said. “The goal of the Professorship in Innovation is to stimulate in perpetuity curiosity, inquisitiveness, creativity, and to provide the means through technology to prevent or alleviate patient pain and suffering — without, at the same time, hardening the human heart by which we live. There is no better place I could imagine this being done than at the Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Neurosurgery and under the leadership of Dr. Mitesh Shah.”</p> <p>The ideal scientist will be deeply versed in emerging fields like machine learning, artificial intelligence and bioinformatics. They will apply that knowledge to analyze large data sets, uncover new biomarkers and drug targets, and use those findings to tailor therapy better. Additionally, the chairholder will have experience designing and running clinical trials. </p> <p>IU School of Medicine also offers critical resources to support this bold work. </p> <p>It is home to the nationally respected Center for Neuroimaging, the nation’s largest biobank for neurodegenerative diseases and cores of expertise at the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute. IU is also one of 18 sites for the Track-TBI consortium and its partnership with IU Health offers access to a network of 16 hospitals across Indiana. </p> <p>The Department of Neurological Surgery aims to establish a Neuroscience Innovation Center, which will bring experts in these cutting-edge disciplines together with researchers skilled at developing new drug therapies and medical devices.</p> <p>“No one I know is more loyal about his beloved alma mater, Indiana University, or more passionate about being innovative in the neuroscience space than Joseph Maroon,” Shah said. “The establishment of the Joseph Maroon Professorship in Neuroscience Innovation will be the catalyst for developing a world-class Neuroscience Core for Innovation inside the Neuroscience Institute.”</p> <p><img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/maroon---surgery.jpeg?h=300&w=400&rev=c11301445de44f34a167f3b61faaa134&hash=D177670D6DFD66F575E3BE427ADE94AF" style="height: 300px; width: 400px;" alt="Joseph Maroon, MD" title="Joseph Maroon, MD" longdesc="Source: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center" class="float-left" />This research interlocks with the spirit that has shaped Maroon’s career. Over four decades, he has focused on developing minimally invasive surgical procedures for the brain and spine, preventing and treating traumatic injuries to the central nervous system and finding innovative approaches for brain tumors. He is the author of over 330 scientific papers, 60 book chapters and six books. Additionally, Maroon has delivered more than 200 presentations at national and international conferences.</p> <p>He is also the co-developer of ImPACT, the first computerized system to assess concussion severity and the timing for an athlete’s return to the field. Today, the tool is part of standard concussion protocols across professional sports and is used by more than 12,000 colleges and high schools across the United States. Twenty-three million tests have been administered to date.</p> <p>Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, Maroon earned a football scholarship to Indiana University in Bloomington, where he garnered Scholastic All-American Honors for the Hoosiers. Afterward, he earned a medical degree and pursued neurosurgical training from the IU School of Medicine. He received further training at Georgetown University and Oxford University. In 2022, Maroon received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the IU School of Medicine in recognition of his outstanding professional achievements. </p> <p>In 1972, Maroon established his practice at the University of Pittsburgh, where he remains a clinical professor and the Heindl Scholar in Neuroscience. He is also the vice chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. </p> <p>Maroon is a long-serving neurosurgical consultant for professional and college athletes, including more than 40 years as the team neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The NFL Physicians Society has awarded Maroon the Arthur C. Rettig Award for Academic Excellence, an honor bestowed to a team physician who advances the health and safety of the league’s players. </p> <p>Despite a packed professional schedule, Maroon remains a devoted triathlete who competed in over 100 races, including eight Ironman distance events.</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. According to the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, IU School of Medicine ranks No. 13 in 2023 National Institutes of Health funding among all public medical schools in the country.</p>Mon, 11 Mar 2024 00:00:00 Z{31C65AAB-D687-4097-BAC7-32539E12495D}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2024/02/2023-nih-funding-ranked-13-among-public-universitiesIU School of Medicine's 2023 NIH funding ranked No. 13 among public universities<p>INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana University School of Medicine researchers received over <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/blogs/research-updates/top-10-largest-nih-grants-funding-research-in-2023" target="_blank">$243 million in total funding from the National Institutes of Health during federal fiscal year 2023</a> — a more than $54 million increase over the past five years, or 28%.</p> <p>According to rankings recently released by the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://brimr.org/" target="_blank">Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research</a>, this makes the IU School of Medicine No. 13 in NIH funding among all public medical schools in the country and No. 29 among all schools nationally — both a record best for the school.</p> <p>Blue Ridge is a nonprofit organization that annually ranks U.S. medical schools by NIH grants awarded each federal fiscal year. The NIH is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world, and the 2023 federal fiscal year was Oct. 1, 2022, to Sept. 30, 2023.</p> <p>"As a national leader in NIH-funded research, our faculty and researchers are improving and saving lives in Indiana and around the world," IU President Pamela Whitten said. "This growing portfolio of NIH research is a testament to our world-class faculty at the School of Medicine and across IU. From developing new treatments for Alzheimer’s or helping patients with diabetes, IU is advancing solutions to pressing challenges, while strengthening our standing among the nation’s leading public research universities."</p> <p>Twelve IU School of Medicine departments ranked in the top 25 among all U.S. medical schools for 2023 NIH funding, including five departments ranked in the top 15:</p> <ul> <li><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/genetics" target="_blank">The Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics</a> is ranked No. 5.</li> <li><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/pediatrics" target="_blank">The Department of Pediatrics</a> is ranked No. 9.</li> <li><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/biostatistics" target="_blank">The Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science</a> is ranked No. 12.</li> <li>The <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/radiology" target="_blank">radiology and imaging sciences</a> and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/radiation-oncology" target="_blank">radiation oncology</a> departments, which are combined in Blue Ridge calculations, are together ranked No. 15.</li> </ul> <p>Other IU School of Medicine departments ranked in the top 25 nationally include the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/otolaryngology" target="_blank">Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery</a> (No. 16), the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/neurology" target="_blank">Department of Neurology</a> (No. 18), the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/orthopaedic-surgery" target="_blank">Department of Orthopaedic Surgery</a> (No. 18), the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/physiatry" target="_blank">Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation</a> (No. 18), the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/dermatology" target="_blank">Department of Dermatology</a> (No. 24), the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/obgyn" target="_blank">Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology</a> (No. 24) and the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/urology" target="_blank">Department of Urology</a> (No. 24).</p> <p>"This highest-ever ranking is a credit to the power of our research enterprise," said <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/6512/hess-jay" target="_blank">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA,</a> dean of the IU School of Medicine and IU's executive vice president for university clinical affairs. "The NIH is the gold standard of medical research. The increase we've seen in NIH funding year after year demonstrates the quality and importance of the work happening at the IU School of Medicine and helps move us toward our goal of being ranked in the top 10 NIH-funded public medical schools by 2030."</p> <p>The IU School of Medicine was among the U.S. medical schools receiving the largest amount of funding in 2023 from the NIH's National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (No. 3), the National Institute on Aging (No. 6) and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (No. 20).</p> <p>"Indiana University School of Medicine researchers continue to tackle some of our state and nation's most-pressing health challenges, including addiction, Alzheimer's disease and diabetes," said <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/276/foroud-tatiana" target="_blank">Tatiana Foroud, PhD,</a> the August M. Watanabe Professor of Medical Research and executive associate dean for research affairs at the IU School of Medicine. "I'm proud of the innovative research led by the faculty at IU School of Medicine. The upward trajectory of our research funding and national rankings are a recognition of the incredibly valuable work of our researchers and the impact it has on the people of Indiana and beyond."</p> <p>According to data from <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/UMR_NIHs-Role-in-Sustaining-the-U.S.-Economy-2023-Update.pdf" target="_blank">a report by United for Medical Research</a>, every $1 million in NIH funding awarded to Indiana researchers in 2022 created nearly 13 jobs, the income and other associated expenses from which generated $2.76 million in economic activity in the state. Based on that data, the IU School of Medicine's 2023 NIH funding is responsible for creating about 3,142 jobs and an estimated $672 million in annual economic activity in Indiana — more than half of the estimated total $1.02 billion in economic activity generated in Indiana from all NIH funding in the state.</p>Tue, 20 Feb 2024 10:00:00 Z{976414AD-E5D0-4057-84DA-639A64A709B8}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2024/02/aria-risk-alzheimers$3.4 million grant to fund research on brain bleeding, swelling that occurs in quarter of patients who receive Alzheimer’s disease treatments <div class="SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW196883880 BCX0" paraid="1182866943" paraeid="{91f55c8c-5b2e-4e1c-942a-24d341d935d2}{210}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">INDIANAPOLIS</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">—</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> With the emergence of promising </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">treatments </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">that</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> slow the cognitive decline of Alzheimer’s disease</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> in patients</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">there are still questions surrounding side effects</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> of the drugs</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">An Indiana University School of Medicine researcher is among the few neuroscientists</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">investigating </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">th</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">e</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">e</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> adverse </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">event</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, which </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">can cause </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">brain </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">swelling </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">and</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">brain </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">bleeding.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW196883880 BCX0" paraid="718780775" paraeid="{0b811a8d-29b7-4794-983d-533903f40c24}{21}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="/faculty/63805/wilcock-donna">Donna Wilcock, PhD</a></span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, the Barbara and Larry </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">Sharpf</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Professor of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Alzheimer’s Disease Research in the Department of Neurology,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">received </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">a three-year, $3.36 million grant from the National Institute </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> to study </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">why </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">edema and microhemorrhages occur in the brain</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">some</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> people who receive Alzheimer’s therapies.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW196883880 BCX0" paraid="1330117844" paraeid="{0b811a8d-29b7-4794-983d-533903f40c24}{62}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Physicians </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">identify</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">these changes in the brain, called </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA)</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, on MRI sca</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ns.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW196883880 BCX0" paraid="1504934484" paraeid="{0b811a8d-29b7-4794-983d-533903f40c24}{78}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">In the Alzheimer’s research field, we don’t understand why </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">this is happening</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,” Wilcock said. “This grant will aim to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">investigate</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the causes of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">these abnormalities</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and how</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> to stop</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">them</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">from happening.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW196883880 BCX0" paraid="181112354" paraeid="{0b811a8d-29b7-4794-983d-533903f40c24}{116}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Over the past </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">few years, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">three potential Alzheimer’s disease treatments have garnered attention</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> as drugs that target the removal of amyloid plaques in the brain — a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease — in people who </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">are diagnosed with an early or mild stage of Alzheimer’s disease.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="ListContainerWrapper SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <ul class="BulletListStyle1 SCXW196883880 BCX0" role="list" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1" role="listitem" class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW196883880 BCX0" paraid="1666730768" paraeid="{0b811a8d-29b7-4794-983d-533903f40c24}{132}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">Lecanemab</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">or </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">Leqembi</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, is </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">only</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> amyloid beta-directed monoclonal antibody to receive </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW196883880 BCX0" href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-converts-novel-alzheimers-disease-treatment-traditional-approval" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">full approval from the Food and Drug Association</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">be </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">available for patients to take in the clinic</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. It </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">significantly removed plaques </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">in </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">a person’s brain </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">during</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> clinical trials</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1" role="listitem" class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW196883880 BCX0" paraid="1667882479" paraeid="{0b811a8d-29b7-4794-983d-533903f40c24}{174}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Donanemab</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> — a drug being </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW196883880 BCX0" href="https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lillys-donanemab-significantly-slowed-cognitive-and-functional" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">developed by Eli Lilly and Company</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">that’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> awaiting a decision for approval by the FDA — has also shown promising results in its clinical trials.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </li> <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1" role="listitem" class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW196883880 BCX0" paraid="735924495" paraeid="{0b811a8d-29b7-4794-983d-533903f40c24}{188}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Aducanumab, or </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">Aduhelm</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, was recently </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW196883880 BCX0" href="https://investors.biogen.com/news-releases/news-release-details/biogen-realign-resources-alzheimers-disease-franchise" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">discontinued </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">by its manufacturer, Biogen</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. It received </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">accelerated</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> FDA approval in 2021</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and was in </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">a</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> now </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">suspended</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">phase 4 clinical trial to verify the drug’s clinical effectiveness.</span></span></p> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW196883880 BCX0" paraid="959715430" paraeid="{0b811a8d-29b7-4794-983d-533903f40c24}{218}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ARIA symptoms may include headache, confusion, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">nausea</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and dizziness. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">A</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">bout </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">20% of people receiving </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">lecanemab</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">during clinical trials</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">were found to have</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ARIA,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> with 3% of people experiencing symptoms.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Nearly</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> one</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> third of clinical trial participants who took </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">donanemab had</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> ARIA, and 6% of those had symptoms.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">More than 40% of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">people</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> who received </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">Aduhelm</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> in phase 3 studies had ARIA, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">and</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> 25% </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">had symptom</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW196883880 BCX0" paraid="2100879710" paraeid="{900989a4-8031-4f8f-9faa-6d6390ec0607}{37}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">More than two decades ago, Wilcock </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW196883880 BCX0" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC539292/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">published</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> one of the first papers</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> showing that older mouse models that received </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">an anti-amyloid </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">therapy </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">saw </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">fewer</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> plaques but </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">had microhemorrhages </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">in the brain. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">However, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Wilcock said </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">basic science </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">investigations</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">like hers</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">that </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">initiated</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> research into </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">ARIA</span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">stopped</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> as </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">antibody therapies started to enter clinical trials</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> around that same time.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW196883880 BCX0" paraid="896902211" paraeid="{900989a4-8031-4f8f-9faa-6d6390ec0607}{104}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">But now</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> as ARIA cases have </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">arisen</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> in clinical trials and there are treatments either approved for the market or pending approval, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Wilcock said her research team is studying what they first learned in the early 2000s about </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">hemorrhages</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> in mouse models and applying that to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">today’s research field</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">They’ll</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">us</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">e</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">new technologies</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">to study the makeup of cells and proteins</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and new mouse models that better resemble the disease.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW196883880 BCX0" paraid="1064311415" paraeid="{900989a4-8031-4f8f-9faa-6d6390ec0607}{152}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Wilcock</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the director </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">of the Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders in the IU School of Medicine-IU Health Neuroscience Institute</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and a primary member of </span></span><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="/research-centers/neurosciences">Stark Neurosciences Research Institute</a></span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> will use mouse models from </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the </span></span><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="/expertise/alzheimers/research/preclinical/laboratory-models">Model Organism Development and Evaluation for Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease (MODEL-AD)</a></span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> at IU School of Medicine </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">a</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">n anti-amyloid </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">monoclonal antibody </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">immuno</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">therapy</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> from Eli Lilly.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW196883880 BCX0" paraid="1977235463" paraeid="{900989a4-8031-4f8f-9faa-6d6390ec0607}{196}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The mouse models will receive the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">antibody </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">researchers will perform MRI scans to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">identify</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> ARIA </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">in the brain </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">using</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">a state-of-the-art</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">PET-MRI scanner, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">located</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> in the </span></span><a href="/radiology/research/imaging-core"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Roberts Translational Imaging Facility</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> at Stark Neurosciences Research Institute.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Wilcock said the research team will </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">use single-cell transcriptomic analysis to study what processes are happening around blood vessels that might be driving ARIA events in the brain.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW196883880 BCX0" paraid="2082682872" paraeid="{900989a4-8031-4f8f-9faa-6d6390ec0607}{249}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">There’s a lot of evidence to suggest that </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ARIA </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">is being driven by </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">a </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">neuroinflammatory </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">event</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,” Wilcock said.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The microglial cells in the brain are activated</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and that’s a good </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">sign </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">when it’s </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">close to</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> amyloid plaques to clear plaques out of the brain, but when that activation happens near blood vessels, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">it damages the blood vessel</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">s.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW196883880 BCX0" paraid="219401666" paraeid="{529a3a57-f8ac-4e34-9780-6bd970475cd8}{36}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Wilcock said the project will also </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">investigate the role of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">an enzyme</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> called MMP9 </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">that’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> been studied extensively in </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">stroke that degrades the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">tight junctions</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> — </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">what holds</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">cells together</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> — </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">and basement membranes </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— what </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">maintains</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">structure </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">of blood vessels in the brain</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The enzyme is significantly activated when given </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">antibody immunotherapies, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">she</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> said.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW196883880 BCX0" paraid="996227964" paraeid="{529a3a57-f8ac-4e34-9780-6bd970475cd8}{92}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“Our hypothesis in the grant is that MMP9 </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">is a </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">downstream</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> product of this inflammatory response</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">When </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">that’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> active </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">in the blood vessels, it degrades them</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,” Wilcock said. “</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">We’re also testing the hypothesis that if they can prevent the initial </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">inflammatory response </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">in the blood </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">vessels</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, we may be able to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">prevent the downstream ARIA.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW196883880 BCX0" paraid="734749728" paraeid="{529a3a57-f8ac-4e34-9780-6bd970475cd8}{124}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The research team will use both antibody therapies and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">FDA-approved anti-inflammatory drugs</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">to see if </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">they</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> prevent</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ARIA in the brain</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> without slowing down the removal of amyloid plaque.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW196883880 BCX0" paraid="2051828864" paraeid="{529a3a57-f8ac-4e34-9780-6bd970475cd8}{150}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Wilcock said that s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ince </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW196883880 BCX0" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/blogs/neuroscience/iu-leading-clinical-research-for-alzheimer-drug" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">administering lecanemab to the first patient</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">in September 2023, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">4</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">0 patients have received the therapy at IU Health</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and dozens of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">U.S. health </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">sys</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">tems</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">are</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> giving the treatment to Alzheimer’s disease patients across the country.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW196883880 BCX0" paraid="1029217680" paraeid="{529a3a57-f8ac-4e34-9780-6bd970475cd8}{199}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Being at </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">high risk</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> of developing </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ARIA is the biggest risk factor for </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">taking </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the drug</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, Wilcock said, and patients are </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">weighing</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the risk-benefit of the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">therapy.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">Some</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> patients </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">can’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> receive these treatments d</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ue to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">a high risk</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> of ARIA because of medications they take or signatures on damaged blood vessels that are detected on MRIs.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Wilcock said physicians and researchers want to ensure the</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">se</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> drugs are accessible and safe for patients.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW196883880 BCX0" paraid="1353789203" paraeid="{529a3a57-f8ac-4e34-9780-6bd970475cd8}{241}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“If we had a means of saying to someone, you’re at a higher risk of ARIA, but we know if we give you an adjunct therapy of a drug that’s already approved, it will reduce or eliminate your ARIA risk</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">” Wilcock said, “t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW196883880 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">hat would open the therapy to a much broader population.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW196883880 BCX0" paraid="1353789203" paraeid="{529a3a57-f8ac-4e34-9780-6bd970475cd8}{241}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span class="EOP SCXW196883880 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></span></p> </div> IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:00:00 Z{A1E416C2-893C-4E1D-9263-669DEE7B677D}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2024/02/psychosis-blood-testBlood test predicts psychosis risk, most effective treatments<p style="margin: 0in;">INDIANAPOLIS — A team of researchers led by Indiana University School of Medicine faculty have developed a breakthrough new blood test for schizophrenia, a psychiatric disorder that includes hallucinations and delusions.</p> <p style="margin: 0in;">Schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders affect over 3 million people in the United States. The new test identifies biomarkers in a person’s blood that can objectively measure their current severity and future risk for schizophrenia and match them to treatments that will be most effective for their individual biology.</p> <p style="margin: 0in;">“Schizophrenia is hard to diagnose, especially early on, and matching people to the right treatment from the beginning is very important,” said <a href="/faculty/16295/niculescu-alexander">Alexander Niculescu, MD, PhD</a>, Professor of Psychiatry and Medical Neuroscience at the IU School of Medicine, staff psychiatrist and investigator at the Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Administration Medical Center in Indianapolis and senior author on the study. “Psychosis usually manifests in young adulthood — a prime period of life. Stress and drugs, including marijuana, are precipitating factors on a background of genetic vulnerability. If left unchecked, psychosis leads to accumulating biological damage, social damage and psychological damage.”</p> <p style="margin: 0in;">In a study <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-024-02433-8" target="blank">published in the high impact Nature Publishing Group journal Molecular Psychiatry</a>, researchers tested psychiatric patients that they followed for over a decade. They identified biomarkers that were predictive of high hallucinations and high delusions states, as well as future psychiatric hospitalizations related to hallucinations and delusions. They also studied which biomarkers are targets of existing drugs, which enables matching of patients to the right treatments.</p> <p style="margin: 0in;">The work builds on previous research over the last two decades by Niculescu and his colleagues on blood biomarkers for other psychiatric disorders (mood disorders, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidality risk, pain and memory disorders).<span></span>Niculescu said in general, the best biomarkers were more predictive than the standard scales used to evaluate someone with hallucinations or delusions, which means the use of this biomarker test can help reduce subjectivity and uncertainty from psychiatric assessments.</p> <p style="margin: 0in;">“Fortunately, biologically some of the existing medications work quite well if initiated early in the right patients,” Niculescu said. “Social support is also paramount, and once that and medications are in place, psychological support and therapy can help as well. There is still plenty left to understand and apply about cognition and its abnormalities, but there is reason for optimism in this era of emerging precision psychiatry.”</p> <p style="margin: 0in;">Other study authors include M.D. Hill; Sumanpreet Singh Gill;<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span><a href="/faculty/16728/le-niculescu-helen">Helen Le-Niculescu, PhD</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">; O. MacKie; Rowan Bhagar; <a href="/faculty/40812/roseberry-kyle">Kyle Roseberry, MD</a>; Olivia Kay Murray; H.D. Dainton; and S. K. Wolf of the IU School of Medicine; Anantha Shekhar, MD, PhD of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the IU School of Medicine; and Sunil Kurian of the Scripps Research Institute.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">The test is anticipated to be available later this year from the IU spin-out company MindX Sciences. For more information about precision psychiatry and blood testing, </span><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://mindxsciences.com/bloodtests/" target="_blank"><span style="color: rgb(0, 98, 152);">visit the MindX Sciences website</span></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><em><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health grant </span></em><em>R01MH117431</em><em><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> and a VA Merit Award 2I01CX000139. The content is solely the responsibility of Indiana University School of Medicine and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or the VA.</span></em></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Thu, 08 Feb 2024 00:00:00 Z{9B609168-EFAD-4E74-901D-DFF87142F43B}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2024/02/world-renowned-researcher-innovative-work-cancer-therapy-iuWorld-renowned researcher to continue innovative work in cancer therapy at IU<p>INDIANAPOLIS — A renowned innovator of vaccines for cancer treatment has joined the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cancer.iu.edu/" target="_blank">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> and the IU School of Medicine.  </p> <p><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/members/bio/31045" target="_blank">Pravin Kaumaya, PhD</a>, internationally recognized for creating a cancer treatment blueprint that uses peptides in vaccines to block the growth and spread of cancer, has been named the Vera Bradley Foundation Professor of Breast Cancer Innovation at the cancer center.  </p> <p>"We could not be more excited about Dr. Pravin Kaumaya and the knowledge, experience and expertise he brings," said Stephanie Scheele, executive director of the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer. "Knowing that some of his research and work, specifically regarding breast cancer, are already in clinical trials excites us. The addition of Dr. Kaumaya moves us one step closer to a future free from breast cancer."</p> <p>Kaumaya serves as director of the Immuno-Oncology and Vaccine Immunotherapy Laboratory at the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research/centers/brown/index.html" target="_blank">Brown Center for Immunotherapy</a> and is a researcher with the Experimental and Development Therapeutics and Hematopoiesis and Hematologic Malignancies research programs at the cancer center. </p> <p>"We are creating a paradigm shift in cancer therapy with novel chimeric B-cell-epitope vaccines," he said. "Being part of the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center will accelerate the process of translating our discoveries to patients."</p> <p>He is also a professor of microbiology and immunology at the IU School of Medicine.  </p> <p>Kaumaya has developed numerous cancer vaccines in his three-decade career and translated two breast cancer and colon cancer vaccines into Phase 1 clinical trials. The other vaccines might one day be used in ovarian, lung and gastrointestinal stromal tumor cancers. </p> <p>Kaumaya said he will continue research begun at Northwestern University and The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.  </p> <p>"I'm proud of our recent work in the field of immuno-oncology," he said. "We've developed novel peptide vaccines for several checkpoint inhibitors, such as two proteins — PD1 and CTLA-4 — recognized as regulators of immune responses by 2018 Nobel Prize winners Drs. James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo. The combination of these vaccines could offer safe medications for cancer in a number of different indications."  </p> <p>Kaumaya holds more than 25 patents for peptide cancer vaccines and immune-therapeutic technologies, which are at the forefront of cancer treatment and prevention.  </p> <p>"Current targeted therapies face many obstacles in the clinic: the rapid development of resistance, high toxicity rates, on- or off-target effects and weak efficacy," he said. "The promise of peptides will invigorate drug innovation and discovery and challenge the ingenuity of researchers to develop cancer cures and future therapies that are safe and non-toxic. Our novel targeted immunotherapy approach overcomes these obstacles and holds the promise of making a major leap in the clinical treatment of cancer." </p> <p>Kaumaya earned a bachelor's degree at the University of London, a doctorate at the University of Portsmouth in Hampshire, England. He did postdoctoral training at the University of Texas at Austin, UT's Drug Dynamics Institute and Northwestern University. He has held academic appointments at numerous universities since 1988, most recently with The Ohio State University where he was a tenured full professor.  </p> <p>He is an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and he currently serves on the editorial boards of Vaccines, Frontiers in Oncology, Frontiers in Immunology, and the International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics. He has edited six books or monographs on peptides and served on at least 10 national medical committees and dozens of peer review panels.  </p>Thu, 08 Feb 2024 00:00:00 Z{0347658A-E75B-4703-805F-8928CA84A5B8}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2024/02/cancer-researcher-craig-b-thompson-named-2024-watanabe-prize-winnerCancer researcher Craig B. Thompson named 2024 Watanabe Prize winner<p>INDIANAPOLIS – Pioneering cancer researcher Craig B. Thompson, MD, has been named the 2024 winner of the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/research/watanabe-prize" target="_blank">August M. Watanabe Prize in Translational Research</a>.</p> <p>Awarded by the Indiana University School of Medicine, the Watanabe Prize is one of the nation's largest and most prestigious awards recognizing individuals focused on shepherding scientific discoveries into new therapies for patients. The prize is awarded to a senior investigator who has made a significant contribution to the field of translational science. </p> <p>Thompson is the former president and chief executive officer of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center from 2010 to 2022. He continues to oversee the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.mskcc.org/research/ski/labs/craig-thompson" target="_blank">Craig Thompson Lab at Sloan Kettering</a>, where his research focuses on cellular metabolism and its role in disease and cancer. He is also a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences.</p> <p>Some of the Thompson lab's most notable scientific achievements include:</p> <ul> <li>A long-standing collaboration with Carl H. June, MD, on how T lymphocytes are activated and gain effector function. These studies were the foundation upon which June's team then developed CAR-T immunotherapy, which has fundamentally changed the way several blood cancers are treated.</li> <li>Being one of the first to characterize the first immune checkpoint CTLA4, which has led to revolutionary immunotherapy for the treatment of many cancers.</li> <li>Defining how cells regulated programmed cell death. In collaboration with Stanley J. Korsmeyer, MD, Thompson's work was seminal in delineating the molecular mechanisms regulating cell death. This is an understanding that is now integral to almost every field of medicine, and Thompson has been centrally involved in translating these discoveries clinically into cancer therapeutics.</li> <li>Establishing the pattern of reprogramed metabolism as a hallmark of cancer, which has led to new clinical approaches in both the treatment and diagnosis of cancer.</li> </ul> <p>As the 2024 Watanabe Prize winner, Thompson will receive $100,000 and be honored at the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute's Annual Meeting this September in Indianapolis, where he will give the keynote address. Housed at the IU School of Medicine, the Indiana CTSI is a statewide partnership among IU, Purdue University, the University of Notre Dame and the Regenstrief Institute.</p> <p>"It is an honor to be recognized with the 2024 Watanabe Prize," Thompson said. "Dr. Watanabe was a pioneer in the science of translating new discoveries into improved therapies for disease. I look forward to attending the Indiana CTSI's Annual Meeting to discuss how new research into cancer cell metabolism is helping deliver therapeutic advances in the treatment of cancer and other proliferative diseases."</p> <p>Thompson's other national and international recognitions include the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/professional-development/awards/steven-c-beering" target="_blank">Steven C. Beering Award</a> for Medical Research (IU), the Vallee Award in Biomedical Science (American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology), the Weinman Award (University of Hawaii), the Block Memorial Lectureship Award for Distinguished Achievement in Cancer (Ohio State University), the Bertner Memorial Award (The University of Texas MD Anderson), the American College of Physicians Award for Medical Science, and the Cori Award (Roswell Park Cancer Institute), as well as service on the Albert Lasker Medical Research Awards Prize Committee, the Board of Scientific Counselors of the National Cancer Institute, the Board of Directors of the American Association for Cancer Research, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Medical Advisory Board.</p> <p>"We are looking forward to welcoming Dr. Thompson to our campus this fall," said <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/276/foroud-tatiana" target="_blank">Tatiana Foroud, PhD</a>, the August M. Watanabe Professor of Medical Research and executive associate dean for research affairs at the IU School of Medicine. "Dr. Thompson's accomplishments and accolades reflect a pioneering career in groundbreaking translational research in immunology and cancer. His visit and keynote promise to be a wonderful opportunity for researchers at the IU School of Medicine and across the state to learn about his transformational work."</p> <p>Thompson was nominated by IU School of Medicine Dean <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/6512/hess-jay" target="_blank">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>, and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/59596/lee-kelvin" target="_blank">Kelvin P. Lee, MD</a>, associate dean for cancer research at the school and director of the IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.</p> <p>"The translational impact of Dr. Thompson's work cannot be understated," Lee said. "He has made the foundational discoveries and established the essential translational frameworks to move these discoveries into the clinical arena — contributions that have not only significantly moved the field forward but also in entirely new directions. These new directions include paradigm- and practice-changing approaches in immunotherapy and precision metabolic targeting that are revolutionizing the way we treat cancer patients."</p> <p>The Watanabe Prize is eponymously named in honor of the late August M. Watanabe, a titan in the field of translational research in both academia and industry who impacted the health of people around the world as a leader at the IU School of Medicine and Eli Lilly and Company.</p> <p>Past Watanabe Prize recipients include Huda Zoghbi, MD (2023); Adrian R. Krainer, PhD (2022); Nancy J. Brown, MD (2021); Brian Druker, MD (2020); David Holtzman, MD (2019); Jean Bennett, MD, PhD (2018); Robert J. Lefkowitz, MD (2016); Carl H. June, MD (2015); and Tadataka Yamada, MD (2013).</p>Wed, 07 Feb 2024 00:00:00 Z{C8C1577D-7640-4F48-9025-E4BB123C2BF8}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2024/02/physiological-effect-of-microorganisms-in-sinuses-of-chronic-rhinosinusitis-patientsIU surgeon-scientist studying physiological effect of microorganisms in sinuses of chronic rhinosinusitis patients <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW5286157 BCX8" paraid="975521237" paraeid="{271ea3ac-022f-468e-9807-1e553d6eef1d}{219}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">INDIANAPOLIS—A</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">n </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Indiana University School of Medicine </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">surgeon-scientist </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">is leading a multi-institutional grant investigating </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the role of the sinus microbiome in </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">chronic </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">rhino</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">sinusitis, an inflammatory disease that causes the lining of the sinus</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">es</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> to swell.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> The research team will study </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">biospecimens</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> from human sinus surgery patients in the lab </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">and</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> examine how bacteria in the microbiome </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">shape the disease process</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">and might offer </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">novel therapeutic strategies</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW5286157 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW5286157 BCX8" paraid="345080840" paraeid="{7580f216-0212-4c05-8276-8d1c9866ad86}{10}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="/faculty/61167/ramakrishnan-vijay">Vijay Ramakrishnan, MD</a>, professor of otolaryngology—head and neck surgery</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and a primary member of </span></span><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="/research-centers/neurosciences">Stark Neurosciences Research Institute</a></span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">has spent over a decade investigating the microbiome. The five-year</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, $2.9 million grant from the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, part of the National Institutes of Health</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">is </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">a first-of-its-kind grant studying</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the physiological effect of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">sinus </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">microbiome </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">on chronic </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">rhinosinusitis</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW5286157 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW5286157 BCX8" paraid="1780299263" paraeid="{7580f216-0212-4c05-8276-8d1c9866ad86}{58}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The microbiome is </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">an accumulation of microorganisms</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">—</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">bacteria, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">fungi</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and viruses</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">—</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">that live within areas of the human body, such as the gut</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and sinus cavities. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">These </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">microbes</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">can shape </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">a person’s </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">health, predispose </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">people</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> to disease, act as disease modifiers and influence how </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">people</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> respond to specific treatments</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> In chronic </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">rhino</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">sinusitis, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">scientists believe </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">microbes and bacteria </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">play a role in sinus inflammation</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> beyond </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">a person’s traditional </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">sinus infection</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW5286157 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW5286157 BCX8" paraid="130403595" paraeid="{7580f216-0212-4c05-8276-8d1c9866ad86}{118}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW221959578 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW221959578 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW221959578 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The upper airway is heavily colonized </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW221959578 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">with bacteria</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW221959578 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, and the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW221959578 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">different types </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW221959578 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">influence immune processes and the general function of the surface lining</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW221959578 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,” Ramakrishnan said.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW221959578 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW221959578 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“If we can steer the microbiome into a favorable healthy state, there are some </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW221959578 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">functions</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW221959578 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW221959578 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">that we can influence to maybe get us better </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW221959578 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">treatment </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW221959578 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">results.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW221959578 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span></span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW5286157 BCX8" paraid="130403595" paraeid="{7580f216-0212-4c05-8276-8d1c9866ad86}{118}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ramakrishnan</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> will work with researchers at </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the University of Colorado School of Medicine, led by </span></span><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://som.cuanschutz.edu/Profiles/Faculty/Profile/5706">Dan</a></span></span><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://som.cuanschutz.edu/Profiles/Faculty/Profile/5706">iel Frank, PhD</a></span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. Ramakrishnan </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">started his research </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> the microbiome when he was a faculty member at the University of Colorado; </span></span><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="/blogs/faculty-news/clinician-scientist-joins-iu-department-of-otolaryngology-faculty">he joined IU School of Medicine</a></span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> in January 2022.</span><span class="EOP SCXW5286157 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW5286157 BCX8" paraid="2079545609" paraeid="{7580f216-0212-4c05-8276-8d1c9866ad86}{184}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Chronic </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">rhinosinusitis affects </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">nearly 10%</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">adult</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">s in the United States</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Most</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> patients manage the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">disease </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">medically through </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">sinus rinses, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">nasal spray</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> medication</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">s and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">allergy treatments</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">estimated</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, however,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> that </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">15% </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">chronic </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">rhino</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">sinusitis patients</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">pursue</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> sinus </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">surgery, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">where </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">many</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> cases still result in subpar outcomes</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ramakrishnan said</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. The </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">volume of chronic </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">rhino</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">sinusitis cases</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, he added,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> is expected to rise </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">due to climate change, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">pollution</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and western diet.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW5286157 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW5286157 BCX8" paraid="1970266966" paraeid="{2f667db4-5dff-48c5-a98f-d31100711a34}{35}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Antibiotics </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">have long </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">been prescribed for chronic </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">rhino</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">sinusiti</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">—</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">it’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> one of the top conditions for antibiotic use, according to the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Centers for </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Disease Control and Prevention</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">—</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">but </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">they </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">haven’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> shown to be effective in treating most patients</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, Ramakrishnan said.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> The disease is now viewed as inflammatory rather than infectious, creating a need to develop new treatment strategies.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW5286157 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW5286157 BCX8" paraid="12353100" paraeid="{2f667db4-5dff-48c5-a98f-d31100711a34}{67}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“This problem is very prevalent in adults</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">There</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">’s </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">only a handful of therapies</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and they work about 75% of the time</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,” Ramakrishnan said.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“Understanding</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the role of microbiome in this </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">disease</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">and</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> focusing </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">clinical </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">approaches to restr</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">i</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ct antibiotic use are</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">our two main health outcomes.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW5286157 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW5286157 BCX8" paraid="608580486" paraeid="{2f667db4-5dff-48c5-a98f-d31100711a34}{121}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Researchers will </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">collect biospecimens </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">of surgical patients to investigate </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">h</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ost</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">-</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">microbial processes </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">in </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">airway </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">mucosal</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> immunology. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">They’ll</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> also </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">use </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">cell cultures </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">to</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">test</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">how</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">various microorganisms </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">impact disease process</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">es</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">initiate</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> specific </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">immune responses.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW5286157 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW5286157 BCX8" paraid="230193014" paraeid="{2f667db4-5dff-48c5-a98f-d31100711a34}{179}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The grant also supports a </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">longitudinal multi</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">-institutional human intervention study of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">chronic </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">rhino</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">sinusitis </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">surgical patients. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The research team</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> will investigate patient outcomes</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, medication use </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">and how the microbiome of patients changes over time</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, Ramakrishnan said.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW5286157 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW5286157 BCX8" paraid="907554355" paraeid="{2f667db4-5dff-48c5-a98f-d31100711a34}{209}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ramakrishnan said this</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> study moves beyond prior small observational studies by defining molecular, cellular, and immunological processes using a multi-omics </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">approach, which incorporates data derived from transcriptomics and metabolomics</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW5286157 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW5286157 BCX8" paraid="700874263" paraeid="{2f667db4-5dff-48c5-a98f-d31100711a34}{223}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The team will collaborate with </span><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="/faculty-labs/oconnell"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Thomas O’Connell</span></span><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">PhD</span></span></a></span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">associate professor of otolaryngology—head and neck surgery, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">to conduct tissue metabolomics and with </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">IU </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">network scientists at </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW5286157 BCX8" href="https://luddy.indiana.edu/index.html?_gl=1*1wj3d4*_ga*MTEzNjcwNzgzOS4xNzAyMzk3OTA0*_ga_61CH0D2DQW*MTcwNTk0MTY5Mi4zLjAuMTcwNTk0MTY5Mi42MC4wLjA." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Luddy</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> at IU Bloomington </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">to do a physics-based </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">approach</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> to understand networks of interaction between disease and patient outcomes</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">tissue-level mult</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">i-</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">omics</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW5286157 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW5286157 BCX8" paraid="377363720" paraeid="{30afbf63-2f88-4a1a-8748-3acf04d76aff}{16}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“We’re trying to figure out </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">which chronic rhinosinusitis patients have a</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> microbial component </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">that</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> we</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> can</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> influence, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">to steer them to</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> better outcomes and allow their own bodies to restore </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">health</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, thereby limiting antibiotic use and number of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">interventions</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,” Ramakrishnan said.</span></span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW5286157 BCX8" paraid="377363720" paraeid="{30afbf63-2f88-4a1a-8748-3acf04d76aff}{16}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5286157 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></span></span></p> </div> <a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.Thu, 01 Feb 2024 00:00:00 Z{D8D0E9A6-F446-4A87-8D4C-4B21348D4EA7}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2024/01/glaucoma-treatment-research-grantNew research aims to develop novel therapeutic for glaucomaINDIANAPOLIS—Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine are using a novel approach to hopefully develop a new therapy for glaucoma, a complex disease that eventually leads to blindness, thanks to a new five-year, $2 million R01 grant from the National Eye Institute.<br /> <br /> “Glaucoma is a silent, underdiagnosed, costly and debilitating disease,” said <a href="/faculty/52014/sharma-tasneem">Tasneem Sharma, PhD</a>, assistant professor of ophthalmology and lead investigator on the project. “It occurs when there is increased pressure within the eye and progressive death or neurons in the back of the eye. Current treatment options only include reducing elevated pressure in the eye, but these treatments only slow the disease rather than prevent it, so patients still progress toward vision loss.”<br /> <br /> According to the Centers for Disease Control and Vision Health Initiatives, more than 3 million people in the United States have glaucoma. By 2050, that number is expected to rise to 6.3 million. Glaucoma costs the U.S. economy about $2.86 billion each year in direct costs and productivity losses.<br /> <br /> Sharma’s project, called “Therapeutic Intervention to Target Human Glaucoma Pathogenesis,” focuses on developing a new glaucoma therapeutic by testing human neurons and a regenerative therapy to rescue visual neurons from dying preclinically in human eyes under glaucoma conditions. This combination has never been used before.<br /> <br /> “It is crucial to identify therapies and develop new treatments for glaucoma that can save retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) from neurodegeneration,” Sharma said. “This grant will be instrumental in spearheading our research on validating an innovative therapeutic strategy for glaucoma. Our powerful tools and valuable stem cell resources will have enormous potential for breakthrough discovery. It will offer a foundation for deciphering survival and regeneration of RGCs due to glaucomatous neurodegeneration.”<br /> <br /> Sharma hopes the results of this research project will lead to new clinical trials for glaucoma patients to study the effectiveness of potential new treatments.<br /> <br /> <strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong><br /> IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.Thu, 04 Jan 2024 00:00:00 Z{C73F0FBA-C4F7-42F4-BE03-94E195E383FB}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2024/01/sickle-cell-cardiomyopathy-beta-blocker-treatment-researchBeta blocker used to treat heart problems and other medical concerns could be new treatment for sickle cell cardiomyopathyINDIANAPOLIS—A beta blocker typically used to treat heart problems, hemangioma, migraines and anxiety could be a new therapeutic for patients with sickle cell disease. Researchers led by <a href="/faculty/41953/desai-ankit">Ankit A. Desai, MD</a>, associate professor of medicine at the <a href="/research-centers/cardiovascular">Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center (KCVRC)</a> at Indiana University School of Medicine, have been awarded a $3 million grant by the <a href="https://www.defense.gov/">U.S. Department of Defense</a> to evaluate the efficacy of this drug.<br /> <br /> Patients with sickle cell disease, a red blood cell disorder that can cause harm to multiple organs when red blood vessels are blocked or when the cells break down, are at risk of major complications when they also develop heart damage. The median age of death is 43 years old.<br /> <br /> “Cardiomyopathy or heart damage can predispose patients to a fatal rhythm disturbance called ventricular tachycardia,” Desai said. “We believe that inflammation plays a key role in both, creating this injurious heart and exacerbating it. We are deeply interested in translating this potential therapeutic to patients, developing a clinical trial and trying to understand the impact R-propranolol, given that propranolol appears to be well tolerated in patients otherwise.”<br /> <br /> Propranolol is a mixture of two chemical formulations – R-prop and S-Propranolol, which are similar in composition. The only difference is that R-prop does not demonstrate as much beta blocker activity. The team also plans to evaluate potential for toxicity before introducing R-prop in a clinical trial. <br /> <br /> “Evaluating a therapeutic that has already been consumed by millions for other diseases could help accelerate the potential use in patients with sickle cell more quickly,” said Desai, principal investigator of the study, a cardiologist at IU Health and leader of <a href="/research-centers/cardiovascular/research/cardiopulmonary">KCVRC’s Cardiopulmonary Research Program</a>. “This grant will allow us to study heart injury as well as rhythm disturbance impact in preclinical models of sickle cell disease. The study funds a disease that is underrecognized and underrepresented and supports a broader goal at closing health care gaps.”<br /> <br /> Desai will collaborate with <a href="http://cvrc.brownmedicine.org/choi-lab/">Bum-Rak Choi, PhD</a>, associate professor of medicine at Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University. He will work closely with Choi on data related to the development of fatal arrhythmias in sickle cell disease. <br /> <br /> “While new therapies are being explored, cleverly repurposed drugs that have already had human exposure with strong safety profile, such as R-propranolol, stand to make major headway in solving a long-standing health issue affecting the heart and cardiovascular system in the United States and abroad,” said <a href="/faculty/60337/dharmakumar-rohan">Rohan Dharmakumar, PhD,</a> executive director of the KCVRC. <br /> <br /> <strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong><br /> <a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.Wed, 03 Jan 2024 00:00:00 Z{CC202193-E17A-4384-B3C8-7E1086883193}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/12/liby-joins-cancer-centerDrug discovery expert joins IU School of Medicine, IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center as Eskenazi professor<h3><strong>Karen Liby, PhD examines immune system and drug combinations to fight cancer</strong></h3> <p> INDIANAPOLIS—A researcher who focuses on how the immune system and new combinations of drugs can fight cancer has joined Indiana University School of Medicine and the<a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/"> Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer</a>. <br /> <br /> Karen T. Liby, PhD has been named the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Professor of Hematology-Oncology and professor of medicine and pharmacology and toxicology at IU School of Medicine. She also is a member of the cancer center’s <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research/programs/edt/index.html">Experimental and Developmental Therapeutics research program</a>. <br /> <br /> Liby’s recruitment to IU was made possible in part by a $2 million gift from Sandra, Dori and David Eskenazi honoring their parents, Indianapolis philanthropists Sidney and Lois Eskenazi. The chair is designated for recruiting a highly accomplished researcher who focuses on discovering ways to treat, diagnose and prevent cancer, particularly lung cancer. <br /> <br /> "The purpose of the chair is to fund a researcher to work with Dr. Larry Einhorn to find new ways to treat and hopefully eradicate cancer,” Sandra Eskenazi said. “Our mother is a lung cancer survivor thanks to Dr. Einhorn and his colleagues. My brother, sister and I created this to honor our parents and recognize Dr. Einhorn.” <br /> <br /> “I am honored to hold the Eskenazi chair and grateful to the Eskenazi family for their many years of support for cancer research," Liby said. "The cancer center offers a highly interactive and interdisciplinary scientific environment. I know I am joining a collaborative team, which is vital to discoveries.” <br /> <br /> In more than 20 years of research, Liby has focused on finding drug and treatment combinations that can reprogram the immune cells driving cancer growth. <br /> <br /> “Inflammation and oxidative stress promote numerous chronic diseases, including cancer. The goal of our research is to learn how inflammation and the immune system contribute to cancer growth and develop drugs to effectively intervene in this process,” Liby said. <br /> <br /> In researching triterpenoids (plant-based substances with the potential to prevent and treat cancer), Liby conducted the in vivo screening assays that helped Reata Pharmaceuticals Inc. advance the drug omaveloxolone. In February 2023, the FDA approved it as the only drug to treat Friedreich’s ataxia, a rare genetic progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder that typically begins in adolescence. <br /> <br /> “The path from initial synthesis of the compound to FDA approval was long, and we had to overcome multiple challenges,” Liby said. “This rewarding experience serves as a model for my current research.” <br /> <br /> To date, Liby holds nine patents (with two pending) related to preventing malignant and benign tumors in a variety of disorders. <br /> <br /> Besides expanding her cancer research, she looks forward to training and advising students because “research can be fun as well as highly satisfying,” she said. <br /> <br /> Liby received her PhD in cell and molecular biology from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and completed postdoctoral training at Dartmouth Medical School, where she also joined the faculty. She was also on faculty at Michigan State University’s Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, where she continues as adjunct professor. <br /> <br /> She is a member of the American Association for Cancer Research and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, on the editorial board for Scientific Reports and AACR Cancer Prevention Research, and a guest co-editor of Frontiers in Oncology: Furthering Precision Medicine and Cancer Prevention Through Novel Insights in Molecular and Chemical Carcinogenesis. <br /> <br /> She has made presentations and served on peer review panels in the United States and internationally. Most recently, she chaired the NCI (National Cancer Institute) Discovery and Development of Natural Products for Cancer Interception and Prevention Study Section. <br /> <br /> The results of her research studies have been published in journals such as Cancers, Cancer Research, Cancer Letters, Scientific Reports, Clinical Cancer Research, Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, npj Breast Cancer, and Theranostics; her reviews have been published in Nature Reviews Cancer and Pharmacological Reviews. <br /> <br /> Liby succeeds David Boothman, PhD as Eskenazi Professor of Hematology-Oncology, who held that title from 2017 until his death in 2019. </p> <p><strong>About the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center </strong></p> <p><a href="http://https://cancer.iu.edu/">The Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> is the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and one of only 56 in the nation. The prestigious comprehensive designation recognizes the center’s excellence in basic, clinical, and population research, its outstanding educational activities, and its effective community outreach program across the state. It is also one of only 33 members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. As a member, the center’s physicians have a role in determining the recognized standard of clinical care for cancer patients. The center is the central hub for cancer research and education across Indiana University.</p>Thu, 14 Dec 2023 00:00:00 Z{F980193D-2E1A-4215-BA83-3AA33335EE74}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/12/lung-cancer-screenings-veterans-grantLung cancer screenings to expand for Indiana veterans thanks to $1 million grantINDIANAPOLIS—Two researchers with the <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> and the Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Administration Medical Center have been awarded a three-year, $1 million grant to expand lung cancer screenings to veterans across Indiana. <br /> <br /> <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/members/bio/4976">Shadia Jalal, MD</a> and <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/members/bio/6844">Catherine Sears, MD</a> received $1,025,753 from the National Center for Lung Cancer Screening and Lung Precision Oncology Program (LPOP), making Indianapolis a spoke site of a LPOP network regional hub location at VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. The network is the VA’s response to the Cancer Moonshot, which aims to prevent more than four million cancer deaths by 2047.  <br /> <br /> Sears is the local site investigator for LPOP-Indianapolis. She also co-chairs the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center’s lung cancer working group and directs the Roudebush VAMC lung cancer screening program. Jalal is program leader of the thoracic oncology program at the cancer center and leads the multidisciplinary thoracic oncology clinic at the Roudebush VAMC and will oversee veterans’ accrual to precision oncology lung cancer trials. <br /> <br /> “This is significant for Indiana veterans. With this funding, we’ll be able to create the infrastructure needed to increase access to lung cancer screening for veterans from south of Bloomington to northern Indiana. We have the expertise. We just need to deliver it more broadly,” Sears said. <br /> <br /> Though at higher risk of developing lung cancer, veterans get fewer screenings than the general eligible population. <br /> <br /> This funding also allows access and accrual of more Indiana veterans into VA, IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, National Cancer Institute, and cooperative group clinical trials for lung cancer. <br /> <br /> “By improving veteran access to clinical trials within VA facilities, we help achieve the cancer center’s mission of serving rural and underserved populations,” Jalal said. “More importantly, designing clinical trials with veterans in mind will ensure equal access to trials as veterans are unique and at times have medical issues that can limit their enrollment on trials not designed with them in mind.” <br /> <br /> Both Jalal and Sears stressed that veterans who smoke or have smoked tobacco products should ask their primary care doctors about a lung cancer screening. <br /> <br /> Jalal and Sears are associate professors of medicine at IU School of Medicine and are members of the cancer center’s <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research/programs/edt/index.html">Experimental and Development Therapeutics research program</a>. <br /> <br /> <strong>About the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center<br /> </strong><br /> <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">The Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center </a>is the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and one of only 56 in the nation. The prestigious comprehensive designation recognizes the center’s excellence in basic, clinical, and population research, its outstanding educational activities, and its effective community outreach program across the state. It is also one of only 33 members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. As a member, the center’s physicians have a role in determining the recognized standard of clinical care for cancer patients. The center is the central hub for cancer research and education across Indiana University.Wed, 13 Dec 2023 00:00:00 Z{90986C42-AC44-4539-8F3E-5B9FBE0A1A74}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/12/cancer-center-summer-programs-expandIU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center expands summer research programs for students and teachers with new grants totaling $3 million<h3>Applications are now open for high school, undergraduate students and high school science teachers </h3> <p> INDIANAPOLIS—More students than ever will be able to participate in meaningful cancer-focused research experiences through summer programs at the <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a>, thanks to two new five-year grants from the National Cancer Institute. <br /> <br /> The grants total more than $3.3 million and will allow the Cancer Center to expand its summer education programs, which aim to foster an interest in cancer research fields as early as middle school and develop a diverse workforce in cancer research. <br /> <br /> The two new programs–Educational Pathways for Cancer Research (EPCR) and Summer Program for Academic Research in Cancer (SPARC)–build on 20 years of summer research programs at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. In total, <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/education/summer/index.html">six summer programs</a> will provide mentored experiences for as many as 80 high school, undergraduate and medical students, as well as high school teachers in 2024. That’s an increase from 30 students in summer 2023. Applications are now open for all summer programs. <br /> <br /> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/news/2024/d21f9290-49bb-47c9-8e63-51c2ad98ff4d.jpeg?h=300&w=400&rev=20ed727aeba74e99964e4bb914592a4e&hash=4855FD218AD86731C2102CDF88829B39" style="height: 300px; width: 400px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;" alt="students summer program pathology cancer center" title="students summer program pathology cancer center" longdesc="Students in the cancer center summer program participate in a pathology laboratory activity." class="float-left" />“The incidence of cancer is still increasing, and we need the next generation of both researchers and clinicians to take care of the population,” <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/members/bio/1111/harikrishna-nakshatri">Harikrishna Nakshatri, PhD</a>, the Marian J. Morrison Professor of Breast Cancer Research at IU School of Medicine and the associate director of education at the cancer center, said. “The best way to get students interested in the topic is to expose them to cancer research very early in their education journey so that they get excited about the possibilities in this career and how they can contribute to society.” <br /> <br /> The Educational Pathways for Cancer Research (EPCR) program will provide Indiana high school teachers with integrated laboratory research experience and curriculum development opportunities to enhance their biology and cancer-related teaching skills and to create excitement for their students for science-related careers. Nakshatri is the lead cancer center faculty directing the <a href="https://reporter.nih.gov/search/z_ceEpX4hE2nDjtJ4JCRMQ/project-details/10714057">five-year, $1.8 million grant</a>. <br /> <br /> The two-year program is offered in partnership with the<a href="https://education.indiana.edu/index.html"> Indiana University-Bloomington School of Education</a>. Gayle Buck, PhD, professor and associate dean for research and development at the IU School of Education, is the co-lead on the grant. Additional programming will include workshops for Indiana middle school teachers throughout the year. <br /> <br /> Additionally, the EPCR student program offers 10 weeks of mentored laboratory research experience especially for students who belong to a population underrepresented in medicine and cancer-related fields. <br /> <br /> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/news/2024/img_7674.jpg?h=267&w=400&rev=785c8e0c88184bf2a47a476d9f803c8c&hash=18FC0EBCFFADC32138C0055D48E314EF" style="height: 267px; width: 400px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;" alt="student working in lab" title="student working in lab" longdesc="A SPARC student works in a laboratory." class="float-right" />“The cancer center’s summer programs allow students to do hands-on research in IU labs alongside peer mentors as well as faculty mentors,” Nakshatri said. “They develop long-term relationships with faculty as they work in the lab together and develop an understanding of possible career trajectories and continued education. We are creating a pipeline for the next generation. Our summer experiences carry a lot of weight when our participants apply for PhD programs and professional schools at IU and beyond.” <br /> <br /> <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/education/summer/sparc.html">The Summer Program for Academic Research in Cancer (SPARC)</a> is a ten-week mentored, cancer-focused research experience. The program also provides professional development workshops to undergraduate and first-year medical students to prepare them for careers in science, medicine, and other cancer-related fields. Nakshatri also leads this <a href="https://reporter.nih.gov/search/42GeOiScXkO7exmitTXAcg/project-details/10628221">five-year, $1.4 million grant</a>. <br /> <br /> Applications for all cancer center summer programs are now open. Interested students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible; interviews will be held on a rolling basis with deadlines in early 2024. Details about each of the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center summer programs are available at <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/education/summer/index.html">cancer.iu.edu/summer</a>. <br /> <br /> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sKu7lyxgAeA?si=e6MxfPuEPww-_Tzn" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><strong>About the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center<br /> </strong><br /> <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">The Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> is the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and one of only 56 in the nation. The prestigious comprehensive designation recognizes the center’s excellence in basic, clinical, and population research, its outstanding educational activities, and its effective community outreach program across the state. It is also one of only 33 members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. As a member, the center’s physicians have a role in determining the recognized standard of clinical care for cancer patients. The center is the central hub for cancer research and education across Indiana University.</p>Fri, 08 Dec 2023 00:00:00 Z{0B7444A1-F495-4FF4-A6A3-BD6D494D3A23}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/12/neurological-surgery-chair-namedIU School of Medicine names new chair to lead Department of Neurological SurgeryINDIANAPOLIS—The Indiana University School of Medicine has named a nationally-recognized neurosurgeon and one of its longtime faculty leaders as the next chair of the <a href="/neurological-surgery">Department of Neurological Surgery</a>. <br /> <br /> <a href="/faculty/13463/shah-mitesh">Mitesh V. Shah, MD, FAANS</a>, has been named the new chair, after serving as interim chair of the department since April 2022. He also serves as co-director of the IU School of Medicine/IU Health Neuroscience Institute. <br /> <br /> Shah joined the IU School of Medicine faculty in 1994 as the only fellowship-trained skull base surgeon—specializing in the technique that is widely applied for treating brain tumors. He was recruited to the school to grow the subspeciality of neurovascular and skull base surgery. In those efforts, he played a pivotal role in forming a strong collaboration between subspecialties—creating a multidisciplinary team that has transformed the program from a small group to a nationally-recognized powerhouse.<br /> <br /> “Throughout his tenure at the IU School of Medicine, Dr. Shah has been a transformative leader and educator who has played a pivotal role in growing the Department of Neurological Surgery’s strength across our three mission areas,” said <a href="/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>, dean of the IU School of Medicine and Executive Vice President of University Clinical Affairs for IU. “As we look to build on the strength of our neuroscience programs across disciplines, Dr. Shah’s commitment to collaboration will be critical in driving that growth.” <br /> <br /> Over the course of his career, Shah has demonstrated a passion for education—serving as a mentor for medical students, residents, fellows, undergraduates and nursing students. Under his guidance as the department’s director of education, the IU School of Medicine students regularly are among the highest ranked in the country for placement into neurosurgery training programs. With an eye always on innovation, Shah developed a multimedia platform to teach the neurologic exam for medical students and residents. <br /> <br /> Shah has had extensive involvement in the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, serving on its executive committee, as well as the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. In 2021, he was named the 74th president of the Neurosurgical Society of America. <br /> <br /> “Collaborative, innovative and multidisciplinary approaches should be the hallmark of any great neurosurgical department. The School of Medicine is poised to truly move the needle in this very important area of research and clinical care,” said Shah. “I am honored by the opportunity to serve as chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery, and eager to continue leading this world-class group of researchers and physicians.”<br /> <br /> A 1983 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor’s in biochemistry, Shah received his MD in 1987 from Temple University School of Medicine. He completed an internship in general surgery and a residency in neurological surgery at the University of Minnesota Medical School. He later completed a fellowship in cranial base surgery at George Washington University School of Medicine. He joined the faculty at the IU School of Medicine in 1994, and is currently the Paul B. Nelson Professor of Neurological Surgery.<br /> <br /> <strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong><br /> <a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.Fri, 08 Dec 2023 00:00:00 Z{4C699597-0122-4E6F-9EF1-51CD3C35E56F}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/12/liver-pathway-gene-therapy-immune-responsesResearchers reveal uncharted liver-focused pathway in gene therapy immune responsesINDIANAPOLIS— Indiana University School of Medicine researchers have uncovered vital insights regarding a liver trigger that blocks an undesired immune response from gene therapy, surprisingly resulting in the activation of specific immune cells, despite the liver's typical role in suppressing immune responses. The findings, <a href="https://www.cell.com/molecular-therapy-family/molecular-therapy/fulltext/S1525-0016(23)00662-7">published in Molecular Therapy</a>, may pave the way for change in immunomodulation strategies for desired and long-lasting effects of gene therapy. <br /> <br /> Gene therapy treatments involve replacing or introducing a healthy copy of the flawed gene that’s causing the genetic disease. The process is often accomplished through a viral vector—in this case, a small, harmless virus called adeno-associated virus (AAV), which carries the healthy gene to deliver it to the target organ. Unfortunately, a notable challenge in conventional gene therapy approaches lies in the immune system's tendency to reject certain treatments. <br /> <br /> “Occasionally, gene therapy can prompt an adverse immune reaction when the body mistakenly perceives the treatment as a viral threat,” said <a href="/faculty/41867/herzog-roland">Roland Herzog, PhD</a>, Riley Children's Foundation Professor of Immunology at IU School of Medicine and the study’s lead author. “Our goal is to explore innovative approaches in gene therapy, striving for methods with higher success rates to benefit patients.” <br /> <br /> The latest research, led by Herzog and <a href="/faculty/42149/kumar-sandeep">Sandeep Kumar, PhD</a> of the IU School of Medicine’s <a href="/research-centers/pediatrics">Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research</a>, found that certain immune cells, called cytotoxic T lymphocytes, can sometimes be triggered in the liver despite the organ’s immune suppressive properties. Surprisingly, and different from what was known about these immune mechanisms in response to AAV gene therapy, Kumar found that the receptor for a cytokine called interleukin-1 was critical for triggering the response that may result in immune rejection. Importantly, the team was able to prevent the immune response by blocking this pathway. These findings signify an important step to ensure more targeted and controlled immune responses.<br /> <br /> “Our data showed that though treatments targeting the liver provide a roadmap for safer and more precise gene therapy options, additional immunomodulation strategies might be needed for long-lasting therapeutic benefit," said Kumar, the study’s first author and an assistant research professor of pediatrics at IU School of Medicine. <br /> <br /> The study's implications extend beyond liver gene therapy, as the group’s findings offer a promising direction for future clinical applications that may benefit several genetic diseases. <br /> <br /> “The concept of preserving gene therapies by blocking certain immune responses can be applied to many genetic diseases like hemophilia, lysosomal storage disorders and metabolic diseases,” Herzog said. “This breakthrough is incredibly promising for the field, and we eagerly anticipate its broad adaptation in clinical trials, medications and gene therapy protocols.” <br /> <br /> <strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong><br /> <a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.Thu, 07 Dec 2023 00:00:00 Z{7B0401DB-3927-49A7-98DB-6950F2AD582A}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/12/protein-found-linked-to-frontotemporal-dementiaProtein found in brain linked to frontotemporal dementia<h3>Discovery could lead to new, targeted therapeutics for frontotemporal dementia</h3> INDIANAPOLIS—An international team of researchers including experts at the Indiana University School of Medicine has identified a protein found in the brains of people with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), discovering a new target for potential treatments for the disease.<br /> <br /> According to the National Institutes of Health, FTD results from damage to neurons in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. People with this type of dementia typically present symptoms, including unusual behaviors, emotional problems, trouble communicating, difficulty with work or in some cases difficulty with walking, between the ages of 25 and 65. <br /> <br /> Neurodegenerative disorders, including dementias and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), occur when specific proteins form amyloid filaments in the nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord. The multidisciplinary team of researchers—including members from the <a href="https://www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/">Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology,</a> the IU School of Medicine and the <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ion/ucl-queen-square-institute-neurology">University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology</a>—found that in cases of FTD, a protein called TAF15 forms these amyloid filaments in the cells of the brain and the spinal cord. On Dec. 6, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06801-2">they published their findings in Nature</a>.<br /> <br /> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/news/2023/cryo-em-taf15-amyloid-filaments.png?h=338&w=400&rev=7e21b3c3a54246d58aa4d094235df2d1&hash=4F2FD3279850FE0381D94D751A9B120B" style="height: 338px; width: 400px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;" alt="Cryo-EM structure of TAF15 amyloid filaments as discovered in patients with frontotemporal dementia" title="Cryo-EM structure of TAF15 amyloid filaments as discovered in patients with frontotemporal dementia" longdesc="Cryo-EM structure of TAF15 amyloid filaments as discovered in patients with frontotemporal dementia" class="float-left" /><a href="/faculty/13352/ghetti-bernardino">Bernardino Ghetti, MD</a> is a Distinguished Professor at the IU School of Medicine and has been studying neurodegenerative dementias for 50 years. As a lead neuropathologist on the project, Ghetti and his team studied the protein aggregates from brains donated by four people who had frontotemporal dementia and motor weakness. Together with their colleagues in the UK, IU researchers used neuropathologic and molecular techniques and cutting-edge cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) at atomic resolution to discover the presence of the amyloid filaments made of TAF15 protein in multiple brain areas. However it is important to note that TAF15 amyloid affects also nerve cells of the motor system.<br /> <br /> “This discovery represents an important breakthrough that recognizes TAF15 as a potential target for the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies toward a lesser-known form of frontotemporal lobar degeneration associated with frontotemporal dementia,” Ghetti said.<br /> <br /> Additional authors on the study are the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology’s Stephan Tetter, Diana Arseni, Alexey G. Murzin, Sew Y. Peak-Chew and Benjamin Ryskeldi-Falcon; the University College London’s Yazead Buhidma and Tammaryn Lashley; and the IU School of Medicine’s <a href="/faculty/12913/garringer-holly">Holly J. Garringer</a>, <a href="/faculty/43732/newell-kathy">Kathy L. Newell</a>, <a href="/faculty/13386/vidal-ruben">Ruben Vidal </a>and <a href="/faculty/6815/apostolova-liana">Liana G. Apostolova</a>.<br /> <br /> The study was in part funded by the NIH’s National Institute on Aging and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. <br /> <br /> <strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong> <br /> <a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.Thu, 07 Dec 2023 00:00:00 Z{559AD551-1C1E-4E52-A650-04E14D0F8650}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/12/grant-funds-research-on-maternal-influence-in-children-allergy-development$3.9 million grant funds research on maternal influence in children’s allergy development<p>INDIANAPOLIS -- A new five-year, $3.9 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases will enable Indiana University School of Medicine researchers to explore how allergies and asthma may be passed from mothers to their children, presenting a better understanding of how allergies develop and paving the way for transformative approaches to allergy prevention and management. </p> <p>The research expands upon the established association between parental allergic history and heightened allergy susceptibility in children, an area of sustained interest for IU School of Medicine Professor of Pediatrics <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/42952/cook-mills-joan" target="_blank">Joan Cook-Mills, PhD</a>. The Cook-Mills lab, part of the school’s <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/research-centers/pediatrics" target="_blank">Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research</a>, focuses on studying the specific reasons behind the development of allergic disease, asthma and food allergy in infants and children born from mothers with allergies. </p> <p>"Our long-term goal is to determine the influence of mothers’ allergies on their children, both in the womb and after birth," Cook-Mills said. "We believe there's a molecular trigger being passed from mothers to their offspring that then increases offspring responses to allergens, and this new grant will help us dive deeper into that immune system connection." </p> <p>Research from the Cook-Mills lab revealed mothers with allergies have elevated levels of a specific lipid within the eicosanoid class of lipids, suggesting this lipid may have a potential influence on their offspring also developing allergies. The group’s ongoing work aims to unravel the mechanisms behind this influence, including the transfer of this eicosanoid from a mother to her child, its impact on immune cell development and its role in the balance of lung bacteria. </p> <p>Their research will concentrate on four areas: </p> <ul> <li>Investigating the potential impact of how higher levels of a particular lipid from mothers' lungs may affect their infants' susceptibility to allergens. This exploration will assess whether this eicosanoid is transmitted during pregnancy or breastfeeding. </li> <li>Examining whether elevated levels of a specific eicosanoid in allergic mothers leads to their offspring’s fetal liver and bone marrow making more of a type of immune cell called dendritic cells, and if this affects the offspring’s allergic responses. The research will also investigate the correlation between the eicosanoid levels in human cord blood plasma and allergic responses, exploring the link between allergies and the number of immune cells in the umbilical cord. </li> <li>Assessing whether elevated eicosanoids in allergic mothers can affect the lung microbiome in mothers and their offspring, potentially leading to altered lung bacteria, which can impact immune cell responses to allergies and asthma. </li> <li>Assessing whether the altered lung microbiome actively changes the production of this eicosanoid in the lungs of allergic mothers. </li> </ul> <p>“We're thrilled about the potential impact of this research, as our findings could pave the way for future clinical studies and open up new treatment possibilities for serious allergy issues that many families face daily,” Cook-Mills said.</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 05 Dec 2023 00:00:00 Z{61948128-CAE9-4D2B-8101-6165B9892EF4}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/11/brain-network-modeling-tools-developedIU researchers develop new brain network modeling tools to advance Alzheimer's disease research<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University researchers are collaborating on a novel approach to use neuroimaging and network modeling tools—previously developed to analyze brains of patients in the clinic—to investigate Alzheimer’s disease progression in preclinical animal models. <br /> <br /> The research team, led by <a href="/faculty/27084/chumin-evgeny">Evgeny Chumin, PhD</a>, a postdoctoral research fellow in the College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at IU Bloomington, and <a href="/faculty/6529/territo-paul">Paul Territo, PhD</a>, professor of medicine at the IU School of Medicine, <a href="https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/alz.13538">published their findings in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association</a>. <br /> <br /> More than 6.5 million Americans ages 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and that number could grow to nearly 14 million by 2060, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. While amyloid plaques and tau tangles are the two major hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, research studies also indicate that Alzheimer’s disease alters glucose metabolism in the brain. <br /> <br /> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/c/chumin.png?h=300&w=200&rev=1400713d379f4bac8ed64ec5a0ec9a42&hash=E1C549026645020DD4C417F8954B3FA5" style="height: 300px; width: 200px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;" alt="Evgeny Chumin, PhD" title="Evgeny Chumin, PhD" longdesc="Evgeny Chumin, PhD" class="float-right" />This study looked at metabolic network changes in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease animal models developed by the <a href="/expertise/alzheimers/research/preclinical/laboratory-models">Model Organism Development and Evaluation for Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease (MODEL-AD)</a>, a consortium of experts at the IU School of Medicine, Jackson Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh and Sage Bionetworks. The tools developed through this research collaboration, Territo said, provide a translational approach to assess disease progression of Alzheimer’s disease in animal models and bolster the consortium’s rigorous animal model development and preclinical drug testing pipelines developed to study and treat the disease. <br /> <br /> “We now for the first time have created tools to assess mouse models carrying human genes, which are built upon the well-established Brain Connectivity Toolbox used in human studies,” Territo said. “We are applying these tools to better understand Alzheimer’s disease progression and therapeutic response and are embedding them as a resource in MODEL-AD.” <br /> <br /> Territo, a primary member of IU School of Medicine’s <a href="/research-centers/neurosciences">Stark Neurosciences Research Institute</a> and co-principal investigator of the MODEL-AD consortium, said two past studies inspired his research into analyzing how different areas of the brain interact during disease progression. <br /> <br /> <a href="https://psych.indiana.edu/directory/faculty/sporns-olaf.html">Olaf Sporns, PhD</a>, a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at IU Bloomington, has previously published papers about network neuroscience, an approach for monitoring disease progression using graph theory and medical imaging—MRI and PET—to map, record, analyze and model the elements and interactions of neurobiological systems in humans. This allows scientists to see changes that occur in the brain’s subnetworks by elevating how neuroimaging like MRI and PET can be analyzed. Chumin is a postdoctoral researcher in the Sporns laboratory.<br /> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/news/2024/microsoftteams-image.png?h=540&w=500&rev=d5497021561a45d79d72c1be25aeff67&hash=24116F2B60D1B9A7C9C60C8A02F669F9" style="height: 540px; width: 500px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;" alt="brain illustration" title="Metabolic covariance networks of Alzheimer’s disease animal models showed a lower community structure agreement compared to normal models. Agreement quantifies the propensity of regions in the metabolic network to cluster together, with lower values indicative of disruptions in inter-regional relationships of metabolic activity." longdesc="Metabolic covariance networks of Alzheimer’s disease animal models showed a lower community structure agreement compared to normal models. Agreement quantifies the propensity of regions in the metabolic network to cluster together, with lower values indicative of disruptions in inter-regional relationships of metabolic activity." class="float-right" /></p> <p>The other research is from <a href="https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/mattia-veronese">Mattia Veronese, PhD</a>, a scientist from King’s College in London and associate professor at the University of Padua in Italy, who studied human PET imaging data of participants of the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) to look for brain network changes and disease progression using the network neuroscience approach developed by Sporns. Veronese is also a co-author on the Alzheimer’s & Dementia journal article. <br /> <br /> “Those two pieces of work led our team to develop tools that would extract additional meaning from images of MODEL-AD mouse models, with the goal of not only providing similar whole brain metrics observed in the previous clinical studies, but to also dive deeper and possibly understand how subnetworks within the brain of these models might shed light on the mechanisms of the underlying biology,” Territo said. <br /> <br /> Chumin helped develop the tools and resources from the network neuroscience approach of human clinical research to preclinical animal models of MODEL-AD. The investigators analyzed the brain as a whole and also looked at subnetworks within the brain to see how those areas communicate and interact as the disease progresses. <br /> <br /> “Using this approach, the research team’s analysis of metabolism changes in animal models confirmed previous clinical findings of disease progression in patients with Alzheimer’s disease,” Territo said. <br /> <br /> The animal models showed age-related changes in glucose uptake as well as differences between males and females—similar to findings from Alzheimer’s disease human data. <br /> <br /> Territo said MODEL-AD plans to use these network neuroscience tools in their investigations of other preclinical data, including models of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, potential therapeutics for the disease and multi-modal analyses that combine neuroimaging data from PET and MRI. <br /> <br /> <strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong><a href="/"><br /> IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Thu, 30 Nov 2023 00:00:00 Z{93F02C4E-D6B8-45BF-BBFD-CF7BBF771085}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/11/pulmonary-hypertension-treatment-target-studyNew target identified for pulmonary hypertension treatment<p>SOUTH BEND, Ind.–Indiana University School of Medicine researchers at the school’s South Bend regional campus, in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Notre Dame, have identified a new therapeutic target for pulmonary hypertension, a type of high blood pressure that affects the blood vessels in the lungs. Their findings were recently <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.123.322740">published in Circulation Research</a>.<br /> <br /> Pulmonary hypertension is a complex and often fatal condition that makes the heart work harder than normal to pump blood into the lungs. While the exact causes of pulmonary hypertension are unknown, one of its hallmarks is the thickening of the pulmonary blood vessels caused by an overgrowth of cells, also known as vascular remodeling. <br /> <br /> <a href="/faculty/22541/schwarz-margaret">Margaret A. Schwarz, MD</a>, a professor of pediatrics at IU School of Medicine and senior author on the study, said there are few treatments for pulmonary hypertension, and they typically treat the symptoms of vascular remodeling rather than the remodeling itself.<br /> <br /> Schwarz said what’s exciting about her team’s findings is the discovery of an epigenetic pathway mediated via the protein SPHK2 that can reduce and potentially reverse vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension.<br /> <br /> “This is one of the very first mechanisms of pulmonary hypertension identified that can be reversible,” she said. “Normally, pulmonary hypertension patients are given medications to reduce the vascular pressure in the lungs or to help the heart squeeze better to pump blood, which are both symptoms of vascular remodeling. Our study looks at targeting the epigenetic reversal of this mechanism. Ultimately, the treatment would be to stop the vascular remodeling process entirely.”<br /> <br /> The concept is similar to cancer treatment, Schwarz said.<br /> <br /> “In cancer, we stop tumor growth instead of just treating symptoms,” she said. “Vascular remodeling is a different mechanism, but the idea is that the treatment would target the mechanism instead of the symptoms.”<br /> <br /> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/news/2024/image_50430465.jpg?h=534&w=400&rev=f1804d253f974d4b9fa9b24bbbbecf74&hash=5A428634854C3F1E29776F188EA820AF" alt="Dushani Ranasinghe, left, and Margaret Schwarz at Ranasinghe's graduation ceremony." title="Dushani Ranasinghe, left, and Margaret Schwarz at Ranasinghe's graduation ceremony. | Photo courtesy of Margaret Schwarz" longdesc="Dushani Ranasinghe, left, and Margaret Schwarz at Ranasinghe's graduation ceremony. | Photo courtesy of Margaret Schwarz" class="float-left" style="margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; height: 534px; width: 400px; margin-top: 10px;" />Other key findings from the study include:<br /> <br /> • SPHK2 can drive pulmonary hypertension pathogenesis via histone H3K9 hyperacetylation, contributing to pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC) vascular remodeling.<br /> • SPHK2 deficiency confers reduced pulmonary vascular resistance, right ventricle hypertension and distal vessel wall thickness.<br /> • EMAP (endothelial monocyte activating polypeptide) II has a key role in the stimulation of nuclear SPHK2/S1P epigenetic modulating axis, suggesting that cooperation between SPHK2 and EMAPII could be a major driving force for epigenetic-mediated vascular PASMC reprogramming and remodeling in pulmonary hypertension.<br /> • Pulmonary vascular endothelial cells are a priming factor of the EMAPII/SPHK2/S1P axis that alters the acetylome with a specificity for PASMC, through hyperacetylation of histone H3K9.<br /> <br /> Schwarz and the study’s first author, Dushani Ranasinghe, PhD, who was a member of Schwarz’s lab while she was a graduate student at Notre Dame, were also interviewed about their findings for an episode of the <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/do/10.1161/podcast.20231017.983060/full/">“Discover CircRes” podcast</a>, which is produced by Circulation Research.<br /> <br /> Schwarz said next steps for her research include further exploration of the SPHK2 protein as a therapeutic target for pulmonary hypertension, in collaboration with Brian Blagg, director of the Warren Center for Drug Discovery and Development at Notre Dame.<br /> <br /> Other IU authors on the study include Maggie Holohan and Martin Gerig. <br /> This study was made possible in part by funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Lilly Endowment, the O’Brien Family Endowment for Excellence, the National Science Foundation and the Buckner Family Scholarship.</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Fri, 17 Nov 2023 00:00:00 Z{354BEF1B-9D75-4DE5-8F99-CFC926186974}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/11/adolescent-opioid-use-disorder-grantIU awarded $5 million grant to find ways to transform adolescent opioid use disorder care in Indiana <p>INDIANAPOLIS—IU School of Medicine researchers are taking steps to improve the accessibility and quality of care for adolescents experiencing opioid use disorder (OUD) and other substance use disorders (SUDs), thanks to a new $5 million grant from the National Institute of Health’s Helping to End Addiction Long-Term (HEAL) Initiative. <br /> <br /> The grant will fund the new project “Workforce and System Change to Treat Adolescent Opioid Use Disorder within Integrated Pediatric Primary Care” led by faculty from the <a href="/psychiatry">Department of Psychiatry</a> and <a href="/pediatrics">Department of Pediatrics</a>. The $5 million will be awarded across 5 years, with formative work happening in the first year before transitioning into a clinical trial phase. <br /> <br /> “Addressing the growing risk of overdose deaths among adolescents has become a critical concern, and Indiana unfortunately has one of the ten highest rates of adolescent overdose deaths in the United States,” said <a href="/faculty/23695/adams-zachary">Zachary Adams, PhD</a>, associate professor of psychiatry at Indiana University School of Medicine and one of the principal investigators of the project. “The HEAL Initiative represents a significant federal investment to tackle the opioid crisis, enhance health care outcomes and combat the increasing overdose deaths among adolescents. <br /> <br /> The goal of this initiative revolves around making pediatric integrated behavioral care more accessible to children and adolescents. This entails providing mental health and substance use screenings, assessments and treatment through Indiana University Health primary care clinics–in partnership with behavioral health specialists–empowering the primary care system to play a pivotal role in early detection and intervention. <br /> <br /> The project includes a multi-faceted approach, including changing how pediatricians talk to their patients about substance use, implementing a case management system to ensure comprehensive care for adolescents experiencing SUD and OUD, increasing consultations between health care providers and utilizing telehealth services to reach adolescents in need of care. <br /> <br /> “Most kids see a pediatrician on a routine basis, and while mental health care is becoming more normalized in primary care, substance use care is often missed or viewed as outside the scope of services that can be offered in that setting,” Adams said. “This project will allow us to study a set of strategies that may help increase the availability of substance use-related services in primary care, such as standardizing screening procedures, consulting with primary care providers around treatment options, and providing brief behavioral interventions in primary care clinics.” <br /> <br /> This approach recognizes that many adolescents who use substances do not have substance use disorders, but may benefit from education and prevention resources. Adams said most adolescents experiencing substance use disorders have mild or moderate level symptoms, making them ideal candidates for shorter-term, less extensive interventions. More intensive services provided by behavioral health specialists can be reserved for youths with more severe or complex needs. <br /> <br /> “Brief, evidence-based interventions exist for adolescent substance use. However, accessing these services are difficult, particularly in rural settings,” said <a href="/faculty/2683/aalsma-matthew">Matthew Aalsma, PhD</a>, professor of pediatrics and one of the principal investigators. “We are excited to work with our primary care partners to offer an array of evidence-based substance use interventions.” <br /> <br /> The grant also allows for the adaptation of interventions developed to address stigma related to OUD and SUDs among health care providers, contributing to a comprehensive and innovative approach. <br /> <br /> “One of the most crucial parts of this project is finding the best ways to structure and deliver care to ensure that as many Indiana teens and families can benefit from effective services as possible,” Adams said. <br /> <br /> In addition to Adams and Aalsma, this initiative is also led by <a href="/faculty/11271/hulvershorn-leslie">Leslie Hulvershorn, MD</a> and includes collaborators who are nationally known experts in adolescent addiction, integrated care, stigma reduction and implementation science. The project will also involve direct input and consultation from youth and caregiver advisory panels throughout the grant period. <br /> <br /> Hulvershorn attributes the rapid and exceedingly positive response to the project from the National Institute of Health to the large scale of the project, spanning the breadth of IU Health’s pediatric primary care footprint. <br /> <br /> “The project promises to provide critical insights into the most effective ways to care for adolescents with SUD, reduce stigma, and ultimately save lives. This grant continues IU School of Medicine’s commitment to the well-being of our youth, ensuring they receive the care they need to overcome substance use disorders and build healthier futures.” </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong> <br /> <a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <br />Tue, 14 Nov 2023 00:00:00 Z{BCE52214-99FA-490B-B40E-FF4D5BC80D20}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/11/new-associate-dean-continuing-medical-educationIU School of Medicine names new Associate Dean for Continuing Education in Healthcare Professions<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine has named a new Associate Dean for Continuing Education in Healthcare Professions (CEHP).</p> <p> <a href="/faculty/5032/schwartz-jennifer">Jennifer E. Schwartz, MD</a>, will assume the role supporting the unit formerly referred to as Continuing Medical Education (CME), effective February 1, 2024. Schwartz, an associate professor of clinical medicine, currently also serves as the assistant dean for curriculum, director of Phase 2, as well as the interim division chief of the <a href="/internal-medicine/specialties/hematology-oncology">Division of Hematology-Oncology</a> with the Department of Medicine.</p> <p>The focus of CEHP is helping to improve interprofessional health care education and patient outcomes through strategic and innovative collaborative education. In her new role, Schwartz will work closely with CEHP leadership to promote the importance of the unit across the school, university and the larger health care community.</p> <p>“Being a health care professional means committing yourself to being a lifelong learner. The role of the CEHP leader is integral in making sure these efforts are effective for our faculty, and have a positive impact on clinical competence and patient outcomes,” said Paul M. Wallach, executive associate dean for educational affairs. “Dr. Schwartz has proven to be a transformative educational leader, and I am eager to see how she applies her unique perspective and talents to further elevate the excellence of CEHP here at the School of Medicine.”</p> <p>Schwartz has been a member of the IU School of Medicine faculty since 2003. She received her MD,CM from McGill University in 1997, where she also completed a residency in internal medicine, both in Montreal, Canada. She then completed her fellowship in hematology and oncology as well as a certificate in clinical research at the University of Pittsburgh.</p> <p>She joined IU School of Medicine as a visiting assistant professor in 2003, later being named assistant professor of clinical medicine in 2005 and an associate professor in 2020. In addition to her role as assistant dean for curriculum, Schwartz also has served as Statewide Director of Introduction to Clinical Medicine 2 and Co-Director of the IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/education/summer/srp.html">Summer Research Program</a>. She has also created the Clerkship Leader Summit—the program is now in its eighth year and has enjoyed a collaboration with CEHP.</p> <p>Professionally, she is a previous member-at-large of the executive committee for the Central Group on Educational Affairs (CGEA) with the Association of American Medical College (AAMC). She has also held numerous roles with the American Society of Clinical Oncology, including serving as associate editor of hematology on the digital education editorial board, a co-founder of the ASCO Medical Education Community of Practice, and question writer for the ASCO Self-Evaluation Program. </p> <p>“Continuing education is crucial in helping health care professionals learn and discover new ways to improve patient care, in a rapidly-changing landscape,” said Schwartz. “During my tenure at IU School of Medicine, I have seen the importance of the work done by CEHP, and I am excited to help advance those efforts here at IU School of Medicine in this new role.”</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 14 Nov 2023 00:00:00 Z{8F9E5FDC-F9F8-4FB4-AA9E-DED8F38A5593}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/11/leukemia-society-grantIU leukemia expert awarded $1 million grant from Leukemia and Lymphoma Society<h3>Huda Salman, MD, PhD, will study new treatment for rare blood cancer </h3> <p>INDIANAPOLIS—An Indiana University leukemia physician-scientist has been awarded a $1 million grant from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to evaluate a new treatment for an extremely rare and incurable blood cancer. <br /> <br /> <a href="/faculty/61101/salman-huda">Huda Salman, MD, PhD</a>, director of the <a href="/research-centers/immunotherapy">Brown Center for Immunotherapy</a> at Indiana University School of Medicine and <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a>, was awarded the grant to evaluate an immunotherapy for chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), found most often in older adults. According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, CMML impacts about 1,100 people annually in the United States. It starts with a mutated stem cell in the bone marrow that causes an overproduction of white blood cells. <br /> <br /> “CMML is very, very rare. We call it an orphan disease because it affects fewer than 200,000 people annually in the U.S.,” Salman, the Don Brown Professor of Immunotherapy, said. “I’m incredibly grateful to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for its support of my work. Because of this generous support, my colleagues and I will be able to work on furthering our scientific discoveries into treatments for people with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.” <br /> <br /> In past research, Salman developed a cellular therapy that targets a protein called CD4. The CAR T-cell immunotherapy is showing promising results in early clinical trials at IU for other blood cancers. Salman and colleagues have found the customized T cells destroy cancer cells without harming healthy cells. <br /> <br /> Now, this grant will help Salman open a trial using the same technology to target CD4 for CMML patients. <br /> <br /> “We take T cells–immune cells–from the patient, modify them in the lab to target the protein at a specific strength, expand them until they are adequate in number and function, then give them back to the patient to fight the tumors through the protein we targeted,” Salman explained. “There are no treatments for CMML. We cannot cure the vast majority of leukemias without bone marrow (stem cell) transplants, and patients have to be in remission to get the transplants—and most CMML patients can’t get into remission.” <br /> <br /> Transplants also follow extremely high doses of chemotherapy, which can cause other serious medical issues. Immunotherapies avoid the side effects of chemo and radiation. <br /> <br /> The clinical trial—expected to open this month—will check if the treatment is successfully qualifying CMML patients for transplant or if transplant is no longer needed. <br /> <br /> Salman holds the investigational new drug (IND) status on this treatment, which is granted by the United States Food and Drug Administration to investigators to initiate and conduct a trial with a not-yet-approved drug.</p> <p> </p> <p> <strong>About the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center </strong></p> <p><a href="cancer.iu.edu">The Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> is the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and one of only 56 in the nation. The prestigious comprehensive designation recognizes the center’s excellence in basic, clinical, and population research, its outstanding educational activities, and its effective community outreach program across the state. It is also one of only 33 members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. As a member, the center’s physicians have a role in determining the recognized standard of clinical care for cancer patients. The center is the central hub for cancer research and education across Indiana University.</p>Thu, 09 Nov 2023 00:00:00 Z{1D12747E-B5F7-4B6C-A171-41083F496D7D}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/11/pancreatic-cancer-grantIU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers receive $2.4 million NCI grant to develop new pancreatic cancer treatments<p>INDIANAPOLIS--Two researchers at the <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> have received a five-year, $2.4 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to explore new therapies that target the critical pathways pancreatic tumors use to survive. <br /> <br /> The highly competitive NCI award will allow <a href="/faculty/13975/kelley-mark">Mark Kelley, PhD</a> and <a href="/faculty/12126/fishel-melissa">Melissa Fishel, PhD</a>, both of the <a href="/research-centers/pediatrics">Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research</a> and the <a href="/pediatrics">IU School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics</a>, to build on specific advances they’ve made in their adjacent labs and as part of the cancer center’s Pancreatic Cancer Challenges and Solutions Working Group, of which Fishel is a co-leader. <br /> <br /> The two have collaborated for more than 20 years and developed drugs and therapies now used to treat people with pancreatic cancer. Though these patients are living longer after their diagnosis, the disease still has a five-year survival rate of just 12 percent. <br /> <br /> <strong>Research targets Ref-1 <br /> </strong><br /> Kelley has been building on research in this area for more than three decades. <br /> <br /> “Cancer is an accumulation of errors. So it follows that an effective way to arrest cancer … [is] to block a pathway by which cancer sustains itself,” Kelley wrote in the journal Current Molecular Pharmacology earlier in his career. He was writing even then about a protein called Redox factor-1 (referred to as Ref-1) function—a protein that can promote signaling in cancer and its progression, especially cancer that starts in the pancreas. <br /> <br /> “Our earlier research advanced a first-generation Ref-1 inhibitor, the drug APX3330, to a Phase I clinical trial in adult cancer patients. That work allowed us to identify the next generation of Ref-1 inhibitors, along with a strategy for identifying patients with a sensitivity to Ref-1 inhibition and drugs likely to make our Ref-1 inhibitors work better,” Kelley said in response to this new grant. “Now, with this grant, we propose to investigate Ref-1 alone and in combined therapies that we believe will better inhibit pancreatic cancer growth and metastasis by infringing on the critical pathways tumors use to survive.” <br /> <br /> The research has two specific aims: <br /> <br /> 1. Identify the characteristics of cells that respond to Ref-1 inhibition to predict new therapy combinations. <br /> <br /> 2. Evaluate how well combination therapies overcome a cancer cell’s resistance and move the best therapies toward clinical trials.</p> <p>Kelley is associate director of basic science at the cancer center and co-leader of the cancer center’s <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research/centers/cddd.html">Cancer Drug Discovery and Development Accelerator.</a> <br /> <br /> Fishel co-leads the cancer center’s <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research/programs/tmm/index.html">Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis research program</a> and a project in the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Stromal Reprogramming U01 Consortium, for which she <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/news/stories/2023-04-03-u01-supporting-fishel-research.html">recently received a new grant</a>. <br /> <br /> Learn more about <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/patients/research-explained/pancreatic.html">the cancer center’s pancreatic cancer initiatives</a>. <br /> <br /> <strong>About the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center <br /> </strong><br /> <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">The Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> is the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and one of only 56 in the nation. The prestigious comprehensive designation recognizes the center’s excellence in basic, clinical, and population research, outstanding educational activities, and effective community outreach program across the state. It is also one of only 33 members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. As a member, the center’s physicians have a role in determining the recognized standard of clinical care for cancer patients. The center is the central hub for cancer research and education across Indiana University. </p>Mon, 06 Nov 2023 00:00:00 Z{47925540-323F-4961-9AF6-F7CAFCE8322B}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/11/mobile-lung-cancer-screening-program-funding$4.5 million gift from Tom and Julie Wood Family Foundation funds mobile lung cancer screening program at IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and IU Health<h3>Lung Cancer Awareness Month kicks off with announcement of a new resource to impact Hoosiers statewide</h3> INDIANAPOLIS–A mobile lung cancer screening program will soon take life-saving screenings to eligible high-risk Hoosiers statewide, thanks to a generous $4.5 million gift from the Tom and Julie Wood Family Foundation that will include matching dollars from Indiana University Health, bringing its impact to $8.5 million. <br /> <br /> The program leverages the collaborative partnership between IU Health and the<a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/"> Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a>. The gift was made jointly to IU Health Foundation and the Indiana University Foundation as it will support both patient care and research efforts focused on enhancing lung cancer screening and lowering lung cancer incidence and deaths.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/members/bio/3027">Nasser Hanna, MD</a> made the announcement at this morning’s third annual meeting of <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/community/elcn/">End Lung Cancer Now</a>, an initiative of the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. Hanna is the Tom and Julie Wood Family Foundation Professor of Lung Cancer Clinical Research at IU School of Medicine and the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and founder of End Lung Cancer Now. He’s also an IU Health lung cancer physician.<br /> <br /> “We’re beyond thrilled that the Wood Family Foundation is making this mobile resource available to Hoosiers. Lung cancer screening unequivocally saves lives by catching it in its earliest and most treatable stages,” Hanna said. “All of us at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and IU Health know how valuable these painless and safe imaging tests will be for those at risk of lung cancer–especially those who face barriers to accessing such screenings.” <br /> <br /> Julie Wood, the Wood family matriarch, said the gift is one in a series of gifts made in memory of her late husband, Indianapolis auto executive Tom Wood, who died of lung cancer in 2010. <br /> <br /> “We are grateful for the opportunity to continue our longtime support of the cancer center through this gift,” she said. “We know Tom would be so pleased to see us doing what we can to save the lives of Hoosiers who face this terrible disease.” <br /> <br /> The mobile program, the only one of its kind in Indiana, is expected to screen its first patient in 2025. The gift will support the build-out of the mobile CT scanner unit as well as the first year of patient care resources, staffing, operating and marketing expenses. Mobile programs allow increased access to cancer screening and prevention by bringing care to the community, rather than requiring travel to medical appointments at hospitals and healthcare centers. This is especially helpful to people in rural areas without easy access to such tests. <br /> <br /> “We are grateful for this significant gift from the Wood Family Foundation,” said Ryan Nagy, MD, president of IU Health Methodist and University Hospitals. “Their support will allow IU Health and the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center to stand up a unique program which will support communities across the state reaching more broadly than we have previously.”<br /> <br /> IU Health will match $4 million of the gift, the portion dedicated to the mobile screening program, making the gift’s total impact $8.5 million. The contribution is a lead gift to All the Difference: The Campaign for Indiana University Health, the statewide fundraising campaign recently announced by IU Health Foundation.<br /> <br /> “IU Health’s size and reach give us a powerful opportunity–and a great responsibility–to lead in improving the health of Hoosiers,” said Crystal Miller, IU Health Foundation president and IU Health chief philanthropy officer. “But we can only do that with the support of visionary philanthropists like the Wood family. This gift will literally save lives, and that is the greatest impact a donor can make. I am grateful to the Woods for their foresight and generosity.” <br /> <br /> <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/members/bio/29680">Kelvin Lee, MD</a>, director of the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, added, “We are enormously grateful to the Wood Family Foundation for their ongoing focus on lung cancer–not only the #1 cancer killer of Hoosiers but of everyone around the globe. Mobile lung cancer screening will save lives by bringing this painless, nonintrusive diagnostic tool close to Hoosiers’ homes. We are committed to further research focused on refining our screening techniques and developing strategies to lessen lung cancer incidence and death.” <br /> <br /> <strong>Lung cancer is the #1 cancer killer<br /> </strong> <br /> Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, killing more people than colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer–the second-, third-, and fourth-leading cancer killers–combined. Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death.<br /> <br /> However, with early detection, done with low-dose CAT or CT scans, the mortality rate caused by lung cancer can be decreased by 20 percent. Screenings are painless and take only a few minutes. In Indiana, only 7 percent of those at high risk were screened, according to 2022 data from the American Lung Association.<br /> <br /> Annual lung cancer screenings are recommended for adults ages 50 to 80 with a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years and who smoke now or quit within the past 15 years. <br /> <br /> A pack-year describes how many cigarettes a person has smoked in their lifetime at 20 cigarettes per pack. For example, smoking an average of one pack per day for 20 years equals 20 pack-years.<br /> <br /> <strong>Media contacts:<br /> </strong><br /> Michael Schug<br /> Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center<br /> 317-417-0709, cell<br /> <br /> Sophie Wolanin<br /> Indiana University Health <br /> 317-437-4105<br /> <br /> <strong>About the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center<br /> </strong><br /> <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">The Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center </a>is the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and one of only 56 in the nation. The prestigious comprehensive designation recognizes the center’s excellence in basic, clinical, and population research, its outstanding educational activities, and its effective community outreach program across the state. It is also one of only 33 members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. As a member, the center’s physicians have a role in determining the recognized standard of clinical care for cancer patients. The center is the central hub for cancer research and education across Indiana University. <br /> <br /> <strong>About Indiana University Health <br /> </strong><br /> Named the "#1 Hospital in Indiana" by U.S. News & World Report, Indiana University Health is dedicated to providing a unified standard of preeminent, patient-centered care. A unique partnership with Indiana University School of Medicine–one of the nation's leading medical schools–gives our highly skilled physicians access to innovative treatments using the latest research and technology. Learn more at iuhealth.org. <br /> <br /> <strong>About IU Health Foundation<br /> </strong><br /> IU Health Foundation leverages the power of philanthropy to support the IU Health mission of making Indiana one of the nation’s healthiest states. When you give to IU Health, you aren’t just making a donation—you’re making All the Difference. To learn more, visit <a href="iuhealthfoundation.org">iuhealthfoundation.org</a>.Fri, 03 Nov 2023 00:00:00 Z{28200244-7519-46FB-A0A2-9B74766911E0}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/10/type-1-diabetes-repurposed-drug-researchRepurposed drug offers new potential for managing type 1 diabetes<p>INDIANAPOLIS -- A recent study led by Indiana University School of Medicine in collaboration with the University of Chicago Medicine presents exciting future possibilities for the management of type 1 diabetes and the potential reduction of insulin dependency. The researchers’ findings, <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(23)00438-X">published in Cell Reports Medicine</a>, suggest repurposing of the drug α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) may open doors to innovative therapies in the future. <br /> <br /> Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition wherein the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, leading to high blood sugar levels that currently require lifelong insulin treatment to keep patients alive. Many people living with type 1 diabetes find current treatments, including daily insulin injections and frequent blood sugar monitoring, inconvenient and challenging to manage. <br /> <br /> These latest translational results represent more than a decade of research. In 2010, the study’s co-corresponding author, Raghu Mirmira, MD, PhD, was operating a research lab at IU School of Medicine when a team including <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/19269/maier-bernhard" target="_blank">Bernhard F. Maier, PhD, MSC</a>, initially discovered that inhibiting the metabolic pathway affected by DFMO could safeguard beta cells from environmental factors, suggesting potential preservation in type 1 diabetes. The team subsequently validated these findings in mice. <br /> <br /> From 2015 to 2019, <a href="/faculty/1595/dimeglio-linda">Linda DiMeglio, MD, MPH</a>, Edwin Letzter Professor of Pediatrics at IU School of Medicine and a pediatric endocrinologist and division chief at Riley Children's Health, directed a clinical trial that affirmed DFMO's safety in people newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and suggested that it might also stabilize insulin levels by safeguarding beta cells. The trial was funded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) with drug provided by Panbela Therapeutics. <br /> <br /> "After several years of bench-to-bedside studies, beginning with Drs. Mirmira and [Sarah] Tersey's mouse models, it's exciting to finally share the promising results from our pilot trial in humans," said DiMeglio, senior author of the study. "Now that we’ve established preliminary safety of DFMO for individuals with type 1 diabetes, we’re thrilled about advancing our collaborative research to explore more of its potential benefits in a larger clinical trial." <br /> <br /> Since 1990, DFMO has been FDA-approved as a high-dose injection to treat African Sleeping Sickness, and in 2020 it received a breakthrough therapy designation for neuroblastoma maintenance therapy after remission. This prior regulatory clearance could streamline its adoption as a type 1 diabetes treatment, potentially shortening the approval process from decades to just a few years. <br /> <br /> “Using a new formulation of DFMO as a pill allows patients to take it by mouth instead of needing to undergo regular injections, and it has a very favorable side effect profile,” said Mirmira, who is now a professor of medicine and an endocrinologist at UChicago Medicine. “It’s exciting to say we have a drug that works differently from every other treatment we have for this disease.” <br /> <br /> The researchers have already initiated their next steps in investigating DFMO’s potential. The study’s first author and co-corresponding author <a href="/faculty/18596/sims-emily">Emily K. Sims, MD</a>, associate professor of pediatrics at IU School of Medicine and a pediatric endocrinologist at Riley Children's Health, recently launched a larger, six-center clinical study to robustly define the impact of DFMO treatment to preserve beta cell function in type 1 diabetes. The new study is also funded by JDRF and supported by Panbela Therapeutics. <br /> <br /> Sims, who is also a physician-scientist at the <a href="/research-centers/pediatrics">Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research</a> and the <a href="/research-centers/diabetes">Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases</a> at IU School of Medicine, is hopeful that DFMO, possibly as part of a combination therapy, will not only help persons recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes but could also be tested in those at risk of developing the condition. <br /> <br /> “As we dive into this new multicenter clinical trial to further investigate the efficacy of DFMO, we're driven by the promising results we've seen so far to modify the underlying disease process in type 1 diabetes,” Sims said. “We invite more participants to join us in this pioneering research. With their help, the knowledge we gain today has the potential to shape a brighter future for those impacted by type 1 diabetes.” <br /> <br /> Individuals interested in learning more about the <a href="/research-centers/pediatrics/research/diabetes/clinical/tadpol">new clinical trial can visit the study’s website</a>. <br /> <br /> Other IU authors on the study include Audrey Hull, Stephanie E. Woerner, Teresa L. Mastracci, Susan M. Perkins, Fangqian Ouyang, and Carmella Evans-Molina. </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></p> <p><strong><a href="/"><strong></strong>IU School of Medicine</a></strong> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 Z{125534A8-0B26-4CD2-A09D-E870F75D4B1F}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/10/heart-attack-tissue-damage-classification-developedFirst ever clinical classification of heart attacks based on tissue damage adopted by Canadian Cardiovascular Society<p><strong>Classification developed by researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine and Northern Ontario School of Medicine</strong></p> <p><strong></strong>INDIANAPOLIS, IND – The Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) released the world’s first classification of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) — or heart attack — based on heart tissue damage research that was driven by two cardiovascular investigators within the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/research-centers/cardiovascular/research/ischemic-heart-disease" target="_blank">Ischemic Heart Disease Program</a> of <a href="/research-centers/cardiovascular" target="_blank">Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center </a>(KCVRC) at Indiana University School of Medicine and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nosm.ca/" target="_blank">Northern Ontario School of Medicine</a>.</p> <p>The four-stage classification, CCS-AMI, was presented at the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://ccs.ca/event/vascular-2023/" target="_blank">Vascular 2023</a> conference on Oct. 29 in Montréal, Canada, and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://onlinecjc.ca/article/S0828-282X(23)01735-X/fulltext" target="_blank">published in the </a><em><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://onlinecjc.ca/article/S0828-282X(23)01735-X/fulltext" target="_blank">Canadian Journal of Cardiology</a>. </em>With more than two decades of experience in myocardial infarction research,<em> </em>KCVRC Executive Director<em> </em><a href="/faculty/60337/dharmakumar-rohan" target="_blank">Rohan Dharmakumar, PhD</a> and immediate past Chief of Cardiology and physician scientist Andreas Kumar, MD, from Northern Ontario School of Medicine, conceptualized the classification.</p> <p>Working in collaboration with the CCS-AMI Writing Group, which comprised of an expert panel of cardiovascular specialists primarily from Canada and KCVRC physician-scientist <a href="/faculty/60685/vora-keyur" target="_blank">Keyur Vora, MD, FACC</a>, the group developed the rationale and framework for the CCS-AMI Classification. The CCS-AMI Writing Group was endorsed by the CCS, chaired by Kumar and co-chaired by Dharmakumar and Michelle Graham, MD, president of CCS.  </p> <p>Clinical classifications are reviewed and developed by medical societies to introduce and adopt new standards of care and evolving guidelines. Knowing what level of tissue damage has occurred on the heart muscle can help cardiologists determine how best to redirect care to prevent a patient case from escalating, even with treatments available today.</p> <p> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/news/2023/kcvrc-ihd-illustration-ccs-ami-classification-keyur-vora.jpeg?h=358&w=400&rev=ce7a1455c97f4d45a898028bc0402e66&hash=3B1C054BDFD39359EC5977A02CEF2535" style="height: 358px; width: 400px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;" alt="This illustration outlines four stages the Canadian Cardiovascular Society has endorsed for its new CCS Classification of Acute Myocardial Infarction (CCS-AMI), which is the world’s first clinical classification for a heart attack based on heart tissue damage." title="This illustration outlines four stages the Canadian Cardiovascular Society has endorsed for its new CCS Classification of Acute Myocardial Infarction (CCS-AMI), which is the world’s first clinical classification for a heart attack based on heart tissue damage." longdesc="This illustration outlines four stages the Canadian Cardiovascular Society has endorsed for its new CCS Classification of Acute Myocardial Infarction (CCS-AMI), which is the world’s first clinical classification for a heart attack based on heart tissue damage." class="float-left" /></p> <p>CCS classifications have a rich history in cardiovascular care. CCS-AMI classification arrives nearly 50 years after the publication of the CCS-Angina classification in 1976, which is widely used around the world to assess chest pain. Unlike CCS-Angina, which is based on clinical parameters, CCS-AMI uses a hybrid of clinical data and pathophysiology of heart muscle damage to characterize the level of injury following AMI.</p> <p>Authors of the consensus paper say a classification that includes tissue-level changes is needed to leverage the “predictive power” of tissue damage to improve research and develop tissue-directed therapies for each stage.</p> <p>“What we’ve learned over the past decade using advanced imaging is that when you open a blocked blood vessel of the heart, it can at times lead to substantially more tissue damage. On some patients, this can drive electrical instabilities (arrhythmias) or ventricular remodeling that can then lead to heart failure, hospitalization or death,” said Dharmakumar. “In manuscripts we published in 2022, we demonstrated that when there is a rupture of small vessels, which we call intramyocardial hemorrhage, it results in a vast number of cardiomyocytes dying that would otherwise have been saved by reperfusion therapy. We also show that when reperfusion therapy results in intramyocardial hemorrhage, the damaged area can be replaced by fatty tissue, weakening the heart and directing it towards heart failure.”</p> <p>The CCS-AMI Classification outlines damage to the heart muscle following a heart attack in four progressively severe stages based on decades of research:</p> <ul> <li><strong>CCS Stage 1 Myocardial Infarction</strong>: Aborted Myocardial Infarction</li> <li><strong>CCS Stage 2 Myocardial Infarction:</strong> Cardiomyocyte necrosis without microvascular injury</li> <li><strong>CCS Stage 3 Myocardial Infarction:</strong> Cardiomyocyte necrosis and microvascular obstruction</li> <li><strong>CCS Stage 4 Acute Myocardial Infarction:</strong> Cardiomyocyte necrosis, microvascular obstruction and reperfusion hemorrhage</li> </ul> <p>“The last two stages are directly associated with reperfusion injury and extensive tissue damage,” Dharmakumar said. “This classification establishes the crucial framework needed, so new therapies can be developed to maximize impact on patient outcomes. I am hopeful that CCS-AMI Classification will spur on new guidelines by various cardiovascular societies around the world, so cardiovascular patients everywhere can benefit from more tailored interventional cardiac care.”</p> <p>Vora, who presented clinical cases to explore the diverse characteristics exhibited by Acute MI patients during the CCS-AMI Classification session at Vascular 2023, explains we now have a better understanding of myocardial infarction from the nature of the tissue injury following reperfusion.</p> <p>“CCS-AMI Classification will drive new diagnostic and therapeutic clinical trials to save patients suffering from CCS classifications of severe injury,” Vora said. </p> <p>Kumar stated the classification is a game-changing tool that opens new avenues for patient risk assessment and future drug development in an easy, usable format.</p> <p>“Not all heart attacks are the same,” Kumar said. “Patient risk assessment and future therapies will improve when the precise stage of tissue injury is considered.”</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></p> <p><strong></strong><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Sun, 29 Oct 2023 00:00:00 Z{4E4647DC-7CE8-4475-A6EF-009FDAC2EE8C}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/10/alzheimers-disease-consortium-diagnoses-grantIU scientists part of NIH-funded national consortium focused on improving Alzheimer’s disease diagnoses<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW178263264 BCX9" paraid="1048493735" paraeid="{3bca6727-7a42-4601-8add-7d0e1f93b01a}{212}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">will play key roles in</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> a </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">national consortium </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">led by Wake Forest University School of Medicine</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">to study the use, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">interpretation</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and implementation of biomarkers to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease.</span></span><span style="color: windowtext;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW178263264 BCX9" paraid="272800133" paraeid="{3bca6727-7a42-4601-8add-7d0e1f93b01a}{230}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">multi</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">-institution effort</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> is</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">funded</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">by a five-year, $9 million grant from the National Institute on Aging</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">part of the National Institutes of Health</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, that </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">will </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">establish</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the Alzheimer’s Diagnosis in Older Adults with Chronic Conditions (ADACC) Network.</span></span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW178263264 BCX9" paraid="272800133" paraeid="{3bca6727-7a42-4601-8add-7d0e1f93b01a}{230}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">IU School of Medicine’s <a href="/faculty/5180/fowler-nicole"><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">Nicole</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Fowler, PhD, MHSA</span></a></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, an associate professor of medicine at the school, will serve as co-principal investigator of the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">study</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW178263264 BCX9" paraid="2132373540" paraeid="{c925141d-334d-4601-9610-b1339725b962}{21}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“We are in a new era of using biomarkers to identify people who may be at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, yet the guidance for when to use and how to interpret these biomarkers in real-world populations has not been established,” </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Fowler </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">said</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/project/facultyprofileimages/2021/02/06/22/54/5180-nicole-fowler.png?h=375&w=250&rev=52d920a1daad4b2ba5698f95dc5ca15d&hash=FCF82C6C0DB3DC1A3B078E1B39ED09A8" style="height: 375px; width: 250px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;" alt="Nicole Fowler, PhD" title="Nicole Fowler, PhD" longdesc="Nicole Fowler, PhD" class="float-left" /> <p class="Paragraph SCXW178263264 BCX9" paraid="1829060129" paraeid="{c925141d-334d-4601-9610-b1339725b962}{33}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">According to the Alzheimer’s Association, m</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ore than 6.5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and around 60% of older adults who have the disease or related dementias also have three or more chronic conditions,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> such as kidney disease</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">diabetes</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">obesity</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> These conditions make a diagnosis challenging.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW178263264 BCX9" paraid="1932990727" paraeid="{c925141d-334d-4601-9610-b1339725b962}{51}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“It is crucial that we develop an evidence-base to measure how </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Alzheimer’s disease</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> biomarkers express in older people and diverse populations who are at risk of developing AD and have a greater prevalence of comorbid diseases and geriatric syndromes</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,” </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Fowler </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">said. “</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">This new consortium will begin to develop this evidence base.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW178263264 BCX9" paraid="2134395925" paraeid="{c925141d-334d-4601-9610-b1339725b962}{69}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Alzheimer’s Diagnosis in Older Adults with Chronic Conditions (ADACC) Network will be </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">comprised</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> of multiple sites and a multi-disciplinary team of investigators</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> led by principal investigator </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW178263264 BCX9" href="https://school.wakehealth.edu/faculty/m/michelle-marie-mielke" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Michelle M. Mielke, PhD</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">professor of epidemiology and prevention </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">at</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Wake Forest</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. In addition to Fowler, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">other</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> co-investigators of the study are </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW178263264 BCX9" href="https://school.wakehealth.edu/faculty/w/jeff-d-williamson" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Jeff Williamson, MD</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, professor of gerontology and geriatric medicine at Wake Forest</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW178263264 BCX9" href="https://www.psychiatry.pitt.edu/about-us/our-people/faculty/thomas-k-karikari-phd" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Thomas K. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Karikari</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, PhD</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh.</span><span class="EOP SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW178263264 BCX9" paraid="691151439" paraeid="{c925141d-334d-4601-9610-b1339725b962}{112}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The network will have three primary </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">objectives</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">:</span></span></p> <ul> <li class="Paragraph SCXW178263264 BCX9" paraid="691151439" paraeid="{c925141d-334d-4601-9610-b1339725b962}{112}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">Establish a data coordinating center to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">identify</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> and assemble existing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias observational and real-world cohorts, representative of older adults living with multiple chronic conditions.</span></li> <li class="Paragraph SCXW178263264 BCX9" paraid="691151439" paraeid="{c925141d-334d-4601-9610-b1339725b962}{112}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"></span><span style="color: windowtext;">Examine the performance and accuracy of the blood biomarkers in older adults with multiple chronic conditions.</span></li> <li class="Paragraph SCXW178263264 BCX9" paraid="691151439" paraeid="{c925141d-334d-4601-9610-b1339725b962}{112}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext;"></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">Develop recommendations for how and when blood biomarkers should be used in primary care in older adults with multiple chronic conditions for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; color: windowtext;">dementias</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">.</span></li> </ul> </div> <p><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">Current biomarkers to detect the build-up of abnormal amyloid protein in the brain</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">—</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">a key hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">—</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">include a lumbar puncture to test for proteins in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or amyloid Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">These</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> biomarkers</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">, however,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> are more costly and invasive than a blood draw and are often not readily accessible. </span></p> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW178263264 BCX9" paraid="622182652" paraeid="{c925141d-334d-4601-9610-b1339725b962}{139}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="EOP SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW178263264 BCX9" paraid="758521758" paraeid="{c925141d-334d-4601-9610-b1339725b962}{161}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Alzheimer’s </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">disease blood </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">biomarkers are becoming </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">more </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">available for clinical use, but it is not known how to incorporate them to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">establish</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> a diagnosis in primary care and when </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">additional</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> confirmation such as CSF or PET is needed.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> More research is needed on how and when blood-based biomarkers should be used, especially among diverse populations of older adults.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW178263264 BCX9" paraid="112992308" paraeid="{c925141d-334d-4601-9610-b1339725b962}{177}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="/faculty/60676/dage-jeff"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Jeff Dage, </span></span><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">PhD</span></span></a></span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, senior research professor of neurology and a primary member of </span><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="/research-centers/neurosciences">Stark Neurosciences Research Institute</a></span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> at IU School of Medicine, will </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">provide</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> his </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">expertise</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> in biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease to the consortium. Dage, who is also the scientific director of the</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> IU School of Medicine-led</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW178263264 BCX9" href="https://ncrad.iu.edu/index.html?_gl=1*c4j7q8*_ga*Mjc0MDA3NTAzLjE1ODk1NDk0MDY.*_ga_61CH0D2DQW*MTY5ODI0MTU1Ny41MzUuMS4xNjk4MjQ2ODYwLjE5LjAuMA.." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer’s and</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Related Dementias (NCRAD)</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Biomarker Assay Lab, has led the </span><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="/news/2022/05/alzheimers-blood-test">discovery and development of phosphorylated tau (P-tau) as a novel blood biomarker for Alzheimer's disease</a></span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">—a breakthrough that has </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">identified</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Alzheimer's disease pathology and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">identified</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> people at an increased risk of future cognitive decline.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW178263264 BCX9" paraid="971569624" paraeid="{c925141d-334d-4601-9610-b1339725b962}{217}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">This is a challenging and rewarding research area that requires collaboration and innovation across disciplines and settings</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,” Dage said. “</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I’m thrilled about the opportunity the consortium presents because it </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">can make a difference in the quality of life and care of many people affected by this devastating condition.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW178263264 BCX9" paraid="819785073" paraeid="{c925141d-334d-4601-9610-b1339725b962}{233}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Other IU School of Medicine researchers involved in the consortium include </span><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="/faculty/23508/wang-sophia">Sophia Wang, MD, MS</a></span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, the Wesley P. Martin Scholar in Alzheimer’s Education</span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">; </span><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="/faculty/62996/khan-naazneen">Naazneen Khan, PhD</a></span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, assistant research professor of neurology; and </span><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="/faculty/7050/risacher-shannon">Shannon Risacher, PhD</a></span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, associate professor of radiology and imaging sciences.</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW178263264 BCX9" paraid="819785073" paraeid="{c925141d-334d-4601-9610-b1339725b962}{233}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW178263264 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></span><strong><span class="EOP SCXW178263264 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></strong></p> </div> IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the United States and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.Fri, 27 Oct 2023 00:00:00 Z{1D89E6D8-3B8B-44EA-8BF2-084AF49A7A72}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/10/gut-bacteria-malaria-risk-research-publicationSpecific gut bacteria increase risk of severe malaria<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine researchers have identified multiple species of bacteria that, when present in the gut, are linked to an increased risk of developing severe malaria in humans and mice. Their findings, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-42235-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">recently published in Nature Communications</a>, could lead to the development of new approaches targeting gut bacteria to prevent severe malaria and associated deaths.</p> <p>Malaria is a life-threatening infectious disease caused by parasites transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes. According to the World Health Organization’s latest <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240064898" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">World Malaria Report</a>, an estimated 619,000 people died from malaria globally in 2021, with 76% of those deaths occurring in children age 5 or younger. </p> <p>IU School of Medicine’s <a href="/faculty/12491/schmidt-nathan" target="_blank">Nathan Schmidt, PhD</a>, an associate professor of pediatrics with the <a href="/pediatrics/specialties/infectious-diseases" target="_blank">Ryan White Center for Pediatric Infectious Disease and Global Health</a> and the <a href="/research-centers/pediatrics" target="_blank">Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research</a>, said previous efforts to combat the disease have led to several advancements in malaria treatment and prevention, including new vaccines and antimalarial drugs, insecticides to manage mosquito populations and improved health care processes. However, he said new developments are desperately needed because the gains made in decreasing malaria-related deaths between the early 2000s and late 2010s have plateaued over the last five years.</p> <p>“This plateau highlights the need for novel approaches to prevent malaria-related fatalities,” said Schmidt, whose research lab is focused on investigating this global health crisis and its critical impact on children. “Presently, there are no approaches that target gut microbiota. Therefore, we believe that our approach represents an exciting opportunity.”</p> <p>In a pivotal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1504887113" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2016 article</a> published in PNAS, Schmidt and his colleagues made a groundbreaking discovery in their experimental models: the gut microbiota has the capability to influence the severity of malaria. This revelation ignited their determination to pinpoint the precise microorganisms, called “Bacteroides,” within the intestinal tract that orchestrate this effect. </p> <p>In their latest study, the researchers found mice harboring particular species of Bacteroides were notably associated with an elevated risk of severe malaria. A similar correlation was also observed in the intestinal tracts of children afflicted with severe malaria.</p> <p>Most of the Schmidt lab’s research has been conducted using mouse models of malaria. Thanks to collaboration with several colleagues in the field, the research team was able to extend its observations by studying approximately 50 children with malaria in Uganda. They plan to continue their clinical observations by working with a cohort of over 500 children with malaria. </p> <p>This collaboration was made possible by the joint efforts of <a href="/faculty/7418/john-chandy" target="_blank">Chandy John, MD, MS</a>, of IU School of Medicine; Ruth Namazzi, MB ChB, MMEd, of Makerere University; and Robert Opoka, MD, MPH,  of Global Health Uganda. Together, they are evaluating how severe malaria may affect child neurodevelopment by studying children from households with a history of severe malaria. While these children may not display any symptoms of illness, some carry the malaria parasite in their blood, allowing researchers to explore risk factors associated with the development of severe malaria, including variations observed in the microbiome.</p> <p>“Dr. Namazzi, Dr. Opoka and I aren’t experts in the microbiome, so we collaborated with Nathan [Schmidt] on this part of the study since he is an expert,” said John, who is the Ryan White Professor of Pediatrics at IU School of Medicine. “I believe Nathan’s findings are important because they point to the possibility that certain bacteria or combinations of bacteria in the gut may predispose a child to severe malaria. This opens the way to thinking about how we might alter those combinations in the gut to try to protect children from severe malaria.”</p> <p>In addition to studying the expanded cohort in Uganda, Schmidt and his team will also collaborate with researchers in Malawi and Mali to get a broader sense of trends present between gut microbiota and malaria across Africa. </p> <p>“Beyond our efforts to assess the contribution of gut bacteria towards severe malaria in diverse African populations, we have initiated pre-clinical efforts to target gut bacteria that cause susceptibility to severe malaria,” Schmidt said. “Our long-term aspiration is to move a treatment into the clinic.”</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Fri, 27 Oct 2023 00:00:00 Z{D30553BC-FF03-43E5-AE7E-08490CD4E802}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/10/black-women-breast-cancer-discoveryIU cancer center researchers identify biology behind aggressive breast cancers in Black women<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW41733308 BCX9" paraid="269774650" paraeid="{453daecc-5da6-42f1-85f7-b28333e31e30}{180}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">INDIANAPOLIS— </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Researchers at Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center a</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">re </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">unlocking the biology behind aggressive breast cancers in Black women. </span></span> </p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW41733308 BCX9" paraid="885721285" paraeid="{453daecc-5da6-42f1-85f7-b28333e31e30}{196}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Led by </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW41733308 BCX9" href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/members/bio/1111" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Harikrishna Nakshatri</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, PhD</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">this study</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> could lead to</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> new</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> targeted treatments</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> to lessen the disparities in breast cancer among Black women. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Nakshatri</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> is </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the Marian J. Morrison professor of breast cancer research at IU School of Medicine and a researcher with the </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW41733308 BCX9" href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research/centers/vera-bradley/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.</span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW41733308 BCX9" paraid="193880679" paraeid="{453daecc-5da6-42f1-85f7-b28333e31e30}{230}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">It’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> common</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ly</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> know</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">n</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> that although breast cancer incidence is low among </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Black</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> women,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">outcome</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">are</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> poor. They develop breast cancer at a younger age</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and have</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> a higher incidence of the more aggressive triple negative breast cancer</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,” </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Nakshatri</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> said. “Even after you correct for socioeconomic and healthcare access factors, still African ancestry is associated with the worst outcomes.”</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW41733308 BCX9" paraid="1885458681" paraeid="{07fb6c82-ae2a-45ba-b1c9-b7709654f0e9}{17}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">For that reason, the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Naksh</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">a</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">tri</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> lab has been focused on understanding how genetic ancestry influences the biology of normal breast tissue and how it factors into the development of aggressive breast cancers.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW41733308 BCX9" paraid="247861536" paraeid="{07fb6c82-ae2a-45ba-b1c9-b7709654f0e9}{31}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">Nakshatri’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> research</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> previously</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">found</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> that normal breast tissue in women </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">of African ancestry </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">contains</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> a cell type called PZP at a much higher number when compared to normal breast tissue of Caucasian women. PZP cells increase when Caucasian women develop breast cancer, while they are naturally higher in Black women.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW41733308 BCX9" paraid="1590055313" paraeid="{07fb6c82-ae2a-45ba-b1c9-b7709654f0e9}{53}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Now, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Nakshatri</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and colleagues </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">have discovered that</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> PZP cells can influence how cancer cells behave and grow as they interact with another cell type—epithelial cells—where breast cancer </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">generally originates</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. Additionally,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> they have</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> found</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> that </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">PZP cells are one of the cells of origin for rare and aggressive metaplastic breast cancers (MBC), which account</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">for less than 1 percent of all breast cancers. </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW41733308 BCX9" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-41473-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">These findings</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> were published recently in the journal Nature Communications.</span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW41733308 BCX9" paraid="732649358" paraeid="{07fb6c82-ae2a-45ba-b1c9-b7709654f0e9}{86}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Researchers used </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">tissue samples from the </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW41733308 BCX9" href="https://komentissuebank.iu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank at the IU Simon </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Comprehensive </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cancer</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, the world’s only healthy breast tissue</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> bank. </span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW41733308 BCX9" paraid="687291279" paraeid="{07fb6c82-ae2a-45ba-b1c9-b7709654f0e9}{109}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">W</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">e </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">found when these PZP cells are in association with the epithelial cells, the PZP cells start making a protein called</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">interleukin-6</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (IL-6)</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">T</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">he epithelial cells</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">start behaving differently, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">a signal called STAT3 gets activated</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,” </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Nakshatri</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> said. “T</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">hat's how it will make tumors</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> develop</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ing from the epithelial cells more aggressive</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.”</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW41733308 BCX9" paraid="1363929442" paraeid="{07fb6c82-ae2a-45ba-b1c9-b7709654f0e9}{155}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">These discoveries form the basis of a new clinical trial. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The study</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">l</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ed by </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW41733308 BCX9" href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/members/bio/3008" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Kathy Miller</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, MD,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">is slated to open later this year.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Miller is the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">Ballv</span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">é</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">Lantero</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">p</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">rofessor of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> o</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ncology</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> at</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> IU School of Medicine</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and a</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ssociate </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">d</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">irector of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">c</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">linical </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">r</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">esearch</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> at the cancer center</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> as well as a researcher with the Vera Bradley Foundation Center</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW41733308 BCX9" paraid="1953653329" paraeid="{07fb6c82-ae2a-45ba-b1c9-b7709654f0e9}{230}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“T</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">his work</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> is based on </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">biology of the normal breast, which is rarely used in deciding the treatment</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">”</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Nakshatri</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> said. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">W</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">e think t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">his study could help us determine if</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">physicians</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> need to consider genetic ancestry of the person </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">when </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">deciding </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">on possible </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">treatment</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> for breast cancer</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW41733308 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.”</span></span></p> </div> <p> <strong>About the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center </strong></p> <p><a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">The Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> is the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and one of only 56 in the nation. The prestigious comprehensive designation recognizes the center’s excellence in basic, clinical, and population research, its outstanding educational activities, and its effective community outreach program across the state. It is also one of only 33 members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. As a member, the center’s physicians have a role in determining the recognized standard of clinical care for cancer patients. The center is the central hub for cancer research and education across Indiana University. </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 25 Oct 2023 00:00:00 Z{F6156D76-470F-4D52-8CBE-86E7E3AE17B6}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/10/family-medicine-chairIU School of Medicine names new chair to lead Department of Family Medicine<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine has named an innovative leader as the new chair of the <a href="/family-medicine">Department of Family Medicine</a>. </p> <p>Kolawole Okuyemi, MD, MPH, will assume the position of department chair effective February 1, 2024 and will have oversight and responsibility for the department’s clinical, educational and research programs. He will also serve as the school’s Associate Dean for Health Equity Research. </p> <p>Okuyemi is a highly respected physician-scientist in the field of family medicine, with more than 20 years of experience as an effective executive leader and researcher. He is currently the chair of the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah. He also serves as the Executive Director for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. </p> <p>“Dr. Okuyemi is a collaborative and transformational leader with a proven track record of building innovative and sustainable interdisciplinary clinical, educational, and research programs,” said <a href="/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>, dean of IU School of Medicine and Executive Vice President of University Clinical Affairs for IU. “His vision aligns with the Department of Family Medicine and with the School of Medicine’s strategic focus on advancing community health and health equity through interdisciplinary research and patient centered care.” </p> <p>Okuyemi is the founding director of Utah Health Equity Leadership and Mentorship (U-HELM), which provides mentoring and leadership development opportunities to early-career faculty and fellows in any health sciences field at the university who are underrepresented in medicine or involved in health equity research and practice. As department chair, he has grown research expenditure from $8 million annually in 2017 to $20 million in 2022, including NIH and other funding sources. He also increased the department’s Blue Ridge NIH funding ranking from No. 15 in 2017 to No. 4 in 2022 among family medicine departments in the U.S. </p> <p>During his time on faculty at the University of Minnesota Medical School, he established the Program in Health Disparities Research (PHDR) and grew the program to more than 50 faculty members across multiple health sciences colleges and departments before relocating to Utah in 2017. From an investment of $2 million by the dean, the program generated a return of more than $60 million within its first 10 years of existence, primarily from three NIH grants of $42 million and philanthropic giving. </p> <p>Also, while at Minnesota, Okuyemi received a $22 million NIH Common Fund grant to establish the National Research Mentoring Network for a Diverse Biomedical Workforce—a nationwide consortium of biomedical professionals and institutions collaborating to provide enhanced networking and mentorship experiences in support of the career development of trainees from diverse backgrounds in biomedical, behavioral, clinical, and social science research careers. </p> <p>“Throughout the last 20 years of my career, I have been deeply committed to improving the health outcomes of underserved populations and building systems and structures to support innovation and mentorship,” said Okuyemi. “I am excited for this new opportunity with IU School of Medicine and eager to begin my work with the Department of Family Medicine.” </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 24 Oct 2023 00:00:00 Z{DDB096AE-B1FB-48DC-8E02-4C6A1F7F7DB8}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/10/throgmartin-donation-cancer-cardiology$1.5 million gift to support prostate cancer research and cardiology research and education<p>INDIANAPOLIS—In a gesture that continues their family’s long history of extraordinary generosity to Indiana University, Carmel residents W. Gerald and Diane Throgmartin made gifts earlier this month totaling $1.5 million to support lung and prostate cancer research and cardiology research and education at Indiana University School of Medicine. </p> <p>The Throgmartins’ generous gifts will support four separate funds: </p> <ul> <li>The Jackie O’Donnell Fellowship in Cardiac Transplantation honoring retired cardiologist Jackie O’Donnell, MD </li> <li>The Betty Jo Throgmartin Lung Cancer Research Fund named for Gerald’s late wife honoring oncologist <a href="/faculty/5014/hanna-nasser">Nasser Hanna, MD</a>  </li> <li>The Jeffrey Breall Fellowship in Interventional Cardiology honoring interventional cardiologist <a href="/faculty/5020/breall-jeffrey">Jeffrey Breall, MD, PhD</a>  </li> <li>The W. Gerald Throgmartin Prostate Cancer Research Fund honoring oncologist <a href="/faculty/4405/adra-nabil">Nabil Adra, MD</a>  </li> </ul> <p>The gifts for cardiac transplantation and lung cancer were made to funds previously created by the Throgmartins. The gifts for the interventional cardiology fellowship and prostate research establish new areas of support. </p> <p><img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/t/throgm.jpg?h=334&w=500&rev=d5396fe1bfb84d968094d45397fa0fcc&hash=A0DAD555F6471DF2E2F17B43BC14EED6" style="height: 334px; width: 500px; margin: 10px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Jeff Breall, MD, PhD; Diane Throgmartin; Gerald Throgmartin; Jackie O’Donnell, MD" class="float-right" title="Jeff Breall, MD, PhD; Diane Throgmartin; Gerald Throgmartin; Jackie O’Donnell, MD" longdesc="Jeff Breall, MD, PhD; Diane Throgmartin; Gerald Throgmartin; Jackie O’Donnell, MD" />The Throgmartins have a long history of generous support of Indiana University. Since the cancer center’s inception, the Throgmartin family—who owned the HH Gregg electronics and appliances chain—has demonstrated gratitude for the expertise of Indiana University cancer and cardiovascular experts. </p> <p>Gerald’s son Jerry Throgmartin developed cancer in his 20s and was cared for by Stephen Williams, MD, one of IU’s first oncologists and later the inaugural director of the IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. Jerry became the inaugural chair of the cancer center’s development board, serving from 1997 until his death in 2012. Jerry’s wife Peggy continues to champion her family’s support with service on the board and gifts that enhance cancer research and care in Kenya as well as annual support of the cancer center’s Chuckstrong Tailgate Gala. </p> <p>In 1992, Jerry and Peggy Throgmartin supported construction of the first cancer research building on the IU School of Medicine campus. They later created a professorship to support the recruitment of cancer research faculty. They also endowed a senior chair—the HH Gregg Senior Chair in Oncology—that has been held by three successive cancer center directors. </p> <p> In 2020, when Gerald lost his beloved wife Jo to lung cancer, he created the Betty Jo Throgmartin Lung Cancer Research Fund to honor her physician, Nasser Hanna, MD. Though Jo’s life expectancy at the time of her diagnosis was less than two years, she lived more than four years. Gerald credits this to having a physician who provided her with cutting-edge care. </p> <p> Gerald is also a long-term survivor of prostate cancer. He is grateful for the care of Nabil Adra, MD and for the evolution of therapies driven by research that has made his own cancer journey relatively easy.</p> <div> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/t/throgmartin-hanna-adra-celebration-2023.jpg?h=334&w=500&rev=8091330a6c134b9a9f9131ade3c38d01&hash=C380D6EA19776ACCA3B8C07A46FE2C88" alt=" Nabil Adra, MD; Diane Throgmartin; Gerald Throgmartin; Nasser Hanna, MD" title=" Nabil Adra, MD; Diane Throgmartin; Gerald Throgmartin; Nasser Hanna, MD" longdesc=" Nabil Adra, MD; Diane Throgmartin; Gerald Throgmartin; Nasser Hanna, MD" class="float-right" style="margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; height: 334px; width: 500px; margin-top: 10px;" /> <p>Gerald has also been a patient of IU's cardiovascular medicine program for more than 35 years—so long that he now considers his former physician a dear friend. In 2014, to honor O'Donnell at the time of her retirement, Gerald a made a gift to help establish the Jackie O'Donnell Fellowship in Cardiac Transplantation. O’Donnell joined the faculty in 1980 and led the team that performed the first heart transplant at Methodist Hospital.</p> <p> Since Jackie's retirement, Gerald has been cared for by Dr. Jeffrey Breall. His excellent care inspired Gerald to create a fellowship in his name as well. </p> <p>“These are just wonderful people,” Gerald Throgmartin said. “We know the research they do puts them on the cutting edge, and we want that continue. And, we want them to keep training other doctors to be so skilled. That helps people right here in Indiana – it has certainly helped our family.” </p> <p> The legacy of this four-generation, family-owned company once headquartered in Indianapolis will live on through their philanthropy. Their generosity serves as a powerful reminder of the positive impact that philanthropy can have on the health and well-being of individuals and communities. </p> <p> "We are deeply honored to receive these incredibly generous gifts from Gerald and Diane Throgmartin," said IU School of Medicine <a href="/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Dean Jay Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>. "These gifts will be invested in research that improves outcomes for patients and training that prepares the next generation of healthcare professionals. We are profoundly grateful to the Throgmartins for investing in our work.” </p> <p> <strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p> <a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> </div>Mon, 16 Oct 2023 00:00:00 Z{55889BFB-A510-49F8-8FE9-908AFCABF48E}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/10/inpact-grant$15.4 million grant to help eliminate health disparities in Indiana<h2>New funding will target recruitment of students from underserved areas </h2> <p>INDIANAPOLIS—A new $15.4 million grant will help Indiana University School of Medicine recruit and educate medical students to better care for underserved populations, in hopes of improving health care across Indiana. </p> <p>The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) grant will provide nearly $4 million for each of the next four years to the Indiana Primary Care Advancement in Clinical Training (INPACT) program. The goal of the program is to recruit more students from medically underserved areas of the state and provide doctors with the tools needed to offer high-quality primary and specialty care to vulnerable communities. </p> <p>Scholarships will be provided to medical students who plan to practice in primary care specialties of pediatrics, family medicine and internal medicine. Experiential training opportunities will also be expanded throughout the state, particularly in underserved Indiana communities. </p> <p>“INPACT will enhance the IU School of Medicine curriculum by focusing on health system sciences, including social determinants of health and primary care skills that can benefit underserved communities,” said <a href="/faculty/5011/allen-bradley">Bradley Allen, MD, PhD</a>, senior associate dean for medical student education and the principal investigator on the INPACT team. “This grant will help us recruit more students from medically underserved parts of the state who are more likely to return to serve those communities’ health care needs as physicians.” </p> <p>Through INPACT, the school also looks to expand its collaborations with the clinical facilities serving the underserved communities—helping students develop the skillsets needed to meet the unique needs of their patients and help to close the health care gaps. </p> <p>The project will help improve the flow of IU School of Medicine graduates into the expanding number of primary care residency programs around the state. INPACT funding will also be used to expand the school’s Master of Science in Medical Science (MSMS) program—a two-year masters program developed to better prepare students to be successful applicants to medical school. The new funding will be used to help increase recruitment of prospective students from medically underserved areas in Indiana. </p> <p>In addition, the project will help students develop skills in advocacy and leadership so graduates can partner with communities to improve health. This will be accomplished in collaboration with the school’s large number of clinical partners—120 hospitals, clinics, practice groups and health care organizations—to assist with educational placements. Clinical partners include 26 critical access hospitals and 13 federally-qualified health centers statewide. </p> <p>"It is my hope that through these grant funds, IU School of Medicine will be able to innovatively enhance our medical curriculum in topics of health equity and delivery of health care for underserved communities," said <a href="/faculty/41427/wallach-paul">Paul M. Wallach, MD</a>, executive associate dean for educational affairs and the co-principal investigator for the statewide INPACT project team. "At the same time, we want to strengthen educational experiences in primary care so that IU School of Medicine graduates are well-grounded in working with communities and delivering high-quality care for each patient." </p> <p>This project co-aligns with the school’s previously funded <a href="/blogs/faculty-news/iu-school-of-medicine-announces-leadership-team-for-prime-grant-targeting-underserved-populations">Primary Care Reaffirmation for Indiana Medical Education (PRIME) program</a>, which aims to improve preparation of IU medical school graduates in primary care skills and delivery to underserved populations as well as help students gain understanding, direct immersion and expertise in the impact of health care disparities in Indiana. Since the start of these projects in 2020, IU School of Medicine has received $31 million in grant funding for HRSA-funded projects, which the school has supplemented with 10% matching funds. </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 11 Oct 2023 00:00:00 Z{FB0DE541-23A7-4E45-992B-FDB4B1C91DCC}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/10/cancer-drug-discovery-grantIU cancer center receives training grant for cancer drug discovery<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW12077810 BCX9" paraid="1406247720" paraeid="{554ce5b2-ced3-4db2-be7c-1c266437d91c}{180}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">INDIANAPOLIS— </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center was awarded a prestigious grant to train the next generation of cancer drug discovery and development</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> researchers.</span></span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW12077810 BCX9" paraid="1406247720" paraeid="{554ce5b2-ced3-4db2-be7c-1c266437d91c}{180}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Known as a T32 grant, t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">he five-year, $794,000 </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW12077810 BCX9" href="https://reporter.nih.gov/search/e5wxekktYEi2uUfnh8h1dw/project-details/10708526" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">National Cancer Institute award</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> will </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">establish</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Pediatric and Adult Translational Cancer Drug Discovery and Development Training Program (PACT-D3)</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. The award supports three graduate fellows annually</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> with the cancer center </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">adding </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the grant to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">support an </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">additional</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">two</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> students.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW12077810 BCX9" paraid="1179675837" paraeid="{554ce5b2-ced3-4db2-be7c-1c266437d91c}{225}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“This training program builds on the cancer center’s expertise and drug discovery efforts</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">while uniquely addressing both pediatric and adult cancers,” said </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW12077810 BCX9" href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/members/bio/1197" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Mark </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">R. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Kelley</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> PhD,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> the Betty and Earl Herr Professor of Pediatric Oncology Research at IU School of Medicine and the associate director of basic science research at the cancer center.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW12077810 BCX9" paraid="1819275741" paraeid="{554ce5b2-ced3-4db2-be7c-1c266437d91c}{250}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Kelley is the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">co-princip</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">a</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">l investigator </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">on the grant, along with co-principal investigator </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW12077810 BCX9" href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/members/bio/1600" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">D. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Wade Clapp</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, MD, professor of pediatrics and chair of the Department of Pediatrics at IU School of Medicine.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Both Kelley and Clapp have been part of drug discovery efforts that led to clinical trials.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW12077810 BCX9" paraid="1712481948" paraeid="{d8d4a43f-4084-4384-9397-49f478873ed5}{18}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">PACT-D3</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> will </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">allow graduate fellows to have a cancer center mentor who is conducting research in drug discovery</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and development</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">while learning about potential career paths </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">in</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> academic</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, biotech</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">pharma </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">settings.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Fellows will be paired with an investigator whose lab focuses on pediatric cancers, adult cancers or overlapping efforts.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW12077810 BCX9" paraid="1369449756" paraeid="{d8d4a43f-4084-4384-9397-49f478873ed5}{50}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“The PACT-D3 program will provide students with an in-depth understanding of what it takes to take a drug from the lab bench all the way to commercialization,” Kelley said. “There are a lot of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">additional</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> opportunities to do cancer drug discovery and development </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">in large pharma, biotech, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">as well as </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">patent law and licensing. Our job is to train students who will contribute to society in the discovery and development of new cancer treatments.” </span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW12077810 BCX9" paraid="68576701" paraeid="{d8d4a43f-4084-4384-9397-49f478873ed5}{62}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Fellows will also have access to learning opportunities through the</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW12077810 BCX9" href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research/centers/cddd.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cancer Drug Discovery and Development Accelerator</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (CD</span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun Superscript SCXW12077810 BCX9" data-fontsize="11" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">3</span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">A)</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, which was launched by</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> the cancer center</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> in 2019. This initiative </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">accelerat</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">es</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> the journey from research to the clinic by fostering collaborations between university researchers, experienced pharmaceutical industry veterans, technology cores, and external research organizations.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">CD</span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun Superscript SCXW12077810 BCX9" data-fontsize="11" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">3</span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">A</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> is co-led by Kelley and </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW12077810 BCX9" href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/members/bio.html?id=28834&name=chafiq-hamdouchi" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Chafiq</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hamdouchi</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">PhD</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">enior </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">r</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">esearch </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">p</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">rofessor of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">p</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">athology </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">and l</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">aboratory </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">m</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">edicine</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> at IU School of Medicine, and cancer center researcher.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW12077810 BCX9" paraid="292140292" paraeid="{d8d4a43f-4084-4384-9397-49f478873ed5}{140}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Kelley said that </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">u</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">nderstanding the drug discovery process and how to partner with biotech and industry is critical. </span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW12077810 BCX9" paraid="224789657" paraeid="{d8d4a43f-4084-4384-9397-49f478873ed5}{154}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“We want </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">make sure our students have the language to be able to talk to those other potential partners as they move their drug along,” Kelley said. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“We know the success rate</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> for getting new cancer drugs to market</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> is low, so we're trying </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">de</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">-</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">risk that by </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ensuring</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> we have a good process</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and well-trained and prepared students.”</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW12077810 BCX9" paraid="376507532" paraeid="{d8d4a43f-4084-4384-9397-49f478873ed5}{188}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Part of the cancer </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">center’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW12077810 BCX9" href="https://cancer.iu.edu/education/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">robust education and training opportunities</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">he PACT-D3 program is available to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">IU School of Medicine</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW12077810 BCX9" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/graduate-degrees/phd/indianapolis" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">PhD students</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> or </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW12077810 BCX9" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/dual-degrees/md-phd" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">MD/PhD students</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW12077810 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. The first fellows will be named this fall.</span></p> </div> <p> <strong>About the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center </strong></p> <p>The Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center is the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and one of only 54 in the nation. The prestigious comprehensive designation recognizes the center’s excellence in basic, clinical, and population research, outstanding educational activities, and effective community outreach program across the state. It is also one of only 33 members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. As a member, the center’s physicians have a role in determining the recognized standard of clinical care for cancer patients. The center is the central hub for cancer research and education across Indiana University. </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 10 Oct 2023 00:00:00 Z{9919B337-D920-4398-A8D4-59A2C9C4E7C6}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/10/liz-yeh-breast-cancer-research-grantIU cancer researcher receives $2.2 million grant for metastatic breast cancer research<p>INDIANAPOLIS— A breast cancer researcher at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center received a five-year, $2.2 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to examine how certain immune cells support metastatic breast cancer development—and how to stop it. </p> <p>Cells called macrophages usually perform essential tasks as part of the immune system, but breast cancer cells can hijack them to protect cancer cells and help them grow. When this happens, they become tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). </p> <p>“Our goal is to interrupt that communication process between those two cell types – the tumor cells and the macrophages – and in that way, prevent metastasis from happening,” said <a href="/faculty/43871/yeh-elizabeth">Liz Yeh, PhD</a>, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at IU School of Medicine and a researcher at the <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research/centers/vera-bradley/index.html">Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research </a>at the <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a>. </p> <p><img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/project/facultyprofileimages/2021/02/04/01/01/43871-elizabeth-yeh.png?h=300&w=200&rev=8a9c6b1d10d345be98eb4235f0a25354&hash=E20A6B0C325219C17ED9BA792B363D98" style="height: 300px; width: 200px;" alt="Liz Yeh, PhD" title="Liz Yeh, PhD" longdesc="Liz Yeh, PhD" class="float-left" />Tumor-associated macrophages are abundant in breast cancer tumors and promote metastasis, or the spread of cancer. Yeh’s research lab is interested in understanding more about these TAMS and exactly how they interact with the tumor cells. One strategy to target that interaction is through a protein kinase called HUNK. </p> <p>“We found that the presence of this kinase HUNK in breast cancer cells leads to communication with tumor-associated macrophages to promote this metastatic process,” Yeh said. “Kinases are a popular drug target because you can very specifically target their enzymatic activity.” </p> <p><a href="https://reporter.nih.gov/search/RE9V-xfheECSZotKWWexIw/project-details/10583793#publications">Yeh’s research</a> will look at ways to directly target HUNK instead of targeting the TAM cells. Yeh hopes her research team can break the communication cycle between the tumor cells and the TAMS to re-establish anti-tumor immunity. These findings have the potential to identify new methods for treating metastasis. </p> <p>Yeh’s research lab is also working on a drug discovery project to identify inhibitors (a molecule that binds to an enzyme to block its activity) for HUNK. The lab has long focused on understanding the role of HUNK in aggressive types of breast cancer, including triple negative and HER2-positive breast cancers.</p> <p><strong>About the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center </strong></p> <p><a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">The Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center </a>is the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and one of only 54 in the nation. The prestigious comprehensive designation recognizes the center’s excellence in basic, clinical, and population research, outstanding educational activities, and effective community outreach program across the state. It is also one of only 33 members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. As a member, the center’s physicians have a role in determining the recognized standard of clinical care for cancer patients. The center is the central hub for cancer research and education across Indiana University.</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 03 Oct 2023 00:00:00 Z{C457FAFB-9817-433B-B398-D0B6B4AF7CE6}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/10/women-prison-grantIU School of Medicine receives $468,000 grant to support incarcerated women and their children<p>INDIANAPOLIS—A new program led by Indiana University School of Medicine faculty will provide more support for mothers and babies in the Indiana Women’s Prison, thanks to a new $468,000 grant from the Early Years Initiative from Early Learning Indiana. </p> <p>The Promises of Parenting Program is a maternal attachment and infant education program developed for mother-baby pairs residing in the Leath Unit Nursery in the prison. The program will provide targeted parenting education and support, opportunities for mothers and infants to bond and spend uninterrupted time together and foundational play materials. It will also provide education, training and support to the service providers in the Leath Unit. </p> <p>“Pregnant and parenting women experiencing incarceration require specialized support, health education and parenting information to improve parenting outcomes, foster healthy child development and decrease recidivism,” said <a href="/faculty/51835/turman-jack">Jack Turman, PhD</a>, principal investigator of the project. “Infants taken from their incarcerated mother are at high risk of toxic stress, which can alter a child’s neurochemistry and anatomy, inhibiting healthy growth and development. Throughout their lifetime, these children are also at an increased risk of experiencing poverty, multiple home and school displacements and even their own incarceration as adolescents and adults.” </p> <p>The Early Years Initiative is a $50 million competitive grant program focused on enhancing the learning and development of infants and toddlers in Indiana communities. It places special emphasis on serving families in low-income households. Support for this initiative comes from Lilly Endowment Inc. IU is one of 86 chosen to receive a grant from the group. </p> <p>In the program, each mother will learn to describe the qualities of respectful relationships, demonstrate the importance of supporting a child’s social-emotional development through healthy attachment, demonstrate confidence in understanding and meeting their child’s needs, and differentiate between parental and child emotions and the variables that impact them. The pilot program has already served 18 mother/baby pairs. With this new three-year grant, they hope to serve another 24 pairs per year for three years. </p> <p>Class curricula will utilize emergent learning, the premise that individuals are most successful at learning when curriculum accounts for their interests, strengths, needs and realities. </p> <p>“This type of adaptable, participant-led learning is critical to the successful learning of mothers incarcerated in the unit,” Turman said. “The curriculum is designed to meet our goals and learning objectives and is delivered by certified instructors who have years of experience in infant and toddler education and care programs. Their teaching of mothers always includes the babies and utilizes skill-based learning and practice in a variety of topics, including respect, emotional regulation, trauma responses, empathy, discipline, authenticity, bathing, diapering, feeding, playing, sleeping and self-care for mother.” </p> <p>The Promises of Parenting Program will also promote sustainability by building the knowledge, skill and capacity of service providers within the Leath Unit. Correctional staff members will sit in and observe the set of class sessions receive the same handouts and materials provided to the women. </p> <p>Mothers in the program who have completed a class can repeat the same class as many times as desired until they are released from the unit. </p> <p>“Repetition has proved itself to be a powerful teaching and learning tool for individuals who have experienced trauma. It will also enable and empower mothers who have already been through the class to serve as in-unit mentors in subsequent classes,” Turman said. “We have already seen relationships restored between the mothers and their older children as they work to apply the principles we teach them to the relationships with older children, and we look forward to seeing how these mothers share and disseminate the information they learn from the experience to those in their communities when they are released from prison.” </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine </a>is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Mon, 02 Oct 2023 00:00:00 Z{337A18BE-E913-441E-82D8-0F0876D5E4E4}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/09/medical-molecular-genetics-chair-namedIU School of Medicine names new chair to lead Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine is promoting one of its own to serve as the next leader of the <a href="/genetics">Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics</a>. </p> <p><a href="/faculty/22816/ware-stephanie">Stephanie M. Ware, MD, PhD</a>, has been named the new chair, after serving as interim chair of the department since January 2023. The department is currently ranked sixth in NIH funding among genetics departments in the United States. </p> <p>A highly respected physician-scientist in the field of genetics, Ware is currently a professor of pediatrics and medical and molecular genetics at IU School of Medicine. She also serves as vice chair of clinical affairs with the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics and is director of the cardiovascular genetics program in the <a href="/research-centers/pediatrics">Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research.</a> </p> <p>“Dr. Ware’s extensive clinical and research experience, and her demonstrated skills in creating strong interdisciplinary programs, have uniquely prepared her to lead and transform our Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics,” said <a href="/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>, dean of IU School of Medicine and Executive Vice President of University Clinical Affairs for IU. “Throughout her tenure at the school, Dr. Ware has shown a commitment to medical education, research and patient care. I am eager for her to continue that leadership as our new chair for medical and molecular genetics.” </p> <p>Ware has been with IU School of Medicine since 2014, when she was recruited from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital to build a cardiovascular genetics program to include both clinical and research focuses. Since her arrival, she has established a basic research cardiovascular genetics program within the Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research. As part of her strategic vision for translational research, she led the development of multidisciplinary subspecialty clinics that facilitate robust phenotyping, patient sample collection, and clinical registries in addition to providing outstanding clinical care. The program’s clinical program now consists of eight new multidisciplinary clinics, which had more than 1,500 patient encounters in 2022. </p> <p>In 2017, she was named Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs for the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics. Under her direction, the program has restructured its clinical services and has nearly tripled in size, including adding seven new faculty medical geneticists and nearly 40 additional genetic counselors and nurse practitioners. Additionally, it has added multidisciplinary clinics with nine departments and expanded its core patient care—becoming one of 31 sites nationally recognized as part of the National Organization of Rare Disorders Center of Excellence Network and one of 6 new sites for the NIH’s Undiagnosed Disease Network. </p> <p>Ware’s research focuses on understanding the developmental and genetic basis of pediatric heart disease and implementing multidisciplinary approaches to improve care. Her basic lab research seeks to understand abnormal cardiac development underlying congenital heart defects using mouse and Xenopus as model organisms. The lab’s translational research focuses on identifying novel genetic causes or modifiers of congenital heart defects and cardiomyopathy. </p> <p>Clinically, she evaluates and manages patients with genetic disorders and has specific expertise in cardiomyopathy and syndromes with cardiovascular disease. </p> <p>“My career has given me a unique perspective on the opportunities and challenges of basic and translational research, and a commitment to research to improve the lives of patients,” said Ware. “I am eager to have the opportunity as chair to uphold the excellence of our dynamic department and foster its growth as genomics continues to evolve and impact health care.” </p> <p>Ware is a graduate of Butler University, with a Bachelor of Science in zoology. She earned her PhD from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, followed by her MD. She completed a residency in pediatrics at the Baylor College of Medicine, and a fellowship in medical genetics from Baylor. </p> <p>She will assume the role effective immediately and will have oversight and responsibility for the program’s clinical, educational and research programs. </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Fri, 22 Sep 2023 00:00:00 Z{E6C1ACE4-1EE1-4909-960A-54FB2C5BFE54}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/09/pocus-training-program-expansionIU School of Medicine expands point-of-care ultrasound training<h3>Students, residents, fellows and faculty will begin using the tool in clinical education settings in Indianapolis </h3> <p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine is expanding its training program for point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) by investing in portable ultrasound systems for all students, residents, and fellows across seven specialties to use in curricula and patient care at the academic health center in Indianapolis. </p> <p>POCUS is a handheld diagnostic imaging tool used at the bedside along with a tablet. Its versatility allows for widespread use across different medical specialties, with the device even fitting into a practitioner's white coat pocket. </p> <p>“Many physicians consider POCUS the stethoscope of the future, and as such its use is rapidly growing in medical practices across the country,” said <a href="/faculty/41427/wallach-paul">Paul Wallach, MD</a>, executive associate dean for educational affairs and chief academic officer at IU School of Medicine. “As one of the only medical schools with this expanded training of our POCUS curriculum, we are leading the effort to bring this innovative technology into health care systems to help provide better care for patients in Indiana and beyond.” </p> <p>The school first began using POCUS devices manufactured by Butterfly Network with medical students in 2018. Students will continue to receive training through a comprehensive POCUS curriculum that spans all four years of medical school, but now residency and fellowship programs in family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, anesthesia, OB-GYN, surgery and critical care will use the devices, as well.</p> <p> </p> <h3><strong><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://iusmimages.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000xClrGyQxSJQ/POCUS-Expansion-2023" target="_blank">MEDIA KIT: Download hi-res photos and videos for use in media coverage about this story.</a></strong></h3> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p>“IU School of Medicine is truly leading the way in using this innovative technology to train the next generation of physicians,” said <a href="/faculty/44580/ferre-rob">Rob Ferre, MD</a>, program director of IU School of Medicine’s POCUS initiative. “POCUS allows students to see beneath the surface of the skin and see the inner workings of the body in action. Imagine how transformative this will be as they master this skill and can then show patients what is going right, or wrong, within their body.” </p> <p>Faculty will also receive training on how to use the devices, allowing them to learn how to use this state-of-the-art technology in a variety of settings. </p> <p>“We have created an ecosystem where students, faculty and residents can all collaborate, learn and teach one another,” Wallach said. “As we’re training the physicians of tomorrow, we think today, POCUS is an important part of that.” </p> <p>Funding for the project was provided by a grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) <a href="/md/curriculum/threads/prime-grant">Primary Care Reaffirmation for Indiana Medical Education (PRIME)</a> program, with Wallach and <a href="/faculty/5011/allen-bradley">Bradley Allen, PhD, MD</a> as co-principal investigators.</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <p> </p> <iframe width="760" height="515" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0-yBRP1sQ5s?si=g_XMmdmOhBdNNyKh" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Tue, 12 Sep 2023 00:00:00 Z{89113E8C-7C80-4037-B0A6-0B5F0D58BE94}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/09/bakas-director-computational-pathologyInternationally recognized computational researcher Spyridon Bakas, PhD, to serve as inaugural director of Division of Computational Pathology<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine <a href="/pathology">Department of Pathology</a> is launching a new Division of Computational Pathology and a Research Center for Federated Learning in Precision Medicine. Both will be led by <a href="/faculty/64865/bakas-spyridon">Spyridon Bakas, PhD</a>, an internationally recognized computational researcher who brings ten years of experience and NIH grant funding to this growing field that combines artificial intelligence and medicine. </p> <p>“Computational pathology is a growing area of medicine around the world,” Bakas said. “The idea is to leverage information that exists within tissue slides that cannot be perceived by the naked eye. After being digitized, the clinical pathologist can identify cues that are visually interpretable, whereas computational methods can unlock sub-visual cues revealing patterns of diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive value. Recent technological advancements have generated an amplitude of data that burden the current pathologists and technicians, so we need these computational tools to assess all this information more efficiently and effectively.” </p> <p>Bakas joined IU on September 1 as the Joshua Edwards Associate Professor of Pathology and brings with him a team of six researchers that span across various ranks. He and the Department of Pathology are actively recruiting for several more positions, from assistant professors to data analysts and postdoctoral researchers, to serve as leaders in the promising field of computational pathology and federated learning. </p> <p>The goals of the new division and research center include: </p> <ul> <li>Devise solutions to clinically relevant questions while contributing to the optimized use of health care professional skillsets while decreasing cognitive and clerical burden </li> <li>Expedite digital service, device, and drug discovery across the school </li> <li>Yield new biological and clinical insights into pathological processes</li> <li>Facilitate multi-institutional collaborations without sharing patient data, thereby overcoming legal, privacy and data ownership challenges. </li> </ul> <p><img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/news/2023/crystal-display-wall.jpg?h=498&w=900&rev=47eb95b8fde948e59aa91ed4a16c2c05&hash=F9E20EE503A53D641C89547A0D13E40F" style="height: 498px; width: 900px; margin: 10px;" alt="Spyridon Bakas, PhD looks at a tissue slide of a brain tumor on the Crystal Display Wall at the Cyberinfrastructure Building at Indiana University Bloomington." longdesc="Spyridon Bakas, PhD looks at a tissue slide of a brain tumor on the Crystal Display Wall at the Cyberinfrastructure Building at Indiana University Bloomington." class="float-left" />Bakas will hold secondary appointments, indicating the vision of the new division and research center to work collaboratively and closely with other areas of the school, including the Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences and the Department of Neurological Surgery. They will also work with other schools within Indiana University, such as the Department of Computer Science in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering. </p> <p>“We bring expertise in machine learning for health care data, while other collaborators will bring complimentary domain knowledge and expertise in privacy and security,” Bakas said. </p> <p>“The arrival of Dr. Bakas is a tremendous opportunity for the department and for IU School of Medicine to launch into the sphere of computational pathology, which unlocks new ways of examining cells, tissues and organs in health and disease,” said <a href="/faculty/63522/feldman-michael">Michael Feldman, MD, PhD</a>, chair of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. “We will be able to leverage the significant resources that already exist at the school and the university to build long-term partnerships with other departments, such as radiology.” </p> <p>Bakas and his team have published several major research studies, including <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-33407-5">the largest real-world federated learning study ever conducted</a>, which focused on health care for brain tumor patients. Federated Machine Learning provides an alternative paradigm for accurate and generalizable machine learning by only sharing numerical model updates across multiple data sets. </p> <p>“We look forward to extending that further, not only in more research studies, but with collaborators within IU and outside of the university with other industry collaborators and research institutions,” Bakas said. </p> <p><strong>About Indiana University School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine </a>is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Thu, 07 Sep 2023 00:00:00 Z{5A53D499-C0AF-490E-BEE5-50742160209E}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/09/alzheimers-disease-risk-gene-mutationIU researchers identify new gene mutation that alters Alzheimer’s disease risk<p>INDIANAPOLIS—A groundbreaking study led by experts from Indiana University School of Medicine has shed new light on the genetic underpinnings of Alzheimer's disease. The team's research, rooted in human genetics studies, has unearthed a critical mutation within a key gene operating in the brain's immune cells, potentially elevating the risk of Alzheimer's disease. </p> <p>The research team included several IU investigators within <a href="/research-centers/neurosciences">Stark Neurosciences Research Institute</a>—<a href="/faculty/27243/landreth-gary">Gary Landreth, PhD</a>, the Martin Professor of Alzheimer’s Research; <a href="/faculty/23627/lamb-bruce">Bruce Lamb, PhD</a>, executive director of Stark Neuroscience Research Institute; <a href="/faculty/43318/bissel-stephanie">Stephanie Bissel, PhD</a>, assistant professor of genetics; <a href="/faculty/7155/nho-kwangsik">Kwangsik Nho, PhD</a>, associate professor of radiology and imaging sciences; and <a href="/faculty/22184/oblak-adrian">Adrian Oblak, PhD</a>, assistant professor of radiology and imaging sciences. Their research was <a href="https://www.cell.com/immunity/fulltext/S1074-7613(23)00364-3">recently published in the journal Immunity</a>. </p> <p>Andy Tsai, PhD, a graduate of the <a href="/research-centers/neurosciences/education/medical-neuroscience-graduate-program">Medical Neurosciences Graduate Program</a>, was the driving force behind the research, encompassing his PhD thesis. Tsai, now a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University Medical School, has significantly contributed to unraveling the mysteries of Alzheimer's disease. </p> <p>The focal point of the investigation revolved around the phospholipase C gamma 2 (PLCG2) gene, intricately entwined within microglia—central to the brain's immune response. This genetic anomaly, discovered through analysis of the gene's biological workings, showcased the impact of specific rare variants. The study found that the M28L variant heightened the susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease, whereas the P522R variant exhibited a risk-reducing effect. </p> <p>Innovative mouse models of Alzheimer's disease developed by the NIH-funded <a href="/expertise/alzheimers/research/preclinical/laboratory-models">MODEL-AD Center </a>allowed researchers to substantiate their findings. Immune cells harboring risk-reducing gene variants demonstrated a reduction in amyloid plaques, while those carrying the risk-elevating variants exhibited a surge in plaque accumulation. The study unveiled specific gene clusters orchestrating these alterations in immune cell behavior within microglia. </p> <p>Microglia, often regarded as the brain's first line of defense against infections, toxins and damage, has garnered attention for its significant role in influencing disease susceptibility. </p> <p>"The microglial response affects neurons which then affects the capacity to learn and form new memories,” Landreth said. </p> <p>Extensive collaboration within Stark Neurosciences Research Institute enabled a comprehensive evaluation of the gene's implications. This included a comparison between preclinical data from animal models and real-world human data on Alzheimer's disease. </p> <p>“This represents a collaboration that could’ve only been achieved at Stark,” Landreth said. "We used human genetics to investigate and identify a mechanism, and indeed we have." </p> <p>The study's paramount importance lies in explaining the critical role of microglial immune responses and their potential to impact disease risk, positively or negatively. This discovery promises to reshape the understanding of Alzheimer's disease and carve a path toward targeted therapeutics, which is being pursued by the NIH-funded <a href="/expertise/alzheimers/research/preclinical/drug-discovery">TREAT-AD Center</a>. </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 06 Sep 2023 00:00:00 Z{10F2A540-D88D-4BE2-BFE1-9494864FBA3B}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/pediatric-readiness-health-equity-studyStudy: health equity an important aspect of improving quality of care provided to children in emergency departments<p>INDIANAPOLIS—A new multi-site study led by Indiana University School of Medicine found increasing pediatric readiness in emergency departments reduces, but does not eliminate, racial and ethnic disparities in children and adolescents with acute medical emergencies. </p> <p>The study also involved researchers from Oregon Health and Science University and UC Davis Health. They <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2808908?utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=090523">recently published their findings in JAMA Network Open</a>. </p> <p>“Ours is a national study group focused on pediatric emergency department readiness,” said <a href="/faculty/23143/jenkins-peter">Peter Jenkins, MD</a>, associate professor surgery at IU School of Medicine and first author of the study. “We have been very productive in demonstrating that the more prepared an ED is to take care of kids, the better their chances of survival, and that includes children with traumatic injuries and medical emergencies.” </p> <p>“Readiness” can include a variety of factors for an ED, including staffing, materials, training and protocols. Jenkins said the more prepared the hospital, and the more protocols in place, then the more likely a child is to survive a traumatic injury or acute medical emergency. But until now, it was unclear whether children of all races and ethnicities benefit the same from increased levels of readiness. </p> <p>“We believe that treatment protocols help to overcome biases and racism because if a child meets criteria, then we do one thing or another,” Jenkins said. “We saw that for kids with traumatic injuries, whose care is largely determined by such protocols, there weren’t significant differences in survival based on race and ethnicity. But for children with medical emergencies, where treatment protocols are often lacking, we found significant disparities in mortality between Black and White kids. Importantly, the higher the level of readiness of the ED, the lower the level of disparity between racial and ethnic groups.” </p> <p>Researchers looked at 633,536 pediatric patients at hospitals in 11 states from 2012-2017, making this one of the largest studies of racial and ethnic disparities among children to date. </p> <p>“A lot of times when we talk about health equity, people are concerned that improving the condition of one group may result in another group losing out,” Jenkins said. “This study shows the opposite to be true. All groups benefit from improved readiness, and we also have this extra layer of social justice woven into the narrative of improved health care quality. These findings only strengthens the case to provide resources to hospitals so they're prepared to take care of all sick kids.” </p> <p>In the future, the group plans to look at updated surveys of hospitals to determine if there have been changes in pediatric readiness over time. Jenkins said they also plan to promote the importance of health equity into the national platform for pediatric readiness. </p> <p>Other lead collaborators include <a href="https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/team/376/nathan-kuppermann---pediatric-emergency-medicine-sacramento/">Nathan Kuppermann, MD, MPH</a> from UC Davis and <a href="https://www.ohsu.edu/people/craig-newgard-md-mph">Craig Newgard, MD, MPH</a> from OHSU. <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2808908?utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=090523">Read the full publication in JAMA Network Open</a>. </p> <p><strong>About Indiana University School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 05 Sep 2023 00:00:00 Z{B373D346-B8FC-4E40-855F-F4025D55A4C6}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/08/dementia-care-partners-projectStatewide project to provide care and support to people living with dementia and their care partners<p>INDIANAPOLIS—An Indiana University School of Medicine statewide project in collaboration with Indiana University Health was recently funded to support people living with dementia as well as their family care partners find more support and resources, thanks to a new $686,000 grant from <a href="https://impactcollaboratory.org/alexia-torke-md-ms-nicole-fowler-phd/">the National Institute on Aging IMPACT Collaboratory</a>. </p> <p>The Aging Brain Care Virtual program will be the first study to test dementia collaborative care in Indiana University Health primary care. The project will utilize the IU Health Virtual Hub system for making phone or video calls with the care partners and patients. The main goal will be to support patients living with dementia and family caregivers and the patient’s primary care team. </p> <p>“People living with dementia and their family caregivers are overwhelmed and stressed,” said <a href="/faculty/5180/fowler-nicole">Nicole Fowler, PhD</a>, associate professor of medicine and co-principal investigator of the study. “We hope the Aging Brain Care Virtual Program will help us assess if collaborative care management provided virtually meets the needs and addresses the stress for families and people living with dementia.” </p> <p>The Aging Brain Care Virtual Program will take place over the next two years at 24 Indiana University Health primary care clinics across Indiana. An intervention team will identify 860 patients aged 65 or older living with dementia—430 of them will receive the intervention, while 430 will be in the control group. A dementia care manager will provide a needs assessment, develop a care plan and implement protocols to help the care partner manage dementia symptoms over a 12-month period. </p> <p>“Through this program, we hope to prove that a scalable, primary care-based intervention addresses the crucial needs of people living with dementia and their care partners,” said <a href="/faculty/4856/torke-alexia">Alexia Torke, MD</a>, professor of medicine and co-principal investigator. “This has the potential to improve the quality of dementia care across the country, especially for those who do not have access to highly specialized research centers.” </p> <p>The grant is part of the <a href="https://impactcollaboratory.org/grants-and-training/demonstration-projects/demonstration-grants-program/">Demonstration Projects Cycle 3 award</a> from the NIA IMPACT Collaboratory. </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 29 Aug 2023 00:00:00 Z{9E028DC2-1B83-49E1-801A-1E4B43A22AAE}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/08/brain-role-addiction-recoveryOverlooked part of brain could play critical role in addiction recovery<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine have discovered a neglected brain region that could play a critical role in how likely a person with drug use disorders is to relapse, even after a long withdrawal period. Their findings were <a href="https://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223(23)01354-9/fulltext">published recently in Biological Psychiatry</a>. </p> <p>“Past studies in the field of addiction research have focused on the medial prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the brain that controls decision making, but no effective prevention or treatment for drug relapse is available,” said <a href="/faculty/42394/ma-yao-ying">Yao-Ying Ma, MD, PhD</a>, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology and an investigator with the <a href="/research-centers/neurosciences">Stark Neurosciences Research Institute at IU School of Medicine</a>. “We focused instead on the supplementary motor cortex, and found this area plays a bigger role in the risk of relapse. It could be a new target for therapeutics to prevent relapse.” </p> <p>Researchers studied cocaine-seeking behaviors in animal models, measuring excitability levels in the motor cortex after 45 days of withdrawal. They found hyperexcitability in the motor cortex was increased at this point and used an intervention to calm the excitability taking place in that part of the brain. </p> <p>“One of the biggest challenges for patients with addiction is preventing relapse,” Ma said. “We know they need medication, community involvement, psychological support and other resources to help, but for many people who go back to take a drug, it just feels like an automatic behavior. If we can understand whether addiction behavior is subconscious or conscious behavior, we can find better ways to treat and prevent addiction and relapse.” </p> <p>The supplementary motor cortex is typically known for directing how the body moves, so Ma said the finding that it plays a big role in addiction is novel and exciting. </p> <p>“This brain region has never really gotten too much attention in addiction research, so we’re excited about this finding and how it can change the way we treat addiction by using less invasive methods, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, as well as the trajectory of our work moving forward,” Ma said. </p> <p>In the future, the team will study the effect of other addictive substances to see if the supplementary motor cortex is involved in other types of drug use disorders, such as opioid and alcohol use disorders. </p> <p>The first author of the study, Donald Huang, was Ma’s PhD student. Huang recently received his PhD in Medical Neuroscience from IU School of Medicine and now works as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Chicago. </p> <p><strong>About Indiana University School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Thu, 24 Aug 2023 00:00:00 Z{3BE56EA3-8D5D-4054-833B-A9774638CCE6}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/08/alzheimer-research-models-resourceNeuroscientists create new resource to improve Alzheimer’s disease research models<h2>Genetic diversity key to new study on abnormal protein accumulation in the brain—a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease development </h2> <p> INDIANAPOLIS – A new study by Indiana University School of Medicine researchers uses more genetically diverse mouse models to study the accumulation and spread of abnormal tau protein deposits in the brain—a known sign of Alzheimer’s disease and several other neurodegenerative diseases. The study’s findings, <a href="https://rupress.org/jem/article/220/11/e20230180/276197/Network-analysis-identifies-strain-dependent" target="blank">recently published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine</a>, could lead to better research models that improve understanding of how different genetic backgrounds influence neurodegenerative disease development and treatment needs. </p> <p> “As the medical community aims to treat those suffering from neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, it is critical for us to understand how the brain responds to these tau abnormalities,” said Dominic J. Acri, first author on the study and a PhD candidate at IU School of Medicine. “Genetically diverse animal models are an exciting new avenue to discover novel mechanisms of disease. This work is a foundational first step for genetic mapping studies that could reveal druggable targets for neurodegenerative diseases.” </p> <p> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/news/2023/acri_dom_stark-08-web.jpg?h=375&w=250&rev=2c54989675d94c0787af419cb81a1bb3&hash=8FF73FA1454F7843C1CDF01C595E00F5" style="height: 375px; width: 250px;" alt="Dominic J. Acri" title="Dominic J. Acri" longdesc="Dominic J. Acri" class="float-left" />The research team was led by <a href="/faculty/41977/kim-jungsu">Jungsu Kim, PhD</a>, the P. Michael Conneally Professor of Medical and Molecular Genetics and an investigator in the Stark Neurosciences Research Institute at IU School of Medicine. </p> <p> Kim said the study was made successful in part by IU School of Medicine scientists’ expertise in animal research models for Alzheimer’s disease—one of many neuroscience strengths that make the school home to one of the world’s most comprehensive Alzheimer’s disease research programs, from basic science to drug discovery. </p> <p> “I am grateful for the great collaborative environment that we have created at IU,” Kim said. “It has allowed us to share ideas, learn from each other and work together on this project more efficiently. Without this type of collaborative support from the laboratories of Drs. <a href="/faculty/27419/lasagna-reeves-cristian">Cristian Lasagna-Reeves</a>, <a href="/faculty/43318/bissel-stephanie">Stephanie Bissel</a>, and <a href="/faculty/23627/lamb-bruce">Bruce Lamb</a>, this project might have taken a few more years.” </p> <p> To date, most preclinical studies performed in mouse models of diseases utilize one inbred genetic background. </p> <p> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/news/2023/jungsu-kim-phd07-copy.jpg?h=300&w=450&rev=2ce4137501ce4454b38bb3c763569565&hash=5236895E9A88A40EDB9D66C5A0C3AC0B" style="height: 300px; width: 450px;" alt="Jungsu Kim, PhD" title="Jungsu Kim, PhD" longdesc="Jungsu Kim, PhD" class="float-right" />“This means that—unlike humans—every mouse in a given study is essentially a clone containing identical genetic information,” Acri said. “We hypothesized that using genetically diverse mouse models may improve our ability to translate findings in mice to help patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases.”  </p> <p> This new study is unique, Acri said, because the research team used models of mice from three different genetic backgrounds, in addition to the single genetic background often presumed to be sufficient to model various human diseases. </p> <p> Their findings suggest that these different genetic strains are an ideal resource for investigating the contribution of genetic variation to the study of Alzheimer’s and other diseases caused by tau abnormalities. </p> <p> The study also identified: </p> <ul> <li> A core tau-responsive transcriptional signature that is not affected by genetic background. </li> <li> A unique transcriptional response to tau that may indicate genetically diverse mice strains should be used to study certain risk genes. </li> <li> A tau seeding activity associated transcriptional signature that implicates microglia. </li> </ul> <p> Because most therapeutic approaches are tested in mice before progressing to clinical trials, the researchers said including genetically diverse mice may enhance the translatability of these models to treating patients with different genetic backgrounds. They plan to further explore their findings in future studies to model the newly identified genes on genetically diverse mouse, zebrafish and fly models.</p> <p><strong>About Indiana University School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 22 Aug 2023 00:00:00 Z{9FF37F19-0503-4029-BD92-66BD9E347710}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/08/ganassi-cancer-center-liveryChip Ganassi Racing Honda sports IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center livery<h2>No. 11 IU car driven by Marcus Armstrong at Gallagher Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course </h2> <p>INDIANAPOLIS–Earlier today, Chip Ganassi Racing revealed its new livery: the No. 11 IU Simon Cancer Center race car that will be driven by Marcus Armstrong at this weekend’s Gallagher Grand Prix. </p> <p>Unveiled at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the car’s livery sports an eye-catching IU design that celebrates the <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center’s</a> commitment to accelerating life-saving research. Emblazoned with “Research Cures Cancer” and “Accelerating Cancer Research,” the sleek open-wheel race car will highlight Indiana’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center during this hometown race to a national audience.</p> <p>The livery was donated by the Jack, John and Jeff Schwarz family. </p> <p>“First and foremost, I want to thank the Schwarz family for their generosity in making the cancer center livery possible,” said Kelvin Lee, MD, director of the cancer center. “Also, a special thanks goes to the entire Chip Ganassi Racing organization for welcoming us with open arms. I know this is a busy and exciting time for Chip Ganassi, and I know it takes a lot of work to bring on a new partner for one race. I appreciate the extra efforts they have taken to make this happen. I can’t wait to see it in action during Saturday’s race.” </p> <p>Blair Julian, team manager and No. 11 strategist, said, “It is always exciting to welcome a new partner to the team, but this one is a special honor knowing how big of an impact the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center has on our Indianapolis community. We appreciate all the hard work and research done by the center and are delighted to promote their efforts in this race. What a privilege this is to carry their colors and their name just down the road at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. We’ll do everything we can to maximize our performance and try to get the No. 11 car to victory lane.” </p> <p>This unique opportunity ties into the cancer center’s <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/community/race-to-beat-cancer/index.html">Race to Beat Cancer public education campaign</a> that focuses on breast, colon, lung and testicular cancers as well as head and neck cancer and cervical cancer, the two most common types of HPV-related cancers. Experts from the cancer center provide easy-to-understand tips about prevention and early detection, signs and symptoms, screening guidelines, the latest research, and more. </p> <p>“Education is one pillar of our mission at the cancer center, and with this online education campaign, we want Hoosiers and others to be informed about things they can do to help prevent cancer from developing as well as be knowledgeable about cancer screenings,” Lee said. </p> <p>Armstrong entered his rookie season in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES at age 22, piloting the No. 11 Honda in road and street course races. He remains the frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year award with 173 points entering the Indy GP (31-point advantage). In July, Armstrong registered a career-high finish of seventh place at the Honda Indy Toronto race. Armstrong made his North American professional debut after competing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship from 2020 to 2022 where he earned four wins and eight podiums. Armstrong scored his first victory in the series in 2021 at Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia, and then registered three wins across the 2022 campaign in Italy, Austria and the Netherlands. Armstrong also served as a development driver for the Scuderia Ferrari F1 team in 2021. </p> <p>The Christchurch, New Zealand native launched his racing career behind the wheel of go-karts at 10 years old. He won five go-karting national championships in New Zealand before moving to Europe in 2015 to compete on the world stage. In 2017, Armstrong made the jump to Formula 4 where he won the Italian Formula 4 championship in his first season competing in the series. Armstrong competed in Formula 3 across the 2018 and 2019 seasons, where he tallied four wins, four pole positions and 16 podiums. </p> <p>This is not the first time the cancer center has been connected to a race car. In 2022, the center sponsored formula car driver Jackson Lee, a motorsports engineering student at IUPUI. During that sponsorship, Jackson Lee Racing helped celebrate the center’s 30th anniversary and raise awareness of its history of lifesaving research. Earlier this year, Jackson Lee Racing and the cancer center launched the Race to Beat Cancer online education campaign. </p> <p><strong>About the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center </strong></p> <p><a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">The Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center </a>is the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and one of only 54 in the nation. The prestigious comprehensive designation recognizes the center’s excellence in basic, clinical, and population research, outstanding educational activities, and effective community outreach program across the state. It is also one of only 33 members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. As a member, the center’s physicians have a role in determining the recognized standard of clinical care for cancer patients. The center is the central hub for cancer research and education across Indiana University.</p>Thu, 10 Aug 2023 00:00:00 Z{C35E07B3-DA92-487E-8A49-C6B91C707D89}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/07/zoo-orangutan-diagnosisIU researchers diagnose Indianapolis Zoo orangutan with rare genetic disease<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine have diagnosed a Sumatran Orangutan at the Indianapolis Zoo with a rare genetic disease called Alkaptonuria. This is the first time the disease has been confirmed molecularly in a primate other than a human. </p> <p>The six-year-old orangutan, named Mila, was born at the Indianapolis Zoo in 2016. Mila had a history of dark urine that turned brown upon standing since birth, but has never shown other symptoms. Researchers from the IU School of Medicine Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics collected and analyzed DNA, diagnosing Mila with alkaptonuria. </p> <p>The research team <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1096719223002585" target="blank">recently published their findings in <em>Molecular Genetics and Metabolism</em></a>. </p> <p>“This was an unexpected finding that ended years of questions about this animal,” said <a href="/faculty/38384/miller-marcus" target="blank">Marcus Miller, PhD</a>, assistant professor of clinical medical and molecular genetics and principal investigator of the study. “We’re proud of this collaborative effort with the zoo that will hopefully lead to better care and treatment of Mila moving forward.” </p> <p>Alkaptonuria is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder caused by deficiency of an enzyme called homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase. As an infant, the only symptom is urine that turns black upon standing. Symptoms typically progress slowly, but can lead to chronic joint pain and decreased mobility later in life. </p> <p>There have been several reports of the disease in non-human primates, but never any long-term studies, so it is unclear how the disease will impact Mila over time. However, having this diagnosis means that veterinarians don’t have to worry about other potential issues. </p> <p>“I think the best part about these results is we can de-escalate some of the other studies that might have been recommended,” said <a href="/faculty/38876/wilson-theodore" target="blank">Theodore Wilson, MD</a>, assistant professor of clinical medical and molecular genetics. “We don’t need to use anesthesia for imaging, obtain a kidney biopsy or have guests or veterinarians worried. Even though her urine does still turn dark after being out in the environment, fortunately, now it doesn’t need to be a problem that is alarming.” </p> <p>“People with this disease typically don’t develop symptoms until much later in life, usually in their 30s or 40s,” said Melissa Fayette, DVM, associate veterinarian for the Indianapolis Zoo. “We will continue to monitor Mila closely and perform regular preventive health exams to detect any secondary pathologies that may arise.” </p> <p>In addition to Miller, Wilson and Fayette, other study authors include Kevin Booth, PhD; Ty Lynnes; Carolina Luna; and David Minich.</p> <p><strong>About Indiana University School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Thu, 27 Jul 2023 00:00:00 Z{508BD1E5-0BA1-4235-A5FE-A71EE65B1E86}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/07/nephrology-cellular-map-kidney-researchNephrology researchers create cellular map of human kidney, showing tissue in unprecedented detail<h3>IU School of Medicine scientists publish findings as part of NIH-funded research efforts to improve understanding of both chronic kidney disease and the cellular makeup of the human body </h3> <p>INDIANAPOLIS–Indiana University School of Medicine researchers have helped shed important light on the cellular makeup of the human kidney in both healthy and diseased states—findings that could help scientists identify new targets for early detection of and better treatments for kidney disease. They also found a correlation between kidney papillary injury, two molecules in the urine and the presence of kidney stone disease. Their work was recently published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-05769-3" target="blank">Nature</a> and <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-38975-8" target="blank">Nature Communications</a>. </p> <p>The studies are part of two collaborative research efforts funded by the National Institutes of Health: <a href="https://commonfund.nih.gov/hubmap" target="blank">the Human BioMolecular Atlas Program (HuBMAP)</a> and <a href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/research-funding/research-programs/kidney-precision-medicine-project-kpmp" target="blank">the Kidney Precision Medicine Project (KPMP)</a>. As leading experts in both imaging and nephrology, IU School of Medicine researchers are key investigators on these efforts, which include scientists from around the United States and Europe. </p> <p>"It’s a great privilege to play an important role in both of these studies,” said <a href="/faculty/5040/ashkar-elachkar-tarek" target="blank">Tarek M. Ashkar (El-Achkar), MD</a>, a corresponding author and co-principal investigator on the research papers and the Terence P. Kahn Professor of Nephrology at IU School of Medicine. “We’ve essentially created an incredibly detailed view of adult human kidney cells, using our advanced molecular imaging capabilities to provide a never-before-seen, complex spatial analysis of the kidneys at the cellular and molecular level.”</p> <p> </p> <h3><em><a href="https://iusmimages.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000rL4kOVihD4E/G0000mzDxJo2a2sk/Kidney-Research-Published-in-Nature" target="blank">Media kit: Access video b-roll of the research team and a video interview with Ashkar</a></em></h3> <p><em> </em></p> <p>According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1 in 7 adults in the U.S.—about 37 million people—may have chronic kidney disease, and every day, over 360 people begin treatment for kidney failure. But despite the large burden, kidney disease has been largely underfunded and understudied. </p> <p>“A lot more needs to be done on early detection and prevention of kidney disease,” said Curtis Warfield, an Indianapolis resident and patient advocate on the IU School of Medicine study team. Warfield was diagnosed with stage 3 kidney disease in 2012, and his kidneys failed in 2014. </p> <p>The only treatment for kidney failure is either dialysis, which helps your body filter out extra fluid and waste products from your blood, or a kidney transplant—both of which can have huge impacts on a person’s quality of life. At one point during Warfield’s treatment, he was on dialysis and taking 17 medications daily to manage his symptoms. That’s why early detection is so important, he said.</p> <p><img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/news/2023/kidney-graphic.png?h=420&w=800&rev=cdef237e7c1640259039880b55e25bbf&hash=669AD84C76E2DE44E4844EE7F25E944B" style="width: 800px; height: 420px; vertical-align: middle; margin: 10px;" alt="Despite the large burden, kidney disease has been largely underfunded and understudied." longdesc="Despite the large burden, kidney disease has been largely underfunded and understudied." /></p> <p>“These studies are exciting because kidney research has plateaued for a long time,” said Warfield, who eventually found a donor and got a kidney transplant in 2016. “Early detection is one thing patients are fighting for, and this will help.” </p> <p><a href="/faculty/43864/melo-ferreira-ricardo" target="blank">Ricardo Melo Ferreira, PhD, MS</a>, an assistant research professor of medicine at IU School of Medicine and co-first author on the Nature papers, said the study findings, which will be shared out via HuBMAP, will help improve the scientific community’s understanding of kidney disease because they help paint a more detailed picture of kidney cells, which can be used to identify specific patterns and pathways to disease progression. </p> <p>“It’s basically a map and a census that tells you what populations you’re looking at and where they are,” Melo Ferreira said. </p> <p>Ashkar said one of the best and most unique parts of working on these research projects has been the involvement of patient advocates like Warfield. </p> <p>“We’re really keeping patients at the center of this study,” Ashkar said. “Talking to patients really brings it home and keeps you energized, keeps you focused. You know that what you’re doing is relevant and impactful to people.” </p> <p>The researchers said one of the main goals of these research efforts is to disseminate knowledge, so they hope other scientists will use these findings as a guide and apply the data to their own kidney disease research. </p> <p>Other IU School of Medicine authors on the studies include Daria Barwinska, PhD; <a href="/faculty/10800/ferkowicz-michael" target="blank">Michael J. Ferkowicz, PhD, MS</a>; William Bowen, PhD; Angela Sabo, PhD; <a href="/faculty/4912/dagher-pierre" target="blank">Pierre C. Dagher, MD</a>; and <a href="/faculty/5161/eadon-michael" target="blank">Michael T. Eadon, MD</a>.</p> <p><strong>About Indiana University School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/" target="blank">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 26 Jul 2023 00:00:00 Z{066AE8D2-0AB0-4503-8C3A-8C29539B3E90}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/07/pediatric-engineering-allianceIU, Purdue and Cook Medical partner for 3-pronged approach to improve pediatric care <h2>Alliance will bring the latest in medical technologies to the youngest patients </h2> <p>INDIANAPOLIS and WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University, the Indiana University School of Medicine and medical device company Cook Medical are focusing a new alliance on clinical needs in pediatrics with a simple mantra: Infants and children are not scaled-down versions of adults. </p> <p>The Crossroads Pediatric Device Consortium will focus on meeting unmet needs for pediatric patients by accelerating the development, approval and availability of innovative medical devices for children. </p> <p>Engineer <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://stories.purdue.edu/student-success-collaborations-highlight-wodickas-legacy-at-purdue/" target="_blank">George Wodicka</a>, the Vincent P. Reilly Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Purdue, said there's a tendency to think a technological solution for an adult medical problem can simply be scaled down to work for children. </p> <p>“In reality that’s not the case,” he said. “Infants and children have different diseases and clinical problems. So, the research and development of pediatric devices is a distinct undertaking with a unique set of challenges.” </p> <p>To address and overcome these challenges, the three foundational partners have launched the Crossroads Pediatric Device Consortium to more rapidly bring life-changing technologies to children in need. The consortium leverages the partners’ complementary expertise and long history of productive collaboration in the development of medical devices for adult patients. It brings to bear unmatched engineering research, pediatrics research and clinical care, and product development capabilities on the toughest of problems in pediatrics today. </p> <p><a href="/faculty/43800/gaston-benjamin">Dr. Benjamin Gaston</a>, the Billie Lou Wood Professor of Pediatrics at the IU School of Medicine and a pulmonologist at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, said the new initiative is an exciting model that physician scientists at the school and Riley Children’s Health can leverage to improve children’s health. </p> <p>“Our jobs as IU School of Medicine faculty and IU Health doctors are to come up with solutions to the problems that our patients face, so this initiative is a seamless integration,” Gaston said. “The opportunity to collaborate with other experts at the intersection between engineering and medicine enhances our creative problem solving. There’s so much we can learn from each other about our respective fields; when you get everyone at the table talking, you get to a solution faster.” </p> <p>Gaston said IU School of Medicine’s close alliance with Riley Children’s Health, which provides care to patients in 19 communities across Indiana, will connect consortium researchers with state-of-the-art inpatient and outpatient facilities that supply a pathway for sharing research-based solutions with Indiana kids. </p> <p>Foundational partner Cook Medical, a major medical device company headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, will provide the alliance with expertise in such areas as product design, regulatory approval and manufacturing. </p> <p>“There is a huge need and opportunity to develop more options for pediatric care. We know that <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781221" target="_blank">less than 12% of the National Institutes of Health budget funds pediatric research, and less than 10% of all health care spending is for pediatrics</a>,” said Blayne Roeder, senior director, corporate development at Cook Medical. “Cook has experience creating devices with pediatric indications, and we know the prestige of Purdue and IU’s research, so this is a collaboration we’re excited to join. With expertise from all three organizations, we have more resources and more bright minds to innovate new technologies for this underserved patient population.” </p> <p>Historically, few technologies developed for infants and children leave the laboratory, and those that do often fail commercially due to the relatively limited market size as compared to devices for adult patients. Cook Medical will help bridge the gap between academia and industry by collaborating with Purdue and IU School of Medicine innovators throughout the entire product development life cycle to identify the most efficient path to market and accelerate the translation of their innovative ideas to the clinic. </p> <p>The Crossroads Pediatric Device Consortium is expected to open doors to new creative biomedical engineering solutions that impact children’s lives. It has already attracted interest from additional clinical and company partners with complementary expertise that would increase even further the breadth of childhood diseases that could be impacted. </p> <p>Wodicka said integrating the expertise of each partner will help change the product development model, creating an opportunity to take on an expanded set of clinical needs and reduce the steps and time needed to bring pediatric devices to doctors and hospitals. </p> <p>For project decisions, investigators will weigh in with perspectives and expertise from each side to determine the most pressing clinical needs that the consortium can work to overcome collaboratively. </p> <p>“There are challenges that have faced pediatricians for decades that, up until now, were almost overwhelming for us to consider,” Wodicka said. “But now we're positioned to tackle those through our collective strength.” </p> <p>These expanded efforts will build momentum for the <a href="/news/2023/02/engineering-in-medicine-pilot-funding">planned institute for engineering in medicine</a> between Purdue and IU School of Medicine that will bolster Indiana’s position as a hub for innovations in health research and patient care. </p> <p><strong>About Indiana University School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. </p> <p><strong>About Purdue University </strong></p> <p>Purdue University is a public research institution with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities (Times Higher Education/Wall Street Journal and QS), with two colleges in the top 4 in the United States (U.S. News & World Report), Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, with 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 12 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap, including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the new Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business, and Purdue Innovates, at <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://stories.purdue.edu/" target="_blank">https://stories.purdue.edu</a>. </p> <p><strong>About Cook Medical </strong></p> <p>Since 1963, Cook Medical has worked closely with physicians to develop technologies that eliminate the need for open surgery. Today we invent, manufacture and deliver a unique portfolio of medical devices to the healthcare systems of the world. Serving patients is a privilege, and we demand the highest standards of quality, ethics and service. We have remained family owned so that we have the freedom to focus on what we care about: patients, our employees and our communities. Find out more at <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.cookmedical.com/" target="_blank">CookMedical.com</a>.</p>Tue, 25 Jul 2023 10:00:00 Z{1BC73014-E72A-4C15-BC5A-B7BB03873645}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/07/housing-pregnant-women-programIU-led collaboration providing housing for pregnant women with housing insecurity<p>INDIANAPOLIS—An Indiana University School of Medicine-led program is helping provide housing for pregnant women who are housing insecure or homeless. Housing insecurity, eviction and/or poor housing quality increase the risk of a poor birth outcome for the mother and baby. This program is a novel approach to improve birth outcomes in Indianapolis via the provision of housing, social support and advocacy. </p> <p>The program includes two components—the first is called the Healthy Beginnings at Home (HBAH) Intervention, which provides housing navigation services, 24 months of rental assistance and case management services. The second is called the Health Justice Intervention, which aims to prevent evictions of low-income pregnant women by working with members of the judiciary. </p> <p>“The housing crisis for low-income pregnant women is a major issue in Indiana.” said <a href="/faculty/51835/turman-jack" target="blank">Jack Turman, PhD</a>, professor of pediatrics at IU School of Medicine and principal investigator of the project. “If a woman doesn’t have housing, she’s likely experiencing toxic stress that is a risk factor for poor birth outcomes. By providing housing and social support we provide a foundation for well-being that can improve her health and the health of her baby.” </p> <p>Participants in HBAH must be in their first or second trimester, over age 18, experiencing housing insecurity and CareSource Medicaid members. The women receive full rental assistance for 15 months, then tapered rental assistance for another 9 months. Six women are enrolled in the program so far, with a goal of 100 women being helped over five years. Housing navigation is provided by RDOOR Housing Corporation and the rental assistance portion of the program is currently being supported by the Indiana Department of Health, CareSource Foundation and Birge & Held Asset Management. </p> <p>“Our partnerships with CareSource, RDOOR and Birge & Held Asset Management all contribute to helping a pregnant women identify housing options within the right price range, with them moving into their property between 2-5 weeks after enrollment.” Turman said. “We all love that each woman gets to be part of the process of identifying where she wants to live.” </p> <p>The Healthy Beginnings at Home Intervention is complimented by a Health Justice Intervention coordinated by Adam Mueller, JD, the executive director of the Indiana Justice Project. Mueller’s team is engaging the community with Know Your Rights workshops and is providing strategic litigation and legal analysis to advocate for pregnant women experiencing housing insecurity. </p> <p>“Our legal rights work has already expanded the knowledge of local judges and attorneys regarding the impact of evictions on birth outcomes, and some options they have other than evicting a pregnant woman,” Turman said. “Our work has included an Indiana State Bar Association publication examining eviction trauma in Indiana that went out to about 10,000 judges and attorneys and a housing justice conference to bring stakeholders together around this important issue.” </p> <p>The program is funded by a five-year, $2.4 million grant called Housing Equity for Infant Health from the Health Resources and Services Administration. IU School of Medicine is collaborating with RDOOR, the Indiana Justice Project, Birge & Held Asset Management, Wheeler Mission, CareSource, Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention, Indiana Department of Health, Prosperity Indiana, and the City of Indianapolis Mayor’s Office.</p> <p><em><strong>For more information about the program, including how to qualify, <a href="/pediatrics/specialties/health-services/grassroots-maternal-child-health/housing-equity">visit the Housing Equity for Infant Health Initiative website</a> or contact <a href="mailto:HealthyBeginningsatHomeIU@gmail.com">HealthyBeginningsatHomeIU@gmail.com</a>.</strong></em></p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the United States and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Mon, 24 Jul 2023 00:00:00 Z{C6BCBB9C-7FDA-4B5D-A719-2CAD8F71CA00}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/07/autism-evaluation-hub-successIU-developed statewide initiative shows primary care clinicians can diagnose autism in young children with high accuracy<p>INDIANAPOLIS—A new study led by Indiana University School of Medicine researchers shows primary care clinicians who receive specialized training can make accurate autism diagnoses for over 80 percent of young children referred with developmental delays, providing compelling evidence that community-based models of autism evaluation are a potential solution for improving access to this needed service. They <a href="https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/doi/10.1542/peds.2023-061188/192793/Diagnostic-Accuracy-of-Primary-Care-Clinicians?autologincheck=redirected" target="blank">recently published their findings in <em>Pediatrics</em></a>. </p> <p>One in 36 children are now diagnosed with autism, according to the latest 2023 report from the Centers for Disease Control. In many regions of the county, waitlists for autism diagnostic evaluations often exceed a year and families regularly travel long distances to access the limited number of specialists who are qualified to perform these evaluations. </p> <p>“The bottleneck families experience in their road to an accurate diagnosis is a public health problem, because these delays in diagnosis lead to delays in accessing intervention services which are known to improve child and family outcomes,” said <a href="/faculty/23179/mcnally-keehn-rebecca" target="blank">Rebecca McNally Keehn, PhD</a>, assistant professor of pediatrics and lead author of the study. </p> <p>A team of IU School of Medicine faculty, including <a href="/faculty/6489/ciccarelli-mary" target="blank">Mary Ciccarelli, MD</a> and McNally Keehn, lead the <a href="/expertise/indiana-health/access-to-care/autism/care">Early Autism Evaluation (EAE) Hub system</a>, a statewide network that provides specialized training and ongoing collaborative learning with community primary care clinicians. EAE Hub clinicians perform evaluations of children ages 14-48 months who are at increased likelihood of autism. Nearly 5,000 children have been evaluated for autism in their local communities since the EAE Hub system was launched by an interdisciplinary team of IU faculty in 2012. </p> <p>Of the 126 children who participated in this study, researchers found an 82 percent agreement on autism diagnosis between trained EAE Hub primary care clinicians and expert autism specialists. Across seven EAE Hub sites, there was no difference in overall accuracy of diagnosis. </p> <p>“With over 80 percent of children receiving an accurate diagnosis and virtually no over-diagnosis, our study shows that the EAE Hub model is a valid and reliable approach to early autism evaluation,” said McNally Keehn. “This study provides strong evidence that many young children at increased likelihood for autism can receive reliable diagnostic evaluations in their local primary care setting. The model also reduces barriers for young children and their families who might otherwise have to travel long distances and endure long wait times. If the EAE Hub system were to be scaled up to further to meet the needs of all young children in Indiana, it could reduce the burden on specialty healthcare services and reduce wait times for those children who do need the higher level of diagnostic expertise of specialists.” </p> <p>The EAE Hub system has been generously supported by the Riley Children’s Foundation and Kiwanis Indiana. The current study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health with pilot funds from the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute and Purdue Big Idea Challenge 2.0. </p> <p>In addition to McNally Keehn, other study authors from IU School of Medicine include <a href="/faculty/23990/swigonski-nancy" target="blank">Nancy Swigonski MD, MPH</a>; <a href="/faculty/38664/enneking-brett" target="blank">Brett Enneking PsyD</a>; <a href="/faculty/51992/ryan-lengacher-tybytha" target="blank">Tybytha Ryan, PhD</a>; <a href="/faculty/2775/monahan-patrick" target="blank">Patrick Monahan, PhD</a>; <a href="/faculty/61004/martin-ann-marie" target="blank">Ann Marie Martin, PhD</a>; Angela Paxton; and Brandon Keehn, PhD. </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/" target="blank">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the United States and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 18 Jul 2023 00:00:00 Z{C5B75AA3-2B05-4503-BE0F-7AB33A92FD57}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/07/alzheimers-conference-2023IU School of Medicine researchers share expertise at international Alzheimer’s disease conference<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine had a large presence and leadership role at the <a href="https://aaic.alz.org/" target="blank">2023 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference</a> in Amsterdam, Netherlands, with involvement in more than 150 presentations at the four-day meeting. </p> <p>The annual conference is the largest and most influential international meeting dedicated to advancing dementia science. The world’s leading scientists, researchers, clinicians and more gather to share research discoveries that will lead to improvements in diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. </p> <p>“IU School of Medicine’s comprehensive approach to Alzheimer’s disease research is unmatched, thanks to our outstanding faculty who are global leaders in everything from basic science models to clinical diagnosis to developing new therapies,” said <a href="/faculty/276/foroud-tatiana" target="blank">Tatiana Foroud, PhD</a>, executive associate dean for research affairs at the school. “We are honored to have a substantial presence at this year’s international conference to share our research and expertise with the greater scientific community.” </p> <p>The conference is July 16-19, with educational workshops and pre-conferences July 14-15. Several dozen presentations and poster sessions are being led by IU School of Medicine researchers. The school’s <a href="/expertise/alzheimers/research/preclinical/laboratory-models" target="blank">MODEL-AD</a> and <a href="/expertise/alzheimers/research/preclinical/drug-discovery" target="blank">TREAT-AD</a> Alzheimer’s research programs were also highlighted at a pre-conference sponsored by the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association. </p> <p>Other IU School of Medicine-led presentations at the conference include: </p> <ul> <li><a href="/faculty/27419/lasagna-reeves-cristian" target="blank">Cristian Lasagna-Reeves, PhD</a>, gave a plenary talk and received the Inge Grundke-Iqbal Award for Alzheimer’s Research. The award is presented to the senior author of the most impactful study published in Alzheimer’s research over the past two years. </li> <li><a href="/faculty/6815/apostolova-liana" target="blank">Liana Apostolova, MD</a>, presented results of the Eli Lilly Phase III clinical trial on Alzheimer’s medication Donanemab. </li> <li><a href="/faculty/6962/saykin-andrew" target="blank">Andrew Saykin, PhD</a>, chaired and presented in a basic science session titled, “What can we learn from multiomics?” </li> </ul> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/" target="blank">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the United States and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Mon, 17 Jul 2023 00:00:00 Z{0C219CA9-1C37-4F7C-98AF-03B0117D470C}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/07/aud-gene-group-discoveryResearchers discover group of genes that influence pain and brain communication can also influence alcohol use disorder risk<p>INDIANAPOLIS—An estimated 16 million people in the United States have alcohol use disorders (AUDs), according to the National Institutes on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Now, Indiana University researchers have made a substantial discovery in the role genes play in the development of AUDs, finding that alteration of a group of genes known to influence neuronal plasticity and pain perceptions, rather than single gene defect, is linked to AUDs. </p> <p>“We know inherited genes are a major contributor to this disease, because past studies have shown family genetics to be directly associated with alcohol dependence within a family,  such as identical twins raised in different environments,” said <a href="/faculty/4902/zhou-feng">Feng Zhou, PhD</a>, professor emeritus of anatomy, cell biology and physiology at IU School of Medicine. </p> <p>Zhou is the lead author, along with <a href="https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~bmuir/index.htm">William Muir, PhD</a>, professor emeritus of genetics at the Purdue Department of Animal Sciences, of <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acer.15131">a new publication in <em>Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research</em></a> which details their new findings. </p> <p>Researchers used three different animal models created in the IU Alcohol Research Center to study how the genes impact desire for alcohol. The study involved statistically sorting through about 3 billion DNA base pairs containing nearly 30,000 genes, in 70 individual animals to identify the handful that were responsible for drinking behaviors. Thanks to their experimental design, the researchers could identify population differences based on drinking behaviors rather than chance genetic differences or other environmental influences. </p> <p>“These rat models are all uniquely qualified as criteria for human outcomes,” said Zhou. </p> <p>The genes that mediate pain sensation act in concert with two other groups of neural channel and neural excitation genes which perform neural communication functions, the team found. </p> <p>“The function of these three groups of genes is important for neuroadaptation and neuroplasticity, meaning that they can change brain communications,” Zhou said. </p> <p>They also discovered a key cohort of genes impacted alcohol use, with some of the genes having silent mutations, meaning they did not alter the amino acid sequence translated, but influenced the rate and conformation of gene transcription, causing changes in the other genes that had an impact on alcoholism. </p> <p>“This is the first time these multiple models have ever been used for this pursuit,” Muir said. “In the past, research has focused on a single gene and how it can contribute to alcohol use, but now, we can see that these large groups of genes make a difference, which can help guide future research and clinical care for those suffering from AUDs.” </p> <p>“The brain must be modified over the drinking period. That kind of modification is similar to drug abuse,” Zhou said. “It is genetically prone neural plasticity or neural adaptation to a certain level that makes drinking more pleasurable and more tolerable, or pain relief.” </p> <p>“The alleviation of pain appears to be one motivation to drink and continue to drink,” Muir said. “Knowing that, it’s possible that early counseling can produce drinking avoidance.” </p> <p>The new findings raise the possibility of genetic testing for alcoholism. People who get tested and know that they have a high genetic tendency to become an alcoholic might take extra care to moderate their drinking. </p> <p>“One future direction is how these animal findings would translate to humans,” Zhou said. “If verified, then treatment or prevention can be more focused.” </p> <p>Other study authors include Chiao-Ling Lo, PhD and Richard Bell, PhD of IU School of Medicine and the <a href="/research-centers/alcohol">Indiana Alcohol Research Center</a> at IU School of Medicine. </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the United States and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Thu, 13 Jul 2023 00:00:00 Z{9800D4D3-A5AC-4406-A6B4-EC2CF0516FC6}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/07/mstp-grant-renewal-2023Indiana Medical Scientist Training Program receives $4.6 million NIH grant to train more physician-scientists<p>INDIANAPOLIS--The <a href="/dual-degrees/md-phd">Indiana Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP)</a> has received $4.6 million in renewed grant funding from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to sustain and expand its efforts throughout the next five years. A joint venture between Indiana University School of Medicine and the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University, the program seeks to meet the growing need for more physician-scientists and physician-engineers in health care. </p> <p>“There is a pressing need for highly skilled and diverse specialists who can bridge the gap between scientific discovery and clinical practice,” said <a href="/faculty/43800/gaston-benjamin">Benjamin Gaston, MD</a>, Billie Lou Wood Professor of Pediatrics at IU School of Medicine and co-director of the Indiana Medical Scientist Training Program. “We’re grateful for the NIH’s continued investment in the Indiana Medical Scientist Training Program which enables us to equip more trainees with the skills and knowledge needed to address important challenges in patient care.” </p> <p>The Medical Scientist Training Program aims to recruit talented students, provide a comprehensive training curriculum, and produce graduates with dual MD/PhD degrees who are prepared for essential positions in academic medical centers. </p> <p>“Renewed funding from the NIH not only reaffirms the program's excellence but also reinforces IU School of Medicine’s commitment to welcoming more diverse students dedicated to advancing medicine and research,” said <a href="/faculty/3060/herbert-brittney-shea">Brittney-Shea Herbert, PhD</a>, assistant dean for physician scientist development at IU School of Medicine and co-director of the Indiana Medical Scientist Training Program. “We look forward to expanding the program’s impact.” </p> <p>There are currently 70 students in the Medical Scientist Training Program pursuing a wide range of medical research studies at labs in Indianapolis and West Lafayette. These students work closely with 107 training faculty from IU School of Medicine and the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering who mentor trainees in eight areas of research excellence. The grant renewal supports the admission of up to 16 new students into the program each year—the most since the program was established 15 years ago. </p> <p><a href="/dual-degrees/md-phd">Learn additional information about the Indiana Medical Scientist Training Program.</a></p> <p><em>The project reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number T32GM148382. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. </em></p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the United States and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 12 Jul 2023 00:00:00 Z{C2AF088C-2385-4339-8DF2-6CBC7881D50F}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/06/allen-named-radiology-chairIU School of Medicine names new chair to lead Department of Radiology<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine has named a transformative leader as the new chair of the <a href="/radiology" target="_blank">Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences</a>. </p> <p>Jason W. Allen, MD, PhD, FACR will assume the role of department chair effective October 1 and will have oversight and responsibility for the program’s clinical, educational and research programs. </p> <p>A highly-respected physician-scientist in the field of radiology, Allen is currently the Director of the Division of Neuroradiology and Director of the Laboratory for Imaging Neurosciences at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, where he is an Associate Professor of Radiology and Imaging Sciences and Neurology. He is also a Program Faculty in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Emory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of Technology.</p> <p>“Dr. Allen’s diverse training and career experience have uniquely prepared him to lead and transform our Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences,” said Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA, dean of IU School of Medicine and Executive Vice President of University Clinical Affairs for IU. “His vision aligns with the Department of Radiology’s interdisciplinary approach to clinical research and patient-centered care and will advance the department to the next level of excellence.”</p> <p>Allen began his career at TRA Medical Imaging, a large radiology-led private practice in Tacoma, Washington, where he held many leadership roles. During this time, he also served as the Medical Director of Radiology and Vice President of Medical Staff at St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor, Washington, where he helped design and implement the first entirely digital radiology department in the Franciscan Hospital System.</p> <p>Driven by a passion for academic medicine, Allen joined the faculty at Emory University School of Medicine in 2013 as an Assistant Professor of Radiology and Imaging sciences. As the Director of the Division of Neuroradiology, he oversees the clinical and research programs across 11 Emory University hospitals as well as Grady Memorial Hospital, the largest Level I Trauma Center in Georgia. Under his leadership, the division significantly expanded its faculty to become one of the largest neuroradiology divisions in the country. </p> <p>Allen’s research lab is funded by a number of NIH, foundation, and institutional grants and uses advanced MR imaging to study traumatic brain injury and cerebrovascular diseases. In his research, Dr. Allen has demonstrated some of the first evidence that post-concussive vestibular impairment may be driven by maladaptive increased weighting of visual sensory input into the vestibular network. His work has also significantly contributed to our understanding of internal carotid artery webs, a frequent cause of ‘cryptogenic’ strokes in younger patients. Over his research career to date, Allen has published more than 100 manuscripts and book chapters.</p> <p>“I am honored by the opportunity to lead the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences,” said Allen. “Having spent time as a basic and clinical researcher, a neurologist, and a radiologist, I am acutely aware of the needs and wants of each of these groups. I’m looking forward to the challenge of helping this complex and dynamic department continue to grow and become a leader in radiology clinical care and research innovation.”</p> <p>In 1993, Dr. Allen graduated from Tulane University with a bachelor’s degree in cellular and molecular biology. He earned his MD and a PhD in neuroscience from Georgetown University in 2000. He completed an internship in medicine at New York University in 2001, followed by residencies in neurology and diagnostic radiology at NYU in 2003 and 2005, respectively. He also completed a clinical fellowship in neuroradiology at NYU in 2007. <br /> <br /> ###</p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 27 Jun 2023 00:00:00 Z{064EB52C-2D69-49B8-9809-7C07620002CA}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/06/defective-closure-diabetic-foot-ulcers-risk-wound-recurrenceDefective closure of diabetic foot ulcers is associated with higher risk of wound recurrence <p><strong>Researchers hope study findings will help reduce amputations, improve quality of life for people with diabetes</strong> </p> <p>INDIANAPOLIS—Results from a new study of diabetic foot ulcers and the risk of wound recurrence show that a new approach can help health care workers measure the likelihood that the wound will reopen in the future. Researchers say these findings are likely to lead to further studies aimed at decreasing amputation rates for the tens of millions of people with diabetes in the United States. The study was led by Indiana University School of Medicine.<br /> <br /> "Diabetic foot ulcers develop in diabetic patients with diabetic neuropathy, a condition which causes numbness in the foot," said Chandan Sen, PhD, Distinguished Professor and J Stanley Battersby Chair of Surgery at IU School of Medicine. "The nerves in the skin become dysfunctional, which can cause patients to injure the affected foot without feeling it. Those untreated wounds can lead to infections, and if an infection is not treated quickly, an amputation may be necessary."<br /> <br /> Sen is the principal investigator of the transepidermal water loss (TEWL) trial of the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://diabeticfootconsortium.org/" target="_blank">Diabetic Foot Consortium</a>, which includes seven sites across the country. It's the first consortium for diabetic foot ulcers in the U.S. and is funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), with IU serving as the lead site for this study.<br /> <br /> Patients who participated in this initial clinical study all experienced diabetic foot ulcers that had healed. The goal of the study was to identify a biomarker that would predict recurrence during the process of standard wound care. The approach involves measuring transepidermal water loss (TEWL), or how much bodily fluid is leaking through the skin, using a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.cyberderm-inc.com/cortex-instruments.html" target="_blank">small pen-like device</a>. The study lasted 16 weeks past closure of the wound. <br /> <br /> Researchers found those with a high TEWL reading (>30 grams per meter squared per hour), signifying poor skin barrier function, had twice the incidence of wound recurrence compared to those with a low TEWL reading (<30g.m-2.h-1). In addition, participants' self-reported recurrence was highly concordant with clinician assessment of wound recurrence. Although TEWL was not validated as a biomarker in this study, findings of the study are an important advancement in that direction.<br /> <br /> Sen <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.adameetingnews.org/live-updates/article/presenter-profiles/presenter-profile-the-niddk-diabetic-foot-consortium-so-people-with-diabetes-may-stand-firm/" target="_blank">presented the study results June 25</a> at the American Diabetes Association annual meeting.<br /> <br /> "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration definition of wound closure is covering of the wound with no discharge for two consecutive weeks," Sen said. "This definition pays attention to structural covering of the wound defect, but does not address the functionality of the new skin that grew to close the defect. The primary function of the skin is to establish a barrier function to protect the inside of our body from external threats, such as pathogens and allergens, as well as help trap moisture inside the body so bodily fluids do not dry up."<br /> <br /> Sen said wound recurrence is a major health care cost burden, but this method of measuring TEWL is easy for health care providers to use with just 30 minutes of training.<br /> <br /> "This is a transformative scientific discovery that will help further efforts to validate the biomarker and therefore improve the quality of life of patients with diabetes," Sen said. "We look forward to future studies of this method that will ultimately lead to new clinical practices to help patients all over the world."<br /> <br /> "When wound care providers can identify patients at risk for recurrence of their diabetic foot ulcer, they can modify the treatment plan for that patient," said <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/42921/gordillo-gayle" target="_blank">Gayle Gordillo, MD</a>, an investigator on this study, professor and chief of the IU School of Medicine Division of Plastic Surgery, and medical director of Wound Services for Indiana University Health. "For example, they may continue to monitor the patient in their office even though the wound looks healed. Presumably, the more information providers have to monitor the risks of diabetic foot ulcer formation the better the healing outcomes. This is highly significant because approximately 80 percent of lower extremity amputations in patients with diabetes are preceded by foot ulcers."<br /> <br /> "This consortium was designed to address a major research gap by finding ways to predict healing and recurrence of diabetic foot ulcers with the goal of effective therapies and prevention of complicated infections and amputations," said Teresa Jones, MD, NIDDK project scientist for the Diabetic Foot Consortium. "These results suggest that an improved evaluation of healing for diabetic foot ulcers could decrease recurrence and improve the quality of life for all people with diabetes who experience diabetic foot ulcers."<br /> <br /> The other sites involved in the Diabetic Foot Consortium are the University of Michigan, University of California San Francisco, Stanford University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Miami and the University of Arizona. The study enrolled 418 patients across all seven sites and the University of Michigan serves as the data coordinating center. Further analyses are currently in progress to inform future study design aimed at validating TEWL as a biomarker of wound recurrence.<br /> <br /> The Diabetic Foot Consortium is funded through NIH grants DK119085, DK119083, DK119094, DK119099, DK119100, DK119102 and DK122927.<br /> <br /> <strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Mon, 26 Jun 2023 00:00:00 Z{4BD5A1D9-8240-4354-8163-85FE3D249348}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/06/2023-j-o-ritchey-awardAlumnus receives 2023 J.O. Ritchey Award<p>INDIANAPOLIS--An IU School of Medicine alumnus known internationally as a pioneer in sports medicine was recently honored with the J.O. Ritchey Award for his contributions to medicine and the school. </p> <p>Lawrence D. Rink, MD, known to Hoosier basketball fans as IU’s team doctor, is highly regarded for his contributions to sports cardiology. A physician for 30 international sporting events, including the 1984 and 1992 Summer Olympic Games, Rink spent 20 years as chairman of the International University Sports Federation in Lausanne, Switzerland and remains its chairman emeritus. </p> <p>Having completed his medical degree, residency, and fellowship at IU, Rink has served the university as a member of the board of directors of the IU Alumni Association executive committee and board member for the School of Medicine’s Dean’s Council and J.O. Ritchey Society. He also served two terms as president of the IU School of Medicine Alumni Association. </p> <p>The J.O. Ritchey Award is named for a beloved faculty member whose work for the school spanned more than 60 years. <a href="/blogs/iu-medicine-magazine/jo-ritchey-a-right-proper-physician">Ritchey</a> served as chair of the Department of Medicine for 24 years and taught at the school until his death in 1981. Before his death, Ritchey established a trust to care for his widow and, at her death, the balance of the trust was given entirely to the School of Medicine. </p> <p>The award recognizes individuals who have made enduring commitments to any or all of Ritchey’s own areas of commitment: personal efforts on behalf of IU School of Medicine, medicine as a profession, his legions of patients, and/or a planned gift to benefit the IU School of Medicine. </p> <p>In addition to his work in cardiology, Rink now serves on the Indiana University National Varsity Club board of directors, as executive director of the Lawrence D. Rink Sports Medicine & Technology Center, and as a clinical professor of medicine with IU School of Medicine. Rink’s previous awards and honors include the Sagamore of the Wabash, Most Outstanding Flight Surgeon in the United States Navy, the Distinguished Alumni Award from the IU School of Medicine, and member of the Monroe County Sports Hall of Fame. </p> <p>In 2020, Rink was awarded Indiana University's Bicentennial Medal in recognition of his distinguished contributions and longstanding friendship and support of the university. </p> <p>Learn more information about the <a href="/give/donor-recognition/j-o-ritchey-society">J.O. Ritchey Society</a>.</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the United States and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Thu, 22 Jun 2023 00:00:00 Z{4F89C836-0237-4E16-8A5C-8F04CF0A716C}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/06/nih-grant-gene-therapy-researchIU researchers receive $3.8 million NIH grant to investigate gene therapies used for muscle disorders<p>INDIANAPOLIS—With a five-year, $3.8 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Indiana University School of Medicine researchers will investigate the effects of muscle-directed gene therapies and test alternative treatment options for degenerative disorders such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). </p> <p>Duchenne muscular dystrophy is an inherited disorder characterized by progressive muscle loss that primarily affects young males. Current treatments for DMD involve using adeno-associated virus (AAV) to deliver treated genes by injections directly into the muscle or bloodstream to reach different muscles in the body. </p> <p>“Gene therapies for conditions like Duchenne muscular dystrophy have been developed, but they come with adverse side effects and may show diminishing effectiveness over time,” said <a href="/faculty/41867/herzog-roland">Roland Herzog, PhD</a>, Riley Children's Foundation Professor of Immunology for IU School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics. “With our new NIH grant, we can gain a deeper understanding of how the immune system responds to these treatments so we can develop more successful and long-term ways to help patients living with muscle disorders.” </p> <p>Herzog will lead the project, called “Mechanism of immune response to muscle-directed AAV gene transfer,” with co-investigator <a href="https://medicine.missouri.edu/faculty/dongsheng-duan-phd">Dongsheng Duan, PhD</a>, Margaret Proctor Mulligan Professor in Medical Research at the University of Missouri School of Medicine. </p> <p>Their research aims to understand how the body’s initial immune response in AAV muscle gene transfer can lead to a longer and more targeted response, find ways to prevent the immune system from attacking treated muscles and develop novel protocols for re-administering AAV delivery in future patients. </p> <p>“The immune response is a major barrier in AAV-mediated muscle gene therapy,” said Duan. “The new study will shed critical light on the underlying mechanisms and lead to improved gene therapy for patients suffering from muscular dystrophies.” </p> <p>Herzog and Duran along with IU researcher <a href="/faculty/42149/kumar-sandeep">Sandeep Kumar, MS, PhD</a>, recently <a href="https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/hum.2023.056">published an article in Human Gene Therapy</a> about the serious concerns noted in clinical observations from muscle-directed gene therapy using AAV vectors. </p> <p>“It’s an especially noteworthy time for DMD gene therapies as companies trying to get their treatments on the market face extra scrutiny from scientists and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration,” said Herzog. “A major reason for the ongoing controversial discussion about how safe these therapies are is the potential for serious and life-threatening immune responses and toxicities. Our goal is to make gene therapies safer and more effective.” </p> <p>As director of the gene and cell therapy research program at the <a href="/research-centers/pediatrics">Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research</a>, Herzog leads a group dedicated to improving current treatments, developing corrective therapies and exploring new technologies to address genetic disease. Additional information about the gene and cell therapy research group <a href="/research-centers/pediatrics/research/gene-cell-therapy">can be found on their website</a>. </p> <p><em>The research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01AI177600. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. </em></p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the United States and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 07 Jun 2023 00:00:00 Z{8F84E585-38B7-4014-84A1-9F2A1984775D}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/05/alternative-gene-splicing-alcohol-use-disorder-riskResearchers identify link between alternative gene splicing and risk of alcohol use disorder<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine have discovered alternative gene splicing, which occurs during gene expression, can impact a person’s risk of alcohol use disorder (AUD). They <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-023-02111-1" target="_blank">recently published their findings in Molecular Psychiatry</a>. </p> <p>“AUD is a common and complex genetic disorder that happens people experience problems related to excessive alcohol consumption,” said Rudong Li, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in the <a href="/faculty-labs/liu" target="blank">YunLong Liu, PhD Laboratory</a> and lead author of the paper. “This discovery has revealed a novel perspective about AUD and opens up new possibilities for finding new therapeutics.” </p> <p>Alternative splicing of RNA controls the flow of genetic information from DNA to gene expression and is known to be associated with many complex diseases, especially neurological or brain disorders. The team took a statistical genetics approach to identify exons on the genes that are skipped and could contribute to AUD risk. Using models in the laboratory, they found 27 exon skipping events that affect AUD risk.</p> <p>“This is the first time that we’ve seen how the exon inclusion on specific genes can potentially lead to addiction,” said Yunlong Liu, PhD, director of the Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics and senior author of the study. “We used novel computational methods for understanding the roles of alternative splicing in complex disease by innovatively combining transcriptomics data from post-mortem brain tissues with genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data on disease traits.”</p> <p><img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/news/2023/aud-publication.jpg?h=433&w=800&rev=d13e53b5ff964b25a0b44072b635f441&hash=898B1112CE37A35B42B20F2F0ACDD660" style="height: 433px; width: 800px; vertical-align: middle; margin: 10px;" alt="brain illustration" title="brain illustration" longdesc="Regions showing significant changes of gray matter volume in UK Biobank (UKB) subjects with high cis-regulated PSI (Ψ̂ Ψ^) compared with individuals having low Ψ̂ Ψ^. FDR of the changes were mapped to the Desikan–Killiany atlas regions." /></p> <p>Li says future research could target the novel genes, or regions of special interest of the genes, to further understand molecular mechanisms in complex diseases, including AUD and other substance use disorders, and potentially develop new therapeutics.</p> <p>“This discovery could change people’s understanding of AUD and the science behind it,” said Li. </p> <p>In addition to Li and Liu, other study authors include <a href="/faculty/20681/reiter-jill" target="blank">Jill Reiter, PhD</a>; <a href="/faculty/42934/chen-andy" target="blank">Andy Chen, MS, PhD</a>; Steven Chen; <a href="/faculty/276/foroud-tatiana" target="blank">Tatiana Foroud, PhD</a>; <a href="/faculty/6488/edenberg-howard" target="blank">Howard Edenberg, PhD</a>; and <a href="/faculty/266/lai-dongbing" target="blank">Dongbing Lai, MS, PhD</a>. </p> <p><em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-023-02111-1" target="blank">Read the full publication in Molecular Psychiatry. </a></em></p> <p><em><a href="/research-centers/alcohol" target="blank">Learn more about alcohol research at IU School of Medicine. </a></em></p> <p><em><a href="/research-centers/alcohol" target="blank"></a></em><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/" target="blank">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the United States and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 30 May 2023 00:00:00 Z{9087935C-C5AB-4BB1-87F4-FC0D825415A7}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/05/pediatric-peanut-allergy-studyPediatrics researcher led Indiana site for international peanut allergy study in toddlers<p>INDIANAPOLIS – The results of a phase three clinical trial in peanut-allergic children ages 1 to 3 suggest an immunotherapy drug delivered via skin patch has the potential to help improve underlying food allergy by desensitizing the immune system to an allergen. </p> <p>There are currently no treatment options approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for peanut-allergic children under age 4. If approved, the immunotherapy drug, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://dbv-technologies.com/pipeline/viaskin-peanut/" target="_blank">Viaskin Peanut</a>, would provide an additional treatment option for patients for whom the standard of care—allergen avoidance and use of rescue medication—may not be enough. Phase three is the final clinical trial phase before a treatment may receive FDA approval. </p> <p>Indiana University School of Medicine researcher <a href="/faculty/22419/kloepfer-kirsten" target="blank">Kirsten M. Kloepfer, MD</a>, is a co-author and principal investigator on the study, which was <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2212895" target="blank">recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine</a>. </p> <p>“We lack treatment options for toddlers with peanut allergy,” said Kloepfer, an associate professor of pediatrics at the school. “If additional analyses in these children continue to show improved tolerance to peanut, we may have a relatively easy way to desensitize peanut allergic toddlers. This would help alleviate parental fears that if a small crumb of peanut is accidentally ingested, their toddler will have a life-threatening allergic reaction.” </p> <p>Kloepfer led the clinical trial’s study site in Indianapolis—one of 51 sites across Australia, Canada, Europe and the U.S., and the only site in Indiana. IU School of Medicine study site participants were patients at Riley Children’s Health. </p> <p>The study, which was sponsored by biopharmaceutical company DBV Technologies, found that after one year of daily treatment with a patch containing 250 µg peanut protein (1/1000th of one peanut), Viaskin Peanut was statistically superior to placebo—a treatment that appears real but has no actual therapeutic benefit—in desensitizing participants to peanuts, increasing the peanut dose triggering their allergic symptoms. Additionally, a shift toward less severe food challenge reactions was seen following one year of treatment. </p> <p>Similar to previous studies of Viaskin Peanut in children, the most common adverse events were local application site reactions, which decreased in frequency and severity over time. Low rates of treatment-related anaphylaxis and epinephrine use were observed. </p> <p>Participants were able to wear the patch daily without restrictions around activities, for a sufficient duration over the course of the treatment period to induce desensitization. </p> <p>Viaskin Peanut is currently under clinical investigation and is not yet approved by the FDA or any other regulatory agencies. </p> <p>Kloepfer said IU School of Medicine researchers will soon begin enrolling children ages 4 to 7 in another Viaskin Peanut trial to determine how they will respond to the treatment. Those interested in enrolling their child in this study can contact Patrick Campbell at 317-278-7117. </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/" target="blank">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the United States and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 23 May 2023 00:00:00 Z{15A69779-81F5-446F-AEBF-AD79581FE4C6}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/05/iu-simon-comprehensive-cancer-center-launches-online-early-detection-prevention-campaignIU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center launches online early detection prevention campaign<h3>The campaign’s race theme is a nod to Indiana’s storied racing history, sponsorship of Jackson Lee Racing </h3> <p>INDIANAPOLIS–A new public education campaign that focuses on cancer early detection and prevention has been launched by the <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a>. </p> <p>Coinciding with the month of May, the campaign’s theme, “<a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/community/race-to-beat-cancer/index.html">In the Race to Beat Cancer, Early Detection and Prevention Win</a>,” is a nod to Indiana’s storied racing history and the cancer center’s sponsorship of <a href="https://jacksonleeracing.com/">Jackson Lee Racing</a>.</p> <p> The campaign focuses on breast, colon, lung, and testicular cancers as well as head and neck cancer and cervical cancer, the two most common types of HPV-related cancers. Experts from the cancer center provide easy-to-understand tips about prevention and early detection, signs and symptoms, screening guidelines, the latest research, and more. </p> <p>“Education is one pillar of our mission at the cancer center, and with this online education campaign, we want Hoosiers and others to be informed about things they can do to help prevent cancer from developing as well as be knowledgeable about cancer screenings,” <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/members/bio/29680">Kelvin Lee, MD</a>, director of the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, said. “Our ultimate goal is to eliminate cancer. If we succeed, our services would become obsolete — and that's exactly what we're striving for. Until the day when cancer is eradicated, we'll continue working towards our vision of a world where no one has to face the devastating impact of this disease.” </p> <p>The cancer center is the primary sponsor of formula car driver Jackson Lee. Jackson, a motorsports engineering student at IUPUI, drives the No. 47 IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center/Browning Chapman/Prime 47 car in the 2023 USF Pro 2000 Championship presented by Cooper Tires. Jackson is the son of Kevin Lee, anchor/pit reporter for NBC Sports’ coverage of IndyCar. </p> <p>During last year’s sponsorship, Jackson Lee Racing helped celebrate the center’s 30th anniversary and raise awareness of its history of lifesaving research. </p> <p><strong>Public invited to free Burger Bash </strong></p> <p>The public is invited to kick off the week of the Indy 500 by attending Burger Bash. This free event is 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday, May 22 at US Auto Club “USAC” Building, 4910 W. 16th St. in Speedway. All proceeds from a silent auction at the event will benefit IU cancer research. Hosted by Kevin Lee and his radio partner and longtime IndyCar reporter, Curt Cavin, the event will feature a live broadcast of “Trackside with Cavin and Kevin” on 107.5 The Fan. Burger Bash includes appearances by IndyCar, Indy NXT, USF Pro Championship drivers and notable media personalities. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs. </p> <p>VIP tickets are available for purchase. Contact Ashleigh Wahl at <a href="mailto:awahl2@iu.edu">awahl2@iu.edu</a> with questions or to reserve VIP tickets. </p> <p><strong>About the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center </strong></p> <p><a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">The Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> is the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and one of only 53 in the nation. The prestigious comprehensive designation recognizes the center’s excellence in basic, clinical, and population research, outstanding educational activities, and effective community outreach program across the state. It is also one of only 33 members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. As a member, the center’s physicians have a role in determining the recognized standard of clinical care for cancer patients. The center is the central hub for cancer research and education across Indiana University.</p>Tue, 16 May 2023 00:00:00 Z{965F20E7-2843-4F10-810E-824E97B649A1}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/05/apostolova-named-associate-dean-for-alzheimers-researchIU School of Medicine names Apostolova associate dean for Alzheimer’s disease research<p>INDIANAPOLIS – <a href="/faculty/6815/apostolova-liana" target="blank">Liana G. Apostolova, MS, MD, FAAN</a>, has been named associate dean for Alzheimer’s disease research at Indiana University School of Medicine. The role is a newly established leadership position on the research cabinet of Tatiana Foroud, PhD, executive associate dean for research affairs at the school.</p> <p>Apostolova, a Distinguished Professor and the Barbara and Peer Baekgaard Professor of Alzheimer’s Disease Research at IU School of Medicine, is an internationally recognized leader in Alzheimer’s research. Some of her most notable work includes leading a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://leads-study.medicine.iu.edu/" target="_blank">first-of-its-kind, national study to examine early onset Alzheimer’s disease</a> and directing the clinical core of the <a href="/research-centers/alzheimers" target="blank">Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center</a> at IU School of Medicine.</p> <p>“I’m thrilled that Dr. Apostolova will bring her vast experience and talents to the associate dean for Alzheimer’s disease research position,” Foroud said. “Advancing scientific and clinical knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease is a key priority area of the IU School of Medicine, which boasts one of the nation’s most comprehensive Alzheimer’s disease research programs from basic science to drug discovery. Our goal is to lead the field in our understanding of the underlying factors contributing to Alzheimer’s disease, utilize this information to develop innovative treatments and interventions, and develop long-term strategies that reduce human suffering from this devastating disorder.”</p> <p>As part of her new role, Apostolova’s responsibilities include:</p> <ul> <li>Leveraging IU School of Medicine’s scientific capabilities around fluid biomarkers—biological molecules that signal an abnormal condition or disease that can be monitored to see how well the body responds to treatment—to broaden the school’s research leadership in this area.</li> <li>Working with school leadership to advance career development and mentorship opportunities related to Alzheimer’s disease research among underrepresented-in-medicine faculty and mid-career faculty.</li> </ul> <p>“I’m excited to work with Dr. Foroud and my colleagues across IU School of Medicine to help advance research that will ultimately help improve the lives of Alzheimer’s disease patients and their loved ones,” Apostolova said. “I’ve spent most of my career working to better understand Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, as well as caring for patients with Alzheimer’s disease, so I’m very passionate about tackling these bold goals.”</p> <p>Apostolova started the new role April 1, 2023.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong><br /> <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/" target="blank">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the United States and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Thu, 11 May 2023 00:00:00 Z{F5E3FB06-881A-43F1-AD37-E6253BD289FD}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/05/iu-school-of-medicine-graduation-2023IU School of Medicine ceremony celebrates new health care professionals<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine celebrated the Class of 2023 graduates with a recognition ceremony Monday, May 8, 2023, at the Indiana Convention Center.<br /> <br /> At this year’s ceremony, IU School of Medicine faculty member <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/5100/evans-molina-carmella">Carmella Evans-Molina, MD, PhD</a> was the keynote speaker. Evans-Molina is the director of the Indiana Diabetes Research Center as well as the Eli Lilly and Company Professor of Pediatric Diabetes. Student speakers included Purva Patel, who graduated with an MD, and Lauren Hirschfeld, who graduated with a PhD. <br /> <br /> In addition to 401 doctorate- and master-level degrees awarded this year, 143 associate and Bachelor of Science degrees and 55 certificates were awarded to students in the IU School of Medicine Health Professions Program. <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/undergraduate-health-professions">The Health Professions Program</a> awards degrees in histotechnology, paramedic science, radiology, cytotechnology, clinical laboratory science, medical technology, nuclear medicine technology, radiation therapy and respiratory therapy.<br /> <br /> Also, 18 students graduated from the Bachelor of Science in Medical Imaging program from the IU School of Medicine—Fort Wayne campus.<br /> <br /> Total numbers of degrees awarded by IU School of Medicine include:</p> <ul> <li>357 MD graduates</li> <li>44 PhD graduates</li> <li>7 combined MD/PhD graduates</li> <li>77 MS graduates, including 15 <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/graduate-degrees/masters/medical-science">Master’s in Medical Science</a> (MSMS) and three MSMS-Foundational Sciences graduates</li> <li>143 associate- and bachelor-level degrees awarded</li> <li>55 certificates</li> </ul> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong><br /> <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the United States and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 09 May 2023 00:00:00 Z{87C66820-9950-490E-9E3B-5D396897CAF1}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/04/chuckstrong-gala-2023Chuckstrong raises more than $1.7M for IU cancer research in its 11th year<p>INDIANAPOLIS—On a night that celebrated the hope that comes from cancer research, the Chuckstrong initiative raised more than $1.7 million for research at the <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a>. </p> <p>Hosted by the <a href="https://www.colts.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a>, Jim Irsay and former head coach Chuck Pagano on April 21 at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, the 2023 Chuckstrong Tailgate Gala brought total giving to nearly $14 million for cancer research. </p> <p>The Chuckstrong initiative, now in its 11th year, has enabled the cancer center to accelerate center research by recruiting top-level researchers from around the country and purchasing sophisticated laboratory instruments used by researchers to make advances against the disease. (<a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/news/stories/2023-04-21-chuckstrong-gala-2023.html">Read more about the impact.</a>) </p> <p>Among the more than 400 guests at the event were cancer research supporters, Colts fans, cancer survivors, researchers and philanthropists. Notable guests included former Colts players Robert Mathis, Gary Brackett, wide receivers coach and Colts legend Reggie Wayne, and Pro Football Hall of Famer Ray Lewis who retired from the Baltimore Ravens. </p> <p>During the dinner program, Pagano was joined on stage by a fellow cancer survivor and friend, Washington Commanders Head Coach Ron Rivera. Diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in August 2020, Rivera remains cancer free. He underwent treatment including chemotherapy and did not miss a game during the 2020 season. </p> <p>“We are proud of our continued partnership with the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center,” Pete Ward, chief operating officer of the Indianapolis Colts and chair of the cancer center’s development board, said. “We know the powerful impact that cancer research holds, and we are honored to play a role in helping to raise funds for the world-class researchers at IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.” </p> <p>For Jim Kish, the impact of world-renowned research at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center is personal, which guests learned during a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp22PVhxsZE">moving video</a>. Kish was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer in June 2018 and told he would likely only live one year. A Phase I clinical trial at the cancer center changed that in 2020. He and his wife, Sharon Kish, now are enjoying trips to Disney with their grandkids and many more good days. </p> <p>“We believe not only that research cures cancer, but that philanthropy and community support at Chuckstrong will make an immediate impact with cancer research,” <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/members/bio/29680">Kelvin Lee, MD</a>, director of the cancer center, said. “I’m thankful to the Colts and everyone else for their generosity.” </p> <p>Top-level “touchdown” sponsors for the Chuckstrong Tailgate Gala were the Indianapolis Colts; Nichols Colver – BJ and Lori Nichols and Bob and Lisa Colver; DEEM; Huntington Bank; Republic Airways; and Schwarz Partners. </p> <p><strong>Pagano’s story </strong></p> <p>When Chuck Pagano shared his diagnosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia in September 2012, the Chuckstrong movement quickly began and provided an opportunity for Indianapolis to visibly support Pagano as his team rallied and marched toward the playoffs. Pagano underwent treatments at IU under the guidance of <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/members/bio/1169">Larry Cripe, MD</a>, a hematologist and cancer center researcher. Pagano returned to his head coaching duties on Dec. 24, 2012 – a day that inspired and captivated all who have been touched by cancer. More than a decade later, Pagano remains cancer free. </p> <p><strong>About the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center </strong></p> <p>The <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> is the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and one of only 53 in the nation. The prestigious comprehensive designation recognizes the center’s excellence in basic, clinical, and population research, outstanding educational activities, and effective community outreach program across the state. It is also one of only 33 members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. As a member, the center’s physicians have a role in determining the recognized standard of clinical care for cancer patients. The center is the central hub for cancer research and education across Indiana University.</p>Sat, 22 Apr 2023 00:00:00 Z{818B8FE2-3A8F-4A2D-BD1C-3BE6518A8623}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/04/iu-cancer-researchers-identify-new-target-for-breast-cancer-therapyIU cancer researchers identify new target for breast cancer therapy<p>INDIANAPOLIS—While trying to understand what initiates breast cells to become cancerous, researchers at the <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research/centers/vera-bradley/index.html">Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research</a> at Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a new target for breast cancer treatment. </p> <p> “When comparing healthy breast tissue and cancerous cells, we wanted to find out what is the earliest genomic change that happens to initiate the cancer,” said <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/members/bio/1111">Harikrishna Nakshatri, PhD</a>, the Marian J. Morrison professor of breast cancer research at IU School of Medicine and a researcher with the Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. “In that process, we identified a gene called TONSL that can make breast cells proliferate indefinitely.” </p> <p> Nakshatri and his research team found the TONSL gene is amplified in about 20 percent of breast cancers, and more than 30 percent of metastatic breast cancers. They used healthy breast cells from the <a href="https://www.komentissuebank.iu.edu/">Komen Tissue Bank</a> at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center to understand the earliest changes in healthy cells as they become cancerous. </p> <p> Their findings, <a href="https://aacrjournals.org/cancerres/article/83/8/1345/725108/TONSL-Is-an-Immortalizing-Oncogene-and-a">“TONSL Is an Immortalizing Oncogene and a Therapeutic Target in Breast Cancer,”</a> was published this week in the journal Cancer Research. </p> <p> “Most of the cancer research to date is focused on understanding what happens when cancer progresses, but the earliest event that leads to cancer initiation has been the hardest to figure out,” Nakshatri said. “The very initial step in cancer is that these cells gain the ability to proliferate, and that's the very first step that we have been able to make in models using tissue from the Komen tissue bank.” </p> <p> Nakshatri said the TONSL protein works with other proteins, including one called FACT. In the breast cancer models his team created with the TONSL amplification, the breast cancer was highly susceptible to an <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-drug/def/fact-complex-targeting-curaxin-cbl0137">existing drug that targets that FACT complex</a>. Now researchers hope these findings can be translated for future breast cancer treatments. </p> <p> “Breast cancer is a diverse disease with different subtypes, and some patients respond to the different treatments, and others do not. With 20 percent of breast cancer patients having amplification of this gene, more research is very important to target TONSL,” said Aditi Khatpe, first author of the paper and an IU School of Medicine doctorate student. </p> <p> Khatpe, a cancer center trainee in Nakshatri’s lab, received the AACR-Sanofi Scholar-in-Training Award for the research abstract highlighting these findings. She presented the research poster at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2023 Annual Meeting this week. </p> <p> Additional authors on the paper include cancer center members Jun Wan, PhD, Yunlong Liu, PhD, Kenneth Nephew, PhD, and Kathy D. Miller, MD. This research was funded in part with support from the <a href="https://www.heroesfoundation.org/the-catherine-peachey-fund/">Catherine Peachey Fund</a> and the <a href="https://www.verabradley.org/">Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer</a>. </p> <p> <strong>About the IU Simon Cancer Center </strong></p> <p> The <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> is the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and one of only 53 in the nation. The prestigious comprehensive designation recognizes the center’s excellence in basic, clinical, and population research, outstanding educational activities, and effective community outreach program across the state. It is also one of only 33 members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. As a member, the center’s physicians have a role in determining the recognized standard of clinical care for cancer patients. The center is the central hub for cancer research and education across Indiana University. </p>Thu, 20 Apr 2023 00:00:00 Z{EB3930D7-A4BE-4DE1-BE18-6FBC8DA34507}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/04/alcohol-associated-liver-disease-protein-identifiedProtein that drives the development of alcohol-associated liver disease identified by IU researchers<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), a complex disorder that occurs in some patients who have engaged in excessive alcohol use, is one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease among veterans and liver transplant patients in the United States. Despite its prevalence, and despite many recent advances in the hepatology field, no new treatment interventions for ALD have been developed over the past several decades. </p> <p>This may change based on a recent discovery by a team led by <a href="/faculty/4795/liangpunsakul-suthat" target="blank">Suthat Liangpunsakul, MD, MPH</a>, of Indiana University School of Medicine. Liangpunsakul’s team have identified the novel role of a protein called “Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4,” or PDK4, in the development of ALD, which may pave the way for new treatments. </p> <p>The team published their <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-37214-4" target="blank">findings in the paper “Enhanced Ca2+-channeling complex formation at the ER-mitochondria interface underlies the pathogenesis of alcohol-associated liver disease”</a> in Nature Communications in March. </p> <p>In the paper, Liangpunsakul and his team report that PDK4 plays a mediatory role with the formation of the membrane of the mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum, which drives calcium accumulation in the mitochrondria. </p> <p>PDK4 is therefore a key mediator of alcohol-induced liver injury, said Liangpunsakul, who is a professor of medicine in the school’s Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and staff physician at the Richard L. Roudebush Veterans’ Administration Medical Center. </p> <p>“The accumulation of calcium in the mitochondria has been linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. However, the factors involved in promoting mitochondrial calcium accumulation and dysfunction during the pathogenesis of ALD have not been well understood” until now, he said. </p> <p>Robert A. Harris, PhD, who is a distinguished professor emeritus and former chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at IU School of Medicine, is also an author of the study. He noted that we already know that PDK4, an essential protein in glucose homeostasis, plays an important role in metabolic conditions such as diabetes and cancer. </p> <p>“This novel study extends the role of PDK4 on alcohol-associated liver disease, notably on its effect on mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum,” he said, emphasizing the importance of PDK4 as a “potential therapeutic target” for ALD. </p> <p>Investigators from Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea, were also involved in the study. It was partly supported by the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; a VA Merit Award; and IU School of Medicine. </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 18 Apr 2023 00:00:00 Z{7EDB17A5-39F4-4E13-805C-038A8A2B076E}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/04/cancer-center-first-human-multiple-myeloma-studyIU cancer center researcher leads first in-human multiple myeloma study with 90.5 percent response rate <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <h3 class="Paragraph SCXW58688688 BCX9" paraid="1864493666" paraeid="{dd2764ac-71bc-4099-b109-e2a52deb8382}{201}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Results presented today at a national cancer research conference</span></h3> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW58688688 BCX9" paraid="1903953323" paraeid="{ba022439-34d6-4329-91a6-393f1ca8ffd2}{243}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">INDIANAPOLIS</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">—</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ndiana </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">U</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">niversity Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">served as the lead site for</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> a</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">promising </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">first-in-human clinical trial for</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> patients with relapsed</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> multiple myeloma</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Patients treated with </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">higher doses of t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">he immunotherapy</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> called REGN5459 </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">resulted in a 90.5 percent overall response rate. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW58688688 BCX9" paraid="122093828" paraeid="{8a59633c-ce3a-4af6-87ea-e7319097da63}{38}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center physician-scientis</span>t <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/members/bio/2948" target="_blank">Attaya Suvannasankha, MD</a>,<span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">will </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">presen</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <a href="https://www.aacr.org/about-the-aacr/newsroom/news-releases/new-bispecific-antibody-demonstrates-clinical-activity-in-patients-with-multiple-myeloma/">the findings </a></span><a href="https://www.aacr.org/about-the-aacr/newsroom/news-releases/new-bispecific-antibody-demonstrates-clinical-activity-in-patients-with-multiple-myeloma/"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">April 17 </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">at the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2023 Annual Meetin</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">g</span></a><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.aacr.org/about-the-aacr/newsroom/news-releases/new-bispecific-antibody-demonstrates-clinical-activity-in-patients-with-multiple-myeloma/"> in Orlando</a>. The study </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">was selected for the</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> AACR press program, chosen from the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">nearly 6,300</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">research abstracts that are part of the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">meeting, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">which brings together the best minds in cancer research from around the world</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span></span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW58688688 BCX9" paraid="122093828" paraeid="{8a59633c-ce3a-4af6-87ea-e7319097da63}{38}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">In the </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW58688688 BCX9" href="https://cancer.iu.edu/patients/clinical-trials/45502" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Phase </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and Phase </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">II</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> clinical trial</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">Suvannasankha</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and colleagues enrolled 43 patients with multiple myeloma who had stopped respond</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ing to treatment</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> or relapsed after three or more lines of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">therapy</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. During the Phase </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">portion</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> of the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">study, patients received doses of REGN5459 ranging from 3</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> mg</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> to </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">900 mg</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. A </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">480 mg</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> dose was chosen for the Phase </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">II</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">portion</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> of the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">study. While </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">overall response rate in the study was 65.1 percent, those who received the higher doses (480 mg and 900 mg) achieved a 90.5 percent response rate.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW58688688 BCX9" paraid="1192566861" paraeid="{8a59633c-ce3a-4af6-87ea-e7319097da63}{96}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">The study is ongoing</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> and at the time of the analysis</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> p</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">atients in the trial </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">had </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">been followed for an average of nine months</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> and 78 percent of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">responding </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">patients </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">were </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">projected to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">remain in remission at the one</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">-</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">year </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">m</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">ark.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> The treatment is </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">reasonably tolerated</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> with common side effects</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> includ</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">ing</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> cytokine release syndrome, cough, diarrhea, fatigue, a decline in blood counts and infections.</span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW58688688 BCX9" paraid="1368335049" paraeid="{8a59633c-ce3a-4af6-87ea-e7319097da63}{147}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“M</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ultiple myeloma is still incurable,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and the m</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ajority of patients will eventually succumb to the cancer that keeps relapsing and no longer respond</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> to treatment</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">particularly in the group that </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">has</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> already exhausted other meaningful therapy</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,” </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">s</span></span><span style="color: windowtext;">aid Suvannasankha,</span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">an associate professor of clinical medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at Indiana University School of Medicine</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW58688688 BCX9" paraid="85589881" paraeid="{8a59633c-ce3a-4af6-87ea-e7319097da63}{199}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">n this very difficult</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">-</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">to</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">-</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">treat group of patients where remaining choices are so limited and average </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">survival</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> may be as short as six to nine months</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,</span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> </span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">to say that remission may </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">continue </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">at</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> one year </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">at</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">such a high rate</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> is pretty phenomenal</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,” she </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">added</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW58688688 BCX9" paraid="1912276663" paraeid="{8a59633c-ce3a-4af6-87ea-e7319097da63}{237}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">The study used a bi-specific antibody </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">immunotherapy </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">called </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">REGN5459</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">. The antibody attacks cancer cells with two grabbing arms – one that grabs onto a protein called BCMA </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">on myeloma cells </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">and the other grabs onto</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> a protein called CD3 on</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> T cells </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">(a type of immune cell) </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">to force those cells to kill off cancer cells. </span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW58688688 BCX9" paraid="1555154567" paraeid="{eb629798-35f2-477d-ae7a-158595bed4b8}{28}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">“</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">What's unique about this molecule is that it grabs onto the T cells lightly compar</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">ed</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> to other agents.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> The purpose </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">for</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> this is to try and stimulate the T cells</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> but</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> slow down the inflammation that this immune reaction may </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">cause,” </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; color: windowtext;">Suvannasankha</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> explained.</span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW58688688 BCX9" paraid="601210053" paraeid="{eb629798-35f2-477d-ae7a-158595bed4b8}{54}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">This type of immunotherapy can cause a life-threatening side effect called cytokine release syndrome (CRS) that can cause </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">systemic inflammation, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">including </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">fever and other symptoms</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">Data suggest that </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">design </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">REGN5459</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> might reduce CRS, and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">93 </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">percent of patients</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> in the study</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">either </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">experienced </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">no CRS or </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">Grade 1 (</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">mild</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> reactions, such as a fever</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">)</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> cases of CRS.</span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW58688688 BCX9" paraid="1119667763" paraeid="{eb629798-35f2-477d-ae7a-158595bed4b8}{76}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">Suvannasankha</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> is part of the </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW58688688 BCX9" href="https://cancer.iu.edu/patients/research-explained/multiple-myeloma/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">multiple myeloma</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> research group at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, which includes more than a dozen experts in the rare blood cancer. In addition to clinical trials such as this one and the </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW58688688 BCX9" href="https://cancer.iu.edu/patients/research-explained/multiple-myeloma/registry.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Indiana Myeloma Registry</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, the cancer center’s robust laboratory research works to understand the complicated biology of myeloma better.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW58688688 BCX9" paraid="1957607625" paraeid="{eb629798-35f2-477d-ae7a-158595bed4b8}{130}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">“</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">We are committed to provid</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">ing</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> novel treatment</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> to our patients with myeloma wh</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">o</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> deserve</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">better treatment choices, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">liv</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">e</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> longer and</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> it is our </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">aspiration </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">to</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> hopefully </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">contribute to finding </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">a cure for this disease</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">,” she said. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">“Clinical trials like this one</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> not only </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">can</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">provide</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> direct benefit to patients, but </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">also,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">we learn from every patient being treated on the clinical trial</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">;</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> and it </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">help</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> us to be even better</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">. We are so incredibly grateful to our patients who put </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">their </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">trust in us</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">”</span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW58688688 BCX9" paraid="932134487" paraeid="{eb629798-35f2-477d-ae7a-158595bed4b8}{148}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">Additional</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> sites for this study were </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">University of Michigan </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">Rogel</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> Cancer Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Medical College of Wisconsin, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> at</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> UT Southwestern Medical </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">Center</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">Funding for this study was provided by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.</span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <br /> <br /> <h3 class="Paragraph SCXW58688688 BCX9" paraid="1823529381" paraeid="{eb629798-35f2-477d-ae7a-158595bed4b8}{228}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW76126488 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" data-ccp-charstyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"917a6605-eaa5-4965-9e63-0fff9c11eeba|17","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[469775450,"normaltextrun",201340122,"1",134233614,"true",469778129,"normaltextrun",335572020,"1",469778324,"Default Paragraph Font"]}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"><strong>MEDIA CONTACT: </strong>Candace Gwaltney, <a href="mailto:cmgwaltn@iu.edu">cmgwaltn@iu.edu</a>, (317) 278-4322</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW76126488 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="eop" data-ccp-charstyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"917a6605-eaa5-4965-9e63-0fff9c11eeba|16","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[469775450,"eop",201340122,"1",134233614,"true",469778129,"eop",335572020,"1",469778324,"Default Paragraph Font"]}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> | (765) 425-1839 (cell)</span></h3> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW58688688 BCX9" paraid="66202910" paraeid="{dd2764ac-71bc-4099-b109-e2a52deb8382}{85}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="EOP SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><strong style="color: windowtext;">About the IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</strong></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW58688688 BCX9" paraid="1191127146" paraeid="{dd2764ac-71bc-4099-b109-e2a52deb8382}{76}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="EOP SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559740":240}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">The </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW58688688 BCX9" href="https://cancer.iu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> is the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and one of only 53 in the nation. The prestigious comprehensive designation recognizes the center’s excellence in basic, clinical, and population research, outstanding educational activities, and effective community outreach program across the state. It is also one of only 33 members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. As a member, the center’s physicians have a role in </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">determining</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> the recognized standard of clinical care for cancer patients. The center is the central hub for cancer research and education across Indiana University.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW58688688 BCX9" paraid="464471820" paraeid="{e8d3e02c-7789-4f3d-8fb8-33dbb7044cb7}{55}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW58688688 BCX9" paraid="215012626" paraeid="{2f7d431d-b511-4c79-85e4-d1413ea50f79}{22}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" data-ccp-charstyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"917a6605-eaa5-4965-9e63-0fff9c11eeba|17","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[469775450,"normaltextrun",201340122,"1",134233614,"true",469778129,"normaltextrun",335572020,"1",469778324,"Default Paragraph Font"]}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a></span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW58688688 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="eop" data-ccp-charstyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"917a6605-eaa5-4965-9e63-0fff9c11eeba|16","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[469775450,"eop",201340122,"1",134233614,"true",469778129,"eop",335572020,"1",469778324,"Default Paragraph Font"]}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></p> </div>Mon, 17 Apr 2023 00:00:00 Z{F1184536-DF89-4FD2-8A57-7E28F988CA04}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/04/full-moon-deaths-by-suicideDeaths by suicide increase significantly during the week of a full moon<p>INDIANAPOLIS—For centuries, people have suspected a full moon in the sky to cause mysterious changes in people. Now, psychiatrists at Indiana University School of Medicine have found deaths by suicide increase during the full moon. </p> <p>“We wanted to analyze the hypothesis that suicides are increased during the period around full moons and determine if high-risk patients should be followed more closely during those times,” said <a href="/faculty/16295/niculescu-alexander" target="blank">Alexander Niculescu, MD, PhD</a>. </p> <p>Niculescu and his team looked at data from the Marion County coroner’s office in Indiana about suicides that took place from 2012-2016. They found deaths by suicide significantly increased during the week of the full moon, with people over age 55 showing an even higher increase. They also looked at the time of day and months that suicides took place, finding 3 to- 4 p.m. and the month of September to be peak times for suicides. </p> <p>The team recently <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44192-023-00035-4" target="blank">published their findings in Discover Mental Health</a>. </p> <p>“From a clinical perspective and a public health perspective, we found some important take-home messages in this study,” Niculescu said. “High-risk patients should possibly be followed more closely the week of the full moon, during late afternoons and perhaps the month of September.” </p> <p>Niculescu and his team previously developed blood biomarker tests for other mental health conditions (<a href="/news/2023/03/blood-test-for-anxiety" target="blank">anxiety</a>, <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/04/iu-school-of-medicine-researchers-develop-blood-test-for-depression-and-bipolar-disorder" target="blank">depression</a>, and <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2019/03/iu-school-of-medicine-researchers-discover-groundbreaking-test-for-post-traumatic-stress-disorder" target="blank">post-traumatic stress disorder</a>) and <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2019/02/iu-school-of-medicine-makes-breakthrough-towards-developing-blood-test-for-pain" target="blank">for pain</a>. Using blood samples previously taken by the coroner from some of the people, the team was able to see which biomarkers were present. </p> <p>“We tested a list of top blood biomarkers for suicidality that we identified in previous studies,” Niculescu said. “The biomarkers for suicidality that are predictive of death by suicide during full moon, peak hour of day and peak month of the year compared to outside of those periods appear to be genes that regulate the body’s own internal clock, so called ‘circadian clock’. Using the biomarkers, we also found people with alcohol-use disorder or depression may be at higher risk during these time periods.” </p> <p>Niculescu said the increased light from the full moon could be what leads to the increase in suicides during that period. Ambient light plays a major role on the body’s circadian rhythm, which is the natural 24-hour cycle our bodies follow to regulate when we are asleep and when we are awake. Moonlight could be impacting people at a time when it should be darker. </p> <p>“The effect of ambient light and body clocks in suicide needs to be studied more closely, along with how people sleep and their exposure to light,” Niculescu said. “Changes in light can affect vulnerable people, in conjunction with other risk factors.” </p> <p>As for the other two peak periods for suicides, Niculescu said the peak of suicides from 3 to 4 p.m. could be related to stressors throughout the day as well as a decrease in light beginning to occur that day, causing a lower expression of circadian clock genes and cortisol. And in September, many people are experiencing the end of summer vacations, which could cause stress, as well as seasonal affective disorder effects, as daylight decreases during that time of year. </p> <p>“Our work shows the full moon, fall season and late afternoon are temporal windows of increased risk for suicide, particularly in individuals who suffer from depression or alcohol use disorders,” Niculescu said. In the future, Niculescu hopes to study if exposure to screens at night contributes to increased suicidality in people, especially younger people. “Some people have a full moon in their hand every night,” Niculescu said. “It’s an area we absolutely need to study further.” </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Fri, 07 Apr 2023 00:00:00 Z{A2E3BE8F-4B49-436E-921F-96602AF2C993}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/04/nafld-liver-enzyme-medicationsPeople with NAFLD have decreased expression of a liver enzyme needed for medication processing, according to researchers from Indiana University and Eli Lilly <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW46173922 BCX9" paraid="248173021" paraeid="{7295f252-274b-4672-8a67-d1a18662f15d}{250}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">INDIANAPOLIS</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">—</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">People </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may process certain medications less effectively due to significantly decreased levels of an important enzyme, according to a new study from Indiana University School of Medicine. A team of researchers led by </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Nick</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Powell, PharmD, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">and Naga Chalasani, MD, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">published their findings in the article </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW46173922 BCX9" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-37209-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“Clinically important alterations in pharmacogene expression in histologically severe nonalcoholic fatty liver disease”</span></span></a><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> in the journal Nature Communications in March.</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW46173922 BCX9" paraid="248173021" paraeid="{7295f252-274b-4672-8a67-d1a18662f15d}{250}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">Powell, who is an assistant </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">research </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">professor of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">medicine</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">in the school’s Division of Clinical Pharmacology, said he and his team were building on existing evidence that people with NAFLD may be at risk for altered response to some commonly used medications.</span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW46173922 BCX9" paraid="1880763445" paraeid="{a661f88e-9d02-45de-95b7-bcf3b8e9dbdf}{46}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“We wanted to see if this could be due to changes in how the liver expresses genes important to handling the metabolism and transport of these medicines in the body,” he said.</span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW46173922 BCX9" paraid="941873076" paraeid="{a661f88e-9d02-45de-95b7-bcf3b8e9dbdf}{56}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Subsequently, the team found that </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the gene responsible for making </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">an enzyme called CYP2C19 was significantly decreased in liver biopsies of people with worsening NAFLD.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW46173922 BCX9" paraid="1397444554" paraeid="{a661f88e-9d02-45de-95b7-bcf3b8e9dbdf}{70}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“Further studies will be needed, but our results suggest that people with NAFLD will have slower clearance of certain medications from their body–like some antidepressants–and that medicines which use CYP2C19 to become activated may not work as well, such as the antiplatelet medicine clopidogrel,” he said.</span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW46173922 BCX9" paraid="1884381500" paraeid="{a661f88e-9d02-45de-95b7-bcf3b8e9dbdf}{80}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Naga Chalasani, MD, the study’s senior author, said these findings could have a</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">global impact.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW46173922 BCX9" paraid="1340772504" paraeid="{a661f88e-9d02-45de-95b7-bcf3b8e9dbdf}{94}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“Our findings have immediate potential implications for patients with NAFLD and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which are both highly prevalent here in the United States and around the world,” he said.</span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW46173922 BCX9" paraid="521936562" paraeid="{a661f88e-9d02-45de-95b7-bcf3b8e9dbdf}{104}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">That impact is </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">largely due</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> to the potential for </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">new approaches</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">development and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">prescribing</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">medications that are sensitive to metabolism by the CYP2C19 enzyme, according to the paper.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW46173922 BCX9" paraid="1727179273" paraeid="{a661f88e-9d02-45de-95b7-bcf3b8e9dbdf}{124}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“Our findings are exciting from a precision medicine standpoint because we can now work on making medicines safer and more effective for people with NAFL</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">D</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,” said Powell.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW46173922 BCX9" paraid="1578563164" paraeid="{a661f88e-9d02-45de-95b7-bcf3b8e9dbdf}{138}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">This study was a collaboration between investigators in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and the Division of Clinical Pharmacology at IU School of Medicine, and investigators from Eli Lilly and Company.</span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW46173922 BCX9" paraid="1163656155" paraeid="{a661f88e-9d02-45de-95b7-bcf3b8e9dbdf}{148}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“We are very thankful to our collaborators from Lilly who made this translational study possible,” said Chalasani.</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW46173922 BCX9" paraid="1163656155" paraeid="{a661f88e-9d02-45de-95b7-bcf3b8e9dbdf}{148}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW46173922 BCX9" paraid="1163656155" paraeid="{a661f88e-9d02-45de-95b7-bcf3b8e9dbdf}{148}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong></strong></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW46173922 BCX9" href="file:///C:/Users/kaduffey/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/I2TL4TP0/medicine.iu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">IU School of Medicine</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW46173922 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW46173922 BCX9" paraid="1176807989" paraeid="{a661f88e-9d02-45de-95b7-bcf3b8e9dbdf}{168}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="EOP SCXW46173922 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":276}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div>Thu, 06 Apr 2023 00:00:00 Z{41E11BB0-3DF6-4BD2-A8C1-96379D0C1967}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/04/alcohol-research-center-grant-renewalIU researchers receive $8.6M NIH grant renewal to study alcohol use, binge drinking<p>INDIANAPOLIS—A multi-disciplinary team of Indiana University researchers is focusing their efforts on a growing public health concern: binge and “high-intensity” drinking—extreme drinking behaviors that are increasingly prevalent among college-age adults. </p> <p>The researchers, who are part of the Indiana Alcohol Research Center, recently received a five-year, $8.65 million grant renewal from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to support this work. </p> <p>Established in 1987, the <a href="/research-centers/alcohol" target="blank">Indiana Alcohol Research Center (IARC)</a> is housed at IU School of Medicine and led by director <a href="/faculty/1901/kareken-david" target="blank">David Kareken, PhD</a>, a professor of neurology at the school. The center’s broad mission is to study the behavioral and neurobiological risks for alcohol use disorder. </p> <p>“The IARC begins its eighth consecutive funding cycle by continuing its long tradition of multi-disciplinary collaboration across animals and humans to better understand the neurobiological and behavioral risks for developing alcohol use disorder,” Kareken said. “We believe that our combined diverse methods and perspectives are best suited to studying a problem of both great importance and complexity.” </p> <p><a href="https://science.iupui.edu/people-directory/people/czachowski-cristine.html" target="blank">Cristine Czachowski, PhD</a>, a professor of psychology at the School of Science at IUPUI, and <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/4305/lapish-christopher" target="blank">Christopher Lapish, PhD</a>, a professor of anatomy, cell biology and physiology at IU School of Medicine, serve as the center’s deputy director and scientific director, respectively. </p> <p>“The center provides researchers like me—those studying rodent models of behavior—valuable interactions with colleagues (and friends) who work on the clinical side,” Czachowski said. “The crosstalk between disciplines, and across many departments, keeps us at the top of our game with regard to the latest findings and focused on the human experience of alcohol use disorder.” </p> <p>Working as a team across basic and clinical research, center faculty will work to determine how inherited and acquired behavioral and neurobiological vulnerabilities predispose people to more intense patterns of drinking, with a particular emphasis on factors that lead to faster initial rates of drinking and a proclivity for sustained high intake. </p> <p>“Our ability to measure how brain function is altered in alcohol use disorder is rapidly improving,” Lapish said. “This is true for humans and rodent models of the disorder. Our hope is that we can find similarities across the species, which, in turn, will facilitate new treatments.” </p> <p>The researchers will also work with the community, schools, health care providers and state policy makers in providing education about the science, prevention, and treatment of alcohol use disorder. </p> <p>This funding renewal is the Indiana Alcohol Research Center’s eighth consecutive five-year grant from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism since its founding. Over the past three decades, center researchers and their collaborators have played key roles in studying alcohol use disorder heritability—showing differing genetic and environmental influences across the disorder’s developmental timeline. </p> <p>Their animal and human research models are also used worldwide in alcohol-related research. Center researchers conceived, and continue to refine, the “Computer-assisted Alcohol Infusion System,” an intravenous alcohol administration research method that permits exquisite experimental control over an individual’s level of alcohol exposure—a technique employed in human research laboratories around the world. The center’s animals—rats and mice selectively bred by the IARC to prefer alcohol—are similarly used throughout the world to help understand inherited risk. </p> <p>Other Indiana Alcohol Research Center project and core resource leaders include IU School of Medicine’s Martin Plawecki, MD, PhD; Frederic (Woody) Hopf, PhD; Tamika Zapolski, PhD; and Karmen Yoder, PhD; and the IUPUI School of Science’s Marian Logrip, PhD; Nicholas Grahame, PhD; Melissa Cyders, PhD; and Stephen Boehm, PhD. Collaborating scientists include researchers at IU School of Medicine, the School of Science at IUPUI, the IU School of Public Health-Bloomington, and Purdue University.</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 05 Apr 2023 00:00:00 Z{CB8388EC-1714-4414-BB1F-F75C86476F46}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/03/41-million-grant-clear-ad-researchIU neuroscientists lead new study laying groundwork for Alzheimer’s disease precision medicine<h3 style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><strong><span>Team will utilize single cell analysis of human brain tissue as well as longitudinal brain imaging and blood-based biomarker research</span></strong></h3> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine are co-leading a 5-year, $41 million study to better understand the biological pathways underlying Alzheimer’s disease and ultimately create more personalized patient care through the development of a blood test for multiple pathways implicated in the disease – enabling earlier and less-invasive diagnosis.<br /> <br /> This study, titled <em>Centrally-linked Longitudinal Peripheral Biomarkers of AD</em>, or CLEAR-AD, is a jointly-led effort of IU School of Medicine and <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/florida" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Mayo Clinic in Florida</a> that will connect more than 40 experts and 13 institutions across the country and abroad to collaborate and advance Alzheimer’s disease research in a number of new directions. Funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), CLEAR-AD will connect advanced single-cell analysis of human brain tissue with neuroimaging and blood-based biomarker research. Through this new large-scale data, researchers hope to advance precision medicine for patients.<br /> <br /> “While we currently have very powerful and informative measures for Alzheimer’s diagnosis, most are slightly invasive and focused on amyloid plaques and tau tangles,” said <a href="/faculty/6962/saykin-andrew">Andrew Saykin, PsyD</a>, director of the Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and the IU Center for Neuroimaging and one of the four principal investigators on the study. “CLEAR-AD will use a systems biology approach to better understand those factors that drive these pathological hallmarks in the first place. There has been great recent progress with the development of blood tests, but assessing multiple biological pathways earlier and noninvasively could make diagnosis more accessible and treatment plans more individually tailored for each patient.”<br /> <br /> Through collaboration with Mayo Clinic’s principal investigators,<span style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"> </span><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/taner-nilufer-m-d-ph-d/bio-20055192" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Nilufer Ertekin-Taner, MD, PhD</a> and <a href="https://www.mayo.edu/research/faculty/carrasquillo-minerva-m-ph-d/bio-00028170" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Minerva Carrasquillo, PhD</a>, CLEAR-AD will include three closely related projects that together will help researchers better formulate unique ways to understand and diagnose a disease that has impacted millions of lives and that disproportionately impacts African American and Hispanic communities. The resulting data will be rapidly shared with the scientific community to accelerate collaborative progress.<br /> <br /> <strong>Brain tissue</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">The first project, led by Ertekin-Taner, will focus on studying brain tissue from the<span style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"> </span><a href="https://www.mayo.edu/research/centers-programs/alzheimers-disease-research-center/research-activities/mayo-clinic-study-aging/overview" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Mayo Clinic Study of Aging (MCSA)</a> and the <a href="https://adni.loni.usc.edu/" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI)</a> with state-of-the-science single cell and single nucleus sequencing to understand the differences in gene expression across different types of brain cells from up to seven brain regions. An unprecedented database of molecular signatures connecting brain and blood will be produced for the research community to further analyze.</p> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/project/facultyprofileimages/2020/06/05/22/15/7155-kwangsik-nho.png?h=375&w=250&rev=82d9e630b39d49d691d41710959c83bb&hash=BD39CB21663B2418DE99F8AE5A024BA8" alt="Kwangsik Nho, PhD" style="height: 375px; width: 250px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;" class="float-left" /> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><strong>Endophenotypes in relation to blood</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">The second project, led by Saykin and <a href="/faculty/7155/nho-kwangsik">Kwangsik Nho, PhD</a><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/7155/nho-kwangsik" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">,</a> associate professor of radiology and imaging sciences at IU School of Medicine and another principal investigator of CLEAR-AD, will focus on longitudinal analysis of endophenotypes, measurable biological traits related to Alzheimer’s disease, that can be studied with MRI and PET brain imaging, fluid biomarkers and clinical tests including cognitive performance. Alzheimer’s disease hallmarks, including cognitive decline, loss of cortical thickness and hippocampal volume on MRI, and accumulation of amyloid plaque and tau tangles on brain PET scans, will be related to molecular signatures from brain cells in project one. These efforts are expected to yield new insights into mechanisms of stage-specific disease evolution and indicate potential therapeutic targets.<strong><br /> <br /> Multi-ethnic analysis</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">The third project, led by Carrasquillo, seeks to bridge current knowledge gaps in Alzheimer’s research among multi-ethnic populations and will connect molecular signatures and endophenotypes from projects one and two with patterns observed among African American and Hispanic participants from several Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) including the Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. This is important because African American and Hispanic people are more likely to develop the disease but less likely to be diagnosed. Past research has predominately included data from white participants of European ancestry, leading to a gap in knowledge of how the disease impacts African American and Hispanic populations.<span style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"> </span>Of note, the <a href="/news/2021/08/researchers-receive-multimillion-dollar-grant-to-study-early-detection-of-alzheimers-disease">KBASE2 study</a> by the IU School of Medicine team and partners in Seoul, Korea is focusing on an Asian population, addressing another less well-studied group. CLEAR-AD helps to address the need to develop and validate advanced diagnostic tools that can support diverse populations in accessible ways. CLEAR-AD will utilize its connection with local communities across the country, including Indianapolis, to uncover the differences in Alzheimer’s disease genes and endophenotypes, including imaging, cognition and blood biomarkers, among African American and Hispanic populations compared to their white counterparts.<br /> <br /> “CLEAR-AD will allow us to connect what we see in peripheral blood and on imaging to what we see in brain tissue, which will be paramount in the opportunity to create the next generation of blood tests to diagnose individuals with Alzheimer’s disease even earlier when the disease is most treatable,” said Nho.<br /> <br /> <strong>What they’re saying:</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><a href="/faculty/276/foroud-tatiana">Tatiana Foroud, PhD</a>, executive associate dean for research affairs at IU School of Medicine, said CLEAR-AD fits nicely in the broad ecosystem of Alzheimer’s disease research at the school, where physician-scientists are taking a comprehensive approach to tackling the disease.<br /> <br /> “From basic neuroscience to clinical trials, CLEAR-AD is an intersection of the wealth of Alzheimer’s disease research taking place at IU School of Medicine,” Foroud said. ”The school is also home to other large NIA initiatives focused on Alzheimer’s disease, including the Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, the Longitudinal Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Study (LEADS), the <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Target Enablement to Accelerate Therapy Development for Alzheimer’s Disease (TREAT-AD)</span> and Model Organism Development & Evaluation for Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease (MODEL-AD)– all of which seek to better understand Alzheimer’s disease and develop improved treatments for this devasting disorder.”<br /> <br /> “With the availability of imaging and fluid biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease, it is now possible to track the disease process in living individuals in research settings and in some clinical practice environments,” said Nandini Arunkumar, PhD, a program director at NIA. “The aim of CLEAR-AD is to use these biomarkers to map the progression of the disease across diverse populations and generate rich molecular data that will be the basis for the next generation of biomarkers.”</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><em>In addition to IU and Mayo Clinic, teams from the following institutions will collaborate in this research: Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute (Melbourne, Australia), Duke University, Emory University, Helmholtz Zentrum München (Munich, Germany), One Florida ADRC, Sage Bionetworks (Seattle), University of Michigan ADRC, University of Pennsylvania, University of Washington (Seattle), Washington University (St. Louis) and Weill Medical College of Cornell University.<br /> <br /> Research described in this announcement will be supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number</em> <a href="https://reporter.nih.gov/search/wjYp6l1NLkiMFNSQOxaz3w/project-details/10555723" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><em>U19AG074879</em></a><em>.</em></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><em> </em></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><a href="https://iusmimages.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000rL4kOVihD4E/G0000.B_SkohuMMg/CLEAR-AD-Research-Program" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><strong>Download high-quality images and video with this media kit.</strong></a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><a href="https://iusmimages.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000rL4kOVihD4E/G0000.B_SkohuMMg/CLEAR-AD-Research-Program" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><strong></strong></a><span><br /> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span></p>Tue, 28 Mar 2023 00:00:00 Z{7F923DA6-0C72-4EF4-B6FB-5C6F9190CE1B}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/03/cancer-center-american-cancer-society-fundingIU cancer center receives American Cancer Society funding for research, education programs<h3>IU chosen as an inaugural site for post-baccalaureate diversity program aimed at preparing the next generation of cancer researchers and physicians </h3> <p>INDIANAPOLIS—As part of a longstanding partnership, the <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> has received new and renewed funding from the American Cancer Society to support research and education programs. </p> <p>IU cancer researchers are currently receiving more than $6 million in multi-year ACS funding across the Indianapolis and Bloomington campuses. </p> <p>New this year, the cancer center received a $660,000 grant as one of only eight inaugural sites for <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/education/graduate-training/dicr-post-baccalaureate-program/index.html">the American Cancer Society Post-Baccalaureate Diversity in Cancer Research Education Program</a>. The two-year cancer research experience is designed for students of underrepresented background or disadvantaged populations who have recently been awarded their bachelor’s degree and intend to pursue clinical or research careers in cancer. </p> <p>The program prepares participants for competitive MD and PhD programs through hands-on research experiences and includes a $37,565 yearly stipend, a housing stipend and health insurance during the two-year program. <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/education/graduate-training/dicr-post-baccalaureate-program/how-to-apply.html">Applications are now being accepted</a>. </p> <p>“The IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center is fully committed to increasing the diversity of our students and faculty. This will result in more diverse cancer researchers and clinicians to drive future cancer treatments and discoveries,” said Mark Kelley, the Betty and Earl Herr Professor of Pediatric Oncology Research at IU School of Medicine and the associate director of basic science research at the cancer center. Kelley serves as the lead cancer center faculty directing the grant. </p> <p>The ACS also has renewed the cancer center’s <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research/funding/acs-irg.html">ACS Institutional Research Grant (IRG)</a> to provide pilot project funding to assist early-career cancer investigators, giving them the opportunity to establish their research program and explore innovative ideas. The IRG has been continuously funded by the ACS since 1986 and will provide $360,000 over the next three years.</p> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/t/the-institutional-research-grant-has-been-continuously-funded-by-the-acs-for-37-years.png?h=400&w=400&rev=7a8e5cea8b3d42bfad9e459ee423c5cf&hash=796C87417D22F3D437E9834426F49371" style="width: 400px; height: 400px; float: left; margin: 10px;" alt="The Institutional Research Grant has been continuously funded by the ACS for 37 years" /> <p>“We are delighted by the ACS’s continued support of IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center cancer research, training and mentorship afforded by the IRG grant, which is in its 37th year of continuous funding. ACS has been, and continues to be, a great partner in our efforts, including increasing diversity within our center,” Kelley said. </p> <p>Now in its second year at the cancer center, the ACS also provides funding for an education program designed to build the pipeline for diversity in cancer research. </p> <p>The <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/education/summer/diversity-cancer-research.html">Diversity in Cancer Research (DICR) internship program</a> aims to increase the number of undergraduate students from underrepresented populations pursuing clinical and research careers in cancer. It is supported via a supplement to the ACS IRG, and directed at the cancer center by <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/members/bio/8323/timothy-corson">Tim Corson, PhD</a>, and <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/members/bio/17488/shannon-hawkins">Shannon Hawkins, PhD</a>. The IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center was one of only 12 universities to implement this American Cancer Society internship program last year, which is funded through 2024. </p> <p>“We look forward to providing students a world-class experience thanks to continued funding from the American Cancer Society,” said <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/members/bio/1111/harikrishna-nakshatri">Harikrishna Nakshatri, PhD</a>, the Marian J. Morrison Professor of Breast Cancer Research at IU School of Medicine and the associate director of education at the cancer center. “Through this impactful summer program, we are helping to build the next generation of cancer researchers.” </p> <p>Additionally, six investigators are funded with $4.7 million in multi-year <a href="https://www.cancer.org/research/we-fund-cancer-research/apply-research-grant/grant-types/research-scholar-grants.html">Research Scholar Grants (RSG)</a>, which support independent, self-directed researchers and clinician scientists. These grants are funding research in ovarian and breast cancers, DNA replication errors in cancer, among other topics. </p> <p>Current RSG recipients are <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/members/bio/14946/lata-balakrishnan">Lata Balakrishnan, PhD</a>; <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/members/bio/8061/anirban-mitra">Anirban K. Mitra, PhD</a>; <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/news/eletter/2022-10/qa-sumegha_mitra.html">Sumegha Mitra, PhD</a>; <a href="https://mcb.indiana.edu/about/faculty/niu-hengyao.html">Hengyao Niu, PhD</a>; <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/staff/bio/11043/jenifer-prosperi">Jenifer Prosperi, PhD</a>; and <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/27057/zhang-chi">Chi Zhang, PhD</a>. </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Mon, 27 Mar 2023 00:00:00 Z{4ADC470F-BBB3-4438-A7BD-8A0F5A2DABF4}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/03/rural-colorectal-screening-grant$3.3 million grant to IU researchers aims to increase colorectal cancer screening in rural Indiana <p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers at the <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> are addressing the low colorectal cancer screening rates in rural Indiana communities with a five-year, $3.3 million grant from the National Cancer Institute. </p> <p>“This grant is geared toward helping rural clinics establish the procedures to get all eligible people screened for colon cancer,” said <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/members/bio/3054/victoria-champion">Victoria Champion, PhD</a>, Edward W. and Sarah Stam Cullipher Professor at <a href="https://nursing.iu.edu/">IU School of Nursing</a> and associate director of Community Outreach and Engagement at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. </p> <p>In addition to Champion, other lead investigators on the <a href="https://reporter.nih.gov/search/L1BKWK46K0GZtHMvQzgbYA/project-details/10567653">grant</a> are cancer center member <a href="/faculty/4908/imperiale-thomas">Thomas Imperiale, PhD</a>, and <a href="/faculty/5376/damush-teresa">Teresa Damush, PhD</a>, of IU School of Medicine. </p> <p>When looking at rates of colorectal cancer screening at rural clinics, Champion and her research team found clinics with screening rates below 10 percent, compared to about 65 percent of eligible individuals screened statewide. The National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable has set a goal of 80 percent. </p> <p>Through a partnership with the Indiana Rural Health Association, the IU researchers are identifying nine rural health clinics to test implementation of an evidence-based colorectal cancer screening program. </p> <p>"Our purpose is to help these clinics implement a known intervention so that we can dramatically increase the screening rates in rural Indiana,” Champion said. “The most effective studies have found that merely sending out stool-based tests in the mail to eligible people with follow-up navigation is the most effective intervention to increase screenings.” </p> <p>Researchers will work with the clinics to identify patients who are age 45 and older, at average risk for colorectal cancer and have not had a screening. Those patients will be mailed a fecal immunological test (FIT) along with a patient navigator’s phone number and screening directions. If preferred, they can also choose to have a screening colonoscopy. </p> <p>If the FIT screening is positive, the clinics will follow up to schedule a diagnostic colonoscopy. Current data shows that only 50 percent to 55 percent of individuals in the United States with a positive FIT result follow through with a diagnostic colonoscopy. </p> <p>Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States; screening can detect polyps or cancer early when it may be easier to treat. </p> <p>Colorectal cancer screenings are recommended starting at age 45. According to the <a href="https://www.nccn.org/patients/guidelines/content/PDF/colorectal-screening-patient.pdf">National Comprehensive Cancer Network screening guidelines</a>, most individuals at risk of colorectal cancer have an average risk—meaning no family history of that cancer type and no other major risk factors—and can choose a stool-based test for their screening. </p> <p>Although stool screening tests are one of the colorectal cancer screening options supported by the United States Preventive Services Task Force, many people believe colonoscopy is the only recommended test. </p> <p>“The best screening test is the one that people will do,” Champion said. </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Thu, 23 Mar 2023 00:00:00 Z{0BE19058-66B8-46D6-ABD2-894AF580EC0D}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/03/common-bacterial-infection-sexually-transmitted-researchIU researchers discover a common bacterial infection can be sexually transmitted<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine have made a major discovery about a common vaginal infection, finding the bacteria that causes it can also have a major presence in men and can be sexually transmitted. </p> <p>“We looked at the urethral microbiome of healthy adult men and found that many of them actually had bacteria that is associated with bacterial vaginosis in women,” said <a href="/faculty/5018/nelson-david">David Nelson, PhD</a>, professor of microbiology and immunology at IU School of Medicine and co-corresponding author of the study. “These bacteria can be transmitted through heterosexual, vaginal sex, something that has never been shown in research before.” </p> <p>Bacterial vaginosis is a common condition in women, but until now, researchers have not confirmed it can be transmitted via sex. Nelson said, many scientists previously thought urine is sterile. But this new study, <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(23)00087-3" target="blank">published recently in Cell Reports Medicine</a>, proves that is not the case. The team looked at 110 distal urethral swab specimens from men with no urogenital symptoms, no sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and no inflammation of the urethra. </p> <p>“What we found was stunning,” Nelson said. “These men had two types of colonized bacteria—one that was native to the penile urethra, and one that was from an outside source. This is the first time it has been shown that the human microbiome is primarily shaped by behavior.” </p> <p>Researchers found only the men who reported having vaginal sex carried the bacteria often associated with bacterial vaginosis. They also discovered the bacteria was detectable for at least two months after having vaginal sex. </p> <p>Nelson said the discovery could lead to sweeping changes in how men and women are treated for certain STIs, including bacterial vaginosis, by doing more contact tracing to treat sexual partners better. </p> <p>"Our research provides the first healthy baseline for clinicians and scientists to compare with diseased urogenital states,” said <a href="/faculty/1580/toh-evelyn">Evelyn Toh, PhD</a>, assistant research professor of microbiology and immunology and lead author of the paper. “Having established this baseline, we may be able to offer new insights into bacteria’s role in urogenital diseases. There is still stigma in talking about sex, and hence STIs are often overlooked. However, STIs really impact women and minorities disproportionately, as well as socioeconomically disadvantaged people.” </p> <p>While this study shows women can transmit bacterial vaginosis to men, they’re now studying whether men could transmit it to women as well. </p> <p>The study was done in collaboration with researchers at the University of Alabama—Birmingham and Loyola University Chicago. Other study authors from IU School of Medicine include <a href="/faculty/38712/jordan-stephen">Stephen Jordan, MD, PhD</a>; <a href="/faculty/4948/batteiger-teresa">Teresa Batteiger, MD, MS</a>; Netsanet Gebragziabher; James A. Williams; Lora Fortenberry; and <a href="/faculty/6500/fortenberry-james">J. Dennis Fortenberry, MD, MS</a>. </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 22 Mar 2023 00:00:00 Z{402D8B2B-F9C7-4FBA-A8DF-B8855D19ACFE}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/03/ctsi-grant-renewalStatewide institute receives $38M NIH grant to advance health research in Indiana<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">INDIANAPOLIS—The <a href="https://indianactsi.org/" target="blank">Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI)</a> has secured nearly $38 million in renewed funding from the National Institutes of Health for the next seven years—the fourth consecutive successful grant submission for the statewide research enterprise.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">The Indiana CTSI is a partnership among Indiana’s top research universities—Indiana University, Purdue University, and the University of Notre Dame—and the Regenstrief Institute Inc. The Indiana CTSI provides resources, education, training and funding opportunities to researchers across the state. These efforts span the translational research spectrum, from basic science to the clinic and into the community. The institute also facilitates opportunities for the community to inform further research in labs and hospitals.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">The Indiana CTSI is led by its co-directors, IU School of Medicine’s <a href="/faculty/4976/moe-sharon" target="blank">Sharon Moe, MD</a>, associate dean for clinical and translational research, and <a href="/faculty/16722/wiehe-sarah" target="blank">Sarah Wiehe, MD, MPH</a>, associate dean for community and translational research. Under their leadership, the institute has seen growing success, including expanded educational and training opportunities to build a broader array of translational researchers, such as medical, undergraduate and high school students. It has also developed engaging collaborations with public-private partnerships, as well as individuals and community-based organizations, such as the <a href="https://indianactsi.org/community/monon-collaborative/" target="blank">Monon Collaborative</a>, which includes <a href="https://indianactsi.org/community/monon-collaborative/wise-indiana/" target="blank">Wellbeing informed by Science and Evidence (WISE) Indiana</a> and <a href="https://indianactsi.org/news_/research-study-evaluates-healthy-indiana-plan-and-shows-promise-of-monon-collaboratives-community-impact-hubs/" target="blank">Community Impact Hubs</a>.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">Since 2008, Indiana CTSI-supported research has also led to the publication of more than 4,100 scientific papers, including:</p> <ul> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">A collaborative research project to <a href="https://indianactsi.org/news_/new-research-project-brings-mobile-just-in-time-stress-intervention-to-breast-cancer-survivors/" target="blank">bring mobile stress interventions to breast cancer survivors</a> led by IU researchers</li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">A microrobot device that <a href="https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2022/Q2/microrobot-device-removes-brain-hemorrhages-due-to-strokes-or-aneurysms.html" target="blank">removes brain hemorrhages from strokes or aneurysms</a> led by Purdue researchers</li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">A drug delivery system to <a href="https://research.nd.edu/news-and-events/news/notre-dame-researchers-backpacks-restore-damaged-stem-cells/" target="blank">restore damaged stem cells, which could help babies born from complicated pregnancies</a>, led by Notre Dame researchers</li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">A mobile app to <a href="https://indianactsi.org/news_/mobile-app-to-monitor-premature-babies-advances-at-innovation-conference/" target="blank">monitor premature babies born in both Kenya and Indiana</a> led by IU School of Medicine researchers</li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">“As one of the nation's premier research universities, IU has world-class researchers who drive innovation,” IU President Pamela Whitten said. “The Indiana CTSI collaboration will continue to play a pivotal role in transforming and growing our statewide research ecosystem.”</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">Indiana CTSI leadership has bold goals to <span>transform our statewide research ecosystem over the next seven years, with deliberate attention to diversity and inclusion in partnerships, workforce development and research engagement. These efforts will accelerate innovation and rapidly implement evidence into practice to advance health equity across the state. The institute will also work to harmonize health system data through informatics and develop innovative solutions for effective health care.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">“The Indiana CTSI has helped Purdue biomedical engineers test new devices and make bold advancements in clinical and translational research to bring these technologies to patients,” Purdue University President Mung Chiang said. “We look forward to many more years of collaboration with our colleagues at the Indiana CTSI, Indiana University and Notre Dame. And Purdue University is committed to expand the scale and impact of our biomedical and health care discoveries.”</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">The Indiana CTSI will build on its strengths by expanding community-based efforts such as <a href="https://allinforhealth.info/" target="blank">All IN for Health</a>, a program to engage the public in research and help them understand its value toward improving health in the state. Other initiatives include improving opportunities for donating specimens to the <a href="https://indianabiobank.org/" target="blank">Indiana Biobank</a> to facilitate research, focusing on nuanced social issues in research through a bioethical lens, and developing a recruitment concierge service to help researchers enroll diverse participants in their studies.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">The Indiana CTSI will also broaden the guest list for the popular <a href="https://indianactsi.org/news-events/podcasts/" target="blank">Healthcare Triage podcast</a> series to include researchers from IU, Purdue and Notre Dame, showcasing the many areas of expertise of researchers from the statewide collaboration.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">“Through the Indiana CTSI, Notre Dame is able to bring many of its research strengths—fighting rare diseases, promoting global health, preventing lead poisoning and more—to the service of healthcare systems and community health partners throughout our state," said Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins. “We are grateful for the NIH’s continued support of the Indiana CTSI, which enables Notre Dame faculty members to identify shared research interests and opportunities for collaborative projects with fellow researchers at Purdue and Indiana University.”</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">Since its founding in 2008, the Indiana CTSI has consistently been among the top five largest NIH research grants at IU School of Medicine—of which Regenstrief Institute is a supporting organization.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">“We are committed to the Indiana CTSI and working together to build upon our institutional strengths, leverage our respective unique capabilities, and collaborate to accelerate discoveries relating to health and wellness,” said Rachel E. Patzer, incoming president and CEO of the Regenstrief Institute. “As a society, we invest in health care research with an expectation of the benefits we gain from it. I believe by harnessing the existing strengths of the CTSI and its partners we can improve not only health care, but ultimately the health of patients and populations.”</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><strong>About the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span>The Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) brings together the state’s brightest minds to solve Indiana’s most pressing health challenges through research. It is a statewide partnership among Indiana University, Purdue University, the University of Notre Dame and numerous life sciences businesses, government entities, and community organizations. The Indiana CTSI engages with the public at every level of research—from basic science to patient care and beyond. It has been continuously funded by multimillion-dollar grants from the National Institutes of Health since the Indiana CTSI’s founding in 2008 and is housed at the Indiana University School of Medicine.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><strong>About Indiana University School of Medicine</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a></span><span> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span></p>Mon, 20 Mar 2023 00:00:00 Z{EDEC1E66-7AD8-44EF-A37D-0F3090B1CF0B}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/03/iu-school-of-medicine-celebrates-2023-match-dayIU School of Medicine celebrates 2023 Match Day<h3 style="margin: 0in;"><strong>354 students matched with specialized training programs across the country</strong></h3> <p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine celebrated a historic Match Day on Friday at the IUPUI campus center in downtown Indianapolis, with a nearly perfect 99.7% of fourth-year medical students successfully matching to residency programs during the annual event. </p> <p>“This is an exciting day for our graduating medical students, and an extraordinarily successful Match Day for our school,” said <a href="/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>, dean of IU School of Medicine and IU’s executive vice president for university clinical affairs. “We are incredibly proud of this diverse, talented group and all they have accomplished over the last four years. We look forward to seeing the many ways they will improve health across all of Indiana.” </p> <p>Each year in March, fourth-year students across the country gather and open envelopes at the same time, finding out simultaneously where they will go to complete their residency programs after their upcoming graduation in May. While medical school gives students foundational knowledge to become a physician, residency provides intensive clinical and research experience in their chosen specialty and is required before a physician can practice independently. Residency programs can range from 3 to 9 years, depending on the specialty. </p> <p>“We have been educating medical professionals for more than 100 years and know that these students are well-prepared for this important next step in their training,” said <a href="/faculty/41427/wallach-paul">Paul M. Wallach, MD</a>, executive associate dean for educational affairs. “Over the last four years, we have seen this class demonstrate incredible teamwork, fortitude and resilience—all evidenced by this year’s remarkable Match Day success. They have become compassionate and culturally competent physicians and we are so excited to see what they accomplish next.” </p> <p>This year, the IU School of Medicine class of 2023 matched 354 students with training programs across the country. From that group, 107 will enter <a href="/gme">residency programs affiliated with IU School of Medicine </a>or IU Health—joining graduates from medical schools across the country to bring a total of 326 residents to train in IU programs. These programs include 29 different specialties, including internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine, anesthesiology, psychiatry, surgery, OB-GYN, emergency medicine and neurology. Their training begins in late June. </p> <p>“IU School of Medicine residencies are excited to be receiving 326 newly minted doctors in the match who will start training with us this summer. At IU School of Medicine, we offer 40 residency training programs across the state of Indiana,” Wallach said. “Our residents receive a unique clinical and research experience in whatever their chosen specialty is, and we are so excited to welcome our new class of residents to the IUSM family.” </p> <p>Other IU School of Medicine graduates matched with programs across the country, including NYU, Johns Hopkins, Duke, Stanford, University of Washington, Yale, and Washington University in St. Louis to name just a few. </p> <p>Other highlights from Match Day 2023: </p> <ul> <li>38% of students will enter primary care residencies, helping to fulfill a significant need for primary care physicians in Indiana and across the country </li> <li>Graduates will complete residency in 38 states </li> <li>The top five specialties IU School of Medicine students matched into are: Internal Medicine, Anesthesiology, Pediatrics, Surgery, Family Medicine</li> </ul> <p>To see more of the celebration, <a href="https://fb.watch/jkpK28l27C/">visit our Facebook page</a>. You can also <a href="https://iusmimages.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000rL4kOVihD4E/G0000j70z_IHTHFg/Match-Day-2023">download photos and videos from this media kit link</a>. </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Fri, 17 Mar 2023 00:00:00 Z{8A02E53E-87B5-4547-B0D2-0D420047801A}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/03/new-executive-advisor-to-deanIU School of Medicine names new senior executive advisor to the dean<p>INDIANAPOLIS—A veteran academic administrator and faculty leader is joining the Indiana University School of Medicine leadership team. </p> <p>Neil H. Perdue, PhD, has been named to the role of senior executive advisor to <a href="/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>, dean of the school of medicine and executive vice president for Indiana University. Perdue currently is the executive vice president and chief strategy officer at the University of Indianapolis. </p> <p>Perdue has been a member of the president’s office leadership team since 2017 when he assumed the role of chief of staff and director of strategic initiatives. He later expanded in that role to also serve as the university’s first chief operating officer. He assumed his current role with the president’s office in 2021. </p> <p>“With 14 years of experience at an academic institution as both a faculty member and a senior administrator, Dr. Perdue is uniquely qualified for this role,” said Hess. “He has a deep understanding of the different constituents who make up an organization, their roles, and the distinct challenges they face. We are excited for him to bring his fresh perspective to our leadership team.” </p> <p>Prior to his work as an executive leader on the president’s team, Perdue served as a tenured member of the University of Indianapolis faculty. An associate professor of psychology—a title he still holds—he joined the faculty in 2009 as an assistant professor. During his time as teaching faculty, he served as director of undergraduate programs, assistant dean of academic programs, and associate dean of the College of Applied Behavioral Sciences. </p> <p>In his new role as senior executive advisor, Perdue will support Hess and other executive leaders with directing, implementing and monitoring the strategic agenda for IU School of Medicine and increasing alignment with the health sciences schools at IU. </p> <p>“I am inspired by the School of Medicine, a world-renowned institute of education, research, and clinical care that has influenced the health and wellbeing of countless people,” said Perdue, who will officially assume his new role on May 1. “As a lifelong Hoosier, I am well aware of the indelible impact the school has had on our state and I am grateful for the chance to participate in the school's ongoing work under Dean Hess.” </p> <p>Perdue is a 2002 graduate of Butler University, with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies. He completed his graduate education at Indiana University—earning a master’s degree in counseling and counselor education in 2004, an education specialist degree in mental health counseling in 2005, and a PhD in learning and developmental sciences in 2009. </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Fri, 17 Mar 2023 00:00:00 Z{0E870DA4-FBE4-4CA9-99D3-F1AAE4366ABB}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/03/2023-lgbtq-health-care-conferenceIU School of Medicine hosting 2023 LGBTQ+ Health Care Conference<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine is hosting its sixth annual LGBTQ+ Health Care Conference March 23-24. The virtual conference is designed for health care professionals, learners, researchers, patients, community organizations and others who seek to understand the unique health considerations and barriers to health care in the LGBTQ+ population. </p> <p>The conference will be held virtually, but an in-person kickoff event is planned for March 22 at the Madam Walker Legacy Center in Indianapolis. This year’s theme is “Resiliency, Intersectionality and Emerging Challenges in LGBTQ+ Health Care.” Topics include community advocacy, navigating insurance and the law, supporting families of gender diverse people, HIV/STI risk reduction, identity development and more. </p> <p>“The LGBTQ+ community experiences unique and difficult health care challenges all over the world,” said <a href="/faculty/15690/tori-alvaro" target="blank">Alvaro Tori, MD</a>, senior associate dean for diversity affairs. “This conference will help attendees learn how to provide respectful, inclusive, just, patient-centered and culturally competent health care by developing skills to establish rapport, recognize barriers to care, offer competent primary care and provide referrals when necessary to care.” </p> <p>IU School of Medicine faculty and staff, along with community members, and leaders from across the country will present. The <a href="https://lgbtqhealthcareconference.iu.edu/speakers/index.html" target="blank">keynote speakers</a> will be Elizabeth Brader, Marlon Bailey, PhD, Bruce Smail, Adrian Shanker and Andrea Jenkins. </p> <p><a href="https://lgbtqhealthcareconference.iu.edu/" target="blank" class="button">Visit the conference website to register. </a></p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 15 Mar 2023 00:00:00 Z{EACEF4F2-2B2B-4472-82D1-EFDFB2EA2F5B}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/03/glaucoma-therapeutic-targetResearchers discover therapeutic target to aid in glaucoma treatment<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine researchers have identified a new therapeutic target that could lead to more effective treatment of glaucoma. </p> <p>Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease that causes vision loss and blindness due to a damaged optic nerve. More than 200,000 people are affected by glaucoma in the United States each year. Unfortunately, there is currently no treatment. In <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-023-04576-w" target="blank">a newly published paper in Communications Biology</a>, researchers found neurons use mitochondria for a steady source of energy, and restoring mitochondrial homeostasis in the diseased neurons can protect the optic nerve cells from being damaged. </p> <p>“Age-related neurodegenerative disease, which includes glaucoma, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is the biggest global health problem,” said <a href="/faculty/47579/das-arupratan" target="blank">Arupratan Das, PhD</a>, assistant professor of ophthalmology and principal investigator of the study. “The fundamental mechanisms that we discovered can be used to protect neurons in glaucoma and be tested for the other diseases. We have identified a critical step of complex mitochondrial homeostasis process, which rejuvenates the dying neuron, similar to giving a lifeline to a dying person.” </p> <p>The research team, led by Michelle Surma and Kavitha Anbarasu from the Department of Ophthalmology, used induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patients with and without glaucoma as well as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) engineered human embryonic stem cells with glaucoma mutation. Using stem cell differentiated retinal ganglion cells (hRGCs) of the optic nerve, electron microscopy and metabolic analysis, researchers identified glaucomatous retinal ganglion cells suffer mitochondrial deficiency with more metabolic burden on each mitochondrion. This leads to mitochondrial damage and degeneration. Mitochondria are the tube like structures in cells which produce adenosine triphosphate, cell’s energy source. </p> <p><img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/g/graphic.png?h=493&w=800&rev=e9bed3c5f7ff457fb2b8f4aeed52ad15&hash=6A82EB317482D31C9BF8C4F90D209457" style="height: 493px; width: 800px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; vertical-align: middle;" alt="graphic showing how restoring mitochondrial homeostasis in the diseased neurons can protect the optic nerve cells from being damaged" />However, the process could be reversed by enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis by a pharmacological agent. The team showed retinal ganglion cells are highly efficient in degrading bad mitochondria, but at the same time producing more to maintain homeostasis. </p> <p>“Finding that retinal ganglion cells with glaucoma produce more adenosine triphosphate even with less mitochondria was astonishing,” Das said. “However, when triggered to produce more mitochondria, the adenosine triphosphate production load was distributed among more mitochondrion which restored the organelle physiology. It is similar to a situation where a heavy stone is carried by fewer people versus a greater number of people—each person will have less pain and injury, just like each mitochondrion will have less difficulty and damage.” </p> <p>In the future, Das would like to test if these mechanisms protect the optic nerve in animal models under injury before testing in humans to hopefully lead to new clinical interventions.</p> <p>The research was funded in part by the National Eye Institute.</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Fri, 10 Mar 2023 00:00:00 Z{D2F1CCB1-1111-453D-8A0C-5B01E4F3D355}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/03/blood-test-for-anxietyIU School of Medicine researchers develop blood test for anxiety<h3>New test is the latest in a series of blood tests for mental health disorders </h3> <p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine have successfully developed a blood test for anxiety. The test examines biomarkers that can help them objectively determine someone’s risk for developing anxiety, the severity of their current anxiety and which therapies would likely treat their anxiety the best.</p> The researchers’ results were <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-023-01998-0.epdf?sharing_token=A_OVn-2tf6gm60iaVPZdWdRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0MyeujxVLAkzaxt_CaMLY7ZaRfpz9zAsO4tWHEF8YKxBLdDtmJkJRjAWo509jvwUBP5hijhPKQPxNuHjKsmH4tNQeZ0PMPrViLREnNhKOnJhhs24tbaOQChY251qZ_Qo9E%3D" target="blank">recently published in Molecular Psychiatry</a>, and the blood tests are currently being developed for wider use by physicians by <a href="https://mindxsciences.com/bloodtests/" target="blank">Indianapolis-based startup MindX Sciences</a>, which was founded on science developed at IU School of Medicine. <p>“Many people are suffering from anxiety, which can be very disabling and interfere with daily life,” said professor of psychiatry <a href="/faculty/16295/niculescu-alexander" target="blank">Alexander Niculescu, MD, PhD</a>. “The current approach is to talk to people about how they feel to see if they could be on medications, but some medications can be addictive and create more problems. We wanted to see if our approach to identify blood biomarkers could help us match people to existing medications that will work better and could be a non-addictive choice.” </p> <p>Niculescu’s past research has led to the development of <a href="/news/2019/02/iu-school-of-medicine-makes-breakthrough-towards-developing-blood-test-for-pain" target="blank">blood tests for pain</a>, <a href="/news/2021/04/iu-school-of-medicine-researchers-develop-blood-test-for-depression-and-bipolar-disorder" target="blank">depression/bipolar disorder</a> and <a href="/news/2019/03/iu-school-of-medicine-researchers-discover-groundbreaking-test-for-post-traumatic-stress-disorder" target="blank">post traumatic stress disorder</a>. This latest study uses similar methods for anxiety. It included three independent cohorts: discovery, validation and testing. Participants completed a blood test every three to six months or whenever a new psychiatric hospitalization occurred. By examining the RNA biomarkers in their blood, researchers could identify a participant’s current state of anxiety and match them with medications and nutraceuticals, showing how effective different options could be for them based on their biology.</p> <p>“In addition to medications, there are other methods to treat anxiety, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or lifestyle changes,” Niculescu said. “But having something objective like this where we can know what someone’s current state is as well as their future risk and what treatment options match their profile is very powerful in helping people.” </p> <p>A person’s biomarkers can also change over time. Niculescu said the test can help evaluate a person’s risk of developing higher levels of anxiety in the future as well as how other factors might impact their anxiety, like hormonal changes. </p> <p>“There are people who have anxiety and it is not properly diagnosed, then they have panic attacks, but think they're having a heart attack and up in the ER with all sorts of physical symptoms,” Niculescu said. “If we can know that earlier, then we can hopefully avoid this pain and suffering and treat them earlier with something that matches their profile.” </p> <p>Niculescu said this new test could also be used in combination with the other blood tests his research has led to, providing a more comprehensive view of a patient’s mental health and risk of future mental health concerns. Researchers can also use the test to develop new treatments for anxiety that are more targeted to individual biomarkers. </p> <p>“This is something that could be a panel test as part of a patient’s regular wellness visits to evaluate their mental health over time and prevent any future distress,” Niculescu said. “Prevention is better in the long run, so our goal is to be able to provide a comprehensive report for patients and their physicians using simply one tube of blood.”</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 07 Mar 2023 00:00:00 Z{D37C6721-2385-4CF4-B93D-A1CB83BB3F59}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/03/clver-diabetes-clinical-trialIU diabetes researchers discover new use for high blood pressure medication called verapamil<p>INDIANAPOLIS–A clinical study conducted by Indiana University School of Medicine researchers revealed that oral verapamil, a readily available and commonly used drug to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions, can also improve the pancreas’ insulin secretion in children with newly-diagnosed type 1 diabetes (T1D). The positive effects of verapamil were discovered through the Hybrid Closed Loop Therapy and Verapamil for Beta Cell Preservation in New Onset Type 1 Diabetes (CLVer) clinical trial. IU was one of six pediatric diabetes centers in the U.S. to participate. </p> <p>Patients with T1D have pancreases that make little to no insulin, the hormone that manages blood sugar and produces energy. While a T1D diagnosis can come at any point in life, many patients are diagnosed as children or young adults. </p> <p>“The results of the trial are incredibly promising and exciting for researchers and patients,” said Anna Neyman, MD, assistant professor of clinical pediatrics and a principal investigator in the CLVer trial. “Not only is verapamil affordable, it’s also a familiar medication that is well-tolerated with a favorable safety profile. I believe many families and children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes will benefit from what we discovered during the CLVer study.” </p> <p>When compared with a control group that received a placebo pill, patients who took one oral verapamil per day noticed insulin secretion improved by 30 percent over the first year of their T1D diagnosis. Extensive findings from the CLVer study were <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2801974">recently published in JAMA</a> and announced at the International Conference on Advanced Technologies and Treatments of Diabetes (ATTD). </p> <p>With funding support from JDRF, the trial included 88 participants between 8 and 17 years of age. All patients began the trial within 31 days of their T1D diagnosis and were randomly assigned to receive daily oral verapamil or a matching placebo. The CLVer clinical trial also assessed glucose management approaches with promising results. </p> <p>“It’s a remarkable time in the world of diabetes research,” said <a href="/faculty/18596/sims-emily">Emily Sims, MD</a>, associate professor of pediatrics and investigator with the <a href="/research-centers/pediatrics">Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research</a>. “The CLVer trial and other clinical studies provide instrumental data that ultimately gets us one step closer to our goal of eradicating type 1 diabetes.” </p> <p><a href="/faculty/5100/evans-molina-carmella">Carmella Evans-Molina, MD, PhD, MS</a>, director of the <a href="/research-centers/diabetes">Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases</a> and <a href="/faculty/1595/dimeglio-linda">Linda DiMeglio, MD</a>, professor of pediatrics, contributed to the trial along with Neyman and Sims. The group and other IU researchers also participated in a TrialNet clinical study that recently led to the Federal Drug Administration’s approval of teplizumab, the <a href="/news/2022/11/teplizumab-research-fda-approval">first immunotherapy drug to delay the onset of type 1 diabetes</a> in at-risk individuals by an average of almost three years. </p> <p>Individuals interested in advancing diabetes research with IU School of Medicine can find additional information about <a href="/research-centers/pediatrics/research/diabetes/clinical">clinical research opportunities on medicine.iu.edu</a> and can stay engaged by following @T1DIndy on <a href="https://twitter.com/T1DIndy">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/T1DIndy">Facebook</a>. Those with questions can email <a href="mailto:pedsdiab@iupui.edu">pedsdiab@iupui.edu</a>. </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 01 Mar 2023 00:00:00 Z{95CC3554-FEE1-4AD7-BC7D-B90F92C79109}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/03/vasculogenic-fibroblast-discoveryIU researchers discover vasculogenic fibroblast, a missing piece in understanding how blood vessels are made<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers from the Indiana Center for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering (ICRME) have identified a new type of cell in the human and mouse body called the vasculogenic fibroblast that provides critical insight into how new blood vessels can be made when needed for treatment. </p> <p>Blood vessels are created by endothelial cells, but researchers found a different kind of cell, the vasculogenic fibroblast, can also make new blood vessels and achieve blood flow. They describe their findings in a <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-36665-z" target="blank">newly published paper in Nature Communications</a>. </p> <p>“Ischemic diseases are common and limited by poor blood supply—diabetic wounds are one of them,” said Chandan K Sen, PhD, distinguished professor of surgery, associate vice president of military and applied research at IU School of Medicine and director of the ICRME. “Growing blood vessels to treat ischemic disease and arresting growth of blood vessels to limit tumor growth requires complete understanding of how blood vessels are made in the body. The discovery of vasculogenic fibroblasts unveils a critical piece of the puzzle that would help targeted therapies.” </p> <p>Researchers observed vasculogenic fibroblasts in human patients. When someone is injured, the body starts developing vasculogenic fibroblasts that make new blood vessels to heal tissue. But in some patients, such as those with diabetes, the ability to make these specialized cells is blunted. In lab models, Sen and the research team used their tissue nanotransfection (TNT) technology for tissue reprogramming to replenish vasculogenic fibroblasts in diabetic tissue. This led to improved blood flow and improved diabetic wound closure. </p> <p>“Not only did this work identify a cell that has always quietly functioned in the body, but we can use TNT and vasculogenic tissue reprogramming to make these cells and rescue tissues affected by poor blood supply,” Sen said. </p> <p>TNT and regenerative medicine, which seeks to replace or regenerate human cells, tissue and organs, is a growing industry around the world and in Indiana. According to <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2021/12/14/2351605/0/en/By-2028-Global-Demand-for-Tissue-Nano-Transfection-Market-Will-Surpass-USD-7-06-Billion-at-16-6-CAGR-Growth-Says-Vantage-Market-Research.html" target="blank">MarketWatch</a>, the TNT market was valued at $2.07 billion in 2020 and is expected to increase to $7.06 billion by 2028 due to an increase in skin diseases, chronic diseases and trauma emergencies as well as an increased consciousness of successful tissue engineering programs. </p> <p>“In less than a second, the TNT nanochip can deliver just one anti-sense oligonucleotide to the skin and convert cells into vasculogenic cells,” Sen said. “This innovative technology is continuing to show promise in providing simple and effective treatment for many different health concerns in many different situations.” </p> <p>Along with Sen, study authors from Indiana University include Subhadip Ghatak, PhD, Kanhaiya Singh, PhD, Ahmed Safwat Abouhashem, Manishekhar Kumar, PhD, Mohamed El Masry, PhD, MD, Sujit K. Mohanty, PhD, Ravichand Palakurti, PhD, Yashika Rustagi, Saba Tabasum, Dolly K. Khona, Savita Khanna, PhD, Sedat Kacar, PhD, Rajneesh Srivastava, PhD, Pramod Bhasme, PhD, Sumit S. Verma, PhD, Edward Hernandez, MD, Anu Sharma, PhD, Diamond Reese, Priyanka Verma, Nandini Ghosh, Mahadeo Gorain, Jun Wan, PhD, Sheng Liu, PhD, Yunlong Liu, PhD, Surya C. Gnyawali, PhD, Sashwati Roy, PhD, and Mervin Yoder, MD. The study also included authors from The Ohio State University. This work was sponsored by a grant from the National Institutes of Health. </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/" target="blank">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 01 Mar 2023 00:00:00 Z{01C058F6-D9F9-4B66-88E3-39AB7061B304}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/02/krannert-biennialIndiana University cardiovascular researchers to host inaugural Krannert Biennial<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Every year, more than 800,000 people in the United States experience a potentially life-threatening heart attack, or acute myocardial infarction (MI). The damage to heart muscle that occurs with MI puts many at risk of developing complications like heart failure after the event. This May, the Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center, the research engine of the <a href="/institutes/cardiovascular">IU Cardiovascular Institute</a>, will bring more than 20 world-renowned leaders in cardiovascular research and practice to present the latest discoveries and best practices to improve the lives of patients suffering from acute MI. </p> <p>The <a href="/institutes/cardiovascular/research/biennial">2023 Inaugural Krannert Biennial</a>, “Myocardial Infarction and Reperfusion Injury: New Evidence to Shift Existing Paradigms,” will be held Friday, May 12 – Saturday, May 13, 2023 at the <a href="https://eiteljorg.org/">Eiteljorg Museum</a>, 500 W. Washington St., with hotel accommodations available at the adjacent JW Marriott. Registration is now open to everyone interested in attending this high-impact event including specialists in cardiovascular disease, interventional cardiology, cardiothoracic radiology, emergency medicine, and other health professionals dedicated to cardiovascular care. </p> <p>Interactive sessions will cover: </p> <ul> <li>Mechanisms of MI and Reperfusion Injury </li> <li>Therapies – What Works, What Doesn’t Work and Why </li> <li>Translating Innovation to Impact Diverse Communities </li> </ul> <p>“The Inaugural Krannert Biennial brings together highly accomplished thought leaders from around the world to review and discuss the current knowledge and gaps in acute myocardial infarction – covering the essential basic science to active clinical trials,” said <a href="/faculty/60337/dharmakumar-rohan">Rohan Dharmakumar, PhD</a>, executive director of the Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center and the Charles Fisch Chair in Cardiology at IU School of Medicine. “It also provides an exciting opportunity to embed the evolving understanding of acute myocardial infarction to forge new strategies to radically change how acute myocardial infarction patients are treated and managed to improve clinical outcomes.” </p> <p>The Biennial will also highlight innovative cardiovascular research and clinical trials underway at IU School of Medicine and IU Health. Recently, a study led by Dharmakumar <a href="/news/2022/11/iron-and-heart-failure-study">demonstrated hemorrhage within the heart muscle</a> following reperfusion therapy drives the formation of fatty tissue in the heart and could cause chronic heart failure in about 50 percent of heart attack survivors. A first-in-human trial is now in progress to limit this hemorrhage. </p> <p>“We are excited to share our recent cardiovascular research developments with the cardiovascular community and trainees,” Dharmakumar said. “Attendees will engage with the drivers of MI science and care in a highly interactive format.” </p> <p>Visiting presenters include: Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, Mount Sinai Hospital; Gerd Heusch, MD, University of Essen, Germany; Robert Kloner, MD, PhD, Huntington Medical Research Institute; Michael Fishbein, MD, University of California, Los Angeles; Nikolaos Frangogiannis, MD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Andreas Kumar, MD, MS, Northern Ontario School of Medicine; Robert Gropler, MD, Washington University School of Medicine at St. Louis; Roxana Mehran, Wiener Cardiovascular Institute at Mount Sinai School of Medicine; Sunil Rao, MD, NYU Langone Health; Timothy Henry, MD, Christ Hospital Health Network; and Edward Fry, MD, Ascension. </p> <p>“Clinicians, scientists and trainees will benefit from learning about the innovative cardiovascular research driven by our distinguished speakers as well as new frontiers in cardiovascular care resulting from these innovations. We are pleased to host this high-impact event designed to help us improve the cardiovascular health of those we serve through patient care and research,” said Subha V. Raman, MD, physician director of the Cardiovascular Institute, VP for Cardiovascular Services and Medtronic Zipes Chair & Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine at IU School of Medicine. </p> <p>During the Krannert Biennial, the inaugural awardee of the <a href="/institutes/cardiovascular/research/krannert-prize">2023 Krannert Prize in Translational Cardiovascular Research</a> will be announced. This award recognizes a senior scientist who has achieved international acclaim through translational cardiovascular science. The event will also feature a Young Investigator Awards Competition. A reception and dinner are planned for the evening of May 12. </p> <p>IU School of Medicine has designated the biennial event for a maximum of 11.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. The medical school is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education and the American Nursing Credentialing Center, to provide continuing education to health care professionals. </p> <p><a href="https://events.iu.edu/medicine/event/881110-2023-inaugural-krannert-biennial">Register for the Krannert Biennial</a> by visiting the IU School of Medicine Calendar. Registration deadline is May 1. Exhibitor opportunities are available by <a href="mailto:laltmeyer@iu.edu">contacting Linda Altmeyer</a>. </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 28 Feb 2023 00:00:00 Z{ED303B9D-DB39-4EBC-AEB4-94423ACA03EE}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/02/madhur-named-division-directorMeena S. Madhur, MD, PhD, to lead Division of Clinical Pharmacology<p>INDIANAPOLIS— Meena S. Madhur, MD, PhD, has been named the new director of the <a href="/internal-medicine/specialties/clinical-pharmacology">Division of Clinical Pharmacology</a> in the Department of Medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine. She will begin this role August 15, 2023. </p> <p>Madhur comes from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Divisions of Clinical Pharmacology and Cardiovascular Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine. She is also the Associate Director of the Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation (VI4) and an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics. </p> <p>Madhur is an internationally recognized physician-scientist who studies the role of the immune system in the regulation of blood pressure. Her research is primarily focused on how lymphocytes (T cells) participate in causing hypertension (high blood pressure). Such work is aimed at identifying new targets for treating high blood pressure, potentially leading to safer and more effective options for treating one of the most common diseases affecting people in Indiana and beyond. </p> <p>“Meena is a star in the fields of clinical pharmacology and cardiovascular health” said <a href="/faculty/60990/aronoff-david">David Aronoff, MD</a>, chair of the Department of Medicine. “She has natural leadership instincts. We are fortunate to have recruited her to Indiana University School of Medicine.” </p> <p><a href="/faculty/5010/skaar-todd">Todd Skaar, PhD</a>, has served in the Interim Director role since May, 2022. </p> <p>“I am so thankful for the leadership of Dr. Skaar during this time of transition. He has brought a steady hand and caring approach to the Division that is much appreciated,” added Dr. Aronoff. </p> <p>Madhur’s lab has attracted funding from sources including the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association. She is a past recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on outstanding scientists and engineers in the early stages of their independent research careers. She has also garnered recognition for her strength in research, including induction into the American Society of Clinical Investigation. She was awarded an American Heart Association Harry Goldblatt New Investigator Award, and is a past recipient of the American Physiological Society Water and Electrolyte Homeostasis Section New Investigator Award. Madhur is also an elected Fellow of the American Heart Association. </p> <p>Madhur is a summa cum laude graduate of Duke University, who earned her combined MD/PhD degrees at the University of Virginia. She returned to Duke University to complete an Internal Medicine residency followed by a Fellowship in Cardiology at Emory University. Madhur conducted post-doctoral researchthere in the laboratory of David Harrison who later recruited her to join the faculty at Vanderbilt University, where she has been since 2012. </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Mon, 27 Feb 2023 00:00:00 Z{3C5008D7-ACA4-4835-89B2-46B690CFD42B}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/02/corson-pharmacology-toxicology-chairIU School of Medicine names new chair to lead Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine has named <a href="/sitecore/service/notfound.aspx?item=web%3a%7bAD2D6190-6249-48A2-9644-A7C4E5CD2F49%7d%40en">Timothy W. Corson, PhD</a>, as the new chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. </p> <p>Corson is currently the Merrill Grayson Senior Professor in Ophthalmology and Vice Chair for Basic and Translational Research in the <a href="/ophthalmology">Department of Ophthalmology</a> at IU School of Medicine. He also holds appointments in the <a href="/pharmacology-toxicology">Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology</a> and in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. </p> <p>Since joining IU School of Medicine in 2010, Corson has demonstrated world-class research in his laboratory, and a devotion to mentorship through his work with students—ranging in age from high school, undergraduate, medical students and residents, as well as faculty. He directs the Basic Science Research in Ophthalmology elective for upper-year medical students, and also has co-led summer research programs at the <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> for high school and undergraduate students from populations underrepresented in medicine. </p> <p>“Dr. Corson is a collaborative and transformational leader, well-funded researcher and dedicated educator,” said <a href="/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>, dean of IU School of Medicine and Executive Vice President of University Clinical Affairs for IU. “His vision aligns with the School of Medicine’s interdisciplinary and aspirational approach to education and research. I’m confident he will advance us to further excellence across all of our missions.” </p> <p>The major focus of Corson’s lab at IU is neovascular eye diseases. Through his work, he has identified two novel protein targets for blocking neovascularization in eye diseases like wet age-related macular degeneration and has discovered novel lead therapeutic compounds covered by multiple patent applications. His research program has resulted in more than 80 papers and 11 patents during his career and has been supported by more than $7.2 million in grant funding. </p> <p>For the past five years, Corson has served as the leader of laboratory research in the Department of Ophthalmology. In this role he has helped lead the department in recruiting top new talent and mentoring existing faculty—with support of chair David Wallace, MD, MPH, this has more than quadrupled the department’s NIH funding between 2019 and 2021. </p> <p>“I am honored by the opportunity to lead the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and am excited to take on this new challenge,” said Corson. “Pharmacology and toxicology is a unique field given its central role in all aspects of medicine. The outstanding faculty with the department reflect the major strategic areas of IU School of Medicine research. I’m eager to work with the faculty to continue to forge new collaborations to advance our leading-edge research and education here at the school.” </p> <p>Corson is a 1999 graduate of the University of Toronto with an Honors Bachelor of Science (HonBSc) in molecular genetics and molecular biology. He earned his Master of Science (MSc) in neuroscience/pharmacology and a PhD in molecular genetics, also from the University of Toronto, and later pursued chemical biology research as the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Jean-François St-Denis Fellow in Cancer Research at Yale University. </p> <p>Corson will officially assume his new role April 1, 2023. </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Fri, 24 Feb 2023 00:00:00 Z{F3DBA6A5-77A4-4B35-BEF0-BCC97FD8A339}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/02/forks-project-fundingNew $2.9 million grant helps researchers address food insecurity for Hoosiers<p>INDIANAPOLIS—With a $2.9 million grant from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine are working to improve food insecurity in Indiana and ultimately improve the health of people in Indiana. </p> <p>Individuals who experience food insecurity–inconsistent access to affordable and nutritious food–are more susceptible to a variety of health conditions, including hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes. The FoRKS: Food Resources and Kitchen Skills initiative builds upon dietitian-led programs at Eskenazi Health to improve nutrition and lifestyle practices among patients at the health system’s federally qualified health centers in Indianapolis. </p> <p>“A lot of the disparities in health and life expectancy that we observe operate through diet-related chronic conditions, and it can take years for diet quality to have an effect on a person’s health,” said <a href="/faculty/4886/clark-daniel">Daniel Clark, PhD</a>, associate professor of medicine and co-leader of the project. “By getting more people help earlier in life on ways to better manage diet and prevent high blood pressure and blood sugar, we can reduce the damage that could occur later in life, helping to minimize the risk of heart attacks and strokes.” </p> <p>Patients who participated in the pilot program in 2021 had meals delivered to their homes that included low amounts of sodium and carbohydrates and they received an essential set of cooking tools to make their meals. In addition, they joined eight to 10 other participants on Webex for twice-weekly cooking courses and joined Eskenazi Health’s hypertension management course. </p> <p>The average attendance during the pilot study was 87 percent. Mean satisfaction was 4.7 out of 5 for the delivered foods and 4.9 out of 5 for the hands-on cooking class. Clark said the dietitians did a good job of keeping people engaged while they learned, helping to make the experience more of a support group. “The pilot project was completed during the height of the pandemic, a time that was difficult for people in many different ways,” Clark said. “We found the social interaction we were able to provide was important to participants.” </p> <p>With the new grant, researchers will soon launch a randomized trial of 200 patients in Indianapolis. Ultimately, they hope participants will experience lower mean systolic blood pressure as a result of the study. They will also monitor food security and nutrition, as well as the cost-effectiveness and behavioral mechanisms such as learning engagement, self-efficacy and food resource management skills. </p> <p>Other collaborators on the project include Richard Holden, chair of the IU School of Public Health-Bloomington as well as <a href="/news/2023/02/forks-project-funding">Deanna Reinoso, MD</a>, <a href="/faculty/60768/rivera-rebecca">Rebecca Rivera, PhD</a> and <a href="/faculty/2705/tu-wanzhu">Wanzhu Tu, PhD</a>, all of IU School of Medicine. Emily Dawkins and Mariah Adams, both dietitians from Eskenazi Health, were also collaborators. </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Thu, 23 Feb 2023 00:00:00 Z{4C8A7294-9B3F-4470-8869-CA08BFA7C7E0}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/02/2022-nih-fundingIU School of Medicine celebrates continued growth in 2022 NIH research funding<h3>Eleven departments ranked in top 25 among all U.S. medical schools</h3> <p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine researchers received over $214.8 million in total funding from the National Institutes of Health during federal fiscal year 2022, making the school the No. 14 NIH-funded public medical school in the country. </p> <p>According to the <a href="https://brimr.org/brimr-rankings-of-nih-funding-in-2022/">Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research</a>, 11 IU School of Medicine departments ranked in the top 25 nationally for 2022 NIH funding among all U.S. medical schools, including five departments ranked in the top 15: </p> <ul> <li><a href="/genetics">The Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics</a> is ranked No. 6 in 2022, up from No. 8 in 2021. </li> <li><a href="/pediatrics">The Department of Pediatrics</a> is ranked No. 7 in 2022, up from No. 9 in 2021. </li> <li><a href="/biostatistics">The Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science</a> is ranked No. 10 in 2022, up from No. 12 in 2021.* </li> <li><a href="/obgyn">The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology</a> is ranked No. 11 in 2022, up from No. 21 in 2021. </li> <li><a href="/anatomy-cell-biology-physiology">The Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology</a> is ranked No. 14 in 2022, up from No. 18 in 2021.</li> </ul> <p>Other IU School of Medicine departments ranked in the top 25 nationally include the <a href="/otolaryngology">Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery</a> (17), the <a href="/emergency-medicine">Department of Emergency Medicine</a> (19), the <a href="/urology">Department of Urology</a> (21), the <a href="/radiology">Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences</a> (23), the <a href="/physiatry">Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation</a> (24), and the <a href="/biochemistry-molecular-biology">Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology</a> (25). </p> <p>“As the largest medical school in the U.S., we are proud to be a leading institution when it comes to NIH-funded research in many areas of medicine, making IU School of Medicine a top destination for research across disciplines,” IU School of Medicine <a href="/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Dean Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>, said. “NIH grants are the most prestigious funding researchers can receive. This funding demonstrates balanced excellence in research within the school as our physicians and scientists across all specialties continue to better understand and treat some of the most difficult and complicated health challenges.” </p> <p>Based on the figures in <a href="https://unitedformedicalresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/UMR_NIHs-Role-in-Sustaining-the-U.S.-Economy-FY21.pdf">a report by United for Medical Research</a>, in 2021, every $1 million in NIH funding awarded to Indiana researchers created about 12 jobs, the income and other associated expenses from which generated $2.74 million in economic activity in the state. Based on that data, IU School of Medicine’s 2022 NIH funding is responsible for creating 2,032 jobs and an estimated $589 million in annual economic activity in Indiana – more than half of the total $1.01 billion in economic activity generated in Indiana from all NIH funding in the state. </p> <p>“IU School of Medicine faculty continue to lead innovative and high-impact research that is tackling areas of priority to the National Institutes of Health,” said <a href="/faculty/276/foroud-tatiana">Tatiana Foroud, PhD</a>, executive associate dean for research affairs and August M. Watanabe Professor of Medical Research at the school. “I am proud of the leadership our school demonstrates in driving medical research, discovery and innovation in the state and nation. I look forward to seeing the research of our faculty, staff and students improve health in Indiana and beyond.” </p> <p>This year, IU School of Medicine used Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research rankings instead of internally calculating rankings based on NIH funding data. An independent, nonprofit organization, Blue Ridge has published rankings of medical schools, departments and investigators since 2006 and is widely considered the industry standard for U.S. medical school rankings. Data are compiled and released annually shortly after the federal fiscal year ends. </p> <p>See a <a href="/blogs/research-updates/top-10-largest-nih-grants-funding-research-in-2022">top 10 list of IU School of Medicine’s largest NIH grants in 2022</a> on the school’s blogs hub. </p> <p><em>*This ranking isn’t displayed directly on the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research website. However, it was calculated by IU School of Medicine using Blue Ridge source data.</em></p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 21 Feb 2023 00:00:00 Z{8949830E-694E-4C55-B688-4BCE62BFA5BA}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/02/big-ten-neuroscience-conference-2023Stark Neurosciences Research Institute to host 2023 Big Ten Neurosciences Annual Meeting<p>INDIANAPOLIS—The <a href="/research-centers/neurosciences">Stark Neurosciences Research Institute</a> at Indiana University School of Medicine will host the upcoming 2023 Big Ten Neurosciences Annual Meeting. </p> <p>This is the second year for the meeting and the first time it will be held in person rather than virtually. The event is scheduled for June 15-16 and is considered a hub for potential jobs, grants, scholarship opportunities, research presentations, information sharing and networking. </p> <p>“This meeting will be the largest networking and education event for the Big Ten Neuroscience community—which includes faculty, junior faculty, postdoctoral students and more,” said <a href="/faculty/22184/oblak-adrian">Adrian Oblak, PhD</a>, assistant professor of radiology and imaging sciences. “We’re looking forward to engaging those who attend outside of their laboratories wherever they are in their career path.” </p> <p>Indiana University is one of 18 universities part of the Big Ten. People from any of those 18 universities are encouraged to attend the event. There will be two keynote speakers and several other speakers from IU and other universities across the two days. </p> <p>“Indianapolis has so many career opportunities related to neurosciences,” Oblak said. “We’re proud to host this event at our institution to show attendees the important work happening at IU and across the field.” </p> <p><a href="https://indianauniv.ungerboeck.com/prod/emc00/PublicSignIn.aspx?&aat=MhOuQ1IHsgeytNg5HQvEeUQ0O7MCzeiCuF4T3rFpCzs%3d">Register online</a> to attend the event. Visit the <a href="https://iusnri22.wixsite.com/bigten-neurosciences/2023-annual-meeting">Big Ten Neurosciences website</a> to view more event details.</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Mon, 20 Feb 2023 00:00:00 Z{400AC37C-EC5F-47C0-B8B7-E64C0DC7B2A2}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/02/engineering-in-medicine-pilot-fundingIU, Purdue research teams awarded pilot funding through Engineering in Medicine collaboration<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Research teams led by faculty at both Indiana University School of Medicine and the Purdue University College of Engineering were recently awarded pilot grants to fund joint research projects as part of a <a href="https://purdue-indiana.net/" target="blank">growing ecosystem of collaboration and integration between the two schools</a> and to continue to build momentum for the planned institute for Engineering in Medicine. </p> <p>The goal of these collaborative projects is to combine the nationally recognized expertise of two of the state’s top academic research programs to develop novel technologies and approaches that will lead to innovative solutions for improved patient care. </p> <p>The Engineering in Medicine pilot funding program is co-led by Tatiana Foroud, PhD, executive associate dean for research affairs, Distinguished Professor and August M. Watanabe Professor of Medical Research at <a href="/" target="blank">IU School of Medicine</a>, and David Umulis, PhD, senior vice provost for Purdue in Indianapolis and Acting Dane A. Miller Head and Professor of Biomedical Engineering in <a href="https://engineering.purdue.edu/Engr" target="blank">Purdue’s College of Engineering</a>. </p> <p>This year’s inaugural pilot grant program focused on funding research projects related to cardiovascular health, cancer diagnosis and treatment, musculoskeletal health, otolaryngology and pediatric medicine. The program will provide $50,000 for the first year of each pilot project, with the opportunity to obtain a second year of support. Funded projects were selected by a committee of IU and Purdue faculty. </p> <p><strong>2023 Engineering in Medicine Pilot Projects and their principal investigators:</strong></p> <p><strong>“Design of bioengineered, genetically corrected human airway stem cells for treatment for primary ciliary dyskinesia” </strong></p> <ul> <li>Sherry Voytik Harbin, PhD, professor in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue College of Engineering </li> <li>Benjamin Gaston, MD, professor of pediatrics, IU School of Medicine </li> </ul> <p><strong>“A bio-based sealant for minimally invasive suture-less repair of cerebrospinal fluid leaks” </strong></p> <ul> <li>Julie C. Liu, PhD, associate professor of chemical engineering and biomedical engineering, Purdue College of Engineering </li> <li>Jonathan Y. Ting, MD, MBA, chair of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, IU School of Medicine </li> <li>Abigail Cox, DVM, PhD, associate professor of veterinary anatomic pathology, Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine </li> </ul> <p><strong>“Novel engineering approaches to explore biological connections between inflammation and hydration in estrogen-deficiency bone fragility” </strong></p> <ul> <li>Corinne E. Metzger, PhD, assistant research professor of anatomy, cell biology and physiology, IU School of Medicine </li> <li>Rachel K. Surowiec, PhD, assistant professor in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue College of Engineering </li> </ul> <p><strong>“Examining immune dysfunction and restoration in perinatal HIV by ex vivo and computational methods” </strong></p> <ul> <li>Elsje Pienaar, PhD, assistant professor in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue College of Engineering </li> <li>Alka Khaitan, MD, associate professor of clinical pediatrics and Ryan White Center for Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Global Health fellowship program director, IU School of Medicine</li> </ul> <p><strong>“Expanding life-saving dialysis capabilities for critically ill children in low- and middle-income countries: Innovation of a neonatal peritoneal dialysis catheter”  </strong></p> <ul> <li>Danielle Soranno, MD, associate professor of pediatrics, IU School of Medicine </li> <li>Hyowon Lee, PhD, associate professor in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue College of Engineering </li> <li>Aaron Lottes, PhD, MBA, associate professor in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue College of Engineering </li> </ul> <p><strong>“Elucidating the pathological role of myofibroblasts in dystrophin-deficient cardiac disease progression using high frequency 4D ultrasound” </strong></p> <ul> <li>Steven S. Welc, PhD, assistant professor of anatomy, cell biology and physiology and Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health investigator, IU School of Medicine </li> <li>Larry W. Markham, MD, Phillip Murray Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine, IU School of Medicine, and division chief for pediatric cardiology, Riley Hospital for Children, IU Health </li> <li>Craig J. Goergen, PhD, Leslie A. Geddes Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and director of clinical programs in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue College of Engineering</li> </ul>Thu, 16 Feb 2023 00:00:00 Z{481FD582-D4D5-4C54-A9FC-D7FDD80C162F}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/02/equipd-research-grant$1.5 million grant to help researchers address health inequities in chronic pain and depression<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine and Regenstrief Institute are addressing health inequities and empowering minoritized patients in the decision-making process, thanks to a $1.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health’s HEAL Initiative. </p> <p>The project, Equity Using Interventions for Pain and Depression (EQUIPD), works to address racialized disparities in chronic pain care for Black patients with comorbid chronic pain and depression. </p> <p>“We want to empower minoritized patients to take more control of their chronic pain so they can effectively partner with their health care providers to manage their care,” said <a href="/faculty/3815/matthias-marianne">Marianne Matthias, PhD</a>, senior research professor of medicine. “We want to make sure they are aware of the different options available and equip them with the tools they need to take advantage of those options collaboratively with their primary care provider.” </p> <p>According to Matthias, Black patients often experience greater pain severity, worse pain outcomes and are offered fewer treatment choices than white patients. Depressive symptoms may also interfere with a patient’s ability to engage in and maintain pain self-management activities. </p> <p>The project, a two-phase study taking place at Eskenazi Hospital, will use one-on-one coaching to foster motivation, help patients clarify their treatment goals and align these goals with nonpharmacological treatment options for pain, such as exercise or chiropractic care. Matthias said these treatment options are underused and are a helpful alternative to using opioids for chronic pain. </p> <p>“This project is designed to help Black patients have more options for pain treatment, especially evidence-based, nonpharmacological treatments,” Matthias said. “We want to open up more possibilities to patients through coaching sessions focused on shared decision-making about nonpharmacological approaches to chronic pain management. Our goal is to empower patients to advocate for themselves and their preferences, then work together with their doctor to make the best decision for their particular needs, preferences and values.” </p> <p>The project builds on the researchers’ previous work, funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which was focused on helping Black veterans who experience chronic pain become more active participants in their treatment–helping them to advocate for themselves and know what questions to ask of their doctors. Now, the researchers are taking that further, helping patients consider treatments they may not have thought about before. </p> <p>While this project is focused on the individual level, the team hopes their research will ultimately lay the groundwork for later intervention at the structural level, perhaps in clinics or health care systems. The second phase of their project will expand to a full, randomized trial of patients. </p> <p>“Our goal is not just to do research,” Matthias said. “We hope to ultimately make a meaningful impact on people’s pain management and quality of life.” </p> <p>Other IU researchers on the project include <a href="https://science.iupui.edu/people-directory/people/hirsh-adam.html">Adam Hirsh, PhD</a>, <a href="https://science.iupui.edu/people-directory/people/rand-kevin.html">Kevin Rand, PhD</a> and <a href="https://science.iupui.edu/people-directory/people/salyers-michelle.html">Michelle Salyers, PhD</a>, all of the IUPUI School of Science, and <a href="/faculty/5180/fowler-nicole">Nicole Fowler, PhD</a> and <a href="/faculty/1219/daggy-joanne">Joanne Daggy, PhD</a> of IU School of Medicine. </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine </a>is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. </p> <p><strong>About Regenstrief Institute </strong></p> <p>Founded in 1969 in Indianapolis, the <a href="https://www.regenstrief.org/">Regenstrief Institute</a> is a local, national and global leader dedicated to a world where better information empowers people to end disease and realize true health. A key research partner to Indiana University, Regenstrief and its research scientists are responsible for a growing number of major healthcare innovations and studies. Examples range from the development of global health information technology standards that enable the use and interoperability of electronic health records to improving patient-physician communications, to creating models of care that inform practice and improve the lives of patients around the globe. <a href="https://www.regenstrief.org/about-us/our-history/our-founder/">Sam Regenstrief</a>, a nationally successful entrepreneur from Connersville, Indiana, founded the institute with the goal of making healthcare more efficient and accessible for everyone. His vision continues to guide the institute’s research mission.</p>Wed, 15 Feb 2023 00:00:00 Z{A256FF50-3912-4C24-AD0E-AA69848EB40C}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/02/virts-gift-bile-duct-cancer-research$8 million gift establishes research fund, endowed position for bile duct cancer at IU<p>INDIANAPOLIS—To create a legacy for his soulmate and to honor their 42-year marriage, IU School of Medicine alumnus Kip E. Virts, MD, has made an $8 million estate gift to support bile duct cancer research at <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/" target="blank">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a>. </p> <p>The gift established the Melissa Ann Virts and Kip E. Virts Endowed Cholangiocarcinoma Research Fund and Melissa Ann Virts and the Kip E. Virts Endowed Cholangiocarcinoma Research Chair. Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare cancer of the bile ducts, a network of tubes connecting the liver, gallbladder and small intestine. </p> <p>Melissa Virts, the beloved wife of Kip Virts, was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma in May 2021, just days after she retired. Kip Virts says she was “a trooper as she danced with death” as she recovered from treatments at their home in Elk Grove, California. Melissa died in his arms on December 28, 2021. </p> <p>“Melissa continues to be my sentinel and lighthouse beacon, and this gift will share that light with others faced with this terrible disease,” Kip Virts said. “We always said to one another, ‘It’s you and me, and me and you.’ This named gift will keep that ‘you and me’ alive in a joint legacy.” </p> <p>The estate gift will provide $6 million to the endowed research fund and another $2 million to fund the endowed research chair. </p> <p>“This incredible, heartfelt gift will position the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center to become the nation’s leading research center in cholangiocarcinoma,” said <a href="/faculty/59596/lee-kelvin" target="blank">Kelvin Lee, MD</a>, director of the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Dr. Virts is creating a legacy that will allow for unprecedented support for scientific advances in treating and curing bile duct cancer.” </p> <p>As an IU School of Medicine alumnus, Dr. Virts has long known about the cancer center’s track record for tackling rare cancers like thymoma and testicular cancer. </p> <p>“Cholangiocarcinoma is a very rare type of liver cancer that is aggressive with limited treatment options. There is a dire need to fund additional research to allow us to research new therapy strategies for this disease,” said <a href="/faculty/39489/turk-anita" target="blank">Anita Turk, MD</a>, assistant professor of clinical medicine at IU School of Medicine and a researcher at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. Turk’s research focuses on cholangiocarcinoma and pancreatic cancer. </p> <p><strong><img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/m/melissa-virts.jpg?h=375&w=500&rev=235931810dec4f5a86e4e30ceee3ad8a&hash=802B776709113378DF8D47CF961786DB" style="height: 375px; width: 500px;" alt="Melissa Virts" title="Melissa Virts" longdesc="Melissa Virts" class="float-left" />About the Virtses </strong></p> <p>The couple met in 1976 at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in a biology 101 lab. A Fort Wayne, Indiana, native, Kip received an athletic scholarship from UCLA for swimming. Melissa grew up in Lodi, California, and was studying nursing. That biology lab changed the course of their lives, when Kip was seated across from “the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.” He purposefully sabotaged his microscope’s lightbulb so he could partner with Melissa to complete that day’s coursework. Melissa and Kip were inseparable from that point forward. </p> <p>Kip and Melissa were engaged in the summer of 1978 after Kip was accepted to IU School of Medicine. Kip knew they would be separated for a year while Melissa was completing nursing school and wanted to make certain his commitment to her was clear. They married on July 21, 1979, in Santa Monica. </p> <p>After graduating from IU School of Medicine in 1982, Kip completed his residency in California and became an anesthesiologist. Melissa’s nursing career led her to become an RN tech flight attendant nurse on commercial flights. In 1990, Kip and a group of physicians formed Anesthesia Consultants of Sacramento. Partners in life and business, Melissa joined the corporation to manage internal accounting. She later returned to school to earn a bachelor's degree in general business. The couple worked together until Kip retired in 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic led to decreased demand for anesthesiologists. Melissa continued working until April 2021 so she could finish transitioning her work to others. Days later, Melissa learned that her recent health issues were due to cancer. </p> <p>More information about <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/giving/focused/virts-endowed-chair.html" target="blank">the Virts endowed chair and research fund</a> is available online. </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Mon, 13 Feb 2023 00:00:00 Z{8950C186-9BF5-4C42-999B-8A14495D5A32}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/02/jackson-lee-racing-iusccc-sponsor-2023IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center sponsors Indiana racing driver Jackson Lee again in 2023<p>INDIANAPOLIS — For the second consecutive season, the <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> is the primary sponsor of formula car driver Jackson Lee. </p> <p>Jackson, a motorsports engineering student at IUPUI, will be driving the No. 47 IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center/Browning Chapman/Prime 47 car in the 2023 USF Pro 2000 Championship presented by Cooper Tires. </p> <p>This year’s sponsorship includes a forthcoming public education campaign about cancer prevention and early detection with a focus on lung, breast, testis, colon, and head and neck cancers. In addition, Jackson and his father, NBC Sports reporter and local radio personality Kevin Lee, will also co-host the annual Prime 47 Indy Burger Bash on May 22. The fundraiser, featuring guest appearances by other professional race car drivers, will benefit the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and kick off race week in Indianapolis leading up to the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500. </p> <p>During last year’s sponsorship, Jackson Lee Racing helped celebrate the center’s 30th anniversary and raise awareness of its history of lifesaving research. </p> <p>Jackson, a 20-year-old from Avon, Ind., is entering his first season in USF Pro 2000, which is part of the USF Pro Championships (formerly known as the Road to Indy) and the third of four steps on the ladder towards INDYCAR. He races during many INDYCAR weekend events nationwide, including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course event in mid-May. </p> <p>“We are excited to continue our partnership with Jackson and his team this year,” said Kelvin Lee, MD, director of the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Racing is in Indiana’s DNA, which gives us the unique opportunity to point out to Hoosiers the many parallels between race teams and cancer research and care teams. Both involve precision, determination, and science. With Jackson’s help, we look forward to continuing to make a difference in the lives of Hoosiers.” <em>(Note: Jackson and Kevin Lee and Kelvin Lee have no familial relationship.)</em> </p> <p>Like too many others, Jackson and his family have been impacted by cancer, as he lost his grandfather to lung cancer two decades ago. </p> <p>“I am truly grateful to have the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center back on board this season,” Jackson said. “The work they do is important, and I am looking forward to helping them continue to spread the word and raise funds to support their innovative research. The IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer has a bold vision to cure cancer, which is personally very important to me because I have lost friends and family members to the disease. I have visited scientists in their labs at IU, seeing firsthand how they’re working on groundbreaking research. It’s an honor to continue working with the cancer center, and I’m looking forward to participating in their new campaign in 2023.” </p> <p>Jackson’s goal is to reach INDYCAR and the Indy 500 by 2026. Jackson won a karts to cars scholarship in 2018, has four formula car race wins with 16 podiums (top-three finishes) and won a Team USA Scholarship in 2020 to race in several prestigious events in England. He has spent the last two seasons contesting partial campaigns in the USF2000 Championship presented by Cooper Tires with five top-10 finishes and one fastest lap of the race. </p> <p>The 2023 USF Pro 2000 season begins March 4 and 5 in St. Petersburg, Fla. The IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center serves as a central hub of cancer research across Indiana University. The center has nearly 300 researchers who conduct all phases of cancer research, from laboratory studies to clinical trials to population-based studies that address environmental and behavioral factors that contribute to cancer. It is Indiana’s only Comprehensive Cancer Center designated by the National Cancer Institute, the nation’s top cancer agency, and one of only 53 in the nation to hold that status. </p> <p>The prestigious designation recognizes its excellence in basic, clinical, and population research, its outstanding educational activities and effective community outreach program across the state.</p> <p><strong>Media Contact: </strong></p> <p><strong>Michael Schug, Communications Director, IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</strong></p> <p><strong>Email: maschug@iu.edu</strong></p> <p><strong>Phone: 317-417-0709</strong></p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Thu, 09 Feb 2023 00:00:00 Z{AF1C778B-6B12-45AC-95B5-7F659A5617A1}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/02/anaphylaxis-peanut-allergies-inhibitorResearchers discover potential way to prevent life-threatening allergic reactions for those with peanut allergies<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine have found a way to block anaphylaxis caused by peanut allergies. The groundbreaking discovery could lead to life-saving therapeutics for people with severe peanut allergies. </p> <p>“There are treatments for symptoms in patients with food allergies, but few preventive therapies other than strict dietary avoidance or oral immunotherapy,” said <a href="/faculty/906/kaplan-mark">Mark Kaplan, PhD</a>, chair of the <a href="/microbiology-immunology">Department of Microbiology and Immunology</a> and senior author of the study. “Neither of those options is successful in all patients." </p> <p>The team details their findings in a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.add6373" target="_blank">newly published article in Science Translational Medicine</a>. When someone is allergic to a food, it is a result of allergen proteins cross-linking allergen specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) on the surface of mast cells and basophils. Activation of these cells can lead to anaphylaxis, a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur very quickly after exposure to an allergen. </p> <p>Researchers developed peanut-specific inhibitors called covalent heterobivalent inhibitor (cHBI), that successfully blocked mast cell or basophil degranulation and anaphylaxis in an animal model. </p> <p>“The inhibitor prevented allergic reactions for more than two weeks when given before allergen exposure,” said Nada Alakhras, lead author and a graduate student in the <a href="/biochemistry-molecular-biology">Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology</a>. “The inhibitor also prevented fatal anaphylaxis and attenuated allergic reactions when given soon after the onset of symptoms.” </p> <p>“These new findings suggest that cHBI has the potential to be an effective preventative for peanut-specific allergic responses in patients,” said <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chemistry.nd.edu/people/ba-ar-bilgicer/" target="_blank">Basar Bilgicer, PhD</a>, professor of chemical and biomedical engineering at the University of Notre Dame and co-senior author of the study. </p> <p>The inhibitor has not been tested in human patients yet. Researchers are now doing further testing in animal models to evaluate efficacy and toxicity before moving to clinical trials. </p> <p>The research was funded in part by the Falk Medical Research Trust Award. Other authors include Anthony L. Sinn, <a href="/faculty/1576/zhang-wenwu">Wenwu Zhang, PhD, MS</a>, and <a href="/faculty/13544/pollok-karen">Karen E. Pollok, PhD</a> from IU School of Medicine as well as Gyoyeon Hwang, Jenna Sjoerdsma, Emily K. Bromley, and Jaeho Shin from the University of Notre Dame and Scott A. Smith, MD, PhD from Vanderbilt University Medical Center. </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 08 Feb 2023 00:00:00 Z{6474421F-7774-4030-9CDD-210EA122E8EC}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/02/traumatic-brain-injury-department-defense-grantIU School of Medicine researchers awarded $715,000 Department of Defense grant to improve treatment for mild traumatic brain injury<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine and National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE) researchers are collaborating to study a new treatment method for traumatic brain injury (TBI) thanks to a grant from the United States Department of Defense, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). The treatment will be tested on civilians and service members who have experienced a concussion or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). </p> <p>The project is called Building Emotional Self-awareness Teletherapy (BEST): A Tool to Optimize Psychological Health Outcomes for Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury. NICoE is headquarters for the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Centers-of-Excellence/NICOE/About/Defense-Intrepid-Network-for-TBI-and-Brain-Health" target="_blank">Defense Intrepid Network</a> and a directorate of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC). The NICoE is focused on improving the lives of service members with TBI and other invisible wounds of war. Researchers will deliver the BEST method of treatment remotely to patients with mild traumatic brain injury who have an emotional processing problem called alexithymia. Alexithymia often causes poor emotional self-awareness and difficulty labeling, differentiating, and expressing emotions. </p> <p>“People must be able to recognize their emotions in order to manage and effectively work through them, which is why studies show that people with alexithymia often have problems managing their emotions (emotion regulation) and frequently struggle with anxiety, anger, depression, and post-traumatic stress,” said <a href="/faculty/20940/neumann-dawn" target="_blank">Dawn Neumann, PhD</a>, associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation and principal investigator of the study. Neumann is also the research director of the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana. “Given the prevalence of alexithymia and problems associated with it, we created this treatment to improve emotional self-awareness.” </p> <p>In a previous study, research tested the new treatment in-person with civilians who had moderate to severe TBI and saw improvements in their ability to label emotions as well as their emotion regulation, anxiety, and anger. Participants also reported feeling more positive emotions. Now, they want to know if the treatment could also be successful when delivered remotely via teletherapy. </p> <p>“Teletherapy has become more important than ever since the COVID-19 pandemic,” Neumann said. “Remote therapy could also mitigate transportation and geographical barriers to care, as well as reduce stigma associated with going to an office known for mental health treatment.” </p> <p>Researchers will also test the BEST treatment in those with mild TBI as opposed to moderate or severe TBI. Mild TBI is common in the military, and half of the participants in the new study will be service members. Researchers will observe any improvements in participants’ ability to manage their emotions as well as their resilience, anxiety, depression, anger, and posttraumatic stress immediately after treatment and three months later. </p> <p>“Because of high frequency of concussions and the prevalence of alexithymia after mild TBI, it is likely to be impacting a large portion of individuals,” Neumann said. “We expect BEST training to strengthen emotional resiliency and well-being.” </p> <p>The NICoE will facilitate BEST treatment by helping to refer service members from its associated military rehabilitation facilities. </p> <p>Co-principal investigators include <a href="/faculty/20302/hammond-flora">Flora Hammond, MD</a>, chair of the <a href="/physiatry">IU School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation</a>, <a href="/faculty/48220/ren-jie">Jie Ren, PhD</a>, Assistant Professor of <a href="/biostatistics">IU School of Medicine Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science</a>, and <a href="https://medschool.usuhs.edu/node/124669">Treven Pickett, PsyD</a>, department chief of research for the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE). </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research, and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. </p> <p><em>This work was supported by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and the Defense Health Agency J9, Research and Development Directorate, or the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, in the amount of $749,166 (IU: $715,319 and WRNMMC: $33,847) through the Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health Research Program under Award No. W81XWH-22-2-0064. Opinions, interpretations, conclusions and recommendations are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Department of Defense.</em></p>Tue, 07 Feb 2023 00:00:00 Z{7E375718-7CB4-440F-81BD-927F43CBD650}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/02/patzer-new-regenstrief-institute-presidentPatzer named new Regenstrief Institute president, CEO<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine has selected a nationally-recognized expert in epidemiology and health services research to serve as the new president and chief executive officer of the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.regenstrief.org/" target="_blank">Regenstrief Institute Inc</a>. </p> <p>A native Hoosier, Rachel E. Patzer, PhD, MPH is currently the Director of the Health Services Research Center at the Emory University School of Medicine, and a tenured professor there in the Department of Surgery. She has spent her career leading efforts to increase access to health care and improve quality of health care delivery and care outcomes—with a major focus on health equity. </p> <p>Regenstrief Institute is a global leader dedicated to improving health and health care through innovations and research in biomedical informatics, health services, and aging. Regenstrief, a supporting organization of IU School of Medicine, has several regional partners that include Indiana University Health and Eskenazi Health. </p> <p>According to IU School of Medicine <a href="/faculty/6512/hess-jay" target="_blank">Dean Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>, Patzer’s career-long dedication to finding new, innovative ways to collect and utilize better data for solving complex health challenges strongly supports the mission of the Regenstrief Institute. </p> <p>“Over the course of her career, Dr. Patzer’s work in using data to expose inequities and inefficiencies in health systems aligns perfectly with the important work being done by our world-class researchers at the Regenstrief Institute,” said Hess. “It is a critical time in our community for health care research, and I am confident that Dr. Patzer is the transformative leader needed to take the Regenstrief Institute into the future.” </p> <p>In 2018, Patzer founded the Health Services Research Center—a cooperative initiative of the departments of medicine and surgery at Emory—where she currently serves as director. The work of the center is aimed at creating opportunities for closer connections and collaboration between methodologists and clinical researchers to advance healthcare access and improve health of patients. </p> <p>“Data is critical, but it won’t improve health on its own. You must connect with the community to use that data in order to make an impact, and Dr. Patzer has shown her ability to do that during her time at Emory,” said <a href="/faculty/276/foroud-tatiana" target="_blank">Tatiana Foroud, PhD</a>, executive associate dean for research affairs at IU School of Medicine, and vice chair of the Regenstrief board of directors. “Dr. Patzer’s experience in establishing the connection between methodology and clinical practice will be key to making a meaningful impact on the health of people in our state, our nation and around the world.” </p> <p>Patzer received her bachelor’s degree in biology and nutritional sciences from the University Wisconsin-Madison in 2005. She earned her MPH in epidemiology from the Emory University Rollins School of Public Health in 2007 and returned a year later, after working as a science writer to complete her doctorate in epidemiology. She joined the Emory School of Medicine faculty in 2011 and was promoted to professor in 2021. </p> <p>“I am excited to work with the internationally renowned Regenstrief investigators in biomedical informatics, aging, and health services research, who are leading the way in using data – from an ever-increasing number and types of sources to improve health,” said Patzer, who will officially begin in her new role on May 1. “The Institute has contributed so significantly to such areas as electronic health records, health information exchange, health outcomes research, collaborative care, addressing the inclusion of neglected populations into research and many other areas. Regenstrief has long been on my radar as a beacon of innovation and excellence.” </p> <p>“We as a society invest in health care research with an expectation of the benefits we gain from it. I believe that we can leverage the impressive strengths of the Regenstrief Institute to attain even more value from these data and accelerate the translation of this research into practice to improve not only health care, but ultimately the health of patients and populations.” </p> <p>Along with her leadership role with Regenstrief Institute, Patzer will also serve as the Leonard Betley Chair and will hold a faculty appointment as a professor with the IU School of Medicine Department of Surgery and joint appointments with the Department of Medicine and with the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health. </p> <p>“The mission of both the Regenstrief Institute and the Regenstrief Foundation is to improve systems of care to address inequities in health. Many scholars have documented these inequities; only a handful have performed research that has resulted in actionable and scalable interventions,” said IU School of Medicine Dean Emeritus D. Craig Brater, MD, chair of the Regenstrief Institute Board of Directors and Regenstrief Foundation Board president and CEO. “Dr. Patzer is among that handful. We are delighted that she has joined the Regenstrief Institute to further our ability to provide equitable care for all.” </p> <p>### </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/" target="_blank">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. </p> <p><strong>About Regenstrief Institute </strong></p> <p>Founded in 1969 in Indianapolis, the Regenstrief Institute is a local, national and global leader dedicated to a world where better information empowers people to end disease and realize true health. A key research partner to Indiana University, Regenstrief and its research scientists are responsible for a growing number of major healthcare innovations and research studies. Examples range from the development of global health information technology standards that enable the use and interoperability of electronic health records to improving patient-physician communications, to creating models of care that inform practice and improve the lives of patients around the globe. </p> <p><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.regenstrief.org/about-us/our-history/our-founder/" target="_blank">Sam Regenstrief</a>, a nationally successful entrepreneur from Connersville, Indiana, founded the institute with the goal of making healthcare more efficient and accessible for everyone. His vision continues to guide the institute’s research mission.</p>Mon, 06 Feb 2023 00:00:00 Z{4F096975-6749-4264-A0BC-F00CBE68C999}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/02/landis-heart-defect-infants-studyIU researchers receive $200,000 grant from Department of Defense to study heart defect in infants <p>INDIANAPOLIS—IU School of Medicine researchers have received a Department of Defense Discovery Award of $200,000 to study a common congenital heart defect in babies called coarctation of the aorta. </p> <p>The aorta is the main artery that carries blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. Coarctation of the aorta is a congenital heart condition where there is a narrowing of the aorta that obstructs blood flow to vital organs. It could develop by itself, or in combination with other heart defects—including along with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, one the most severe forms of congenital heart defects. </p> <p>“Critical coarctation of the aorta is immediately life-threatening and treatment currently requires cardiothoracic surgery that is invasive and technically challenging,” said <a href="/faculty/23542/landis-benjamin">Benjamin Landis, MD</a>, assistant professor of pediatrics in the <a href="/pediatrics/specialties/cardiology">Division of Pediatric Cardiology</a>. “Perioperative complications may have longstanding repercussions on the child’s ability to thrive and develop normally. There is also evidence that even an excellent surgical repair does not cure the patient of long-term cardiovascular risks.” </p> <p>Landis and his collaborator <a href="/faculty/196/liu-yunlong">Yunlong Liu, PhD</a>, who is the director of the <a href="/research-centers/computational-biology-bioinformatics">IU Center for Computational Biology & Bioinformatics</a>, plan to use single-cell RNA sequencing of aortic tissues that are removed during cardiothoracic surgery of infants with severe coarctation of the aorta to learn more about the cells that make up the defect, which they hope could ultimately lead to new medical treatment options instead of surgery. </p> <p>“Single-cell RNA sequencing is a technology that can measure gene expression levels in each individual cell,” Landis said. “This process is well-suited for studying coarctation, which often has a complex geometrical structure and contains multiple different types of cells in the tissue.” </p> <p>Landis said defining the pathobiology early in the disease process can help them identify medical targets responsive to early interventions which could prevent later development of cardiovascular diseases or re-development of coarctation of the aorta. </p> <p>“This project will be the first of its kind to perform single-cell RNA sequencing in patients with coarctation of the aorta,” Landis said. “This could be the first step toward a more complete understanding of the disease processes that are active in neonates and help us identify treatments to prevent chronic comorbidities and avoid future need for interventions. The Department of Defense Discovery Award funding is pivotal for us to be able to embark on this exciting research.”</p> <p>The Division of Pediatric Cardiology is one of the top-ranked pediatric cardiology programs in the country. <a href="/pediatrics/specialties/cardiology">Learn more about research, clinical care and fellowship training in the division</a>.</p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 01 Feb 2023 00:00:00 Z{A8E63548-EB49-4EEC-8F3B-E0FE34E8FD22}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/01/continued-accreditation-graduate-medical-educationIU School of Medicine receives continued accreditation for graduate medical education programs<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine is celebrating another year of receiving continued accreditation for its <a href="/gme">graduate medical education programs</a>. This is the 12th year in a row the school has received accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), a private, non-profit organization that reviews and accredits GME programs and the institutions that sponsor them in the United States. </p> <p>“We are incredibly proud that each year over 400 physicians choose IU School of Medicine for a residency or fellowship program,” said <a href="/faculty/9819/howenstine-michelle">Michelle Howenstine, MD</a>, senior associate dean for graduate medical education and continuing medical education. “Receiving another year of accreditation with no citations from the ACGME reinforces the strength of our training programs and the high-quality education physicians receive here as the next step in their medical careers after graduating medical school.” </p> <p>IU School of Medicine sponsors over 200 residency and fellowship programs at five campuses across the state—Indianapolis, Lafayette, Muncie, Northwest Indiana and Southwest Indiana. Each year, the school applies for continued accreditation to the ACGME. For 2023, the school has 112 accredited residency and fellowship programs, along with another 80 non-accredited programs. </p> <p>ACGME accreditation requirements include participation in annual surveys, electronic data updates and milestones submissions. The school must also ensure residents become proficient in <a href="/gme/accreditation">six core competencies</a> during their program—patient care and procedural skills, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, systems-based practice, professionalism, and interpersonal skills and communication. </p> <p>“At IU School of Medicine, all our trainees receive an outstanding educational experience with a wide range of clinical and research experience,” said <a href="/faculty/41427/wallach-paul">Paul Wallach, MD</a>, executive associate dean for educational affairs and institutional improvement. “As the largest medical school in the country, we are proud of the expansive offering of programs available to train our future health leaders.” </p> <p>Learn more about <a href="/gme">graduate medical education programs at IU School of Medicine</a>. </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 31 Jan 2023 00:00:00 Z{BE4308FE-9A63-4944-B807-BB7F0856B9D7}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/01/diagnostic-sonography-degreeIU School of Medicine launches Bachelor of Science degree in Diagnostic Sonography<p>INDIANAPOLIS—The undergraduate Radiologic and Imaging Sciences Programs at Indiana University School of Medicine was recently approved by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education to begin enrollment for a new Bachelor of Science degree in Diagnostic Sonography on the IUPUI campus. </p> <p>Previously, the only opportunity for IUPUI students to learn diagnostic sonography, or ultrasound, would be to pursue a medical imaging technology degree as part of the undergraduate Radiologic and Imaging Sciences Programs and Health Professions Programs at IU School of Medicine. However, sonography education requires specific and demanding curricula needed to train the next generation of sonographers. With this new degree, IU School of Medicine and IUPUI will be able to elevate this highly specialized undergraduate medical training in diagnostic sonography and enhance career opportunities for new graduates. </p> <p>“Sonographers are in high demand and are actively sought after for their expertise and knowledge in this crucial area of medicine,” said <a href="/faculty/6701/peterson-dina">Dina Peterson, MSEd, RT (R), RDMS, RDCS, RVT</a>, director of the Diagnostic Sonography Program. “With the approval of this degree, we’ll be able to meet the community’s need for more highly trained sonographers.” </p> <p>The 18-month program is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in diagnostic sonography with concentrations in medical sonography and echocardiography. As health care systems face a growing need for medical technologists, this degree will create a unique entryway into the medical field for students interested in imaging technologies and patient interaction. </p> <p>“The program will make it possible for students with diverse health care-related backgrounds to enter into this field,” said <a href="/faculty/12488/reeser-marti">Marti Reeser, EdD</a>, associate dean for Health Professions and Pre-Doctoral Programs. “We’re hopeful that this will expand enrollments and produce more training opportunities for the Indiana health care workforce.” </p> <p>The first semester for this program will begin in the Summer of 2023, with a goal to enroll upwards of 15 students from various educational backgrounds. Ideally, this program will collaborate with other undergraduate Radiologic and Imaging Sciences degrees to promote more training in the advancement of new imaging technologies and their vital role in medicine. </p> <p><a href="/undergraduate-health-professions/degrees-and-certificates/sonography">Discover more about this new sonography degree and the significance it plays in medicine. </a></p> <p><a href="/undergraduate-health-professions/degrees-and-certificates/sonography"></a>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Mon, 30 Jan 2023 00:00:00 Z{9FDD1196-5A3A-4D2C-9047-615569128C3E}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/01/underrepresented-grad-students-grantIU School of Medicine awarded $1.25 million for increasing graduate student diversity<p>INDIANAPOLIS—A new $1.25 million grant will go toward providing new opportunities for graduate students typically underrepresented in biomedical science. The money is coming from the National Institutes of Health and is part of the <a href="https://nigms.nih.gov/training/IMSD">Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) Program</a>. </p> <p>“The goal of this program is to develop a more diverse group of scientists earning PhDs and create more inclusive training pathways and programs for students who are traditionally underrepresented in biomedical science programs,” said <a href="/faculty/9738/hurley-thomas">Tom Hurley, PhD</a>, associate dean for graduate education and one of the principal investigators for this training grant. “This award is the culmination of a six-year effort to increase graduate student diversity and provide new mentored training opportunities.” </p> <p>The grant will provide funding for 3 new students per year who will each have 2-year-long appointments, with 15 total students funded through the program. The students can be in any of 10 different PhD training programs offered at IU School of Medicine. A committee will be established to select students for the IMSD program. </p> <p>“Students will experience a training program that will include scientific writing and a robust mentoring program,” said <a href="/faculty/21736/arrizabalaga-gustavo">Gustavo Arrizabalaga, PhD</a>, assistant dean for faculty affairs, professional development and diversity and the co-principal investigator. “They will still complete their core coursework in their chosen PhD program but be able to participate in additional training focused on writing, mentoring and data sciences thanks to this grant.” </p> <p>Students will work in a faculty lab and receive mentoring from faculty who will complete specific training and workshops on how to best mentor the students. </p> <p>“This is really about creating and maintaining supportive environments for the students to enter the biomedical science field and then be retained through graduation,” Arrizabalaga said. “We’re creating a pathway for future faculty hires and future industry experts to increase diversity both at IU School of Medicine and in the biomedical sciences field as a whole.” </p> <p>The T32 grant is for 5 years and can be renewed for another 5 years, but the mentoring program and training components established by this grant will remain at the school and have a long-lasting impact on the diversity and inclusivity of our graduate programs. </p> <p>“We are developing culturally relevant mentoring programs and peer mentoring groups within this program that we hope we can roll out to more areas in the school over time to be more inclusive across all of the training programs we offer,” Arrizabalaga said. “We also hope these programs will be worthwhile for students and encourage them to remain here in Indiana or at Indiana University.” </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Mon, 30 Jan 2023 00:00:00 Z{3F68C88B-8847-4611-BEE1-17C253A7F8BA}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/01/chemen-neal-named-ead-deijIU School of Medicine names first executive associate dean for diversity, equity, inclusion and justice<h3>Chemen M. Neal, MD, will also serve as Chief Diversity Officer in new leadership role </h3> <p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine has named <a href="/faculty/17959/neal-chemen">Chemen M. Neal, MD</a> the inaugural executive associate dean for diversity, equity, inclusion and justice and chief diversity officer. </p> <p>Since early 2020, IU School of Medicine has been working to accelerate its DEIJ initiatives. These efforts included expanding on its core values through a revision of its <a href="/about/policies-guidelines/honor-code">Honor Code</a>, articulating the school’s goal to be an anti-racist, equitable, welcoming and inclusive organization. </p> <p>With its announcement of Neal as the first executive associate dean for diversity, equity, inclusion and justice, IU School of Medicine builds on its goal to become a national exemplar for DEIJ. Neal will report directly to IU School of Medicine Dean and Executive Vice President for University Clinical Affairs Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA, and will work closely with academic, research and clinical leaders across the organization to advance DEIJ strategic priorities for students, trainees, faculty and staff. As a member of the dean’s senior executive team, Neal will serve as an institutional thought leader, contributing across mission areas. </p> <p>“At IU School of Medicine, diversity is one of our core values. Finding a transformative leader to serve as our first executive associate dean for diversity, equity, inclusion and justice was critical to our success as an organization moving forward,” said Hess. “Dr. Neal’s longstanding success here at IU School of Medicine as a clinician, educator, mentor and diversity champion will position the school well as we strive for inclusive excellence.” </p> <p>Neal joined the faculty at IU School of Medicine in 2011, and currently serves as an associate clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology, as well as assistant dean for student success and advocacy. During her time at IU School of Medicine, Dr. Neal has served as chair and co-chair of the IU School of Medicine Diversity Council since 2015, and previously served as Director of Holistic Student Success and Advocacy, as well as the Director of Wellness for the Department of OB-GYN. </p> <p>According to Neal, this new DEIJ leadership role is an opportunity for her to continue her mission of helping others reach their full potential, while solving some the school’s most complex challenges through collaboration. </p> <p>“Excellence in diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice elevates all members of our medical school community. As the largest medical school in the country, we have a responsibility to be leaders in health equity and inclusive excellence. To do that, DEIJ must be woven into all aspects of what we do—research, education, patient care, faculty and staff affairs, and community engagement,” said Neal, who will focus on strategically aligning work in each of those areas in her new role. “We have a lot of great work happening at IU School of Medicine and are already leaders in some areas. I would like to continue that great work and create alignment within our current efforts.” </p> <p>Among Neal’s early goals in the role are establishing metrics to help school leadership gain a greater understanding of key areas like retention and belonging, as well as a focus on the diversification of faculty. </p> <p>“That is a big priority because of the direct relationship to health equity outcomes and organizational success,” said Neal. “Meeting this priority will take a multifaceted approach that involves all aspects of our mission from culture to climate to research and education. After we understand where we are then we can make strategic plans for moving forward over the next several years.” </p> <p>Neal earned her medical degree at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at IU School of Medicine in 2008. As a member of the faculty at IU School of Medicine, she became the first specialist in the state of Indiana to treat women with recurrent vaginitis—a condition that disproportionately affects Black and Latinx women. </p> <p>She will officially begin in her new role on February 1. In the position, she will lead an existing team of faculty and staff and have direct responsibility for a variety of areas, including:</p> <ul> <li>Developing and guiding implementation of DEIJ strategic plans</li> <li>Defining and monitoring DEIJ key performance indicators </li> <li>Performing climate assessments </li> <li>Organizing affinity group, learner development and support programs </li> <li>Engaging and supporting schoolwide councils that advise DEIJ initiatives</li> <li>Ensuring impactful co-curricular training and development programs are in place </li> <li>Collaborating with diversity leadership across the university, campus and health systems </li> <li>Monitoring implementation of department and dean’s office unit diversity plans </li> <li>Developing programs to enhance diversity recruitment and retention </li> <li>Represent IU School of Medicine in diversity affairs at national organizations and in the community </li> </ul> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 17 Jan 2023 00:00:00 Z{A41AA73A-80CA-4F9D-BD90-CD98BAE75E15}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/01/regenstrief-walther-foundations-cancer-informatics-chairGifts from Walther, Regenstrief foundations create cancer informatics chair at IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center<p>INDIANAPOLIS–Gifts totaling $3 million will create an endowed chair in cancer informatics at the <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a>. </p> <p>The chair was created through gifts from the Walther Cancer Foundation Inc. and the Regenstrief Foundation Inc. The jointly recruited chair holder will be a research scientist at the <a href="https://www.regenstrief.org/">Regenstrief Institute</a> and cancer center and a faculty member at Indiana University. </p> <p>Cancer informatics aids researchers in analyzing huge amounts of data—often called “big data”—that can help identify those at risk of developing cancer, optimize prevention and detection, improve outcomes, and identify the most effective treatments. </p> <p>Data can also be used to help researchers identify health disparities and inequities in cancer care and identify ways to lessen the impact on individuals with historically minoritized racial and ethnic identities. Data on where people live, their educational backgrounds, and their economic stability—conditions that play a role in people’s health and quality of life—provides valuable information to researchers and clinicians that can ultimately be used to benefit people. </p> <p>“This chair is a wonderful example of how big things can come about through identification of mutual interests among several parties,” said D. Craig Brater, MD, president and CEO of the Regenstrief Foundation and vice president of programs at the Walther Cancer Foundation. “This chair will enable researchers to better understand the biology of cancer and also to address issues of equity in cancer care.” </p> <p>Rapid developments in technology have given rise to the copious amounts of data that exist. Organizing and storing that data, developing analytics to mine that data, and producing information beneficial to researchers and clinicians is an enormous undertaking. Data ranges from that contained in electronic medical records (EMRs) to data generated from clinical, basic and translational population research. The incoming chair will lead the effort in collecting data accurately, effectively and ethically, while joining an already strong group of researchers at IU and Regenstrief in bioinformatics, data science and statistics. </p> <p>“Regenstrief Institute research scientists have a long history of leveraging big data to support discovery, leading to better outcomes for patients at the individual and the population levels,” said Susan Hickman, PhD, interim president and CEO of Regenstrief Institute. “We are fortunate to have partners who are both generous and visionary, enabling us to endow a chair focused specifically on cancer informatics that will invigorate collaboration and innovation in this critical area.” </p> <p>“I am grateful for the extraordinary partnership with the Regenstrief Foundation and the Walther Cancer Foundation that led to the creation of this chair,” said <a href="/faculty/59596/lee-kelvin">Kelvin Lee, MD</a>, director of the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. “We routinely generate enormous data sets, but the information needs to be effectively organized and analyzed to make a real difference. With these gifts, we’ll be able to recruit an expert who can lead us through the complexities of informatics and position IU as a leader in the developing field of cancer informatics.” </p> <p>### </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. </p> <p><strong>About the Walther Cancer Foundation Inc</strong></p> <p>Since its founding in 1985, the Walther Cancer Foundation has invested more than $182 million in cancer-focused medical research, and in research and education aimed at supporting cancer patients and their families. More than $100 million of that support has benefitted programs at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. Those have included investments in the research of early career scientists, the field of bioinformatics and in supporting research and medical education aimed at helping cancer patients. </p> <p><strong>About the Regenstrief Foundation Inc</strong></p> <p>Since its founding in 1969, the Regenstrief Foundation has invested more than $185 million in innovative, applied research that allows health care systems to improve effectiveness, efficiency, quality and equity in the delivery of health care. More than $145 million of that support has been directed to the Regenstrief Institute to support informatics, data analytics and transformative research to improve health care.</p>Wed, 11 Jan 2023 00:00:00 Z{49E9A47D-2B06-4AE0-BAA6-2DD9C515FDE3}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2023/01/alzheimers-gene-immune-cells-researchAlzheimer’s disease researchers study gene associated with the brain’s immune cells<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW95668795 BCX9" paraid="1282767330" paraeid="{90eb3f75-fec0-41b9-a921-f25598eea6cf}{174}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">INDIANAPOLIS—</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Indiana University School of Medicine </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">researchers </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">are </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">studying</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">how the reduction of a gene </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">variant </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">found in the brain’s immune cells </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">could</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> diminish the risk of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease.</span></span><span style="color: windowtext;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW95668795 BCX9" paraid="463599374" paraeid="{90eb3f75-fec0-41b9-a921-f25598eea6cf}{200}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The research team, led by </span><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="/faculty/22184/oblak-adrian">Adrian Oblak, PhD</a></span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, assistant professor of radiology and imaging s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ciences</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, and Peter </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Bor-Chian</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Lin, a PhD candidate in the </span></span><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="/research-centers/neurosciences/education/medical-neuroscience-graduate-program">Medical Neuroscience Graduate Program</a></span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> at Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">recently </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">published their findings in </span></span><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.12849">Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association</a></span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span><span class="EOP SCXW95668795 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW95668795 BCX9" paraid="2013811784" paraeid="{90eb3f75-fec0-41b9-a921-f25598eea6cf}{233}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">They focused their investigation on INPP5D, a microglia-specific gene that has </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">been shown</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> to increase the risk for developing late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Microglia are the brain’s immune cells and there are multiple microglial genes associated with neurodegeneration.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW95668795 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW95668795 BCX9" paraid="883443706" paraeid="{90eb3f75-fec0-41b9-a921-f25598eea6cf}{243}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Oblak said </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the team’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> previous data revealed that elevated levels of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">INPP5D </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">in Alzheimer’s disease </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">lab </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">models resulted in increased plaque deposition. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Knowing this, they </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">aimed to understand how reducing expression of INPP5D might regulate disease pathogenesis.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW95668795 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW95668795 BCX9" paraid="1915723399" paraeid="{3283c99d-1376-478c-a679-44fdacf6aee6}{10}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/news/lin_peter_psy_01-5x7.jpg?h=350&w=250&rev=ebc9b63aed3847b6893d7c0eaabe9253&hash=92B369032D5A1455733F9780DA3DD471" style="height: 350px; width: 250px; float: right; margin: 10px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Peter Bor-Chian Lin" title="Peter Bor-Chian Lin" longdesc="Peter Bor-Chian Lin" />Using models in the lab, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the researchers </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">reduced the expression of the gene </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">by at least 50 percent—called </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">haplodeficiency</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">—rather than completely knocking out the expression</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> of the gene</span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">to mimic the treatment of pharmacological inhibitors targeting INPP5D as therapeutic strategies.</span><span class="EOP SCXW95668795 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW95668795 BCX9" paraid="1495545322" paraeid="{3283c99d-1376-478c-a679-44fdacf6aee6}{32}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“INPP5D deficiency increases amyloid uptake and plaque engagement in microglia</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,” Oblak said. “</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Furthermore, inhibiting the gene regulates microglial functions and mitigates amyloid pathology that are likely mediated by TREM2-SYK signaling pathway activation</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW95668795 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW95668795 BCX9" paraid="1581906355" paraeid="{3283c99d-1376-478c-a679-44fdacf6aee6}{44}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The gene deficiency also led to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the preservation of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> cognitive function</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> in the lab models</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">By reducing the expression of the gene in the brain, it created a less neurotoxic environment and improved </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the movement of microglia</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">—which act as the first line of defense against viruses, toxic materials and damaged neurons—</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">to clear amyloid deposits and plaques</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW95668795 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW95668795 BCX9" paraid="1673774750" paraeid="{3283c99d-1376-478c-a679-44fdacf6aee6}{68}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“These findings suggest that mitigating the function of INPP5D can result in a protective respons</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">e by </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">diminishing disease risk and mitigating the effect of amyloid beta induced pathogenesis</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,” </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Lin </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">said.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW95668795 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW95668795 BCX9" paraid="1081270148" paraeid="{3283c99d-1376-478c-a679-44fdacf6aee6}{84}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The research team </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">is</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> actively working with </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the IU School of Medicine-Purdue </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">University </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">TaRget</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Enablement to Accelerate Therapy Development for Alzheimer’s Disease (</span></span><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="/expertise/alzheimers/research/preclinical/drug-discovery">TREAT-AD</a></span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">) </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">D</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">rug </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">D</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">iscovery </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">C</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">enter to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">develop therapies to reduce INPP5D function in Alzheimer’s disease.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW95668795 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW95668795 BCX9" paraid="1223325022" paraeid="{3283c99d-1376-478c-a679-44fdacf6aee6}{121}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">###</span><span class="EOP SCXW95668795 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW95668795 BCX9" paraid="1056781758" paraeid="{3283c99d-1376-478c-a679-44fdacf6aee6}{127}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a></span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW95668795 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span></p> </div>Thu, 05 Jan 2023 00:00:00 Z{EF38BD15-5FAB-444C-8F3C-7E3B955B716B}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/12/acute-heart-attack-clinical-trialFirst patient enrolls in IU-led clinical trial to study treatment for acute heart attack complications<p>INDIANAPOLIS—A groundbreaking new clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of a new treatment for patients with acute heart attack is now underway at Indiana University School of Medicine, with the first patient enrolling this month. </p> <p>“About half of all people who have heart attacks end up with bleeding within the heart muscle,” said <a href="/faculty/60337/dharmakumar-rohan">Rohan Dharmakumar, PhD</a>, executive director of the <a href="/institutes/cardiovascular">Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center</a>. “Over the past decade, our studies have aimed to understand the acute and chronic effects of intramyocardial hemorrhage. These studies have led to the understanding that iron from the bleeding drives the formation of fatty tissue in the heart. When the damaged heart muscle is replaced with fatty tissue it can’t push blood from the heart effectively, resulting in heart failure.” </p> <p>The study aims to determine if treatment to remove the residual iron within the damaged heart can lead to better outcomes in patients who have experienced an acute heart attack and have bleeding within the heart muscle. Patients in the study have had an acute heart attack, both with and without bleeding into the heart muscles after opening the blocked artery by emergency stenting. They will be randomized into four groups, two that will receive iron chelation therapy and two that will receive a placebo, with each of the two groups randomized to have those with and without bleeding into the heart muscle. </p> <p>“Recent advances in imaging have shown that heavy bleeding inside the damaged part of the heart can predict long-term heart failure and major cardiovascular problems, such as abnormal heart rhythms, palpitations, fatigue and fainting,” Dharmakumar said. “We hope to see if deferiprone decreases the chances of having these major cardiovascular issues as well as observe the side effects of deferiprone in heart attack patients.” </p> <p>Deferiprone has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for other conditions, but not for clinical care for heart attack patients. This study, approved by FDA for the investigational purpose of the trial, hopes to enroll 60 patients and follow them for six months. In addition to taking deferiprone, study participants will provide blood and urine samples and have several electrocardiograms and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the heart. </p> <p>“This is the first clinical trial to focus on this difficult cardiovascular complication,” Dharmakumar said. “We are excited to begin enrolling more patients and studying this treatment in humans for the first time.” </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Thu, 22 Dec 2022 00:00:00 Z{84CC94A4-1751-42A5-A7FB-6E04F371F988}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/12/swyer-syndrome-clamp-research-discoveryIU researchers discover “Humpty-Dumpty” water-based mechanism of human sex reversal at edge of developmental ambiguity<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine have discovered a molecular “clamping” mechanism within a male-specific protein-DNA complex whose mutation causes sex reversal: children with XY chromosomes but female bodies, a condition called Swyer Syndrome. The clamp exploits a water molecule bridging the male factor (designated SRY) and DNA control sites at the tenuous beginnings of male development (panel A in figure below). </p> <p>The study focuses on the subtle substitution of a conserved aromatic residue in SRY (tyrosine) by a closely related aromatic residue (phenylalanine). The clinical mutation, shared by a fertile XY father and his sterile XY daughter, positions the embryonic male switch at the borderline of genetic function. The two aromatic rings are seemingly interchangeable in the structure of the protein, but differ in their ability to anchor a bridging water molecule in the protein-DNA complex. </p> <p>“Loss of a single atom in SRY, an oxygen atom in a critical tyrosine, impairs the robustness of male development,” said <a href="/faculty/41466/weiss-michael">Michael Weiss, MD, PhD</a>, chair of the <a href="/biochemistry-molecular-biology">Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology</a>. “Normally, the father has XY chromosomes and the daughter has XX chromosomes but in some families, the daughters can have XY chromosomes because there is a mutation in SRY. Sex chromosomes can degenerate over evolutionary time scales, leading to new upstream switches being recruited as male-determining pathways grow backwards. Such initial steps can be tenuous in biochemical terms.” </p> <p>In the study, researchers focused on position 72 in the DNA-binding domain of SRY, which was not previously considered of special interest. However, the researchers discovered that tyrosine at this position enables operation of a water-mediated kinetic clamp (panel B in figure), extending the lifetime of the protein-DNA complex. This mechanism is conserved in all mammalian SRY factors and is broadly observed in a related family of switch factors in multicellular (and some unicellular) animals. The latter family, designated “SOX” (SRY-related HMG box) is fundamental to patterning and development in metazoans. </p> <p>Researchers published two recent papers about their work in Frontiers in Endocrinology. <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2022.945030/full">The first describes their findings</a> related to focusing on box 72, and <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2022.1029177/full">the second describes how the water-mediated clamp mechanism</a> works. Weiss said they call it a “humpty-dumpty” model because of accelerated disassembly of the male-determining protein-DNA complex in the absence of the water-mediated clamp (panel C in figure).</p> <p><img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/news/figure.jpg?h=407&w=700&rev=30e01ed57bf94a4e970347b112b059bd&hash=09236B3F5DC3851D96FD1B8126ADF162" style="height: 407px; width: 700px;" alt="“Humpty-Dumpty” model of kinetic regulation of human SRY" title="“Humpty-Dumpty” model of kinetic regulation of human SRY" longdesc="“Humpty-Dumpty” model of kinetic regulation of human SRY. (A) Biological pathway of human male-sex determination; SRY activates a related factor (SOX9) as an initial step (boxed in red). (B) Structures of HMG-DNA complexes (left). Expanded view (right) highlighting the positions of the conserved tyrosine, water molecule (blue sphere), and DNA (atoms connected with dotted lines). (C) Classic tale from Lewis Carroll, which represents a model of kinetic stability of the SRY-enhanceosome complex. The mutant SRY akin to the inability of Humpty-Dumpty to be put back together after falling off the wall; the mutant SRY is unable to form kinetically stable complexes necessary for biological function." /></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><strong><span><em>“Humpty-Dumpty” model of kinetic regulation of human SRY.</em></span></strong><em><span> (A) Biological pathway of human male-sex determination; SRY activates a related factor (SOX9) as an initial step (boxed in red). (B) Structures of HMG-DNA complexes (left). Expanded view (right) highlighting the positions of the conserved tyrosine, water molecule (blue sphere), and DNA (atoms connected with dotted lines). (C) Classic tale from Lewis Carroll, which represents a model of kinetic stability of the SRY-enhanceosome complex. The mutant SRY akin to the inability of Humpty-Dumpty to be put back together after falling off the wall; the mutant SRY is unable to form kinetically stable complexes necessary for biological function.  </span></em></p> <p> </p> <p>“Because the normal and mutant version of SRY are so similar in standard experimental assays,” said <a href="/faculty/42813/racca-joseph">Joseph D. Racca, PhD</a>, Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and first author of the new study. “Uncovering the water-mediated mechanism took several years. Critical insight was provided by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of boundary water molecules in this system.” </p> <p>“In the MD simulations a distinctive water molecule is anchored by the tyrosine as a bridge to the DNA: this special site of hydration is occupied for thousands of picoseconds, and then it will leave,” Weiss said. “But then another water molecule in the bulk solvent will almost immediately hop in its place, restoring the bridge.” </p> <p>The subtle change from tyrosine to phenylalanine alters such hydration, a perturbation that propagates from position 72 predicted to destabilize successive protein-DNA contacts in the tail of the domain. Detachment of the tail would hasten dissociation of the protein-DNA complex and presumably male-specific gene-regulatory assemblies at target genes. </p> <p>XY female children with differences in sexual differentiation due to Swyer Syndrome lack functional ovaries and are at risk for rare forms of early-onset gonadal cancer. Recognition of this syndrome is important allowing surgical removal of the gonads before cancer begins. The affected woman otherwise has a normal uterus and birth canal, and so they may bear children following in vitro fertilization of a donated egg. </p> <p>Weiss said analogous mutations can occur in SOX genes, causing a variety of birth defects or diseases. </p> <p>“Swyer mutations provide clues to help us understand a broad range of SOX diseases and may give rise to much improved protocols for different areas of medicine, such as regenerative medicine or cancer,” Weiss said. “This discovery thus goes way beyond sex determination because SRY is a prototype switch.” </p> <p>In addition to Weiss, other study authors from IU include <a href="/faculty/42725/chen-yen-shan">Yen-Shan Chen, PhD</a>, Joseph Racca, PhD, Deepak Chatterjee, PhD, <a href="/faculty/52184/rai-ratan">Ratan Rai, PhD</a>, <a href="/faculty/42686/yang-yanwu">Yanwu Yang, PhD</a> and <a href="/faculty/10591/georgiadis-millie">Millie Georgiadis, PhD</a>. Elisha Haas, PhD of Bar Ilan University in Israel was also a coauthor. </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Thu, 22 Dec 2022 00:00:00 Z{1A15EB6E-E987-465C-AAB4-7052E1CD88BD}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/12/breast-cancer-side-effects-research-publicationIU School of Medicine researchers publish findings which could help prevent side effects for breast cancer patients<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine are learning more about ways to prevent serious side effects from chemotherapy used to treat breast cancer patients. The work done by the Schneider lab at the <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research/centers/vera-bradley/investigators.html" target="blank">Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research at the IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> and led by Xi Wu, PhD was <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-34917-y" target="blank">recently published in Nature Communications</a>. </p> <p>Anthracyclines belong to a class of chemotherapy agents used to treat a variety of cancers and remain an important part of therapy for patients with high-risk breast cancer. While effective in improving cure rates, they can also cause serious heart damage, including heart failure, which is often irreversible. </p> <p>“This is of crucial clinical importance for breast cancer patients as there are no proven strategies for prevention or interventions for cardiotoxicity,” said Wu, a former <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research/centers/vera-bradley/scholars.html" target="blank">Vera Bradley Foundation Scholar </a>who is the first author of the publication. “In addition, there are no clinically indicated biomarkers to predict which patients are at risk of developing this side effect before starting an anthracycline-based treatment. In our publication, we provide molecular mechanisms by which a genetic variant previously identified by our group may lead to the clinical development of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in patients.” </p> <p>Previous research by the Schneider laboratory suggested that people may be more likely to experience serious heart damage, known as cardiotoxicity, after getting chemotherapy with anthracyclines based on their genetics, but there has not been enough information to determine which specific genes are independent of other cardiac risk factors. Wu and her colleagues used pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, which are the cells responsible for contracting the muscles of the heart, to show that an inherited genetic variant decreased the cell’s ability to contract heart muscles after being exposed to doxorubicin, an anthracycline chemotherapy drug. </p> <p>“We know it is tricky to balance the toxicity needed to kill cancer cells, while also protecting the rest of a patient’s healthy body,” said <a href="/faculty/4858/schneider-bryan">Bryan P. Schneider, MD</a>, Vera Bradley Professor of Oncology at IU School of Medicine, who is the senior author of the publication. “These findings can help us begin to understand why some patients may be at increased risk for developing this devastating side effect, but more work is needed to design strategies to effectively prevent this from ever occurring. This exciting work is a major step in that direction.” </p> <p>Their findings also uncovered an unexpected potential value for dexamethasone, a steroid pretreatment routinely used to prevent nausea and allergic reactions. This drug, or perhaps other drugs that work in a similar way, may be a key strategy for minimizing cardiotoxicity as a side effect to chemotherapy. More work is under way to further explore the optimal approach. Ultimately, the overarching goal of this work is to help doctors understand the risk level for certain patients before they use anthracycline-based therapy, and to also minimize the chance of heart failure for those at high risk. </p> <p>Schneider is also a physician-scientist at the <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/" blank="target">IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a>, as well as a researcher with the Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research. </p> <p>This publication was supported by the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer, an award from Susan G. Komen and the IU Precision Health Initiative. It was also supported in part by a Vera Bradley postdoctoral fellowship for Wu. </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 20 Dec 2022 00:00:00 Z{484B0E85-41CD-4B47-97DA-F39CF8B72426}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/12/lahiri-national-academy-inventors-fellowNeuroscience researcher Debomoy Lahiri, PhD, elected to National Academy of Inventors<p>INDIANAPOLIS–Indiana University School of Medicine distinguished professor <a href="/faculty/13390/lahiri-debomoy">Debomoy Lahiri, PhD</a>, has been named a 2022 fellow of the <a href="https://www.academyofinventors.org/">National Academy of Inventors</a>–the highest professional distinction awarded to academic inventors. The fellows will be honored during the academy's annual meeting in June. </p> <p>The National Academy of Inventors' Fellows Program highlights academic inventors who have demonstrated a spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on the quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society. </p> <p>Lahiri's research focuses on the neurobiology and genetics of aging and Alzheimer's disease. His work has led to several United States and international patents related to neurodegenerative diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders. </p> <p>"My primary research interest is understanding how degeneration of brain cells under laboratory conditions can be more closely made to resemble the 'natural' neurodegeneration of Alzheimer's disease. This system can be used to test drugs to prevent or even reverse Alzheimer's-related degeneration," Lahiri said. "I am honored to be named a 2022 fellow along with so many other scientific innovators across the country. It is a team effort. I truly feel lucky to get this recognition and enormously benefitted from the help and support of my colleagues at IU School Medicine, other collaborators and the National Institutes of Health." </p> <p>Some of Lahiri's most notable work includes: </p> <ul> <li>The development of Posiphen, also known as Buntanetap, is an experimental drug currently in late-stage clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. Research by Lahiri found that Posiphen lowered amyloid-beta peptide levels in cell culture and mice. This work is significant as the presence of amyloid-beta peptide-loaded neuritic plaques is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. </li> <li>The invention of cellular and biochemical approaches to prevent the accumulation of potentially toxic amyloid beta peptide in the central nervous system. These methods involve administering a chemical compound that can penetrate the blood-brain barrier to patients at risk of developing dementia. Both Alzheimer's and Down syndrome patients would benefit from the model, as Down syndrome has been linked to increased brain amyloid levels and early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Lahiri invented methods for the stimulation of synthesis of synaptophysin, an integral membrane protein localized to neurotransmitter-bearing vesicles. </li> <li>Demonstrating the use of memantine, a drug used to treat Alzheimer’s disease symptoms, to modify the deposition of proteins associated with neurodegeneration. Specifically, the invention relates to the ability of memantine to intervene in the processing of amyloid-beta precursor protein and decrease the levels of fibrillogenic amyloid beta peptides. This invention was licensed to AbbVie, a subsidiary of Forest Laboratories in New York City. </li> <li>The discovery of a relationship between Alzheimer's disease-associated proteins, autism spectrum disorder, and fragile X syndrome. Lahiri co-invented a method to monitor autism spectrum disorder and fragile X syndrome patients by measuring blood plasma levels of a molecule involved in changes to learning and memory and using these levels to adjust the dose of a therapeutic compound called acamprosate. The co-invention of methods to treat neurodegenerative diseases by targeting inflammatory pathways. This invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising rationally designed peptides that interfere with the NF-κB signaling pathway, which has been a catalyst for intense drug discovery and development. </li> <li>The invention of a novel genomic DNA extraction method from human subjects, which led to several genomics discoveries. This method is used in laboratories worldwide for human genome mapping and genotyping, and the research has been cited by peer scientists over 2,700 times – a record number of citations for a research publication from a single IU School of Medicine lab. From DNA to RNA, Lahiri lab’s recent discovery of a more novel target for neurodegenerative disease therapies involve the unique roles of specific microRNA species in Alzheimer's disease. </li> <li>Proposing the “Latent Early-life Associated Regulation” (LEARn) pathway that unites genes and the environment. Over time, environmentally induced epigenomic changes can result in an increased risk of dementia, but individually these changes are essentially latent. The biochemical basis of LEARn leads to a novel remedial possibility that a high-risk individual’s impending dementia could be averted through environmental changes, including not only therapeutic intervention but also healthy lifestyle choices and other environmental adjustments. </li> </ul> <p>"Such important academic inventions await additional work to translate their findings to benefit people," said Lahiri, who also serves as editor-in-chief of the journal Current Alzheimer Research. "The ultimate goals of these efforts are to develop molecular methods for diagnoses and to devise rational neuroprotective strategies for the prevention and treatment of age-related disorders." </p> <p>In addition to his research, Lahiri actively promotes public awareness of neuroscience education and has been elected as a fellow of the American Association of the Advancement of Sciences. </p> <p>Lahiri is <a href="https://academyofinventors.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/11.14.22-Fellows-List-2022.pdf">one of 169 academic inventors</a> named a National Academy of Inventors fellow this year. The 2022 fellows are from 110 research universities and worldwide governmental and nonprofit research institutes. They collectively hold over 4,800 issued U.S. patents. </p> <p>"This year's class of NAI fellows represents a truly outstanding caliber of innovators. Each of these individuals has significantly impacted through their work and is highly regarded in their respective fields," said Paul R. Sanberg, PhD, DSc, president of the National Academy of Inventors. "The breadth and scope of their inventions are truly staggering. I am excited to see their creativity continue to define a new era of science and technology in the global innovation ecosystem." </p> <p>To date, fellows of the academy hold more than 58,000 issued U.S. patents, which have developed over 13,000 licensed technologies and companies, and created more than one million jobs. In addition, over $3 trillion in revenue has been generated based on fellows' discoveries. </p> <p>Other IU researchers previously elected National Academy of Inventors fellows include Chandan Sen, PhD, of IU School of Medicine and David Clemmer, PhD; Richard DiMarchi, PhD; and Gary Hieftje, PhD–all of the Department of Chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences at IU Bloomington. </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research, and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Fri, 16 Dec 2022 00:00:00 Z{7B205940-4C4C-4232-A272-1BF958C768BF}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/12/andrology-sexual-medicine-fellowship-launchedIU School of Medicine launches state’s first andrology and sexual medicine fellowship<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine <a href="/urology">Department of Urology</a> is now accepting applications for a new fellowship focused on andrology and male sexual and reproductive medicine. This is the first training program in andrology/sexual medicine in Indiana, and one of only 19 in the United States. The program will teach fellows to become experts in providing specialized care in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of issues like erectile dysfunction, Peyronie’s disease, male infertility and more. </p> <p>“We are so excited to offer this fellowship program, which will allow us to train the next generation of physicians on the comprehensive care for men dealing with these difficult issues,” said <a href="/faculty/44787/bernie-helen">Helen Bernie, DO, MPH</a>, Director of Male Sexual and Reproductive Medicine and assistant professor of urology. Bernie is the new fellowship’s director and the first woman in the country to start and lead a fellowship program in Andrology/Male Sexual and Reproductive Medicine. “Women make up only 10 percent of practicing urologists in the U.S., and even less of practicing specialists in male sexual and reproductive medicine. We hope our program will encourage more women to apply to the field and emphasize the importance of this urological subspecialty to improve overall men’s health.” </p> <p>IU School of Medicine is home to <a href="/urology/education/residency">the only urology residency program in Indiana</a>. The new fellowship provides an additional training opportunity for graduating residents from both IU and other parts of the country to study the specialty. They’ll learn from faculty at IU School of Medicine and treat patients through the school’s partnership with Indiana University Health. </p> <p>“Fellows will be able to get one-on-one mentorship and hands on training in both the medical and surgical approaches to men’s health,” Bernie said. “They’ll see patients in clinic, learn to perform a comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of male sexual dysfunctions and male infertility, as well as become experts in performing complex penile surgeries, and microsurgical operations for fertility in the OR. In addition, fellows will have dedicated research time to help advance this field forward, as there is so much work to be done in the areas of men’s health and andrology.” </p> <p>As one of the largest and oldest urology departments in the country, fellows will have the opportunity to work closely with faculty in other subspecialties, including at the IU Health Joe and Kelly Schwarz Cancer Center. Cancer patients often experience sexual issues including low libido, low testosterone, erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory dysfunctions or infertility as a result of cancer or the cancer treatments they are undergoing, whether surgical, chemotherapy or radiation. This fellowship will train doctors to provide unmatched multidisciplinary care and cancer survivorship for cancer patients with these concerns. As one of only a few institutions in the country that offer fertility preservation and family planning, fellows will also participate in <a href="https://www.rileychildrens.org/practice-location/riley-physicians-fertility-preservation">IU’s Fertility Preservation program</a> which seeks to offer fertility preservation options for adolescents and young adults prior to chemotherapies or surgical treatments that may render them infertile. </p> <p>“The fellow will spend time in the cancer center, which is a multidisciplinary cancer survivorship clinic,” Bernie said. “They will develop expertise in starting up and running their own cancer survivorship sexual and reproductive health program as well as a fertility preservation program, managing these common problems that people experience both during and after cancer treatments. Our fellows will leave this program with world-class training, a superb skill set and knowledge base and be well equipped to become the next leaders and experts in the field.” </p> <p>The department will take one fellow per year, starting in the summer of 2023. Applicants for the 2024 academic year will <a href="https://www.auanet.org/meetings-and-education/for-residents/urology-and-specialty-matches/specialty-match-timelines">use the American Urological Association match process</a>. For more information about the new Andrology/Male Sexual and Reproductive Medicine Fellowship, contact <a href="mailto:Afox12@iuhealth.org">Ashley Fox</a> or <a href="mailto:Hbernie@iuhealth.org">Helen Bernie</a>. </p> <p>Learn more about <a href="/urology/expertise/mens-sexual-health">andrology and male sexual medicine at IU School of Medicine</a>. </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 14 Dec 2022 00:00:00 Z{FBBAEEA1-E58D-4E98-9D6A-E815AB5D49CF}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/12/grant-identification-neurodegenerative-diseasesNew $3.5 million grant to aid in identification of new neurodegenerative diseases<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine and the University of Toronto have been awarded a five-year, $3.5 million grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to identify new neurodegenerative disorders that are often misdiagnosed as other conditions. </p> <p>Neurogenerative diseases occur when protein aggregates, such as tau protein aggregates, are present. These diseases, such as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and Alzheimer’s disease, are called tauopathies. PSP primarily affects movement and is the most common atypical parkinsonian disorder, for which there is no effective therapy or treatment. Using this grant, researchers will study the structure of tau in a cohort of PSP cases to find new tauopathies that are different from PSP. </p> <p>“We hope to identify these new tauopathies through analysis of network vulnerability, tau structure and propagation,” said <a href="/faculty/13386/vidal-ruben">Ruben Vidal, PhD</a>, Luella McWhiter Martin Professor of Clinical Alzheimer’s Research at IU School of Medicine and principal investigator of the program. “This will hopefully lead us to better clinical diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders as well as staging and prognosis of PSP and related dementias.” </p> <p>Recently, significant progress in characterizing protein deposits from human brain has been made due to advances in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Analysis of brains from patients diagnosed with PSP by cryo-EM has led to the discovery of novel conditions, with tau structures that are different from the tau structure found in PSP. </p> <p>“We already detected two conditions grouped under the disease PSP, but they are different diseases,” Vidal said. “This study will help us decrease the number of patients misdiagnosed with PSP. This is important for treating these patients and for future clinical trials for PSP, because they may have a different response to the agent being tested.” </p> <p>In addition to Vidal, principal investigators of the program include <a href="/faculty/13352/ghetti-bernardino">Bernardino Ghetti, MD</a> at the IU School of Medicine Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and <a href="https://tanz.med.utoronto.ca/faculty/gabor-kovacs">Gabor Kovacs, MD, PHD</a>, at the University of Toronto. </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Thu, 08 Dec 2022 00:00:00 Z{95AC1DB7-E635-4B8B-B761-398305082D27}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/12/walther-chair-in-supportive-oncologyNew Walther Professor in Supportive Oncology to focus on music therapy for cancer patients<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW259816383 BCX9" paraid="1765320059" paraeid="{4d9bcad6-6f2a-44fe-b1df-c23ed3e5991c}{191}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" data-ccp-charstyle-defn="{"ObjectId":"678f436f-358d-405f-9aa7-189c279febad|6","ClassId":1073872969,"Properties":[469775450,"normaltextrun",201340122,"1",134233614,"true",469778129,"normaltextrun",335572020,"1",469778324,"Default Paragraph Font"]}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">INDIANAPOLIS</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">—</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Indiana </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">University School of Medicine has named <a href="/faculty/63378/robb-sheri">Sheri Robb, PhD</a>, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">a</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Walther </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Professor of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Supportive Oncology. This is</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> one of five endowed positions to develop a supportive oncology program that encompasses research and patient care.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW259816383 BCX9" paraid="1132198690" paraeid="{4d9bcad6-6f2a-44fe-b1df-c23ed3e5991c}{207}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Robb</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> is a </span></span><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(14, 16, 26);">nationally renowned music therapy researcher</span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, a</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">professor at </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">IU School of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Nursing</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> an </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW259816383 BCX9" href="http://www.cancer.iu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ndiana </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">U</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">niversity Melvin and Bren</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> researcher</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Her research focuses on supportive care needs of children and adolescents with cancer and their families. She has held 15 years of continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(NIH) </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">for her work to develop and test music-based interventions to reduce symptom distress and improve health outcomes.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW259816383 BCX9" paraid="1038177877" paraeid="{d9be7336-43fb-451a-a64c-89fb15239ffa}{1}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“My motivation for becoming a research scientist was to advance research in the emerging field of music therapy</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">—</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">to better understand </span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">how</span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and </span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">for whom</span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> specific interventions work and to increase access to those services,” Robb said. “As a Walther Professor of Supportive Oncology, I will have the opportunity to accelerate and advance research in music and health in exponential ways, with the goal of creating evidence-based and culturally meaningful programs of care to improve the health and well-being of all patients with cancer and their families.”</span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW259816383 BCX9" paraid="2096117475" paraeid="{d9be7336-43fb-451a-a64c-89fb15239ffa}{19}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Walther Professor of Supportive Oncology </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">was established by the transformative $14 million gift to IU School of Medicine from the Walther Cancer Foundation</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="eop" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">In April, <a href="/news/2022/04/walther-scholar-psycho-oncology"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="eop" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Shelley Johns, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">PsyD, ABPP</span></a></span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, was named the Walther Scholar in Psycho-Oncology.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559738":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW259816383 BCX9" paraid="1342085339" paraeid="{d9be7336-43fb-451a-a64c-89fb15239ffa}{35}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">Supportive oncology goes beyond standard therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation and seeks to care for a patient’s overall physical, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;">mental</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: windowtext;"> and spiritual well-being.</span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW259816383 BCX9" paraid="791898404" paraeid="{d9be7336-43fb-451a-a64c-89fb15239ffa}{57}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">supportive oncology </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">program intends to influence care for cancer patients and their families throughout Indiana and the country by providing expertise and best practices for other health systems to model, with particular attention to the underserved.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW259816383 BCX9" paraid="922152594" paraeid="{d9be7336-43fb-451a-a64c-89fb15239ffa}{73}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="eop" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="eop" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Supportive </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="eop" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">o</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="eop" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ncology is a broad umbrella for care directed toward the patient and not just the cancer. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="eop" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Advancing the research and provision of music therapy for patients at IU</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="eop" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Simon Comprehensive </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="eop" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">C</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="eop" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ancer </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="eop" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">C</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="eop" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">enter </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="eop" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">provides a unique opportunity for Hoosiers living with cancer</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="eop" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,”</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="eop" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="eop" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">said James Cleary, MD, professor</span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> of medicine and Walther Senior Chair in Supportive Oncology at IU School of Medicine</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="eop" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW259816383 BCX9" paraid="1682304986" paraeid="{d9be7336-43fb-451a-a64c-89fb15239ffa}{118}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Robb</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> currently holds a </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW259816383 BCX9" href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/news/stories/2022-11-30-improving-survivorship.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">$2 million NIH grant</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(14, 16, 26);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">to lead a study on how music and play interventions can reduce stress, improve survivorship and boost the immune system in children ages 3-8 during cancer treatments. Because child and parent distress </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">are</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> interrelated, researchers are aiming to reduce stress levels in both the patient and caregivers.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW259816383 BCX9" paraid="767095195" paraeid="{d9be7336-43fb-451a-a64c-89fb15239ffa}{141}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">As </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">a national leader in music therapy, Robb is part of the NIH and National Endowment for the Art’s </span></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW259816383 BCX9" href="https://soundhealth.ucsf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Sound Health Network</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> multidisciplinary team to advance research in music and health. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Robb is also </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">working with a</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> group of investigators to improve reporting quality and rigor of music intervention research.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW259816383 BCX9" paraid="214389847" paraeid="{d9be7336-43fb-451a-a64c-89fb15239ffa}{164}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“Dr. Robb’s impact on patients and their families is remarkable. She has a gift for translating research into diverse</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> patient-centered programs that make the journey through cancer diagnosis and treatment more bearable. She is an asset to our team of nurse researchers studying oncology,” </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">aid Robin Newhouse, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">d</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ean</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> of IU School of Nursing</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW259816383 BCX9" paraid="863347667" paraeid="{d9be7336-43fb-451a-a64c-89fb15239ffa}{190}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“The appointment of Dr. Robb and the ongoing investment in her research is exceptionally important.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> This clearly will advance efforts to establish a premiere supportive oncology program at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and IU School of Medicine," said </span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right; color: windowtext;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Tom </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Grein</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, president and CEO</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Walther Cancer Foundation.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW259816383 BCX9" paraid="593195017" paraeid="{d9be7336-43fb-451a-a64c-89fb15239ffa}{216}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">“Dr. Robb is truly one of the premier researchers in music therapy in the country</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> This support from the Walther Cancer Foundation is both important recognition of the work she has done and will greatly enhance her research going forward," said </span></span><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right; color: windowtext;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Greg A. Sachs, MD, director</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Division of General Internal </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Medicine</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and Geriatrics</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">IU School of</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259816383 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Medicine.</span></span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW188260961 BCX9" paraid="1190718311" paraeid="{d9be7336-43fb-451a-a64c-89fb15239ffa}{254}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW188260961 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">###</span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW259816383 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW188260961 BCX9" paraid="1337469145" paraeid="{5a0e2e9f-ca22-45be-8462-9edac57d5a9c}{245}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW188260961 BCX9" paraid="1449891628" paraeid="{90e79fbb-6d7e-4fe5-a3d7-47d0dec4fba5}{5}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW188260961 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW188260961 BCX9" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a></span></span><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW188260961 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW188260961 BCX9" paraid="735150375" paraeid="{5a0e2e9f-ca22-45be-8462-9edac57d5a9c}{143}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong>About IU School of Nursing</strong></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW188260961 BCX9" paraid="2022923042" paraeid="{90e79fbb-6d7e-4fe5-a3d7-47d0dec4fba5}{14}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW188260961 BCX9" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW188260961 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW188260961 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://nursing.iu.edu/iupui/index.html">Indiana University School of Nursing</a> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW188260961 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">was established in 1914 with the opening of Long Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. The </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW188260961 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW188260961 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">chool</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW188260961 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> unites into a core structure with three locations in Bloomington, Indianapolis (IUPUI), and Fort Wayne. Over 22,500 alumni across the globe are empowered to be leaders in clinical practice, research, education, and innovation. Both the m</span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW188260961 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;">aster’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW188260961 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and DNP programs were named to the 2022 U.S. News and World Report Best Graduate Nursing Schools. The National League for Nursing has designated the School as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education in two areas. Academic programs range from three options in the undergraduate program, nine tracks in the master’s program, post-master’s options, a post-masters DNP, and a PhD in clinical nursing science or health systems. The </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW188260961 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW188260961 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">chool</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW188260961 BCX9" data-ccp-parastyle="paragraph" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> boasts a robust program of research focused on quality of life in chronic illness, nursing education, and cancer prevention and control.</span></span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW188260961 BCX9" paraid="2022923042" paraeid="{90e79fbb-6d7e-4fe5-a3d7-47d0dec4fba5}{14}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="EOP SCXW188260961 BCX9" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":true,"134233118":true,"201341983":0,"335559740":240}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p> </div>Mon, 05 Dec 2022 00:00:00 Z{2B98BB70-4F9B-4875-9921-B0A6B9816C05}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/11/epilepsy-drug-alzheimers-researchIU researchers study relationship between epilepsy drug and Alzheimer’s disease <p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers from an Indiana University School of Medicine-led consortium of Alzheimer’s disease experts are studying how an anti-seizure drug used to treat epilepsy in children and adults could be repurposed as a potential therapeutic for Alzheimer’s disease. </p> <p>The study, <a href="https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/trc2.12329">recently published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions</a>, a journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, analyzed the FDA-approved epilepsy drug levetiracetam using the rigorous pipeline of the Preclinical Testing Core within the <a href="/expertise/alzheimers/research/preclinical/laboratory-models">Model Organism Development and Evaluation for Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease (MODEL-AD)</a>. </p> <p>IU School of Medicine <a href="/news/2022/09/model-ad-grant-renewal">recently announced that MODEL-AD</a>, a consortium of experts at IU, Jackson Laboratory, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Sage Bionetworks, will receive $48.8 million over the next five years from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the largest branch for Alzheimer’s disease research within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). </p> <p><a href="/faculty/6529/territo-paul">Paul Territo, PhD</a>, professor of medicine at IU School of Medicine, and Kristen Onos, PhD, research scientist at the Jackson Laboratory, led the write-up of the study, which sought to assess levetiracetam’s potential as an Alzheimer’s therapeutic through a newly developed rigorous preclinical testing pipeline. </p> <p>The team first performed experiments to determine the optimal dose strategy and range in a mouse model that overlaps with some aspects of human Alzheimer’s disease. They followed this with a chronic dosing study using multiple doses of the drug. </p> <p>The outcomes of the study, also known as pharmacodynamics, were primarily focused on what could translate directly to the human clinic, which include PET/MRI scans using a tracer to assess bran amyloid deposition and a tracer to assess brain metabolism/activity. Sequencing of brain tissue was also performed to look at gene expression changes that occurred as the result of drug treatment. </p> <p>“Not only did we focus on making a rigorous testing pipeline, but we also prioritized measurements that directly translate from the animal to the human as much as possible,” said Onos, the first author of the paper. </p> <p>Territo and Onos said the team chose to test the anti-seizure medication because of its current clinical trial status. They also highlighted that it was important to select a drug that had a non-traditional mechanism of action, outside of the typically used amyloid lowering compounds. As Alzheimer’s disease can cause hyperexcitability in neurons in the brain, the hope is that the use of an anti-epileptic will help bring the brain back to normal levels of functioning. </p> <p>Levetiracetam binds to a specific receptor in the brain, SV2A, which is still being investigated regarding its overall function. Blockade of this receptor appears to lower overall levels of neurotransmitter release. Territo said dialing back neurotransmitter release would lead to reduced hyperexcitability in the brain. </p> <p>Based on their work, the team discovered important sex differences in the effects of levetiracetam. Overall, the disease state showed the greatest improvement in female, rather than male mice. While this could be for several reasons, it’s promising as women are more likely to be afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease, independent from increased longevity, they said. </p> <p>“We’re trying to do research not only to advance our basic understanding of how disease progresses in Alzheimer’s disease, but how can you possibly apply new therapeutic approaches that are not specifically targeting amyloid and tau,” Territo said. </p> <p>MODEL-AD provides their findings as a resource to the broader research community, and researchers can visit <a href="https://stopadportal.synapse.org/">stopadportal.synapse.org</a> to submit compounds for consideration. </p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 30 Nov 2022 00:00:00 Z{E0F9ED53-94A9-45ED-B5BB-07E6BB8717C4}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/11/teplizumab-research-fda-approvalIU research contributes to first FDA-approved drug to delay onset of type 1 diabetes<p>INDIANAPOLIS–Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine are celebrating Federal Drug Administration approval of teplizumab, a new immunotherapy drug that delays the onset of type 1 diabetes in at-risk individuals by an average of almost three years. IU School of Medicine helped conduct clinical trials and led data collection and analysis of the drug, which was approved November 17. </p> <p>“Since the early ’90s, people have been trying to delay onset of type 1 diabetes. This is the first successful drug to do that,” said <a href="/faculty/18596/sims-emily">Emily K. Sims, MD</a>, associate professor of pediatrics and a physician scientist with the Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases (CDMD) and the Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research at IU School of Medicine. “People in the field are super excited.” </p> <p>IU School of Medicine was one of 28 sites that participated in the original teplizumab study conducted by TrialNet, the largest clinical trial network ever assembled to discover ways to delay and prevent type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease which occurs when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, causing abnormal blood glucose levels. Teplizumab is an immunotherapy drug designed to interfere with the body’s immune destruction of its own beta cells. </p> <p>Sims was a key investigator on a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.trialnet.org/events-news/blog/trialnet-research-continues-close-type-1-diabetes-prevention" target="_blank">TrialNet analysis</a> providing extended follow up with participants from the original <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.trialnet.org/our-research/completed-studies/teplizumab" target="_blank">Teplizumab Prevention Study</a> concluded in 2019. The newest findings show high-risk individuals treated with Teplizumab experienced a median delay of diagnosis by 2.7 years versus the placebo group. </p> <p>“Nearly three years delay in the onset of disease is a big deal,” said Sims. “Even if someone has the newest technology to deliver insulin, there’s still a huge financial and psychological burden that goes along with diagnosis.” </p> <p>In addition to the pronounced delay of disease, those treated with teplizumab showed improved rates of insulin production, despite exhibiting insulin loss over time prior to treatment. Participants receiving a placebo continued to show a decline in insulin production consistent with disease advancement. </p> <p>“The idea of disease prevention and disease modifying therapy is really exciting,” Sims said. “You can imagine it might really change the way we treat people with type 1 diabetes and those at high risk for developing the disease. This is just the beginning.” </p> <p>Study participants were relatives of people with type 1 diabetes who have two or more autoantibodies and abnormal blood sugar levels, identified by <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://trialnet.org/participate" target="_blank">TrialNet’s Pathway to Prevention screening</a> as having a nearly 100-percent lifetime risk of clinical diagnosis. Of the original 76 participants, 72 percent were children under age 18. </p> <p>“These study results are of great worldwide importance, especially for the relatives of people with type 1 diabetes who are themselves at 15 times greater risk of developing the disease than the general U.S. population,” said <a href="/faculty/1595/dimeglio-linda">Linda DiMeglio, MD, MPH</a>, TrialNet vice chair and professor of pediatrics at IU School of Medicine. “We are excited that Indiana University was able to contribute to this groundbreaking research with its potential to impact people at risk for type 1 diabetes. These findings highlight that type 1 diabetes can be delayed with therapies that influence the immune system.” </p> <p>“I’m incredibly proud of the role that our faculty played in this trial and the contributions they make every day in order to improve our understanding of type 1 diabetes,” said <a href="/faculty/5100/evans-molina-carmella">Carmella Evans-Molina, MD, PhD, MS</a>, director of the <a href="/research-centers/diabetes">Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases</a> at IU School of Medicine. “Our center is unique because we have world-class investigators who are focused on studying very basic mechanisms of diabetes pathogenesis as well as translational questions like the development of biomarkers of type 1 diabetes, which we hope can be used to identify people who are at increased risk of developing the disease.” </p> <p>In response to teplizumab’s approval, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health has opened a new clinic for individuals identified as high risk for developing type 1 diabetes, funded through donations from the George and Frances Ball Foundation of the Luke Bracken Wiese Fund for Juvenile Diabetes Research and the William and Helen Thomas Trust. </p> <p>“We’ve been able to identify people who are at risk for type 1 diabetes for decades, but until now, we haven’t had anything to mitigate that risk, which leaves families just waiting for disease to develop. To be able to discuss this as an option for delay in diagnosis is incredible,” said clinic director <a href="/faculty/43384/felton-jamie">Jamie Felton, MD</a>. </p> <p><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://trialnet.org/" target="_blank">TrialNet</a> offers free risk screening for relatives of people with type 1 diabetes. Options include ordering an in-home test, ordering a test kit to take to a local lab, or making an appointment at a TrialNet location, which includes Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Mon, 21 Nov 2022 00:00:00 Z{FEE0A544-2FA7-4250-BCC1-28957D531B96}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/11/tau-neurotoxicity-alzheimers-disease-studyIU researchers identify protein that contributes to tau neurotoxicity in Alzheimer’s disease<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine have identified a protein that interacts and enhances the spread of neurotoxic species of tau—which is primarily found in neurons that appear abnormal in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients. </p> <p>The study, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-022-01191-6">recently published in Nature Neuroscience</a>, was led by <a href="/faculty/27419/lasagna-reeves-cristian">Cristian Lasagna-Reeves, PhD</a>, associate professor of anatomy, cell biology, and physiology, and <a href="/faculty/44493/martinez-pablo">Pablo Martinez, PhD</a>, postdoctoral fellow in anatomy, cell biology, and physiology and first author of the paper. </p> <p>The research team found that bassoon, a presynaptic scaffolding protein, contributes to tau-seed propagation and neurotoxicity. They investigated the role of bassoon on tau through mouse and drosophila (fruit flies) models as well as human cell and human brain samples. </p> <p>“The major novelty of this study is that we were the first ones to find the interactome of the tau seed, which is a tau species that represents less than 5% of total tau in the brain,” Lasagna-Reeves said. “We’re trying to determine the proteins that are only interacting with the tau seed.” </p> <p>The tau seed is the species of tau that propagates in the brain, moving from one neuron to the next producing neurodegeneration, Lasagna-Reeves said. In Alzheimer’s disease patients, the protein tau, which normally helps stabilize microtubules, is misfolded and abnormally shaped. </p> <p>Previous studies into tau’s effect on neurodegeneration have identified proteins that interact with the majority of tau in the brain. Lasagna-Reeves said said by narrowing their study to the tau seed and the proteins it interacts with—which results in neurotoxic events in the brain—it could lead to a more targeted approach in therapeutics against Alzheimer’s disease. </p> <p>The researchers discovered that bassoon exacerbates tau seeding and toxicity in both mouse and drosophila models. Bassoon stabilizes the tau seed, which allows it to propagate in the brain. The protein acts as a scaffold, Lasagna-Reeves said; if bassoon is removed, it will make the tau seed more unstable. Martinez said by lowering the level of bassoon in the models, it decreased the spread of tau, reduced brain atrophy and improved synaptic and behavior impairments of the disease. </p> <p>“We proved that there is a small portion of tau in the brain that is very toxic in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases, and we determined how important these interactors are to the tau seed,” Martinez said. “The main message for the future is to target bassoon as well as other proteins that interact with the tau seed and translate that to therapies.” </p> <p>The lab is collaborating with the IU School of Medicine-Purdue TaRget Enablement to Accelerate Therapy Development for Alzheimer’s Disease (<a href="/expertise/alzheimers/research/preclinical/drug-discovery">TREAT-AD</a>) drug discovery center to target bassoon through potential therapeutics that downregulate the protein in the brain. </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Thu, 17 Nov 2022 00:00:00 Z{327C5B43-28F6-4619-99AB-54C2C093D677}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/11/watanabe-prize-2023-zoghbiBaylor College of Medicine geneticist announced as 2023 Watanabe Prize winner<p>INDIANAPOLIS—<a href="https://www.bcm.edu/people-search/huda-zoghbi-33774">Huda Zoghbi, MD</a> has been named the 2023 winner of the <a href="/research/watanabe-prize">August M. Watanabe Prize in Translational Research</a>. Zoghbi is a Distinguished Service Professor at Baylor College of Medicine, director of the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital and an investigator with Howard Hughes Medical Institute. She will be honored at the 2023 Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) Annual Meeting on Friday, September 22, 2023. </p> <p>Zoghbi’s research focuses on patients who are suffering from rare and mysterious disorders, including Rett syndrome. Rett syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a genetic mutation which leads to serious impairment, affecting a child’s ability to walk, talk, eat and breathe. The disorder is usually recognized in girls under the age of two. Zoghbi’s research has also contributed to the understanding of a wide variety of neurological disorders and other diseases including deafness, pediatric brain tumors and sudden infant death syndrome. </p> <p>“I am deeply humbled by the recognition, given Dr. Watanabe’s legacy and contributions to translational research,” said Zoghbi. “I look forward to sharing my research and connecting with everyone at the Indiana CTSI Annual Meeting next September.” </p> <p>Zoghbi has received many honors and awards, including election to the National Academy of Sciences (2004), Bristol Myers-Squibb Neuroscience Distinguished Achievement Award (2006), election to the Lebanese Academy of Sciences (2013), Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences (2017), election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2018), election to the National Academy of Inventors (2019), the Brain Prize (2020) and Kavli Prize in Neuroscience (2022). </p> <p>“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Zoghbi to our campus next fall,” said <a href="/faculty/276/foroud-tatiana">Tatiana Foroud, PhD</a>, executive associate dean for research affairs at IU School of Medicine. “Our researchers from across the state of Indiana will be able to learn a great deal by hearing about her broad range of expertise across the translational spectrum.” </p> <p>Paul Klotman, MD nominated Zoghbi for the Watanabe Prize. Klotman is the president and CEO of Baylor College of Medicine, where Zoghbi is a distinguished service professor. </p> <p>“Dr. Zoghbi has a remarkable gift for studying rare diseases in children to change the way we think about major human diseases,” said Klotman, who is also the executive dean at Baylor College of Medicine. “Her best-known work is in the area of neurology: adult-onset neurodegenerative conditions and postnatal-onset neurodevelopmental disorders. Without a doubt, her work has pointed the way to new treatments for these devastating disorders.” </p> <p>In addition to her other achievements, Zoghbi co-discovered the gene for spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), a progressive condition which affects a person’s ability to move and balance. As an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, a nonprofit research organization which aims to advance basic biomedical research and science education to benefit humanity, Zoghbi’s team is looking for ways to reduce abnormal proteins that accumulate in degenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease. </p> <p>As winner of the Watanabe Prize, Zoghbi will be the keynote speaker at the 2023 Indiana CTSI Annual Meeting, which will be focused on neurological disorders. </p> <p>The Watanabe Prize is one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious awards recognizing individuals focused on shepherding scientific discoveries into new therapies for patients. The prize is awarded to a senior investigator who has made a significant contribution to the field of translational science. It is named in honor of the late August M. Watanabe, a titan in the field of translational research in both academia and industry who impacted the health of people around the world as a leader at Indiana University School of Medicine and Eli Lilly and Company. </p> <p>Watanabe began his career at Indiana University in 1972 and served as chair of the Department of Medicine from 1983 to 1990. From there, he joined Eli Lilly and Company, where he was ultimately named executive vice president, overseeing the launch of 11 drugs and doubling the size of Lilly’s research and development organization. </p> <p>Past Watanabe Prize recipients include Adrian R. Krainer, PhD (2022); Nancy J. Brown, MD (2021); Brian Druker, MD (2020); David Holtzman, MD (2019); Jean Bennett, MD, PhD (2018); Robert J. Lefkowitz, MD (2016); Carl H. June, MD (2015); and Tadataka Yamada, MD (2013). </p> <p>### </p> <p><strong>About the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute </strong></p> <p>The Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) brings together the state’s brightest minds to solve Indiana’s most pressing health challenges through research. It is a statewide partnership among Indiana University, Purdue University, the University of Notre Dame and the Regenstrief Institute collaborating with numerous life sciences businesses, government entities, and community organizations. The Indiana CTSI engages with the public at every level of research—from basic science to patient care. It has been continuously funded by multimillion-dollar grants from the National Institutes of Health since the Indiana CTSI’s founding in 2008 and is housed at the Indiana University School of Medicine. For more information, visit <a href="https://indianactsi.org/">indianactsi.org</a>. </p> <p><strong>About Indiana University School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">Indiana University School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the United States and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 15 Nov 2022 00:00:00 Z{1564977E-115A-4D2A-BCAD-45A9B1519BFD}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/11/informatics-software-genetic-variantsNew informatics software developed by IU School of Medicine researcher helps identify rare genetic variants<p>INDIANAPOLIS—A team of researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine has developed specialized bioinformatics software designed to identify rare genetic variants in whole-genome sequencing studies. Zilin Li, PhD, assistant professor of biostatistics and health data science, was the first and co-corresponding author of <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41592-022-01640-x" target="_blank">the recent publication in Nature Methods</a> which details the variant-Set Test for Association using Annotation infoRmation pipeline, or STAARpipeline, framework. </p> <p>"Even though there are hundreds of millions of rare genetic variants, they have been challenging to study because there was no convenient, scalable and robust pipeline for comprehensive rare-variant analysis, which requires the evaluation of variant sets rather than single variants,” Li said. </p> <p>The STAARpipeline allows researchers to evaluate sets of rare, noncoding genetic variants, which will help enable genetic research. Noncoding genetic variants are parts of the genome that do not code for amino acids, the molecules that combine to form proteins. More than 98 percent of a person’s DNA is noncoding. </p> <p>“Rare variants are observed in 99% of the human genome and are a major source of the missing heritability of complex traits and diseases,” Li said. </p> <p>To use the STAARpipeline, researchers input genotype (genetic code) and phenotype (complex trait or disease code) data into the program. The software analyzes that data and identifies rare variants, grouping the variants into eight functional categories in the gene-centric analysis and into fixed-size sliding windows and newly proposed data-adaptive dynamic windows in the non-gene-centric analysis. The gene-centric analysis focuses on variants in or near genes, while the non-gene-centric analysis focuses on variants in the intergenic region, which is the stretch of DNA located between genes. The program then incorporates multiple variant functional annotations for each variant set to increase analysis power further and summarizes the results for the user. </p> <p>The research team has already tested the STAARpipeline on large sample sizes, including 40,000 from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://topmed.nhlbi.nih.gov/" target="_blank">Trans-Omics Precision Medicine Program</a>. During that analysis, STAARpipeline found 49 significant associations in gene-centric noncoding analysis, 35 of which were found based on six new proposed noncoding categories. In addition, data-adaptive size dynamic window analysis detected 43 non-overlapping significant associations in the noncoding genome, 19.4% more than the classical fixed-size sliding window procedure. </p> <p>The STAARpipeline builds on another program Li and his colleagues established called STAAR, a genetic variant-set test for finding connections and associations by using annotation information. </p> <p>“We believe the STAARpipeline can be expanded to analyze hundreds of millions of variants worth of whole genome sequencing data,” Li said. “Since rare variants have been found in 99 percent of the human genome, this program addresses an important gap in informatic analysis.” </p> <p>This research was funded in part by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41592-022-01641-w" target="_blank">Read the full research briefing in Nature Methods</a>. </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 08 Nov 2022 00:00:00 Z{11136A42-3FCD-433A-BC7C-0CBE451B503E}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/11/microglia-alzheimers-studyIU researchers investigate brain’s immune cell response in Alzheimer’s disease<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine researchers are investigating how the deficiency of a gene in immune cells can shape the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. </p> <p>The study, <a href="https://molecularneurodegeneration.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13024-022-00545-9">published in Molecular Degeneration</a>, found that deleting CX3CR1, a microglial gene associated with neurodegenerative diseases, in Alzheimer’s disease animal models resulted in an aggravated disease state and accumulation of plaques in the brain. The deficiency of the gene also impaired the movement of microglia—the brain’s immune cells—toward the plaques. </p> <p>“This investigation shows that microglia in Alzheimer’s disease become dysfunctional earlier in the disease course in the absence of CX3CR1, and this dysfunction results in the cascade of neurotoxic events in the brain,” said Shweta Puntambekar, MS, PhD, assistant research professor of medical and molecular genetics. “For the larger research community, this research pinpoints how we can target this cell type early in the disease in order to modulate how the disease progresses in the brain and ultimately modulate cognitive outcomes in Alzheimer’s disease.” </p> <p>CX3CR1 has been shown in both past human and animal studies to be downregulated in neurodegenerative diseases when microglia are activated. The CX3CR1-V249I, a loss-of-function gene variant, was first identified and associated with macular degeneration and was later shown to relate to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease and ALS. In 2020, <a href="/blogs/research-updates/alzheimer-funding-continues-to-grow-at-iu-school-of-medicine">Puntambekar and her co-investigators received a $3 million National Institute on Aging grant</a> to study the role of CX3CR1 in Alzheimer’s disease. </p> <p>Puntambekar, first author of the journal article, said the study also looked at the connection between amyloid beta and tau in the brain—hallmark proteins commonly associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Amyloid beta proteins clump together and form plaques, which destroy nerve cell connections. Tau then can later form in the brain after amyloid plaques. </p> <p>“The study has made a connection not just between amyloid and tau, but how microglia can shape the entire disease process,” Puntambekar said. </p> <p>In the absence of this gene, the microglia—which act as the first line of defense against viruses, toxic materials and damaged neurons—cannot move closer to plaques to clear up proteins. This occurs early in the disease and leads to more neurotoxic events, such as accumulations of other toxic species of amyloid beta and aggravated tau in later disease stages. </p> <p>Some of those species of amyloid beta aren’t deposited in the brain as “insoluble” plaques, Puntambekar said, but rather accumulate in the brain as soluble plaques and have been shown to also be associated with cognitive decline. These species were increased in the absence of CX3CR1, she added. </p> <p>Most therapies that target amyloid beta proteins in the brain focus on insoluble plaques, but drugs for years have been proven ineffective in clinical trials. </p> <p>“With this new data set, we can now start asking if the limited clinical efficiencies of Alzheimer’s disease therapies are due to not targeting the correct species of amyloid beta and whether we should start targeting other soluble species to get better cognitive outcomes,” Puntambekar said. </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Thu, 03 Nov 2022 00:00:00 Z{BB843EE1-85F8-4A48-B80B-A8517638E91D}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/11/fetal-wound-healing-publicationResearchers studying new way to heal diabetic wounds by activating “hidden” mechanism in the body<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine are looking for ways to heal wounds by using a healing protein that is active in fetuses, but largely inactive in adults and absent in diabetic adults. </p> <p>“We already know from previous studies at other institutions that if a fetus is wounded, it can regenerate the tissue, or repair it to be like new,” said Chandan K. Sen, PhD, associate vice president of military and applied research, the J. Stanley Battersby chair and distinguished professor of surgery and director of the Indiana Center for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering at Indiana University School of Medicine. “But after birth, such regenerative wound healing ability is lost. Healing in adults is relatively inefficient often associated with undesirable scar formation.” </p> <p>In the study, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.cell.com/molecular-therapy-family/molecular-therapy/fulltext/S1525-0016(22)00556-1?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS1525001622005561%3Fshowall%3Dtrue" target="_blank">published recently in Molecular Therapy</a>, the team focused on a protein called nonselenocysteine-containing phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase, or NPGPx. NPGPx is active in fetal tissue but becomes mostly inactive in the skin after birth. </p> <p>“Nature essentially hides this fetal regenerative repair pathway in the adult body,” Sen said. “We spotted its absence, and then activated it to improve healing of diabetic wounds.” </p> <p>Researchers used tissue nanotransfection technology developed by faculty at the ICRME to deliver the NPGPx gene to the wound site. Diabetic wounds, which are complicated skin injuries in people with diabetes, are particularly difficult to treat and often lead to amputations or other complications because of how easily they can become infected. </p> <p>“This is an exciting new approach to harness fetal repair mechanisms to close diabetic wounds in adults,” Sen said. “The study results show that while NPGPx has been known to be abundant in the fetal skin, but not after birth, it can be reactivated in the skin after an injury. We look forward to continued study aiming to achieve a more complete regenerative repair by improving our understanding of how NPGPx functions.” </p> <p>In addition to Sen, study authors from IU include Subhadip Ghatak, PhD, Savita Khanna, PhD, Sashwati Roy, PhD, Mohamed El Masry, MD, PhD, Anu Sharma, PhD, Ravichand Palakurti, PhD, Yi Xuan, PhD, and <a href="/faculty/10576/yoder-mervin">Mervin Yoder, MD</a>. This study was supported by Lilly Indiana Collaborative Initiative for Talent Enrichment (INCITE) fellowships to C.K.S. as well as S.R. This study was also supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health as well as from the US Department of Defense. Read the <a href="https://www.cell.com/molecular-therapy-family/molecular-therapy/fulltext/S1525-0016(22)00556-1?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS1525001622005561%3Fshowall%3Dtrue">full publication in Molecular Therapy</a>. </p> <p>Learn more about research at <a href="/sitecore/service/notfound.aspx?item=web%3a%7b5D4CB50E-708C-498F-9C83-BE0FC5E871BC%7d%40en">the Indiana Center for Regenerative Medicine</a>. </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 02 Nov 2022 00:00:00 Z{B5C91C1B-68A5-4708-8A24-E8003CC137D0}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/11/iron-and-heart-failure-studyIron induces chronic heart failure in half of heart attack survivors, according to landmark study led by IU researcher<p>INDIANAPOLIS–A multi-institution study led by <a href="/faculty/60337/dharmakumar-rohan">Rohan Dharmakumar, PhD</a>, of Indiana University School of Medicine, has identified that iron drives the formation of fatty tissue in the heart and leads to chronic heart failure in about fifty percent of heart attack survivors. The discovery, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-33776-x" target="blank">recently published in Nature Communications</a>, paves the way for treatments that have the potential to prevent heart failure in nearly half a million people a year in the United States, and many millions more worldwide. </p> <p>“For the first time, we have identified a root cause of chronic heart failure following a heart attack,” Dharmakumar said. </p> <p>Dharmakumar is executive director of <a href="/internal-medicine/specialties/cardiovascular-medicine/research">IU’s Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center</a> and associate director for research at the <a href="/institutes/cardiovascular">Cardiovascular Institute</a>, a joint enterprise between IU School of Medicine and IU Health. </p> <p>“While advances across populations have made survival after a heart attack possible for most, too many survivors suffer long-term complications like heart failure,” said Subha Raman, MD, who is physician director of the Cardiovascular Institute. “Dr. Dharmakumar’s breakthrough science illuminates who is at risk and why and points to an effective way to prevent these complications.” </p> <p>The multi-million-dollar study, which involved collaborators from institutions in the United States and Canada, followed large animal models over six months. It found that in heart attacks that result in bleeding within the heart muscle—which is about half of them—scar tissue is slowly replaced by fat. Fatty tissue can’t push blood from the heart effectively, and this is what leads to heart failure and eventually to death in many survivors of hemorrhagic heart attacks, Dharmakumar said. </p> <p>“Using noninvasive imaging, histology and molecular biology techniques, and various other technologies, we have shown that iron from red blood cells is what drives this process,” he explained. “When we removed the iron, we reduced the amount of fat in the heart muscle. This finding establishes a pathway for clinical investigations to remedy or mitigate the effects associated with iron in hemorrhagic myocardial infarction patients.” </p> <p>Dharmakumar’s team is currently testing iron chelation therapy to do just that in a just-launched clinical trial. </p> <p>“Thanks to a clinical trial underway being led by his team at Indiana University, I'm excited to see this treatment improve the lives of millions of heart attack survivors worldwide,” said Raman. </p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 01 Nov 2022 00:00:00 Z{9D770359-0ED5-4DB4-9AE8-FB8E1ED3FCB2}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/11/lung-cancer-screeningIU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center partners with nation’s top cancer organizations to endorse initiative to increase lung cancer screening in the United States<h2>Joint call to action urges individuals, providers and insurers to increase access to and utilization of low-dose CT screening for those at high risk for lung cancer </h2> <p>INDIANAPOLIS–The <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> has partnered with more than 50 cancer organizations to <a href="https://www.lungevity.org/sites/default/files/public-policy/screening-consensus-statement-project-102122.pdf">issue a call to action</a> urging individuals, providers and insurers to increase access to and utilization of low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans for those at high risk for lung cancer. </p> <p>The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual screening for people ages 50-80 who have smoked for at least 20 years. However, only 5.7 percent of eligible Americans were screened for lung cancer before the COVID-19 pandemic—compared to screening rates for breast, cervical and colon cancers that hover between 60 percent and 80 percent. Screening rates have decreased for all cancers due to the pandemic. </p> <p>Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, accounting for almost 25 percent of all cancer deaths. Despite advances in treatment and successful efforts to reduce smoking, the disease kills more than 350 people in the U.S. each day. </p> <p>If all people who should be screened for lung cancer got screened, tens of thousands of lives and tens of millions of dollars would be saved. Lung cancer is so deadly because it is most often diagnosed at an advanced stage when treatment options are limited and outcomes are poor. </p> <p>“Screening for early-stage lung cancer is key to saving lives,” said <a href="/faculty/5014/hanna-nasser">Nasser Hanna, MD</a>, the Tom and Julie Wood Family Foundation Professor of Lung Cancer Clinical Research at IU School of Medicine. Hanna is also a physician-scientist at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and founder and chair of the center’s <a href="https://www.endlungcancernow.iu.edu/">End Lung Cancer Now</a> initiative. “We can reduce lung cancer mortality by 20 percent right now by maximizing screening CT scans.” </p> <p>The new call to action also aligns with and supports the national Cancer Moonshot initiative, which aims to reduce cancer deaths by 50 percent over the next 25 years. Lung cancer screening is one easy way to help reach that goal. This call to action provides guidance for national support, including public funding and health policy changes needed to significantly improve lung cancer screening participation. </p> <p>Two major barriers to screening are coverage and access. While low-dose CT screening for lung cancer is covered by Medicare and most private insurance plans, the pre-authorization process can delay the procedure by several days and place an unnecessary burden on community providers. Additionally, a recent study by the American Cancer Society found that at least 5 percent of those eligible for low-dose CT scans live more than 40 miles from a screening facility — and that percentage jumps to nearly 25 percent for screening-eligible individuals in rural areas. </p> <p><a href="https://www.endlungcancernow.iu.edu/screening.html">Learn more about screening by visiting End Lung Cancer Now.</a> </p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 01 Nov 2022 00:00:00 Z{CEF8C5EF-2EAD-4BD3-815C-53635AA73560}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/10/pathology-new-chairIU School of Medicine names new chair to lead Department of Pathology<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine has named an innovative leader as the new chair of the <a href="/pathology">Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine</a>. </p> <p>Michael D. Feldman, MD, PhD, will assume the role of the department chair effective February 1, 2023, and will have oversight and responsibility for the program’s clinical, education and research programs. </p> <p>A highly respected physician-scientist in the field of pathology, Feldman is current vice chair of clinical services in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. He is currently the director of pathology informatics with the Department of Pathology and is director of the cancer center core tissue bank at the University of Pennsylvania Health Systems. </p> <p>In his role of vice chair, Feldman was instrumental helping to lead the department in an effort to unite the six-entity pathology department to establish a single unifying department. With extensive experience in strategic planning, health care operations and translational research innovation, Dr. Feldman brings an exciting energy to the role, said <a href="/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>. </p> <p>“Dr. Feldman’s comprehensive clinical, research and administrative experience in one of the nation’s top pathology departments, along with his collaborative leadership style, make him the ideal candidate for this role,” said Hess, dean of IU School of Medicine and Executive Vice President of University Clinical Affairs for IU. “His vision aligns with the School of Medicine’s interdisciplinary and aspirational approach to education, research and patient-centered care. I’m confident he will advance us to further excellence across all of our missions.” </p> <p>Along with a passion for strategic planning and operations growth, Feldman has also been committed to the mentorship of students, residents and fellow faculty throughout his career. He has been the recipient of numerous teaching awards during his time at the University of Pennsylvania and has been a vocal advocate for the move toward a digital approach to pathology—pushing fellow faculty and trainees to adopt and become skilled at the use of on-demand technologies. </p> <p>“The Department of Pathology has a rich history of clinical, education, and research excellence, and I am eager to begin building on that legacy with my colleagues at IU School of Medicine and IU Health,” said Feldman. “I look forward to building a program that spans bench-to-bedside research, translates research findings into clinical care, and that expands our clinical care in new and novel ways, allowing us to rethink our educational mission and purpose.” </p> <p>In 1984, Feldman earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He earned his MD and PhD from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey—New Jersey Medical School and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in 1992. He completed a residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at the University of Pennsylvania in 1996, followed by an NIH training grant fellowship with the Department of Medicine—Hematology Division at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. </p> <p>He joined the faculty at Penn in 1992 as an assistant instructor, becoming an assistant professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in 1998. After being named an associate professor in 2007, he was promoted to full professor in 2016. </p> <p>Feldman will also hold the Manwaring Professorship in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. He succeeds John N. Eble, MD, who served in the role as chair of the department since 1999. </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Fri, 28 Oct 2022 00:00:00 Z{FF8B211B-FD84-42F1-889E-E7224C782032}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/10/rmat-new-grad-programsIU School of Medicine launching master’s and doctoral programs in regenerative medicine and technologies<h2>Interdisciplinary study expected to spur industry job growth, medical innovations</h2> <p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine is launching a new Master of Science and PhD in Regenerative Medicine and Technologies (RMAT), the only degree program of its kind in the state of Indiana. </p> <p>The <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.in.gov/che/" target="_blank">Indiana Commission for Higher Education</a> recently approved the new MS/PhD program, which is the final approval step required before launching. The master’s program complements IU School of Medicine’s PhD program in Regenerative Medicine and Technologies, <a href="/news/2021/01/iu-school-of-medicine-launches-new-regenerative-medicine-phd-program-aimed-at-workforce-development">which was approved in 2020</a>, where students develop the knowledge and industry-specific skills required to augment medicine-based innovations, regulatory science and supply chain management. Both are directed by faculty in the Indiana Center for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering, which is nested in the <a href="/surgery">Department of Surgery</a>. </p> <p>“The Regenerative Medicine and Technologies graduate program provides an extraordinary opportunity for students to train in the emergent field of regenerative medicine which has the clear potential to transform health care in the near future. Special emphasis is directed at industry partnership and workforce development to cater to the growing needs of a fast-developing industry,” said Chandan K. Sen, PhD, associate vice president of military and applied research, the J. Stanley Battersby chair and professor of surgery and director of the ICRME at IU School of Medicine. “Graduate students will undergo a rigorous curriculum and immerse themselves in practical applications that will prepare them for the expanding job market in regenerative medicine, engineering and advanced manufacturing.” </p> <p>Regenerative medicine scientists seek to replace or regenerate human cells, tissues and organs so doctors can someday help more patients establish, restore or enhance function to affected areas. According to MarketWatch, the global regenerative medicine market has a current value of $13.3 billion in 2022 and is expected to increase to $38.7 billion by 2031. </p> <p>The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts employment of medical scientists nationally will grow 17% between 2020 and 2030, compared to an 8% growth for all occupations. They estimate 3,200 job openings for biochemists and biophysicists will be available annually. In Indiana, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development’s 2018-2028 employment projections predict a 7% increase of medical scientists and a 13% increase in biochemists and biophysicists. Median salaries could range between $80k - $124K. </p> <p>“Regenerative medicine is growing rapidly and we are proud to be a global leader in training the next generation of researchers in this exciting field,” said <a href="/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD</a>, MHSA, dean of IU School of Medicine and IU’s executive vice president for university clinical affairs. “The RMAT program leverages the resources and expertise at Indiana University and Purdue University to provide robust training for these future scientists.” </p> <p>Students enrolled in the new MS/PhD program will receive an introduction to translational research with a curriculum emphasizing applied sciences and technology, device and therapy manufacturing, regulatory compliance, and a required industrial or clinical internship. Students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours, which will take a full-time student two years to complete. They may also have internship opportunities at Indiana life sciences companies that focus on regenerative medicine. International internship opportunities also exist with partners in India and Europe. </p> <p>This program is designed to bring together physicians, biomedical researchers, medical residents, and Bachelor of Science graduates who are interested in life and technical sciences. United States military personnel interested in military medicine and RMAT PhD students who wish to exit with a master’s degree are encouraged to enroll given ICRME’s track record in military medicine. </p> <p>Learn more about the graduate degree programs in regenerative medicine, including curriculum information and the application process. </p> <p><strong>What they’re saying: </strong></p> <p>“Right now, there is a deficit of people that are specifically trained toward regenerative medicine, and it’s making it challenging for people who run these businesses. If graduates can be prepared with an industrial-focused curriculum, they will be in a better position to adapt and be a stronger contributor to a life sciences company, which will make everything more efficient and self-sustaining.” -Erik Woods, PhD, HCLD (ABB), co-founder, executive vice president and chief science officer for <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://ossiumhealth.com/" target="_blank">Ossium Health, Inc</a>.</p> <p> “The fusion of engineering and medicine is becoming closer and closer. We are always looking for bright graduates who have a high degree of engineering skills and medical knowledge. We like to hire master’s level graduates and continue to train them to become good development engineers or good regulatory scientists. This master’s in regenerative medicine and technologies program is another opportunity for Indiana to lead medicine into a new realm that’s a hybrid between medical devices and overall engineering of tissues.” -Mike Hiles, PhD, senior vice president and chief scientific officer, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.cookbiotech.com/" target="_blank">Cook Biotech, Inc</a>. </p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Thu, 27 Oct 2022 00:00:00 Z{AA6D250C-C899-468A-A4AA-A652FB02E78A}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/10/phd-translational-cancer-biologyCancer center launches new PhD program in translational cancer biology <p>INDIANAPOLIS— The <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> is now offering a new PhD program dedicated to clinically relevant research in cancer biology. In the <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/education/graduate-training/phd/index.html">PhD in Translational Cancer Biology program</a>, students will complete research alongside faculty mentors who are leading researchers at the cancer center. </p> <p>“The cancer center’s National Cancer Institute designation—particularly as a comprehensive center—means we excel not only at research, but also in helping build the next generation of cancer researchers,” said <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/members/bio.html?name=harikrishna-nakshatri&id=1111">Harikrishna Nakshatri, PhD</a>, associate director of education at IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and director of the translational cancer research doctoral program. “We need to make sure there is a strong workforce available, and this PhD program will help us create the workforce needed for future research and drug discovery.” </p> <p>The IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center is one of only 53 cancer centers in the nation to hold the prestigious comprehensive cancer center designation by the NCI. The center earned that designation, in part, because of its outstanding educational offerings. </p> <p>This is the first PhD program in Indiana to focus on the clinical translation of cancer biology. Students enrolled in this program will have the opportunity to participate in clinical training such as shadowing oncologists and physician-scientists and <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/tumor-board-review">observing tumor board reviews</a>—opportunities uniquely available due to the program’s proximity to clinical care with IU School of Medicine. </p> <p>Students will complete coursework and research that will translate to clinical applications for patients, including topics such as: </p> <ul> <li>Cancer prevention and control </li> <li>Cancer genomics </li> <li>Biomarkers of cancer progression </li> <li>Developing novel therapies for specific cancers </li> <li>The impact of cancer on quality of life </li> <li>Improving the quality of life for survivors </li> </ul> <p>“We know that research cures cancer, and this program will cultivate the brilliant minds we need in our labs to develop tomorrow’s cures,” said <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/members/bio.html?name=kelvin-lee&id=29680">Kelvin Lee, MD</a>, director of the cancer center. “This program will uniquely prepare investigators to understand how lab research translates to patient treatments and outcomes.” </p> <p>The first cohort of students will begin the program in fall 2023. Students pursuing this degree will apply through the IU School of Medicine Indiana Biomedical Gateway (IBMG) Program, which provides a shared first-year experience for all IU School of Medicine biomedical science PhD program students. Following that first year of coursework, students can choose the translational cancer biology PhD program. Students who have completed at least a bachelor’s degree and are interested in pursuing cancer biology research can apply. </p> <p>The 90-credit-hour program will take approximately five years to complete. <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/education/graduate-training/phd/index.html">Learn more about the program</a>.</p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 26 Oct 2022 00:00:00 Z{E9506E28-7666-4D75-887B-210632CC2809}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/10/medical-school-building-groundbreakingIU School of Medicine breaks ground on medical education and research building in downtown Indianapolis<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">INDIANAPOLIS—The future of medicine in central Indiana will soon be on the rise in downtown Indianapolis.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">Indiana University School of Medicine broke ground Wednesday on a $230 million <a href="/building-the-future">medical education and research building</a>. At 11 stories and more than 326,000 gross square feet in size, the facility west of Senate Avenue and south of the IU Neurosciences Research Center on 16<sup>th</sup> Street will address growing instructional and research needs at the school.</p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">“As we break ground on Indiana University School of Medicine’s new medical education and research building, we celebrate the creation of a space that will accelerate our faculty’s cutting-edge discoveries, advance our students’ preparedness for careers in medicine and enhance and even save lives,” said IU President Pamela Whitten. “IU is committed to addressing the state’s need for highly-trained medical professionals, and this leading-edge health sciences facility is a physical representation of our mission to serve our state and improve Hoosiers’ quality of life and a reminder of our strong partnership with Indiana University Health.”</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);"></span><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">IU School of Medicine is a global leader in the research of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. During the groundbreaking event, school officials announced a generous gift that will help continue this important work. Dave and Susan Roberts, longtime supporters of Alzheimer’s research at IU School of Medicine, have committed $10 million for neurodegenerative research. The Roberts have made gifts and commitments totaling nearly $15 million to IU School of Medicine.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">The construction project is the largest in IU School of Medicine’s 120-year history. As the largest medical school in the country, and a national research powerhouse, the school’s downtown campus will soon be transformed into a leading-edge facility.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">“While we’ve added new facilities at our regional campuses in recent years, we have not built new classroom space in Indianapolis since 1959,” said <a href="/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>, dean of IU School of Medicine and executive vice president for university clinical affairs at IU. “This state-of-the-art facility will transform how we train generations of future physicians, while also providing our scientists with much-needed lab space to continue and expand their research focused on improving health.”</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">The first three floors of the new building—the broad base of the structure—will focus primarily on medical education. In an homage to IU’s architectural heritage, the base will feature elements of the limestone buildings in Bloomington, along with the brick accents of the medical school buildings at IUPUI. The ground floor will feature a large atrium and spaces for small learning communities, classrooms, lecture halls and a café. The next two levels will feature additional classrooms, a surgical skills center, simulation spaces, a library, practice exam rooms and an anatomy lab.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">From there, an eight-story tower will rise from the academic base and will include research and office spaces for the school. The tower will be sheathed in glass and designed with energy efficiency in mind. An underground tunnel will connect the building to Goodman Hall and the Neuroscience Research Building to the north.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">The facility will be co-located with the new downtown Indianapolis hospital and expanded medical campus of Indiana University Health, where the health system is consolidating operations of its two downtown adult acute care hospitals south of 16<sup>th</sup> Street. The health system contributed $145 million to the IU School of Medicine building project—an investment IU Health President and CEO Dennis Murphy said speaks to the organization’s unwavering commitment to supporting medical education and research.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">“IU Health is proud to have helped fund IU School of Medicine’s new medical education building,” Murphy said. “It will be an integral part of our new academic health center campus, strengthening the unique bond between the School of Medicine and IU Health and allowing future generations of medical students and faculty to teach, train and work in a world-class academic medical setting.”</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">The architectural design, developed by Browning Day of Indianapolis and Perkins & Will of Chicago, was <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://news.iu.edu/live/news/27846-architectural-design-approved-for-new-school-of" target="_blank">approved by the IU Board of Trustees in February 2022</a>. The building is expected to be completed in November 2024.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><a href="https://indiana-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/griffchm_iu_edu/Eti7v1CXhHBEhPVya-jkBy0BO5Kv8BM9lT2ZKE3kuMjdQg?e=SvLZxW">MEDIA KIT: Access high-quality photos and videos from the event</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span>###</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span></p>Wed, 19 Oct 2022 00:00:00 Z{74949393-8A7E-4F1B-A364-5C87958DD2F9}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/10/cannabis-heart-transplants-studyCannabis users could be candidates for heart transplants, according to new research from IU cardiologists  <p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine have concluded the medical and scientific establishment should expand and re-contextualize its understanding of cannabis use and heart transplantation, suggesting the potential for a completely new approach to determining transplant candidacy. Their findings were recently <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.122.009488" target="_blank">published in the journal Circulation: Heart Failure</a>. </p> <p>Lead author <a href="/faculty/52146/ilonze-onyedika">Onyedika Ilonze, MD</a> said transplantation is a life-saving option for patients with end-stage heart failure, but unanswered questions surrounding the legality and acceptability of cannabis use has prevented many patients from receiving transplants. Whether people who use cannabis should be considered candidates for transplant is controversial, Ilonze said. </p> <p>“This is a dilemma in a time of increasingly favorable legislation regarding medical and recreational cannabis use,” said Ilonze, who is an assistant professor of medicine at IU School of Medicine and member of the <a href="/institutes/cardiovascular">Cardiovascular Institute</a>.“The dilemma is compounded by a rising need for heart transplants.” </p> <p>The paper, which was drawn from an analysis of more than 200 publications, reviews pre- and post-heart transplant considerations related to cannabis use. It also compares relative clinician attitudes toward cannabis and opiates. Ilonze and his team found many of the reasons clinicians choose not to pursue transplantation in patients who use cannabis are based on old data or have no scientific basis. </p> <p>“Clinician bias, lack of consensus, and a dearth of research limit standard decision-making and worsen disparities in heart transplantation,” he said. </p> <p>In the paper, Ilonze and his team identify several other critically important areas where more research is needed. </p> <p>“We need to learn more about the interactions between cannabis and immunosuppressants, and to study the association between cannabis use and transplant survival,” Ilonze said. “Clarifying this will move us forward and help us establish a standardized evaluation process.” </p> <p><a href="/faculty/61331/breathett-khadijah">Khadijah Breathett, MD</a>, is an associate professor of medicine and the director of health equity research at the Cardiovascular Institute, who was also involved in this work. She said that this paper is the starting point for Ilonze to develop a research program that scientifically and ethically addresses the rising use of cannabis in heart transplant candidates and recipients. </p> <p>“Dr. Ilonze is performing culture-shifting work as an early career investigator,” Breathett said. </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 18 Oct 2022 00:00:00 Z{3104F257-517A-436D-B1C4-248DEE0ECFEB}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/10/adolescent-suicide-grantNational Institute of Mental Health awards $5.5 million to prevent adolescent suicides in Indiana <p>INDIANAPOLIS—A new $5.5 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health aims to help with suicide prevention in adolescents in the juvenile justice system in Indiana. The grant was awarded to a project led by <a href="/faculty/2683/aalsma-matthew">Matt Aalsma, PhD</a>, professor of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine, and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.columbiapsychiatry.org/profile/katherine-elkington-phd" target="_blank">Katherine Elkington, PhD</a>, associate professor of medical psychology at Columbia University. </p> <p>”Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people in the United States,” said Aalsma. “Suicide risk is not uniform across youth, and those involved in the juvenile justice system are at even greater risk for suicidal behavior given their increased prevalence of mood and substance use disorders, trauma exposure and access to firearms.” </p> <p>While screening for suicidal behavior is more prevalent in secure settings, it is rarer with youth who are supervised in their community. </p> <p>“Suicide risk screening is one piece of a comprehensive suicide prevention approach that ensures providers are taking the time to ask teens about suicide-related thoughts,” stated Christopher Drapeau, PhD, executive director of prevention, suicide prevention and crisis response at the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.in.gov/fssa/" target="_blank">Indiana Family and Social Services Administration</a>. “When suicide risk screening is coupled with a thoughtful care pathway that includes a comprehensive suicide risk assessment and person-centered suicide risk reduction treatments, it can serve as a potent means of reducing the likelihood of a suicide attempt.” </p> <p>The grant will allow for the implementation of the E-Connect system within nine Indiana counties. Aalsma and Elkington will be the “external facilitators” and support probation officers, who will be the “local facilitators.” </p> <p>E-Connect, a digital-based program developed by Columbia University, helps to identify suicide and behavioral health risk in youth on probation. The program generates a risk classification report and recommends courses of action, which are then passed along to the probation officer, who facilitates a referral based on system guidance. Use of E-Connect in a previous study resulted in a 20 percent increase in the number of behavioral health referrals issued by probation officers. </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Thu, 13 Oct 2022 00:00:00 Z{09CEE741-0ABD-447D-A714-C52ED9346322}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/10/environmental-health-glyphosate-exposure-studyStudy: high exposure to glyphosate in pregnancy could cause lower birth weights in babies <p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine researchers are learning more about the effects of herbicide exposure during pregnancy, finding glyphosate in 99 percent of the pregnant women they observed in the Midwest. In the study, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-022-00906-3#:~:text=Glyphosate%20exposure%20in%20early%20pregnancy%20and%20reduced%20fetal,3%20Methods%20Study%20participants%20...%204%20Results%20" target="_blank">published recently in Environmental Health</a>, higher glyphosate levels were associated with lower birth weight and may also lead to higher neonatal intensive care unit admission risk.</p> <p>This is the second small-scale study the researchers have conducted with significant findings. The <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-018-0367-0" target="_blank">team’s previous study, published in 2018</a>, was the first study to confirm glyphosate in 93 percent of pregnancies which found associations with shortened pregnancies. Other recent studies have also confirmed their findings.</p> <p>“Pesticide exposure in pregnancy, especially in early pregnancy, can imprint DNA and alter gene expression,” said <a href="/faculty/15025/winchester-paul">Paul Winchester, MD</a>, professor of clinical pediatrics and the study’s lead author. “But little is known about how these chemicals can impact fetal development in humans.”</p> <p>Glyphosate is a chemical, commonly found in Roundup, used to kill weeds. It is used by farmers and homeowners across the United States, but especially in the Midwest on corn and soybeans. Previous studies have shown people can be exposed to glyphosate in all the foods they eat, even packaged or organic foods.</p> <p>Over the course of several years, researchers observed a cohort of 187 pregnant women in Indiana, collecting urine samples in the first trimester of their pregnancies. All but one of the women had glyphosate detected in their urine.</p> <p>Winchester said previous studies have shown a variety of negative effects of pesticide exposure in animal models, but not much is known about the impact on fetal development in humans.</p> <p>“As a neonatologist, I’m seeing more and more infants with problems like low birth weight as well as mothers with issues like obesity or gestational diabetes,” Winchester said. “We need to keep studying these herbicides long term to find out how they could be causing these issues and what we can do to prevent them.”</p> <p>Researchers hope to study glyphosate exposure in a larger group of pregnant women over time.</p> <p>This study was a collaborative effort with Franciscan Health in Indianapolis, University of California San Francisco, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and King’s College London School of Medicine.</p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 12 Oct 2022 00:00:00 Z{A374D5C8-3187-4A80-80BD-510F0C22EFD8}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/10/hrsa-grant-pilot-project-fundingIU School of Medicine awarded over $5 million to improve clinical training experiences and community health research<p style="margin: 0in;">INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine researchers were recently awarded an additional $5.4 million grant to improve classroom and clinical learning experiences for medical students to learn more about community health, with a special focus on underserved populations.</p> <p style="margin: 0in;">The grant is from the United States Health Resources Administration (HRSA) for the <a href="/md/curriculum/threads/prime-grant">Primary Care Reaffirmation for Indiana Medical Education program (PRIME)</a>. The PRIME program focuses on the expansion of public health clinical training, point of care ultrasound curriculum and assessing capabilities for competency areas, including the new Health Equity, Advocacy and Leadership competency. Previously, the <a href="/news/2022/03/student-laptops">program allowed the school to provide all first-year medical students with laptop computers.</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><a href="/news/2022/03/student-laptops"></a>This new funding will also allow for the release of $1.5 million in health equity pilot project funding for IU School of Medicine research projects happening across the state. These 18 faculty-led projects are in 12 different departments and divisions across 6 campuses, with 30 students and 21 residents involved as investigators.</p> <p style="margin: 0in;">“This funding will bring innovation to our medical student curriculum and enhance understanding of health equity as it impacts care for Hoosiers,” said <a href="/faculty/5011/allen-bradley">Bradley Allen, MD, PhD</a>, senior associate dean for medical student education and principal investigator of the PRIME program. “We are proud of the work our faculty have already completed and look forward to the continuation of these exciting and innovative projects.”</p> <p style="margin: 0in;">PRIME was created in 2020 thanks to an initial $7 million grant from the HRSA. <a href="/faculty/41427/wallach-paul">Paul Wallach, MD</a>, executive associate dean for educational affairs and institutional improvement, is also a principal investigator of the program.</p> <p style="margin: 0in;">Below is a list of the newly-funded pilot programs and their faculty leaders.</p> <p style="margin: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><strong>Cardiovascular Equity to Address Segregation Study</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Award Amount: $100,000</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/61331/breathett-khadijah" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Khadijah Breathett, MD, MS</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/61331/breathett-khadijah" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"></a>Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><strong>The Path4YOU POCUS & PRIME</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Awarded Amount: $100,000</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/60937/caldwell-amy" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Amy K. Caldwell, MD, MS</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Assistant Professor of Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><strong>Reducing Bias and Disparities in the Care of Patients with Obesity</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Awarded Amount: $79,889</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/5459/dilly-christen" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Christen K. Dilly, MD</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/26941/stefanidis-dimitrios" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Dimitrios Stefanidis, MD, PhD</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Professor of Surgery, Department of Surgery</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><strong>Primary Care in Sickle Cell Management (PRISM)</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Award Amount: $99,803</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/43081/drayton-jackson-meghan" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Meghan Drayton Jackson, DO</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/22373/obrien-andrew" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Andrew R.W. O’Brien, MD</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><strong>Increasing Lung Cancer Screening Rates in Diverse Communities</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Award Amount: $100,000</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/42552/duncan-francesca" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Francesca C. Duncan, MD, MS</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/61256/jackson-edwin" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Edwin J. Jackson, DO, MBA</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/60602/ajrouch-ali" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Ali Ajrouch, MD</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Postdoctoral Fellow in Medicine</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><strong>POCUS ECHO</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Award Amount: $100,000</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/44580/ferre-rob" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Rob Ferre, MD</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Associate Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><strong>Closing the Gap: Caring for Our Unhoused Neighbors</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Award Amount: $99,993</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/4780/fox-mark" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Mark D. Fox, MD, MA, MPH, PhD</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Associate Dean, IU School of Medicine—South Bend</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><strong>Assessment of the Current State of Survivor-Focused Cancer Care in the Adolescent and Young Adult Population in Rural Southwestern Indiana</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Award Amount: $99,928</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/42731/garcia-kara" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Kara Garcia, PhD, ME</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Assistant Professor of Radiology & Imaging Sciences</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/10335/sajdyk-tammy" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Tammy J. Sajdyk, MS, PhD</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><strong>Trident Approach to Surgical Health Equity in Indiana</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Award Amount: $100,000</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/47578/gonzalez-andrew" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Andrew Gonzalez, MD, JD, MPH</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Assistant Professor of Surgery</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/resident/40419/doster-dom" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Dominique Doster, MD, MHPE</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Categorical General Surgery Resident</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><strong>Widening the Bottle Neck: Exploring the Breast Screening Program as an Effective Bridge to Lung Cancer Screening (LCS) and Smoking Cessation (SC)</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Award Amount: $74,800</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/5014/hanna-nasser" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Nasser H. Hanna, MD</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/60602/ajrouch-ali" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Ali Ajrouch, MD</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Postdoctoral Fellow in Medicine</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><strong>Rural Clinician Perceptions of Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Screening and Orthopedic Applications</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Award Amount: $30,000</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/19750/ireland-ellen" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Ellen M. Ireland, PhD, MPH, MA</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Assistant Professor of Clinical Family Medicine</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/16988/wilcox-james" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">James G. Wilcox, MD</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Assistant Professor of Clinical Family Medicine</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><strong>Decreasing Skin Cancer Outcome Inequities Through Targeted Primary Care Physician Educational Interventions</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/43475/que-syril-keena" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Syril Keena Que, MD</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Award Amount: $15,025</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><strong>Developing Cross Cultural Empathy through Mindfulness (DeCCEM)</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Awarded Amount: $100,000</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/52324/lamotte-julia" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Julia LaMotte, MS, PhD</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/52187/blazin-lindsay" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Lindsay Blazin, MPH, MD</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><strong>Bridging Health Equity to Clinical Practice in Perinatal Mental Health</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Award Amount: $100,000</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/59677/miller-michelle" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Michelle L. Miller, PhD, MA</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Assistant Professor of Psychiatry</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/19850/johnson-jasmine" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Jasmine D. Johnson, MD</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Assistant Professor of Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><strong>Use of Spanish-speaking Standardized Patients in the pre-clinical training of medical students</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Award Amount: $96,778</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/26307/munguia-vazquez-ray" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Ray Munguia Vazquez, MD, MSc, PhD</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Clinical Assistant Professor Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><strong>Addressing Health Inequities in Northwest Indiana Through Longitudinal Student-Led Community Based Participatory Research Partnerships</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Award Amount: $100,000</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/60476/muvuka-baraka" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Baraka Muvuka, PhD, MPH</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Assistant Professor of Clinical Family Medicine</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/43262/ryan-elizabeth" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Elizabeth R. Ryan, EdD</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Associate Dean, IU School of Medicine Northwest-Gary</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><strong>Evidence-Based Investigation of Healthcare Inequities: Exploring the Clinical Algorithms and Treatment Practices Taught in Medical Education that Impact Equity</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Award Amount: $94,084</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/14810/richardson-jennelle" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Jennelle D. Richardson, PhD</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/43871/yeh-elizabeth" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Elizabeth S. Yeh, PhD</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Associate Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><strong>Culturally Competent Video-Interpreter Training for Residents and Medical Students</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Award Amount: $14,998</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/12741/shanks-anthony" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">Anthony L. Shanks, MD, MS</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Professor of Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span>###</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;">IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 11 Oct 2022 00:00:00 Z{09D314EE-565A-4509-8683-B243FBC71609}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/09/model-ad-grant-renewalIU Alzheimer’s study awarded nearly $50 million by NIH to continue groundbreaking research<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span>INDIANAPOLIS—The second largest federally funded research program at Indiana University School of Medicine will receive $48.8 million over the next five years, fueling the work of researchers as they seek to discover treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span>The National Institute on Aging (NIA), the largest branch for Alzheimer’s disease research within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has </span><span><a href="/expertise/alzheimers/research/preclinical/laboratory-models">renewed Model Organism Development and Evaluation for Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease (MODEL-AD)</a></span><span> for a second five-year cycle, worth about $9.8 million a year through at least 2026.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span>In 2016, the </span><span><a href="/news/2016/09/alzheimers-award-animal-models-iu-and-jackson-lab-1">NIA established MODEL-AD</a></span><span>—a consortium of experts at IU School of Medicine, Jackson Laboratory, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Sage Bionetworks— to generate and validate new animal models of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease as well as perform rigorous preclinical testing of potential therapeutics. The NIA awarded the program $25 million for its first five years and extended the grant into a sixth year in 2021 for $5 million.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span>“Over the past several years, the </span><span><a href="/expertise/alzheimers">Alzheimer’s disease research portfolio at IU School of Medicine</a></span><span> has greatly expanded in scope, from understanding the basic disease mechanisms to moving novel therapeutics into patients and everything in between, said </span><span><a href="/faculty/23627/lamb-bruce">Bruce Lamb, PhD</a></span><span>, executive director of </span><span><a href="/research-centers/neurosciences"><span>Stark Neurosciences Research Institute</span><span>.</span></a> “</span><span><a href="https://www.model-ad.org/">MODEL-AD</a></span><span> is a critical piece of that puzzle as we continue to develop the next generation of animal models.”</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span>Close to 55 million people worldwide—including more than 6 million in the United States—are estimated to have Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, according to the </span><span><a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia">World Health Organization</a></span><span>. In the U.S., that’s expected to rise to about 13 million people by 2050.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span>Since the consortium was first established, researchers have created more than 40 animal models carrying genetic risk variants that closely mimic human Alzheimer’s disease. These models have been characterized using molecular and imaging modalities used in the clinic, revealing Alzheimer’s disease relevant phenotypes not observed in prior mouse models.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span>“MODEL-AD arose out of the Precision Health Initiative and is an example of what strong leadership and a sustained focus on a prioritized area can achieve,” said </span><span><a href="/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a></span><span>, executive vice president for university clinical affairs and dean of IU School of Medicine. “We set out to be a national resource in the battle against Alzheimer’s disease and under Dr. Lamb’s leadership we are delivering on that vision.”</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span>MODEL-AD consists of multiple cores across the four institutions. The Bioinformatics and Data Management Core (BDMC) is led by </span><span>Gregory Carter, PhD</span><span> at the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine; the Preclinical Testing Core (PTC) is directed by </span><span><a href="/faculty/6529/territo-paul">Paul Territo, PhD</a></span><span> at IU School of Medicine and </span><span>Stacey Rizzo, PhD</span><span> at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; and the Disease Modeling Project (DMP) is directed by </span><span>Gareth Howell, PhD </span><span>and </span><span>Michael Sasner, PhD</span><span> at the Jackson Laboratory and Lamb and </span><span><a href="/faculty/22184/oblak-adrian">Adrian Oblak, PhD</a></span><span> at IU School of Medicine.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span>All animal models, protocols and validation data studied by MODEL-AD are shared online to the greater research community through the AD Knowledge Portal, run by Sage Bionetworks.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span>“The renewal of the MODEL-AD grant allows us to continue building robust research infrastructure to advance our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and evaluate potential novel therapeutics as a resource for the greater research community,” said Rizzo. “The renewal will allow us to build on our progress of generating and characterizing new animal models to study late-onset Alzheimer’s disease and enable the acceleration of clinical trials by improving the translational potential of promising investigational compounds.”</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span>“We are excited to enhance and expand our efforts using the latest molecular discoveries, computational strategies, and emerging technologies to transform preclinical studies of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Carter. “By combining the resources of The Jackson Laboratory with our partner institutions, we are eager to continue making foundational contributions to the NIA’s Translational Initiatives to find treatments for this yet-uncurable disease.”</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span>For the past three years, MODEL-AD has been among the top five NIH-funded research studies at IU School of Medicine; four of those programs were for Alzheimer’s disease research, in alignment with the school’s top priorities. MODEL-AD is now the second largest funded grant at the school.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/6512/hess-jay" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"></a><span>“IU School of Medicine is a national leader in Alzheimer’s disease research. MODEL-AD has already led important strides in our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, and we are delighted to receive this substantial NIH grant that will allow us to continue our work to support Alzheimer’s disease research and the development of new therapies for this devastating disorder,” said </span><span><a href="/faculty/276/foroud-tatiana">Tatiana Foroud, PhD</a></span><span>, executive associate dean for research affairs.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span>###</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span></p>Thu, 29 Sep 2022 00:00:00 Z{F1C1F927-AB4D-481E-A081-8DACE445B2B6}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/09/nurse-care-coordinator-grant$4 million grant for complex care provides vital opportunities to children and families in Indiana <p>INDIANAPOLIS—The <a href="/pediatrics/specialties/general-community">division of general and community pediatrics</a> at Indiana University School of Medicine recently received funding from the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration/Office of Medicaid for expansion of a primary care embedded nurse care coordinator project. The project will focus on improving the quality of care for people with complex health and social needs while also lessening the burdens that families experience in navigating complex health systems. </p> <p>“The key innovation that we are creating is to coach and train care coordinators so they get up to speed as quickly and efficiently as possible,” said <a href="/faculty/6489/ciccarelli-mary">Mary Ciccarelli, MD</a>, Morris Green Professor of Pediatrics and professor of clinical medicine. “Nurse care coordinators oversee a registry of patients with high care needs to provide them with healthcare and community service facilitation, cross-team communication and family education.” </p> <p>Ciccarelli, as the principal investigator of this study, works within a transdisciplinary leadership team and statewide advisory organizations. Over the next 2-3 years, the Indiana Complex Care Coordination Collaborative (ICCCC) team will support the hiring of 30 nurses to embed into primary care practices across the state. This will include pediatric practices which serve children with medical complexity covered by Medicaid and adult practices which serve adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities who are receiving Bureau of Developmental Disabilities waiver services. </p> <p>The $4 million grant is made possible through the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) funds from the American Rescue Plan. The money will fund the training model and hiring of nurses. </p> <p>As part of a 10-state collaborative funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration, this project was initially piloted in 2019 in 3 pediatric practices at <a href="https://allinforhealth.info/">All IN</a>, <a href="https://www.witham.org/location/witham-pediatrics-1">Witham</a> and <a href="https://www.rileychildrens.org/departments/primary-care">Riley Children’s Health primary care</a> across rural, semi-rural and urban communities.  This curriculum and coaching model showed improved satisfaction from families as well as the health care team. </p> <p>“We learned that families are thrilled with the opportunity to have help managing and organizing complicated care needs,” said Ciccarelli. “We’ve equally learned that the primary care teams are thrilled to have this assistance and it helps them feel like they can approach the care of these children with more confidence and ability.” </p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 27 Sep 2022 00:00:00 Z{91D08851-0A38-44A0-AB4D-707953C9778A}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/09/hearing-loss-antibiotics-studyResearchers identify potential therapeutic targets to prevent hearing loss caused by antibiotics<p>INDIANAPOLIS— Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine are developing new ways to study why an antibiotic causes hair cell death and permanent hearing loss in people. </p> <p>In a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.cell.com/developmental-cell/fulltext/S1534-5807(22)00597-4" target="_blank">study recently published in Developmental Cell</a>, the researchers explained how they identified the autophagy pathway in hair cells that’s linked to permanent hearing loss brought about by aminoglycosides—a class of antibiotics. The researchers also developed one of the first laboratory models that’s insusceptible to aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss. </p> <p>“This work identifies multiple potential therapeutic targets for preventing hearing loss caused by aminoglycosides,” said <a href="/faculty/27145/zhao-bo">Bo Zhao, PhD</a>, assistant professor of otolaryngology—head and neck surgery. </p> <p>Ototoxicity—hearing loss caused by medication—is one of the main causes of hearing loss in humans. More than 48 million people in the United States experience trouble hearing. </p> <p>Aminoglycosides for nearly a century have been used to treat severe infections. Although the drug is a first-line treatment for life-threatening infections—particularly in developing countries—due to their low cost and low incidence of antibiotic resistance, it has been reported to cause hair cell death and subsequent permanent hearing loss among 20-47% of patients, but the underlying mechanisms are not clear. Hair cells are responsible for sound reception in the inner ear. </p> <p>Zhao, whose lab investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying hearing loss, used biochemical screening to identify proteins found in hair cells. They first discovered that aminoglycosides bound to the protein RIPOR2, which is required for auditory perception. </p> <p>“As aminoglycosides specifically trigger a rapid localization change of RIPOR2 in hair cells, we hypothesize that RIPOR2 is essential for aminoglycoside-induced hair cell death,” Zhao said. </p> <p>The researchers developed a model in the lab that has normal hearing but significantly decreased RIPOR2 expression. Through these experiments, Zhao said the model had neither significant hair cell death nor hearing loss after treatment of aminoglycosides. </p> <p>"We then discovered RIPOR2 regulates the autophagy pathway in hair cells. Knowing this, we developed other laboratory models without the expression of several key autophagy proteins that did not exhibit hair cell death or hearing loss when treated with the antibiotic,” said <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/43080/li-jinan">Jinan Li, PhD</a>, postdoctoral fellow in the Zhao lab and first author of the paper. </p> <p>The study authors say the proteins identified in this study could potentially be used as drug targets to prevent aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss in future studies. </p> <p>In addition to Zhao and Li, authors of the article include <a href="/faculty/39043/liu-chang">Chang Liu, PhD</a>, postdoctoral fellow in the Zhao lab, and <a href="https://neuroscience.jhu.edu/research/faculty/129">Ulrich Mueller, PhD</a>, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Neuroscience and Biology at Johns Hopkins University. Funding for the research was provided by the National Institutes of Health and IU School of Medicine. </p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Mon, 26 Sep 2022 00:00:00 Z{DCE4A02B-4667-4F69-9334-6706EAD9849B}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/09/researchers-take-aim-at-vision-loss-with-nano-technologyResearchers take aim at vision loss with nano technology<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers from <a href="/">Indiana University School of Medicine</a> and the <a href="https://et.iupui.edu/">Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI</a> are developing a solution for those experiencing vision impairment, thanks to a new $450,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health. </p> <p>More than 250 million people worldwide have vision impairment through blindness or other conditions like macular degeneration. There is no cure for macular degeneration, and treatment options are limited. With this new, two-year grant, researchers plan to create an artificial device that can restore vision in these patients using innovative new technology. </p> <p>"The retina is the sensor of light, and loss of photoreceptor cells is the major cause of blindness in children and adults," said <a href="/faculty/38727/hajrasouliha-amir">Amir Hajrasouliha, MD</a>, an assistant professor of ophthalmology. "Our eye works like an old camera. Photoreceptors sense different signals of light, whether in contrast or different colors, then they generate a signal and pass it through the optic nerve to pass to the brain. Different diseases can cause photoreceptor loss, leading to blindness." </p> <p>The novel neurosensory device will use light-to-electric conversion nanoparticles to interface directly with retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) to restore vision in patients with loss of photoreceptors. This innovative technique has been tested in a laboratory setting over the last several years. </p> <p>"The study is in its early stages, but the preliminary work has been promising and shows us that we can use this phenomenon to sense the light," Hajrasouliha said. "The goal is to improve the signal generated by this artificial retina for best resolution." </p> <p>"The principal operation of this device is based on fundamental engineering advancement to create an all-optical light switch that enables generation of light pulses through a self-resetting technique at a frequency that matches the operation of the photoreceptors," said <a href="https://et.iupui.edu/people/aizadian">Afshin Izadian, PhD</a>, associate professor of electrical engineering and technology. "We are trying to harness the physical property of nanoparticles and adapt it to mimic the operation of retinal photoreceptors. This will enable the formation of pictures in the brain at high resolution, improving the eyesight of impaired eyes." </p> <p>While many patients with vision impairment are experiencing macular degeneration, researchers hope this work can help those with various conditions, even if their vision impairment is caused by genetic issues. </p> <p>"We are not just aiming for one gene mutation or one disease of a gene," Hajrasouliha said. "It's something that can apply to many categories of gene mutations and retinal degenerations." </p> <p>While the project is still in the initial phase of the study, researchers look forward to further development and testing of the device to determine when and how it can be used in patients in a clinical setting. </p> <p>"Our future discoveries in this field will help us evaluate clinical relevance and will open new horizons in treating low vision," Izadian said. "This project is an example of our long-time collaboration at the school of engineering and medicine. Collaboration of researchers with diverse backgrounds has proven to be effective, and we hope that this collaboration continues in the future.” </p> <p>###</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research, and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <p><strong>About the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology</strong></p> <p>The <a href="https://et.iupui.edu/">Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI</a> is regarded as one of America's premier urban schools of engineering and technology. It offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs that prepare students for careers in a global economy, and is recognized regionally, nationally, and internationally for its excellence in teaching and learning, research and creative activities, and community engagement.</p>Wed, 14 Sep 2022 00:00:00 Z{8BA44969-3EAE-4EA9-8B22-330BC376FD61}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/09/binge-alcohol-drinking-researchAddiction researchers discover important brain pathway that controls binge alcohol drinking behavior<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Alcohol use disorder affects more than 2 billion people worldwide, and fewer than 10 percent of people who seek treatment receive an FDA-approved therapy. The need to develop new, effective and widely accessible therapies is of the utmost importance. </p> <p>Addiction researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine are trying to bridge that gap through their studies into binge drinking. An <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://elifesciences.org/articles/77411" target="_blank">article recently published in eLife</a> shows how the researchers, led by <a href="/faculty/18765/atwood-brady">Brady Atwood, PhD</a>, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology, have identified a new pathway in the brain that controls binge alcohol drinking behavior. </p> <p>Using lab models, Atwood and his team, which also includes first-author David Haggerty, a PhD student in the <a href="/research-centers/neurosciences/education/medical-neuroscience-graduate-program">Medical Neuroscience Graduate Program</a> at <a href="/research-centers/neurosciences">Stark Neurosciences Research Institute</a>, explored a brain pathway that connects the anterior insular cortex—which produces awareness of bodily states—to the dorsolateral striatum—which controls habitual behaviors. </p> <p>“This study is quite impactful because we are the first to demonstrate that this pathway controls behavior of any kind,” Atwood said. “We showed that over time, continued binge alcohol drinking produces changes in this brain pathway that gives it the ability to control drinking, a function it did not have prior to that binge drinking.” </p> <p>Activating this pathway in experienced drinkers reduces their alcohol consumption, which Atwood said implies therapeutic interventions that target this pathway may be a way to combat problematic alcohol drinking that can lead to addiction and potentially death. </p> <p>“Our work suggests that dysfunction of neurons from the anterior insular cortex to the dorsolateral striatum may be indicative of pathological alcohol intake that correlates with higher risk for binge drinking,” Atwood said. “This information could be leveraged as a biomarker in a clinical setting to help physicians define patient populations and match them with more effective therapies.” </p> <p>The researchers did also find that there appear to be differences in how alcohol affects this brain pathway in males and females, a discovery that will require much additional exploration. </p> <p>Atwood and his team of researchers also study how opioid use affects the brain, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://news.iu.edu/stories/2019/11/iupui/inside/14-school-of-medicine-faculty-researching-effects-in-utero-opioid-exposure.html?utm_source=2019-11-14&utm_term=inside_iupui&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Addictions%20crisis&utm_campaign=sf&_gl=1*1hhjx2n*_ga*Mjc0MDA3NTAzLjE1ODk1NDk0MDY.*_ga_61CH0D2DQW*MTY2MTg5MDg4OS4xMzMuMS4xNjYxODk1NDI1LjQ4LjAuMA.." target="_blank">specifically in utero drug exposure</a>, and that work has suggested that opioids may have similar effects on the anterior insular cortex-dorsolateral striatum pathway as alcohol. </p> <p>### </p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 13 Sep 2022 00:00:00 Z{E718FFFB-03B7-4B0F-A796-AE7CD79227F8}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/09/cote-tissue-bank-directorIU cancer center names new director for the world’s only healthy breast tissue bank <h3>Michele Coté, PhD, will serve as director of the Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank at IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center </h3> <p>INDIANAPOLIS— The <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> has named Michele Coté, PhD, director of the Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank, the world’s only healthy breast tissue bank. Coté assumes the role Sept. 1. </p> <p>Researchers at <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://komentissuebank.iu.edu/" target="_blank">the Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank at IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> collect and share healthy breast tissue samples with researchers worldwide to help further the understanding of how breast cells turn cancerous. Coté is the second director of the tissue bank and will expand the bank’s research with an epidemiological focus, studying the impact of long-term lifestyle and environmental influences on breast biology. She succeeds Anna Maria Storniolo, MD, a pioneering clinical scientist who co-founded the tissue bank in 2007. </p> <p>“Dr. Coté is the perfect choice to lead the Komen Tissue Bank to reach its potential. She provides longitudinal perspectives on how and why breast cells become cancerous. We created the bank to be poised for this moment, and I am thrilled that we have arrived,” Storniolo said. “Her passion for the tissue bank’s mission will guide its continued growth and impact on breast cancer research worldwide.” </p> <p>Storniolo plans to continue her involvement with the tissue bank as a volunteer. She will retire at the end of this year. </p> <p>In addition to her role with the Komen Tissue Bank, Coté is the inaugural Dr. Carrie Ann Glasscock West Chair in Breast Carcinogenesis at IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and a professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the <a href="https://fsph.iupui.edu/">IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health</a> at IUPUI. Coté is the first person to hold the Dr. Carrie Ann Glasscock West Chair in Breast Carcinogenesis, which was established by a $2 million gift from The Glasscock Family Foundation Inc. West was a medical student when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Dr. Storniolo served as both her mentor and oncologist as she graduated and pursued a career in holistic medicine as an internist. West succumbed to breast cancer in 2016. </p> <p>An internationally recognized molecular cancer epidemiologist and health disparities researcher, Coté has more than 20 years of experience in scientific research and educational program management. She joins IU from Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, where she was a professor in the Department of Oncology. She also served as an associate center director for cancer research training and education at the Karmanos Cancer Institute. </p> <p>“I look forward to gaining a deeper understanding of the ongoing scientific projects at the Komen Tissue Bank, while also developing ways to keep the tissue bank at the forefront of research for the next decade and beyond,” Coté said. “I expect we will continue to grow in the number of participants, enhance follow-up and engagement of participants over time—all with the constant goal of remaining flexible and responsive to needs from the research community.” </p> <p>Coté first learned about the Komen Tissue Bank from a colleague in Michigan. Together, they organized a tissue donation event in Detroit, where 189 women donated. Coté’s connection with the Komen Tissue Bank includes use of the tissue in some of her research and even participating as a tissue donor. </p> <p>In her research, Coté explores how benign breast disease impacts risk of subsequent cancer. She also conducts research to understand why incidences of endometrial cancer are increasing, particularly high-grade cancers with poorer survival. </p> <p>Coté earned her doctorate in epidemiologic sciences from the University of Michigan, and her master of public health in epidemiology from the University of Alabama. </p> <p>### </p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Thu, 01 Sep 2022 00:00:00 Z{A677126E-B3F8-4871-9330-8B7D69697BF3}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/08/rosmarin-dermatology-chairIU School of Medicine names new chair to lead Department of Dermatology<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine has named a Boston-based physician leader the new chair of the <a href="/dermatology">Department of Dermatology</a>. </p> <p>David Rosmarin, MD, will assume the role of department chair effective January 1, 2023, and will have oversight and responsibility for the program’s clinical, education and research programs. </p> <p>A highly respected physician-scientist in the field of dermatology, Rosmarin is currently vice chair for research and education at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, where he serves as an associate professor at the Tufts University School of Medicine. </p> <p>In addition to his role as vice chair, Rosmarin also currently serves as director of the clinical trials unit in the Department of Dermatology at Tufts—a role in which he has expanded the unit’s focus from psoriasis to also include multiple inflammatory disorders of the skin including atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, vitiligo, alopecia areata, bullous pemphigoid, and discoid lupus erythematosus. </p> <p>“Dr. Rosmarin’s broad experience in dermatology, clinical research and graduate medical education, make him the ideal candidate for this role,” said <a href="/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>, dean of IU School of Medicine and IU’s executive vice president for clinical affairs. “We look forward to his leadership to continue building on the department’s patient-centered care and impactful research and education.” </p> <p>Rosmarin will also hold the Kampen-Norins Scholar appointment. His area of research interest is in inflammatory disorders of the skin and includes leadership of the largest randomized controlled studies ever conducted in vitiligo—a condition in which the skin loses its pigment cells. Along with clinical research, Rosmarin has also held leadership roles in graduate medical education, serving as residency program director from 2016-2020. </p> <p>He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Harvard University and received his medical degree from New York University School of Medicine in 2005. He completed a preliminary medicine internship at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital and his dermatology residency at Boston and Tufts Medical Centers. He also completed the Tufts Physician Leadership Program at Boston University Questrom School of Business and the Advanced Leadership Forum with the American Academy of Dermatology. He joined the faculty at Tufts University School of Medicine in 2013 as an assistant professor, and was later promoted to associate professor in 2021. </p> <p>“I am honored by the opportunity to lead the Department of Dermatology and am excited to take on this new challenge. Fostering an environment of inclusion, empowerment, mentorship, innovation, pride, altruism, and compassion is critical to the success of any department, and will lead to continued growth and a thriving, resilient community—these are tenets I am committed to nurturing in this role,” said Rosmarin, who also plans to work to increase diversity in the department. </p> <p>“There are initiatives that need to be undertaken to improve diversity. Early mentorship and culture are key to this success.” </p> <p>Rosmarin succeeds <a href="/faculty/20638/androphy-elliot">Elliot J. Androphy, MD</a>, who announced his intent to step back from his role as chair last year. He will remain with the department to continue his lab research in the development of therapies for human papilloma virus (HPV) and HPV-associated cancers. </p> <p>### </p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 23 Aug 2022 00:00:00 Z{A06ABFFD-4C1A-4689-8B01-13BB15302B47}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/08/chuckstrong-gala-2022Chuckstrong Tailgate Gala raises more than $2 million, marking a decade of dedication to IU cancer research<h3>More than $12 million raised since 2012</h3> <p>INDIANAPOLIS—During a celebratory night marking a decade of the Chuckstrong initiative, more than $2 million was raised for research at the <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a>. </p> <p>Hosted by the <a href="https://www.colts.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a>, Jim Irsay and former head coach Chuck Pagano on Aug. 4 at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, the 2022 Chuckstrong Tailgate Gala celebrated 10 years of Pagano's survivorship and more than $12 million raised for cancer research. </p> <p>As the evening was about to wrap up, Pete Ward, chief operating officer of the Indianapolis Colts and chair of the cancer center’s development board, took the stage with one last surprise. After <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/blogs/cancer-research/chuckstrong-backyard-huddle">last year’s free throw challenge for Pagano</a>, Irsay, who was not in attendance, asked Ward to put Pagano on the spot again. For a $1 million gift to cancer research from Irsay, Ward asked Pagano a series of Colts trivia questions. With three chances and 10 seconds to answer, Pagano got the last question right as guests counted down. That $1 million was in addition to $500,000 Irsay had kicked in to start the Chuckstrong challenge earlier in the evening. </p> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/c/chuckstrong2huddlejpg.jpg?h=268&w=400&rev=73ab155060fd43f0835b8f5ec9a90d50&hash=1395E9E1713E1F3364C983FC63B26988" style="height: 268px; width: 400px; float: left; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;" alt="Chuckstrong huddle" /> <p>The Chuckstrong initiative has enabled the cancer center to accelerate center research by recruiting top-level researchers from around the country and purchasing sophisticated laboratory instruments used by researchers to make advances against the disease. <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/news-publications/chuckstrong/2022-chuckstrong-impact.php">(Read more about the impact.)</a> </p> <p>The 2022 Chuckstrong Tailgate Gala brought together cancer research supporters, Colts fans, cancer survivors, researchers and philanthropists. Among the attendees were former Colts players Adam Viniateri, Robert Mathis and Jack Doyle. Current Colts players Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr. and Nyheim Hines surprised VIP guests with an appearance at the pre-event locker room reception. </p> <p>The event also brought back Bruce Arians who joined Pagano on stage for a conversation between the two NFL coaching greats and cancer survivors. Arians’s first stint as an NFL head coach came when he stepped into the role for the Indianapolis Colts while Pagano was treated for leukemia in 2012. The two friends recalled the many ways their careers have intertwined and the challenges and triumphs of that 2012 Colts season. </p> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/c/chuckstrong-3-lee.jpg?h=268&w=400&rev=86a0c8a4e0914765858da12296d7275f&hash=09388B71A8785AFD1C53C6D5547A32AB" alt="Kelvin Lee at Chuckstrong" style="height: 268px; width: 400px; float: left; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;" /> <p>“We are proud that our partnership with the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center makes such an incredible impact funding cancer research right here in Indiana,” Ward said. “Many of us in the Colts organization have benefitted from the incredible work that IU cancer researchers have done, so we see firsthand how important the work is.”</p> <p>The guests learned about the impact of IU cancer research and the hope it provides to people like John Corbin. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1FKMn6p584">In a touching video</a>, the Indianapolis resident shared his cancer journey that began in 2016. Corbin was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer, which in his case is radiation resistant. </p> <p>Corbin, who was in attendance, received a standing ovation. Pagano addressed him directly from the stage: “The way you handle this, the way you’re fighting with dignity and grace and class, it’s an inspiration to us all, John.” </p> <p>“Philanthropy accelerates research, and that philanthropy directly impacts patients because it leads to research studies that look at those hard-to-treat cancers that resist all kinds of therapies,” <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/about/leadership/executive/lee.php">Kelvin Lee, MD</a>, director of the cancer center, said. “Research is really focused on solving those problems and philanthropy accelerates that. It directly impacts the patients because it's going straight to the research.”</p> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/c/chuckstrong_4-katzenellenbogen.jpg?h=300&w=400&rev=ea62f00e4c4943aebbdcf8e4ef5a3e09&hash=D81B4147FDE9CE1F4374A6423BF16942" style="height: 300px; width: 400px; float: left; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;" alt="Pagano and Katzenellenbogen" /> <p>Top-level “touchdown” sponsors for the Chuckstrong Tailgate Gala were the Indianapolis Colts; Nichols Colver – BJ and Lori Nichols and Bob and Lisa Colver; Republic Airways; Sol and Kay Rasso; Huntington Bank; and Lori Efroymson Aguilera and Sergio Aguilera – In memory of Dan and Rachel Efroymson.</p> <h3>Pagano’s story</h3> <p>When Chuck Pagano shared his diagnosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia in September 2012, the Chuckstrong movement quickly began and provided an opportunity for Indianapolis to visibly support Pagano as his team rallied and marched toward the playoffs. Pagano underwent treatments at IU under the guidance of <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research-trials/member-bio.shtml?id=1169&name=larry-cripe">Larry Cripe, MD</a>, a hematologist and cancer center researcher. Pagano returned to his head coaching duties on Dec. 24, 2012 – a day that inspired and captivated all who have been touched by cancer. Today, Pagano remains cancer free.</p> <p> </p> <iframe width="600" height="355" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P1FKMn6p584" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Fri, 05 Aug 2022 00:00:00 Z{20E9F936-9610-4162-83FB-D273ED5F5B3F}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/07/alzheimers-drug-efficacy-studyAlzheimer’s researchers study drug efficacy in early stages of disease<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Most drugs developed to treat Alzheimer’s disease have for years been ineffective in clinical trials. Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine recently evaluated the efficacy of a failed clinical trial drug using their rigorous pipeline. </p> <p>Researchers from <a href="/expertise/alzheimers/research/preclinical/laboratory-models">Model Organism Development and Evaluation for Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease (MODEL-AD)</a>, a consortium of experts at IU School of Medicine, The Jackson Laboratory, Sage Bionetworks, The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of California, Irvine, <a href="https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/trc2.12317">recently published their study in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Intervention</a>, a journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. </p> <p><a href="/faculty/22184/oblak-adrian">Adrian Oblak, PhD</a>, assistant professor of radiology and imaging sciences at IU School of Medicine and first author on the publication, said the study investigated the efficacy of the drug verubecestat—a beta-secretase (BACE) inhibitor— administered in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, using the MODEL-AD Preclinical Testing Core Drug Screening Pipeline. </p> <p>“Although BACE inhibitors lowered amyloid beta plaque in patients with late-stage Alzheimer’s disease during clinical trials, many of those studies stopped due to adverse events or lack of clinical efficacy,” Oblak said. “The drug was also under-investigated in its effectiveness prior to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, making it an ideal compound for MODEL-AD to study.” </p> <p>The researchers conducted in vivo PET/MRI imaging to measure amyloid deposition and glucose uptake in the brain of the animal models, measured plasma and brain amyloid beta and assessed the clinical and behavioral characteristics. </p> <p><a href="https://profiles.dom.pitt.edu/geri/faculty_info.aspx/Sukoff%20Rizzo7105">Stacey Rizzo, PhD</a>, associate professor of neurobiology and geriatric medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Aging Institute and senior author on the paper, said this study validates the importance of the consortium in advancing Alzheimer’s disease research. </p> <p>“The MODEL-AD consortium brings together experts from the fields of Alzheimer’s disease biology, mouse models, genetics, behavioral research, neuropharmacology and medical imaging to develop the research infrastructure that will benefit the entire Alzheimer’s research community,” Rizzo said. “There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease and so there is an absolute need to find a treatment and develop prevention strategies."</p> <p>The National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health, funded the MODEL-AD consortium to establish robust infrastructure for the greater research community to improve preclinical to clinical translational studies and accelerate the pace of bringing effective and safe treatments to patients at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, Rizzo said. </p> <p>“Under our rigorous unbiased screening strategy, we were able to prevent significant amyloid beta deposition, which was expected; however, the same dose range that was efficacious in preventing amyloid beta plaque formation resulted in similar side effects reported in the clinic and in the absence of cognitive improvement,” Oblak said about the study. “Therefore, we would not have prioritized this compound for advancement into clinical trials had we vetted the compound using this rigorous unbiased approach.” </p> <p>The results from this investigation, Oblak said, like all animal models, protocols and validation data studied by MODEL-AD, are rapidly made available to all researchers for preclinical drug development, thanks to support of the NIA. Researchers can visit stopadportal.synapse.org to submit compounds for consideration through this pipeline. </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Mon, 25 Jul 2022 00:00:00 Z{5960C004-36E8-478E-83E8-C4F349A1595E}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/07/hdcts-reportIU School of Medicine faculty member coauthors report describing challenges faced by people with rare genetic disorders<p>INDIANAPOLIS—A new report coauthored by an Indiana University School of Medicine faculty member is highlighting difficulties faced by people with hereditary disorders of connective tissue (HDCTs). The <a href="https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/26431/selected-heritable-disorders-of-connective-tissue-and-disability">report was created by a committee for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine</a> and was commissioned by the United States Social Security Administration. </p> <p>“I hope this report will help our patients with disability secondary to HDCTs to navigate the Social Security Administration system and that it will serve as a useful educational tool for providers and patients,” said <a href="/faculty/44791/francomano-clair">Clair Francomano, MD</a>, a professor with the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics. </p> <p>HDCTs include a variety of rare genetic disorders that predominantly affect connective tissue, which includes the tendons and ligaments that hold joints together. Connective tissue impacts all different organ systems in the body. Some of the most common HDCTs are Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, which are two conditions described in the report. While there are thirteen different types of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, it’s estimated that about 1 in 5,000 people live with the condition. </p> <p>Francomano’s research focuses on Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and she has held a number of leadership positions related to these disorders, including Chair of the Medical and Science Board for the Ehlers-Danlos Society and Chair of the Committee on Classical Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome for the International Consortium on the Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes and Related Conditions. Because of her expertise, she was asked to join a committee of medical experts to create the new report. </p> <p>“There are many patients who apply to social security for disability, but there wasn’t really a cohesive body of literature that supported the presence of disabilities among people with HDCTs,” Francomano said. “This is something the National Academies have done previously for other disorders, so they really helped guide the committee to put together the information in a way that would be most useful to the Social Security Administration." </p> <p>Francomano said the 368-page report includes six chapters and describes the history of HDCTs, different types of HDCTs and how clinicians diagnose and treat the disorders. The report also discusses impairments and effects on day-to-day functioning that people with these disorders may experience as well as touching on emerging treatments and therapies. </p> <p>“A lot of people live with chronic pain and have chronic fatigue, which can really impact their ability to function,” Francomano said. “Secondary impairments like these may be the primary cause of disability. For example, a person might be able to live with joint hypermobility without much trouble, but if that joint hypermobility ends up causing chronic pain, or eventually impairs mobility, then that person may become disabled.” </p> <p>Even though the report was created for the Social Security Administration, Francomano believes health care professionals and families of people with HDCTs will also find it useful, especially because of how difficult it can sometimes be to properly diagnose someone with an HDCT. </p> <p>“We call these conditions invisible disabilities, because they don’t show as obviously as many other genetic conditions,” Francomano said. “People struggle with so many different physical difficulties that often physicians don’t recognize that there may be a unifying underlying diagnosis. Their family may also doubt what they are saying, which can lead to tremendous conflict in families. It’s a long journey to diagnosis for many of these patients. I am really optimistic that the report will be a useful resource for many different people.” </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Thu, 21 Jul 2022 00:00:00 Z{24AF839F-7DB4-4902-8B00-840372EA6607}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/07/severe-alcoholic-hepatitis-researchResearchers make new discoveries about severe alcoholic hepatitis<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health are learning more about what happens to the body when someone develops severe alcoholic hepatitis and how it could be treated in the future. </p> <p>“Alcohol-associated hepatitis is the most severe form of liver injury happening in patients who drink excessively,” said <a href="/faculty/4795/liangpunsakul-suthat">Suthat Liangpunsakul, MD, MPH</a>, a co-corresponding author of the study and professor of medicine at IU School of Medicine. “In severe cases, the short-term mortality is extremely high. One in three people will die when they develop it. But so far, not much is known about the mechanism of how all of this happens.” </p> <p>In the translational study <a href="https://www.jci.org/articles/view/157780">recently published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation</a>, scientists focused on describing the patterns of neutrophils, which are a type of white blood cell, and their involvement in severe alcoholic hepatitis pathogenesis. When someone develops severe alcoholic hepatitis, their neutrophil levels increase, but it is unclear how those neutrophils can trigger inflammation or what is happening in the liver. Researchers looked at a cohort of almost 40 patients and observed two groups of inflammatory cell infiltration—one with high neutrophils, the other with low neutrophils. They completed gene sequencing to identify target genes and how they interact with the neutrophils and studied what happened to the liver when manipulating the genes in animal models. </p> <p>“We are able to characterize the two distinct phenotypes based on these cells, suggesting there is a separate mechanism driving liver injury and/or failure in these patients,” Liangpunsakul said. </p> <p>Currently, patients with alcoholic hepatitis are treated with steroids, but not all patients respond well to steroid. Liangpunsakul said identifying whether a patient has high or low neutrophils could help determine how well a patient will respond to steroid treatment. </p> <p>“When you have low neutrophils but high T cells, steroids may work better because steroids effectively blocked the T cell-mediated inflammatory cascade. But another group of patients with high neutrophils may have a different inflammatory driven process to begin with, so if they receive steroids, we may not get a response because neutrophils poorly respond to steroid treatment,” said <a href="https://irp.nih.gov/pi/bin-gao">Bin Gao, MD, PhD</a>, another co-corresponding author and the Chief of Laboratory of Liver Diseases at the <a href="https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/">National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism</a>. “More study is needed to identify how high versus low neutrophils can impact responses to treatment.” </p> <p>The study was funded in part by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The lead author is <a href="/faculty/48061/ma-jing">Jing Ma, PhD</a>, a post-doctoral fellow currently at IU School of Medicine, and was a PhD student at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 20 Jul 2022 00:00:00 Z{D7C1A460-BC77-4C0F-9197-E1B661E17101}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/07/cervical-spinal-cord-injury-studyResearchers discover neural plastic changes that improve functional recovery after cervical spinal cord injury <p>INDIANAPOLIS—Spinal cord and brain injury researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine are studying new alternatives to promote functional recovery after a spinal cord injury. </p> <p>In a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://insight.jci.org/articles/view/158150" target="_blank">paper recently published in JCI Insigh</a>t, the team of researchers used models in the lab to investigate a unilateral spinal cord injury similar to Brown-Sequard Syndrome, a rare neurological condition where damage to the spinal cord in a person results in weakness or paralysis on one side of the body and a loss of sensation on the opposite side. </p> <p><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/22782/wu-wei" target="_blank">Wei Wu, PhD</a>, assistant research professor of neurological surgery at IU School of Medicine, said the spinal cord injury model damaged the connection between the left hemisphere of the brain and the right side of the body, leading to a significant functional deficit to the right forelimb. </p> <p>“The skilled function of upper limbs is very important for the quality of life in the patients with cervical spinal cord injury, but such functional recovery is very difficult to achieve in the severe injury,” said Wu, first author of the paper and a member of the <a href="/research-centers/neurosciences/research/spinal-cord-brain-injury">Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group at Stark Neurosciences Research Institute</a>. “We found that the intact corticospinal system in the opposite side of the brain and spinal cord can be modulated to at least partially take over the control of the forelimb that is damaged by the spinal cord injury, resulting in a forelimb functional improvement.” </p> <p>Each hemisphere in the brain controls the opposite side of the body, Wu added. Knowing this, the researchers discovered a spontaneous shift of the neural circuits after injury from the left hemisphere to the right. Although there are connections between the right hemisphere of the brain and the right side of the body through some relayed pathways after injury, Wu said that’s not sufficient to support the motor recovery. </p> <p>The team used an optogenetic neuromodulation strategy—stimulation using light—on the right hemisphere of the brain to modulate the motor cortex. This shifted additional neural circuits from the left side to the right side of the brain to dramatically increase and improve forelimb function. </p> <p>“New circuits in the whisker, jaw forelimb and neck areas in the right hemisphere of the brain are recruited to control the right forelimb,” Wu said. “Interestingly, the beneficial neural plastic changes emerge both in the brain and the distal spinal cord after the optogenetic neuromodulation was applied on the motor cortex.” </p> <p>Wu said results of the study showed significant improvement to the forelimb; however, there are still many challenges ahead, since the complete digital recovery is not succeeded. </p> <p>The research team will continue to understand and mediate this transhemispheric neural reorganization to further improve the functional recovery after the spinal cord injury, Wu said. He hopes the discoveries from this study will be translated to a clinical therapeutic strategy for patients with spinal cord injuries. </p> <p>### </p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 19 Jul 2022 00:00:00 Z{87C8CEDB-BBDC-44B6-8E63-D8AE1723626C}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/07/tissue-nanotransfection-gene-editingTissue nanotransfection technology proves useful in non-viral topical gene editing to close complex cutaneous wounds<p>INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Center for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering (ICRME) at Indiana University School of Medicine is home to <a href="https://news.iu.edu/stories/2021/11/iu/releases/29-silicone-nanochip-can-reprogram-living-biological-tissue.html" target="blank">tissue nanotransfection (TNT) regenerative medicine technology</a> that achieves functional tissue reprogramming in the live body. Last year, ICRME researchers published on <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41596-021-00631-0" target="blank">how to manufacture the TNT 2.0 silicon chip hardware in <em>Nature Protocol</em></a>. Now, their research demonstrates for the first time that TNT can serve as a non-viral, topical, gene-editing delivery device. </p> <p>TNT is a minimally invasive device that can reprogram tissue function in the live body by applying pulses of harmless, electric sparks to deliver specific genes of interest to the skin. </p> <p>“TNT-based delivery can achieve cell-specific gene editing,” said corresponding author Chandan K. Sen, PhD, the J. Stanley Battersby Chair and distinguished professor of surgery, director of the ICRME at IU School of Medicine and executive director of the <a href="https://iuhealth.org/find-locations/iu-health-wound-care-center-iu-health-methodist-hospital" target="blank">Indiana University Health Comprehensive Wound Care Center</a>. “Your skin has thousands of genes and in chronic wounds many key genes are silenced by DNA methylation. TNT-based gene editing technology can remove that barrier.” </p> <p>In this study, genome-wide methylation was observed in the chronic wound tissue of patients. This was reproduced in an experimental murine model. TNT-based, cell-specific gene editing rescued wound healing. Results were <a href="https://www.jci.org/articles/view/157279" target="blank">published recently in the Journal of Clinical Investigation</a>. </p> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/k/kanhaiya-singh-updated-2022-07.jpg?h=280&w=200&rev=1e0b71d6db4040a3990f7344f968ebdc&hash=67C1934C0C351E337A5E9942151EE355" style="height: 280px; width: 200px;" alt="Kanhaiya Singh, PhD" title="Kanhaiya Singh, PhD" longdesc="/Kanhaiya%20Singh,%20PhD" class="float-right" /> <p>Previous TNT application studies reported on the rescue of injured legs, diabetic neuropathy, crushed nerve and the stroke-affected brain. This is the first time promoter methylation of genes is recognized as a critical barrier to wound healing. In this study, ICRME investigators found that P53 methylation and gene silencing as a critical barrier to cutaneous wound epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a mechanism that is necessary to close skin wounds. TNT based non-viral keratinocyte-specific demethylation of P53 gene rescued EMT and achieved wound closure. </p> <p>Chronic wounds can result in serious and sometimes life-threatening complications from an abundance of dying and necrotic tissue, such as cellulitis, lower-extremity amputation and sepsis. Treating chronic wounds is estimated to cost the United States health care system $28 billion annually, which amplifies the need to test novel treatments to prevent amputation, save lives and lower health care costs. </p> <p>“Inspired by observations in chronic wound patients, this work has achieved an important milestone highlighting the need to de-silence genes at the wound-site,” said first author Kanhaiya Singh, PhD, assistant professor of surgery and an investigator at the ICRME. </p> <p>This study was supported by the <a href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/">National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases</a>, the <a href="https://www.defense.gov/">U.S. Department of Defense</a> and the <a href="https://lillyendowment.org/our-work/education/higher-education/">Lilly Endowment INCITE program</a>. </p> <p><img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/news/2019/sen_icrme/tnt-graphical-abstract.png?h=777&w=800&rev=d007fe980d1b43559cddf2983edfa84f&hash=D289A8D27C5A3E3BECAD3622E8FF2BC5" alt="TNT Graphical Abstract" style="height: 777px; width: 800px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: middle;" /></p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Mon, 18 Jul 2022 00:00:00 Z{9E61A216-C7F6-415A-B6AC-16790FD3A4F0}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/06/immune-response-studyResearchers identify important factors for regulating the body’s immune response<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers at <a href="/">Indiana University School of Medicine</a> are learning more about how special regulatory T cells can impact the immune system’s response and how those cells could be manipulated for potential treatments for food allergies and autoimmune diseases. </p> <p>In <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciimmunol.abo5407" target="_blank">a study recently published in Science Immunology</a>, researchers focused on regulatory T cells, or Treg cells, that regulate immune responses in the body and keep the immune system in order while fighting pathogens. In some cases, the immune system becomes overly responsive, leading to autoimmune diseases, such as Type 1 diabetes or lupus, food allergies or other issues. Researchers were able to identify the differences in isoforms that control Treg cells and how that affects the body’s immune function. </p> <p>“There is a particular gene that controls this regulatory group of T cells, which controls immune response,” said <a href="/faculty/18402/zhou-baohua">Baohua Zhou, PhD</a>, lead author of the study and associate professor of pediatrics for <a href="/pediatrics">IU School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics</a>. “Treg cells can help maintain the right balance to help the immune system not respond too strongly or too weakly.” </p> <p>The human gene FOXP3 produces two major isoforms through alternative splicing—a longer isoform and a shorter isoform. The two isoforms are naturally expressed in humans, but their differences in controlling regulatory T cell phenotype and functionality has been unclear. In this study, researchers showed patients expressing only the shorter isoform fail to maintain self-tolerance and develop issues like immunodeficiency, polyendocrinopathy and enteropathy X-linked (IPEX) syndrome. They uncovered different functions of the FOXP3 isoforms to regulate Treg cells and immune homeostasis. </p> <p>“Now that we know the different functions of the isoforms, we hope to study how to change them, which could lead to new treatments for autoimmune diseases and allergies,” Zhou said. “We could also potentially manipulate them to keep the body from responding improperly to diseases like cancer. If T reg cells are suppressing the antitumor response, can we change that?”</p> <p>Read the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/sciimmunol.abo5407" target="_blank">full publication in Science Immunology</a>.</p> <p>### </p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 29 Jun 2022 00:00:00 Z{818AFCBD-1D95-4498-BB1E-52D26084B38E}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/06/evansville-researcher-alzheimers-grantIU School of Medicine-Evansville faculty receives grant to lead new study on Alzheimer’s disease <p>EVANSVILLE-<a href="/evansville">An Indiana University School of Medicine-Evansville</a> faculty member has received a grant from the Alzheimer’s Association for new research to enhance detection of cortical atrophy in patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The study, led by <a href="/faculty/42731/garcia-kara">Kara Garcia, PhD</a>, assistant professor of radiology and imaging sciences, seeks to link differences in cortical atrophy of specific brain regions to early cognitive deficits associated with typical and atypical Alzheimer's disease progression. The award is for $150,000 over three years. </p> <p>Garcia’s work has focused primarily on understanding brain changes in the context of early development where she used engineering concepts to co-develop a novel approach to measure brain growth in babies using MRI data. Given Garcia’s early success in measuring cortical growth, she decided to try measuring the “reverse” process: cortical shrinkage. </p> <p>“Considering the pressing need for Alzheimer’s research, this idea had been on my radar since beginning to develop our tool in 2015,” Garcia said. “When I joined IU School of Medicine, I was introduced to the <a href="/research-centers/alzheimers">Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center</a> and <a href="/faculty/7050/risacher-shannon">Dr. Shannon Risacher</a>, an established researcher in the field of Alzheimer’s research who is serving as co-investigator on this study. The early success of this work would not have been possible without this combination of significant resources and expertise at the school, as well as the hard work of current <a href="/blogs/student-life/medstar-fellowship-fuels-indiana-university-medical-student-passion-for-research">IU School of Medicine student Emily Iannopollo</a>.” </p> <p>While the current project focuses on one mechanics-based research tool, Garcia’s future work aspires to apply other themes from her research to improve our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and other brain disorders. </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 28 Jun 2022 00:00:00 Z{D64C1959-5F2F-411D-A37D-39FA7F9682EA}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/06/iu-researchers-validate-new-screening-tool-to-decrease-suicidality-riskIU researchers validate new screening tool to decrease suicidality risk<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers at <a href="/">Indiana University School of Medicin</a>e are studying new ways to predict suicidality. The team recently published findings about the effectiveness of <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44192-022-00016-z">a new risk assessment tool in the Springer Nature journal Discover Mental Health</a>. </p> <p>“One person dies by suicide every 40 seconds worldwide, but suicides are preventable tragedies,” said <a href="/faculty/16295/niculescu-alexander">Alexander Niculescu, MD, PhD</a>, professor of psychiatry at IU School of Medicine Department of psychiatry and lead author of the study. “This study shows our tool is highly predictive at identifying who is at risk and what can be done to decrease risk in a personalized way.” </p> <p>The assessment tool was first used in the Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital Emergency Department in Indianapolis four years ago on over 400 patients. The assessment is called Convergent Functional Information for Suicidality (CFI-S). It can be taken on paper or in a digital format and is a simple 22 item yes/no questionnaire focusing on psycho-social risk factors rather than biological markers, as some of the other studies Niculescu and his group had done. Unlike current clinical screenings, CFI-S does not ask about suicidal ideation and generates a quantitative risk score. </p> <p>“Patients do not always want to answer questions specifically about suicidal ideation, because they may be afraid of being hospitalized,” Niculescu said. “Because this tool leaves out those questions, it is easier to deploy in any setting and can be a complementary questionnaire to use with current standard clinical screenings.” </p> <p>Researchers found that at a four-year follow-up, the CFI-S tool was 80 percent predictive of future suicidality. The predictive ability increased to 90 percent when using artificial intelligence and machine-learning approaches in collaboration with colleagues at University of Southern California. The study found top risk factors for suicide were feeling useless or unneeded, a history of suicidality and social isolation. </p> <p>“That is exciting, since many of these risk factors are addressable and correctable,” said Niculescu. “We now have validated a simple quantitative tool that can identify and track risk and help providers develop a personalized suicidality risk mitigation plan for their patients. Widespread use of CFI-S for screening purposes can be a gamechanger in suicide prevention efforts worldwide.” </p> <p>Other study investigators include <a href="/faculty/40812/roseberry-kyle">Kyle Roseberry, MD</a>, Yena Choi, MD, <a href="/resident/50336/quast-laura">Laura Quast, MD</a>, Madelynn Gaines, and <a href="/faculty/4946/sandusky-george">George Sandusky, PhD</a> from IU School of Medicine; Jeffery Kline, MD from Wayne State University; and Mingxi Cheng and Paul Bogdan, PhD from University of Southern California. </p> <p>### </p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Mon, 27 Jun 2022 00:00:00 Z{30B7D9B3-E4B6-48FA-8AD4-801AC4C81632}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/06/chronic-kidney-disease-studyNew study from Indiana University shows patients with chronic kidney disease who have heart attacks should be offered invasive therapy, countering dominant practices<p>INDIANAPOLIS—A new observational study of 141,000 patients suggests physicians should consider a different approach to treating one type of heart attack in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Led by Ankur Kalra, MD, from <a href="/">Indiana University School of Medicine</a>, the study was <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.121.025205" target="blank">recently published in the Journal of the American Heart Association</a>. </p> <p>The study–the largest of its kind–is drawn from a nationwide readmission database of patients with CKD who suffer a “non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction,” or NSTEMI. Kalra and his team found these patients may benefit from a treatment approach called “early invasive strategy,” which has long been thought to be too risky for people with CKD. Additionally, patients with CKD have historically been excluded from randomized clinical trials exploring the more invasive strategy, leading to a lack of data on the best way to treat NSTEMIs in this population. </p> <p>“These findings are important because they show that the benefits of offering invasive therapy to these patients upfront outweigh the risks,” said Kalra, who is an associate professor of clinical medicine at the <a href="/internal-medicine">IU School of Medicine Department of Medicine</a> and medical director of interventional cardiology quality and innovation at the <a href="/institutes/cardiovascular">Cardiovascular Institute</a>. “This study will influence decision-making by physicians and the development of treatment guidelines for NSTEMI in this population of patients.” </p> <p>As suggested by the name, the invasive strategy–the typical treatment for people who have had NSTEMIs–is aggressive and generally involves a diagnostic angiogram followed by revascularization through stenting or open-heart surgery. But Kalra said many physicians have been reluctant to pursue this strategy for patients with CKD due to a perception of increased risk for adverse events, such as bleeding or acute kidney injury caused by the dye used during an angiogram. In deference to these concerns, patients with CKD are instead usually offered an alternative approach referred to as “medical management,” which entails a dye-free echocardiogram and a prescription for aspirin, statin and beta blockers. </p> <p>Kalra said this study suggests medical management may be too conservative, and CKD patients are being disadvantaged by not being offered the more aggressive strategy. Researchers found no strong association between invasive therapy and acute kidney injury, and patients treated with this approach had lower mortality, lower risk of cardiac and cerebrovascular adverse events and lower need for revascularization through stenting or surgery. </p> <p>“This is a challenging population to treat, and individualized care is important,” Kalra said. “But our results suggest that invasive therapy should be offered to all patients in this category.” </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 21 Jun 2022 00:00:00 Z{CF3F79A0-C56F-450E-8F30-EC77C6793BA5}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/06/2022-watanabe-prize-winnerCold Spring Harbor Laboratory researcher named 2022 Watanabe Prize winner<h2>Krainer’s research led to the development of the first FDA-approved drug to treat spinal muscular atrophy</h2> <p>INDIANAPOLIS—<a href="https://www.cshl.edu/research/faculty-staff/adrian-r-krainer/">Adrian Krainer, PhD</a> is this year’s winner of the <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/research/watanabe-prize">August M. Watanabe Prize in Translational Research</a> and will be honored at the 2022 Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences (CTSI) Annual Meeting on Friday, September 16. Krainer is currently the St. Giles Foundation Professor at <a href="https://www.cshl.edu/">Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</a> in New York. <br /> <br /> Krainer’s research focuses on RNA splicing, which includes studying how RNA can be altered in ways that lead to cancer or disease, as well as how researchers can edit those defects through tailored therapy. His lab has studied RNA splicing specifically in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a hereditary disease that destroys nerve cells in the brain stem and spinal cord that control motor skills. Krainer’s research led to the development of nusinersen (Spinraza™), which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2016 as the first drug to treat children and adults with SMA.<br /> <br /> “I am very honored and grateful to be selected for the August M. Watanabe Prize in Translational Research, and I feel humbled by the remarkable scientific accomplishments of the seven prior recipients,” said Krainer, who is also the Cancer Center Deputy Director of Research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. “I look forward to sharing our results on RNA-targeted therapeutics at the annual meeting of the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute in the fall, and to stimulating discussions with clinicians and researchers from across the state of Indiana.” <br /> <br /> Krainer has received various other honors and awards, including the <a href="https://www.nyipla.org/nyipla/InventoroftheYearAward.asp">Inventor of the Year award from the New York Intellectual Property Law Association</a> (2017), <a href="https://www.cshl.edu/adrian-krainer-wins-rna-societys-lifetime-achievement-award/">RNA Society Lifetime Achievement Award</a> (2019), election to the <a href="https://www.cshl.edu/adrian-krainer-elected-to-national-academy-of-medicine/">National Academy of Medicine</a> (2019), and <a href="https://www.cshl.edu/krainer-wins-2020-nyas-innovators-prize-for-sma-research/">Takeda Pharmaceuticals & NY Academy of Sciences Innovators in Science Senior Scientist Award in Rare Diseases</a> (2020). <br /> <br /> “For so many years, physicians like myself have had to sit with emotionally stunned parents whose infant has just been diagnosed with an untreatable disorder that is going to take their child’s life,” said <a href="https://www.pediatrics.columbia.edu/profile/darryl-c-de-vivo-md">Darryl De Vivo, MD</a>, Sidney Carter Professor of Neurology at Columbia University Medical Center, who was also involved with the clinical trials for nusinersen. “To see how these children respond to Spinraza is truly miraculous. But in this case, the ‘miracle’ is based on the research, scientific insights and dedication of Krainer and those whose work he has guided.”<br /> <br /> De Vivo and Richard Roberts, PhD, nominated Krainer for the Watanabe Prize. Roberts served as Krainer’s mentor during his postdoctoral research.<br /> <br /> “He is an outstanding scientist of the highest integrity and talent,” said Roberts, who is the chief scientific officer at New England Biolabs. “As an experimentalist during his formative years he was among the best I have ever come across. He had very high standards for his work and this has been instilled in his students and colleagues. I am very proud to call him an alumnus of my laboratory.”<br /> <br /> According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) occurs in approximately one in 10,000 live births. Indiana is one of 39 states in the U.S. where babies are screened for the disease. Spinraza is currently being used to treat more than 12,000 patients with SMA in over 50 countries. <br /> <br /> As winner of the Watanabe Prize, Krainer will be the featured speaker at the 2022 Indiana CTSI Annual Meeting, which will be focused on rare diseases.<br /> <br /> The Watanabe Prize is one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious awards recognizing individuals focused on shepherding scientific discoveries into new therapies for patients. It is named in honor of the late August Watanabe, a titan in the field of translational research in both academia and industry who impacted the health of people around the world as a leader at Indiana University School of Medicine and Eli Lilly and Company. <br /> <br /> Watanabe began his career at IU in 1972 and served as chair of the Department of Medicine from 1983 to 1990. From there, he joined Eli Lilly and Company, where he was ultimately named executive vice president, overseeing the launch of 11 drugs and doubling the size of Lilly’s research and development organization. <br /> <br /> Past Watanabe Prize recipients include Nancy J. Brown, MD (2021); Brian Druker, MD (2020); David Holtzman, MD (2019); Jean Bennett, MD, PhD (2018); Robert J. Lefkowitz, MD (2016); Carl H. June, MD (2015); and Tadataka Yamada, MD (2013).</p> <p><strong>Media contact:</strong> Anna Carrera, email: <a href="mailto:acarrer@iu.edu">acarrer@iu.edu</a><br /> <br /> ###<br /> <br /> <strong>About the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute<br /> </strong>The Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) brings together the state’s brightest minds to solve Indiana’s most pressing health challenges through research. It is a statewide partnership among Indiana University, Purdue University, the University of Notre Dame and the Regenstrief Institute collaborating with numerous life sciences businesses, government entities, and community organizations. The Indiana CTSI engages with the public at every level of research—from basic science to patient care. It has been continuously funded by multimillion-dollar grants from the National Institutes of Health since the Indiana CTSI’s founding in 2008 and is housed at the Indiana University School of Medicine. For more information, visit <a href="https://indianactsi.org/">indianactsi.org</a>.<br /> <br /> <strong>About Indiana University School of Medicine<br /> </strong>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the United States and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Thu, 16 Jun 2022 00:00:00 Z{0CFFDEFD-9CB3-4483-8E00-2E7BAE99F24C}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/06/hulvershorn-new-chairIU School of Medicine names new chair to lead Department of Psychiatry<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine is promoting one of its own to serve as the next leader of the <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/psychiatry">Department of Psychiatry</a>. </p> <p><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/11271/hulvershorn-leslie">Leslie A. Hulvershorn, MD</a>, has been named the new chair, after serving as co-interim chair of the department since June, 2021. A graduate of Indiana University, Hulvershorn also received her MD from IU School of Medicine, after earning a master’s degree in neuroscience from the University of Oxford. A tenured associate professor at IU School of Medicine, Hulvershorn works as a child and adolescent and addictions psychiatrist. </p> <p>As a physician-scientist, Hulvershorn’s research is focused on understanding more about risky decision-making in youth, including how the brain processes hazardous decisions and how it influences health—including acquiring infectious diseases, suicidal behavior and using drugs of abuse. Her lab also focuses on research that promotes child and adolescent behavioral health through improved access to evidence-based interventions, as well as appropriate use of psychopharmacologic treatments. </p> <p>Hulvershorn’s impact on adolescent mental health has extended statewide throughout her time at IU School of Medicine. She developed Indiana’s psychotropic medication monitoring program for the Department of Child Services—a program that has intervened in the care of nearly 2,000 children to date. Additionally, she co-founded <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/psychiatry/clinical-care/integrated/behavioral-health">Indiana’s Behavioral Health Access Program for Youth (BeHappy)</a>, which provides consultative support to pediatric primary care clinicians who are treating youth with behavioral health concerns. </p> <p>“Dr. Hulvershorn is an exemplary physician-scientist and example of the outstanding graduates we train here at IU School of Medicine,” said IU School of Medicine <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Dean Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>. “Throughout her tenure at the school, Dr. Hulvershorn has demonstrated a commitment to medical education, research and patient care to improve mental health resources in Indiana. I am eager for her to continue that leadership as our new chair for psychiatry.” </p> <p>Hulvershorn has also served as the primary consulting medical director to the state agency that oversees mental health and addiction treatment and prevention for Indiana. Since 2012, she has worked for the Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction—working closely with leaders in all three branches of state government. </p> <p>Hulvershorn takes over as chair at an exciting time for the department. In late 2021, IU School of Medicine announced a <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/12/evansville-natives-give-34-million-to-iu-school-of-medicine-for-child-and-adolescent-psychiatry-center">$34.2 million gift to the school’s Evansville campus</a>, an initiative led by regional campus dean Steven G. Becker, MD. The gift is aimed at establishing a child and adolescent psychiatry center and improving access to mental health research and resources throughout the state.</p> <p>“Indiana is experiencing crisis-level shortages of behavioral health specialists. As a department, one of our strengths is our capacity to train future physicians who will one day be able to use their world-class education to help improve the lives of patients with behavioral health disorders,” said Hulvershorn. </p> <p>“Pairing that with our leading-edge research—research bolstered by the generosity of donors like Bill and Mary Stone in Evansville—our department is poised to make a very real and lasting impact on the state of mental health in Indiana and beyond. My experiences at IU School of Medicine helped to make me the physician-scientist I am today, and I am thrilled to be able to help lead this charge.”</p> <p>Hulvershorn completed her general psychiatry residency at IU School of Medicine, and later a research track child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at New York University. </p> <p>She joined the faculty at IU School of Medicine in 2010. </p> <p>###</p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Tue, 14 Jun 2022 00:00:00 Z{108F04D2-F671-487E-9F43-0ACD550051D7}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/06/chronic-pancreatitis-drug-studyResearchers receive grant to study effectiveness of new drug combination for patients with chronic pancreatitis<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine are studying the safety and efficacy of a drug combination for patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP). The phase 1 multi-site trial led by IU recently received $1.1 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health. </p> <p>Chronic abdominal pain is the main symptom of CP, with 50-80 percent of patients seeking medical attention for pain management. While several analgesic options are available, opioids are the most effective. However, opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH), a phenomenon resulting in dose escalation, could occur. Researchers believe an anti-seizure drug called lacosamide could help. </p> <p>“This drug combination may result in improved pain control with a decrease in opioid dosing necessary for pain relief,” said <a href="/faculty/20353/white-fletcher">Fletcher White, MS, PhD</a>, VK Stoelting Professor of Anesthesia for the <a href="/anesthesia">IU School of Medicine Department of Anesthesia</a>. White is also a primary investigator for the <a href="/research-centers/neurosciences">Stark Neurosciences Research Institute</a> and a research scientist with the Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center. “This study is testing the safety, tolerability and dose-limiting toxicity of the combination of opioids and lacosamide.” </p> <p>In pre-clinical and clinical trials with neuropathic pain, lacosamide in combination with opioids reduced both pain scores and dosing amount of the opioid necessary for pain relief. There are no data, however, evaluating the use of lacosamide in CP patients. </p> <p>White is leading the study in Indianapolis along with <a href="/faculty/4962/fogel-evan">Evan Fogel, MSc, MD</a>, Stuart Sherman Professor of Gastroenterology and Hepatology for the <a href="/internal-medicine">IU School of Medicine Department of Medicine</a>. There are five additional satellite sites, including Stanford University, Mayo Clinic, The Ohio State University, University of Pittsburgh and MD Anderson. Given the small sample size and strong potential for patient recruitment at IU and the other clinical centers across the nation, it is anticipated that all data will be accrued within 36 months of study initiation. </p> <p>“Chronic, debilitating abdominal pain is the most common reason why patients with chronic pancreatitis are referred to gastroenterologists,” Fogel said. “While some patients may be candidates for endoscopic or surgical therapies, the majority of patients are managed medically, with analgesics. There is a need to identify safe and effective agents which can be added to our armamentarium.” </p> <p>“Most of the pain management options available to these individuals often have disappointing efficacy, and opioids remain a mainstay of therapy,” White said. “Our hope is that this drug combination may provide greater efficacy of the opioid drug at a much lower dose. Essentially making for a safer, more effective pain drug.” </p> <p>It is anticipated the results of this pilot study will support a phase 2 trial assessing the efficacy of lacosamide added to opioid therapy to alleviate abdominal pain from CP. </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the United States and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Thu, 02 Jun 2022 00:00:00 Z{7E71F218-3F6C-4EAE-AF7F-7C214ECDA3D3}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/06/davos-alzheimers-programIU physicians, researchers using new screening tools for early detection of Alzheimer’s<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Some patients in Indiana are now able to receive new screenings for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease thanks to a pilot program at <a href="/">Indiana University School of Medicine</a> and <a href="https://iuhealth.org/" target="blank">Indiana University Health</a>. </p> <p>The program is part of <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/05/03/2434877/0/en/THE-DAVOS-ALZHEIMER-S-COLLABORATIVE-LAUNCHES-INNOVATIVE-EARLY-DETECTION-EFFORT.html" target="blank">the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC)</a>, a public-private alliance uniting organizations worldwide in hopes of accelerating breakthroughs and equipping health care systems to end Alzheimer’s disease. IU is one of seven pilot sites launching this month, with locations in the United States, Scotland, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico and Brazil. The American Academy of Neurology recommends digital cognitive screenings for Alzheimer’s for adults over age 65 once a year, but that is currently not part of typical primary care practices. The program will help test the barriers and challenges of digital screening to determine the feasibility of widespread use. </p> <p><img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/project/facultyprofileimages/2020/06/05/21/48/12450-deanna-willis.png?h=375&w=250&rev=028275d20e994c598dd167bd401083f8&hash=DF85435E358F2D93BCA5089463C0DBE1" style="height: 375px; width: 250px;" alt="Deanna Willis, MD" title="Deanna Willis, MD" longdesc="Deanna Willis, MD" class="float-left" />“This program will allow our primary care physicians to use a digital cognitive assessment tool to screen patients for Alzheimer’s and electronically check brain function as part of their normal primary care visit,” said <a href="/faculty/12450/willis-deanna">Deanna Willis, MD</a>, family medicine professor of primary care and population health research and vice chair of research at <a href="/family-medicine">IU School of Medicine Department of Family Medicine</a>. Willis is also a family medicine physician at IU Health. “If necessary, we can offer a blood-based biomarker research test that could aid in the accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and reduce the need for more expensive or difficult to access tests. From there, we can refer them to a neurologist or other specialist.” </p> <p>The biomarker is known as <a href="https://precivityad.com/">the PrecivityAD™ test,</a> developed by specialty diagnostics company C2N, to help evaluate the cause of identified symptoms as part of its program. </p> “We’re proud and excited to play a key role in IU’s groundbreaking work to enable Alzheimer’s early detection,” said Joel Braunstein, MD, co-founder and CEO of C2N Diagnostics. “Harnessing the power of advanced diagnostics like our PrecivityAD™ test at all of DAC’s pilot sites will accelerate the fight to end Alzheimer’s.” <p>IU will also use <a href="https://linushealth.com/">Linus Health’s Core Cognitive Evaluation</a>, which marks a significant technological advance over paper-and-pencil tests in terms of objectivity and actionability. It also reduces the need for broad neuropsychological testing, which is time consuming for patients and requires specialized providers for administration. The Core Cognitive Evaluation is completely iPad-based and combines a digital assessment with a lifestyle-based patient questionnaire to generate actionable insights for both providers and patients. </p> <p>“Linus Health is honored that IU School of Medicine and IU Health selected our Core Cognitive Evaluation to help them identify early signs of cognitive impairment as part of their work with the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative to accelerate early detection of Alzheimer's disease,” said David Bates, PhD, Linus Health’s CEO. </p> <p>In addition to using these screening tools for IU Health patients, researchers from IU School of Medicine will study use of the method to find out the benefit of long-term, widespread use in other health care systems. </p> <p>“This is a brand new, innovative program that we are excited to be part of,” Willis said. “We’re putting these screening tools in place at six IU Health primary care locations and studying the science of it at IU School of Medicine to determine how it can be implemented around the world. It shows the exciting impact this collaboration is making for people in Indiana and beyond.” </p> <p>“IU School of Medicine and IU Health are pioneering providing better treatment today for Alzheimer’s patients and paving the way for new treatments in the future,” said George Vradenburg, founding chairman of the board for Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative. “These medical professionals will utilize cutting-edge technology to change the way we deliver care and help prepare health care systems to get the right treatments to the right patients at every stage of the disease.” </p> <p>IU School of Medicine/IU Health hopes to screen 3,600 patients at six IU Health primary care sites in the Indianapolis area over the next six months. </p> <p>###</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. </p> <p><strong>About IU Health </strong></p> <p>Named among the “Best Hospitals in America” by U.S. News & World Report for 24 consecutive years, Indiana University Health is dedicated to providing a unified standard of preeminent, patient-centered care. A unique partnership with Indiana University School of Medicine—one of the nation’s leading medical schools—gives our highly skilled physicians access to innovative treatments using the latest research and technology. <strong><a href="https://iuhealth.org/" target="blank">iuhealth.org</a></strong> </p> <p><strong>About the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative </strong></p> <p>Launched at the World Economic Forum’s 2021 meeting on The Davos Agenda, <a href="https://www.davosalzheimerscollaborative.org/" target="blank">The Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative</a> is a multi-stakeholder partnership committed to aligning stakeholders with a new vision for our collective global response against the challenges Alzheimer’s presents to patients, caregivers and healthcare infrastructures. Convened by The World Economic Forum and The Global CEO Initiative on Alzheimer’s Disease (CEOi) and fueled by a mission of service to the estimated 150 million families and half a billion people inevitably impacted by this disease by 2050, DAC is a collaborative for the benefit of all people, in all places.</p>Wed, 01 Jun 2022 00:00:00 Z{8308BEAA-C828-4358-A644-2701E61AA3B9}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/05/alzheimers-blood-testAlzheimer’s disease blood test research at IU continues to advance the field with a community-based study<p>INDIANAPOLIS — An Indiana University School of Medicine researcher is gaining ground on the development of novel, cutting-edge blood tests to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. </p> <p>Close to 55 million people worldwide, and as many as 6 million people just in the United States, are estimated to have Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, according to the World Health Organization. With disease modifying therapies becoming available, improving the efficiency of an early diagnosis is critical and blood tests are the best option for affordability and accessibility. </p> <p><a href="/faculty/60676/dage-jeff">Jeffrey Dage, PhD</a>, senior research professor of neurology and primary investigator at <a href="/research-centers/neurosciences">Stark Neurosciences Research Institute</a>, is part of a collaborative study with the Mayo Clinic exploring the utility of blood biomarkers that measure levels of phosphorylated tau (P-tau). In previous studies, Dage has demonstrated that blood levels of P-tau are indicators of the development of Alzheimer’s disease pathology in the brain. </p> <p>The researchers <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-01822-2" target="_blank">published their most recent study on P-tau in Nature Medicine</a>. The paper represents the first large community-based exploration into the blood tests. Researchers used more than 1,300 stored blood samples from people between the ages of 30 and 98 in a single county in Minnesota, through the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging. </p> <p>Dage and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://school.wakehealth.edu/faculty/m/michelle-marie-mielke" target="_blank">Michelle Mielke, PhD</a>, of the Mayo Clinic, have been long-term collaborators, publishing their initial work evaluating tau blood tests in 2016. </p> <p>The blood biomarkers tested two different measures of phosphorylated tau protein—P-tau181 and P-tau217—which are also found in the brain and are indicators of Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Through these findings, they were able to establish normal reference ranges and evaluate the comorbidity factors that influence protein levels. They also showed that the reference range approach resulted in a test with very high specificity for amyloid and tau PET. </p> <p>Blood-based biomarkers are the goal in screening for and diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease in the population because they are less costly and invasive than imaging and a lumbar puncture, Dage and Mielke said. However, most work to date has been conducted in memory clinic samples and understanding how these biomarkers can be used in the general population is needed, which is more heterogenous in terms of comorbidities and demographics. </p> <p>Community-based populations, such as the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, are critical for establishing the utility of these biomarkers, for screening or diagnosis, and how to interpret them in primary care for the general population, Mielke said. The current work demonstrates that chronic kidney disease, stroke, and myocardial infarction can physiologically contribute to higher blood plasma P-tau levels but not Alzheimer’s disease pathology, Mielke said. </p> <p>“As a result, individuals with these conditions may test positive, so that it appears they have Alzheimer’s disease when they do not,” Mielke said. “Incorporating this knowledge into the development of cutpoints will enhance accuracy and the future use of the blood-based biomarkers in the population for diagnosis, or even screening purposes.” </p> <p>Mielke and Dage’s first paper in 2018 evaluating the use of plasma P-tau181 already has more than 130 citations and has initiated a large effort toward the development of improved assays, such as P-tau217 and new research exploring potential uses in many areas of neurodegeneration including the relationship between COVID-19 and neurological symptoms in the elderly. </p> <p>“This is a very active area of research, and there are now many unique assays to measure phosphorylated tau in blood,” Dage said. “These assays are being compared and used all over the world in research studies and in clinical trials as the research community determines how best to make use these new tools.” </p> <p><a href="/faculty/23627/lamb-bruce">Bruce Lamb, PhD</a>, executive director of Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, said the blood biomarker work is the latest way IU School of Medicine has advanced its Alzheimer’s disease research over the past several years. </p> <p>“This research includes work being conducted at all stages of development,” Lamb said, “from understanding the basic disease mechanisms to moving novel therapeutics into patients, and everything in between.” </p> <p>There are currently multiple ways to get involved in research for blood biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease at IU School of Medicine. Indiana University Health or Eskenazi Health patients can donate blood to <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://indianactsi.org/researchers/services-tools/indiana-biobank/" target="_blank">the Indiana Biobank</a>. There are also opportunities to learn or potentially get involved through the <a href="/research-centers/alzheimers">Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center</a> by completing a participant referral form. </p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the United States and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 31 May 2022 00:00:00 Z{21FB12B1-D36E-4033-B73B-50A58087DC33}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/05/eskew-richey-awardEskew receives J.O. Ritchey Award<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Phil Eskew, Jr., MD, a retired OB-GYN, emeritus professor at Indiana University School of Medicine, IU School of Medicine class of 1970 alumnus and former IU Trustee, was honored recently with the school’s J.O. Ritchey Award. </p> <p>Given annually by the school’s J.O. Ritchey Board, the award recognizes individuals who have made enduring commitments to the School of Medicine, the medical profession and their patients and have made a planned gift to the school. </p> <p>Eskew spent three decades as an OB-GYN and clinical professor with the <a href="/obgyn">IU School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology</a>. Eskew also served as Medical Director of Women and Children’s Services and OB-GYN Residency Director at St. Vincent Hospital, where he was honored with their Distinguished Physician Award in 2000. </p> <p>Aside from his medical practice, Eskew has been active in professional and community organizations such as the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, including a term as its vice president. In 1996, Governor Evan Bayh awarded him the Sagamore of the Wabash. </p> <p>Eskew is also a long-serving member of the Indiana Guard Reserve, becoming the first doctor to join their ranks in 2001. He created the 19th Medical Regiment, a medical unit dedicated to supporting the Indiana National Guard in the event of a natural disaster. After 26 years combined in the Army Reserves and the Indiana Guard Reserves, he retired in 2020 with the rank of Brigadier General. </p> <p>As an Emeritus Professor in the School of Medicine, Eskew continues to mentor medical students at the Bloomington campus. In service to Indiana University, he served four terms as an alumni-elected IU Trustee from 2006-2018. He is currently President Pamela Whitten’s liaison to the advisory boards of four IU regional campuses. </p> <p>The J.O. Ritchey Award is named after James Oscar Ritchey, MD, a native Hoosier, IU School of Medicine alumnus and faculty member for more than 60 years who left an indelible impression on students. </p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the United States and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 31 May 2022 00:00:00 Z{56A58FD5-CA5D-4828-B0D6-79F0E28F19D2}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/05/colorectal-cancer-studyIU cancer researchers refining colorectal cancer classification, identifying new targets for treatment using cutting-edge, single-cell technology<p>INDIANAPOLIS — Analyzing nearly 500,000 single cells, researchers at the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.cancer.iu.edu/" target="_blank">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> are refining how to classify colorectal cancer and identify new targets to develop effective therapies. </p> <p>Their work, led by <a href="/faculty/61292/masood-ashiq">Ashiq Masood, MD</a>, associate professor of medicine at IU School of Medicine, was <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://genomebiology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13059-022-02677-z" target="_blank">recently published in Genome Biology</a>. Ateeq Khaliq, PhD, is the paper’s first author and a postdoctoral fellow in Masood’s lab. </p> <p>Previously, the research community classified colorectal cancer into four subtypes called consensus molecular subtypes (CMS) – CMS1, CMS2, CMS3 and CMS4. Masood and colleagues found colorectal cancers don’t fit neatly into these discrete subtypes. Instead, these tumors and their ecosystems exist more in a continuum. </p> <p>Masood and colleagues found common factors across all the CMS subtypes that are associated with poor outcomes for patients. If a patient has higher numbers of certain cell types – cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and/or tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) – these patients will not do well. Masood sees these findings as an opportunity to develop better treatment for patients. </p> <p>“Single-cell analysis is providing a much higher resolution, which was not possible before,” Masood said. “We found that the colorectal cancers are much more complex than these subtypes.” </p> <p>Single-cell analysis allows researchers like Masood to use technology to investigate cell variation and the different cell types within a cell population, such as a tumor. </p> <p>In addition to being a gastrointestinal oncologist, Masood has training in bioinformatics and computational biology and does genomic research as a cancer center member. </p> <p>Researchers analyzed 49,589 single cells from 16 racially diverse colorectal cancer patients, plus seven adjacent normal colon tissue samples. Those cells were then profiled along with data from multiple external cohorts, totaling 487,829 single cells. This data set is among the largest colorectal cancer single-cell atlases to date, Masood said. </p> <p>“This single-cell analysis is showing that cancer-associated fibroblasts and TAMs predict the poor outcomes; thus, they offer therapeutic targets,” Masood said. “This is the next set of work that we will be doing at IU.” </p> <p>Researchers are now working on testing if inhibiting those cell types – particularly CAFs that are known to cause resistance to immunotherapy – can provide a path for new colorectal cancer treatments. </p> <p>“Most colorectal cancer patients still receive chemotherapy, with modest benefit,” Masood said. “There is an unmet need to develop better therapies, so our hope is we can improve clinical outcomes by developing new drug therapies.” </p> <p>Additional authors from IU School of Medicine are <a href="/faculty/61303/khaliq-ateeq">Ateeq Khaliq, PhD</a>, <a href="/faculty/26956/zang-yong">Yong Zang, PhD</a>, and Yingjie Qiu; and IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center members <a href="/faculty/196/liu-yunlong">Yunlong Liu, PhD</a>, <a href="/faculty/12126/fishel-melissa">Melissa L. Fishel, PhD</a>, and <a href="/faculty/39489/turk-anita">Anita Turk, MD</a>.</p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the United States and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Mon, 23 May 2022 00:00:00 Z{175AD141-A983-41D5-82B6-2E45B5BBE43E}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/05/fellowship-programs-racial-demographics-studyNew study from IU researchers finds strong association between the race of fellowship directors and the racial demographics of their programs<p>INDIANAPOLIS— In a novel analysis of 9,153 first-year fellows and 243 program directors, a team of researchers led by Ankur Kalra, MD of Indiana University School of Medicine have uncovered compelling trends in the demographics of cardiovascular disease fellowship programs. Their findings, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772963X22000333" target="blank">published recently in JACC: Advances</a>, underscore the importance of placing faculty from marginalized and minoritized groups in leadership roles of these programs. </p> <p>“These findings are very interesting and lay ground for future research to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in fellowship recruitment,” said Kalra, who is an associate professor of clinical medicine and medical director of Interventional Cardiology Quality and Innovation at the <a href="/institutes/cardiovascular">Cardiovascular Institute</a>. </p> <p>In the study, which drew on data from the Association of American Medical Colleges from 2010 to 2019, Kalra and his team discovered a significant association between the race of the program director and the demographics of the fellows. </p> <p>“If the program director is white, then the likelihood of a mostly-white fellowship class is higher,” said Kalra. “If the director is Black, then it’s likely there are more Black fellows in the program. This was true for every race.” </p> <p>Additionally, Kalra and his team analyzed overall trends in the shifting demographics of cardiovascular disease fellowship classes during the specified time period. They found that the percentage of cardiovascular disease fellows who are women has increased significantly, while the percentage of Asian fellows has declined over time. </p> <p>“It’s possible that all of these same trends could be observed in other specialties, so further research is warranted,” Kalra said. He is currently working on a similar analysis of internal medicine residency programs. </p> <p>Kalra said he hopes this data demonstrates to institution and program leadership that they must build diverse programs in order to flourish in an increasingly diverse world. </p> <p>“Fellowship recruitment is important for any academic health center. These fellows become the specialists of the future,” Kalra said. “Diverse specialists are vital in order to better reflect changing population of the United States.” </p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Mon, 23 May 2022 00:00:00 Z{68426750-100E-45B6-9AA2-1D3A2316034B}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/05/2022-graduationIU School of Medicine graduates 455 physicians, scientists<p>INDIANAPOLIS—<a href="/">Indiana University School of Medicine</a> is celebrating its 2022 graduates with a recognition ceremony held in person for the first time in three years. </p> <p>Members of the Class of 2022 were honored Friday, May 13, 2022 at the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre in downtown Indianapolis. The 2020 and 2021 ceremonies were held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. IU School of Medicine leadership were joined by keynote speaker David Ansell, MD, MPH, a physician and author who is an advocate for medically underserved populations. </p> <p>“Graduates, you have worked so hard to get to this day. Go save lives. Go make a difference. And while you're at it, go make a different world,” said Ansell, who is the Michael E. Kelly Presidential Professor of Internal Medicine and Senior Vice President and Associate Provost for Community Health Equity at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. </p> <p><a href="/blogs/grad-student-life/phd-graduate-aims-to-work-as-science-policy-analyst">PhD graduate Alyson Essex</a> was one of the student speakers. Essex spoke about the bias she overcame to achieve her degree and commended her fellow students on overcoming similar challenges. </p> <p>“We have spent the last few years of our lives fighting for each other, for a better future, and I don’t think that fire will dim as we move into this next chapter,” Essex said. “As we move to new cities and countries and meet new friends and colleagues, our fire will spread. Our fight for justice and equity will continue. Look around you. You are not alone facing these upcoming challenges. We are here together in this pursuit of change that has brought entire generations to the streets in protest and solidarity.” </p> <p>Another student speaker was <a href="/blogs/student-life/diversity-needed-graduate-seeks-to-change-demographics-in-least-diverse-specialty">MD graduate Uchechukwu Emili</a>, who recognized the ways her classmates went out of their way to serve the community, especially during a global pandemic. </p> <p>“We are the only class that did their whole clinical experience through COVID, and we could have been the class that made it all about us,” Emili said. “But I think we dealt with it with as much grace as we possibly could have—and we came out stronger for it. We’re even more resolute in our calling to be doctors now.” </p> <p>“You’ve shown remarkable professionalism and resilience throughout your time with us, not only in completing your degrees, but also in contributing to keeping our community safe—whether through gathering PPE for frontline workers, serving as contact tracers, giving vaccinations, caring for patients and in countless other ways–your compassion, determination and grit shined,” said IU School of Medicine <a href="/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Dean Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>. “Many of you also stepped up to lead as our nation confronted issues of systemic racism. You used your collective voice to amplify the voices of those who historically have been marginalized. And you have worked alongside our school’s leadership on task forces and other initiatives to improve diversity, equity and inclusion—making sure your class did its part to make IU School of Medicine more welcoming and inclusive for future students.” </p> <p>In addition to 455 doctorate- and master-level degrees awarded this year, 147 associate and Bachelor of Science degrees will be earned by graduated of the <a href="/undergraduate-health-professions">IU School of Medicine Health Professions Program</a>. The Health Professions Program awards degrees in histotechnology, paramedic science, radiology, cytotechnology, clinical laboratory science, medical technology, nuclear medicine technology, radiation therapy and respiratory therapy. And for the first time, 17 students graduated from the Bachelor of Science in Medical Imaging program from the IU School of Medicine—Fort Wayne campus. </p> <p>Total numbers of degrees awarded by IU School of Medicine include: </p> <ul> <li>351 MD </li> <li>4 MD/PhD </li> <li>30 PhD </li> <li>70 MS </li> <li>147 Health Professions Program degrees (54 associate and 93 Bachelor of Science) </li> <li>36 certificates </li> </ul> <p>###</p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the United States and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Fri, 13 May 2022 00:00:00 Z{C8D87E68-90E1-493C-8B63-FBE36D882DE0}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/04/discover-study-resultsStatewide study shows COVID-19 antibodies last longer in children than adults, but diminish over time<p>INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana University School of Medicine researchers are sharing the results of a study about how immunity to COVID-19 can develop and change over time. Pediatric researchers <a href="/faculty/7418/john-chandy">Chandy John, MD</a>, <a href="/faculty/43672/khaitan-alka">Alka Khaitan, MD</a>, and colleagues learned that children develop neutralizing antibodies to COVID-19 at similar levels to adults, and those antibodies last longer in children than they do in adults. </p> <p>“Early research suggested children developed fewer antibodies to COVID-19 than adults and that their immunity didn’t last as long,” said John, Ryan White Professor of Pediatrics at IU School of Medicine. “Our results are consistent with more recent research, which shows that children develop neutralizing antibodies, the best marker to date of protective immunity against COVID-19, at least as well as adults. However, the antibody levels after infection were much lower than antibody levels seen after vaccination. The results show that infection in children leads to antibodies that could protect to some degree against future infection or disease, but antibody levels are lower, and so probably less protective, than those after vaccination.” </p> <p>During the <a href="/news/2020/05/researchers-launch-statewide-covid-19-immunity-study">DISCOVER study</a> – which stands for “Development of Immunity after SARS-CoV2 Exposure and Recovery” – researchers enrolled 94 children (between 6 months and 17 years old) and 344 adults and divided them into four groups: </p> <ul> <li>People who had symptoms of COVID-19 and tested positive for the disease </li> <li>People who had symptoms of COVID-19, but tested negative or were not tested </li> <li>People who did not have symptoms of COVID-19, but had been exposed to the disease </li> <li>People who did not have symptoms of COVID-19, and had not been exposed to the disease </li> </ul> <p>Researchers tested the children in each of these groups for COVID-19 antibodies between June and December 2020, and then again six months later. Each one of the children who had tested positive for COVID-19 and were symptomatic developed neutralizing antibodies. The researchers also checked for antibodies in the adults who tested positive for COVID-19, and only 81 percent of them developed neutralizing antibodies. Antibody levels decreased in both children and adults who were originally COVID-positive over time, but more children than adults still had antibodies by the six-month check-up. </p> <p>Seven of the adults who originally tested positive for COVID-19 received a COVID-19 vaccine before their six-month visit. Researchers compared their antibody levels to the people in the study who were previously infected with COVID-19 but did not receive a vaccine and found that antibody levels were more robust in those who received the vaccine. That supports <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa2116298">the Pfizer study published in the New England Journal of Medicine</a> earlier this year, which found that children who received a COVID-19 vaccine developed antibody levels that were ten times higher than those seen after infection in the DISCOVER study. </p> <p>“Our study shows how important it is to get children vaccinated against COVID-19,” said John. “Since antibody levels wane over time after infection or vaccination, it’s likely that children may need a booster, just as adults do, to make sure they have enough protection from the disease to prevent them from getting sick.” </p> <p>Some of the other children in the study also developed antibodies, although those numbers were much lower: 30 percent of children who were symptomatic but tested negative for COVID-19, 39 percent of children who were asymptomatic but exposed to COVID-19 and five percent of children who were not exposed to COVID-19. </p> <p>“Our findings highlight that children make robust antibodies to COVID-19 after natural infection regardless of whether they had symptoms,” said Khaitan, an associate professor of clinical pediatrics at IU School of Medicine. “We started this study before COVID-19 vaccines were available to children, but we showed that antibody levels are much higher after vaccination than natural infections in adults. We anticipate a similar effect in children, given that the antibody levels in our study were 10-fold lower than those seen in the vaccine studies, and hope these data encourage families to vaccinate their children against COVID-19.” </p> <p>Since the pandemic started, more than 28 million children have been infected with COVID-19 and nearly 13,000 children have died from the disease. While the Pfizer vaccine is available to children between the ages of five and 17, there is still no vaccine approved for children under five years old. The researchers utilized <a href="https://allinforhealth.info/">All IN for Health</a> to encourage people to volunteer to participate in this study. All IN for Health is a program of the <a href="https://indianactsi.org/">Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI)</a> which promotes health resources, as well as research and clinical study opportunities. Blood samples and data were collected by the <a href="https://indianabiobank.org/">Indiana Biobank</a>, which is also a program of the Indiana CTSI. </p> <p>This work was supported by the Riley Children’s Foundation and the <a href="/pediatrics">Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics.</a> </p> <p>### </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine </strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. </p> <p><strong>About the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute </strong></p> <p><a href="https://indianactsi.org/">The Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) </a>brings together the state’s brightest minds to solve Indiana’s most pressing health challenges through research. It is a statewide partnership among Indiana University, Purdue University, the University of Notre Dame and numerous life sciences businesses, government entities and community organizations. The Indiana CTSI engages with the public at every level of research—from basic science to patient care. It has been continuously funded by multimillion-dollar grants from the National Institutes of Health since the Indiana CTSI’s founding in 2008 and is housed at the Indiana University School of Medicine. For more information, visit indianactsi.org.</p>Thu, 28 Apr 2022 00:00:00 Z{C6EE22AC-A363-42DC-A6EB-E0BF69BA8AAF}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/04/kidney-function-calculation-studyTranslational research leader spearheads effort to change kidney function calculation to remove racial variables<p>INDIANAPOLIS—After a year of work to bring balance to an equation that measures kidney function by removing racial variables, <a href="/faculty/4976/moe-sharon">Sharon Moe, MD</a>, associate dean for clinical and translational medicine and director of the <a href="/internal-medicine/specialties/nephrology">Division of Nephrology for Indiana University School of Medicine</a>, is celebrating a nationally adopted change in how the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is being calculated to improve patient lives. </p> <p>The system-wide change for all patients over 18 years old was the result of collaborative work between Moe and other medical leaders in nephrology and <a href="/faculty/21448/zimmerman-michelle">Michelle Zimmerman, MD</a>, of Indiana University Health. The calculation change went into effect March 30 for IU Health and goes into effect this month at Eskenazi Health. </p> <p>A patient’s GFR describes the quantity filtered through the kidney and into urine. For the past 50 years, the flow rate has had various formulas to estimate it, and the most commonly used has a variable based on race. </p> <p>“Race is a social construct and not a biologic factor and thus, should be included in the GFR estimating equation,” said Moe, who is also one of the co-directors of the <a href="https://indianactsi.org/">Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI)</a>. “This change now more accurately reflects the recommendations of national groups and substitutes the race variable with a numerical variable that was confirmed to reflect the gold standard measurement of GFR and does not include race.” </p> <p>The estimated GFR equation refit was developed with a diverse population and has acceptable performance characteristics. Patients in the IU Health system who are being seen for kidney function issues may see their GFR change in their portal due to the newly adopted calculations. Clinicians may also see GFRs change, requiring medication dosing adjustments or changes in kidney staging decisions. </p> <p>IU School of Medicine students also strongly advocated for this change. </p> <p>### </p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. </p> <p><strong>About the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute</strong> </p> <p><a href="https://indianactsi.org/">The Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI)</a> brings together the state’s brightest minds to solve Indiana’s most pressing health challenges through research. It is a statewide partnership among Indiana University, Purdue University, the University of Notre Dame and numerous life sciences businesses, government entities and community organizations. The Indiana CTSI engages with the public at every level of research—from basic science to patient care. It has been continuously funded by multimillion-dollar grants from the National Institutes of Health since the Indiana CTSI’s founding in 2008 and is housed at the Indiana University School of Medicine. For more information, visit indianactsi.org.</p>Wed, 27 Apr 2022 00:00:00 Z{4B529165-A694-49EB-A622-1704223C24D6}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/04/walther-scholar-psycho-oncologyIU School of Medicine names first Walther Scholar in Psycho-Oncology<p>INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana University School of Medicine has named Shelley Johns, PsyD, ABPP, the Walther Scholar in Psycho-Oncology. </p> <p>Johns is the first person to hold this position, which was established by the transformative $14 million gift to IU School of Medicine from the Walther Cancer Foundation to create five endowed positions to develop a supportive oncology program that encompasses research and patient care. Supportive oncology goes beyond standard therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation and seeks to care for a patient’s overall physical, mental and spiritual well-being. </p> <p>The program intends to influence care for cancer patients and their families throughout Indiana and the country by providing expertise and best practices for other health systems to model, with particular attention to the underserved. </p> <p>“Thanks to the generous support of the Walther Cancer Foundation, I have the opportunity to explore new ideas to address problems that are most important to people whose lives are disrupted by cancer,” Johns said. “I want to capitalize on the synergy that I already see and feel between clinical practice and research so we can develop studies that are informed by people with cancer and then implement our research findings in clinical practice.” </p> <p>Johns is a nationally-recognized, board-certified, clinical health psychologist, an associate professor at IU School of Medicine in the <a href="/internal-medicine/specialties/general">Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics</a>, an <a href="https://www.cancer.iu.edu/">IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> researcher and a research scientist at the William M. Tierney Center for Health Services Research at the <a href="https://www.regenstrief.org/">Regenstrief Institute</a>. Her research focuses on developing and testing mind-body interventions to improve the physical health and psychological well-being of adults with cancer. She currently holds a $2.6 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to lead a clinical trial to support breast cancer survivors struggling with fear of cancer recurrence. </p> <p>As the Walther Scholar in Psycho-Oncology, Johns will develop programs in psycho-oncology within the newly established Supportive Oncology Center of Excellence at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. </p> <p>“We are very fortunate to recruit Dr. Johns to the newly established Supportive Oncology Center of Excellence in the cancer center, which will be the hub for our cutting-edge efforts in research, education and clinical care in supporting the important needs of our cancer patients and their families,” <a href="https://www.cancer.iu.edu/about/leadership/executive/lee.php">Kelvin Lee, MD</a>, cancer center director, said. “Dr. Johns’ exceptional work in psycho-oncology will be a major pillar of the center.” </p> <p>“Dr. Johns is a great addition to improving the total care of patients living with cancer who we see at the cancer center. Shelley’s work will be critical to the Supportive Oncology Center of Excellence in improving clinical care, research and education,” <a href="/faculty/41949/cleary-jim">James Cleary, MD</a>, professor of medicine and Walther Senior Chair in Supportive Oncology at IU School of Medicine, said. Cleary was recruited in 2018 to IU as part of the Walther gift, which was believed to be the largest gift in the country to support a program of this kind. </p> <p>“Dr. Johns does very rigorous and sophisticated research aimed at providing the evidence base for treating highly prevalent and challenging symptoms in patients with cancer,” said <a href="/faculty/5089/sachs-greg">Greg Sachs, MD</a>, director of the Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics. “She also represents another critical connection between our palliative care program and the cancer center.” </p> <p>“Shelley Johns is a highly talented and insightful researcher. The Walther Cancer Foundation has provided support for certain aspects of Dr. John’s work for more than ten years. We are truly pleased that Shelley has been selected as the first Walther Scholar in Psycho-Oncology,” said Tom Grein, president and CEO of the Walther Cancer Foundation.</p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 26 Apr 2022 00:00:00 Z{2BC4BD64-6FD3-4F52-B274-3624CC83DD95}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/04/alzheimers-neuropsychiatric-researchResearchers investigate connection between loss of motivation and Alzheimer’s disease progression<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine are studying why neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as apathy and irritability, appear in most Alzheimer’s disease patients before the onset of memory loss. </p> <p>The study, led by <a href="/faculty/42394/ma-yao-ying" target="_blank">Yao-Ying Ma, MD, PhD</a>, assistant professor of pharmacology and toxicology, was <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01459-0" target="_blank">recently featured in the publication Molecular Psychiatry</a>. The team of researchers identified a receptor in the brain that leads to a loss of neurons and synaptic structure when used in an Alzheimer’s disease model. </p> <p>The investigation focused on the nucleus accumbens, a critical brain region processing motivation. Located in the ventral striatum, this region is not studied much among Alzheimer’s disease researchers, Ma said; it’s mainly researched to understand motivational and emotional processes. Previous studies, Ma said, have shown that the volume of nucleus accumbens, like the cortical and hippocampal regions in the brain, is reduced in adults with Alzheimer’s disease. </p> <p>Ma, who is relatively new to the field of Alzheimer’s disease research, has a background in drug addiction studies and synaptic communication—the process by which neurons talk to each other in the brain. Some of the neuropsychiatric symptoms among people who suffer from substance abuse—apathy, mood swings, anxiety—are also found in Alzheimer’s disease patients. </p> <p>“Even before the onset of cognitive deficits, a significant number of Alzheimer’s patients start showing mood swings, and they have a greater chance to have symptoms of depression,” Ma said. </p> <p>These neuropsychiatric symptoms, however, tend to occur earlier than memory loss, but no effective treatments are available, Ma said. She emphasized that there is an urgent need to understand why those symptoms exist and how they correlate with cognitive deficits. Ma said this study identified synaptic calcium permeable receptors (CP-AMPARs) in the nucleus accumbens in an Alzheimer’s disease model. The receptor, which is normally absent in that part of the brain, gives permission for calcium to enter the neurons. This leads to an overload of calcium, which leads to a breakdown of its synaptic structure. In turn, calcium accumulation triggers a cascade of intracellular changes that can be lethal to the neuron by amplifying calcium overload via a positive feedback mechanism. </p> <p>This synaptic loss in the brain causes motivation deficits. Knowing this, Ma said that targeting these receptors in the brain and blocking them could prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease associated neuropsychiatric symptoms, and ultimately cognitive deficits. </p> <p>“If we can postpone the pathological progression in one of the affected areas, like the nucleus accumbens,” Ma said, “that may delay pathological changes in other regions.” </p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="/" target="_blank">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Mon, 25 Apr 2022 00:00:00 Z{C9EF2CCE-9ADC-4FB8-AE53-E45972225856}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/04/vera-bradley-donationVera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer makes $12.5 million commitment to Indiana University School of Medicine<p>INDIANAPOLIS — A gift commitment of $12.5 million to Indiana University School of Medicine from the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer will support new research to harness immunotherapy for breast cancer treatment. </p> <p>This gift from the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.verabradley.org/" target="_blank">Vera Bradley Foundation</a> brings the non-profit’s total commitments in breast cancer research funding since 2000 to $50 million. The Foundation’s ongoing support led to the 2018 creation of the <a href="/research-centers/breast-cancer" target="_blank">Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research</a> at the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.cancer.iu.edu/" target="_blank">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> where more than 30 investigators collaborate on breast cancer discoveries. </p> <p>Support from the Vera Bradley Foundation has aided the IU School of Medicine in amassing talent, technology, and resources to become a national leader in targeted breast cancer therapies, specifically for triple negative breast cancer. For example, <a href="/faculty/4858/schneider-bryan" target="_blank">Bryan P. Schneider, MD</a>, Vera Bradley Professor of Oncology at IU School of Medicine, is leading a <a href="/news/2021/10/iu-school-of-medicine-launches-new-study-to-develop-personalized-therapies-for-triple-negative-breast-cancer-patients">nationwide study</a> to develop personalized therapies for triple negative breast cancer patients with funding from the Vera Bradley Foundation. The study builds on <a href="/news/2020/07/iu-school-of-medicine-findings-set-new-standard-for-use-of-blood-based-biomarkers-in-clinical-trials-for-prediction-of-cancer-recurrence" target="_blank">groundbreaking findings</a> by Schneider and other IU researchers. </p> <p>Since 2004, more than 1,300 discoveries have been published in peer-reviewed journals by IU breast cancer researchers. </p> <p>The Vera Bradley Foundation’s latest funding commitment will help launch immunotherapy research efforts to develop better therapies for triple negative breast cancer, an aggressive form of breast cancer that is often not responsive to hormone therapies and is resistant to chemotherapy. Immunotherapy uses the body’s immune system to target and destroy cancer cells. </p> <p>“To say we’ve ‘donated’ $37.5 million for breast cancer research doesn’t tell our story. To date, the foundation has provided $37.5 million of life changing research that has and will continue to impact women and their loved ones all over the globe,” Ruth Cook, chair of the Vera Bradley Foundation board, said. “We’ve invested in a team of the best, the brightest, and the most passionate researchers in the world. Our research team is relentlessly pursuing critical advancements that have and will continue to change the face of breast cancer forever. </p> <p>“Our goal is to have a breast cancer diagnosis become an inconvenience rather than an overwhelming presence,” she added. “We are confident our new pledge of $12.5 million will mean more women can enjoy long and thriving lives well beyond their breast cancer diagnosis.” </p> <p>“The Vera Bradley Foundation has been an unwavering source of support and inspiration at IU School of Medicine for the last 23 years. This new gift will help us take the next step in conquering breast cancer—one we’ve had in our sights for years,” said <a href="/faculty/6512/hess-jay" target="_blank">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>, dean of IU School of Medicine and IU’s executive vice president for university clinical affairs. “The foundation has benefitted and provided hope for countless women with the most difficult-to-treat breast cancers. We are tremendously grateful for their partnership and generosity.” </p> <p>Earlier this year, <a href="/faculty/61266/opyrchal-mateusz" target="_blank">Mateusz Opyrchal, MD, PhD</a>, joined IU as the inaugural Vera Bradley Foundation Scholar in Breast Cancer Discovery at IU School of Medicine and as co-leader of the cancer center’s experimental and development therapeutics research program. He most recently was at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, where he was an associate professor of medicine and an associate director of cellular and gene therapeutics program in solid tumors. </p> <p>Opyrchal’s research focuses on novel therapeutic approaches and enhancing immune responses in triple negative breast cancer. His recruitment, made possible by Vera Bradley Foundation funding, expands IU’s leadership and knowledge base for the immunotherapy initiative with the goal of developing innovative approaches to help patients with this disease. </p> <p>In addition to precision medicine and immunotherapy, research at IU’s Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research includes efforts in prevention, early detection, improved treatments for curable disease, and survivorship. </p> <p>“I and the entire cancer research and care team here at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center are enormously grateful for the significant and sustained support we have received from the Vera Bradley Foundation,” said <a href="/faculty/59596/lee-kelvin" target="_blank">Kelvin Lee, MD</a>, director of both the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and IU’s Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research. “This remarkable gift will enable our researchers in the Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research to continue their pioneering work in lifting the burden of breast cancer. Research cures cancer and such generous philanthropy fuels that research.” </p> <p><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1OGJW3bNXZmtDGbfL6XDNfTdEdMW8RUzB" target="_blank">View and download photos, videos and more information about the Vera Bradley Foundation and breast cancer research at IU School of Medicine and IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.</a></p> <p>### </p> <p>ABOUT VERA BRADLEY FOUNDATION FOR BREAST CANCER </p> <p>The Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer raises funds for breast cancer research to find a cure and to improve the lives of the many affected by this disease. The Foundation has contributed $37.5 million to the Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research at the Indiana University School of Medicine. The Center is focused on developing and dramatically improving therapies for some of the most difficult-to-treat types of breast cancer. Funds are raised through special events, partner events, and individual donations. Learn more about the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer at <a href="https://www.verabradley.org/">www.verabradley.org</a>. </p> <p>ABOUT INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE</p> <p><a href="/" target="_blank">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. </p> <p><strong>Press Contacts:</strong></p> <p>Stephanie Scheele, Vera Bradley Chief Purpose and Communication Officer<br /> <a href="mailto:sscheele@verabradley.com">sscheele@verabradley.com</a><br /> 260.207.5185</p> <p>Anna Shelton, Vera Bradley Foundation Communication Specialist<br /> <a href="mailto:ashelton@verabradley.com">ashelton@verabradley.com</a><br /> 260.207.5252</p> <p>Candace Gwaltney, IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center science writer<br /> <a href="mailto:cmgwaltn@iu.edu">cmgwaltn@iu.edu</a><br /> 317.278.4322</p>Wed, 20 Apr 2022 00:00:00 Z{18A323F9-569F-49BB-8312-3B29EED68F87}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/04/department-of-surgery-names-new-chairIU School of Medicine names new chair to lead Department of Surgery<p>INDIANAPOLIS—A graduate of Indiana University School of Medicine is returning to the institution that trained him, to lead one of the school’s largest departments. </p> <p>Karl Bilimoria, MD, MS, FACS, has been named the new chair of the <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/surgery">Department of Surgery</a>. A highly respected physician-scientist in the field of surgical oncology and author of more than 400 publications with nearly $40 million in research funding, Bilimoria graduated from IU School of Medicine in 2003. He is currently a surgical oncologist at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, also serving as a professor of surgery and vice chair for quality in the Department of Surgery at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. </p> <p>A native Hoosier, Bilimoria’s clinical practice is focused on melanoma and sarcoma, with a research focus on health services, quality improvement, health policy, and medical education. He founded the Surgical Outcomes and Quality Improvement Center (SOQIC), a renowned center of 65 faculty, fellows and staff focused on national, regional and local quality improvement research and implementation. He is also the founding director of the 56-hospital Illinois Surgical Quality Improvement Collaborative and the 215-hospital national surgical education trials group.  </p> <p>“Dr. Bilimoria’s leadership in training future surgeons and improving surgical quality will help advance the department to the next level of excellence,” said IU School of Medicine Dean <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>. “His success as a physician-scientist is a proud testament to the training he received at IU School of Medicine, and I am eager for him to continue that tradition of excellence as our new chair for surgery.”</p> <p>An active leader in national organizations, Bilimoria is past president of the Association for Academic Surgery and the Surgical Outcomes Club, and is a faculty scholar at the American College of Surgeons. Throughout his career, mentoring early career faculty, surgical residents and medical students has been a passion for Bilimoria. He has served as primary mentor for 40 faculty and surgical residents—considering his “Mentor of the Year” award by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in 2020 to be the most valued accolade in his distinguished career.</p> <p>“I am thrilled to return to IU School of Medicine, the place that sparked my love for surgery and academic medicine. My vision is for the Department of Surgery to be a premier surgical department in the country, where every division is recognized nationally for its clinical care and quality, research prominence and innovation, and educational excellence in the development of the next generation of surgeons and surgical leaders,” said Bilimoria. </p> <p>“My experiences at IU School of Medicine were essential in making me the surgeon, scientist and leader than I am today. I am excited to tackle the challenges of serving this large, complex department, and the opportunity to return to my medical school and home state makes the opportunity much more meaningful to me and my family.”<br /> Among Bilimoria’s early mentors was Jay L. Grosfeld, MD, who served as chair of the Department of Surgery from 1985-2003. Fittingly, Bilimoria will hold the title of Jay L. Grosfeld Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery when he officially starts in his new role August 1, 2022. He will also serve as Vice President of Surgical Quality for IU Health. </p> <p>Bilimoria earned his undergraduate degree in molecular and cell biology from Northwestern University. He received his medical degree at IU School of Medicine and completed his residency at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, where he served as chief resident and also earned a master’s degree in clinical investigation. Additionally, he completed a surgical oncology fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center, after which he joined the faculty at Northwestern in 2011. <br /> <br /> ###</p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Mon, 11 Apr 2022 00:00:00 Z{9D367F5C-B7D2-49E3-8C1A-D09C85952065}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/04/cancer-patients-covid-vaccine-studyStudy: Vaccine protects most cancer patients from COVID, but risk remains higher for patients with blood cancers<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Using the nation’s largest COVID-19 data resource, a researcher at the <a href="https://www.cancer.iu.edu/">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> found the COVID-19 vaccine protected most cancer patients from getting COVID. However, patients with certain types of cancer have a higher and widely varied risk of breakthrough COVID infections after receiving the COVID vaccine. </p> <p> <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research-trials/member-bio.shtml?id=29825&name=jing-su">Jing Su, PhD</a>, assistant professor in the <a href="/biostatistics">Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Biostatistics</a> was the lead investigator for the <a href="https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.21.02419">study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology</a>. He is also the core associate director of real-world data for the cancer center’s <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research-trials/facilities/biostatistics/index.php">Biostatistics and Data Management Core</a>. </p> <p> Su led a team of 13 investigators from 10 research institutes across the country to analyze data from the <a href="https://covid.cd2h.org/">National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C)</a> at the National Institutes of Health, including another researcher at IU School of Medicine, Xiaochun Li, PhD, a professor of biostatistics and health data sciences. </p> <p> “This is one of the largest COVID real-world data resources in the world and the largest in the United States,” Su said. It includes more than 12.5 million patients and 4.5 million COVID patients. Researchers examined more than 64,000 cancer patients who were vaccinated against COVID-19. </p> <p> “We systematically screened major cancer types and major treatment types, as well as other risk factors such as age, comorbidities, sex, race, geographic locations and others to qualitatively know the contribution of each risk factor and the specific rates of each cancer subgroup as well as the contribution of treatment categories for cancer patients,” Su said. “This type of analysis is only possible because we have a huge COVID cohort and control cohort.” </p> <p> Among key findings were: </p> <ul> <li>The risk of breakthrough infection was reduced after the second vaccine dose for all cancers. </li> <li>Patients with hematologic cancers, or blood cancers, including leukemia, multiple myeloma and lymphoma, were at a higher risk of breakthrough COVID; those with blood cancers had a greater risk than solid cancers. </li> <li>The Moderna vaccine was more effective than the Pfizer vaccine for protecting patients with hematologic cancers, especially patients with multiple myeloma. </li> </ul> <p> These findings could help guide clinical care and treatment for cancer patients with COVID, Su said. Beyond the pandemic, this research could also help when developing immune-based cancer treatments. Some immunotherapies rely on a patient’s immune capacities, and these findings could help researchers predict which patient populations may respond best to specific treatments. </p> <p> “In fact, the COVID pandemic provides a unique opportunity for us to screen the immune competence among all cancer patients at a national level,” Su said. “We could use this to imitate the differential immune capacities among cancer patients. This could guide us to better understand whether cancer patients will have good responses to cancer vaccines and if they are at a higher risk of infection of other viruses, such as the flu.”</p> <p><a href="https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.21.02419">“Risk and Outcome of Breakthrough COVID-19 Infections in Vaccinated Patients WithCancer: Real-World Evidence From the National COVID Cohort Collaborative” </a>is the second Journal of Clinical Oncology paper published by Su and colleagues using the N3C data. The group is now working to answer additional questions about waning immunity and the effectiveness of booster shots. </p> <p> “With the surging of new variants, especially the BA.2, we don't know whether there will be another wave down the road,” Su said. “We are monitoring the situation to see what new variants will mean for cancer patients and how to best protect them through vaccination.” </p> <p> This research was supported by the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center Support Grant from the National Cancer Institute (P30 CA 082709) and the <a href="https://precisionhealth.iu.edu/">Indiana University Precision Health Initiative</a>. </p> <p> ###</p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Mon, 04 Apr 2022 00:00:00 Z{23DA42F6-117C-4E27-9413-4E2CDF70822C}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/03/student-laptopsIU School of Medicine to provide laptops to all first-year medical students<p style="margin: 0in;"><span>INDIANAPOLIS—First-year medical students joining Indiana University School of Medicine in the fall of 2022 will be provided with new laptops for the duration of their training program, thanks to funding from the United States Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Medical Student Education Program. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;">The funding allowed the school to create the <a href="/news/2021/09/iu-receives-grant-aimed-at-enhancing-curricular-coverage-of-care-for-underserved">Primary Care Reaffirmation for Indiana Medical Education (PRIME)</a> program in 2020. PRIME aims to enhance the skills and knowledge needed by medical students to tend to the health care needs of the community with special attention to underserved populations.</p> <p style="margin: 0in;">Incoming students for the class of 2026 will receive a common laptop computer loaded with the same learning platforms, educational software and curricular content for delivery of PRIME content and the core curriculum. The school will conduct a pilot study on the benefits of supplying first-year students with these laptops and look at ease of use, student acceptance and impact on educational programs.</p> <p style="margin: 0in;">“Students will have ready access to a plethora of educational resources relevant to the PRIME grant, including point-of-care ultrasound, telehealth, equity and social determinants of health, as well as content and tools relative to the curriculum overall,” said <a href="/faculty/41427/wallach-paul">Paul Wallach, MD</a>, executive associate dean for educational affairs, and one of the principal investigators of the program. “We are excited to offer this technology to our students to continue to provide them with the best medical education possible.”</p> <p style="margin: 0in;">The PRIME curriculum incorporates telehealth, ultrasound, student-driven community improvement projects and scholarly concentration programs across the state. Experiential training opportunities are also being expanded throughout the state, particularly in underserved communities.</p> <p style="margin: 0in;">“This project aims to increase interest in medical school training from potential applicants in those same underserved areas to help address projected physician workforce gaps in the future,” said <a href="/faculty/5011/allen-bradley">Bradley Allen, MD, PhD</a>, senior associate dean for medical student education and a principal investigator of the program. “We can already see the impact this training is having on our current students and teaching faculty, and the unique PRIME program promises even greater opportunities over the next few years.” </p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">### </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span></p>Wed, 30 Mar 2022 00:00:00 Z{FB1314B2-346E-440C-97B6-21DF43E2D1E9}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/03/amyloid-filaments-in-neurodegenerative-diseasesResearchers discover new information about amyloid filaments in neurodegenerative diseases<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">INDIANAPOLIS—Experts at Indiana University School of Medicine have helped identify that a common protein found in neurodegenerative diseases forms amyloid filaments in an age-dependent manner without a connection to disease.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">Many age-dependent neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, are characterized by amyloid abundance, or plaque. In <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04650-z" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">a new paper published in <em>Nature</em></a>, researchers from <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology</a> in Cambridge, England, United Kingdom and colleagues around the world, including several IU School of Medicine experts, used electron cryo-microscopy structure determination to discover that lysosomal type II transmembrane protein, TMEM106B, also forms amyloid filaments in human brains but, uniquely, it forms in an age-dependent manner and might not be connected to a type of disease.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">“Until now, the presence of abundant intraneuronal amyloid filaments in human tissues has always been associated with disease,” said <a href="/faculty/13352/ghetti-bernardino">Bernardino Ghetti, MD</a>, a distinguished professor and professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at IU School of Medicine. “While TMEM106B has been associated with frontotemporal dementias and other diseases, the evidence for a causal relationship between TMEM106B aggregation and disease now remains unclear.”</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">Researchers studied 22 individuals with abundant amyloid deposits, including sporadic and inherited Alzheimer’s, as well as the frontal cortex of three neurologically normal individuals. They also studied three TMEM106B folds, with no clear relationships between folds and diseases. The TMEM106B filaments discovered in the brains of older, but not younger, neurologically normal individuals suggests that these proteins form in an age-dependent manner and that there was no clear relationship between protein folds and neurodegenerative diseases. Previously, TMEM106B has been identified as a risk factor for frontotemporal lobar degeneration, but this research opens the dialogue as the protein may no longer be associated with the cause of a disease.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">“This insight encourages us to further assess the role of filament formation, like TMEM106B, in relation to human aging and other pathologies, as well as if they’re found outside the nervous system,” Ghetti said.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">The study was supported by National Institutes of Health grants. Other study authors from IU School of Medicine include Holly Garringer, PhD, <a href="/faculty/43257/hallinan-grace">Grace Hallinan, PhD</a>, <a href="/faculty/43732/newell-kathy">Kathy Newell, MD</a> and <a href="/faculty/13386/vidal-ruben">Ruben Vidal, PhD</a>. Previously, this research group also <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/01/new-study-shows-pathological-differences-in-inherited-versus-sporadic-alzheimers-disease" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">explored the pathological differences in inherited versus sporadic Alzheimer's disease</a>.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">Learn more about <a href="/expertise/alzheimers">Alzheimer’s disease research at IU School of Medicine</a>.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">###</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Mon, 28 Mar 2022 00:00:00 Z{DE7E789A-3D25-4340-AC09-28946D72D253}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/03/ibj-forty-under-40IU School of Medicine faculty named IBJ Forty Under 40 honorees<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Two Indiana University School of Medicine faculty have been named <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ibj.com/topics/forty-under-40" target="_blank">2022 Indianapolis Business Journal Forty Under 40</a> honorees. <a href="/faculty/4406/dbeibo-lana">Lana Dbeibo, MD</a> and <a href="/faculty/48194/lim-kenneth">Kenneth Lim, MD, PhD</a> were chosen for the prestigious honor. </p> <p>Each year, the IBJ honors 40 individuals who have made their mark in their profession before the young age of 40. Honorees were selected by a committee from hundreds of individuals nominated by IBJ readers. Regardless of their field or profession, this diverse group of individuals is making a positive impact on the community. This is the 30th year for the awards.</p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><strong>Lana Dbeibo, MD</strong></p> <p>In the summer of 2020, <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/blogs/faculty-news/dbeibo-named-to-ibj-40-under-40">Dbeibo was one of several medical and public health experts</a> appointed to lead IU's COVID-19 Medical Response Team, which was charged with helping to keep the IU community safe from the virus. She currently serves as director of COVID-19 vaccine initiatives for IU. Dbeibo is also the director of infection prevention at Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital. She provides inpatient consults and outpatient infectious disease consults and HIV care.</p> <p>After graduating medical school from the American University of Beirut, Dbeibo completed her residency in internal medicine and fellowship in infectious diseases at IU School of Medicine.</p> <p><strong>Kenneth Lim, MD, PhD</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/blogs/faculty-news/iu-nephrologist-named-to-ibj-forty-under-40">Lim is a physician-scientist, nephrologist and entrepreneur</a> in the IU School of Medicine Division of Nephrology. His clinical interests include chronic kidney disease (CKD), end-stage kidney disease and dialysis. He is a leading expert in cardiovascular complications in patients with CKD. Lim has a mission to advance the care of kidney patients and to create potential solutions to challenging issues of humanitarian need in healthcare through innovative research, entrepreneurship and the delivery of medical care beyond borders. He has deployed to regions around the world to provide medical care to help meet critical needs of victims of humanitarian crises, such as war, poverty and natural disasters on the frontlines.</p> <p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span>Prior to joining IU School of Medicine in 2020, Lim spent over 10 years at Harvard Medical School and affiliated major teaching hospitals, later becoming an attending physician at the Massachusetts General Hospital and a faculty member at Harvard Medical School. He is a graduate of the University of Cambridge (Christ’s College) and the University of Warwick in England.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">###</span></p> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span> <div><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /> </span></div> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span>Fri, 25 Mar 2022 00:00:00 Z{186902F7-3E81-470F-A5B3-834E52741F6E}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/03/niacin-alzheimers-researchResearchers discover intake of FDA-approved drug modulates disease progression in Alzheimer’s disease model<p><span>INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana University School of Medicine researchers found that niacin limits Alzheimer’s disease progression when used in models in the lab, a discovery that could potentially pave the way toward therapeutic approaches to the disease.</span></p> <p><span>The study, <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abl7634">recently published in <em>Science Translational Medicine</em>,</a> investigates how niacin modulates microglia response to amyloid plaques in an Alzheimer’s disease animal model.</span></p> <p><span><a href="/faculty/27243/landreth-gary">Gary Landreth, PhD</a></span><span>, Martin Professor of Alzheimer’s Research, and </span><span><a href="/faculty/27736/moutinho-miguel">Miguel Moutinho, PhD</a></span><span>, postdoctoral fellow in Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, led the study.</span></p> <p><span>“This study identifies a potential novel therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s disease, which can be modulated by FDA-approved drugs,” Moutinho said. “The translational potential of this strategy to clinical use is high.”</span></p> <p><span>Niacin, which sustains metabolism throughout the body, is mainly obtained through a typical diet; it also can be taken in supplements and cholesterol-lowering drugs. The brain, however, Moutinho found, uses niacin in a different manner.</span></p> <p><span>In the brain, niacin interacts with a highly-selective receptor, HCAR2, present in immune cells physically associated with amyloid plaques. When niacin—used in this project as the FDA-approved Niaspan drug—activates the receptor, it stimulates beneficial actions from these immune cells, Landreth said.</span></p> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/m/miguel-moutinho-phd01.jpg?h=267&w=400&rev=4f49f43afae54af3a0cf8da360d11b5e&hash=3AF7F72BE1CE8C83FBEAE51EB237099E" alt="Miguel Moutinho, PhD" style="height: 267px; width: 400px; float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;" /> <p><span>“After the Alzheimer’s disease animal models received niacin, they ended up with fewer plaques and they have improved cognition,” Landreth said, “and we directly showed that these actions were due to the HCAR2 receptor.”</span></p> <p><span>Past epidemiology studies of niacin and Alzheimer’s disease showed that people who had higher levels of niacin in their diet had diminished risk of the disease, Landreth said. Niacin is also currently being used in clinical trials in Parkinson’s disease and glioblastoma.</span></p> <p><span>To further their research into niacin and the brain, Landreth and Moutinho are collaborating with </span><span><a href="/faculty/13103/brosch-jared">Jared Brosch, MD</a></span><span>, associate professor of clinical neurology, who is applying for a clinical pilot trial to study the affects of niacin and the human brain.</span></p> <p><span><a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abl7634">Read the full study in <em>Science Translational Medicine</em>.</a></span></p> <p><span>###</span></p> <span>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span>Wed, 23 Mar 2022 00:00:00 Z{41EDA914-7C17-49E1-AC2F-E2560306CFD9}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/03/allergic-airways-response-studyResearchers studying ways to ease asthma symptoms caused by seasonal allergies<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers from <a href="/microbiology-immunology">Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Microbiology and Immunology</a> are studying new ways to treat seasonal or intermittent asthma. Their findings were <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciimmunol.abg9296">recently published in <em>Science Immunology</em></a>.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">“Asthma has no cure and current treatments primarily focus on resolving the symptoms,” said Ben Ulrich, PhD, lead author of the study. “While spending time in the high-risk asthma clinic at Riley Hospital for Children, I observed many patients had a more intermittent disease course. We went into the lab and developed models to more accurately define allergic memory and recall response in the lung.”</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">When someone with seasonal or intermittent asthma breathes in allergens, they can have symptoms such as wheezing, coughing and, in severe cases, asthmatic exacerbation or hospitalization. These symptoms result from inflammation, airway constriction, and mucus production. Once exposed to the seasonal allergens, which include exposure to pollens, fungi or other allergens only prevalent at certain times of the year, antigen-presenting cells activate CD4 positive T-cells to secrete cytokines, starting inflammatory cascades. The team looked at one cytokine, called interleukin 9 (IL-9), to see how it impacts allergic memory responses.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">They found a unique population of memory CD4 T-cells that produced IL-9, along with IL-5 and IL-13. These cells secreted IL-9 in an antigen-specific manner. Additionally, these cells express ST2, which is an IL-33 receptor, and demonstrated amplified IL-9 production in the presence of IL-33 in an allergen-specific manner. Blockade of IL-9 led to a decrease in expression of several genes associated with mucus production in the epithelial cells. It also led to a decrease in CD4 T-cells and B-cells and altered expression of activation markers on microphages.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">“Asthma exists in multiple forms and seasonal or intermittent asthma can be very different from other forms because of chronic exposure to allergens,” said <a href="/faculty/906/kaplan-mark">Mark Kaplan, PhD</a>, chair of the IU School of Medicine Department of Microbiology and Immunology and senior author of the study. “This study demonstrates targeting IL-9 in the lungs during seasonal allergies could help with lung inflammation. By focusing on a population of memory cells that mediate the allergic recall responses of the lungs, we could develop new targets for treatments.”</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">Other major collaborators include Rakshin Kharwadkar, PhD (now at Genentech), Michelle Chu and Abigail Pajulas. Other faculty authors from IU School of Medicine include <a href="/faculty/26337/linnemann-amelia">Amelia Linnemann, PhD</a>, <a href="/faculty/20852/turner-matthew">Matthew Turner, PhD, MD</a> and <a href="/faculty/196/liu-yunlong">Yunlong Liu, PhD</a>. Other collaborators include investigators at University of Virginia, Yale University, Mayo Clinic and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciimmunol.abg9296">Read the full publication in <em>Science Immunology</em>.</a></p> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KngxVSCSJBc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">###</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span></p>Mon, 21 Mar 2022 00:00:00 Z{089B1F60-C755-4BC3-8891-5EBAFF9240A2}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/03/match-day-2022IU School of Medicine celebrates Match Day 2022<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span>INDIANAPOLIS—For the first time in more than two years, the joyous sounds of medical students learning their residency futures was heard not virtually but in person.</span> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span><a href="/" target="_blank">Indiana University School of Medicine</a> celebrated Match Day on Friday with 321 fourth-year medical students matching with residency programs in Indiana and throughout the United States.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span>The school will also welcome nearly 300 new residents to its residency programs, 94 from IU and more than 200 coming from other medical schools around the world.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span>Friday’s event, held at the IUPUI Campus Center, was the first time since March 2019 that the annual event was held in person because of the COVID-19 pandemic.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span>“We are so proud of this year’s class and the 321 physicians who will soon be joining the health workforce here in Indiana and across the country,” said </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 98, 152);"><a href="/faculty/6512/hess-jay" target="_blank"><span style="color: rgb(0, 98, 152);">J</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 98, 152);">ay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</span></a></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">, dean of IU School of Medicine and IU’s executive vice president for university clinical affairs. “These students overcame tremendous difficulties with a global pandemic greatly impacting their time in medical school. We wish them the best as they embark on this important next step of their careers.”</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Each year in March, fourth-year medical students across the country gather and open envelopes at the same time—all finding out simultaneously where they will be heading to complete their residencies after graduation. While medical school provides students with foundational knowledge and skills necessary to be a doctor, residency offers intensive experience and preparation for a medical specialty and is required before a physician can practice independently.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">“Residency is an important time in a physician’s training experience and we are so excited to celebrate with our students as they prepare to begin their programs,” said </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 98, 152);"><a href="/faculty/41427/wallach-paul" target="_blank">Paul M. Wallach, MD</a></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">, executive associate dean for educational affairs. “While their time at IU School of Medicine may have looked different than they expected over the last two years due to the pandemic, this class has shown tremendous resilience and dedication to their medical school education. We know they will continue to make great accomplishments during residency and beyond.”</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">From the IU School of Medicine class of 2022, 94 future physicians will enter residency programs affiliated with IU School of Medicine or IU Health along with more than 200 additional graduates from other medical schools across the country. These programs include 30 different specialties, including internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine, anesthesiology, psychiatry, surgery, OB-GYN, emergency medicine and neurology. Their training begins in late June.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">“We are so excited to welcome all of these doctors-in-training to our residency programs here at IU School of Medicine,” Wallach said. “Residency is an important continuation of medical education and we are proud to provide exceptional learning experiences, great clinical training and research opportunities for these graduates.”</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">In addition to beginning residency training at IUSM, other graduates from our school matched at prestigious programs in other parts of the country, including: Stanford, Duke, Northwestern, Washington University (St. Louis), NYU, and Mayo Clinic to name a few.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Similarly, IU School of Medicine attracted graduates from top programs in the United States, including: Johns Hopkins, University of North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Duke, and Washington University (St. Louis).</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Other highlights from IU School of Medicine Match Day 2022 include:</span></p> <ul> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">41% of students will enter primary care residencies, helping to fulfill a significant need for primary care physicians in Indiana and across the country</span></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Graduates will complete residency in 32 states</span></li> <li style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">The top five specialties IU School of Medicine students matched into are: Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, General Surgery and Anesthesiology </span></li> </ul> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">View <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://fb.watch/bQxU5d2Arf/" target="_blank">video of the event on our Facebook page</a> or <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-4KFFiyoxVkpSe6A2h-8wv0BUmUBYcGW?usp=sharing" target="_blank">download photos, videos or sound bites with this media kit</a>.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">###</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span></p>Fri, 18 Mar 2022 00:00:00 Z{66B37E0C-D3C0-4A58-BDF5-679A36B714EC}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/03/human-induced-pluripotent-stem-cells-studyIU School of Medicine-led study shows human induced pluripotent stem cells improve visual acuity, vascular health<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine, in collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham and five other institutions, are investigating novel regenerative medicine approaches to better manage vascular health complications from type 2 diabetes that could someday support blood vessel repair in the eye among diabetic patients with early retinal vascular dysfunction. These research strategies include identifying and using new methods to differentiate or mature human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into the specific mesoderm subset of cells that display vascular reparative properties.</p> <p>“Vascular diseases afflict hundreds of millions of people in the world,” said Chang-Hyun Gil, MS, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in the <a href="/surgery">Department of Surgery</a> and co-first author of the study. “In this study, we focused on the retinal vessel in type 2 diabetes. Our results demonstrate the safe, efficient and robust derivation of hiPSC-derived specific mesoderm subset for use as a novel therapy to rescue ischemic tissues and repair blood vessels in individuals with vascular diseases. The results provide a foundation for an early phase clinical trial.”</p> <p>In the multi-site, early phase study recently published in <em><a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abm5559">Science Advances</a></em>, investigators genetically reprogrammed diabetic and non-diabetic peripheral blood cells into hiPSCs and matured the cells into special blood vessel reparative cells. Upon injection into animal models with type 2 diabetic murine (T2D) retinal dysfunction, results showed significant improvement in visual acuity and electroretinograms with restoration of vascular perfusion. They hypothesized hiPSC-derived vascular reparative cells may serve as a source of endothelial precursors that will display in vivo vessel reparative properties in these diabetic subjects.</p> <p>“Unlike the use of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), genetically engineered hiPSCs do not carry the ethical challenges ESCs possess that limit their possible usage, and hiPSCs are being increasingly recognized as a viable alternative in study design and application as a cell therapy for human disorders,” Gil said.</p> <p>According to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/reports/reportcard.html">U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>, more than 37 million people in the United States have diabetes–more than 11 percent of the U.S. population. What’s more, diabetes-related complications have risen among both young adults ages 18 to 44 years of age and adults ages 45 to 64. These complications cause major metabolic disturbances that damage the cardiovascular, visual, peripheral nerve and renal systems through harming small and large microvessels that feed these tissues. In 2019, more than 11 percent of adults ages 18 and older reported severe vision issues or blindness and more than 1.87 million adults were diagnosed with major cardiovascular disease.</p> <p>“This work by Dr. Gil represents a monumental step forward in the application of induced pluripotent stem cells in treating the complications of diabetes,” said Michael P. Murphy, MD, the Cryptic Medical Research Foundation Professor of Vascular Biology Research at IU School of Medicine, a vascular surgeon at <a href="https://iuhealth.org/">IU Health</a> and <a href="https://www.eskenazihealth.edu/">Eskenazi Health</a> and a coauthor of the study.</p> <p>Researchers converted hiPSC into a specific mesoderm subset that was enriched to generate endothelial cells with vessel reparative properties similar to endothelial colony forming cells (ECFC). Endothelial cells are cells found in the inner lining of blood vessels, lymph vessels and the heart and are a major component in regulating vascular function and inflammatory reactions. Endothelial cells control blood flow and regulate the transfer of proteins from blood into tissues. <span></span></p> <p>Gil said the specific mesoderm subset expressing KDR, NCAM1 and APLNR (KNA<sup>+</sup> mesoderm) exhibits enhanced capacity to differentiate into ECFC and form functional blood vessels in vivo and that mesoderm populations correct vasodegeneration of injured retinal vessels. Electroretinograms indicate enhanced function of neural retina and optokinetic nystagmus studies show improved vision.</p> <p>“The next translational step of the work is to transfer the research protocols reported for differentiation of the hiPSC into <span>to S<sup>-</sup><span style="background: white;">KNA</span></span><sup><span style="background: white;">+</span></sup><span> </span>cells into large scale manufacturing processes,” said Mervin C. Yoder, MD, distinguished professor emeritus and research advisor for the Indiana Center for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering. Yoder is another coauthor of the study and is the scientific founder of <a href="https://vascugen.com/">Vascugen</a>, a company driven to advance treatments for life-threatening conditions caused by microvascular conditions. “Selected aspects of this work have been licensed by Vascugen, Inc., through the <a href="https://research.iu.edu/innovation-commercialization/index.html">Indiana University Innovation and Commercialization Office</a>, who are focused on developing vascular reparative cells from induced pluripotent stem cells.”</p> <p>Another study coauthor is Maria B. Grant, MD, the former Marilyn Glick Professor of Ophthalmology at the <a href="/ophthalmology/history/glick-eye-institute">IU School of Medicine Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute</a> and current endowed chair of ophthalmology at UAB. Grant said this is a highly translational study that is a continuation of a grant she and Yoder have been working on for the last 20 years regarding stems cells and how they can be used to repair blood vessels in the eye. While hiPSCs can take a long time to grow, the study team simplified the process to shorten the time to grow them and make them more feasible to translate into a human therapy to repair blood vessels in the eye.</p> <p>“At UAB, we took the stem cells and hiPSC cells and studied them,” she said. “Science is really team science. I bring all the eye experience and some stem cell experience, and Dr. Yoder brings a lot of stem cell experience. It’s a complementary collaboration.”</p> <p>“I want to express my greatest thanks to Dr. Yoder, Dr. Grant and Dr. Murphy for their support,” Gil said. He will remember Yoder for “his dedication, passion, patience and kindness” and Murphy for supporting him in completing the study.</p> <p> </p> <p>Other participating sites included <a href="https://www.astellas.com/us/innovation/r-and-d">Astellas Institute for Regenerative Medicine</a>, <a href="https://www.bumc.bu.edu/busm/">Boston University School of Medicine</a>, <a href="https://medicine.weill.cornell.edu/divisions-programs/regenerative-medicine/ansary-stem-cell-institute">Ansary Stem Cell Institute at Weill Cornell Medicine</a>, <a href="https://www.ohsu.edu/casey-eye-institute">Casey Eye Institute at Oregon Health & Science University</a> and the School of Medicine at <a href="https://eng.konkuk.ac.kr/">Konkuk University</a>. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health.</p> <p><em>Read the full <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abm5559">published study in Science Advances.</a></em></p> <p>###</p> <p><span style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a></span><span> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span></p> <div> <div> <div id="_com_2" language="JavaScript"> </div> </div> </div>Thu, 10 Mar 2022 00:00:00 Z{07F47D15-30B0-4B9D-B7B6-8D4CB7444B0D}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/03/hemophilia-treatment-grantResearchers receive $12 million for safer hemophilia treatments<p>INDIANAPOLIS—An Indiana University School of Medicine researcher will lead a multi-institute effort toward improved therapies for hemophilia with help from a $12 million grant from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Led by <a href="/faculty/41867/herzog-roland">Roland Herzog, PhD</a>, the program project award will fund basic and translational studies that explore three major themes in a gene therapy approach that could lead to safer—and potentially curative—treatments for the disorder.</p> <p>Hemophilia is an X-linked genetic condition that prevents the blood from clotting properly. It occurs in about 1 out of 5,000 male births. In patients with severe forms of the disease, an internal or external bleed can be life-threatening. Standard treatments for severe hemophilia involve intravenously replacing the clotting factor proteins that patients are unable to produce adequately on their own. However, a gene therapy approach uses adeno-associated viruses as a delivery mechanism to provide the body with the information it needs to start making its own clotting factors.</p> <p>“Several companies have taken this forward into clinical trials, and in some of these trials, the patients initially looked like they were cured,” said Herzog, who is the Riley Children’s Foundation Professor of Immunology. “But what they all have in common is that they need to deliver a lot of the virus in order to get the desired results, and over time clotting factor levels started to decline. So, it’s clear that we need to further study the biology of this phenomenon.”</p> <p>In hemophilia A, which accounts for about 80 percent of all cases of hemophilia, patients do not produce a sufficient amount of a clotting protein called <em>factor VIII </em>(FVIII)<em>. </em> To better understand the interdependent mechanisms that are mitigating the effects of current drug candidates, Herzog is teaming up with some of the nation’s leading experts.</p> <p>Their program will focus on three major projects in gene therapy for hemophilia A:</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><strong>Project 1</strong> will focus on cellular toxicity and stress that can be induced by FVIII protein production. This project is led by <a href="https://www.sbpdiscovery.org/our-scientists/randal-j-kaufman-phd">Randal J. Kaufman, PhD</a>, director of the Degenerative Diseases Program at the Sanford Burnham Prebys Center for Genetic Disorders and Aging Research.</li> <li><strong>Project 2</strong> is led by IU School of Medicine professor of pediatrics <a href="/faculty/48021/xiao-weidong">Weidong Xiao, PhD</a>. Xiao’s research project focuses on molecular virology and the development of viral vectors used in gene therapy to deliver the FVIII-encoding gene, with major contributions from IU research scientists Junping Zhang, PhD, and Anh Lam, PhD.</li> <li><strong>Project 3</strong> will examine the immune system and its role in the interference of FVIII production over time. It is jointly led by Herzog and <a href="https://weillcornell.org/ydejong">Ype de Jong, MD, PhD</a>, assistant professor of medicine at the Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University.</li> </ul> <p>Together, they hope to provide new insight that can lead to lower levels of toxicity and improved longevity of FVIII production in patients who are treated with gene therapy for hemophilia.</p> <p>To help support the program, the grant will also fund a core that generates human liver cells and a core that manufactures gene therapy vectors and analyzes them on a molecular level.  Additionally, the program will receive regular counsel with an internal and external scientific advisory board.</p> <p>“This is an incredibly significant and urgent medical question, and it requires the synergy of <span></span>multiple groups <span></span>with different expertise to come <span></span>together and solve a problem <span></span>that they wouldn’t be able to solve on their own,” said Herzog. “My hope is that our studies will help the field as a whole move toward curing hemophilia A.”</p> <p><em>The above referenced grant is project number P01HL160472, titled “</em><a href="https://reporter.nih.gov/search/ijSAalprwUiljAHsZ9Ping/project-details/10333185"><em>Toward Safer Gene Therapy for Hemophilia A</em></a><em>,” funded by the National Institutes of Health NHLBI. For more information in the Gene and Cell Therapy Program and its focus on gene therapy for hemophilia, visit the </em><em><a href="/research-centers/pediatrics/research/gene-cell-therapy">Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research website</a></em><em>.</em></p> <p><span>###</span></p> <span>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span>Tue, 08 Mar 2022 00:00:00 Z{D2E9FD18-C9CA-4394-A88B-50F2DABFCBE1}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/03/lgbtq-health-care-conference-2022IU School of Medicine to host 5th annual LGBTQ+ Health Care Conference<h3 style="margin-top: 0px;"><strong>Attendees and speakers from around the world will join virtual event</strong></h3> <p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine will soon host its <a href="/inclusion/programs/lgbtq-conference">5th annual LGBTQ+ Health Care Conference</a>, a three-day event designed for health care professionals, learners, researchers, patients, community organizations and interested community members seeking to understand the unique health care practices and needs within the LGBTQ+ population. This year’s virtual conference will be held March 24-26.</p> <p>“IU School of Medicine is proud to be an international resource for LGBTQ+ health care,” said <a href="/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>, dean of IU School of Medicine and IU’s executive vice president for university clinical affairs. “Our job is to provide the best care possible for every person who entrusts us with their health. This multidisciplinary conference will provide in-depth knowledge for students, staff and health care providers to continue improving care for the LGBTQ+ patient population.”</p> <p>The conference has grown significantly each year since it was first held in 2017, surpassing 1,000 attendees in 2021 and that many or more expected to register again from around the world this year. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the school first moved the conference to an online format in 2020, creating more accessibility for attendees.</p> <p>“This year we are thrilled to welcome speakers and attendees from outside the United States for the first time,” said <a href="/faculty/15690/tori-alvaro">Alvaro Tori, MD</a>, associate dean for diversity affairs at IU School of Medicine. “This conference has seen significant growth over the last several years and we look forward to continuing to educate others on how to provide the best equitable and justice-centered care possible for LGBTQ+ patients.”</p> <p>This year’s theme is “Beyond Resilience: Centering Equity in LGBTQ Health Care.” Attendees will learn how to provide respectful, patient-centered, culturally-competent health care and how to better support LGBTQ patients.</p> <p>“We aim to curate a learning opportunity that centers LGBTQ+ voices and examines the role of systemic racism and other structural factors that influence injustice and health inequities that impact LGBTQ people,” said <a href="/faculty/38829/venis-juan-carlos">Juan Carlos Venis, MD, MPH</a>, assistant professor of clinical family medicine and primary care physician for the <a href="https://www.eskenazihealth.edu/health-services/gender-health">Eskenazi Health Gender Health Program</a>.</p> <p>“The Eskenazi Health Gender Health Program was launched in 2016, and we’re proud that it’s the first comprehensive, gender-affirming care program in Indiana,” said <a href="/faculty/5389/fogel-janine">Janine Fogel, MD</a>, medical director of the Eskenazi Health Gender Health Program and co-director of the IU School of Medicine LGBTQ+ family medicine residency track. “The LGBTQ+ Health Care Conference is a great way for us to share knowledge on how to provide quality and comprehensive care and support to the LGBTQ+ population. Education of future health care providers has been one of our highest priorities.”</p> <p>The conference is free for medical students and trainees and affordable tickets are available to the public. IU School of Medicine faculty members along with community members, scholars and social workers from across the country are scheduled to present. Keynote speakers include T.J. Jourian, PhD, Aydin Olson- Kennedy, LCSW, Johanna Olson-Kennedy, MD, and Carl Streed Jr., MD, MPH. A new film called “My name is Pauli Murray,” a documentary about a non-binary lawyer, activist and poet, will also be screened. Biography information for all speakers as well as more information about the agenda and how to register are <a href="/inclusion/programs/lgbtq-conference">available on our website</a>.</p> <p>###</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <p> </p>Thu, 03 Mar 2022 00:00:00 Z{A49EF347-9C3F-4B7D-805C-FAE42FA8CCED}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/02/asthma-food-allergies-studyIU School of Medicine study could lead to new treatment for people with asthma, food allergies<p><span>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers at </span><span><a href="/microbiology-immunology">Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Microbiology and Immunology</a></span><span> have made an important new discovery about how a particular molecule could improve lung function for people with asthma and food allergies.</span></p> <p><span>“Millions of children and adults in the United States have asthma, which results from allergen-induced inflammation in the lungs,” </span><span>said </span><span><a href="/faculty/906/kaplan-mark">Mark Kaplan, PhD</a></span><span>, chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the senior author of the study. “The ability of cells to communicate with each other is critical in the development of inflammation and occurs through the release of molecules called cytokines.</span></p> <p><span>One of these cytokines, interleukin-9 (IL-9), has been found in patients with asthma and food allergy, but how IL-9 promotes inflammation has been unclear. In the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciimmunol.abi9768" target="_blank">study published recently in <span><em>Science Immunology</em></span></a></span>, researchers define one of the cell types, called the lung macrophage, as a major target of IL-9.</p> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/a/allergens-graphic.jpg?h=414&w=400&rev=b6da928aed33494e96b27350268938d7&hash=9AB78738E9F18DB882D94EE9D63B7A20" alt="asthma and allergies graphic" style="height: 414px; width: 400px;" class="float-left" /> <p><span>They found allergic lung inflammation decreased when the receptor for IL-9 was missing and the macrophage is critical for IL-9 function in the allergic lung. They also defined downstream effectors of IL-9 in the macrophage, identifying enzymes and additional cytokines that are required for the development of allergic inflammation, and found a correlation between IL-9 and the downstream effectors with the diagnosis of asthma in patients.</span></p> <p><span>“This work is a significant advancement in our study of allergic lung inflammation,” Kaplan said. “We can use this information to further study the macrophage populations and determine how it could be a potential therapeutic approach for treatment of asthma and other types of lung inflammation.”</span></p> <p><span>The study was led by </span><span>Yongyao Fu, PhD, MS</span><span>, a former graduate student and now an adjunct assistant scientist in microbiology and immunology at IU School of Medicine and a scientist at Genentech in California. Read the full publication in <em><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciimmunol.abi9768" target="_blank">Science Immunology</a></em>.</span></p> <p><span>Learn more about </span><span><a href="/microbiology-immunology/research">microbiology and immunology research at IU School of Medicine</a></span><span>.</span></p> <p><span>###</span></p> <p><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">About IU School of Medicine</span></strong></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 98, 152);"><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a></span><span> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span></p> <div> <div> <div id="_com_1" language="JavaScript"> </div> </div> </div>Mon, 21 Feb 2022 00:00:00 Z{4B90852E-C270-40C8-A917-EB2669B23A36}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/02/degas-studyIU School of Medicine researchers draw analogies between art and science in new study<h3><span>DEGAS Study adds deep learning transfer to Seurat approach, creates identification of disease risk</span></h3> <p>INDIANAPOLIS–<span>Indiana University School of Medicine and Regenstrief Institute researchers have discovered an innovative approach to identifying how likely someone is to develop certain diseases. The study, called Diagnostic Evidence GAuge of Single Cells (DEGAS), was recently published in </span><a href="https://genomemedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13073-022-01012-2">Genome Medicine</a><span>.</span></p> <p>Led by <a href="/faculty/51902/johnson-travis">Travis Johnson, PhD</a><span>, assistant research professor of biostatistics and health data sciences, along with </span><span><a href="/faculty/38697/huang-kun">Kun Huang, PhD, MS</a></span><span>, chair of the </span><span><a href="/biostatistics">Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Sciences</a></span><span> and research scientist with <a href="https://www.regenstrief.org/">Regenstrief Institute</a>, and </span><span><a href="/faculty/38859/zhang-jie">Jie Zhang, PhD</a></span><span>, assistant professor of medical and molecular genetics and affiliated scientist with Regenstrief Institute, the study</span> utilized single-cell RNA sequencing that allows for the identification of differences between individual cells. The most widely used tool is known as Seurat, named after the famous French pointillism artist Georges Seurat. The sequencing tool can conjure up an image in one’s mind similar to Seurat’s style of painting, which creates images using specific points on a canvas.</p> <p>Researchers took the Seurat approach, incorporated deep learning into it and named it DEGAS. Like Seraut, Edgar Degas was a famous painter. But instead of using points to create an image, Degas used impressionism.</p> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/project/facultyprofileimages/2021/05/19/15/09/51902-travis-johnson.png?h=300&w=200&rev=b5e921f70a8b45dfa0447e520baa7b3e&hash=F3CFDAF3E8847E5C2FA5BDE937553EE5" style="height: 300px; width: 200px; float: left; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;" alt="Travis Johnson, PhD" title="Travis Johnson, PhD" longdesc="/Travis%20Johnson,%20PhD" /> <p>“Incorporating a novel, deep-learning framework allowed us to transfer disease information from patients into cells,” said Johnson, the study’s lead author. “We call the transferrable information ‘impressions,’ which allowed us to assign disease attributes to individual cells.”</p> <p>The team applied the DEGAS approach to Alzheimer’s disease, glioblastoma and multiple myeloma. In each disease, DEGAS allowed for deeper patient insights.</p> <p>“Using the DEGAS approach allowed us to count within an individual’s single cell how many genes were present that were associated with cancer or Alzheimer’s disease and make a prediction about their risk for disease, prognosis and response to therapy,” Johnson said. “What some people don’t realize is within a single cell there are multiple genes expressed. From those genes, we may discover some associated with a variety of different cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, as well as genes associated with improved health.”</p> <p><span>As a next step, the team plans to utilize DEGAS with spatial transcriptomics, a method that will allow them to assign </span>cell types to their locations <span>and identify which tumor cells and regions of cells are more associated with relapse.</span></p> <p><span style="background: white;">This study </span><span style="background: white;">was funded in part by the <a href="/expertise/precision-health">Indiana University Grand Challenge Precision Health Initiative</a>. Additional funding was also provided by the </span>NIH NLM-NRSA Fellowship (F31LM013056) at The Ohio State University (Columbus, OH), Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation Research Fellowship Award at Indiana University School of Medicine, and the NIH Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Drug Discovery Center grant (U54AG065181).</p> <p><strong>Contact: </strong><span>Christine Drury, </span><a href="mailto:cldrury@iu.edu">cldrury@iu.edu</a><span> 317-385-9227 (cell)</span></p> <p><span style="text-align: center;">###</span></p> <p><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">About IU School of Medicine</span></strong></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span></p> <div> <div> <div id="_com_1" language="JavaScript"> </div> </div> </div>Tue, 08 Feb 2022 00:00:00 Z{C4396A07-AF34-41CB-B860-D6964D196F06}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/02/cvi-new-recruitsCardiovascular Institute and Department of Medicine recruits signal a future of equity and innovation in cardiovascular medicine<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Two widely recognized leaders in cardiovascular medicine have been recruited to the <a href="/institutes/cardiovascular">Cardiovascular Institute</a><span> (CVI)</span>, a<span> joint enterprise between <a href="/internal-medicine">Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Medicine</a> and Indiana University Health on the forefront of cardiovascular care, research and education.</span></p> <p><a href="https://deptmedicine.arizona.edu/profile/khadijah-breathett-md-ms-facc-faha-fhfsa">Khadijah Breathett, MD, MS, FACC, FAHA, FHFSA</a><span>, will join the institute to direct health equity research, demonstrating the CVI’s rigorous commitment to leading the advancement of health equity in Indiana and beyond.</span></p> <p><span>“Dr. Breathett’s work has been widely recognized as critical to achieving national health equity among populations with the highest prevalence of heart failure – patients of color and women,” said </span>Subha Raman, MD<span>, CVI’s physician director. “Her research addresses population-based preventive interventions, equitable access to evidence-based therapies and improving outcomes across disparate communities, leveraging bioinformatics and implementation science.”</span></p> <p><span>Breathett, previously of the University of Arizona College of Medicine, has developed several outcomes and population studies, as well as community interventions focused on reducing racial/ethnic and gender disparities in cardiovascular disease.</span></p> <p><span>“I chose to become a heart failure and transplant cardiologist, and a physician-scientist, with the mission of making cardiovascular health care more accessible and health care delivery more equitable,” Breathett said. “I look forward to joining the team at Indiana University and leading initiatives to address social determinants of health, bias and structural racism in my research and beyond.”</span></p> <p><span>Additionally, </span><a href="https://ankurkalramd.com/">Ankur Kalra, MD, FACP, FACC, FSCAI</a><span>, will join the institute as </span><span>director for interventional cardiology quality and innovation.</span></p> <p><span>An interventional cardiologist, an entrepreneur and a poet, Kalra has a career-spanning track record of contributing major advances in interventional quality and innovation. His work is informed by robust and focused engagement in multiple fields of study, as well as creative applications of his expertise. Kalra, previously of the Cleveland Clinic, is the founder of a nonprofit startup, </span><a href="https://makeadent.org/">Makeadent.org</a><span>, and host of the cardiology-focused podcast </span><a href="https://makeadent.org/initiatives/parallax-podcast/">“Parallax.”</a></p> <p><span>With this combination of an incisive scientific mind and an entrepreneurial spirit, Kalra “</span><span>has uniquely advanced the combination of peer-reviewed science with social media to further drive the impact of cardiovascular innovations,” said Raman.</span></p> <p><span>Kalra </span><span>said he is “ecstatic” to take on this leadership role, which aligns with Raman’s vision of mission-aligned delivery of high-quality, excellent, purposeful care, delivered to patients in need when they’re at the most vulnerable stages in their lives.</span></p> <p><span>“I aspire to utilize my skill sets in health care quality, patient safety, health informatics and leadership to be part of this exciting transformation of the Cardiovascular Institute,” he said.</span></p> <p><span>Together, Breathett and Kalra will bring substantial experience, expertise and dynamism to the Cardiovascular Institute, further establishing its role as a regional, national and global leader in cardiovascular medicine. </span></p> <p><span style="text-align: center;">###</span><span style="text-align: center;"></span></p> <span><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a></span><span> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span> <div> </div>Thu, 03 Feb 2022 00:00:00 Z{70368408-55D5-4FF7-9F58-405B2D311D8C}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/02/nih-funding-2021IU School of Medicine receives record-breaking funding from NIH for sixth straight year<p><span>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine is celebrating a record-breaking year of funding awarded from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the sixth year in a row.</span></p> <p><span>The school’s scientists and physicians were awarded more than $217 million in NIH research funding in the 2021 federal fiscal year, which is about $5 million more than the previous year. It was the second year in a row the school surpassed $200 million.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">The NIH is the lead federal agency responsible for biomedical and public health research, and NIH grants are the most prestigious funding for researchers. IU School of Medicine is a national leader in the areas of <a href="/pediatrics">pediatrics</a> and <a href="/genetics">medical and molecular genetics</a>, both ranking eighth out of all pediatrics and genetics departments in the country. The school also ranked fourth in funding from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">the NIH branch that is the primary funder of Alzheimer’s disease research, </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">and third in the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">“Once again our faculty have showed tremendous leadership on a national level,” said </span><span><a href="/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">, dean of IU School of Medicine and IU’s executive vice president for university clinical affairs. “The NIH is the gold standard of medical research. </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">This increase in NIH funding year after year highlights the expertise and the importance of the work happening at IU School of Medicine. What’s most important is that this funding will accelerate progress toward eliminating some of our biggest health challenges.”</span></p> <p><span>According to a report by </span><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://unitedformedicalresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/NIHs-Role-in-Sustaining-the-U.S.-Economy-FINAL-3.23.21.pdf" target="_blank"><span>United for Medical Research</span></a><span>, every $1 million in NIH funding awarded to Indiana researchers created 13 jobs and $2.7 million in economic activity in 2020. Based on that data, IU School of Medicine’s 2021 NIH funding is responsible for more than 3,823 jobs—with 2,817 of those here in Indiana. </span><span>The income from those jobs, along with other associated expenses, generates an estimated $594 million annually in economic activity in Indiana.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">“Despite the challenges of the COVID pandemic, I am proud that IU School of Medicine has received increased NIH grant funding to support so many important areas of medical research,” </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">said </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 98, 152);"><a href="/faculty/276/foroud-tatiana">Tatiana Foroud, PhD</a></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">, Executive Associate Dean for Research Affairs and Chair of the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics. “Our faculty remain focused on research innovation and discovery to allow us to address the most important health challenges in the state of Indiana and beyond.”</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">For the third year in a row, four of the five research studies that received the most NIH funding at the school were for </span><span><a href="/expertise/alzheimers">Alzheimer’s disease research</a>, in alignment with the school’s top priorities. The top-funded study with $16.6 million in NIH support in 2021 was the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://leads-study.medicine.iu.edu/" target="_blank">Longitudinal Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Study (LEADS)</a> led by </span><span><a href="/faculty/6815/apostolova-liana">Liana Apostolova, MD</a></span><span>. The focus of the LEADS study is a form of Alzheimer’s disease that afflicts patients between the ages of 40 and 65.</span> </p> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/n/nih-eight-dep-1080.jpg?h=401&w=400&rev=bc04809c5bc84149918ffa92036f793d&hash=575AE14C4C5C63B7C0F950C4EDFD21E1" style="height: 401px; width: 400px; float: left; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;" alt="NIH Research Numbers 2021" /> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">At No. 2 was the </span><span><a href="/expertise/alzheimers/research/preclinical/drug-discovery">IU School of Medicine Alzheimer’s Disease Drug Discovery Center</a></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> led by </span><span><a href="/faculty/42911/palkowitz-alan">Alan Palkowitz, PhD</a></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">. The center </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">aims to address challenges in discovering new therapeutic targets and drugs for the disease and accelerate the development of promising new treatments.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Other top Alzheimer’s grants include the </span><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://ncrad.iu.edu/" target="_blank"><span>National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia (NCRAD)</span></a><span>, <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">which is led by Foroud and collects and distributes biological samples like DNA, plasma and tissue from patients with dementia for use in local and national research, and the </span><a href="/expertise/alzheimers/research/preclinical/laboratory-models"><span>Model Organism Development and Evaluation for Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease (MODEL-AD)</span><span>,</span></a></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> which is led by </span><span><a href="/faculty/23627/lamb-bruce">Bruce Lamb, PhD</a></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> and is a consortium working to translate research discoveries into new Alzheimer’s disease therapies.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">The Department of Pediatrics ranked eighth in the nation with $34.8 million in funding, about 16 percent of the school’s total NIH funding. Grants awarded to the department were for 63 studies, including research on severe asthma management and congenital heart defects.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">The Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics also ranked eighth with more than $23.8 million in funding, accounting for about 11 percent of the school’s total NIH funding. The department received funding for 19 studies, including several grants for work researching Alzheimer’s disease.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">IU School of Medicine saw 8 total departments in the top 20 rankings in 2021. The department of Obstetrics and Gynecology jumped 18 spots to rank 20<sup>th</sup> among all other departments in that field nationally. The Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences also joined the top 20 in that field, moving 6 spots to rank 17<sup>th</sup>. They join Biostatistics (12), Emergency Medicine (15), Medical and Molecular Genetics (8), Neurology (18), Otolaryngology (18) and Pediatrics (8).</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Overall, IU School of Medicine ranks 14<sup>th</sup> among public medical schools and 27<sup>th</sup> in NIH funding nationally.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Additional information can be found at </span><a href="/research"><span style="color: rgb(0, 98, 152);">go.iu.edu/research</span></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">####</span></p> <p><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">About IU School of Medicine</span></strong></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span></p>Tue, 01 Feb 2022 00:00:00 Z{2880549F-9D66-47C7-8FFA-505AD72A4DA1}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/01/analysis-reveals-rare-disease-is-more-common-than-previously-thoughtAnalysis reveals rare disease is more common than previously thought<p>INDIANAPOLIS—A large data analysis led by Indiana University School of Medicine Professor <a href="/faculty/43800/gaston-benjamin">Benjamin Gaston, MD</a>, shows a rare respiratory disease called <em>primary ciliary dyskinesia </em>(PCD) is more common than previously thought.</p> <p>Recently <a href="https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1eRCV7tFB1MFZv">published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine</a>, the analysis aimed to gauge the global prevalence and genetic variance of PCD, a genetic condition that affects a protective function of the respiratory system. PCD can lead to chronic health issues, including chronic, daily coughing and congestion, recurring respiratory and ear infections and severe lung damage.</p> <p>Using information from two databases, the group screened the genetic sequences of 180,000 unique people for disease-causing variants of 29 genes that are linked to autosomal recessive PCD. While PCD was previously estimated to occur in only about 1 in 16,000 people, Gaston’s analysis showed that it’s over twice as common at about 1 in 7,500.</p> <p>“This is very important for clinicians. Since PCD has been thought of as a rare disease, they might not recognize it when they see a patient with PCD symptoms,” said Gaston, who is also the Vice Chair of Translational Research in the <a href="/pediatrics">Department of Pediatrics</a>. “They may think, ‘Well, it's unlikely because it's such a rare disease.’ But actually, it's not anywhere near as rare as we thought.”</p> <p>Scientists also looked at disease prevalence among seven ethnic groups, a factor for which previous data were limited. They found that people of African descent had a higher rate of PCD-causing variants than in other populations, followed by non-Finnish European groups and people of Hispanic descent.</p> <p>Importantly, the data showed that, of the 29 genes studied, the 5 most common genes with PCD-causing variants were <em>different</em> in different ethnic populations. Collectively, these data can help doctors better recognize and diagnose PCD in patients, especially in certain parts of the world or when treating patients from diverse backgrounds.</p> <p>“My hope is that clinicians will have a much lower threshold for evaluating people who might have PCD,” said Gaston.</p> <p>Using this type of large-scale analysis to determine disease prevalence is a budding approach in scientific discovery. But it’s <a href="/news/2021/04/big-data-analysis-reveals-that-androgens-could-benefit-asthma">not the first time</a> that Gaston “worked backwards,” applying discoveries from his lab to large quantities of genetic data. Gaston said he hopes investigators continue identifying new genes that are associated with PCD—including the ones that this study omitted because of their unknown significance—to continue improving the diagnosis and care of people who have PCD.</p> <p>For this study, the group used a California-based genetics laboratory, Invitae, and an international sequence database called Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD). Contributing authors in this study include first-author William B. Hannah, MD, from the University of North Carolina; Duke University School of Medicine’s Bryce A. Seifert,PhD; Rebecca Truty, PhD, and Keith Nykamp, PhD of Invitae; Maimoona Zariwala, PhD from the Marisico Lung Institute, University of North Carolina; University of Utah’s Kristen Ameel, MD; and IU School of Medicine’s <a href="/faculty/44484/zhao-yi">Yi Zhao, PhD</a>.</p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Mon, 24 Jan 2022 00:00:00 Z{F1100F51-B5DE-4707-9870-97763127E86C}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/01/new-study-shows-pathological-differences-in-inherited-versus-sporadic-alzheimers-diseaseNew study shows pathological differences in inherited versus sporadic Alzheimer's disease<p><span><img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/t/type-i-and-ii.jpg?h=444&w=378&rev=aba729755ee64ff788f3b74c57ff4669&hash=1EADC17462D2C3E066A1F1BD3BD7186D" style="height: 444px; width: 378px;" alt="Type I and Type II filaments" title="Type I and Type II filaments" longdesc="Type I and Type II filaments" class="float-right" />INDIANAPOLIS—</span><span>Indiana University School of Medicine</span><span> researchers are making new discoveries about the pathological changes in people who have inherited Alzheimer’s disease versus developing the disease sporadically. These findings could lead to new ways of preventing and treating the disease.</span></p> <p><span>In a </span><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abm7285" target="_blank"><span>new paper published in <em>Science</em></span></a><span>, researchers from <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/" target="_blank">the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology</a> in Cambridge, England, United Kingdom and IU School of Medicine detail new findings about senile plaques, which are made up of a peptide called Amyloid-β 42 </span><span>(</span><span>Aβ 42). The study shows for the first time that the structure of the Aβ 42 filaments is different in sporadic and inherited Alzheimer’s disease. Type I filaments were found mostly in the brains of individuals with sporadic Alzheimer’s disease and Type II filaments were found in individuals with familial Alzheimer’s disease or other </span>neurodegenerative conditions.</p> <p><span>“Although senile plaques have been known to be one of the main pathological changes in Alzheimer’s disease for over a century, their nature </span>and composition has been gradually unraveled during the past four decades,” said <a href="/faculty/13352/ghetti-bernardino">Bernardino Ghetti, MD</a>, a distinguished professor and professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at IU School of Medicine. Ghetti is a corresponding author of the paper and a lead researcher at the <a href="/research-centers/alzheimers">Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center</a>.</p> <p><span>Researchers looked at </span><span>cryogenic electron microscopy maps and 3D structures of Aβ 42 from the brains of five patients with Alzheimer’s disease and from five patients with different neurodegenerative conditions. Patients had either sporadic Alzheimer’s disease or dominantly inherited Alzheimer’s disease with a mutation in the <em>APP</em> or <em>PSEN1 </em>genes.</span></p> <p><span>“This new knowledge of the filament structures provides deeper insights into the disease process in Alzheimer’s and may lead to the development of compounds that can prevent the disease by inhibiting filament formation as well as new methods for brain imaging,” Ghetti said. “This paper opens a new chapter for imaging and therapeutics.”</span></p> <p><span>The study was supported by National Institutes of Health grants. Other study authors from IU School of Medicine include </span><span>Holly Garringer, PhD</span><span>, </span><span><a href="/faculty/43732/newell-kathy">Kathy Newell, MD</a></span><span> and </span><span><a href="/faculty/13386/vidal-ruben">Ruben Vidal, PhD</a></span><span>. Read </span><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abm7285" target="_blank"><span>the full publication in <em>Science</em></span></a><span>.</span></p> <p><span>Learn more about </span><span><a href="/expertise/alzheimers">Alzheimer’s disease research at IU School of Medicine</a></span><span>.</span></p> <p><span>###</span></p> <p><span>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span></p>Tue, 18 Jan 2022 00:00:00 Z{15DD1FFD-1658-4596-84A6-B20FBD68C5CA}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/01/researchers-make-important-new-findings-about-how-to-test-cancer-fighting-drugsResearchers make important new findings about how to test cancer-fighting drugs<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers from<a href="/"> Indiana University School of Medicine</a> are discovering new ways to find out how effective a drug might be against cancer. Their findings are detailed in a <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abh3375">new paper published by Science Advances</a>.</p> <p>“This paper completely changes the way we need to collect tumor tissues and test for drug sensitivity,” said <a href="/faculty/13331/nakshatri-harikrishna">Harikrishna Nakshatri, PhD</a>, a senior author of the paper. Nakshatri is the Marian J. Morrison professor of breast cancer research at IU School of Medicine <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">and a researcher with the Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research at the </span><a href="http://cancer.iu.edu">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a>. Hal Broxmeyer, PhD, a distinguished professor at IU School of Medicine who passed away in December 2021, also contributed to this study.</p> <p>Typically, tumors are collected and exposed to room oxygen, which is about 21 percent. However, different organs in the body have different oxygen levels. For example, the brain has 4.4 percent oxygen, blood 5.3 percent, and liver 5.4 percent. When cancer drugs are used on tumors in the clinical setting, they’re still in a patient’s body and are not exposed to ambient air.</p> <p>“The oxygen level in our different parts of the body is almost half of what we find in ambient air,” Nakshatri said. “Oxygen can have a different effect on the function of different proteins in the tumors. They may get activated, lose their activity level, get degraded or get stabilized. We wanted to test the tumors in a way that more closely resembles how they are in the body, so we know more about what drugs to use.”</p> <p>Researchers tested three different drugs on two different types of tumors. They split the tumors in half and tested one part in 5 percent oxygen, since that is an average oxygen level in the body, and exposed the other part to room oxygen before testing. They looked at the difference in the cancer stem cells, signaling pathways and how drugs behaved in the different oxygen levels. They found the sensitivy level of the tumor cells was different in 5 percent oxygen versus room oxygen.</p> <p>“This is a study that is now raising more questions we need to answer,” Nakshatri said. “Why do the cells react differently? Are we screening the drugs against cancer cells the right way? If we screen for drugs at the physiologic oxygen level, are we going to find different drugs that we may have missed all these years by doing the experiments at 21 percent oxygen?”</p> <p>In the future, researchers hope to study the different reactions tumors have to other various oxygen levels, like 1 percent or 20 percent. Nakshatri explained this kind of testing could act as another method of screening to determine a drug’s efficacy.</p> <p>“Suppose we identify a drug with the way we are doing right now in room oxygen, then add another layer of testing in the lab where we keep the cells at the physiologic oxygen level and compare whether the drug is working or not,” Nakshatri said. “If it works, then we can move forward to the clinical setting and it increases the chances of the drug being successful.”</p> <p>Other study authors from IU School of Medicine include Brijesh Kumar, PhD, <a href="/faculty/22059/capitano-maegan">Maegan Capitano, PhD</a>, <a href="/faculty/196/liu-yunlong">Yunlong Liu, PhD</a>, Constance Temm, PhD, <a href="/faculty/4946/sandusky-george">George Sandusky, PhD</a><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/4946/sandusky-george">,</a> and <a href="/faculty/20748/mosley-amber">Amber Mosley, PhD</a>. <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abh3375">Read the full publication in Science Advances</a>.</p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Thu, 13 Jan 2022 00:00:00 Z{6883149C-6AFC-45F0-ACB4-43D2E416356C}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/01/iu-school-of-medicine-department-of-surgery-launches-hand-surgery-fellowshipIU School of Medicine Department of Surgery launches hand surgery fellowship<p>INDIANAPOLIS – The <a href="/surgery">Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Surger</a>y has launched a <a href="/surgery/education/fellowship/hand-surgery">hand surgery fellowship</a> to provide the next generation of board-eligible orthopaedic and plastic surgeons specialized skills and academic research experience. The first selected fellow will serve Aug. 1, 2022 through July 31, 2023. Two fellowship positions will be available starting 2023.</p> <p>The hand surgery fellowship at Indiana University is a multidisciplinary, comprehensive program that immerses fellows in both plastic surgery-based and orthopaedic surgery-based hand services, with exposure to treating patients for a myriad of complex conditions, including traumatic injuries, brachial plexus injuries, tendonitis, vascular problems, amputation management, congenital conditions, tumors of the upper extremity and options for additional exposure to shoulder and elbow pathology.</p> <p>Fellows will have the opportunity to experience the full cycle of care – from initial evaluation in the clinic and surgery to postoperative rehabilitation. They will also be expected to complete at least one publishable academic project on a clinical study during the year and should be prepared to present their project locally or at national meetings.</p> <p>“Our hand surgery fellowship program is designed to offer surgeons an integrated, multi-disciplinary curriculum that covers the full spectrum of the specialty,” said <a href="/faculty/27171/adkinson-joshua">Joshua M. Adkinson, MD</a>, associate professor of surgery and the fellowship program director. “Fellows will be given increased responsibility throughout the year and the opportunity to teach residents and medical students. Those who complete our fellowship program will be armed with expertise in the full scope of hand surgery and will gain a network of colleagues, mentors and friends.”</p> <p>The curriculum will encompass six core competencies outlined by the <a href="https://www.acgme.org/">Accred</a><a href="https://www.acgme.org/">itation Council for Graduate Medicine Education (ACGME)</a>, including medical knowledge, patient care, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, systems-based practice and professionalism. It will also cover a variety of topics in a series of weekly conferences held jointly by the <a href="/surgery/faculty/plastic-surgery">plastic surgery</a> and <a href="/orthopaedic-surgery">orthopaedic surgery</a> hand teams. A possible international surgical experience is also part of the programmatic planning for the fellowship.</p> <p>Situated just minutes from <a href="https://www.visitindy.com/indianapolis-industry-advantages-life-sciences-in-indiana">downtown Indianapolis</a> and in proximity to several life sciences companies and an active biotechnology research community, fellows will train at three facilities, including <a href="https://iuhealth.org/find-locations/iu-health-methodist-hospital">IU Health Methodist Hospital</a>, <a href="https://www.rileychildrens.org/">Riley Hospital for Children</a> and <a href="https://www.eskenazihealth.edu/locations/eskenazi-hospital">Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital</a>.</p> <p>The Hand Surgery Fellowship is one of <a href="/surgery/education/fellowship">13 surgery fellowships</a> offered by the <a href="/surgery">Department of Surgery</a>. For more information about the hand surgery fellowship program, including timelines, see the <a href="/surgery/education/fellowship/hand-surgery">Hand Surgery Fellowship</a> web page or contact <a href="mailto:rgerding@iupui.edu">Rhonda Gerding</a>, program coordinator.</p> <p>Media Contact: Angie Antonopoulos; Email: <a href="mailto:eantonop@iu.edu">eantonop@iu.edu</a>; Mobile: 317-430-0315</p> <p>### </p> <strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">About IU School of Medicine</span></strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /> </span><span><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/"><span style="color: rgb(0, 98, 152);">IU School of Medicine</span></a></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. </span>Mon, 10 Jan 2022 00:00:00 Z{9C1BAF46-6FB3-462F-BC70-948F06591295}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2022/01/iu-school-of-medicine-researchers-shed-new-light-on-damaging-effects-of-standard-heart-attack-treatmentIU School of Medicine researchers shed new light on damaging effects of standard heart attack treatment<p>INDIANAPOLIS—A study led by Indiana University School of Medicine is challenging standard treatment methods used to prevent muscle damage during heart attack.</p> <p>In a paper published in the high impact <a href="https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2021.10.034">Journal of the American College of Cardiology</a>, <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/60337/dharmakumar-rohan">Rohan Dharmakumar, PhD</a> asserts that a common treatment given to patients experiencing heart attack may not be as successful in halting muscle damage as once thought. </p> <p>Heart attacks occur when the blood vessel supplying oxygen to the heart muscle—also known as the coronary artery—is suddenly blocked. In heart attack patients, the amount of heart muscle that is irreversibly damaged is directly linked to how much time elapses between the onset of heart attack symptoms and when the blockage is opened up. More damage means higher risk of complications like heart failure after a heart attack. Therefore, treating heart attacks focuses on opening up the coronary arteries as quickly as possible through a procedure called reperfusion – often with a stent. </p> <p>The common belief in reperfusion therapy is that once the coronary arteries are opened, the damage to the heart muscle is stopped. However, according to Dharmakumar, that is not always the case.</p> <p>“In our work, we demonstrate that if reperfusion results in internal bleeding—or, hemorrhage—within the heart muscle, the heart muscle can continue to die even after the culprit coronary artery is opened,” said Dharmakumar, executive director of the <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/internal-medicine/specialties/cardiology/research">Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center at IU School of Medicine</a>. “Hemorrhage is known to occur in heart muscle of around half of all heart attack patients who undergo reperfusion. We sought to determine what effect that internal bleeding has on progressive heart muscle damage after reperfusion.”</p> <p>In his work, Dharmakumar and his team studied blood samples of heart attack patients obtained before and after they received reperfusion therapy. Using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cardiac MRI), they noninvasively identified which patients experienced hemorrhage within their heart muscle following reperfusion. A key protein called troponin is known to go up with heart muscle damage; in patients with heart muscle hemorrhage, troponin values rose more rapidly reaching higher values when compared to patients without hemorrhage.</p> <p>The team also used a large animal model to prove that hemorrhage is directly involved in the extent of infarction after reperfusion. Serial cardiac MRIs noninvasively tracked infarct size in animals with and without hemorrhage; similar findings as those seen in patients means that the team can use the animal model to develop new treatments to reduce hemorrhage that can be brought back to help patients.</p> <p>In the modern era of revascularization, Dharmakumar asserts in his study that infarct size is not only determined by restricted blood supply to the heart, but also by the effects of reperfusion therapy. The introduction of hemorrhage within the at-risk area might in some cases nearly negate in total the benefits of reperfusion therapy. <br /> Dharmakumar said that for physicians, having an awareness of the role reperfusion can play on continued muscle death can help in providing better treatment to patients in the future.</p> <p>“This all means that although we might not be able to do much when it comes to lost time before a patient arrives at the hospital, minimizing the effects of hemorrhage following reperfusion can give us a new opportunity to reduce the size of infarction, and downstream negative consequences, in nearly half a million heart attack patients in the United States alone,” said Dharmakumar.</p> <p>Next for the study, Dharmakumar said that his team will expand the findings to a larger patient population, working to develop greater insight into how hemorrhage drives expansion of infarction and testing strategies to halt the effects of those hemorrhages. </p> <p>According to <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/47775/raman-subha">Subha Raman, MD</a>, chief of the Division of Cardiology and director of the <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/institutes/cardiovascular">Cardiovascular Institute</a> at IU School of Medicine and IU Health, the future real-world applications of this study showcase the research leadership of Dharmakumar and the Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center.</p> <p>“The work being done by our researchers at the Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center, under the leadership of Dr. Dharmakumar, is truly groundbreaking and will fundamentally improve how we take care of patients suffering heart attacks, improving the health of Hoosiers and beyond,” said Raman. “I am proud of the high-impact cardiovascular science happening in our research labs, and look forward to seeing that work pay real dividends in the future of heart health.”</p> <p><em>This work was supported by grants form National Institutes of Health: NHLBI HL 133407, HL 136578, and HL147133. <br /> </em></p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Mon, 03 Jan 2022 00:00:00 Z{622990DE-79ED-427B-AA79-CC830F376F85}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/12/evansville-natives-give-34-million-to-iu-school-of-medicine-for-child-and-adolescent-psychiatry-centerEvansville natives give $34.2 million to IU School of Medicine for child and adolescent psychiatry center<h3><em>Gift to improve access to mental health resources, make southwestern Indiana hub of psychiatric research </em></h3> <p>EVANSVILLE—A pair of Evansville natives are building on their continued support of health sciences in southwestern Indiana with a major gift to Indiana University School of Medicine.</p> <p>William C. and Mary R. (O’Daniel) Stone announced a $34.2 million gift to establish the <a href="/research-centers/child-adolescent-psychiatry">Mary O’Daniel Stone and Bill Stone Center for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry</a> at <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/evansville">IU School of Medicine—Evansville</a>. </p> <p>The center will seek to fundamentally alter and improve the standard of care for people with bipolar disorder, and dramatically increase access to psychiatric care for the children and adolescent youth of southwestern Indiana. </p> <p>This gift, one of the largest in IU School of Medicine history, follows the <a href="https://news.iu.edu/stories/2018/05/iu/releases/07-william-mary-stone-give-15-million-toward-collaboration-in-evansville.html">2018 gift of $15 million</a> the Stones made toward a multi-institutional health sciences collaboration between the University of Evansville, University of Southern Indiana and Indiana University. </p> <p>“As natives, we are committed to Evansville’s growth. Key to quality growth is a healthy populace. Mental health is one of the least understood maladies, is often debilitating to individuals, and very difficult for families and communities,” said Bill Stone. “This center will allow researchers to make Evansville a center of groundbreaking scientific discovery, while simultaneously training physicians to address the communities’ very real needs.”</p> <p>The new center will endow three new chairs and has a fund to support six additional child and adolescent psychiatrists/fellowships—a dramatic infusion for southwestern Indiana, where several counties are without any psychiatric providers. Even in Evansville, this would nearly triple the number of child psychiatrists—improving access, enabling earlier diagnosis and allowing for quicker treatment. </p> <p>The psychiatrists will also be conducting research at the center, with a focus on bipolar and other mood disorders. These researchers will be able to build on the existing strength in neurosciences at IU School of Medicine, harnessing tools and expertise in the areas of genetic analysis, animal modeling and imaging, biological sampling, drug development, and data analysis. </p> <p>“We are grateful for Bill and Mary Stone's dedication to expanding Evansville's economic growth and advancing research in mental health,” said <a href="https://www.iu.edu/about/leadership/president/biography.html">IU President Pamela Whitten</a>. “Through their generosity, Indiana University continues its commitment to transforming the future of health care in the Evansville region and the entire state.”</p> <p>Along with attracting world-class researchers and clinicians to southwestern Indiana, the new center will also be leading the way in providing better treatments through big data. A real-world evidence data lake is planned—a first-of-its-kind comprehensive data platform for psychiatric research and machine learning. </p> <p>This data lake would draw from millions of patient records across the United States. Through medical artificial intelligence, a research team in Evansville would identify the most effective therapies and promising innovations by analyzing patient characteristics and prescription patterns that result in optimal outcomes. This data lake would be continuously updated and expanded as new patient data is added, creating a resource for not only treating Hoosier patients, but also making southwestern Indiana a national hub for research in child and psychiatric disorders by attracting talented researchers and investment capital to Evansville. </p> <p>According to the <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/family-medicine/research/bowen-health-workforce">Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy</a> at IU School of Medicine, Indiana falls far behind the national average for population per provider ratio in psychiatry. In adults, Indiana has about half as many psychiatrists treating patients as the national average. In child and adolescent care, that number is even lower—with a 20,916 to 1 ratio of patients to physicians, versus the national rate of 8,848 to 1. </p> <p>IU School of Medicine is committed to improving those numbers, with new residencies established in recent years in <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2020/10/New-psychiatry-residency-program-hopes-to-ease-physician-shortage-in-northwest-Indiana">northwest</a> and <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/psychiatry/education/residency/vincennes">southwestern </a>Indiana. With the new Mary O’Daniel Stone and Bill Stone Center for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the school is positioned to continue that effort to bring better mental health services to all Hoosiers. </p> <p>“When students and residents train in communities, they are much more likely to make personal and professional connections. Our efforts through our residency program in southwestern Indiana will be bolstered by this gift—offering trainees access to world-class researchers and technology,” said <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/7531/becker-steven">Steven G. Becker, MD</a>, associate dean and director of IU School of Medicine—Evansville. “The continued generosity further solidifies the legacy of the Stone family in making Evansville a health sciences destination—one which will have a true impact on the health of Hoosiers across the state.”</p> <p>Evansville will serve as the administrative, clinical care, clinical research and data analysis base for the center. The new center director, clinicians and support staff will work from Evansville, with the bulk of operations taking place within the new Deaconess Downtown Clinic. This 8,500-square-foot space was built in 2020 with this purpose in mind. </p> <p>Students from the nearby Stone Family Center for Health Sciences will engage in research and learning opportunities at the new center, along with the residency program at IU School of Medicine—Evansville. </p> <p><strong>Media contact: </strong>Katie Duffey; Email:<strong></strong><a href="mailto:kaduffey@iu.edu">kaduffey@iu.edu</a>; Cellphone: 765-427-3553</p> <p>###</p> <div><strong>About Bill and Mary Stone<br /> </strong>Bill and Mary Stone are natives of Evansville. Mary is a 1978 graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences at IU Bloomington. Bill received his degree in business administration and accounting from Marquette University in 1977. Bill founded Connecticut based SS&C Technologies, Inc. in 1986 and has remained chairman of the board and CEO since its inception. The company is a provider of services and software for the financial services and health care industries and is home to over 24,000 employees across more than 100 locations in 40 countries. In 2011, the company opened an office in Evansville with over 200 employees.</div> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Fri, 17 Dec 2021 00:00:00 Z{46696F89-EE7D-4C09-A706-0DA0BFA076A9}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/12/iu-school-of-medicine-research-findings-provide-advances-in-treatment-of-triple-negative-breast-cancerIU School of Medicine research provides advances in treatment of triple negative breast cancer<h3><em>Findings published in influential Journal of Clinical Oncology</em></h3> INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana University School of Medicine physician scientist <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/4858/schneider-bryan/" target="_blank">Bryan Schneider, MD</a> is the principal investigator of clinical trial BRE12-158, a randomized clinical study published in the prominent <em><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.21.01657" target="_blank">Journal of Clinical Oncology</a></em> the primary goal of which was to compare survival in women with high-risk (those who did not fully respond to chemotherapy prior to surgery) triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) with a genomically directed therapy versus standard of care. <p>The study found that in the adjuvant (following chemotherapy and surgery) setting, a single genomically directed therapy was not better than a current standard of care option, which was capecitabine. </p> <p>“Although this study did not prove genomically directed therapy was significantly superior alone, it did provide many advances for the treatment of high-risk triple negative breast cancer. We are thankful for the 200 patients and study teams across the United States who participated in this trial,” said Schneider, a researcher at the Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research at the IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center; also the location where the lab research portion of this study was conducted.</p> <p>Until 2015, no therapy, in the adjuvant setting had been shown to improve outcomes for patients with TNBC. This study showed that therapy (both the targeted therapy and the standard therapy option capecitabine) was markedly better than no therapy at all.  <br /> <br /> “Patients with high risk TNBC who received genomically targeted therapies had superior outcomes when compared with those who received no therapy. Additionally, patients who received capecitabine – a current standard of care option for TNBC – also had superior results when compared to those who received no therapy at all,” said Schneider, who is also the Vera Bradley Chair of Oncology at IU School of Medicine.</p> <p>Twenty percent of patients who were in the study did not receive therapy of any kind, in the adjuvant setting, for the treatment of their high risk TNBC. “We found that despite a study from 2015 which showed capecitabine was superior to receiving no therapy in patients with high risk TNBC, some were still receiving no therapy,” said Schneider. “When we observe a finding like this in a clinical study, experience shows us that in the real world, the numbers are actually much higher. Hopefully, these findings will further support that all patients with high risk TNBC in this setting will be considered for additional therapy as deemed appropriate by the treating oncologist. <br /> <br /> This study also found that race did not appear to impact outcomes in this high-risk population. “This finding shows that the biology of TNBC is incredibly important and clinical trials should be focused in settings where disparate outcomes are most prevalent,” said Schneider. <br /> <br /> Schneider also presented these findings as part of a spotlight session at the December 7-10, 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, an international scientific exchange among basic scientists and clinicians, working in breast cancer. <br /> <br /> Clinical study BRE-158 has yielded an important discovery and provided valuable findings for oncologists and patients with triple negative breast cancer, said <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/276/foroud-tatiana" target="_blank">Tatiana Foroud, PhD</a>, executive associate dean for research affairs at IU School of Medicine and leader of the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://precisionhealth.iu.edu/" target="_blank">IU Grand Challenge Precision Health Initiativ</a>e. Results from this study, which are being published in prestigious journals read around the world, are doing what we promised to do, advance treatment options for patients with this terrible disease.”<br />  <br /> An initial discovery from clinical study BRE12-158  was published in <em><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/article-abstract/2768007" target="_blank">JAMA Oncology</a></em>. Schneider and his colleagues found that circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) found in a patient’s blood, in the adjuvant setting, is a marker for residual disease; meaning patients who test positive for ctDNA are much more likely to have disease recurrence than those who test negative for ctDNA.<br /> <br /> “Circulating tumor DNA status remains a significant predictor of long-term outcomes in these patients,” said Schneider. It should be used to stratify patients in cancer clinical trials moving forward.”   <br /> <br /> The findings from BRE12-158 provided the needed rationale to launch the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cancer.iu.edu/breast/persevere.php" target="_blank">PERSEVERE</a>  (BRE18-334) trial, which tests genomically targeted therapies in combination with capecitabine. PERSEVERE has now opened with four patients in the study. Using ctDNA technology, PERSEVERE is enrolling and following ctDNA-positive and negative patients. “Our hope is that these patients will continue to do well, enabling us to design future clinical trials of personalized therapy or no therapy that will further improve quality of life,” added Schneider.</p> <p>Study BRE12-158 was funded by the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer in Roanoke and the Walther Cancer Center. BRE-158 is part of the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.precisionhealth.iu.edu/" target="_blank">Indiana University Precision Health Initiative Grand Challenge</a>. The study was managed by the Hoosier Cancer Research Network and enrolled at 22 clinical sites across the United States.</p> <p><strong>Media contact: </strong>Christine Drury; Email: <a href="mailto:cldrury@iu.edu">cldrury@iu.edu</a>; Cellphone: 317-385-9227</p> <p># # #</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Wed, 15 Dec 2021 00:00:00 Z{85A7546E-0704-48AD-9407-6FB1E95C207E}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/12/regenerative-medicine-researcher-chandan-sen-elected-to-national-academy-of-inventorsRegenerative medicine researcher Chandan Sen, PhD, elected to National Academy of Inventors <p><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/42748/sen-chandan">Chandan K. Sen, PhD</a>, director of the <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/research-centers/regenerative-medicine-engineering">Indiana Center for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering</a> at Indiana University School of Medicine has been elected as a fellow of the <a href="https://academyofinventors.org/">National Academy of Inventors</a>. The induction ceremony will take place during the Academy’s annual meeting in June. Sen is associate vice president of research and a distinguished professor at Indiana University.<br /> <br /> The NAI recognizes the election of NAI Fellow status as the highest professional distinction solely to academic inventors and includes more than 1,400 fellows worldwide representing more than 250 universities and governmental and non-profit research institutes. <br /> <br /> Sen has “demonstrated a highly prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on the quality of life, economic development, and welfare of society,” the NAI Fellows Selection Committee stated in a congratulatory letter. <br /> <br /> “I am deeply honored to receive this distinction from the National Academy of Inventors and join alongside some of the greatest scientific innovators of our time,” Sen said. “This is a recognition of our interdisciplinary team effort.” <br /> <br /> As director of the ICRME and executive director of the <a href="https://iuhealth.org/find-medical-services/wound-care">Comprehensive Wound Care Center</a> at <a href="https://iuhealth.org/find-locations/iu-health-methodist-hospital">IU Health Methodist Hospital</a>, Sen led the development of a non-invasive, nanochip device that uses nanotransfection technology to reprogram tissue function. This <a href="https://news.iu.edu/stories/2021/11/iu/releases/29-silicone-nanochip-can-reprogram-living-biological-tissue.html">tissue nanotransfection technology</a> has a wide range of applications in health care. Sen is also the Indiana lead of the NIH-sponsored <a href="http://diabeticfootconsortium.org/">Diabetic Foot Consortium</a>. <br />  <br /> In 2018, Sen moved his lab from Ohio State University to IU School of Medicine and brought more than two dozen investigators and $10 million in research grants to further develop practical applications and commercial products to advance breakthroughs in health care delivery.  His work shows how weak electric field may be employed to fight biofilm infection as well as antibiotic resistance. Sen’s team reported that an electroceutical fabric is capable of neutralizing infectivity of coronavirus upon contact. Electroceutical management of infection has emerged as a new paradigm in health care inviting novel product development ideas.  <br /> <br /> Sen has three patents pending on interpenetrating microstructures for nanochannel-based cargo delivery; compositions and methods for reprogramming somatic cells into induced endothelial cells; and power harvesting from fabric electrochemistry.<br /> <br /> “Dr. Sen has proven to be an innovator and a scholar throughout his career, and his research in regenerative medicine will make a great impact in health care delivery,” said <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>, dean of IU School of Medicine. “We are grateful for all the contributions of the center’s research team and congratulate Dr. Sen on achieving this distinction from the scientific community.”<br /> <br /> Along with Sen’s director roles, he is the J. Stanley Battersby Chair and Professor of Surgery for the IU School of Medicine <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/surgery">Department of Surgery</a> and is recognized as a Lilly INCITE scholar. During his career, Sen has published more than 300 peer reviewed publications and a dozen books which are cited more than 39,000 times in literature. <br /> <br /> Previously, he served as the John H & Mildred C Lumley Professor of Surgery and executive director of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Wound Center and director of the OSU Center for Regenerative Medicine & Cell Based Therapies. <br /> <br /> Sen received his Master of Science degree in human physiology from the University of Calcutta and his PhD in physiology from the University of Eastern Finland. He then trained as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California Berkeley within the Molecular and Cell Biology Department and started his career as staff scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. <br /> <br /> Other recipients into the NAI from Indiana University include <a href="https://www.chem.indiana.edu/faculty/david-clemmer/">David Clemmer, PhD</a>, Professor and Robert & Marjorie Mann Chair in The College of Arts & Sciences Department of Chemistry; <a href="https://gillcenter.indiana.edu/profiles/faculty-profiles/dimarchi.html">Richard DiMarchi, PhD</a>, distinguished professor and the Linda & Jack Gill Chair in Biomolecular Science within the Department of Chemistry; and <a href="https://www.chem.indiana.edu/faculty/gary-hieftje/">Gary Hieftje, PhD</a>, distinguished professor and Robert & Marjorie Mann Chair in the Department of Chemistry. </p> <p><strong>Media contact: </strong>Angie Antonopoulos; Email: <a href="mailto:eantonop@iu.edu ">eantonop@iu.edu</a> <br /> <br /> ###<br /> <br /> <strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the United States and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.  </p> <br />Tue, 07 Dec 2021 00:00:00 Z{9C87F4F4-7A61-4489-89F9-BE8DBF76CB9E}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/12/iu-simon-comprehensive-cancer-center-enters-into-sponsorship-with-indiana-racing-driver-jackson-leeIU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center enters into sponsorship with Indiana racing driver Jackson Lee<p>INDIANAPOLIS -- Marking 30 years of accelerating lifesaving research, the <a href="https://www.cancer.iu.edu/">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> is putting the pedal to the metal through a new auto racing sponsorship. </p> <p>The cancer center will join formula car driver Jackson Lee as the primary sponsor on his No. 2 Cape Motorsports entry in the 2022 Cooper Tires USF2000 championship. Jackson, a 19-year-old from Avon, Indiana, has been racing formula cars for four years, and will be starting as a freshman at IUPUI in 2022. He is entering his second season in USF2000, which is part of the Road to Indy, and races during INDYCAR weekend events at tracks around the country, including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course event in mid-May. </p> <p>“We are excited to support Jackson and his team as there are many parallels between racing a car and racing to save lives,” <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/59596/lee-kelvin">Kelvin Lee, MD</a>, cancer center director, explained. “When you watch a race team compete, you see the precision, determination and the science behind the sport. That’s a lot like cancer research and care.” (Note: Jackson Lee and Kelvin Lee have no familial relationship.)</p> <p>Through the sponsorship, Dr. Lee, who became cancer center director on Feb. 1, envisions connecting with the community to tout the cancer center’s research accomplishments that have benefited countless people over the last three decades.</p> <p>“I have quickly learned that Hoosiers are far too humble,” Dr. Lee said. “I am looking forward to this sponsorship allowing us to share just how much cancer expertise exists right here in Indiana.”</p> <p>IU’s physician-scientists have altered or defined treatment standards for such cancers as breast, pancreatic, thoracic, testis and colon as well as thymoma and thymic carcinoma and tumors associated with neurofibromatosis type 1, primarily in children, among others.   </p> <p>The IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, which was established in 1992, serves as a central hub of cancer research across Indiana University. The center has more than 260 researchers who conduct all phases of cancer research, from laboratory studies to clinical trials to population-based studies that address environmental and behavioral factors that contribute to cancer. It is Indiana’s only Comprehensive Cancer Center designated by the National Cancer Institute, the nation’s top cancer agency, and one of only 51 in the nation to hold that status. </p> <p>The prestigious designation recognizes its excellence in basic, clinical, and population research, its outstanding educational activities and effective community outreach program across the state.</p> <p>Dr. Lee also hopes that the year-long sponsorship will create opportunities for teambuilding within the cancer center. </p> <p>“The cancer center is a large organization composed of laboratory scientists, physicians, nurses and support staff, among others,” Dr. Lee explained. “The pandemic has made it challenging to carry on our sense of community and camaraderie, so it’s my hope that we can all rally around Jackson’s team as we celebrate 30 years of improving the lives of cancer patients.”</p> <p>Like too many others, Jackson’s family has been impacted by cancer, as he lost his grandfather to lung cancer nearly two decades ago. </p> <p>“Cancer has unfortunately impacted almost everyone’s family, mine included,” Jackson said. “I’ve enjoyed learning about the progress being made in cancer research and treatment, but there is much more that can be done. I’m excited to help in any way I can to encourage donations for research, raise awareness about the availability of the best treatment here in Central Indiana and to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of the cancer center at racetracks and other events throughout the year. I’m extremely grateful to the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center for its support.”</p> <p>Jackson’s goal is to reach INDYCAR and the Indy 500 by at least 2026. Jackson won a karts to cars scholarship, has won four formula car races with 16 podiums (top-three finishes) and won a Team USA Scholarship in 2020 to race in several prestigious events in England.</p> <p>The 18-race 2022 USF2000 season begins Feb. 26 and 27 during the INDYCAR season opening weekend in St. Petersburg, Florida. </p> <p><strong>Media contact: </strong>Michael Schug; Email: <a href="mailto:maschug@iu.edu">maschug@iu.edu</a></p> <p>###</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong><br /> IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability</p> <div></div>Mon, 06 Dec 2021 00:00:00 Z{E80A9FE3-3287-431B-82FA-220731C138AE}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/12/iu-school-of-medicine-research-shows-how-wrinkles-in-brain-might-influence-functionIU School of Medicine research shows how wrinkles in brain might influence function<p>INDIANAPOLIS — Research from Indiana University School of Medicine shows how formation of the brain’s characteristic wrinkles may influence how brains are wired. </p> <p>For more than 50 years, researchers have tried to understand why brain folding—development of the characteristic wrinkles of the cerebral cortex—occurs. While every brain is unique, some brain folding patterns can look quite different for individuals with clinical disorders like autism, schizophrenia, epilepsy or bipolar disorder. With advanced technologies like diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), researchers have been able to see that axons—the wires that connect different areas of the brain— are also different in these individuals.</p> <p><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-26971-9" target="_blank">New research published in Nature Communications</a> and led by <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/42731/garcia-kara" target="_blank">Kara Garcia, PhD</a>, assistant research professor of radiology and imaging sciences at IU School of Medicine, explores how mechanical forces within the brain might explain the relationship between brain folding and brain connectivity. </p> <p>“We know a relationship exists between connectivity and clinical disorders. We know a relationship exists between folding and connectivity. But until this point, theories have not been able to fully explain how this fits together,” Garcia said.</p> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/news/2021/brain-folding-imaging-data.jpg?h=564&w=400&rev=6dc74a887c45402d8b1cfcf91347f3de&hash=976BBB28E0134E82C7186A67524506C0" alt="brain folding imaging data in a graphic from publication" class="float-right" style="height: 564px; width: 400px; margin-bottom: 60px;" /> <p>With this new research Garcia and her collaborators, Xiaojie Wang, PhD and Christopher Kroenke, PhD, both researchers at Oregon Health & Science University, have expanded on previous theories for how brain folding and connectivity might be linked. Beginning in utero and up until the first two years of age, the cortex of the brain expands. As this occurs, the brain will bend or buckle, creating folds. Because of this bending effect, the tension between folds can encourage axons—which exist in white matter or the underlying subcortical tissue of the brain— to grow in specific ways, resulting in U-shaped fibers.</p> <p>While previous theories have suggested the cause for some clinical disorders might be these U-shaped fibers, Garcia suggests that mechanical forces can explain how the brain is organizing into these fiber shapes. Future research could shift its focus to learning why cortical expansion induces folding in the first place, therefore affecting white matter structure.</p> <p>“If we can understand this cascade of effects, and the biological mechanisms driving all of it, we can better understand the possibilities for targeted early intervention,” Garcia said.</p> <p>This recent publication also brings to light the ground-breaking research happening at IU School of Medicine regional campuses across Indiana, including <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/evansville">Evansville </a>where Garcia is based. Technological advances occurring throughout the state create with them bridges between rural communities and innovative research. This connection not only enables more research in the future but can often be crucial when it comes to health care knowledge, access and prevention for all Hoosiers.</p> <p>The work was supported by the National Institutes of Health, award numbers R01 NS111948 and R01 AA021981, and the National Science Foundation, award DMS-2011274.</p> <p>###</p> <h3><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></h3> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Thu, 02 Dec 2021 00:00:00 Z{F2D07564-6872-4459-A649-F8DEE2B96E22}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/11/iu-cancer-researcher-leads-national-work-focused-on-developing-treatments-for-inherited-childhood-cancersIU cancer researcher leads national work focused on developing treatments for inherited childhood cancers<p>INDIANAPOLIS – An Indiana University cancer researcher is leading an $11.4 million grant from the National Cancer Institute in which he and others across the country will work on identifying new treatments for tumors that develop in children, adolescents and adults with a common genetic condition.<br /> <br /> First awarded in 2015 by the National Cancer Institute, the prestigious Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) is led by D. Wade Clapp, MD. Clapp is chairman of the <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/pediatrics">Department of Pediatrics</a> at <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/">IU School of Medicine</a>, the physician-in-chief at <a href="https://www.rileychildrens.org/">Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health</a> and a member of the <a href="https://www.cancer.iu.edu/">IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> and the <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/research-centers/pediatrics">Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research</a>. The project co-principal investigator is Kevin Shannon, MD, professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and a member of the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. <br /> <br /> Clapp will lead the collaborative research effort to develop new treatments for tumors that develop in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), the most common inherited syndrome causing a predisposition to cancer. It affects one in every 3,000 people worldwide, with about 100,000 individuals living with the syndrome in the United States. Individuals with NF1 have an increased risk of developing specific types of benign tumors and cancers including some brain tumors, a rare childhood leukemia and tumors that grow along the nerves and can progress to become sarcomas. <br /> <br /> “Our SPORE grant is distinguished by its strong childhood cancer focus and multi-institutional effort, which brings together a coalition of the best NF1 investigators in the United States and likely the world,” Clapp said. “The grant involves six major institutions and the Pediatric Oncology Branch of the National Cancer Institute. The number of children with these genetic diseases is relatively small, so this sort of structure allows us to get the trials done efficiently and expediently.”<br /> <br /> A common underlying feature of these cancers is abnormal activity of a key signaling protein called Ras. The protein made by the NF1 gene normally restrains Ras signaling and this key “brake” is lost in tumors with NF1 mutations. In addition to playing a central role in tumors that develop in people with NF1, the NF1 gene is frequently mutated in cancers that develop in the general population such as breast and lung cancers, pediatric and adult brain tumors, melanoma and acute myeloid leukemia.<br /> <br /> The Ras protein is involved with more than a third of all cancers, and this research could lead to new therapies for many other cancers, Clapp said.<br /> <br /> “Our SPORE team applies data generated in the laboratory to guide the development of innovative clinical trials,” Shannon said. “This new NCI grant will allow us to extend this ground-breaking work that is evaluating a number of promising treatments for decreasing abnormal Ras signaling.”<br /> <br /> In addition to Indiana University and UCSF, collaborating institutions include the Pediatric Oncology Branch of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Johns Hopkins University (JHU), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), UT Southwestern Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center (UTSW), and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) aligned in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania Abramson Cancer Center. <br /> <br /> One of 63 SPORE grants throughout the country, the IU grant remains the only one focused on childhood cancers. Additionally, while most SPORE efforts focus on a single cancer, the IU-led program—called the Developmental and Hyperactive Ras Tumor (DHART) SPORE—is working to develop new treatments for different tumors and cancers that develop due to NF1 mutations.<br /> <br /> “In the past five years, the group has completed a series of basic studies and clinical trials that have led to the first-ever FDA drug approval for NF1 and successful trials that are encouraging for new treatments in peripheral nerve tumors and myeloid leukemia,” Clapp said. “In this renewal, we are building on that work as well as initiating a new project focused on brain tumors that occur at higher rates in adolescents and young adults with NF1.”<br /> <br /> The grant includes three research projects: </p> <ul> <li>Project 1: Up to 50 percent of NF1 patients develop nerve tumors called plexiform neurofibromas (PNF). Researchers on this project have identified two effective drugs for treating PNF, including efforts that led to the FDA approval of selumetinib, the first drug specifically for NF1. They will build on that work to explore combination therapies and other new single drug therapies. Lead investigators on this project include Clapp; Lu Le, MD, PhD, (UTSW); Brigitte Widemann, MD, (NCI); Jaishri Blakeley, MD, (JHU); and Michael Fisher, MD, (CHOP). Luis F. Parada, PhD, (MSK) is also an investigator on this project.</li> <li>Project 2: Young adults with NF1 are five to 10 times more likely to develop brain tumors called gliomas and glioblastoma. Additionally, the NF1 mutation can appear in gliomas even when the patient does not have the genetic syndrome. Project co-leaders Luis F. Parada, PhD, and Ingo K. Mellinghoff, MD, (both with MSK) will study the biology and possible therapies for these NF1-associated brain tumors. Jaishri Blakeley, MD, (JHU) is also an investigator on this project.</li> <li>Project 3: Children with NF1 are also at high risk of developing juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML). Shannon and Mignon Loh, MD, (both of UCSF) are working to develop more effective and less toxic therapy for infants and children with JMML. Their findings have already led to an ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial.</li> </ul> <p>In addition, the SPORE grant includes a Development Research Program and a Career Enhancement Program, which provide funding to early-stage and established investigators to conduct research on NF1 and contribute to the overall goals of this work. <br /> <br /> “The groundbreaking work done by this group in this SPORE has already been paradigm- and practice-changing and has fundamentally impacted patients in the most positive of ways,” said Kelvin Lee, MD, director of the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. “I believe the advances by Dr. Clapp and his team are only going to accelerate with this renewal.”</p> <p><strong>Available for interview: </strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/9949/clapp-d">D. Wade Clapp, MD</a>, leader of the Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE). Clapp is chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at IU School of Medicine, the physician-in-chief at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health and a member of the IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Herman B Wells Cancer for Pediatric Research. </li> <li>Mindi Hampton, a resident of southern California who brought her daughter, at the time a preschooler, to Indianapolis to take part in Clapp’s clinical trial. Hampton’s daughter Emily, now 17 and a high school senior, is alive today because of research conducted at IU. </li> </ul> <p><strong>Media contact: </strong></p> <p>Candace Gwaltney; Email: <a href="mailto:cmgwaltn@iu.edu">cmgwaltn@iu.edu</a></p> <div>###</div> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong><br /> IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Thu, 18 Nov 2021 00:00:00 Z{993352F8-28FB-4E11-B152-8B4B927324BA}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/11/$2-million-gift-supports-lung-and-pancreatic-cancer-research-at-iu$2 million gift supports lung, pancreatic cancer research at IUINDIANAPOLIS—In a gesture that defines gratitude and respect spanning more than 23 years, Carmel resident Ruth “Rikki” Kutcher Goldstein has made a $2 million gift to support cancer research at Indiana University School of Medicine.<br /> <br /> The Rikki and Leonard Goldstein Chair in Cancer Research will be held by a lung or pancreatic cancer researcher at the <a href="https://www.cancer.iu.edu/">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a>. The gift honors Lawrence H. Einhorn, MD, for his care of her son-in-law, S. Wyle Weiman, more than 20 years ago. Though Wyle unfortunately died of lung cancer, the family remains grateful for the expertise and compassion that Einhorn provided. Since 1998, the Goldsteins have provided annual support to Einhorn’s research.<br /> <br /> “All Hoosiers should be grateful for the impact Larry has had on cancer research during his career at IU,” Rikki Goldstein said. “Our family is thrilled to honor him by ensuring that IU can continue to recruit and retain top-notch researchers like him.” <br /> <br /> Einhorn, who is internationally known for his role in developing the chemotherapeutic cure for testis cancer in the 1970s, has been a faculty member at IU School of Medicine since 1973. Over his career, he has mentored and trained more than 100 oncologists and provided care to countless patients. His work continues to focus on testis and lung cancers. <br /> <br /> The Goldsteins have a long history of generous support of Indiana University. Rikki Goldstein and her late husband Leonard (Len) generously supported the IU Borns Jewish Studies Program and established the Leonard M. and Ruth K. Goldstein Matching the Promise Scholarship in Jewish Studies.<br /> <br /> “In our family, we believe that giving and volunteering are important traditions," she said. “My parents taught me to support those in need. As a matter of fact, it's almost a requirement in Judaism. The word is ‘tzedakah,’ and it means responsibility. Being able to do this is really exciting for me and for all our kids, too.” <br /> <br /> The Goldsteins, who were married for 71 years before Len’s death at the age of 97 in 2018, are the parents of four adult children: Michael, Steven and Jan Goldstein and Lisa Post. They also have eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. <br /> <br /> After being an active volunteer at her children’s schools, Rikki Goldstein re-entered the workforce and, while working, earned her bachelor’s degree at age 50 from Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne (now Purdue University Fort Wayne). In 1976, she was a founding mother of the Fort Wayne Women’s Bureau, where she worked as director of peer counseling supervising programs that helped women re-enter the workforce after a divorce or death of a spouse.<br /> <br /> In 1996, at age 70, Rikki Goldstein began working for the Neighborhood Health Clinics in Fort Wayne. For 20 years, she served as a medical social worker and directed outreach programs before retiring in August 2016.<br /> <br /> “Medical research is very meaningful to me professionally as well as personally,” she explained. “That’s one of the reasons I am particularly delighted to make this gift.”<br /> <br /> Rikki Goldstein helped found the Fort Wayne Ballet and served on its board of directors. The Goldsteins both served on the board of directors of the Planned Parenthood organization during its early years in Fort Wayne.<br /> <br /> In 1994, Rikki and Len Goldstein were each appointed Sagamores of the Wabash by then-Governor Evan Bayh. One of the highest honors an Indiana governor can give, the award is presented for distinguished service to the state or governor.<br /> <br /> ###<br /> <br /> <strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong><br /> <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.<br />Thu, 11 Nov 2021 00:00:00 Z{D2C99DA2-EC4B-46E4-AB27-CCFF2A3FDC26}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/11/iu-school-of-medicine-findings-published-in-new-england-journal-of-medicine-show-effectiveness-of-a-low-cost-medicine-in-treating-high-blood-pressure-in-people-with-advanced-kidney-diseaseFindings published in New England Journal of Medicine show effectiveness of low-cost medicine in treating high blood pressure in people with advanced kidney disease<p>INDIANAPOLIS – An all Indiana University School of Medicine team of researchers led by, <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/5029/agarwal-rajiv">Rajiv Agarwal, MD</a>, professor of medicine and staff physician at the Roudebush VA, and including <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/4876/sinha-arjun">Arjun Sinha, MD</a>, associate professor of clinical medicine and renal section chief at the Roudebush VA, and <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/2705/tu-wanzhu">Wanzhu Tu, PhD</a>, professor of biostatistics and health data sciences and research scientist at Regenstrief Institute, found that chlorthalidone was effective in lowering blood pressure in individuals with advanced kidney disease.</p> <p>The double-blind, placebo-controlled and randomized study, funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, titled Chlorthalidone in Chronic Kidney Disease (CLICK)  was presented as part of a news conference and High Impact Clinical Trials session at the recent international meeting of the American Society of Nephrology and simultaneously published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine.<br /> <br /> “Kidneys are key regulators of blood pressure. When an individual has chronic kidney disease, the kidneys are unable to control blood pressure,” said Agarwal. “If a person suffers from chronic kidney disease and high blood pressure, it is more likely their kidney disease will advance even further and lead to other health issues such as heart failure.”  <br /> <br /> The CLICK Study randomly assigned patients with stage 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) to either a placebo or chlorthalidone group, with dosing at 12.5 mg daily. The dose was increased every four weeks, if needed, to a maximum of 50 mg per day for patients in the chlorthalidone group. The study was designed to see if blood pressure decreased in the patients treated with chlorthalidone from baseline to twelve weeks, when monitored using a state-of-the-art device called a 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitor.  <br /> <br /> Chlorthalidone was approved by the FDA in 1960 for treatment of high blood pressure or hypertension. However, it was largely believed to be ineffective in treating high blood pressure in people with advanced chronic kidney disease. <br /> <br /> Results from the CLICK study showed chlorthalidone lowered blood pressure by a significant 11 mm Hg at 12 weeks as compared to 0.5 mm Hg reduction with placebo. There was a 50% reduction in albuminuria, a protein that appears in the urine of those suffering from kidney disease, which Agarwal says is remarkable and suggests that chlorthalidone has the potential to reduce kidney failure progression and hospitalizations for heart failure in these patients.<br /> <br /> “These results show chlorthalidone is a low-cost solution for the treatment of hypertension in people with chronic kidney disease, “ said Agarwal.” These are people who are already taking a variety of medicines, so to have one that is cheap and effective is incredibly meaningful. However, the drug is potent, so the lowest therapeutic dose and careful monitoring is needed to avoid complications.”</p> <p>Agarwal’s presentation from the American Society of Nephrology meeting is also available on <a href="https://youtu.be/z4KKTcKkm_0">YouTube</a>.<br /> <br /> This study was also funded by the Indiana Institute of Medical Research.</p> <p><strong>Media contact:</strong> Christine Drury, <a href="mailto:cldrury@iu.edu">cldrury@iu.edu</a>, 317-385-9227 (cell)</p> <p>###</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. </p> <div></div>Thu, 11 Nov 2021 00:00:00 Z{889D57A6-AAAD-494E-A607-E48CAC537E1F}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/11/alzheimers-disease-research-programs-at-iu-school-of-medicine-collaborate-on-disease-models-drug-discovery-of-geneAlzheimer’s disease research programs at IU School of Medicine collaborate on disease models, drug discovery of gene<p>INDIANAPOLIS — Investigators from two of Indiana University School of Medicine’s largest funded research programs are collaborating on a study investigating the biology behind a gene associated with Alzheimer’s disease, with the hopes of developing a drug to treat the disease.</p> <p>The three-year grant from the National Institute on Aging, worth $2.3 million in 2021, will fund a research study for the Model Organism Development and Evaluation for Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease (<a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/expertise/alzheimers/research/preclinical/laboratory-models">MODEL-AD</a>) and the IU School of Medicine-Purdue TaRget Enablement to Accelerate Therapy Development for Alzheimer’s Disease (<a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/expertise/alzheimers/research/preclinical/drug-discovery">TREAT-AD</a>) drug discovery center.</p> <p>The team, led by <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/23627/lamb-bruce">Bruce Lamb, PhD</a>, executive director of Stark Neurosciences Research Institute; <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/43318/bissel-stephanie">Stephanie Bissel, PhD</a>, assistant research professor in medical and molecular genetics; and <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/27243/landreth-gary">Gary Landreth, PhD</a>, Martin Professor of Alzheimer’s Research, are investigating a gene encoded protein found in microglia—the brain’s immune cells—called phospholipase C gamma 2 (PLCG2). The gene has two genetic risk factors associated with Alzheimer’s disease.</p> <p>One of the rare variants (M28L) appears to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease while another (P522R) lessens the risk of disease. MODEL-AD—a consortium of experts at IU School of Medicine, Jackson Laboratory, Sage Bionetworks and University of California, Irvine—identified the gene variant that increases the risk of disease, said Lamb, MODEL-AD program director.</p> <p>“This grant helps us understand how this gene works in disease models and how it impacts the risk for Alzheimer’s disease,” Lamb said. “It really takes advantage of the models and phenotyping we have in MODEL-AD and all the data we’ve been collecting from TREAT-AD.”</p> <p>Scientists with MODEL-AD will generate animal models for each gene variant and phenotype them, Lamb said. TREAT-AD, <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2019/10/iu-school-of-medicine-awarded-36-million-nih-grant-for-alzheimers-disease-drug-discovery-center">which began in 2019 through a five-year $36 million National Institutes of Health grant</a>, is working to identify potential inhibitors and activators of the gene for drug discovery.</p> <p><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/48160/richardson-timothy">Timothy Richardson, PhD</a>, senior research professor of medicine, said TREAT-AD chemists are focused on designing small molecules that will activate PLCG2 to the same degree as the rare protective variant and then test the compounds in animal models generated by MODEL-AD.</p> <p>“The preclinical data will support the clinical hypothesis that a drug, given to patients who have the common form of PLCG2 and are at risk of Alzheimer’s disease or have mild cognitive impairment, will protect them against neurodegeneration or provide them with a lower rate of cognitive decline as the disease progresses,” Richardson said.</p> <p>In addition to this grant, MODEL-AD received an additional year of funding from the NIA—$5 million—for its program, now entering year six. The group also received a $1.3 million NIA grant supporting a collaboration with Michael Koob, PhD, associate professor at the University of Minnesota.</p> <p>Koob’s laboratory has novel technology for genetic engineering, which can replace a part of the genome of a mouse with a human counterpart. Lamb said this allows human genes to be modeled in mice, so this partnership will allow MODEL-AD to expand its Alzheimer’s disease research.</p> <p><strong>Media contact: </strong>Ben Middelkamp; Email: <a href="mailto:bmiddel@iu.edu">bmiddel@iu.edu</a></p> <p>###</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Tue, 09 Nov 2021 00:00:00 Z{32A73FF1-E7FC-4A76-A933-B60A18F03CAA}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/11/iu-researchers-receive-grant-to-identify-function-of-genetic-variants-in-substance-abuseIU researchers receive nearly $3 million to study role of genetic variants in substance abuse disorders<h3>Outcome will be a public catalog of functional variants to serve as therapeutic candidates</h3> INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana University School of Medicine researchers <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/6488/edenberg-howard">Howard Edenberg, PhD</a>, IU Distinguished Professor and Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/196/liu-yunlong">Yunlong Liu</a>, PhD, Professor of Medical and Molecular Genetics and director of the Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, have received a grant from the National Institute of Drug Abuse, a division of the National Institutes of Health, to identify the function of genetic variants that are associated with substance use disorders.<br /><br />According to the American Addictions Center, approximately 19.7 million Americans ages 12 and older suffer from a substance use disorder, for which there are only a handful of approved treatments. Dr. Edenberg noted that “genetic screens identify large regions that contain thousands of variants, and there is a great need to identify which of those variants actually affect the risk for these disorders.” This research uses cutting-edge genomics technologies called Massively Parallel Reporter Assays (MPRA) to test tens of thousands of variants and identify those that impact gene expression. The functional variants can serve as high priority therapeutic candidates for future studies. <br /> <br /> “The results from these experiments will help us identify genes that contribute to risk for addiction, which is important for understanding the disorders and for designing much needed therapeutic strategies for treatment," added Liu.<br /> <br /> The outcome of these studies will be the creation of a unique, accessible resource of substance use disorder genetic variants that regulate gene expression in specific brain cell types. An added bonus of this work will be a public catalog of functional genetic variants that can be consulted by researchers studying substance use disorders. <br />  <br /> IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.  <p> </p> <p><strong>Media contact: </strong>Christine Drury, <a href="mailto:cldrury@iu.edu">cldrury@iu.edu</a>, 317-385-9227 (cell)<br /> <br /> ###</p> <div><strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong></div> IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. Tue, 09 Nov 2021 00:00:00 Z{6FFCF60B-5B3A-4C69-AD32-900A4BCDA2D3}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/11/researchers-investigate-role-of-gene-associated-with-alzheimers-in-brain-immune-cellsResearchers investigate role of gene associated with Alzheimer’s disease in brain’s immune cells<p>INDIANAPOLIS — When immune cells move throughout the brain, they act as the first line of defense against viruses, toxic materials and damaged neurons, rushing over to clear out them.</p> <p>Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine have been investigating how these immune cells in the brain—microglia—relate to a gene mutation recently found in Alzheimer’s disease patients. They <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abe3954">published their findings</a> today in Science Advances.</p> <p>The study, led by <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/42774/karahan-hande">Hande Karahan, PhD</a>, postdoctoral fellow in medical and molecular genetics, and <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/41977/kim-jungsu">Jungsu Kim, PhD</a>, the P. Michael Conneally Professor of Medical and Molecular Genetics, found that deleting the gene—called ABI3—significantly increased amyloid-beta plaque accumulation in the brain and decreased the amount of microglia around the plaques.</p> <p>“This study can provide further insight into understanding the key functions of microglia contributing to the disease and help identify new therapeutic targets,” Karahan said.<br /> Karahan based her research on a human genetics study of more than 85,000 people—fewer than half were Alzheimer’s patients—that identified the mutation in the ABI3 gene. Researchers concluded this mutation increased the risk of late-onset Alzheimer’s.</p> <p>“However, there was no investigation into the function of ABI3 gene in the brain or about how this gene affects microglia function,” Karahan said, a fact that led to her research.<br /> The team deleted the ABI3 gene from an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model and tested the functions of the gene in microglia in cell cultures. In the mouse model, they saw increased levels of plaques and inflammation in the brain and signs of synaptic dysfunction—characteristics associated with learning and memory deficits of the disease.</p> <p>Additionally, Karahan said the deletion of the gene impaired the movement of microglia. The immune cells cannot move closer to plaques to try to clear up the proteins. Amyloid plaques are commonly found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s; amyloid beta proteins clump together and form plaques, which destroy nerve cell connections.</p> <p>“Our study provides the first in vivo functional evidence that the loss of ABI3 function may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by affecting amyloid beta accumulation and neuroinflammation,” Karahan said.</p> <p>Over the past few years, Karahan has been building upon her Alzheimer’s disease research. In 2019, Karahan<a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/blogs/women-in-medicine/Fellowship-propels-new-Alzheimer-disease-researchers"> received the Sarah Roush Memorial Fellowship in Alzheimer’s Disease Research</a>, established by the <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/research-centers/alzheimers">Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center</a> and funded through a generous donation from James and Nancy Carpenter and a matching contribution from <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/research-centers/neurosciences">Stark Neurosciences Research Institute</a>, where Karahan conducts her research. </p> <p>Karahan and Kim received three separate grants supporting this research from the National Institute on Aging, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) branch for Alzheimer’s research, resulting in $7.8 million over the next five years.</p> <p>“One grant will fund the creation of a mouse model that will allow us to delete the ABI3 gene in any cell types in the body, such as brain microglia and peripheral immune cells,” Kim said. “Once we validate this new model, we will make it available to others in the research community to use this model for their own investigations.”</p> <p>The other grants will fund additional mouse and cell models for the team to further investigate how the ABI3 gene in microglia affects Alzheimer’s disease pathologies as well as fund state-of-the-art techniques, including brain imaging using the <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/blogs/research-updates/alzheimers-imaging-technology">Bruker BioSpec 9.4T PET-MRI scanner</a>, located in the Roberts Translational Imaging Facility at Stark Neurosciences Research Institute.</p> <p>Each of these projects has an end goal of identifying druggable targets for the treatment of the disease, Karahan and Kim said. The team will collaborate with the IU School of Medicine-Purdue TaRget Enablement to Accelerate Therapy Development for Alzheimer’s Disease (TREAT-AD) Center.</p> <p><strong>Media contact:</strong> Ben Middelkamp; Email: <a href="mailto:bmiddel@iu.edu">bmiddel@iu.edu</a></p> <p>###</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Wed, 03 Nov 2021 00:00:00 Z{791FE406-C90F-4658-A602-5F6047F9B1EC}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/10/iu-school-of-medicine-launches-new-study-to-develop-personalized-therapies-for-triple-negative-breast-cancer-patientsIU School of Medicine launches new study to develop personalized therapies for triple-negative breast cancer patients<h4>Stratification of at-risk patients made possible by building on foundation of previous discovery made by IU research team </h4> <p>INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana University School of Medicine researcher <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/4858/schneider-bryan">Bryan P. Schneider, MD</a>, is leading a novel nationwide study to better understand how to treat patients with triple-negative breast cancer based on their own unique genetic data. <br /> <br /> <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/breast/persevere.php">PERSEVERE </a>is a phase 2 clinical trial with the goal of studying personalized cancer treatment combinations when compared to standard cancer treatment. <br /> <br /> “There is a tremendous need for successful triple-negative breast cancer treatments,” said Schneider, who is the Vera Bradley Professor of Oncology at IU School of Medicine and a physician-scientist at the <a href="http://www.cancer.iu.edu/">IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> and the <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/research-centers/breast-cancer">Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research</a>. “Recurrence and death rates are still too high, and novel strategies to improve that are markedly needed. We feel PERSEVERE is an innovative trial to try to help meet those needs.”<br /> <br /> While approximately one-third of patients with triple-negative breast cancer will achieve remission after surgery and chemotherapy, two-thirds will have some cancerous tissue in their body. Recent research shows that patients who test positive for circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) – tumor cell pieces found in the blood stream – after surgery are at higher risk of their cancer returning. PERSEVERE will enroll 200 participants and test whether there is ctDNA in their blood. <br /> <br /> If a participant tests positive for ctDNA, the researchers will look at the DNA of their blood and tumor to see if there are any genetic differences that can be treated with a genomically targeted therapy or a standard treatment. There are several possible combination therapies that these participants may receive based on their genetic differences. <br /> <br /> If a participant tests positive for ctDNA but researchers determine they do not have a specific genomic target in their blood or cancer tissue, they will receive a standard treatment recommended by their doctor. Participants who test negative for ctDNA may receive a standard treatment, but they will also have the option to receive no treatment and remain in the study for observation. <br /> <br /> “Based on the data that came out of our group, we have shown that circulating tumor DNA is also a very powerful risk stratifier,” said Schneider. “In this trial, we’ll capitalize on that powerful ability to better focus our attention on novel therapies for those patients at extraordinarily high risk who have ctDNA positivity. Equally importantly, it will provide the opportunity for us to focus on those who do not test positive for ctDNA, a group that may be expected to do quite well in terms of deescalating therapy and improving quality of life.” <br /> <br /> PERSEVERE builds on a previous discovery by Schneider and colleagues in which they found that the presence of ctDNA and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the plasma of women’s blood who have undergone chemotherapy before surgery for triple-negative breast cancer treatment are critical indicators for the prediction of disease recurrence and disease-free survival. <br /> <br /> Their findings from the BRE12-158 study were <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2019/12/indiana-university-school-of-medicine-researchers-use-cutting-edge-technology-to-predict-which-triple-negative-breast-cancer-patients-may-avoid-recurrence-and-those-who-are-at-high-risk-of-relapse">first presented</a><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/research-centers/breast-cancer"> </a>at the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, the most influential gathering of breast cancer researchers and physicians in the world, and then published in the prestigious medical journal <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2768007?guestAccessKey=540978a7-1d4b-4f56-a734-cc75c860da14&utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=070920">JAMA Oncology</a>. <br /> <br /> Researchers will follow up with all participants for up to five years to check for side effects, as well as signs of cancer recurrence. This study hopes to determine better treatments for those fighting triple-negative breast cancer by looking at characteristics that are unique to each participant’s cancer. <br /> <br /> The PERSEVERE study is funded by the Indiana University <a href="https://precisionhealth.iu.edu/">Precision Health Initiative Grand Challenge</a>, the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer, Genentech Roche, Pfizer, Foundation Medicine and Epic Sciences. The study is being managed by the Hoosier Cancer Research Network and will enroll at 20 clinical sites across the United States. </p> <p><strong>Media Contacts: </strong></p> <p><strong>Anna Carrera | </strong><a href="mailto:acarrer@iu.edu">acarrer@iu.edu</a>, 614-570-6503 (cell)<br /> <strong>Christine Drury | </strong><a href="mailto:cldrury@iu.edu">cldrury@iu.edu</a>, 317-385-9227 (cell)<strong><br /> </strong></p> <div>###</div> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong><br /> <a href="C:\Users\kaduffey\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\I2TL4TP0\medicine.iu.edu">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. </p> <div></div>Tue, 26 Oct 2021 00:00:00 Z{A27C6E19-8FB7-4BCA-88AD-D14CC02507CB}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/10/iu-researchers-discover-small-molecule-degrader-as-potential-anticancer-drugIU School of Medicine researchers discover small molecule degrader as potential anticancer drug<h3>Unique approach unlocks opportunity for previously undruggable cancerous targets to be discovered</h3> <p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine have discovered a novel anti-cancer drug, using a unique approach that has allowed them to target previously undruggable cancerous proteins. When traditional drug discovery approaches failed, <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/39181/bellail-anita">Anita Bellail, PhD</a>, <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/41288/hao-chunhai">Chunhai Charlie Hao, MD, PhD</a>, and their team developed a cancer cell-based screening to identify a lead compound known as HB007, which slowed cancer growth in models. Their findings were <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abh1486">published this month</a> in Science Translational Medicine. <br /> <br /> “All proteins go through a life cycle from gene transcription to protein degradation,” said Bellail, the lead author who is an assistant professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at IU School of Medicine. “The cancerous proteins are highly expressed in part due to the blockage of degradation. Targeted protein degraders such as HB007 can release the blockage and send the proteins to the trash can.”<br /> <br /> In the past, researchers have searched for compounds known as inhibitors to directly bind to and inhibit cancerous proteins, but the vast majority of proteins lack binding pockets. The next generation of drugs that Bellail, Hao and team are working to identify are small molecule degraders that target the protein degradation pathway for the destruction of cancerous proteins and shutdown of cancer growth. <br /> <br /> Eighty percent of proteins in the human body are currently undruggable. The team led by Bellail and Hao, who are members of the <a href="https://www.cancer.iu.edu/">IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a>,  designed and utilized a cancer cell-based drug screening process to identify the first small-molecule degraders of a cancerous protein called SUMO1, which was previously considered undruggable. The team has also discovered the novel CAPRIN1-CUL1 ubiquitin ligase that compound binds to and leads to SUMO1 recruitment to the ligase for destruction.  <br /> <br /> “We believe we are the first ones to report the step-by-step process of how to find the small molecule degraders of undruggable proteins,” said Hao, a senior author who is the Bicentennial Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Neurological Surgery at IU School of Medicine and a member of the <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/research-centers/breast-cancer">Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research</a> at the cancer center. “This will generate a strategy that can help researchers find small molecule degraders as novel drugs. Since the degraders can destroy the proteins, the dose can be much lower, so efficacy is also much better.”<br /> <br /> Bellail, Hao and colleagues tested their theory by observing patient-derived brain, breast, colon and lung cancers in animal models. Their approach suppressed the cancers and increased the survival of the animals. This approach may be useful for identifying other small-molecule degraders of cancerous proteins as the next generation of anticancer drugs. <br /> <br /> Bellail and Hao came to IU School of Medicine in 2018 with the goal of building up novel drug discovery programs. <br /> <br /> This work was supported in part by the Pathology Bicentennial Chair endowment and start-up fund, the Indiana University School of Medicine Physician Scientist Initiative funded by Lilly Endowment Inc., IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center’s 100 Voices of Hope program, the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer Scholar fund, and National Institutes of Health grants R01CA203893 and R43CA224461.   </p> <p><strong>Media contact</strong><br /> Anna Carrera | Email: <a href="mailto:acarrer@iu.edu">acarrer@iu.edu</a> | Cellphone: 614-570-6503</p> <p>###<br /> <br /> <strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong><br /> <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Tue, 19 Oct 2021 00:00:00 Z{183C8F63-0003-440F-8839-0E83EA1DE9AE}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/10/treatment-on-mobile-stroke-units-give-patients-better-outcomesTreatment on mobile stroke units gives patients better outcomes<p>INDIANAPOLIS—When patients with acute stroke symptoms are treated on a mobile stroke unit (MSU) and receive anti-clot medication faster, they have less disability at 90 days, reported a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine co-authored by Indiana University School of Medicine researcher, <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/12232/mackey-jason">Jason Mackey, MD</a>. <br /> <br /> The study found that patients treated on an MSU were more likely to receive the anti-clotting drug tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) compared to an emergency medical services (EMS) ambulance. MSUs treated 97.1% patients with t-PA compared to 79.5% patients in the EMS group. MSUs also administered t-PA faster after onset of stroke at an average of 72 minutes compared to 108 minutes in the EMS group. <br /> <br /> “Stroke is a highly time-sensitive condition, so the faster we can treat people, the higher the likelihood that they will do well,” Mackey said. “Treating people faster gives the clot less time to organize and makes it easier to break up.” <br /> <br /> Mackey is an associate <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/neurology">professor of neurology</a> at IU School of Medicine and director of the IU Health Mobile Stroke Unit. He served as principal investigator for the study’s IU site.<br /> <br /> MSU are ambulances equipped with a computed tomography (CT) scanner and staffed by one or two paramedics, a CT technologist and a critical care nurse. A vascular neurologist is available on board or via telemedicine. <br /> <br /> “One very important finding in this trial is that with MSUs, we can treat many more people in the first hour after stroke when the likelihood is highest that they will do well,” Mackey explained.  “'Time is brain' is the mantra in stroke and each minute that goes by without reperfusion is associated with a loss of 2 million neurons.”<br /> <br /> The nationwide, multicenter trial was led by researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) where it began in 2014 when the center acquired the first MSU in the country. The study was later expanded to six additional sites, including IU Health, and enrolled 1,515 patients over a six-year period. Of the patients enrolled, 1,047 were eligible for t-PA with 617 patients receiving care by an MSU and 430 patients cared for by EMS. <br /> <br /> Mackey and his research team joined in the last year of the study and contributed 13 patients to the enrollment population. IU Health’s MSU is the only one in the state of Indiana, and one of only 20 MSUs in the U.S. <br /> <br /> “Showing that these units are effective in helping stroke patients is going to help us build better systems of care for our stroke patients across the country,” he explained. “Right now, most of these units are funded through philanthropy and we need better reimbursement to ensure sustainability—the positive data will help with (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) and other payers.”</p> <p><strong>Media contact<br /> </strong>Glenda Shaw | Email: <a href="mailto:glenshaw@iu.edu">glenshaw@iu.edu</a><br /> <br /> ###<br /> <br /> <strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Tue, 19 Oct 2021 00:00:00 Z{EC50F56F-E4BE-4E6E-A9EB-FB724421481D}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/10/iu-simon-comprehensive-cancer-center-names-its-first-associate-director-of-diversity-equity-and-inclusionIU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center names its first associate director of diversity, equity and inclusionINDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center has named <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/19102/haywood-antwione">Antwione Haywood, PhD</a>, its associate director of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Haywood is the first person to hold the chief diversity officer position at the cancer center. <br />  <br /> Haywood, assistant dean for medical student affairs and assistant professor of clinical radiation oncology at Indiana University School of Medicine, joins the cancer center’s executive committee, which oversees strategic planning, major funding decisions, and clinical, research, and educational activities. <br /> <br /> Equity and inclusion have been a common thread throughout Haywood’s career. His work has included projects investigating disparities in access, retention, and support of underrepresented populations. His DEI efforts have led to multiple publications and oral and poster presentations at national meetings.<br /> <br /> Haywood serves as a co-director for the <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/education/training/CUPID.php">Cancer in the Under-Privileged Indigent or Disadvantaged</a> (CUPID) summer fellowship, a program within the cancer center and the medical school. The CUPID program cultivates an interest in oncology and cancer research among medical students and includes formal lectures discussing health care disparities and specific diseases prevalent in underserved populations. Haywood teaches the Mind Body Medicine elective course for IU medical students, which promotes mindfulness and wellness practices. Within IU School of Medicine, he conducts unconscious bias training for faculty and students, leading tough conversations around DEI issues.<br /> <br /> “Dr. Haywood brings great knowledge, passion and experience to our efforts to build diversity, equity and inclusion into the moral foundation of the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center,” Kelvin Lee, MD, director of the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, said. “We are very fortunate and very excited to have him join our team.”<br /> Haywood joins the cancer center at an integral time as the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has charged all NCI-designated centers to increase DEI efforts. He will be responsible for enhancing participation of women and underrepresented populations in the research workforce and center leadership; supporting career-enhancing research opportunities for junior, early- and mid-career researchers to prepare them for center leadership; expanding the pipeline of cancer center members of diverse backgrounds through training or mentoring opportunities; and leveraging institutional commitment to enhance diversity within the center’s membership and leadership.<br /> <br /> Haywood previously was director of the Academic Success Center at Purdue University. While there, he helped launch a national tutor training program and oversaw various initiatives to improve success of historically underrepresented populations in higher education.<br /> <br /> Haywood holds a PhD from Indiana University-Bloomington, a master’s degree from the University of Kansas, both in higher education, and a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Old Dominion University.<br /> <br /> “This is such a pivotal time to be joining the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center team,” Haywood said. “It’s really important to support creating spaces that values equity and inclusivity. An equity-centered approach to our work will advance our strategic focus on becoming a socially responsible comprehensive cancer center.”<br />Mon, 18 Oct 2021 00:00:00 Z{E683575A-DC4F-46DE-B80C-B34E4CAD52E8}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/10/researchers-awarded-$12m-to-pursue-personalized-therapies-for-severe-asthmaResearchers awarded $12 million to pursue personalized therapies for severe asthmaINDIANAPOLIS—A group of researchers led by Indiana University School of Medicine’s <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/43800/gaston-benjamin">Benjamin Gaston, MD</a>, has been awarded a research program project grant (P01) from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The award amounts to just over $12 million over the next five years and will fund the development of personalized therapeutic approaches for severe asthma.<br /> <br /> Severe asthma is one of the most common and costly lung diseases, accounting for the majority of asthma-related deaths and an estimated $10 billion in health care costs for Americans annually. <br /> <br /> “Severe asthma occurs in about 10 percent of all people with asthma,” said Gaston, who is the Billie Lou Wood Professor of Pediatrics and Vice Chair for Translational Research in the Department of Pediatrics. “These are the patients who are on high doses of medication and still can't exercise or do the activities that they want to do. So our focus is to figure out what's causing this severe asthma and how to make it better.”<br /> <br /> The grant will fund three key projects related to severe asthma: S-nitrosylation signaling, airway pH regulation, and androgen signaling. The group has studied these mechanisms for more than a decade, and they’ve shown that these factors are not only indicators of the type of severe asthma a person has, but also potential targets for treatment. The three projects will be led by Gaston, Jonathan Stamler, MD, Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) Professor of Medicine, and Tim Lahm, MD, Adjunct Professor of Medicine at IU School of Medicine.<br /> <br /> The project has deep roots—with more than a decade of studies and data from a long-time collaboration with researchers at Case Western Reserve. The P01 award will allow the group to expand on their data and establish a supportive infrastructure in five service cores that will enhance the three projects. <br /> <br /> Notably, their work will include novel shared resources through Research Bronchoscopy and Biospecimens Core led by <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/4931/twigg-iii-homer">Homer Twigg III, MD</a>, at IU and Olivia Giddings, MD, PhD, at CWRU; Severe Asthma Clinical Trials Core led by <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/43283/chmiel-james">James Chmiel, MD</a>, at IU and CWRU’s Kristie Ross, MD; Primary Human Airway Cell Culture Core led by IU School of Medicine’s <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/44579/davis-michael">Michael D. Davis, RRT, PhD</a> and Tom Kelley, PhD, at CWRU School of Medicine; Pulmonary Biostatistics Core led by <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/44484/zhao-yi">Yi Zhao, PhD</a>, from IU and CWRU’s Seunghee Margevicius, PhD; and an Administrative Core led by Kenzie Mahan. Stamler is also President of the Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals (UH), and Giddings and Ross are with UH Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospitals, in Cleveland.<br /> <br /> Gaston said that he envisions a not-too-distant future where a patient with severe asthma can be tested to determine which treatment will work best.<br /> <br /> “So a patient might come in and maybe they're not doing well on their current regimen; or they can't afford the new therapies that are coming out,” said Gaston. “We would get biomarkers and genetic information, and then use that information to decide which if any of the three of three therapeutic arms would be an ideal fit.  We would then treat them based on that information.”<br /> <br /> <em>The above referenced project is P01HL158507, titled “Scientific innovation for personalized severe asthma management,” funded by the NIH NHLBI.<br /> </em><br /> ###<br /> <br /> <strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.<br /> <div></div>Mon, 18 Oct 2021 00:00:00 Z{51109591-3B70-4E02-97CE-4B74496D1B3C}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/10/iu-researcher-leads-nei-funded-multi-institutional-project-studying-survival-of-human-stem-cells-in-glaucoma-modelIU researcher leads NEI-funded multi-institutional project studying survival of human stem cells in glaucoma model<p>INDIANAPOLIS — An Indiana University School of Medicine researcher is among a select group of scientists whom the National Eye Institute has funded to develop models to gauge the survival and integration of regenerated cells to treat degenerative and blinding diseases.</p> <p><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/25526/meyer-jason">Jason Meyer, PhD</a>, associate professor of medical and molecular genetics, and colleagues at four other universities are using a model of glaucoma to test the regeneration and replacement of lost retinal ganglion cells—the connection between the eye and the brain—from the disease using human pluripotent stem cells.</p> <p>“We’re looking at how we can advance these models to enhance regeneration of retinal ganglion cells and integration of stem cells,” said Meyer, who operates his laboratory within <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/research-centers/neurosciences">Stark Neurosciences Research Institute</a> at IU School of Medicine.</p> <p>This study is one of three projects that the NEI, one of the 27 centers and institutes of the National Institutes of Health, <a href="https://www.nei.nih.gov/about/news-and-events/news/learning-how-transplanted-neurons-fit-0">has awarded $18.5 million over five years through its Audacious Goals Initiative</a>. The NEI launched its Audacious Goals Initiative in 2013 to develop therapies that replace lost or damaged cells of the retina and thereby preserve or even restore vision. The NEI awarded the team led by Meyer $7 million over five years for the collaborative study.</p> <p>The three most common causes of blindness in the United States are age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. These diseases attack and destroy cells of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye. When neurons in the eye degenerate, the connections between the eye and the brain are lost and cannot regenerate on their own.</p> <p>Meyer’s laboratory specializes in generating retinal ganglion cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells. Most recently, <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/06/Researchers-develop-human-cellular-model-of-visual-pathway-in-a-dish">the team developed a human cellular model of the visual pathway in a dish</a>, a new way to study how the retina transmits information to the brain.</p> <p>“When the cells are lost in glaucoma, we’re going to provide the materials to replace the cells that degenerate,” Meyer said, adding that the cells will be engineered to enhance their ability to survive and integrate into the retina and more functionally connect the eye and the brain.</p> <p>Once his lab generates the cells, they provide them to Brad Fortune, OD, PhD, and his team at the Legacy Research Institute in Portland, Oregon, to test the long-term survival of the transplanted retinal ganglion cells in the laboratory’s established glaucoma model.</p> <p>Benjamin Sivyer, PhD, of Oregon Health and Science University, and Yvonne Ou, MD, of University of California San Francisco, will then assess the functional and anatomical integration of donor retinal ganglion cells in the glaucoma model. Gareth Howell, PhD, of The Jackson Laboratory, will provide expertise in immune-like responses in glaucoma.<br /> Meyer said the collaborators each bring a wealth of information to the project.</p> <p>“The impetus for an award like this requires assembling a team that’s very multidisciplinary but does so in a way that’s very complementary,” Meyer said. “We’re really excited about this group that we’re working with—it’s a very strong team with a lot of expertise in their respective fields. These are audacious goals that no one lab can achieve on their own.”</p> <p><strong>Media contact: </strong><a href="mailto:bmiddel@iu.edu">Ben Middelkamp</a></p> <p>###</p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <br />Thu, 07 Oct 2021 00:00:00 Z{3109C36F-86F0-45D4-AD34-E7CFAD0D1ADC}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/10/ncaa-and-department-of-defense-care-consortium-receives-award-to-launch-next-phase-of-concussion-studyNCAA, Department of Defense CARE Consortium receives $42.65 million to launch next phase of concussion study<p>INDIANAPOLIS—The world’s most comprehensive concussion study is being expanded with a boost of nearly $42.65 million in new funding, aimed at following athletes for a decade after injury—examining the impacts of head injuries after graduation. </p> <p>The NCAA-U.S. Department of Defense Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) Consortium has received a $25 million award from the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) through the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC), as well as an additional $10 million from the NCAA and $7.65 million from the Defense Health Agency.</p> <p>Indiana University School of Medicine serves as the administrative and operations core for the study, and is the central coordination center for the CARE Consortium. Led by <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/22290/mcallister-thomas">Thomas W. McAllister, MD</a>, a professor of psychiatry with IU School of Medicine, the IU team provides regulatory and fiduciary oversight, as well as biostatistics and data management, neuroimaging, bioinformatics, biomarkers/biospecimen management, and other support resources for the group. </p> <p>“This new phase of funding will allow for us to even further expand on the study’s original goals, enabling us to follow athletes after they’ve moved on from their collegiate and service academy careers to see how concussion and repetitive head impacts affect them later in life,” said McAllister. “This research will not only help to inform our understanding and treatment of traumatic brain injury, but also provide valuable information for youth sports participants and their families.”</p> <p>The CARE Consortium was created through the NCAA-Department of Defense Grant Alliance in 2014. This next phase of CARE, known as CARE/Service Academy Longitudinal mTBI Outcomes Study (SALTOS) Integrated (CSI) Study, will investigate the nature and causes of long-term effects of head impact exposure (HIE) and concussion/mild traumatic brain injury in NCAA student-athletes and military service members. </p> <p>The new funding allows for investigators to build on existing research by following former CARE research participants beyond graduation to evaluate the long-term or late effects of traumatic brain injuries for up to 10 years or more after initial exposure or injury. </p> <p>The most comprehensive, prospective study of its kind to better understand concussion, head impact exposure and effects on brain health, the CARE Consortium has broad goals to enhance the health and safety of NCAA student-athletes and military service members. It also is the first major concussion study to assess both women and men in 24 sports—previously, most concussion literature came from men’s football and men’s ice hockey. </p> <p>The latest awards bring the Grand Alliance funding now to more than $105 million. </p> <p>The initial phase of CARE focused on the six-month natural history and neurobiology of acute concussion and HIE. The <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2018/10/ncaa-and-department-of-defense-expand-concussion-study-with-22-5-million-in-new-funding">second phase, CARE 2.0,</a> prospectively investigated the intermediate effects—such as changes in brain health outcomes over a college career—and early persistent health effects associated with HIE and concussion soon after graduation.</p> <p>Anticipated outcomes from the study include determining the prevalence and characteristics of long-term brain health problems associated with HIE and concussion and mild traumatic brain injury. The study also seeks to validate advanced biomarkers (such as neuroimaging, and blood) that detect early indicators of such long-term health issues. </p> <p>“Identifying the neurobiological pathways that possibly contribute to long-term negative consequences of concussion and repetitive head impacts is critical for the development of early interventions and strategies in athletes and service academies who are at risk,” said NCAA Chief Medical Officer Brian Hainline, MD. “We are confident this award from MTEC, coupled with additional funding from the NCAA and DoD, will provide us the support to develop an array of interventions that mitigate possible long-term effects of concussion or HIE.”  </p> <p><strong>Media contact: </strong>Katie Duffey, Email: <a href="mailto:kaduffey@iu.edu">kaduffey@iu.edu</a>, Cellphone: 765-427-3553</p> <p>###</p> <p><strong>About the CARE Consortium <br /> </strong>Launched in 2014 as part of the NCAA-DoD Grand Alliance, the <a href="http://www.careconsortium.net/">CARE Consortium</a> is overseen by principal investigators at research institutions across the country. Leveraging its extensive infrastructure and experienced research team, CARE has published over 80 scientific papers that are critical to advancing the science of mTBI/concussion and HIE. In addition to IU School of Medicine’s leadership: </p> <ul> <li>The University of Michigan leads the longitudinal clinical study core, a prospective, multi-institution clinical research protocol studying the natural history of concussion among NCAA student-athletes and military service academy cadets. Steven Broglio, PhD, professor of kinesiology and director of the Michigan Concussion Center at Michigan, leads this effort.</li> <li>Michael McCrea, PhD, professor of neurosurgery, and co-director of the Center for Neurotrauma Research (CNTR) at the Medical College of Wisconsin, directs the advanced research core, which includes head impact sensor technologies, advanced neuroimaging and biological markers that include detailed genetic testing.</li> <li>The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences coordinates engagement with the four military academies in the consortium. Retired Army Col. Paul F. Pasquina, MD, professor and chair of the department of rehabilitation medicine and director of the Center for Rehabilitation Sciences Research, leads this aspect of the study.</li> </ul> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Thu, 07 Oct 2021 00:00:00 Z{A40598E5-49E7-4BF7-8226-8538BFB6FF1D}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/10/iu-school-of-medicine-researchers-discover-ties-between-covid19-and-bone-lossIU School of Medicine researchers discover ties between COVID-19 and bone loss<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers in the <a href="/orthopaedic-surgery">Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Indiana University School of Medicine</a>, with support from the Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Indianapolis, have discovered that SARS-CoV-2 can cause quick and significant bone loss—even when infections are mild.</p> <p>Mouse models infected with the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 lost approximately 25% of their bone mass within two weeks of contagion and exhibited a 63% increase in osteoclasts, the cells that cause bone to break down. These changes were observed even in mice who experienced only mild COVID-19 symptoms and those who were asymptomatic.</p> <p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S8756328221003938">The findings are being published in <em>BONE</em>,</a> a journal focused primarily on research into bone and mineral metabolism and the interactions of bone with other organ systems.</p> <p>The study raises questions about the lasting implications of the pandemic and the virus’s effects on the musculoskeletal system. The discovery will likely inspire further research into the potential bone loss experienced by people of all ages who contract COVID-19.</p> <p>The study is part of ongoing coronavirus research being conducted by the Kacena Lab in Indianapolis, led by <a href="/faculty/18628/kacena-melissa">Melissa Kacena, PhD</a>, <a href="/orthopaedic-surgery/research">Vice Chair of Research for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery</a>.</p> <p>This year, the Kacena Lab became the first lab in Indiana to begin using mouse models to study the coronavirus, in hopes of learning more about and discovering a treatment for the disease. The lab acquired transgenic mouse models to aid in its experiments, making it only one of a handful of labs in the United States to be conducting coronavirus-related experiments at this level.</p> <p><a href="/blogs/research-updates/megakaryocytes-link-researchers-bone-healing-work-to-covid-19">Diverting research to SARS-CoV-2</a> came after several studies revealed that those dying from the coronavirus had high numbers of megakaryocytes built up in various organs, which causes significant issues. Megakaryocytes are among the Kacena Lab’s areas of expertise. Researchers working under Kacena’s mentorship study the cells in relation to bone regeneration and fracture healing.</p> <p>Kacena’s researchers then began questioning the other effects COVID-19 might be having on the body, particularly the musculoskeletal system. These inquiries ultimately led to the discovery of decreased bone matter in the coronavirus-infected mice.</p> <p>Decreased bone mass, or osteoporosis, can cause brittle bones that are prone to breaks. Elderly people have always been one of the most at-risk group for complications due to osteoporosis because they are least likely to naturally regenerate lost bone matter. Because the elderly are also at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19, Kacena’s team is studying if those who overcome the virus will now be even more likely to suffer broken bones.</p> <p>And with more children contracting the Delta variant, further questions are raised about whether young people can develop adequate bones after contracting the virus. Humans don’t reach peak bone mass until approximately age 25, Kacena said, and COVID-19 could be impacting development. </p> <p>This work was supported by the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, funded in part by NIH UL1TR002529, and by NIH 1U54DK106846 T32DK007519, T32AR065971, and T32HL007910.</p> <p>This work was also supported in part by VA Merit Review Award #BX003751 from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development Service. The contents do not represent the views of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Institutes of Health, or the United States Government.</p> <p>###</p> <strong><span>IU School of Medicine</span></strong><span><br /> <a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span>Tue, 05 Oct 2021 00:00:00 Z{93DD4020-930D-4B3E-95B0-4D8848CADB80}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/09/iu-receives-grant-aimed-at-enhancing-curricular-coverage-of-care-for-underservedIU receives grant aimed at enhancing curricular coverage of care for underserved<p class="paragraph" style="background: white;"><span class="normaltextrun">INDIANAPOLIS—</span>Indiana University School of Medicine researchers were recently awarded a $5.1 million supplemental grant from the United States Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for the <a href="/blogs/faculty-news/iu-school-of-medicine-announces-leadership-team-for-prime-grant-targeting-underserved-populations">Primary Care Reaffirmation for Indiana Medical Education (PRIME) program</a><span class="normaltextrun">. </span></p> <p class="paragraph" style="background: white;">The new award for the program will add to the previous four-year, $7 million grant received by the school in 2020. The funding will be used to enhance the classroom and clinical learning experiences—using face-to-face as well as the growing platform of telemedicine to build trusting relationships between trainees and their patients.<span></span></p> <p>“This award will allow the school to increase the program’s focus on expanding primary care training and experiences, including telemedicine and point-of-care ultrasound,” said <a href="/faculty/5011/allen-bradley">Bradley Allen, MD, PhD</a>, senior associate dean for medical education and a principal investigator of the program. “It will also help us to enhance our curricular coverage of care for the underserved, increase attention to the impact of systemic racism on health care in Indiana and develop competency skills in health equity, diversity and inclusion.”</p> <p>“Access to the latest technology is an equity issue, as students who lack access to the latest technology or teaching platforms can fall behind their peers,” said <a href="/faculty/41427/wallach-paul">Paul Wallach, MD</a>, executive associate dean for educational affairs and institutional improvement and another principal investigator of the program. “Students will learn how to utilize the latest technology that will connect them with patients in clinical care.”</p> <p>Telemedicine equipment will also be purchased and used at all nine IU School of Medicine campuses. The purchase of the equipment will be spearheaded by PRIME telemedicine director and associate professor of clinical medicine <a href="/faculty/5332/reese-lindsey">Lindsey Reese, MD</a>.</p> <p>“We will be bringing in over 200 telemedicine kits for our students,” Reese said. “By practicing with this technology, our students will be able to learn best practices for interacting and working with patients remotely, allowing them to become effective future practitioners.” </p> <p>As part of PRIME, first-year students beginning in the fall of 2021 were given an opportunity to work with faculty and staff who have been trained through the Academy of Communication in Healthcare to learn active listening practices. Faculty and students will take the skills learned in this program, called Accelerating Inclusivity in Medicine, and apply it to their educational environment and clinical practice. </p> <p>The school will also be working with the Regenstrief Institute to utilize all capabilities of their teaching electronic medical record (tEMR) system. The tEMR system uses real, de-identified, patient cases that students can work through to learn about clinical care and managing medical records.</p> <p>In addition, supplemental funds will be utilized to partner with the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) to develop learning modules on community research and patient care. The CTSI will work with medical students and the IU Bloomington Prevention Insights Team to review current course curriculum for additional needs. Through this review, course modules will be created to fill identified gaps in community engagement and delivery of high-quality care to all Hoosiers. This partnership will allow both PRIME and the CTSI to create content that is utilized for many years by IU medical students. </p> <p>“Physicians who are able to listen to their patients’ wants and needs are more likely to have a better working relationship and to be better providers. This investment will not only benefit IU School of Medicine, but all Indiana communities where these future and current physicians practice,” Allen said. “The supplemental funding will be utilized through the 2021-22 academic year, but the additional programming, technology and benefits from this support will benefit the school and our students for years to come.”</p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">###</span></p> <p><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">About IU School of Medicine</span></strong><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /> </span></strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span></p>Thu, 30 Sep 2021 00:00:00 Z{1EC87D53-79BD-4672-AF87-A85DBE865E43}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/09/cancer-center-researchers-part-of-a-collaborative-12-million-spore-grant-from-national-cancer-instituteCancer center researchers part of a collaborative $12.4 million SPORE grant from National Cancer Institute<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span>IU research could lead to new treatment options for breast and ovarian cancer patients</span></h3> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span>INDIANAPOLIS—Two <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> researchers are now part of a prestigious Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant from the National Cancer Institute.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span><a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research-trials/member-bio.shtml?id=3008&name=kathy-miller">Kathy Miller, MD</a> and <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research-trials/member-bio.shtml?id=1160&name=kenneth-nephew">Ken Nephew, PhD</a> are among nearly 20 scientists at six institutions who will work to improve epigenetic therapies for cancer with the five-year, estimated $12.4 million grant.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span>The SPORE grant was awarded to The Coriell Institute for Medical Research (Camden, NJ) and Van Andel Institute (Grand Rapids, MI) and includes three research projects focusing on epigenetic therapy, which aims to treat cancer by correcting abnormal gene expression.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span>The project at Indiana University will investigate the impact of epigenetic therapy on cancers driven by <em>BRCAness</em>, a major cancer-related vulnerability. Nephew and Miller, both researchers at the <a href="/research-centers/breast-cancer">Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research</a> at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, will collaborate with project co-investigator Feyruz Rassool, PhD, of the University of Maryland School of Medicine.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span>Patients who inherit mutations in the <em>BRCA1</em> or <em>BRCA2</em> genes are at higher risk for breast and ovarian cancers. While approved therapies exist for those patient populations, those therapies won’t work for women diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer or ovarian cancer with <em>BRCAness</em>—a defect in the DNA repair process that imitates <em>BRCA</em> mutations, even though the gene is intact. This research could offer a treatment approach for both <em>BRCA</em> mutant and intact cancers.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span>“We are pioneering an epigenetic therapy-PARP inhibitor combination that will generate a vulnerability in cancer cells. Our strategy represents a potentially important treatment advance and therapeutic option for women diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer who lack <em>BRCA </em>mutations and address an urgent clinical need,” Nephew said.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span>Nephew is assistant director of research-Bloomington and co-leader of the Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis research program at the cancer center and Jerry W. and Peggy S. Throgmartin Professor of Oncology at <a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a>. Nephew traces his work testing the combination of epigenetic therapy and PARP inhibitors in mouse models with breast cancer metastasis to generous funding from <a href="https://www.cancer.iu.edu/100voices/">100 Voices of Hope</a>.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span>“We are also pre-clinically testing whether the efficacy of this treatment strategy may be further enhanced by including immune checkpoint therapy,” Nephew said. “Cancer immunotherapy has yet to achieve meaningful survival benefit in breast and ovarian cancer patients. Epigenetic drug approaches for epigenetic immunosensitization could be a game-changer.”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span>Miller, Nephew and collaborators will explore possible benefits of epigenetic combination therapies for patients with triple negative breast cancer and ovarian cancer patients who are resistant to PARP inhibitor (PARPi) therapy. PARP is an enzyme in cells that help repair damaged DNA; the PARP inhibitors work by blocking cancer cells from repairing the damage. The research could bring the benefits of PARPi therapy to a larger group of patients, offering more treatment options.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span>“We began the first clinical trial combining epigenetic therapy with a PARP inhibitor last year, exploring different doses and learning how to use the combination safely. With support from the SPORE grant, we can expand that initial trial and study how this combination controls breast and ovarian cancers,” Miller said. Miller is associate director of clinical research at the cancer center and the Ballvé-Lantero Professor of Oncology at IU School of Medicine.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span>“Blood and tumor samples collected from patients in the trial will complement the work Dr. Nephew and Dr. Rassool are doing in the lab, helping us to better understand how the combination works and which patients are most likely to benefit,” Miller said.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span>Researchers on this SPORE grant have collaborated on epigenetic research for many years. In 2018, Miller and Nephew were named to the </span><a href="https://vari.vai.org/vai-su2c-dream-team/"><span>Van Andel Institute–Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) Epigenetics Dream Team</span></a><span>, a multi-institutional effort to identify new and more effective cancer therapies and test them in the clinic to improve patient care. The VAI-SU2C Epigenetics Dream Team</span> <span>has launched more than a dozen epigenetic therapy clinical trials in recent years and will support trials from this SPORE.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">“SPORE grants are the highest level of research funding dedicated to moving science from the laboratory to cancer patients, and they have great impact in advancing new and innovative approaches in cancer care and treatment,” said Kelvin Lee, MD, director of the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. “The very impressive research project of Drs. Nephew, Rassool and Miller is at the heart of clinical research in this epigenetics SPORE; it has the real potential to be a groundbreaking approach for some of the hardest to treat breast and ovarian cancers.”</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">This SPORE grant is the first in NCI history to support a thematic focus on epigenetics and can be renewed indefinitely. Read more about the grant and additional projects on the <a href="https://trp.cancer.gov/spores/abstracts/coriell_institute_epigenetics.htm">NCI website</a>.</p> <div></div> <p> ### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 28 Sep 2021 00:00:00 Z{533C0E68-9A56-4FA8-840E-0011D9E7A08B}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/09/indiana-university-school-of-medicine-announces-call-for-nominations-into-2022-august-m-watanabe-prize-for-translational-researchIndiana University School of Medicine announces call for nominations into 2022 August M. Watanabe Prize for Translational Research<h3><span>Nancy J. Brown, MD, Dean of Yale Medical School, is this year’s $100,000 research prize winner and keynote speaker at Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute’s annual meeting</span></h3> <p style="margin-right: 0.5pt;"><span>INDIANAPOLIS — <span style="color: rgb(35, 31, 32);">Indiana University School of Medicine is pleased to announce the call for nominations into the 2022 August M. Watanabe prize in translational research. Leaders at the school made the announcement as part of the September 24, 2021, Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) Annual Meeting. This year’s $100,00 prize winner, Nancy J. Brown, MD, Jean and David W. Wallace Dean of the Yale School of Medicine and C.N.H. Long Professor of Internal Medicine, will be the keynote speaker at the Indiana CTSI event. Brown’s research helped inform the focus of this year’s annual meeting titled <em>Preventing the Smoldering Pandemic of Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome</em>. </span></span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0.5pt;"><span style="background: white; color: black;">“The Watanabe Prize showcases our commitment at IU School of Medicine to celebrating and supporting the best translational research in the nation,” said IU School of Medicine Dean </span><span style="background: white;"><a href="/faculty/6512/hess-jay"><span style="background: white;">Jay L. Hess</span><span style="background: white;">, MD, PhD, MHSA</span></a></span><span style="background: white; color: black;">. “Our honorees are at the top of their fields and have shepherded scientific discoveries into new therapies for patients. Through this award, honorees are able to share their knowledge and inspire our IU community.”</span><span> </span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0.5pt;"><span style="color: rgb(35, 31, 32);">The following researchers from across the state also shared their findings on the topic of obesity and the metabolic syndrome as part of the Indiana CTSI annual meeting:</span></p> <ul> <li style="margin-right: 0.5pt;"><span style="color: rgb(76, 76, 76);">Bernice Pescosolido, PhD, Principal Investigator and Indiana University Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Stephen Carter, PhD, Assistant Professor, Indiana University Bloomington School of Public Health, <strong><em><span>Person-to-Person Health Interview Study Findings; Obesity Disproportionality Affecting Minorities</span></em></strong></span></li> <li style="margin-right: 0.5pt;">Giles Duffield<span style="color: rgb(76, 76, 76);">, PhD, Associate Professor Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame <strong><em>Dysfunction of the Circadian Clock that Underlies Several Disease States, including Obesity and Diabetes</em></strong></span></li> <li style="margin-right: 0.5pt;">Dennis Savaiano<span style="color: rgb(76, 76, 76);">, PhD, Director of the Connections IN Health/Indiana State Department of Health Coalition Development Program </span><span style="color: rgb(76, 76, 76);">and </span>Lily Darbishire<span style="color: rgb(35, 31, 32);">, MPH, RDN, PhD candidate, Department of Nutrition Science, both from Purdue University<em>,<strong> </strong>I</em></span><strong><em><span style="color: rgb(76, 76, 76);">ndiana CTSI and State Department of Health Community Coalitions’ Approach to Prevention and Treatment of Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome</span></em></strong></li> <li style="margin-right: 0.5pt;"><strong><em><span style="color: rgb(76, 76, 76);"></span></em></strong><span style="color: rgb(35, 31, 32);">Chandan Sen, PhD, IU Distinguished Professor, Associate Vice President for Military and Applied Research, Indiana University School of Medicine and Executive Director, IU Health Comprehensive Wound Center, </span><em style="color: rgb(35, 31, 32);">Shoulder-to-Shoulder Against the Menace of Diabetic Ulcer</em></li> </ul> <p style="margin-right: 0.5pt;"><span style="color: rgb(35, 31, 32);">The complete annual meeting agenda is <a href="https://indianactsi.org/news-events/annual-meeting/2021-annual-meeting/2021-annual-meeting-details/">available on the Indiana CTSI </a></span><span><a href="https://indianactsi.org/news-events/annual-meeting/2021-annual-meeting/2021-annual-meeting-details/">website</a></span><span style="color: rgb(35, 31, 32);">.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0.5pt;"><span style="color: rgb(35, 31, 32);">“Having a researcher as prestigious as Dr. Nancy J. Brown present as the keynote speaker for our Indiana CTSI annual meeting is a tremendous benefit to researchers within our organization and across the state,” said </span><span><a href="/faculty/16722/wiehe-sarah"><span>Sarah Wiehe</span>, MD, MPH</a></span><span style="color: rgb(35, 31, 32);">, co-director of the Indiana CTSI. “Learning more about her research outcomes will help us develop new ways of thinking about potential approaches to new treatments and strategies for a healthier Indiana.”</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0.5pt;"><span style="color: rgb(35, 31, 32);">The August M. Watanabe award is given to an investigator who has made a significant contribution to the field of translational science. The winner will receive $100,000 and will be spending time in Indianapolis from September 14-16, 2022, as a visiting dignitary to share knowledge with audiences at IU School of Medicine and its partner institutions. The deadline for 2022 prize nominations is January 21, 2022.  </span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0.5pt;"><span style="color: rgb(35, 31, 32);">IU School of Medicine wants to encourage all researchers to consider nominating a member of the scientific or medical community who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in translational research. The Watanabe Prize is granted to a senior investigator whose influential research deserves major recognition. Researchers are able to <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/research/watanabe-prize">submit nominations easily through the </a></span><span><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/research/watanabe-prize">IU School of Medicine website</a></span><span style="color: rgb(35, 31, 32);">. </span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0.5pt;"><span style="color: rgb(35, 31, 32);">The Watanabe prize is named in honor of the late August M. Watanabe, a pioneer in the field of translational research in both academia and industry who impacted the health of people around the world as a leader at Indiana University School of Medicine and Eli Lilly and Company. The Watanabe Prize in Translational Research was created to memorialize Dr. Watanabe’s exceptional dedication to scientific inquiry and his determined advocacy of translational research.</span></p> <p style="margin-right: 0.5pt;"><span style="color: rgb(35, 31, 32);">###</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><strong><span>About IU School of Medicine </span></strong></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span></p> <p><strong><span>About the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute</span></strong><span><br /> The Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) brings together the state’s brightest minds to solve Indiana’s most pressing health challenges through research. It is a statewide partnership among Indiana University, Purdue University, the University of Notre Dame and numerous life sciences businesses, government entities, and community organizations. The Indiana CTSI engages with the public at every level of research—from basic science to patient care. It has been continuously funded by multimillion-dollar grants from the National Institutes of Health since the Indiana CTSI’s founding in 2008 and is housed at the Indiana University School of Medicine. For more information, visit </span><a href="https://indianactsi.org/"><span>indianactsi.org</span></a><span>.</span></p>Fri, 24 Sep 2021 00:00:00 Z{03F470DB-C080-4713-AEAB-F2F90ACCAA99}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/09/brown-center-for-immunotherapy-names-huda-salman-md-as-inaugural-executive-directorBrown Center for Immunotherapy names Huda Salman, MD, PhD as inaugural executive director<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine has named its first executive director of the <a href="/research-centers/immunotherapy">Brown Center for Immunotherapy</a>. Huda Salman, MD, PhD will become the center’s new leader, effective November 1.</p> <p>Salman joins IU School of Medicine from Stony Brook University and Stony Brook Cancer Center where she is currently an associate professor, section chief of hematological malignancies and director of the CAR T-cell program. She founded the hematological malignancies section as well as the Cancer Center Adolescence and Young Adult Program at Stony Brook. She completed a fellowship in hematology/oncology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, residency at Cornell Medical College and medical school at Jordan University.<span style="color: rgb(46, 42, 37);"> A leukemia survivor herself, Salman’s clinical expertise is focused on hematological malignancies and bone marrow transplantation and cellular therapy, particularly for acute and aggressive lymphomas. Her most recent work on CAR T-cell and immunotherapy is extramurally funded and very well received in the medical community.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(46, 42, 37);">At IU School of Medicine, Salman will hold the title of Don Brown Chair in Immunotherapy and professor of medicine in the Department of Medicine, <a href="/internal-medicine/specialties/hematology-oncology">Division of Hematology and Oncology</a>.</span></p> <p>“I’m excited to join IU and focus on cancer immunology research and immunotherapy,” Salman said. “This is a great opportunity to establish new treatments through basic, translational and clinical research in collaboration with other IU faculty and existing programs as well as across the country. I’m also looking forward to building a dedicated team of scientists and clinicians to advance the field in this area of medicine.”</p> <p><span>The Brown Center for Immunotherapy was established in 2016 thanks to a $30 million gift from Indianapolis entrepreneur Donald E. Brown, MD. The center studies new ways to deploy immune-based therapies to treat cancer and pioneer use of technology in other diseases. Currently, researchers are focused <span style="background: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">on a technology known as </span><em><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">chimeric antigen receptor-modified T-cells</span></em><span style="background: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">, or CAR T-cells. T-cells are important cells in the body’s immune system, but often cannot detect cancer cells due to the defenses put up by the malignant tumor cells. The immunotherapy approach is based on harnessing the immune system to fight cancer cells. In CAR T-cell therapy, the patient’s T-cells are collected, genetically re-programmed to more efficiently identify and attack cancer cells, then re-infused back into the patient.</span></span></p> <p>“Immunotherapy represents one of the most promising advances in recent decades, if not in the entire history of medicine,” said <a href="/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>, executive vice president for university clinical affairs and IU School of Medicine dean. “We are excited to welcome Dr. Salman as the Brown Center’s inaugural director and look forward to the new advancements the center will make under her leadership.”</p> <p>The center is part of the <a href="http://cancer.iu.edu">IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a>, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center with more than 250 investigators who work to develop better approaches to prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The Brown Center also collaborates with the private sector throughout Central Indiana, including leaders in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and other relevant fields.</p> <p>“Dr. Salman will recruit and lead a team of scientists to improve the application of adult and pediatric cancer cell therapy and pioneer the use of this powerful technology for other diseases,” said <a href="/faculty/59596/lee-kelvin">Kelvin Lee, MD</a>, director of the cancer center and associate dean for cancer research at IU School of Medicine. “With her years of expertise, we are confident that she will help the Brown Center continue its important work to develop methods to make this highly-specialized therapy more widely accessible to make the greatest impact on patients’ lives.”</p> <p><span style="color: rgb(46, 42, 37);">The Brown Center for Immunotherapy is focused on multiple myeloma and triple negative breast cancer, two diseases for which the School of Medicine and its clinical partner Indiana University Health have a strong foundation of talent, sizable patient populations and existing resources that can be leveraged to maximize impact. Researchers will also investigate potential opportunities to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders with immunotherapies.</span></p> <p> </p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 15 Sep 2021 00:00:00 Z{9C055BA5-7BEF-4790-BED0-32FF31F147FC}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/09/researchers-receive-17-million-grant-to-study-impact-of-drugs-and-medicines-in-pregnant-women-and-childrenResearchers receive $17.1 million grant to study impact of drugs and medicines in pregnant women and childrenINDIANAPOLIS—Researchers with Indiana University School of Medicine <a href="/obgyn">Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology</a>, <a href="/pediatrics">Department of Pediatrics</a> and <a href="/internal-medicine/specialties/clinical-pharmacology">Division of Clinical Pharmacology in the Department of Medicine</a> are studying how certain drugs and medications affect pregnant and lactating women and their children thanks to a new, five-year, $17.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. <p><img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/project/facultyprofileimages/2020/06/05/22/29/1072-sara-quinney.png?h=200&w=133&rev=e1b768ee126c444585af23e2ccb0404d&hash=4108290531576B965F9B77D94135FE31" alt="Sara Quinney, PharmD, PhD" style="height: 200px; width: 133px;" title="Sara Quinney, PharmD, PhD" longdesc="Sara Quinney, PharmD, PhD" class="float-right" />“The goal is to bring together data sciences and clinical pharmacology research for maternal and pediatric populations to improve understanding of drug metabolism, distribution and effects,” said <a href="/faculty/1072/quinney-sara">Sara Quinney, PharmD, PhD</a><span>,</span> an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at IU School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Quinney is the principal investigator of the study along with Lang Li, PhD from Ohio State University.</p> <p>The Maternal and Pediatric Precision in Therapeutics (MPRINT) Hub will serve as a national resource for multidisciplinary expertise and knowledge in maternal and pediatric therapeutics. The Indiana University-Ohio State University Maternal and Pediatric Precision in Therapeutics Data, Model, Knowledge and Research Coordination Center, or MPRINT-DMKRCC, is made up of six core components. The logistics core, outreach, dissemination and training core, pharmacometrics and clinical trial design core and real-world evidence core are led by IU, while the knowledgebase portal core is based at Ohio State University. The MPRINT Hub also consists of two Centers of Excellence in Therapeutics at Vanderbilt University and the University of California San Diego.</p> <p>“At IU, we’re focused on coordinating MPRINT Hub activities, promoting educational opportunities, and pharmacometric modeling,” Quinney said. “We’re incorporating data from various sources, including literature and electronic health data, and developing models to promote our understanding of drug therapy for pregnant and lactating women and their children.”  </p> <p>These models will integrate this data into models that describe the dynamic changes in physiology and drug metabolism across gestation, postpartum, lactation and childhood, incorporating sources of inter- and intra-individual variability such as race/ethnicity, pharmacogenomics, obesity, concomitant disease and disability to provide a platform to inform maternal and child therapies. </p> <p>“The long-term goal of the project is to develop a national resource for research, drug development, and regulatory communities relating to maternal and pediatric therapeutics,” Quinney said. “The MPRINT Hub will serve as a catalyst for innovative and multidisciplinary research to accelerate maternal and pediatric precision therapeutics.”</p> <p>###</p> <span><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span>Fri, 10 Sep 2021 00:00:00 Z{3939AD9C-8866-427B-9951-16633320F7FC}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/09/iu-school-of-medicine-names-new-chair-to-lead-department-of-biostatistics-and-health-data-scienceIU School of Medicine names new chair to lead Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine has appointed <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/38697/huang-kun">Kun Huang, PhD</a>, as chair of the <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/biostatistics">Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science</a>, effective October 1, 2021.</p> <p>Huang brings a tremendous amount of research, education and leadership experience to the role. He currently serves as vice chair for data science and professor with the department. </p> <p>Since coming to IU School of Medicine in 2017, Huang has held a number of leadership roles across many areas of the school. He leads the <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/expertise/precision-health">Precision Health Initiative</a> Data Science and Informatics group, and is the director of the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Core for the <a href="https://treatad.org/">TREAT-AD program</a> for Alzheimer’s therapy development. The leader of the data science and informatics service for the National Cancer Institute Pediatric Cancer <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-nci/budget/fact-book/extramural-programs/spores">SPORE </a>grant-funded research program, Huang also serves as associate director for data science at the <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/research-centers/cancer">IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a>.</p> <p>Huang’s leadership has extended schoolwide through his role as assistant dean for data science, as well as a member of the executive council of the <a href="https://www.regenstrief.org/">Regenstrief Institute</a>. He has built a leading research program in translational data science, integrating imaging, genomics and clinical data with continuous federal funding, high-impact publications, award-winning methodologies and successful trainees. </p> <p>Huang earned his undergraduate degrees at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, and went on to complete his graduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, earning three master’s degrees and his PhD in electrical and computer engineering. He is also a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). </p> <p>Huang began his academic career in 2004 as an assistant professor with the Department of Biomedical Informatics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, where he would go on to serve as associate professor, professor and associate dean for genome infomatics before joining IU School of Medicine in 2017.</p> <p>Huang takes on this new leadership role at a time of incredible growth and opportunity for the Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science at IU School of Medicine, which is currently ranked 12th in NIH funding among biostatistics departments nationally. </p> <p>“With an impressive track record of research excellence and collaboration, I am confident Dr. Huang is well-positioned to lead the department into the future, and help make IU School of Medicine a leading-edge hub of biomedical research,” said IU School of Medicine Dean <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>.</p> <p>During the past decade, progresses in big data and precision medicine, along with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, have offered exciting new opportunities in biomedicine, which call for an integrated approach using statistics, informatics and computing. </p> <p>Recognizing this, IU School of Medicine incorporated data science faculty from the IU Precision Health Initiative Data Science and Informatics group into the biostatistics department, creating the combined Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science on January 1, 2021. </p> <p>The department also has educational responsibilities in the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health. Additionally, Huang will hold the Precision Health Initiative Professor of Genomics Data Sciences endowed appointment.</p> <p>“Over the years, we have developed a large team of talented researchers with highly successful collaborations, as well as three education programs covering undergraduate to PhD training. As chair of the newly named Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science, it is my great honor to lead continued collaborative efforts toward our shared goal of establishing a world-leading biostatistics and translational data science program,” Huang said.</p> <p>###</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></p> <p><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <p><strong>About Fairbanks School of Public Health</strong></p> <p>Located on the IUPUI and Fort Wayne campuses, the <a href="https://fsph.iupui.edu/">Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health</a> is committed to advancing the public’s health and well-being through education, innovation and leadership. The Fairbanks School of Public Health is known for its expertise in biostatistics, epidemiology, cancer research, community health, environmental public health, global health, health policy and health services administration.</p> <div></div>Thu, 09 Sep 2021 00:00:00 Z{726CE7A1-B310-4757-8BF4-C3E5DD797001}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/09/iu-researcher-member-of-expert-panel-on-alzheimers-disease-drugIU researcher member of expert panel on Alzheimer's disease drug<p><span>INDIANAPOLIS—When the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of the drug aducanumab to treat Alzheimer’s disease in early June, leaders in neurodegeneration research quickly created an expert panel to issue guidance to physicians on how to best administer the drug.</span></p> <p><span>Indiana University School of Medicine Distinguished Professor </span><span><a href="/faculty/6815/apostolova-liana">Liana Apostolova, MD</a></span><span>, the Barbara and Peer Baekgaard Professor in Alzheimer’s Disease Research, joined several other leading Alzheimer’s disease experts from across the United States on the panel. The panel recently published their findings in </span><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.14283/jpad.2021.41"><span>The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease</span></a><span>.</span></p> <p><span>The FDA first approved aducanumab, an amyloid-targeting monoclonal antibody, under the accelerated approval pathway “for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.” The agency later added that the drug “should be initiated in patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia stage of the disease, the population in which treatment was initiated in clinical trials.”</span></p> <p><span>This was the first time in nearly 20 years that the FDA approved a drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease.</span></p> <p><span>After the approval, Apostolova said the panel was a necessary next step for the greater Alzheimer’s disease field. The panel generated a consensus of what types of patients are eligible for the drug and how it could be safely administered. The FDA did not outline any eligibility criteria based on age, disease variant or if patients with mixed pathologies of other types of neurodegenerative diseases closely related to Alzheimer’s disease can take the drug.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">“It was exceedingly important for our field that key opinion leaders generate the set of eligibility criteria, so our fellow neurologists, geriatric psychiatrists and primary care physicians can practice medicine safely,” Apostolova said.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">The panel, led by Jeffrey Cummings, MD, professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Integrated Health Sciences, included leaders with varied expertise in Alzheimer’s disease, such as those who oversaw clinical trials of aducanumab, biomarker experts and clinical experts.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">At IU School of Medicine, Apostolova is the lead principal investigator of the </span><a href="https://leads-study.medicine.iu.edu/"><span>Longitudinal Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Study (LEADS)</span></a><span style="color: black;">, the school’s top-funded research program and the largest single National Institutes of Health grant ever received by an IU researcher.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">Clinical trials have strict eligibility criteria for participants, Apostolova said. Patients in the aducanumab studies were largely independent, Apostolova said, and had early-stage Alzheimer’s disease with only mild cognitive or functional impairments. The expert panel recommended that the drug should be “restricted to this population in which efficacy and safety had been studied.”</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">“We really do not know whether a more advanced Alzheimer’s patient would benefit from this drug,” Apostolova said. “These more advanced patients would not be eligible in our opinion for this drug as there is no evidence for efficacy in this population yet. We must practice medicine following the best science. This is the guidance that will protect providers and patients when they administer or receive the drug, respectively.”</p> <p><span style="color: black;">The expert panel emphasized the importance of providers engaging in patient-centered decision-making when administering the drug, which includes “comprehensive discussions and clear communication with the patient and care partner regarding the requirements for therapy, the expected outcome of therapy, potential risks and side effects, and the required safety monitoring, as well as uncertainties regarding individual responses and benefits.”</span></p> <p><span><a href="/faculty/42105/clark-david">David Clark, MD</a></span><span style="color: black;">, associate professor of clinical neurology at IU School of Medicine, put together a protocol for Indiana University Health physicians—following the guidelines of the expert panel—to administer aducanumab in the safest way to the most appropriate patients.</span></p> <p><span>“In keeping with IU Health’s commitment to excellence on behalf of our patients, we intend to offer aducanumab to individuals with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia when there is biological evidence of Alzheimer disease, and following a detailed discussion of the risks, benefits, costs, and quality of evidence supporting its use,” Clark said.</span></p> <p><span style="text-align: center;">###</span></p> <p><span><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span></p>Wed, 08 Sep 2021 00:00:00 Z{EB784363-D0B8-424C-8942-29590E7C45FB}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/09/iu-school-of-medicine-indiana-alzheimers-disease-research-center-awarded-additional-15-million-in-funding-from-the-national-institute-on-agingIU School of Medicine's Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center awarded additional $15 million in funding from the National Institute on Aging<p><span>INDIANAPOLIS–</span><span><a href="/">Indiana University School of Medicine</a></span><span> is pleased to announce its </span><span><a href="/research-centers/alzheimers"><span style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (IADRC)</span></a></span><span> grant has been renewed for another five years. The funding from the </span><span><a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/"><span>National Institute on Aging (NIA)</span></a></span><span> within the </span><span><a href="https://www.nih.gov/"><span>National Institutes of Health (NIH)</span></a></span><span> is expected to total $15 million. The IADRC, established in 1991, is among the earliest NIA-sponsored Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research centers in the country.</span></p> <p><span>The additional funding will be used to support, enhance and expand innovative research by targeting causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.</span></p> <p><span>“Almost everyone knows someone affected by Alzheimer’s disease. It’s common. It’s disabling. It ultimately robs individuals of quality of life,” said </span><span><a href="/faculty/6962/saykin-andrew"><span>Andrew Saykin</span><span>, PsyD</span></a>, director of the IADRC, director of</span><span> the Indiana University Center for Neuroimaging</span><span> and </span><span>Raymond C. Beeler Professor of Radiology.</span><span> “Early detection of the disease is critical, and we use advanced neuroimaging, blood biomarkers, genetics, cognitive tests and other tools to assess risk and detect changes before a person becomes symptomatic. Recent evidence has shown that some biological changes can be detected about 20 years prior to dementia onset, which presents a real window of opportunity for interventions to slow and ultimately prevent AD.”</span></p> <p><span>The overall mission of the Center is to support local, regional, national and international research efforts in service of the United States National Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias by 2025.</span></p> <p><span>“Our core, scientific theme is the development of precision medicine for Alzheimer’s and related disorders. This means identifying the optimal, personalized treatment for a given patient and timing the intervention for maximal benefit. We are developing the knowledge base to support this approach using all of the tools from basic science, clinical research and the data sciences including network analysis and artificial intelligence,” said Saykin.</span></p> <p><span>In pursuit of its goals, the IADRC has become a hub of deep AD-related research activities at IU, which continues to grow rapidly. The IADRC has strong collaborative connections with the </span><span><a href="/research-centers/neurosciences"><span>Stark Neurosciences Research Institute</span></a></span><span> and the </span><span><a href="/research-centers/neurosciences/education/medical-neuroscience-graduate-program"><span>Medical Neuroscience PhD Program</span></a></span><span>, which are both located in the </span><span><a href="https://iuhealth.org/find-locations/iu-health-neuroscience-center"><span>Indiana University Health Neuroscience Center</span></a></span><span> along with the majority of IADRC faculty.</span></p> <p><span>The IADRC also works closely with the </span><span><a href="https://ncrad.iu.edu/"><span>National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (NCRAD)</span></a></span><span> and </span><span><a href="https://www.model-ad.org/"><span>Model Organism Development and Evaluation for Late-Onset AD (MODEL-AD)</span></a></span><span> Consortium, which is working to provide the next generation of animal models for late-onset AD that best mirrors human disease. In addition, the Center partners with the recently established IU/Purdue </span><span><a href="https://treatad.org/"><span>Target Enablement to Accelerate Therapy Development for Alzheimer’s Disease (TREAT-AD)</span></a></span><span> Consortium, one of only two such NIA AD Drug Discovery Centers funded nationally in 2019. Other collaborations extend throughout the U.S. and abroad, including a recently announced $11 million grant establishing a major partnership with the </span><span><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/08/Researchers-receive-multimillion-dollar-grant-to-study-early-detection-of-Alzheimers-disease"><span>Korean Brain Aging Study for the Early Diagnosis and Prediction of Alzheimer’s Disease (KBASE) in South Korea</span></a></span><span>.</span></p> <p><span>“These collaborations all help to accelerate progress by contributing complementary expertise and resources, including an advanced biorepository, preclinical testing models, drug discovery research and multiethnic genomic and neuroimaging data. This combination makes IU an ideal environment for developing new insights, potential therapies and innovative prevention strategies,” said Saykin.</span></p> <p><span>Another critically important aspect of the IADRC is its community advisory board.</span></p> <p><span>“The board is made up of highly-committed leaders who have devoted countless hours to raising awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and have greatly aided the Center with the recruitment of a more diverse group of older adults for studies of aging and memory,” said Saykin. “Recruiting study participants from underrepresented groups and training a more diverse next generation of scientists and clinicians are important objectives of the Center.</span></p> <p><span>Over the last NIA funding period, the IADRC is credited with several major accomplishments:</span></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><span>IADRC data, biospecimens and intellectual resources have supported an extensive portfolio of internal and external projects, including 129 federal grants and 37 nonfederal grants, which have advanced our understanding of AD and other related dementias.</span></li> <li><span>Support of 11 training grants, which provided individual research training opportunities to junior-level trainees in both basic and clinical research.</span></li> <li><span>Contributed to the publication of 442 research papers, including 81 publications in high-impact scientific journals. </span></li> <li><span>Supported 41 therapeutic trials, which helped advance research for improved diagnosis and treatment for those with AD and other types of dementia.</span></li> <li><span>Provided AD-mentored research opportunities to over 100 trainees from more than a dozen disciplines and departments across IU School of Medicine’s campuses in pursuit of different approaches to treatment, causes and prevention of AD.</span></li> <li><span>Provided 1,255 blood samples to </span><span style="color: rgb(39, 82, 80);"><a href="/news/2018/07/nih-funds-major-biobank-expansion-at-iu-school-of-medicine-to-support-alzheimers-disease-research">National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias</a></span><span> in support of AD and related dementia researchers around the world.</span></li> <li><span>Supported imaging of research participants, including 344 advanced MRI scans, 218 amyloid and 162 tau PET scans, allowing collaboration on multiple imaging genetics’ studies that employ advanced machine learning strategies for identification of novel genetic associations in AD.</span></li> <li><span>Supported genome sequencing on nearly 300 AD research participants, which provided new insights into the genetic architecture of AD.</span></li> <li><span>Established 30 community partnerships, 12 of which are focused on underrepresented minorities to help ensure diverse representation and participation in AD research.</span></li> <li><span>Utilized both in-person and virtual outreach approaches for recruitment of patients and participants into research studies, including in-person recruitment events at community programs, health fairs and virtual outreach via social media and newsletters.</span></li> </ul> <p><span>The IADRC is funded by NIH grant P30 AG072976-01. IU School of Medicine is highly committed to innovative research that will expedite the discovery and development of novel therapeutic targets for Alzheimer's disease. </span></p> <p>###</p> <span style="color: rgb(0, 98, 152);"><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span>Tue, 07 Sep 2021 00:00:00 Z{EB89AA77-1C89-4CB1-9193-2DB9E15507C7}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/08/iu-cancer-researcher-unlocks-new-approach-for-possible-pancreatic-cancer-treatmentIU cancer researcher unlocks new approach for possible pancreatic cancer treatment<p><span>INDIANAPOLIS—</span><span>Researchers at the <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> have identified how restoring a missing molecule in pancreatic fibrosis could help deliver treatments to cancer cells.</span></p> <p><span>Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers with only </span><a href="https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/pancreas.html"><span>10.8 percent of people surviving five years after diagnosis</span></a><span>. One risk factor for pancreatic cancer is chronic pancreatitis, a fibroinflammatory disease. In response to internal injury or damage, the body produces a fibrous connective tissue—much like scar tissue—in a process called fibrosis. Pancreatic fibrosis occurs in both pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis.</span></p> <p><span>“These pancreatic cancer cells are very smart; they develop this thick, fibrotic tissue around the tumors. That poses a major barrier for the drug delivery when clinicians try to target these tumors because the therapies cannot penetrate these tumors,” said </span><a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research-trials/member-bio.shtml?id=11042&name=janaiah-kota"><span>Janaiah Kota</span></a><span>, PhD, assistant professor of medical and molecular genetics at IU School of Medicine and a researcher at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span>Kota and colleagues found that a molecule called microRNA-29a (miR-29a) functions as an anti-fibrosis and anti-inflammatory in the pancreas. Using this molecule in drug therapy could help stop fibrosis so that treatments could reach the cancer cells. Currently, there are no FDA-approved therapies to reduce fibrosis.</span></p> <p><span>“This tiny molecule is missing in the pancreas and, more broadly, the fibrotic tissue. When we put this molecule back in cells, it significantly reduces the potential for cancer cells to develop fibrotic tissue around the tumors,” Kota said.</span></p> <p>In findings published in JCI Insights, researchers established the role of miR-29a as a therapeutic agent in mouse models. Now Kota is developing methods to deliver the molecule back into the pancreas. He is using a pancreas targeted gene delivery approach called adeno-associated virus (AAV) space region therapy, which could carry the molecule directly to the pancreas.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span>“When we delete the molecule in mouse models with pancreatitis, they develop a significant fibrosis and inflammation, mimicking the human disease,” said Kota, senior author on the study. “This is providing compelling evidence for us to use this molecule as a potential therapeutic agent both in cancer patients as well as in pancreatitis patients.”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span>“The study of pancreatic fibrosis serves an unmet clinical need as there is currently no FDA-approved drug which might halt or reverse this process. This patient population is at high risk for developing pancreas cancer, and potentially stopping or reversing the fibrosis may reduce this risk. Physicians worldwide continue to struggle with management of patients with chronic pancreatitis and pancreas cancer. We are optimistic that miR-29a has the potential to fill an important gap and reduce pancreatic fibrosis, with a broader application for other fibrotic diseases,” said <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research-trials/member-bio.shtml?name=Evan-Fogel&id=9961">Evan Fogel</a>, MD, a cancer center researcher and co-author on the publication. Fogel is also a professor of medicine in the <a href="/internal-medicine">IU School of Medicine Department of Medicine.</a></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span>Future therapies for chronic pancreatitis could potentially prevent those patients from developing pancreatic cancer. Additionally, the development of an anti-fibrotic therapy could have applications beyond the pancreas. Fibrosis also causes complications in lung and liver diseases.</span><span></span></p> <p><span>First author Shatovisha Dey, PhD, is a post-doctoral fellow at IU School of Medicine. In addition to Kota, Fogel and Dey, authors include <a href="/faculty/5182/easler-jeffrey">Jeffrey J. Easler</a>, MD, Lata M. Udari, Primavera Rivera Hernandez, MS, Jason J. Kwon, PhD, from IU School of Medicine; Brandon Wills from the University of California; Stephen Pandol, MD, from Cedar-Sinai Medical Center.</span></p> <p><span>This research was funded in part by the American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grant, Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (UL1TR001108), and the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center (P30CA082709).</span></p> <p>###</p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div> <div> <div id="_com_3" language="JavaScript"> </div> </div> </div>Tue, 31 Aug 2021 00:00:00 Z{E76819DE-D68B-44DD-9F30-E9C96590A01D}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/08/iu-cancer-researcher-receives-2-million-grant-to-develop-lung-cancer-treatmentIU cancer researcher receives $2.5 million grant to develop lung cancer treatment<p>INDIANAPOLIS—A researcher at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center received a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://reporter.nih.gov/search/IOcQ6VFjG0CbpTsPDyTr1Q/project-details/10317276" target="_blank">five-year, $2.5 million grant </a>from the National Cancer Institute to develop a novel therapy to treat lung cancer. </p> <p>The research led by <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research-trials/member-bio.shtml?id=3164&name=john-turchi" target="_blank">John Turchi, PhD</a>, uses a small drug-like molecule designed to disrupt the DNA repair pathways that allow lung cancer cells to continue replicating and tumors to grow. Turchi is the Tom and Julie Wood Family Foundation Professor of Lung Cancer Research at Indiana University School of Medicine. </p> <p>The body repairs DNA damage daily from things such as UV rays from the sun, toxins in the air, and chemicals from cigarettes. Turchi researches a protein called replication protein A (RPA), which binds to single-strand DNA to signal DNA damage response (DDR) to repair the damage and make new cells. </p> <p>“The novel therapeutics we are developing would treat patients who often have limited therapeutic options, which include smoking-induced lung cancers,” Turchi said. “We think this group of patients could benefit from what we’ve learned over the last 30 years from our understanding of this pathway.” </p> <p><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/lungb.html" target="_blank">Lung cancer</a> is the leading cause of cancer death in men and women and accounts for more than 20 percent of all cancer deaths. Cancer cells divide more rapidly than normal cells, putting them under replication stress. The cancer cells rely on the DNA damage response to ensure they can continue to divide and thrive. And that’s what Turchi wants to exploit to stop cancer. </p> <p>“When we can inhibit replication protein A from binding to single-stranded DNA during this replication stress, we can induce massive cell death—and that’s specific to cancer, which gives us our therapeutic window,” Turchi said. </p> <p>The RPA inhibitor developed by IU researchers targets cancer through a different mechanism from other cancer therapies. RPA binds to damaged DNA like a flashing light to signal it needs to be repaired. The RPA inhibitor stops that signal, so the cells die. </p> <p>In addition to applications for lung cancer, Turchi’s research team is exploring the RPA inhibitor to treat ovarian cancer. Lung and ovarian cancers are both marked by many mutations in the DNA damage response pathway. </p> <p>Turchi’s lab is now working to move findings from the cancer research lab to patients in the clinic based on decades of research into these pathways. </p> <p>“We are now to the point where our work is less of the discovery and more of the implementation and translational work that is driven by clinical possibilities,” Turchi said. </p> <p>For this research, Turchi established new collaborations with cancer center researchers at core research facilities: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research-trials/member-bio.shtml?id=21004&name=jun-wan" target="_blank">Jun Wan, PhD</a>, director of Cancer Bioinformatics Core; <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research-trials/member-bio.shtml?id=1162&name=karen-pollok" target="_blank">Karen Pollok, PhD</a>, director of In Vivo Therapeutics Core; and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.cancer.iu.edu/research-trials/facilities/cpac/contact.php" target="_blank">Andi Masters</a>, lab director of Clinical Pharmacology Analytical Core. Cancer center physician-scientists <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research-trials/member-bio.shtml?id=4976&name=shadia-jalal" target="_blank">Shadia Jalal, MD</a>, and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research-trials/member-bio.shtml?id=6844&name=catherine-sears" target="_blank">Catherine Sears, MD</a>, are providing vital clinical perspectives as the research team moves toward clinical applications. </p> <p>“The complementary expertise of the many cancer center researchers is going to allow us to answer some really important questions and ultimately impact patients’ lives,” he said. </p> <p>### </p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Mon, 30 Aug 2021 00:00:00 Z{9477B116-1A1C-4E25-80DD-5CED4EDB3954}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/08/iu-school-of-medicine-study-shows-link-between-head-injury-and-alzheimers-diseaseIU School of Medicine study shows link between head injury and Alzheimer’s disease<p><span>INDIANAPOLIS—New research from Indiana University School of Medicine shows that the presence of neurodegenerative proteins is associated with common head injury among the general population.<br /> <br /> Recently </span><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/dad2.12230" target="_blank"><span>published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring, a journal of the Alzheimer’s Association</span></a><span>, a study led by </span><span><a href="/faculty/7050/risacher-shannon">Shannon Risacher, PhD</a></span><span>, associate professor of radiology and imaging sciences at IU School of Medicine, explored brain imaging data from individuals who have a history of head injury to see whether or not there was a link to a higher level of tau, a protein associated with cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease. <br /> <br /> “While previous studies on head injury primarily looked at individuals in sports or the military,” Risacher said, “we wanted to shift the focus onto the general population to determine how common head injuries, like from car collisions or falling, could also play a significant role in one’s future health, particularly their risk for developing dementia.”<br /> <br /> Using data from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) and the</span> <span>Indiana Memory and Aging Study (IMAS), the research examined two cohorts of participants: one individuals with normal cognition and the other with those who are cognitively impaired. Results showed that those who had a history of head injury and were cognitively impaired had a much higher amount of tau in the brain, especially for individuals who had a history of head injury with a loss of consciousness. <br /> <br /> For Risacher, this study also highlighted the importance for scientists and physicians to consider asking patients direct and specific questions regarding head injury. While 25 percent of participants from the local IMAS cohort mentioned a history of head injury when specifically asked, only six percent of participants from ADNI cited head injuries. This difference suggests specific questions were either not asked to participants or some weren’t certain that even minor head injuries were worth mentioning to their physician.<br /> <br /> “If a doctor asks ‘What’s your medical history,’ not many people realize that certain head injuries are worth mentioning,” Risacher said. “Maybe you hit your head and were dazed for a few days, but then it passed. This research shows that that might not be the case. You might have recovered, but your brain may still have an impact from that head injury which could lead to increased tau down the road.”<br /> <br /> By asking patients more specific questions, not only can they reveal more of their medical history, but it could also lead to a more personalized approach to their health care. Illnesses like cardiovascular disease, diabetes and traumatic brain injury are linked to higher risks for dementia. By understanding various life style factors and comorbidities, a predictive model based on life experiences can be established for each individual patient.<br /> <br /> “I think the more that we can understand multiple factors on cognitive decline, the more we have the opportunity to personalize treatments that come along,” Risacher said. “We could actually match the treatment with the person for whom it’ll be most effective.”<br /> <br /> This research encourages the public to take any head injury seriously, recognizing that even daily or minor events can still have an impact on future cognition. <br /> <br /> Learn more about </span><span><a href="/research-centers/alzheimers">Alzheimer’s disease research at IU School of Medicine</a></span><span>.</span></p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 24 Aug 2021 00:00:00 Z{3C522583-2A42-4C58-A3E0-747CC4977C28}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/08/researchers-receive-multimillion-dollar-grant-to-study-early-detection-of-alzheimers-diseaseResearchers receive multi-million dollar grant to study early detection of Alzheimer’s disease<p><img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/a/andrew-j-saykin---edited.jpg?h=280&w=200&rev=3864bf479f5946d5a9dadec6e0145738&hash=B4022635D792AC9F43BB69C70D438D60" style="height: 280px; width: 200px; float: right; margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 8px;" alt="Andrew Saykin, PsyD" title="Andrew Saykin, PsyD" longdesc="Andrew Saykin, PsyD" />INDIANAPOLIS—A new $11.2 million grant coordinated by the Indiana University School of Medicine from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) will support an international collaboration on multiethnic genomic analysis and advanced brain imaging and other biomarkers for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease.</p> <p>The U01 Project will be led by a team including <a href="/faculty/6962/saykin-andrew">Andrew Saykin, PsyD</a>, professor of radiology and director of the <a href="/research-centers/alzheimers">NIA-designated Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center</a><span>, </span><span></span><a href="/faculty/7155/nho-kwangsik">Kwangsik Nho, PhD</a>, associate professor of radiology and imaging sciences at IU School of Medicine, and <a href="http://kbase.kr/eng/about/research.php">Dong Young Lee, MD, PhD</a>, professor of psychiatry at Seoul National University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea. Collaborators at the University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California and University of Miami will perform genome sequencing analyses and provide informatics support.</p> <p>In the search for causes and novel interventions for Alzheimer’s disease, it became clear that the lack of multiethnic data hampered the understanding of genetic and environmental contributions to AD risk and development of a precision medicine approach for dementia. The partnership of the Korean Brain Aging Study for the Early Diagnosis and Prediction of Alzheimer’s Disease (KBASE), launched at SNU in 2014 by Lee and colleagues and several teams from the NIA-sponsored Alzheimer’s Disease Sequencing Project (ADSP) in the United States, will help to address this gap by contributing and analyzing biomarker and clinical data from over 1,000 Korean participants who have undergone advanced MRI and PET neuroimaging as well as longitudinal follow-up. Data of this type is very rare in Asian populations.</p> <p>“More diverse genomic data on those at risk for Alzheimer’s disease coupled with richly phenotyped cohorts, multidisciplinary expertise and rapid data sharing will help accelerate the identification of new potential therapeutic targets and their applicability across different populations,” said Saykin, one of the principal investigators. “Large-scale data analysis of KBASE genomes, imaging and other data combined with other multiethnic cohorts will help us better understand what contributes to the risk for dementia in different groups and provide clues as to how we can delay progression.”<br /> <br /> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/project/facultyprofileimages/2020/06/03/23/27/7155-kwangsik-nho.png?h=300&w=200&rev=231b567b84a94d08a83865df4fce03fa&hash=A1F04438449E4C25B46CFE76711EF329" style="height: 300px; width: 200px; float: right; margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 7px;" alt="7155-Nho, Kwangsik" title="Kwangsik Nho, PhD" longdesc="Kwangsik Nho, PhD" />“This is a novel approach to biomarker discovery for Alzheimer’s disease,” said Nho, one of the principal investigators and himself a Korean scientist based at IU School of Medicine. “Through big data analysis techniques integrating genetics and other omics, clinical data and advanced imaging including brain network analysis, this international effort will aid the understanding of clinical and biological differences across ethnoracial groups.” </p> <p>As Alzheimer’s disease continues to cause irreversible brain damage in individuals around the world, it is increasingly important to detect the disease as early as possible. While the goal of developing disease modifying agents has reached higher than ever, it remains unclear how factors like diet, personality, stress, mental health, sleep, social relationships and more contribute to the disease, although numerous studies have suggested that such factors are related to dementia syndrome or cognitive declines later in life.<br /> <br /> The five-year, multi-million-dollar “KBASE2” grant will support the collection of new data for KBASE, which uses a similar design as the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) based in the United States. IU School of Medicine will coordinate and provide support to Seoul National University as it collects new longitudinal data. Genomic samples and other data will simultaneously flow back to IU School of Medicine (coordination and analysis), University of Miami (genome sequencing), University of Pennsylvania (genome data harmonization and dissemination) and University of Southern California (imaging informatics) to analyze and disseminate the data. </p> <p>“KBASE2: Korean Brain Aging Study, Longitudinal Endophenotypes and Systems Biology” is supported by the National Institute on Aging under Award Number U01 AG072177.</p> <p>Learn more about <a href="/expertise/alzheimers">Alzheimer’s research at IU School of Medicine</a>.</p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 18 Aug 2021 00:00:00 Z{AC7DD6F5-941D-4AC6-9EF6-FB6067697CBE}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/08/krannert-cardiovascular-research-center-names-first-directorKrannert Cardiovascular Research Center names first director<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Widely renowned for his <span>groundbreaking research that spans the physical and biological sciences, engineering and medicine</span>, translational imaging scientist <span>Rohan Dharmakumar, PhD,</span><span> has been named the inaugural director of the Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center. This research center is being newly established as part of the <a href="/institutes/cardiovascular">Cardiovascular Institute</a>, a joint enterprise between Indiana University School of Medicine and Indiana University Health on the forefront of cardiovascular care, research and education. The appointment is effective August 15.</span></p> <p><span>Dharmakumar was recruited to IU School of Medicine from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he most recently served as professor of medicine and associate director of the Biomedical Imaging Research Institute.</span></p> <p><span>“Dr. Dharmakumar has a twenty-year track record of profound inquiry and innovation in pursuit of novel strategies to treat heart disease,” said </span><span>Subha Raman, MD</span><span>, director of the Cardiovascular Institute. “He has already made a tremendous impact in the field. With Dr. Dharmakumar leading our research efforts, the Cardiovascular Institute is poised to make momentous advances in cardiovascular research."</span></p> <p><span>Among the important discoveries led by Dharmakumar, some of the highest-impact include demonstrating the adverse effects of<strong> </strong></span><a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.115.004996"><span>intramyocardial hemorrhage and chronic myocardial inflammation following myocardial infarction</span></a><span>,</span><span> designing </span><a href="https://stm.sciencemag.org/content/11/494/eaat4407.abstract"><span>a method to reliably and noninvasively evaluate changes in myocardial oxygenation in response to coronary stenosis</span></a><span> and showing that </span><a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.115.003642"><span>iron deposits within the infarction territories can drive electrical instabilities in the heart</span></a><span>.</span> </p> <p><span>Dharmakumar earned his Bachelor of Science in Physiology and Physics, his Master of Science in Mathematics and his PhD in Medical Biophysics from the University of Toronto. He received postdoctoral training in cardiovascular MRI at the University of Toronto and then Northwestern University. In 2006, he joined the faculty in the Department of Radiology at Northwestern, and later went on to the Department of Biomedical Science at Cedars-Sinai in 2011 as associate professor. There, he held various leadership roles at the Biomedical Imaging Research Institute, including associate director, director of translational cardiac imaging research and finally co-director of PET/MRI research, a role he has held since 2014. He has been a professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Cedars-Sinai since 2018, and additionally in the Department of Medicine at UCLA since 2020.  </span></p> <p><span>In his new role leading the strategic research efforts of the Cardiovascular Institute, Dharmakumar will advance the Institute’s vision of being one, diverse, academic health enterprise where people come to receive the highest quality heart and vascular care in their community, while also enabling relentless innovation that fuels better health for Indiana and beyond.</span></p> <p><span style="text-align: center;">###</span><span style="text-align: center;"></span></p> <p><span><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a></span><span> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span></p>Thu, 12 Aug 2021 00:00:00 Z{8DFEEEC9-27F4-41D6-A37C-30AFE103F77F}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/08/iu-school-of-medicine-names-new-chair-to-lead-department-of-medicineIU School of Medicine names new chair to lead Department of Medicine<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine has recruited David M. Aronoff, MD, FIDSA, FAAM, for the role of chair of the Department of Medicine, effective January 3, 2022. </p> <p>A highly respected physician-scientist in the field of infectious diseases and reproductive health, and author of over 220 publications, Aronoff brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role of chair. He is currently a professor and director of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he holds the Addison B. Scoville, Jr. Chair in Medicine.     </p> <p>In his leadership role, Aronoff has guided the strategic growth of the division’s clinical, education and research programs, more than doubling the division’s research funding, and launched new telehealth programs and a new fellowship training program in transplant infectious diseases.</p> <p>Aronoff serves in leadership roles with several national and international organizations and has directed national mentorship programs for the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). He is president-elect of the American Society for Reproductive Immunology.</p> <p>“Dr. Aronoff is a highly collaborative leader and champion of interdisciplinary research, education and clinical care. His vision aligns with the Department of Medicine’s interdisciplinary approach to clinical research and patient-centered care and will advance the department to the next level of excellence,” said IU School of Medicine <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Dean Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>.</p> <p>A proud Hoosier, Dr. Aronoff was born at the IU Medical Center and raised in Bloomington, where he earned his undergraduate degree in microbiology from Indiana University. <br /> He received his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed his residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he also was a clinical fellow in infectious diseases, the Hugh Jackson Morgan Chief Resident of Internal Medicine at Vanderbilt University Hospital, and a postdoctoral research fellow in clinical pharmacology. Additionally, he completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, where he joined the faculty in the Division of Infectious Diseases until his return to Vanderbilt in 2013.</p> <p>The Department of Medicine at IU School of Medicine consists of 10 internal medicine specialty divisions. An accomplished team of physician-educators trains highly-skilled, compassionate generalists and specialists to be the future leaders in clinical practice, research and academia.</p> <p>Aronoff, who will also hold the John B. Hickam Professor of Medicine endowed appointment, said he has a clearly defined vision for advancing the work of the Department of Medicine and is eager to return to the Hoosier state to take on this important leadership role at IU School of Medicine.</p> <p>“A strong Department of Medicine inevitably benefits patients, other departments across IU School of Medicine, the affiliated health systems and the state of Indiana,” Aronoff said. “Priorities that build upon existing institutional strengths and target new opportunities can shape Indiana into one of the leading academic medicine departments in improving human health through quality, innovation, discovery, education and implementation.”</p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Wed, 11 Aug 2021 00:00:00 Z{0D775F5D-9AD2-474C-847B-A0335F5C9B93}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/08/iu-school-of-medicine-researchers-identify-a-genetic-marker-to-help-prevent-recurring-urinary-tract-infections-in-certain-childrenIU School of Medicine researchers identify a genetic marker to help prevent recurring urinary tract infections in certain children<p>INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana University School of Medicine researchers worked in collaboration with an international team of scientists to uncover why certain children get recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs) and others do not. The group took the research one step further to uncover a genetic variation in some children that when present – if treated with preventative antibiotics – can help prevent recurring UTIs. The findings are published in the scientific journal <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ctm2.477" target="_blank">Clinical and Translational Medicine</a>.</p> <p>Together, the team conducted a genetic study comparing children with a condition known as vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) to those children without this condition. VUR is common among infants and young children and characterized by the flow of urine in the wrong direction. In the case of VUR, urine travels upward from the bladder to the kidney. Some children with VUR experience recurrent UTIs which can lead to permanent kidney damage.</p> <p>The team studied each of the children’s genetic information, including children with VUR treated with a daily antibiotic to prevent UTIs versus a placebo. They compared the information and what they found was a low number of copies of the genetic marker known as DMBT1 in children with VUR and recurring UTIs. When treated with preventative antibiotics, children with a low copy number of DMBT1 and VUR overcame the UTI risk. Patients with VUR and a high copy number had similarly low rates of recurrent UTIs with and without preventive antibiotics, indicating that the antibiotics may not be helpful in these children.</p> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/project/facultyprofileimages/2021/01/26/01/10/38875-andrew-schwaderer.png?h=250&w=167&rev=7addd6dd67eb413dad0de426a5577706&hash=97FA3F30251CB5941AAAEFBF522A5A27" alt="38875-Schwaderer, Andrew" title="Andrew Schwaderer, MD" longdesc="/Andrew%20Schwaderer,%20MD" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); height: 250px; width: 167px; float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;" /> <p>“While more and more people of all ages are developing antibiotic resistance, this is the first study that I’m aware of that shows which children will benefit from the utilization of preventative antibiotics and which ones won’t,” said <a href="/faculty/38875/schwaderer-andrew">Andrew Schwaderer, MD</a>, professor of pediatrics at IU School of Medicine and senior author of the study.</p> <p>Working with geneticists from the United Kingdom and DMBT1 experts from Denmark, the team created a protein that modeled a high copy number and a low copy number. When they bound the protein at a high copy number, it showed more efficient at binding bacteria.</p> <p>“Data from the research study showed a high prevalence of UTIs in children with VUR and a low DMBT1 copy number. If they had a low copy number, they were four times more likely to have UTIs when treated with placebo,” added Schwaderer.</p> <p><strong>Media contact:</strong> Christine Drury, <a href="mailto:cldrury@iu.edu">cldrury@iu.edu</a>, 317-385-9227 (cell)</p> <div></div> ###<br />  <br /> <strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. Tue, 10 Aug 2021 00:00:00 Z{2DD1868B-C06D-4AA2-9AB8-9E301E193008}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/08/wilbert-and-peggy-hamstra-make-million-gift-to-iu-school-of-medicine-for-cardiology-researchWilbert and Peggy Hamstra make $1 million gift to IU School of Medicine for cardiology research<p><span>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana native Wilbert Hamstra and his wife Peggy are making a $1 million gift to support <a href="/internal-medicine/specialties/cardiovascular-medicine/research">cardiology research at Indiana University School of Medicine</a>. It is a gift that’s been decades in the making, beginning with a frightening incident 30 years ago.</span></p> <p><span>“I was on my boat with some guests in Fort Myers, Florida and I passed out,” said Mr. Hamstra, who was taken to a nearby hospital. “After running tests for two days, they said they couldn’t do anything for me and recommended I go to one of the top cardiac medical hospitals they knew of in the country.”</span></p> <p><span>That hospital was back home in Indiana—at what is now Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital. It was also home to <a href="/faculty/6515/zipes-douglas">Douglas Zipes, MD</a>, one of Indiana’s most celebrated cardiologists and an IU School of Medicine faculty member.</span></p> <p><span>In other words, Hamstra was in good hands.</span></p> <p><span>“He scheduled some tests and then said he could fix me up, which he did,” Hamstra said. “I never had that same issue again. I had the highest regard for Dr. Zipes from that point going forward, and still do to this day.”</span></p> <p><span>Zipes, a former director of the Division of Cardiology, is now a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at IU School of Medicine.</span></p> <p><span>Hamstra, the son of first-generation Dutch immigrants, is a native of Jasper County, Indiana, where he still lives part of the year. He was raised to believe in hard work and service to the community. He founded and operated Hamstra Builders, a home and commercial construction company that has built structures across the country. Now the Hamstra Group, the company’s success provided Hamstra with the means to say thank you.</span></p> <p><span>“God has blessed me immensely through our business financially, and I wanted to give back,” Hamstra said. “I wanted to find a way to thank all the doctors, surgeons and staff, starting with Dr. Zipes, for the years of excellent care I have received from IU Health. I think they are the best in the world.”</span></p> <p><span>IU has a storied history in cardiology, as pioneers in cardiac imaging and the treatment of heart rhythm disorders. IU Methodist, now part of the IU Health System, is one of Indiana’s largest hospitals and houses a Level 1 trauma center.    </span></p> <p><span>With a staff that includes 53 cardiologists, eight PhD investigators, 12 post-doctoral fellows, and 21 cardiovascular disease fellows, the Division of Cardiology at IU is growing rapidly.</span></p> <p><span>Subha V. Raman, MD, chief of cardiology at IU School of Medicine, welcomed the creation of The Wilbert and Peggy Hamstra Cardiology Research Fund. She said it will play a vital role in the division’s future.</span></p> <p><span>“Mr. Hamstra’s inspirational life of building with purpose will help a long line of builders at IU–people who recognize where we can do better for people affected by heart and vascular disease, and who do something about it through their work,” Raman said.</span></p> <p><span>The Hamstras, who have a growing family that includes four children, nine grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren, remain active as volunteers in their community and church. And their philanthropy has extended beyond IU—but in keeping with the theme of building.</span></p> <p> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 10);">Wilbert founded a faith-based retirement center in DeMotte, Indiana as a gift to the elderly residents of his hometown, bringing together a coalition of four churches to donate land for the project. The center aims to provide high-quality care in a first-rate facility that now includes units for physical therapy and memory care. </span></p> <p>###</p> <div> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> </div>Mon, 09 Aug 2021 00:00:00 Z{E4444F40-5A7A-41C8-AB83-8BF4E7BF3713}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/08/iu-names-new-director-for-interprofessional-practice-and-education-centerIU names new director for Interprofessional Practice and Education Center<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine and Indiana University Clinical Affairs have recruited Barbara Maxwell, PhD, DPT, MSc, Cert THE, FNAP, to direct the <a href="https://ipe.iu.edu/">IU Interprofessional Practice and Education Center</a>, effective October 18, 2021. Additionally, Maxwell will serve as Associate Dean and professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at IU School of Medicine.</p> <p>Maxwell has been involved with collaborative work for more than 30 years and has supported interprofessional practice and education (IPE) on three continents, working with colleagues from numerous health professions in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and across the United States. </p> <p>In her current role as University Director of Interprofessional Education & Collaboration and professor at A.T. Still University (ATSU) in Mesa, Arizona, she has been an IPE champion and oversees aging studies programs in Arizona and Missouri and at the Center for Resilience in Aging at ATSU.</p> <p>“I am confident that Dr. Maxwell’s transformational leadership will advance the work of both the IPE Center and IU, and, ultimately, will improve health professions education and health care outcomes in Indiana,” said <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>, IU’s executive vice president for university clinical affairs and dean of IU School of Medicine. </p> <p>A licensed physical therapist and enthusiastic educator, Maxwell is former dean of the Arizona School of Health Sciences at A.T. Still University and a professor in graduate interprofessional education at A.T. Still University and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.</p> <p>Originally from Northern Ireland, Maxwell is a frequent presenter at international conferences and author of numerous publications with grant-funded research in interprofessional and collaborative health care, geriatric workforce enhancement and neurological rehabilitation. Maxwell is a Distinguished Scholar and Fellow of the National Academies of Practice (FNAP), and inaugural chair of the NAP Physical Therapy Academy. She has served in leadership of several statewide, national and international interprofessional organizations, including serving as the United States representative to Interprofessional.Global, the Global Confederation for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice. </p> <p>“Interprofessional practice and education are core to our academic and clinical practice at IU.  Dr. Maxwell will bring extensive leadership, experience and innovation to build on our program with a lens of real-world experience in partnership with our faculty across Indiana,” said <a href="https://nursing.iupui.edu/directory/profiles/faculty/newhouse-robin-p.shtml">Robin Newhouse, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN</a>, dean of IU School of Nursing.</p> <p>Maxwell holds a PhD in interprofessional education from Bournemouth University (UK), a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from A.T. Still University, a Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education (THE) from Oxford Brookes University (Oxford, England), a Master of Science in research methodology from Kings College-London University, and a Bachelor of Science in physiotherapy from the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland.</p> <p>She arrives at a time when interprofessional education and practice is transforming health care. The IPE Center’s mission is to extend a culture of collaboration across the state and build stronger and better health care teams for the future. A key component of the collaborative work is providing learners with a foundational curriculum preparing them for interprofessional practice.</p> <p>“The diversity of colleges and programs within Indiana University’s nine campuses provides unique opportunities to bring together faculty, clinicians and students from dentistry, nursing, medicine, rehabilitation sciences, optometry, physician assistant studies, pharmacy, public health, social work and more—to learn with, from, and about each other to develop the necessary collaborative skill to transform health care,” Maxwell said. “I am excited by the possibilities as I lead the Interprofessional Practice and Education Center team into the future.”</p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Tue, 03 Aug 2021 00:00:00 Z{A1287EA6-98B8-40DD-8F3E-95114817E0BB}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/07/synthetic-hinge-could-hold-key-to-revolutionary-smart-insulin-therapySynthetic hinge could hold key to revolutionary “smart” insulin therapy<p>INDIANAPOLIS—For people with diabetes who are insulin dependent, glycemic control is a full-time job. But what if their medication could do the work for them—an insulin whose activity in the bloodstream responds to the blood glucose levels and adjusts accordingly? An invention from Indiana University School of Medicine Distinguished Professor <a href="/faculty/41466/weiss-michael">Michael A. Weiss, MD, PhD</a>, could lead to just that.</p> <p>In <a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/118/30/e2103518118">a breakthrough study</a> published in the peer-reviewed journal <em>PNAS</em>, Weiss and his team describe the use of a synthetic “switch” that can be opened or closed using a simple sugar sensor. The study was in part collaborative with Thermalin, Inc., a small biotech company that Weiss began in 2008.</p> <p>Their concept exploits a natural mechanism, designated the “protective hinge,” that is built into vertebrate insulins. The protective hinge is a natural structural feature that evolved more than half a billion years ago to keep the hormone stable in its closed state but foldable and functional in its open state.</p> <p>“The reason a glucose-responsive insulin is important is that the biggest barrier to the effective use of insulin, especially in Type 1 diabetes, is the fear of the consequences of blood sugar going too low,” said Weiss, who is also the Chair of the <a href="/biochemistry-molecular-biology">Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology</a>.</p> <p>Immediate consequences of severely low blood sugar (<em>hypoglycemia</em>) can include delirium, convulsions or loss of consciousness, and repeated episodes of severe hypoglycemia can cause cognitive decline. On the other hand, chronic high blood sugar (<em>hyperglycemia</em>) can lead to blindness, stroke or amputation. Staying in the desired blood glucose range is a delicate balance that insulin-dependent diabetics face every day.</p> <p>But Weiss said that he envisions a future when people do not have to choose to risk their long-term health to protect themselves from the immediate dangers of severe hypoglycemia.</p> <p><img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/i/image-for-release_weiss_pnas.jpg?h=231&w=500&rev=b3e388af58fa472aa6fec4e7521dd2ae&hash=AB8D5F4C85F1B04545A0F02B8DA421CD" alt="Image credit Balamurugan Dhayalan, PhD, and Deepak Chatterjee, PhD" style="width: 500px; height: 231px; float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;" />“The promise of this kind of ‘smart’ insulin is that it would transform diabetes care, so people wouldn’t have to worry anymore,” said Weiss. “With our invention, we envision that when the blood sugar goes low, the hinge would close. But there will be much work to do to translate our proof of principle to an FDA-approved product.”</p> <p>In the 100 years since the discovery of insulin, its use as a treatment for diabetes has gone through many significant changes. C. Ronald Kahn, MD, chief academic officer at the Joslin Diabetes Center at Harvard Medical School, said that glucose-responsive insulin could be the next.</p> <p>“In the recent study from the Weiss laboratory appearing in PNAS, we see an example of the next exciting phase of insulin development, namely development of an insulin analogue which through chemical modification can sense the level of sugar present in the blood,” said Kahn.  “While the current analogue has been designed to sense fructose, it seems likely that this same approach can be used to develop analogues to sense glucose.  Whether these can be sensitive enough to be modulated by changes within the physiological range remains to be determined, but if so, this would be an important new tool in the management of diabetes.”</p> <p>Other types of glucose-responsive insulins are being developed elsewhere. What makes Weiss’ invention unique is its simplicity. The synthetic hinge exploits naturally occurring processes and introduces fewer external or artificial elements compared to other approaches.</p> <p>While their study uses fructose as model (representative of a monosaccharide like glucose), it proves that Weiss’ synthetic hinge concept works. His team is already working on glucose-responsive insulin candidates that open and close at the desired high and low glucose thresholds, which are respectively 70 to 180 milligrams per deciliter. By replacing the fructose sensor with glucose sensors, a revolutionary insulin therapy may be closer than we think.</p> <p>The above referenced study is titled “Insertion of a synthetic switch into insulin provides metabolite-dependent regulation of hormone–receptor activation.” Contributing authors include Yen-Shan Chen, PhD, Yanwu Yang, PhD, Balamurugan Dhayalan, PhD, Mark A. Jarosinski, PhD, and Deepak Chatterjee, PhD, from Indiana University; Nelson B. Phillips, PhD, from Case Western Reserve University; Jeremy Gleaton, PhD, Yule Liu, PhD, Laurie Broadwater, PhD, Thomas Hattier, PhD, and M. Dodson Michael, PhD, from Thermalin, Inc; and Michael C. Lawrence from the University of Melbourne.</p> <p>This work is supported in part by grants from the JDRF, the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, and the National Institutes of Health (R01 DK040949 and R01 DK127761).</p> <p>###</p> <span>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span>Thu, 29 Jul 2021 00:00:00 Z{E264F340-4F8E-4FCB-9840-65FEE7449B57}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/07/100-years-of-insulin100 years after the discovery of insulin, scientists reflect on the history, trajectory of diabetes research<p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">INDIANAPOLIS</span><em style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">—</em>One hundred years ago, Type 1 diabetes was a fatal disease. Then in 1921, a contemporary medical miracle: the discovery of insulin and its role in blood glucose regulation. The landmark discovery would go on to save the lives of millions of people for a century to come, but not without the help of scientists in Indianapolis and around the world.</p> <p>Researchers at <a href="/">Indiana University School of Medicine</a> partnered with colleagues at the University of Exeter Medical School to commemorate the centennial of the discovery of insulin and the critical moments in its history that have led to today’s understanding and clinical approaches.</p> <p>Their review, titled “<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01418-2.epdf?sharing_token=_MwgpQH3L-FNySB4jSCfndRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0ONNi40kvQdjuwT6faxvhHMwmIY5zCXNAhIYMr1wzXRDkR4vWXKcK2VdXWhEghc8BUqHWHJ1u3hSvWnf_RCCQBpa8eVfCddIDDfEnjRJCMuIm47PYGQJ3IcESw3dJtAgDc%3D">100 years of insulin: celebrating the past, present and future of diabetes therapy</a>” has just been published in Nature Medicine. The article was co-authored by IU School of Medicine physician-scientists <a href="/faculty/18596/sims-emily">Emily Sims, MD</a>, <a href="/faculty/5100/evans-molina-carmella">Carmella Evans-Molina, MD, PhD</a>, and <a href="/faculty/1595/dimeglio-linda">Linda DiMeglio, MD, MPH</a>; and Alice Carr and Richard Oram, PhD, from the University of Exeter Medical School.</p> <p>“Something as epic as a 100th anniversary gives us a reminder to step back and reflect on how far we’ve come and how far we have left to go,” said Emily Sims, MD. “The achievements in our understanding and ability to treat diabetes with insulin over the past century have been nothing short of remarkable.”</p> <p><span style="color: black;">Sims said that scientific achievement, however remarkable, is only part of the puzzle. Ultimately, the goal of research is to optimize real outcomes for people with diabetes.</span> </p> <p>Importantly, the article features commentary from people with Type 1 diabetes and their family members, who have themselves experienced the evolution of treatment over the course of their lives.</p> <p>“My treatment was a near starvation diet,” recalled one participant identified as K.R., who was diagnosed just eight years after the discovery of insulin. “Insulin was available at this time, but looking back I am convinced that the average physician in those days did not feel sufficiently confident to use this comparatively new treatment.”</p> <p>While the treatment became more commonplace over time, advancements in concentrated insulins and technology paved ways for improved quality of life.</p> <p>“I was diagnosed when newer insulins, meter, and pump technology really started taking off,” said a participant identified as K.H., diagnosed in 2002. “I started pumping insulin just a year after I was diagnosed.”</p> <p>Co-author and Exeter PhD candidate Alice Carr is not only a diabetes researcher, but also has Type 1 diabetes herself. She said that her work on the Nature Medicine review reminded her of the shared tribulations and triumphs of a worldwide community.</p> <p>“I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2012 at age 17, and no matter your year of diabetes diagnosis, I found similarities between these respective stories and my own,” said Carr. “I find diabetes can be a lonely disease at times, but these stories reminded me that I share the same diabetes pains and triumphs with a resilient bunch of people that span the globe--it’s not lonely at all.”</p> <p>And progress continues. While diabetes is considered a manageable disease, the detrimental impacts of chronically mismanaged blood sugar and lifelong demand for treatment have tremendous costs, both fiscally and in quality of life for people who are living with diabetes.</p> <p>Ongoing studies at IU and around the world are actively identifying early signs of risk for disease, discovering new targets for therapeutic intervention, defining rare and atypical forms of diabetes, and reversing impaired metabolic processes that contribute to the diabetes development.</p> <p>“We now have a new disease-modifying immunotherapy to delay Type 1 diabetes being considered by the FDA that could once again shift the paradigm of how we approach this disease,” said Sims, referring to her work on the <a href="https://www.trialnet.org/events-news/blog/trialnet-research-continues-close-type-1-diabetes-prevention">Teplizumab Prevention Study</a> with the international research network TrialNet.</p> <p>The groundbreaking discovery of insulin set in motion a course of life-saving events for millions of people around the world. But the authors note that challenges in accessibility and equitable care continue—perhaps even more with modern advancements.</p> <p>“Only once equal access for patients around the globe is established will the remarkable achievements surrounding insulin over the past century truly realize their greatest impact,” the authors conclude.</p> <p>###</p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 28 Jul 2021 00:00:00 Z{2BE6B08B-54FD-40DC-ABB5-7E4A6B8C3B59}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/07/new-study-from-iu-helps-researchers-understand-spreading-patterns-of-alzheimersNew study from IU helps researchers understand spreading patterns of Alzheimer's<p><span>INDIANAPOLIS<em>—</em>As new approaches for Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis and treatment emerge, it’s more important than ever to understand the ties between disease pathology, brain connections and genetics.</span></p> <p><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41582-021-00529-1"><span>A new research synthesis, published in <em>Nature Reviews Neurology</em></span></a><span>, explores the connection between Alzheimer’s disease and connectomics, a rapidly growing area in computational neuroscience that provides a theoretical framework for understanding brain networks. By investigating the relationships between the human connectome, disease pathology and genetics, researchers may discover network-level diagnostic biomarkers that can serve as outcome measures for therapy and prevention designed to preserve brain function. <br /> <br /> “Alzheimer’s disease is biologically defined by two principal neuropathological hallmarks: the abnormal accumulation of amyloid beta plaques and tau tangles,” said <a href="/faculty/44720/yu-meichen">Meichen Yu, PhD</a>, first author of the review and a postdoctoral appointee in radiology and imaging sciences at Indiana University School of Medicine. “Connectome studies help researchers understand the spreading patterns of amyloid and tau in Alzheimer’s disease and these insights can lead to novel biomarkers.”<br /> <br /> The history of connectomics goes back about 15 years to when </span><span><a href="/faculty/6890/sporns-olaf">Olaf Sporns, PhD</a></span><span>, co-author and distinguished professor in psychological and brain sciences at IU, and his colleagues defined the concept of the connectome, launching a field that is now being applied to Alzheimer’s.</span></p> <p><span>“Brain network models have been applied to characterize brain disorganization in Alzheimer’s disease, and could be useful for tracking and predicting the progression of the disease,” said Sporns. “Moreover, the concept and computational approaches of connectomics can be generalized to study other neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.”<br /> <br /> The application of new approaches in brain science to Alzheimer’s disease is very timely with the recent accelerated approval in the United States of the first new drug for Alzheimer’s in nearly two decades.</span></p> <p><span>“As we enter a new era of anti-amyloid therapeutics, the connectome may serve as one important readout of therapeutic impact,” said </span><span><a href="/faculty/6962/saykin-andrew">Andrew Saykin, PsyD</a></span><span>, co-author and director of the National Institute on Aging-designated </span><span><a href="/research-centers/alzheimers">Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center</a></span><span>.</span></p> <p><span>“With advances in structural, functional and molecular neuroimaging, we can study the evolution of plaques, tangles and other brain pathology in relation to genetic risk and do this in a minimally invasive manner. Including other omics, biomarkers will help provide a better understanding of the drivers of brain pathology leading to loss of connectivity and ultimately to cognitive decline. A promising line of research is use of connectomics to help identify therapeutic targets to preserve brain connectivity.”<br /> <br /> The authors are part of a growing group of researchers at IU that tackle human brain structure, function and disorders by leveraging state-of-the art neuroimaging and network science methodology. Building on years of collaboration in the area of Alzheimer’s disease, the authors chart a path toward the future, by focusing on associations between connectome changes and amyloid beta, as well as tau pathologies in different phenotypes of Alzheimer’s disease. These approaches promise to bridge the gap between Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers and genetic variation. The authors highlight the utility of connectome-derived computational models for replicating and predicting the accumulation and spreading patterns of amyloid beta and tau and discuss current challenges, opportunities and future directions in the review.<br /> </span></p> <p><span>The study was supported in part by National Institutes of Health grants: R01 AG197711, P30 AG10133, 1U01AG024904, R01 CA129769, R01 AG057739, R01 LM013463, R01 AG068193 and U01 AG068057.</span></p> <p><span> Learn more about <a href="/expertise/alzheimers">Alzheimer’s research at IU School of Medicine</a>.</span></p> <p><span>###</span></p> <span><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span>Tue, 27 Jul 2021 00:00:00 Z{294600F2-3594-4E37-9E4F-0A4152C59E96}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/07/scientists-call-on-professional-community-to-support-women-in-diabetes-researchScientists call on professional community to support women in diabetes research<p>INDIANAPOLIS—A group of leading scientists is holding a mirror to the diabetes research community and calling for the improved support of its female constituents.<br /> <br /> Linda DiMeglio, MD, MPH, of Indiana University School of Medicine and Mark Atkinson, PhD, of the University of Florida, led a deep dive into the historical representation of women in the diabetes research community and that of women in influential positions among four major diabetes organizations. Their findings and recommendations were jointly published in the American Diabetes Association’s <a href="https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/early/2021/06/15/dci21-0015"><em>Diabetes Care</em></a> and <a href="https://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/content/early/2021/04/05/db21-0052"><em>Diabetes</em> </a>along with two accompanying editorial pieces.<br /> <br /> Together with Jessica Dunne, PhD, of Janssen Research & Development, LLC, and Jennifer Maizel, MPH, and Amanda Posgai, PhD, of the University of Florida, they found that while women represent about half of the diabetes research community, they have remained historically underrepresented in key leadership roles and are less likely to receive honors and funding for their work.  <br /> <br /> “I had observed and heard from others anecdotal reports about the underrepresentation of women in various settings,” said DiMeglio. “But collating and disseminating these hard data is a critical first step toward improving the representativeness of the diabetes field. So, when Dr. Dunne and Dr. Atkinson asked me to join them in doing a deep dive, I seized the opportunity.”<br /> <br /> The group quantified gender representation in annual meeting attendance, editorial board service position, principal investigators for grant funding, and career achievement award recipients using data from the American Diabetes Association (ADA), JDRF, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).   <br /> <br /> Major takeaways include:</p> <ul> <li>Women account for nearly half of attendees at the ADA Scientific Sessions but are underrepresented in key leadership roles. Specifically, women represent only 9% of people serving in the role of President of Medicine and Science since the 1970s.</li> <li>ADA journal editorial boards reflect historically gendered roles in research, where women are dominant on editorial boards for publications related to diabetes education for non-academic audiences but notably underrepresented in publications related to clinical and basic sciences with academic audiences.</li> <li>Men in the diabetes research community receive the vast majority of research funding and increasing barriers exist for women competing for funding at advanced stages of their careers.</li> <li>Women account for a small fraction of recipients of career achievement awards with little to no appreciable shift toward equity in recent decades despite the growing number of women in the field. </li> </ul> <p>The authors offer actionable recommendations to editorial boards, academic institutions, professional organizations and funding organizations to address issues of inequity and eliminate barriers for women in diabetes research. </p> <p>###</p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 20 Jul 2021 00:00:00 Z{D3B33881-3A52-4B9F-8129-76D0F5E660C9}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/07/researchers-study-anxiety-differences-between-females-and-malesResearchers study anxiety differences between females and males<p>INDIANAPOLIS — Feeling anxious about health, family or money is normal for most people—especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. But for those with anxiety disorders, these everyday worries tend to heighten even when there is little or no reason to be concerned.</p> <p>Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine recently studied the behaviors associated with anxiety—published in <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-021-05893-w">Psychopharmacology</a>—examining how biological factors impact anxiety disorders, specifically in females. They found that anxiety in females intensifies when there’s a specific, life-relevant condition.</p> <p>The team, led by <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/47471/de-oliveira-sergio-thatiane">Thatiane De Oliveira Sergio, PhD</a>, postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/44836/hopf-woody">Woody Hopf, PhD</a>, professor of psychiatry and primary investigator at <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/research-centers/neurosciences">Stark Neurosciences Research Institute</a>, studied male and female rodent models to better understand sex differences in biological responses related to anxiety.</p> <p>Anxiety disorders occur in twice as often in women than men, and social and cultural factors likely play an important role in the development of anxiety in females, De Oliveira said. </p> <p>The COVID-19 pandemic heavily influenced anxiety in people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in June 2020—a few months into the pandemic—13 percent of Americans started using or increasing substance use to cope with their emotions and stress due to the unknowns at that time about the pandemic.</p> <p>Knowing that women have more incidence of anxiety than men, De Oliveira said the roles for many women have amplified during the pandemic—working remotely, teaching children in virtual school, everyday tasks, errands. She said these life-relevant conditions could have increased their anxiety.</p> <p>“This work is giving us a foundation to start and explore anxiety behaviors that are very important and even more relevant now,” De Oliveira said.</p> <p>While anxiety in humans is complex, anxiety in animals is based solely on biology.</p> <p>“Biological factors play an important role in these types of mood disorders, but it can be hard to untangle the mechanisms that drive anxiety in humans,” De Oliveira said. “This rodent work is important to do to help develop more effective and personalized treatments.”</p> <p>Through studying both male and female rodent models, they found that females and males were very different in their response to the most life-relevant aspects related to anxiety, Hopf said. </p> <p>In one of the behavioral tasks, rodents had to grab pellets of food which were in the brightly lit center of a big arena. Rats don’t like the light, so this creates an anxious conflict. In this task, female rats took longer to touch the food and ate less food relative to males.</p> <p>The researchers also gave the rodents diazepam—a drug used to treat anxiety—and it greatly reduced anxiety in females, but it had little effect in males when interacting with food. There were also other measures that showed similarities between males and females, Hopf said, including how many times a rat approached the lit center and how long it remained there. Thus, only the parts of the task that were most life-relevant—in this case food—showed sex differences.</p> <p>Previous studies support the idea that anxiety in females is focused on the most life-relevant aspects of a situation, Hopf said, which aligned with their findings. For example, females—more than males in both studies—showed greater responses to the urine of a predator and had higher anxiety when in the presence of a second rat that was free to wander around.</p> <p>“Knowing that anxiety can manifest from different concerns in males and females, with females particularly attuned to the most life-relevant conditions, is a valuable step towards seeking better treatments based on sex differences,” De Oliveira said.</p> <p>This research was funded by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, part of the National Institutes of Health.</p> <p>###</p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 07 Jul 2021 00:00:00 Z{5CC620FD-C6F2-4BEC-BC00-3DC4830D3410}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/06/iu-researchers-pioneering-noninvasive-technique-for-neurological-conditionsIU researchers pioneering noninvasive technique for neurological conditions<p><span>INDIANAPOLIS—</span><span><a href="/">Indiana University School of Medicine</a></span><span> researchers are developing a new, noninvasive brain stimulation technique to treat neurological disorders, including pain, traumatic brain injury (TBI), epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and more.</span></p> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/project/facultyprofileimages/2020/06/03/23/49/19746-xiaoming-jin.png?h=225&w=150&rev=09b9a1d85c5541b3814a57be29dfe482&hash=17B718C9990D6575C0C20816459A7619" alt="19746-Jin, Xiaoming" title="Xiaoming Jin, PhD" longdesc="/Xiaoming%20Jin,%20PhD" style="height: 225px; width: 150px; float: left; margin-right: 10px;" /> <p><span>“Given the increasing use of brain stimulation in human brain study and treatment of neurological diseases, this research can make a big impact on physicians and their patients,” said </span><span><a href="/faculty/19746/jin-xiaoming">Xiaoming Jin, PhD</a></span><span>, associate professor of anatomy, cell biology and physiology.</span></p> <p><span>When someone experiences a brain injury, nerve injury, or neurodegeneration, such as in epilepsy and TBI, there is damage to the brain which can lead to loss and damage of nerve or neurons and development of hyperexcitability that underlies some neurological disorders such as neuropathic pain and epilepsy.</span></p> <p><span>“The conventional treatment is mainly to try to directly inhibit such hyperexcitability,” Jin said, “but we found the initial damage of the brain or nerve system was caused by a loss of brain tissue, which causes the nervous system to compensate for loss of function by working harder, so we need to stimulate activity instead of inhibit it.”</span></p> <p><span>The technique, described in </span><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13311-021-01071-0"><span>a newly published paper in <em>Neurotherapeutics</em></span></a><span>, uses a new type of magnetoelectric nanoparticles that can be delivered to a specific part of the brain using a magnetic field. After, a magnetic wave can be emitted to stimulate neural activity in that particular part of the brain. The method is noninvasive, good for stimulating deep brain function and is more efficient than traditional methods of brain stimulation, without the need for genetic manipulation.</span></p> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/t/tyler.jpg?h=225&w=150&rev=822a01ab773b41228a85c8ac9d594f10&hash=0E6A6521FDD3A67279AB7B783847A75E" style="height: 225px; width: 150px; float: left; margin-right: 10px;" alt="Tyler Nguyen, MS, PhD" title="Tyler Nguyen, MS, PhD" longdesc="https://cm.medicine.iu.edu/sitecore/shell/Controls/Rich%20Text%20Editor/Tyler%20Nguyen,%20MS,%20PhD" /> <p><span>“This is the only new type of nanoparticle that allows us to effectively stimulate the brain without doing any invasive procedures,” Jin said. “We can inject the nanoparticle as a solution into the vein and then bring it to any part of the body. When you apply a magnet on the head, you can localize and deliver the nanoparticle to the targeted brain region.”</span></p> <p><span>The team has been working on the technique for five years in collaboration with the University of Miami and hopes to begin studying the method in humans in the next couple of years. The study has received funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the United States Department of Defense, National Science Foundation, as well as the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI), which helped provide funding for a medical neuroscience graduate student, Tyler Nguyen, to participate in the research. Read the full </span><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13311-021-01071-0"><span>published paper in <em>Neurotherapeutics</em></span></a><span>.</span></p> <p><em><span>Learn more about </span></em><em><span><a href="/faculty-labs/jin"><em><span>research from the Jin Faculty Laboratory</span></em><em><span>.</span></em></a></span></em></p> <p align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span>###</span></p> <p><span>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span></p>Thu, 01 Jul 2021 00:00:00 Z{54E4793A-807C-4FD0-A22B-A030114E8DAF}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/06/em-department-earns-national-award-for-wellness-efforts-during-covid-19EM Department earns national award for wellness efforts during COVID-19INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine <a href="/emergency-medicine">Department of Emergency Medicine </a>has received the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.acep.org/life-as-a-physician/wellness/wellness-awards/" target="_blank">2021 Emergency Medicine Wellness Center of Excellence Award</a> from the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) for work to promote wellness for its faculty, fellows, residents and staff throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The national award was given to one emergency medicine department in the country for demonstrating an outstanding commitment to developing aspects of wellbeing for emergency physicians. <p>“When the pandemic started in March 2020, we had to respond quickly and strategically to the crisis as a frontline clinical department,” said <a href="/faculty/11352/welch-julie">Julie Welch, MD</a>, vice chair of faculty development. “The Incident Command System leadership team recognized the importance of <span>wellness</span> and incorporated it as a priority from the beginning.”</p> <p>The IU School of Medicine EM department consists of over 155 faculty physicians, five PhD faculty, 16 fellows, 73 residents, 56 advanced practice providers and 30 core administrative staff. Through the school’s partnership with Indiana University Health, the department’s clinical mission covers 10 emergency departments across the state with over 400,000 patient visits per year. </p> <p style="margin-left: 0in;"><span>The Department of Emergency Medicine launched an EM Wellness Taskforce that is </span><span style="color: black;">comprised of wellness champions from all 10 emergency department sites and provider roles. The taskforce was charged to identify </span><span style="color: black;">wellness issues facing the frontline EM health care providers and then develop and implement wellness strategies to support the team. To accomplish this, </span><span>they collaborated across the institution with groups including the IU School of Medicine/IU Health and Wellness Advisory Council (HWAC), the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) and the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) to advocate and build targeted interventions to address wellness concerns.</span></p> <p>“We discovered early in the pandemic that our providers needed more necessities for personal safety and wellness, such as on-site scrubs, showers, locker rooms, sleep rooms, and respite spaces to take a break during shifts,” Welch said. “We also delivered morale boosters at all 10 of our sites with items like snacks and coffee, notes of gratitude and challenge coins. In addition, the taskforce hosted peer support groups and created a centralized online site for wellness resources such as mental health support and accessible childcare options for working parents struggling with daycare and school closures.”</p> <p>In March 2020, the IUEM Wellness Taskforce began studying wellness across the department utilizing periodic surveys throughout the pandemic. The survey questions focused on COVID-specific questions and validated tools covering personal safety, systems issues, work-life wellness, acute distress symptoms, mental health, well-being, burnout and resiliency. The findings of this study were <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://bmcemergmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12873-021-00425-3" target="_blank">recently published in <em>BMC Emergency Medicine</em></a>.</p> <p>“This award was made possible thanks to the collaborative efforts of everyone in our department. We hope that our study findings and the measures we’ve implemented in our department will be useful to other departments across the country,” said <a href="/faculty/39150/kelker-heather">Heather Kelker, MD</a>, lead author of the study and co-chair of the department’s IUEM Wellness Taskforce. “Emergency medicine as a medical specialty has one of the highest rates of physician burnout. We want our work to continue to focus on improving wellness here at IU, but also be a model for others.”</p> <p>The department will be presented with an award plaque at the upcoming ACEP national meeting in the fall of 2021.</p> <p align="center" style="text-align: center;">###</p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 30 Jun 2021 00:00:00 Z{620D53B9-DD21-41B0-9CC8-6998572DE75B}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/06/iu-school-of-medicine-receives-nia-grant-for-alzheimers-and-dementia-researchIU School of Medicine receives $30 million NIA grant for Alzheimer's, related dementia research<h4>National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (NCRAD) located at IU School of Medicine has been continuously funded since 1990</h4> INDIANAPOLIS—<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://ncrad.iu.edu/index.html" target="_blank">National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias</a> (NCRAD) grant has been renewed for another five years with funding expected to total $30 million from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NCRAD is led by <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/276/foroud-tatiana" target="_blank">Tatiana Foroud, PhD</a>, Executive Associate Dean for Research Affairs at IU School of Medicine. Since 2018, NCRAD has been among the five largest grants awarded to IU School of Medicine. <p>“National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias serves as the primary resource for samples for all NIA-funded dementia studies,” said Foroud, who is also the chair for the department of medical and molecular genetics at IU School of Medicine. “In the next five years, our recruitment efforts will focus on engaging diverse communities to obtain a broad range of samples from individuals that represent the diversity of populations that make up our nation and our world.”</p> <p>NCRAD supports research about causes, early detection, and therapeutic development for Alzheimer’s and other dementias. The repository is home to more than a million biological samples, including DNA, plasma, brain tissue and cell lines. These samples assist scientists in conducting a variety of Alzheimer’s and dementia research, such as the development of blood-based biomarker tests, which are less expensive and invasive than other methods for early detection of dementias, such as PET scans and testing of cerebrospinal fluid. </p> <p>Since its inception in 1990, NCRAD has distributed more than 300,000 samples to researchers all over the world, leading to more than 600 publications in scientific journals. Scientists have banked samples for dozens of studies with NCRAD, which also keeps samples of healthy controls. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2018/07/nih-funds-major-biobank-expansion-at-iu-school-of-medicine-to-support-alzheimers-disease-research" target="_blank">With the latest expansion in 2018</a>, the NCRAD program changed its name to include “Related Dementias” to reflect the broad scope of research activities it supports, added staff members, and centralized the samples in larger, newly renovated facilities in Indianapolis.</p> <p>NCRAD is one of a range of <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/resources" target="_blank">research resources</a> NIA has funded as part of its ambitious goal of developing effective prevention strategies and treatments for Alzheimer’s and related dementias by 2025. The burden of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in the United States is projected to grow to 13.9 million individuals in 2060, which represents nearly 3.3% of the population. </p> <p>“It has been incredible to see NCRAD grow over the last several years, even through the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Foroud, who also leads the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://precisionhealth.iu.edu/" target="_blank">IU Precision Health Initiative Grand Challenge</a>. The Precision Health Initiative is Indiana University’s first funded Grand Challenge, which has bold goals to prevent Alzheimer’s disease by analyzing genetic, developmental, behavioral, and environmental factors that shape an individual’s health. “We’re proud to work with researchers all around the world to further the effort to help prevent and treat this dreaded disease.” </p> <p>Co-investigators for NCRAD from IU School of Medicine include: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/41502/edler-michael" target="_blank">Michael Edler, PhD</a>, Assistant Scientist in Medical & Molecular Genetics; <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/6527/nudelman-kelly" target="_blank">Kelly Nudelman, PhD</a>, Assistant Research Professor of Medical & Molecular Genetics; <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/25526/meyer-jason" target="_blank">Jason Meyer, PhD</a>, Associate Professor of Medical & Molecular Genetics; <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/48165/pelletier-stephane" target="_blank">Stephane Pelletier, PhD</a>, Associate Professor of Clinical Medical & Molecular Genetics; <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/22184/oblak-adrian" target="_blank">Adrian Oblak, PhD</a>, Assistant Professor of Radiology & Imaging Sciences; and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/13103/brosch-jared" target="_blank">Jared Brosch, MD</a>, Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology. </p> <p>NCRAD serves as the biospecimen core for NIA’s dementia programs, including large groups focused on Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal lobar dementia, REM sleep behavior disorder, Parkinson’s disease, longevity/aging and Down syndrome.</p> <p>NCRAD is funded by a cooperative agreement, NIH grant number U24AG021886.</p> <p><strong>Media contact:</strong> Christine Drury, <a href="mailto:cldrury@iu.edu">cldrury@iu.edu</a>, 317-385-9227 (cell)</p> <p>###</p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. </p> <div></div>Tue, 29 Jun 2021 00:00:00 Z{A2F259A7-0999-4679-94C3-CBEB8CC2903B}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/06/iu-team-discovers-target-for-treating-muscle-and-fat-wasting-in-pancreatic-cancer-patientsIU School of Medicine research team discovers drug target, pathway for treating muscle and fat wasting in pancreatic cancer patients<p>INDIANAPOLIS—A team of all Indiana University School of Medicine researchers have discovered a novel drug target to treat involuntary muscle and fat wasting – known as cachexia - in people with pancreatic cancer. They’ve also identified the way muscle and fat are communicating with one another in the presence of a pancreatic tumor, which could prove important to extending overall pancreatic cancer patient survival in those suffering from cachexia. Their findings were recently published in the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://rupress.org/jem/article/218/6/e20190450/211985/Tumor-derived-IL-6-and-trans-signaling-among-tumor" target="_blank">Journal of Experimental Medicine</a>, a scientific journal focused on publishing outstanding studies in medical biology. <br /> <br /> Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers, with only a 10% survival rate beyond five years. Alex Trebek, host of popular TV show "Jeopardy, was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. He lived for two years following his diagnosis. Pancreatic cancer patients experience some of the highest rates of cachexia at 85%. Cachexia causes morbidity, treatment toxicity and low quality of life. Moreover, researchers estimate cachexia is the cause of death in more than a third of all patients with any type of cancer.<br /> <br /> Interleukin 6, more commonly referred to as “IL-6” is a protein in the human body, which is necessary for maintaining good overall health. However, when overexpressed it’s known to be associated with cachexia.  The role of IL-6 expressed from tumor cells was unknown until now. <br /> <br /> "We took the path less traveled," said <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/22239/rupert-joseph" target="_blank">Joe Rupert, PhD</a>, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and lead author of the study. “Broadly, a tumor includes two types of compartments; stromal and epithelial. While a lot of research has been done on the idea that the stromal cells are producing IL-6, we focused instead on the epithelial cells. When we removed IL-6 from the tumor’s epithelial cells, significantly less fat and muscle wasting occurred and overall survival increased.” <br /> <br /> The research team also discovered the fat and muscle are talking with one another. And, when the researchers deleted IL-6 from the tumor, the cross-talk was greatly diminished.<br /> <br /> “We found that tumor-derived IL-6 in turn induced IL-6 expression in fat and IL-6 receptor expression in muscle, resulting in a feed-forward vicious cycle of IL-6 trans-signaling leading to fat and muscle wasting”,  said <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/22650/zimmers-teresa" target="_blank">Teresa Zimmers, PhD</a>, H.H. Gregg Professor of Cancer Research and Professor of Surgery at IU School of Medicine and senior author of the study. “We believe that if you can stop this crosstalk you can block cachexia and increase survival.”<br /> <br /> The team also discovered lipid accumulation increases in muscle with cachexia. <br /> <br /> “Increases in IL-6 signaling largely increases fat wasting, which dumps lipids and fatty acids into blood that the muscle picks up, leading it to become overloaded. This increases muscle stress and promotes more muscle wasting,” said Rupert.<br /> <br /> Going forward, the team is investigating several approaches to stopping the crosstalk among fat and muscle through lipid and IL-6 neutralization. <br /> <br /> This research was funded in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health (grants R01CA122596, R01CA194593, and R01GM137656), the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Lilly Endowment, the Bioinformatics analysis was supported by the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research (grant P30CA023168), the Walther Cancer Foundation, and the Indiana University (IU) Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center (grant P30CA082709), the last of which also supports the IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center Tissue Procurement and Distribution Core, In Vivo Therapeutics Core, Flow Cytometry Core, and Genomics Core. </p> <p><strong>Media contact:</strong> Christine Drury, <a href="mailto:cldrury@iu.edu">cldrury@iu.edu</a>, 317-385-9227<br /> <br /> ###</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 29 Jun 2021 00:00:00 Z{B488DBF5-64C8-4935-8B3E-42A1C2FCF4A0}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/06/iu-researchers-discover-promising-new-way-to-prevent-and-treat-kidney-infectionsIU School of Medicine researchers discover promising new way to prevent, treat kidney infections<p>INDIANAPOLIS – Ten IU School of Medicine researchers out of a team of eleven scientists, are responsible for the findings of a new study they conducted to investigate alternative ways to treat kidney infections. Their work, which is published in the high-quality research journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22672-5">Nature Communications</a>, examined how to utilize the kidneys’ own internal infection fighting capabilities to treat and even prevent kidney infections, with the knowledge that eventually antibiotics won’t work. <br /> <br /> According to statistics, urinary tract infections or UTIs are one of the most frequent bacteria-causing infections affecting people of all ages. UTIs become more severe kidney infections, when the bacteria ascend from the bladder to the kidney. Kidney infections are common, occurring in 13 out of 10,000 females and 4 of 10,000 males every year. Kidney infections may cause high fevers, permanent kidney damage or even sepsis. Additional data suggests that cases of antibiotic resistant UTIs are surging, making the way for more UTIs to become the more serious kidney infections.<br /> <br /> Specifically, the research team discovered that a type of cells within the kidney called “intercalated cells” both consume bacteria and secrete acid, which is a process – known as phagocytosis – and has historically been a capability only associated with white blood cells.<br /> <br /> “If you were to increase white blood cell activity to treat an infection, you would affect a person’s whole body. However, since we found these cells work the same way but are only present in the kidney, the long-term potential would be the ability to activate these cells to prevent or clear an infection from the kidney,” said <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/38875/schwaderer-andrew">Andrew Schwaderer, MD</a>, professor of pediatrics at IU School of Medicine, and one of the study’s senior authors. “The idea is that with this approach we will eventually be able to replace or complement antibiotic therapy.”<br />  <br /> Intercalated cells exist at the exit to the kidney and can act as its guardians; the first to encounter and consume the bacteria as they invade the kidney from the bladder and then secrete the acid to neutralize it.<br />  <br /> The researchers initially predicted this pathway using single-cell RNA sequencing available through the <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/research/support/service-cores/facilities/medical-genomics/faq/single-cell-studies">IU School of Medicine’s Medical Genomics Core</a>. Utilizing normal human kidney tissue, they were able to sequence each intercalated cell individually, allowing them to tell exactly what's going on in one cell type versus the other. When an advanced software analyzed the cells, phagocytosis capabilities of these cell was predicted as a leading function. <br /> <br />  “It was also interesting that we started with human tissue as opposed to mouse models and then went back to the mouse, said <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/38988/saxena-vijay">Vijay Saxena, PhD</a> and lead author of this study. “It's a very nonbiased way to study a cellular function and a very translational approach.” <br /> <br /> Utilizing IU School of Medicine’s <a href="http://web.medicine.iupui.edu/icbm/">O’Brien Imaging Center</a>, one of only three available in the world, allowed researchers the ability to image mice in real time, delivering live results. This approach is preferable to a cell culture system which may or may not reflect what happens in the human body.<br /> <br /> The research was supported in part by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases R01DK106286, Lilly Foundation (A.L.S. and D.S.H.), and the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) which is funded in part by award number UL1TR002529 from NIH. </p> <p><strong>Media contact:</strong> Christine Drury, <a href="mailto:cldrury@iu.edu">cldrury@iu.edu</a>, 317-385-9227 (cell)</p> <p>###<br />  <br /> <strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. </p> <div></div>Mon, 28 Jun 2021 00:00:00 Z{478AFD9E-B999-42E8-A205-DE850C361A90}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/06/iu-school-of-medicine-researchers-develop-computer-program-to-predict-whether-patients-could-be-at-high-risk-for-alzheimers-and-cancerIU School of Medicine researchers develop computer program to predict whether patients could be at high risk for Alzheimer’s and cancer<p>INDIANAPOLIS—A group of researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine and Indiana University Bloomington have developed a program called Multi-Omics Graph cOnvolutional NETworks (MOGONET) that integrates omics data – such as DNA, RNA and proteins – to help researchers get a comprehensive understanding of human diseases. MOGONET can identify potential biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease and cancers from the various omics data to predict which individuals may be at higher risk. <br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-23774-w">An article</a> about MOGONET published this month in the scientific journal, Nature Communications, includes contributions from a multidisciplinary team of researchers including senior author <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/38697/huang-kun">Kun Huang, PhD</a>, Assistant Dean for Data Sciences and professor of biostatistics and health data sciences at IU School of Medicine; co-corresponding author Zhengming Ding, assistant professor of computer science at Tulane University; first author Tongxin Wang, a computer science graduate student at Indiana University Bloomington, and others with expertise in medicine, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, and medical and molecular genetics. <br /> <br /> “If we put all the data together, we can learn more about the underlying biological processes and the disease outcomes,” said Huang, who is also the Director of Data Science and Informatics for the <a href="https://precisionhealth.iu.edu/index.html">IU Grand Challenge Precision Health Initiative</a>, a program with bold goals to develop treatments for triple negative breast cancer, as well as to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. “We can also identify potential biomarkers that can separate individuals based on their outcomes. With precision medicine, when we look at one disease, there could actually be multiple subtypes. Those subtypes may require different treatment and may have different outcomes, so we are working to identify those subtypes by looking more holistically at multi-omics data.”<br /> <br /> Since it can be difficult to make meaningful statistical conclusions when working with multiple kinds of data, MOGONET utilizes graphs, which help show how the biomedical data are connected and interact with each other. The graph is created by using a combination of knowledge and data processing, then updated with the algorithm developed by artificial intelligence.<br /> <br /> “The graphs are specifically useful when we are looking at the relationships of large numbers of genes, proteins or microRNAs,” said Huang, who is also a research scientist at Regenstrief Institute. “The graphs give us a way to link those molecules and put them into a network structure, which is crucial for effective deep learning. Then if we see a good performance in the prediction, we can go back to determine which biomarkers are important.”<br /> <br /> Huang and his colleagues have demonstrated the capabilities and versatility of MOGONET through a wide range of biomedical applications, including Alzheimer’s disease patient classification, tumor grade classification in low-grade glioma (LGG), kidney cancer type classification, and breast invasive carcinoma subtype classification. <br /> <br /> “In the future, we hope to be able to use blood or find less invasive ways to determine a patient’s risk,” said Huang, who is also the Associate Director of Data Science at IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.<br /> <br /> By doing a deeper dive through the data, Huang says he and his colleagues can look for genes that may be potentially tractable for future use. That includes developing those genes as potential therapeutic targets, which is something they are already exploring with the <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/expertise/alzheimers/research/preclinical/drug-discovery">IU School of Medicine-Purdue University Center for TaRget Enablement to Advance Therapeutics for Alzheimer’s Disease (TREAT-AD)</a>. <br /> <br /> This research was supported by the Indiana University Grand Challenge Precision Health Initiative, as well as National Institutes of Health grants R01EB025018 and U54AG065181. </p> <p><strong>Contact: </strong>Anna Carrera, <a href="mailto:acarrer@iu.edu">acarrer@iu.edu</a>, 614-570-6503 (cell)<br /> <br /> ###<br /> <strong></strong></p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong></p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. </p> <div></div>Wed, 23 Jun 2021 00:00:00 Z{45E77DAB-BE97-4874-9766-9A325AF97346}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/06/researchers-develop-human-cellular-model-of-visual-pathway-in-a-dishResearchers develop human cellular model of visual pathway in a dishINDIANAPOLIS—Scientists from Indiana University School of Medicine have created a new way to study how the retina transmits information to the brain, potentially providing a foundation to understand how the visual system develops and how its cells are damaged in diseases. <p>The team, led by <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/25526/meyer-jason">Jason Meyer, PhD</a>, associate professor of medical and molecular genetics at IU School of Medicine, published their findings recently in <a href="https://www.cell.com/stem-cell-reports/fulltext/S2213-6711(21)00260-5">Stem Cell Reports</a>.</p> <p>Researchers generated human pluripotent stem cell derived organoids modeling the major stages of the visual system. The study showed how multiple areas of the brain and different cell types interact in a dish, said Clarisse Fligor, PhD, the first author of the publication.</p> <p><img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/campus/bloomington/clarisse.jpg?h=300&w=200&rev=57ca41b2683c4ad1a48210a78a7db58e&hash=FBD5A087D7B21D25A7AA586F004D8AEC" style="height: 300px; width: 200px;" alt="portrait of clarisse fligor" class="float-right" />“Our body relies on communication from multiple areas to function,” Fligor said. “Now that we have a solid understanding of the individual parts, we can begin to combine different regions and cell types to observe interactions more commonly found in the human body.”</p> <p>Much of the research investigated how retinal ganglion cells—the sole connection between the eye and the brain—extend their axons into the brain and transmit visual information. When that connection is severed in disease or damage, it can result in vision loss and blindness.</p> <p>One of the leading causes of blindness is glaucoma, a degenerative disease in which retinal ganglion cells are damaged. Glaucoma is estimated to affect 70 million people worldwide.</p> <p><img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/project/facultyprofileimages/2021/01/26/03/30/25526-jason-meyer.png?h=300&w=200&rev=3c0475a2f0f14f028f73beedb96d918b&hash=B4C076721288BF0F9E2CDEF4E91181D3" style="height: 300px; width: 200px;" alt="25526-Meyer, Jason" class="float-right" />“By pursuing these studies, we aim to develop a novel and powerful tool for future studies that allows researchers to investigate how nerve cells in the visual system extend toward downstream targets, leading to exciting new approaches for regenerative medicine,” Meyer said.</p> <p>Past studies of retinal organoids—three-dimensional tissue cultures derived from stem cells—have focused more on the development of other neurons and degenerative diseases rather than retinal ganglion cells. That’s due to the cell dying off in long-term cultures of retinal organoids since there’s typically not enough room for the axons to explore, Meyer and Fligor said.</p> <p>To address this issue, the researchers generated and organized retinal organoids into an in vitro assembloid model of the visual system. To model the extension of retinal ganglion cell axons into the brain, Meyer said they first focused on combining retinal and brain organoids to produce brain-like tissue. The success of that experiment led the team to create a model of retinal, thalamic and cortical organoids—each representing a major stage in visual transmission.</p> <p>“Essentially, we attempted to create a human cellular model of the visual pathway in a dish,” Meyer said.</p> <p>The team found that retinal ganglion cells responded to environmental cues and its axons extended deep into the assembloids, modeling projections of the visual system. The cells also survived in the long-term cultures, overcoming the prior limitations of past studies.</p> <p>“An exciting insight from these studies was not only how retinal ganglion cells respond to different environments,” Fligor said, “but also how these other organoids could potentially contribute to retinal ganglion cell behavior, outgrowth and survival. It is important to study how different components of the visual system develop and interact together.”</p> <p>Meyer said this study will further the research into how retinal ganglion cells are compromised in blinding diseases, potentially leading to the development of new therapeutic approaches.</p> <p>The research was supported by grants from the National Eye Institute, the BrightFocus Foundation and the Indiana Department of Health Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Fund.</p> <p>###</p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <br />Fri, 18 Jun 2021 00:00:00 Z{C1AB25E7-F8B9-4223-881C-D7EC2969C0CA}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/05/cancer-center-joins-nci-designated-cancer-centers-in-call-for-urgent-action-to-get-cancer--preventing-hpv-vaccination-back-on-trackCancer center joins call for urgent action to get cancer-preventing HPV vaccination back on track<h4>The COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted delivery of key health services for children and adolescents, including HPV vaccination for cancer prevention</h4> <p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center has joined <a href="http://www.cancer.gov/">National Cancer Institute</a> (NCI)-designated cancer centers and other organizations in a <a href="https://www.stjude.org/content/dam/en_US/shared/www/media/hospital/get-hpv-back-on-track.pdf">joint statement</a> urging the nation’s health care systems, physicians, parents and children, and young adults to get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination back on track.</p> <p>Dramatic drops in annual well visits and immunizations during the COVID-19 pandemic have caused a significant vaccination gap and lag in vital preventive services among U.S. children and adolescents—especially  for the HPV vaccine. The pandemic also has exacerbated health disparities, leaving Black, Indigenous and other people of color; rural; and sexual minority adolescents at even greater risk for missed doses of this cancer prevention vaccine.</p> <p>Nearly 80 million Americans – 1 out of every 4 people – are infected with HPV, a virus that causes six types of cancers. Of those millions, nearly 36,000 will be diagnosed with an HPV-related cancer this year.</p> <p>Despite those staggering figures and the availability of a vaccine to prevent HPV infections, HPV vaccination     rates remain significantly lower than other recommended adolescent vaccines in the United States. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, HPV vaccination rates lagged far behind other routinely recommended vaccines and other countries’ HPV vaccination rates. According to 2019 data from the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stats.htm">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> (CDC), just more than half (54%) of adolescents were up to date on the HPV vaccine.</p> <p>Those numbers have declined dangerously since the pandemic.</p> <ul> <li>Early in the pandemic, HPV vaccination rates among adolescents fell by 75%, resulting in a large cohort of unvaccinated children.</li> <li>Since March 2020, an estimated one million doses of HPV vaccine have been missed by adolescents  with public insurance—a decline of 21% over pre-pandemic levels.</li> <li>Adolescents with private insurance may be missing hundreds of thousands of doses of HPV vaccine.</li> </ul> <p>"Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many adolescents have fallen behind with their routinely recommended vaccines, particularly HPV vaccine," Gregory Zimet, PhD, professor of pediatrics at <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/">IU School of Medicine</a> and a researcher at IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, said. "Earlier in the pandemic, parents were reluctant to bring their adolescents to health clinics and doctors’ offices for immunizations. However, now is the time to get back on track as a nation and in Indiana with adolescent vaccination to ensure we protect our youth and our communities."</p> <p>The United States has recommended routine HPV vaccination for females since 2006 and for males since 2011. Current recommendations are for routine vaccination at ages 11 or 12 or starting at age 9. Catch-up HPV vaccination is recommended through age 26. Adults aged 27 through 45 should talk with their health care providers about HPV vaccination because some people who have not been vaccinated might benefit. The HPV vaccine series is two doses for children who get the first dose at ages 9 through 14 and three doses for those who get the first dose at ages 15 and older and for immunocompromised people.</p> <p>NCI cancer centers strongly encourage parents to vaccinate their adolescents as soon as possible. The CDC recently authorized COVID-19 vaccination for 12- to 15-year-old children allowing for missed doses of routinely recommended vaccines, including HPV, to be administered at the same time. NCI cancer centers strongly urge action by health care systems and providers to identify and contact adolescents due for vaccinations and to use every opportunity to encourage and complete vaccination.</p> <p>"HPV vaccination is cancer prevention. By catching up on missed doses of HPV vaccine now, we will protect our adolescents from serious diseases, including cervical and head and neck cancers. Vaccinating our adolescents against COVID-19, now available for ages 12 years and older, is a reminder to ensure that they are also protected from HPV through vaccination," Zimet, also co-director of the <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/pediatrics/specialties/adolescent-medicine/research/hpv">IUPUI Center for HPV Research</a>, said.</p> <p>More information on HPV is available from the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/index.html">CDC</a> and <a href="https://hpvroundtable.org/">National HPV Vaccination Roundtable</a>. This is the fourth time that all NCI-designated cancer centers have come together to issue a national call to action. All 71 cancer centers unanimously share the goal of sending a powerful message to health care systems, physicians, parents and children, and young adults about the importance of HPV vaccination for the elimination of HPV-related cancers.</p> <p>Organizations endorsing this statement include the Association of American Cancer Institutes; American Association for Cancer Research; American Cancer Society; American Society of Clinical Oncology; American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology; American Society of Preventive Oncology; and the Prevent Cancer Foundation. </p> <p><strong>Contact: </strong>Michael Schug, <a href="mailto:maschug@iu.edu">maschug@iu.edu </a><br /> <br /> ####<br /> <br /> <strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong><br /> <br /> IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Tue, 25 May 2021 00:00:00 Z{3FA30D40-9442-42C7-A99E-66619A7B0F1F}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/05/kapur-named-center-director-and-vice-chair-for-basic-science-research-in-pediatricsKapur named Wells Center director, vice chair for basic science research in pediatrics<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine has named <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/13517/kapur-reuben">Reuben Kapur, PhD</a>, as the director of the <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/research-centers/pediatrics">Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research</a> and the <a href="http://http://medicine.iu.edu/pediatrics">Department of Pediatrics</a> vice chair for basic science research. Kapur has held the roles in an interim capacity since November 2019. <br /> <br /> “Dr. Kapur has been a stalwart of the department and the Wells Center for nearly 25 years,” said <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/9949/clapp-d">D. Wade Clapp, MD</a>, chair of the IU School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics. “Notably, he has demonstrated impressive leadership as interim director of the past 18+ months, helping shepherd our basic science research through the challenges of COVID-19.”<br /> <br /> The IU School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics is ranked sixth in the nation in NIH funding for pediatrics among public medical schools. The Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research is a key component of this support. <br /> <br /> The center’s 200 faculty, staff and trainees use these resources to uncover the causes and mechanisms of childhood disease while identifying novel diagnostic, preventative and therapeutic approaches. The center’s ten thematic research programs focus on rare and pervasive pediatric conditions such as cancer, asthma and severe pulmonary disease, allergies, heart conditions, diabetes and more.<br /> <br /> Kapur is the center’s fifth director since its inception in August 1991. Nationally recognized for his work in pediatric blood cancers, Kapur is the Frieda and Albrecht Kipp Professor of Pediatrics with secondary appointments in the school’s departments of biochemistry and molecular biology, medical and molecular genetics, and microbiology and immunology. He also co-leads the Hematopoiesis and Hematologic Malignancies Program at the <a href="http://cancer.iu.edu/">Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> and the Wells Center’s Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Biology program.<br /> <br /> “Indiana University and its partnership with <a href="https://www.rileychildrens.org/">Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health</a> and the <a href="https://www.rileykids.org/">Riley Children’s Foundation</a> make the Wells Center a uniquely special place,” said Kapur. “I look forward to the continuation of our growth and the expansion of our translational capacity as we usher in another 30 years of improving health outcomes for children and families who are facing pediatric disease.”<br /> <br /> ###</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></p> <p><a href="http://medicine.iu.edu/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Mon, 24 May 2021 00:00:00 Z{ED63380D-097A-4315-A09B-648746529DDF}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/05/indiana-university-partnership-in-kenya-honored-with-bicentennial-medalIU's partnership in Kenya honored with Bicentennial Medal<p>INDIANAPOLIS—The <a href="https://www.ampathkenya.org/">Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH)</a> partnership between Moi University and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Kenya and a consortium of academic health centers around the world, led by Indiana University (IU), received the <a href="https://200.iu.edu/signature-projects/bicentennial-medal/index.html">IU Bicentennial Medal</a> in a presentation by President Michael McRobbie on Monday. </p> <p>“The Bicentennial Medal is awarded to organizations and individuals who, through their personal, professional, artistic or philanthropic efforts, have broadened the reach of Indiana University around the state, nation and world. Clearly AMPATH has done that in a major, major way,” said McRobbie. He fondly recalled his 2013 trip to visit the partnership and the many ways that faculty, staff and trainees worked together to support health and well-being of people in western Kenya. “Our partnership in Kenya is unique for its long-term, collaborative and multi-disciplinary programs, and it is most appropriate that AMPATH be the recipient of this award.”</p> <p>The award was accepted by MTRH CEO Dr. Wilson Aruasa; Professor Robert Tenge, principal of the Moi College of Health Sciences; Professor Sylvester Kimaiyo, director of care programs for AMPATH; and <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/5072/gardner-adrian">Dr. Adrian Gardner</a>, director of the <a href="https://globalhealth.iu.edu/">IU Center for Global Health</a>.</p> <p>“Moi University’s philosophy is ‘putting knowledge to work,’ and therefore getting involved with the AMPATH partners and working together has enabled us to reach our horizons quickly in our core functions of clinical care, teaching and research,” said Tenge. “For this, we are grateful as an institution. At the same time we have enabled the community members to discover their power to fully participate in their own development and their own care.”</p> <p>Four Indiana University School of Medicine physicians began a relationship with the brand new Moi University School of Medicine in 1988. Moi welcomed its first class of 40 medical students in 1990 and Dr. Bob Einterz became the first in a continuous three-decade long line of IU faculty physicians to work with Kenyan colleagues, care for patients, conduct global health research and teach IU and Moi students. </p> <p>Gardner, who served as the executive field director for the AMPATH Consortium in Kenya for seven years, emphasized the bi-directional nature of the partnership. “We believe that lessons learned in one place can be shared to improve the lives of people in another, and that diversity in experience and perspective can help us create innovative models of care delivered in various settings throughout the world,” said Gardner.</p> <p>More than 1,800 medical trainees, including more than 1,000 from IU, have experienced a medical rotation in Kenya. More than 400 Kenyan trainees have also completed rotations at more than a dozen consortium partners in the U.S. and Canada. </p> <p>In addition to multiple departments from IU School of Medicine, several other IU schools have participated in the AMPATH partnership including IU School of Dentistry, IU School of Social Work, Fairbanks School of Public Health, School of Public Health-Bloomington, IU School of Nursing, Media School, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and others. Additionally, research conducted through AMPATH has received more than $180 million in funding resulting in more than 1,000 publications. </p> <p>The medals themselves are unique, made from materials salvaged from the old bells that hung in the Student Building on the IU Bloomington campus.</p> <p>Gardner and Megan Miller, associate director of the IU Center for Global Health, also received individual Bicentennial Medals for applying lessons learned in Kenya to lead IU’s pandemic response as part of the university’s Medical Response Team.</p> <p>###</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Wed, 19 May 2021 00:00:00 Z{358E0598-61AF-4258-90EE-E0C24BFFD771}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/05/iu-school-of-medicine-researchers-help-discover-more-of-the-biology-behind-bipolar-disorderIU School of Medicine researchers help discover more of the biology behind bipolar disorder<h4>Largest genetic study of its kind shows links to schizophrenia and major depressive disorder</h4> <p>INDIANAPOLIS—A team of scientists, including researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine, is making promising discoveries in the biology behind bipolar disorder that could lead to better treatment options for patients.</p> <p>The study published today in the scientific journal Nature Genetics, includes important contributions from IU School of Medicine researchers and distinguished professors: <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/6488/edenberg-howard">Howard Edenberg, PhD,</a> Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/667/nurnberger-john">John Nurnberger, MD, PhD</a>, Department of Psychiatry and vice chair for research, and <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/276/foroud-tatiana">Tatiana Foroud, PhD</a>,  Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, executive associate dean for research affairs. <br /> <br /> Bipolar disorder is defined by the National Institutes of Mental Health as a mental disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, concentration, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. <br /> <br /> Beginning in 2009, a group—including Edenberg and Nurnberger—established the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium as a framework that allows hundreds of scientists from across the globe to contribute data to better understand the biology behind certain disorders. The new study is from the bipolar disorder working group, comprised of over 300 scientists.<br /> <br /> Through this study—the largest genetic study of bipolar disorder—scientists evaluated more than 40,000 cases and found 64 variations along the human genome associated with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Of the 64 regions, the working group identified several genes that appear to be druggable targets; some of these already have drugs associated with them that are approved for other uses. One example of these already approved drugs that may be useful in treating bipolar disorder is calcium channel blockers. <br /> <br /> A study of this magnitude also led researchers to other important discoveries.<br /> <br /> “We are beginning to learn more about bipolar biology based on the genetics. The variants we found point to pathways, including one in which nerve cells talk to each other,” said Edenberg. “The genetics also told us how similar type 1 bipolar disorder is to schizophrenia and type 2 bipolar disorder to major depressive disorder.”<br /> <br /> “All of these findings have the potential to lead to better treatments specifically tailored to individuals with bipolar disorder,” added Nurnberger. “We look forward to more research on the role of calcium channel blockers as a potential solution.”<br /> <br /> According to Foroud, the involvement of IU researchers in this study is an important example of the vital role the university plays in the advancement of life sciences in the state and around the world. <br /> <br /> “When trying to understand the biology of complex disorders like bipolar, it is important to bring together data from multiple studies. Indiana University School of Medicine plays a significant role in large scientific consortia like the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, allowing us to make major discoveries that will ultimately improve human health,” said Foroud. </p> <p><strong><em>Reference<br /> </em></strong><em>Mullins, N., Forstner, A.J., O’Connell, K.S. et al. <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-021-00857-4#citeas">Genome-wide association study of more than 40,000 bipolar disorder cases provides new insights into the underlying biology.</a> Nature Genetics; 17 May 2021; DOI: 10.1038/s41588-021-00857-4</em></p> <p> <br /> ###</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Mon, 17 May 2021 00:00:00 Z{2AA7FE4C-011C-4B94-ACE3-16C850B6A743}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/05/iu-school-of-medicine-graduates-class-of-2021IU School of Medicine graduates physicians, scientists in Class of 2021<p>INDIANAPOLIS—For the second year in a row, Indiana University School of Medicine hosted its graduation recognition ceremony in a virtual setting, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. </p> <p>Members of the Class of 2021 were honored Friday, May 14, with members of IU School of Medicine leadership sharing their well wishes in pre-recorded messages. They were joined by keynote speaker Mona Hanna-Attisha, MD, MPH, FAAP. She is the physician, scientist and activist who exposed the Flint water crisis. </p> <p>During her speech, Hanna-Attisha spoke of the important role doctors play not only in the lives of their patients, but in the communities in which they work.</p> <p>“Being a doctor means being a protector of health. … With that long white coat comes power and privilege, and credibility. It makes you a respected expert in an era when not many professions are held in high regard,” said Hanna-Attisha, a pediatrician and the founder and director of the Michigan State University and Hurley Children’s Hospital Pediatric Health Initiative. </p> <p>“My MD was a megaphone for the kids of Flint and I used it. I was loud and stubborn and persistent. And ultimately it was the voice of medicine that changed the trajectory of an entire city. … From this day on, you are all entrusted to be the voice of health.”</p> <p>One of those new doctors was Mohammad Aref, who recently earned his MD and PhD in anatomy, cell biology and physiology. Aref was chosen by his peers to speak during the ceremony. Speaking of the “beautiful burden of the white coat,” Aref implored his classmates to remember their mission as healers as they enter the next stage of their training.</p> <p>“After going through COVID together I believe we are uniquely positioned to meet the challenges of the world. We are here today to celebrate more than the two letters behind our names—we are here to celebrate and memorialize our individual and collective journeys of betterment. Not just to enrich ourselves, but to increase our capacity to serve. Not to take more, but to increase how much we can give,” said Aref, who will soon be starting his residency in surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. “You taught me that when we wear our coats, we give our patients and our communities an implicit promise that we will do everything in our power to care for their health and their person.”</p> <p>For the Class of 2021, Friday’s graduation was an opportunity to add some closure to their IU School of Medicine experience—one that will be forever linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. </p> <p>“It would be an understatement to say this has been a very challenging year. We know that your final year didn’t start or end the way you expected. And I’m disappointed that I didn’t get the chance to congratulate you in person. Whether you’ve spent your time pursuing a Master’s, MD or PhD degree, or some combination of these, I’ve had the privilege of watching you develop into professionals over the last several years and especially during the pandemic. I want you all to know how incredibly grateful I am for the way you have stepped up for the School of Medicine and for our community,” said <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/6512/hess-jay">IU School of Medicine Dean Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>, during the ceremony. “I know that you will always remember the past year and it will serve as a powerful reminder that your work—whether it is caring for patients or research or teaching—matters.” <br /> <br /> In addition to the 414 doctorate- and master-level degrees awarded this year, 134 associate and Bachelor of Science degrees will be earned by graduates of the IU School of Medicine Health Professions Program. The Health Professions Programs award degrees in histotechnology, paramedic science, radiology, cytotechnology, clinical laboratory science, medical technology, nuclear medicine technology, radiation therapy, and respiratory therapy. </p> <p>###</p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the United States and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Fri, 14 May 2021 00:00:00 Z{252ADB2C-5470-41A0-A680-F584A72C29C2}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/05/cancer-researchers-study-cognitive-dysfunction-after-chemotherapyCancer researchers study cognitive dysfunction after chemotherapy<p>PITTSBURGH/INDIANAPOLIS—Cancer researchers at <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/">Indiana University</a> and the <a href="https://www.medschool.pitt.edu/">University of Pittsburgh</a> received a five-year, $3 million grant from the <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/">National Cancer Institute</a> (NCI) to study cognitive dysfunction after chemotherapy. </p> <p>Following chemotherapy, survivors often find it more challenging to learn new tasks, remember words or do things as efficiently or quickly as they once did. That’s why Robert Ferguson, PhD, a clinical psychologist in the <a href="https://hillmanresearch.upmc.edu/research/programs/biobehavioral-cancer-control/">Behavioral Cancer Control Program at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center</a>, developed a cognitive behavioral therapy called Memory and Attention Adaptation Training, or MAAT, which will be the focus of the first large-scale, multi-center study thanks to the new grant. </p> <p>Ferguson is collaborating with Brenna McDonald, PsyD, a member of the Cancer Prevention and Control research program at the I<a href="http://www.cancer.iu.edu/">ndiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a>, to test MAAT and supportive therapy to determine the effects of both on improving memory problems and emotional resilience among breast cancer survivors.</p> <p>MAAT is cognitive behavioral therapy in which survivors work with a psychologist to identify specific situations at home or on the job where memory problems are likely to occur and to learn specific strategies to address those issues. In supportive therapy, survivors also work with the psychologist, but they explore emotional strengths and build resilience in coping with memory problems and cancer survivorship in general. Both therapies consist of eight telehealth visits of 45-minutes each.</p> <p>“The survivor and therapist review what is currently known – and not known – about memory problems associated with cancer and cancer treatment,” said Ferguson, an assistant professor of hematology/oncology in Pitt’s School of Medicine. “They also address distress and aggravation that can accompany memory difficulty in daily life to identify the specific situations and apply strategies to reduce or mitigate memory problems.”</p> <p>Participants will learn to recognize that everyone at some point forgets something, said <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/7297/mcdonald-brenna">McDonald, professor of radiology and imaging sciences</a> at IU School of Medicine. </p> <p>“We all sometimes forget something, such as why we walked into a room. And that's OK. We know, however, that patients are quick to attribute that to their treatment, which makes them feel helpless,” she said.</p> <p>Both therapies have been designed and tested as a telehealth-delivered therapy to reduce travel and time burdens on survivors and families. While it can be delivered in-office, too, many survivors have exhausted their paid time off work and may have used much of their savings to help pay for cancer treatment, so the telehealth option is often preferred.</p> <p>With the latest grant, the researchers will look at the functional MRI of participants to evaluate underlying changes in brain activation patterns that are believed to be associated with treatment. In previous research, McDonald and Ferguson have demonstrated enhanced working memory following treatment among individuals with traumatic brain injury.</p> <p>The two researchers are building on a collaboration that started when they were both faculty at Dartmouth College nearly two decades ago. They conducted small clinical trials and pilot studies on the cognitive symptoms in breast cancer patients, which led to the development of MAAT.  </p> <p>Pitt and IU each hope to evaluate 100 women, half of whom will receive MAAT while the others receive the supportive therapy. </p> <p>For more information visit: <a href="https://hillmanresearch.upmc.edu/telehealth-and-memory-study/">https://hillmanresearch.upmc.edu/telehealth-and-memory-study/</a>.</p> <p><strong>Contact: </strong>Michael Schug, <a href="mailto:maschug@iu.edu">maschug@iu.edu</a>, 317-417-0709</p> <p>###</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.<br /> <br /> <strong>About the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center<br /> </strong>The Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, one of only 51 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the nation, is home to the cure of testicular cancer and the world’s only healthy breast tissue bank. The prestigious NCI comprehensive designation recognizes the center’s excellence in basic, clinical, and population research, outstanding educational activities, and effective community outreach program across the state. The center’s physician-scientists have made protocol-defining discoveries that have changed the way doctors treat numerous forms of cancer. </p> <div></div>Tue, 04 May 2021 00:00:00 Z{1203EA7D-9443-4295-AD1C-9492A6935ED9}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/05/your-stomach-may-be-the-secret-to-fighting-obesityYour stomach may be the secret to fighting obesity<p>Scientists believe a stomach-specific protein plays a major role in the progression of obesity, according to new research in Scientific Reports. The study co-authored by an Indiana University School of Medicine researcher, could help with development of therapeutics that would help individuals struggling with achieving and maintaining weight loss.</p> <p>Researchers focused on Gastrokine-1 (GKN1) — a protein produced exclusively and abundantly in the stomach. Previous research has suggested GKN1 is resistant to digestion, allowing it to pass into the intestine and interact with microbes in the gut. </p> <p>In the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-88928-8">Scientific Reports study</a>, researchers show that inhibiting GKN1 produced significant differences in weight and levels of body fat in comparison to when the protein was expressed.</p> <p>“While diet and exercise are critical to maintaining a healthy weight, some individuals struggle with weight loss — even in cases of bariatric surgery, maintaining weight loss can be a challenge,” said <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/22710/boone-david">David Boone, PhD</a>, associate professor of microbiology and immunology at IU School of Medicine, an <a href="https://biology.nd.edu/people/david-boone/">adjunct professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Notre Dame </a>and a co-author of the study. “These results are an example of how a better understanding of the gut microbiome and the physiological aspects of obesity — how our bodies regulate metabolism and accumulate body fat — could help inform new therapies.”</p> <p>Data from the Centers for Disease Control show adult obesity rates have increased to 42.4 percent in the United States. In addition to increasing an individual’s risk of stroke, diabetes, certain cancers and other health issues, obesity can also increase the risk of severe illness due to COVID-19.</p> <p>Boone and his team conducted a microbiome analysis of mouse models with and without the GKN1 protein expressed. Researchers measured food intake, caloric extraction, blood sugar, insulin and triglyceride levels. They used magnetic resonance imagining to monitor body composition. The team also calculated energy expenditure and observed inflammation levels.</p> <p>Models without GKN1 weighed less and had lower levels of total body fat and higher percentages of lean mass — despite consuming the same amount of food. When put on a high-fat diet, models without GKN1 showed a resistance to weight gain, increased body fat and hepatic inflammation, which can lead to liver disease. Researchers also found no evidence of adverse effects such as cancer, diabetes, loss of appetite, malabsorption or inflammation — and results were consistent in male and female models.</p> <p>While more research is needed to determine the efficacy of blocking GKN1 to prevent obesity, researchers said if proved as a viable solution, such therapies could reduce the burden on health care systems and help improve quality of life for patients. </p> <p>###</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong><br /> IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Tue, 04 May 2021 00:00:00 Z{5286BCC3-6533-4EE9-B0FB-60BBE5B4009C}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/04/big-data-analysis-reveals-that-androgens-could-benefit-asthma'Big data' analysis reveals that androgens could benefit asthmaA group of researchers based at Indiana University School of Medicine and Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health has discovered that people who are clinically lacking androgen effects are three to four times more likely to have asthma than people in the general population.  Their “big data” analysis of over 90 million people supports previous work in mice showing that loss of the androgen receptor increases asthma risk. Led by <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/43800/gaston-benjamin">Benjamin Gaston, MD</a>, “Asthma risk among individuals with androgen receptor deficiency,” was published in JAMA Pediatrics.<br /> <br /> People of all genders produce androgens, a type of hormone that communicates with different cells in the body through a protein called the androgen receptor.  The risk of asthma in people with androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS), who typically have androgen receptor deficiency, has not been previously studied. Gaston said that the question came up while his team was conducting research related to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.<br /> <br /> “Because of studying COVID-19, we discovered that human airways express androgen receptors, and that increased AR expression, while bad if you have COVID, is good if you have asthma,” said Gaston, who is the Billie Lou Wood Professor of Pediatrics and the Department of Pediatrics Vice Chair of Translational Research at Riley Hospital and IU School of Medicine.<br /> <br /> Gaston and his team partnered with scientists at Cleveland Clinic and Vanderbilt University to gather and analyze electronic medical record (EMR) data for 90 million people from IBM Explorys and the Regenstrief Institute. These databases are “de-identified,” meaning the investigators can compare numeric diagnosis codes without knowing the identity of individual patients. This allows large scale, useful analyses of information without risk to patient confidentiality. It was this analysis that uncovered higher rates of asthma in people with partial or complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS).  <br /> <br /> Interestingly, Gaston said, this discovery and its approach complements another recent publication from his team. In it, the investigators studied all of the thousands of messenger RNA molecules, reflecting gene expression, in the airway-lining cells of specific, well-characterized patients with asthma.  This computer-based analysis of RNA sequencing (“RNASeq”) data permits analysis of which genes are turned on or off in a given individual.  Androgen receptor genes were turned on in individuals with the best-controlled asthma.  This work was a collaboration between Gaston’s group and the multi-site Severe Asthma Research Program.  The study, titled “Benefits of androgen receptor expression in human asthma,” has just been published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.<br /> <br /> Gaston said that the findings from these two, complementary studies suggest that androgens could benefit specific patients with asthma. Now, he and his team at Riley are planning mechanistic studies to understand the relationship between androgens and asthma. They’re also planning clinical studies for patients who have both severe asthma and low androgen levels and are looking into whether or not androgen receptor deficiency is associated with higher risk for other obstructive lung diseases.<br /> <br /> Additional scientists contributing to this work include Nadzeya Marozkina, MD, PhD, of IU School of Medicine; Dawn C. Newcomb, PhD, of Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nima Sharifi, MD, and Joe Zein, MD, PhD of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute.  This groundbreaking work was supported by the National Institutes of Health, along with the Riley Children’s Foundation.<br /> <br /> ###<br /> <br /> <strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.Tue, 20 Apr 2021 00:00:00 Z{652CF45E-9231-4B57-A299-F0495AB001C3}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/04/b-cell-activating-factor-key-to-immune-tolerance-for-hemophiliaB cell activating factor could hold key to immune tolerance for hemophilia, study finds<p>A group of scientists have just made a key discovery that could prevent and eradicate immune responses that lead to treatment failure in about one-third of people with severe hemophilia A. <br /> <br /> Hemophilia is the most common severe inherited bleeding disorder in men. The disease affects 1 in 10,000 males worldwide and results from deficiency of blood clotting factor VIII (FVIII). Both children and adults with hemophilia A (80 percent of all hemophilia) receive treatment that involves infusing FVIII protein into the bloodstream. However, about 30 percent of them develop an immune response in the form of antibodies to FVIII (inhibitors), rendering treatment ineffective and increasing risk of mortality. <br /> <br /> For inhibitor-positive patients, immune tolerance induction (ITI) options are scarce, costly and invasive. Investigators at Indiana University School of Medicine, <a href="http://www.chop.edu/">Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia</a> and <a href="http://www.upenn.edu/">University of Pennsylvania</a> joined efforts to explore immune responses to FVIII under an NIH-funded U54 initiative. <br /> <br /> The study, led by IU School of Medicine’s <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/42083/biswas-naro">Moanaro Biswas, PhD</a>, and <a href="https://www.med.upenn.edu/apps/faculty/index.php/g275/p12136">Valder R. Arruda, MD, PhD</a>, from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania, is titled <a href="https://www.jci.org/articles/view/142906">“B cell activating factor modulates the factor VIII immune response in hemophilia,”</a> and was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation earlier this month. Bhavya Doshi, MD, from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, is the first author. <br /> <br /> In it, the group used plasma samples from pediatric and adult hemophilia A patients and animal models to determine whether BAFF plays a role in the generation and maintenance of FVIII inhibitors. <br /> <br /> They also looked at combining antibody to BAFF in an ITI approach with a CD20 antibody (rituximab). Rituximab alone has shown mixed results in eradicating inhibitors when used alone in previous studies for hemophilia A. <br /> <br /> Major findings from the study include:</p> <ul> <li>BAFF levels in plasma are higher in both pediatric and adult hemophilia A patients with persistent FVIII inhibitors, and correlate with FVIII antibody titers, suggesting that BAFF could be a potential harbinger for an ongoing humoral immune response to FVIII</li> <li>An increase in BAFF levels after rituximab-based therapy precludes tolerance to FVIII.</li> <li>Blocking BAFF is effective in the prevention of FVIII inhibitors in an animal model of hemophilia A.</li> <li>Combination CD20/BAFF monoclonal antibody therapy induces tolerance in a hemophilia A animal model with established FVIII inhibitors. This is due to a concerted effect of the combination therapy on memory B cells and plasma cells.</li> </ul> <p>Next, the group will perform in-depth mechanistic studies to identify additional BAFF modifiers, which may provide additional insight into the pathways that lead to BAFF elevation and inhibitor formation. <br /> <br /> These data also have important translational potential for inhibitor in hemophilia A, since there is an FDA-approved anti-BAFF antibody currently used as part of immunosuppressive regimens for autoimmune diseases.<br /> <br /> Study co-authors are Jyoti Rana, PhD; Giancarlo Castaman, MD, PhD; Mostafa A. Shaheen, BA; Radoslaw Kaczmarek, PhD; John S. Butterfield, BS; Shannon L. Meeks, MD; and Cindy Leissinger, MD.<br /> <br /> The study includes contributions from the Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, IU School of Medicine; Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Center for Bleeding Disorders and Coagulation, Careggi University Hospital; Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory School of Medicine; Tulane University School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. </p> <p>###</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Thu, 15 Apr 2021 00:00:00 Z{E76E6045-9B54-4A8F-BA8D-2FCF3A20E297}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/04/iu-school-of-medicine-researchers-develop-blood-test-for-depression-and-bipolar-disorderIU School of Medicine researchers develop blood test for depression, bipolar disorder<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Worldwide, 1 in 4 people will suffer from a depressive episode in their lifetime. </p> <p>While current diagnosis and treatment approaches are largely trial and error, a breakthrough study by Indiana University School of Medicine researchers sheds new light on the biological basis of mood disorders, and offers a promising blood test aimed at a precision medicine approach to treatment.</p> <p>Led by <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/16295/niculescu-alexander">Alexander B. Niculescu, MD, PhD</a>, Professor of Psychiatry at IU School of Medicine, the study was published today in the high impact journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-021-01061-w">Molecular Psychiatry</a>. The work builds on previous research conducted by Niculescu and his colleagues into blood biomarkers that track suicidality as well as pain, post-traumatic stress disorder and Alzheimer’s disease. </p> <p>“We have pioneered the area of precision medicine in psychiatry over the last two decades, particularly over the last 10 years. This study represents a current state-of-the-art outcome of our efforts,” said Niculescu. “This is part of our effort to bring psychiatry from the 19th century into the 21st century. To help it become like other contemporary fields such as oncology. Ultimately, the mission is to save and improve lives.”</p> <p>The team’s work describes the development of a blood test, composed of RNA biomarkers, that can distinguish how severe a patient’s depression is, the risk of them developing severe depression in the future, and the risk of future bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness). The test also informs tailored medication choices for patients. </p> <p>This comprehensive study took place over four years, with over 300 participants recruited primarily from the patient population at the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis. The team used a careful four-step approach of discovery, prioritization, validation and testing. </p> <p>First, the participants were followed over time, with researchers observing them in both high and low mood states—each time recording what changed in terms of the biological markers (biomarkers) in their blood between the two states. </p> <p>Next, Niculescu’s team utilized large databases developed from all previous studies in the field, to cross-validate and prioritize their findings. From here, researchers validated the top 26 candidate biomarkers in independent cohorts of clinically severe people with depression or mania. Last, the biomarkers were tested in additional independent cohorts to determine how strong they were at predicting who is ill, and who will become ill in the future. </p> <p>From this approach, researchers were then able to demonstrate how to match patients with medications—even finding a new potential medication to treat depression. </p> <p>“Through this work, we wanted to develop blood tests for depression and for bipolar disorder, to distinguish between the two, and to match people to the right treatments,” said Niculescu. “Blood biomarkers are emerging as important tools in disorders where subjective self-report by an individual, or a clinical impression of a health care professional, are not always reliable. These blood tests can open the door to precise, personalized matching with medications, and objective monitoring of response to treatment.”</p> <p>In addition to the diagnostic and therapeutic advances discovered in their latest study, Niculescu’s team found that mood disorders are underlined by circadian clock genes—the genes that regulate seasonal, day-night and sleep-wake cycles. </p> <p>“That explains why some patients get worse with seasonal changes, and the sleep alterations that occur in mood disorders,” said Niculescu. </p> <p>According to Niculescu, the work done by his team has opened the door for their findings to be translated into clinical practice, as well as help with new drug development. </p> <p>Focusing on collaboration with pharmaceutical companies and other doctors in a push to start applying some of their tools and discoveries in real-world scenarios, Niculescu said he believes the work being done by his team is vital in improving the quality of life for countless patients.</p> <p>“Blood biomarkers offer real-world clinical practice advantages. The brain cannot be easily biopsied in live individuals, so we’ve worked hard over the years to identify blood biomarkers for neuropsychiatric disorders,” said Niculescu. “Given the fact that 1 in 4 people will have a clinical mood disorder episode in their lifetime, the need for and importance of efforts such as ours cannot be overstated.”</p> <p><strong>For more information about this test, <a href="https://mindxsciences.com/bloodtests/">visit the MindX Sciences website</a>.</strong></p> <p><em>This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health under Award Number 1DP20D007363 and R01mh117431 and a VA Merit Award 2I01CX000139. The content is solely the responsibility of Indiana University School of Medicine and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or the VA.<br /> </em></p> <p>####</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Wed, 07 Apr 2021 00:00:00 Z{52FD89A2-4A23-40B5-94D1-D7B5D9948ED8}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/03/iu-exceeds-several-underrepresented-population-recruitment-goals-in-covid-19-vaccine-studyIU exceeds several underrepresented population recruitment goals in COVID-19 vaccine study<p>INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana University School of Medicine announced today that of the thousands of participants who enrolled across the United States in the late stage clinical study of an investigational COVID-19 vaccine known as AZD1222, 530 Indiana residents participated in the study at the IU School of Medicine site. <a href="https://www.astrazeneca.com/content/astraz/media-centre/press-releases/2021/azd1222-us-phase-iii-primary-analysis-confirms-safety-and-efficacy.html">AstraZeneca released the results</a> of this nationwide study saying, “the vaccine is 76% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 and 100% effective against severe disease and hospitalization.” <br /> <br /> “We want to thank the thousands of Indiana residents who volunteered to take part in this important research study,” said <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/5179/brown-cynthia">Cynthia Brown, MD</a>, an associate professor of clinical medicine who led the study at the IU School of Medicine site. “We are especially grateful to those who have been historically underrepresented in clinical trials for their participation.”<br /> <br /> Researchers at the IU School of Medicine study site and staff at the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) set bold goals to recruit participants who are representative of the demographics of Indiana, which includes several historically underrepresented groups. The actual demographic enrollment breakdown can be seen below.</p> <table style="width: 797px; height: 242px;" class=""> <tbody> <tr> <td class="" style=""> </td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"><strong>Enrolled nationwide</strong></td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"><strong>Enrolled at IU School of Medicine site</strong></td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"><strong>Marion County population*</strong></td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"><strong>Indiana population*</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td>White (not Hispanic) </td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">71.5% </td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">78.0% </td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">54.1% </td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">78.4% </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Hispanic/Latinx</td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">11.2%</td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">12.0%</td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">10.9%</td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">7.3%</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Black/African American</td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">9.8%</td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">5.0%</td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">29.1%</td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">9.9%</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Asian</td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">5.3% </td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">3.0% </td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">3.8% </td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">2.6% </td> </tr> <tr> <td>American Indian </td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">1.8% </td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">0.4% </td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">0.4% </td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">0.4% </td> </tr> <tr> <td>65+ years old </td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">23.6% </td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">19.0% </td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">12.9% </td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">16.1% </td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td class="" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"> *From <a href="http://www.census.gov">www.census.gov</a></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>“We’ve exceeded our recruitment goals for Hispanic and older Indiana residents,” added Brown. “Unfortunately, we did not reach our recruitment goals within the Black community, showing we still have much more work to do to gain the trust of the Black population.” <br /> <br /> Indiana residents from all over the state including many rural communities traveled to Indianapolis to participate in this study. Indiana CSTI study team members have connected with faith leaders and others who work closely with the Black community who was underrepresented in this study in an effort to strengthen trust moving forward. <br /> <br /> During this Phase III study, two-thirds of participants received the AZD1222 vaccine and the remaining one-third received a saline shot as the placebo. This was a double-blind trial, so neither the participants nor the researchers knew who was getting the vaccine and who was getting the placebo. <br /> <br /> As study participants have become eligible to receive other vaccines, Brown has unblinded them to let them know whether they received AZD1222 or placebo so each participant could make an educated decision about whether they would like to receive one of the other approved vaccines. Those who have been unblinded can continue to participate in the study and contribute important information about the duration of antibody response and vaccine safety. </p> <p><strong>Contact: </strong>Anna Carrera, <a href="mailto:acarrer@iu.edu">acarrer@iu.edu</a>, 614-570-6503 (cell)<br /> <br /> ###</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine<br /> </strong>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.<br /> <br /> <strong>About IU Research<br /> </strong>IU's world-class <a href="https://research.impact.iu.edu/">researchers </a>have driven innovation and creative initiatives that matter for 200 years. From curing testicular cancer to collaborating with NASA to search for life on Mars, IU has earned its reputation as a world-class research institution. Supported by $854 million last year from our partners, IU researchers are building collaborations and uncovering new solutions that improve lives in Indiana and around the globe.<br /> <br /> <strong>About the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute <br /> </strong> The Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) brings together the state’s brightest minds to solve Indiana’s most pressing health challenges through research. It is a statewide partnership among Indiana University, Purdue University, the University of Notre Dame and numerous life sciences businesses, government entities, and community organizations. The Indiana CTSI engages with the public at every level of research—from basic science to patient care. It has been continuously funded by multimillion-dollar grants from the National Institutes of Health since the Indiana CTSI’s founding in 2008 and is housed at the Indiana University School of Medicine. For more information, visit <a href="https://indianactsi.org/">indianactsi.org</a>.</p>Tue, 30 Mar 2021 00:00:00 Z{219EEA9A-C437-4F9A-A76A-60C3BBA5BBEC}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/03/iu-school-of-medicine-names-new-associate-dean-for-west-lafayette-campusIU School of Medicine names new associate dean, director for West Lafayette campus<p>INDIANAPOLIS – Matthew Tews, DO, MS, has been named the next associate dean and director for <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/west-lafayette">Indiana University School of Medicine in West Lafayette</a>. </p> <p>The Midwest native currently serves as Professor of Emergency Medicine and Associate Dean for Educational Simulation at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) at Augusta University, providing leadership for their Simulation, Clinical Skills, Standardized Patient, and Research and Evaluation programs. He is also a practicing emergency physician.</p> <p>Tews is an accomplished leader and educator with 15 years of experience in the planning, development and implementation of educational initiatives across the spectrum of medical education. He is experienced in curriculum design, faculty development, simulation, and regional campuses. He has received numerous awards for medical student and resident clinical teaching, curriculum advancements, and innovation in medical education, and has published and presented extensively on simulation and education topics. </p> <p>As part of his national work, he has published a third-year medical student curriculum, served as a senior editor for an online emergency medicine curriculum site, led the creation and revisions of online medical student examinations, and helped create and publish a national medical student assessment.  </p> <p>Regina Kreisle MD, PhD, who served as leader of the West Lafayette campus since 2015, announced her intent to retire last fall and will continue in a teaching capacity. </p> <p> “IU School of Medicine is fortunate to have such an experienced and accomplished medical educator join us as our West Lafayette regional campus leader,” said Paul Wallach, MD, executive associate dean for educational affairs and institutional improvement at IU School of Medicine.  “Dr. Tews has significant experience in medical simulation, telehealth, and ultrasound and is a terrific teacher and caring leader. His expertise in technology integration and scholarly concentrations will be vital to the continued expansion of the Biomedical Engineering and Applied Medical Technology Scholarly Concentration on the West Lafayette campus -- he is ready to pick up where Dr. Regina Kreisle left off, and we are grateful to her for her years of excellent leadership.”</p> <p>Tews earned a bachelor of science in biology from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, and a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from Des Moines University in Des Moines, Iowa. He completed his residency in emergency medicine at Sparrow Health Systems and Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan, followed by a fellowship in faculty development at Wright State University’s Department of Emergency Medicine in Dayton, Ohio.  He also earned a master of science in medical education leadership from the University of New England.</p> <p>In addition to his regional campus responsibilities, Tews will serve as Statewide Simulation Consultant and Professor of Emergency Medicine.</p> <p>“It is an honor to join IU School of Medicine as West Lafayette regional campus leader and to partner with Purdue University and their Biomedical Engineering department,” Tews said. “I look forward to developing relationships with university faculty and community partners, growing research collaborations and clinical experiences, and providing students with the highest quality medical education, all with the goal of making a difference in the lives of patients.” </p> <p>###</p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Wed, 24 Mar 2021 00:00:00 Z{BD732150-9046-4027-95C8-12AC59927F02}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/03/iu-school-of-medicine-celebrates-match-day-2021IU School of Medicine celebrates Match Day 2021<p>INDIANAPOLIS—The wait is over for 337 Indiana University School of Medicine students who learned their residency futures during a virtual Match Day event on Friday, March 19, 2021. </p> <p>Unable to gather in person for what is typically an energetic occasion due to COVID-19, the group of fourth-year medical students gathered via Zoom during a time of renewed hope and optimism for Hoosiers—with coronavirus cases on the decline and vaccinations continuing to accelerate in the state. </p> <p>“While we see the light at the end of this tunnel, we must stay vigilant. That is why, like most medical schools, we held our Match celebration virtually again this year,” said <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>, dean of IU School of Medicine and IU’s executive vice president for university clinical affairs. “The past year has shown how critical health care systems are to our country. With this class we are contributing 337 physicians to that workforce who will not only provide care, but also lead us through future health care challenges. I am so proud of how they have navigated this year with grace and courage and wish them my very best in their careers.”</p> <p>Typically, fourth-year medical students assemble with their classmates across the country to open their envelopes at the same moment—all finding out simultaneously where they will be heading to complete their residencies. While medical school provides students with foundational knowledge and skills necessary to be a doctor, residency offers intensive preparation for a medical specialty and is required before a physician can practice independently. </p> <p>From the IU School of Medicine Class of 2021, 86 future physicians will enter residency programs affiliated with IU School of Medicine or IU Health, along with 278 additional graduates from other medical schools. Their training will begin in late June in more than 30 distinct residency programs including internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine, anesthesiology, psychiatry, surgery, OB-GYN, emergency medicine and neurology.</p> <p>Other highlights from IU School of Medicine Match Day include: </p> <ul> <li>42 percent of students will enter primary care residencies, helping to fulfill a significant need for primary care physicians in Indiana and across the country</li> <li>Graduates will complete residency in 32 states</li> <li>The top five specialties IU School of Medicine students matched into are: internal medicine, family medicine, anesthesiology, pediatrics and emergency medicine  </li> </ul> <p>In addition to matching here at IU School of Medicine, within other Indiana residencies and throughout the Midwest, graduates will continue their education at many prestigious programs including Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, Mayo, UCLA, University of California-San Francisco, Washington University, Cornell, Duke and Michigan, to name a few.</p> <p>“The final year of medical school has been far from routine for this group of graduates. This Match Day might have been unconventional in its setting, but all of the expected enthusiasm and excitement most definitely remained,” said <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/41427/wallach-paul">Paul M. Wallach, MD</a>, executive associate dean for educational affairs and institutional improvement. “These junior colleagues overcame a great many challenges during the last year of their training, and the response they’ve had as a group fills all of us here at IU School of Medicine with tremendous pride.”<br /> <br /> ####</p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Fri, 19 Mar 2021 00:00:00 Z{E07F106E-9635-4DC3-9136-D608DDAE22CC}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/03/iu-school-of-medicine-hosting-virtual-lgbtq-health-care-conferenceIU School of Medicine hosting virtual LGBTQ health care conference<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana University School of Medicine is hosting its fourth annual <a href="/inclusion/programs/lgbtq-conference">LGBTQ Health Care Conference</a>, aimed at helping providers and community members better understand the unique health considerations and barriers to care those in the LGBTQ population often experience.</p> <p>Attendance at the two-day virtual event is open to anyone, including doctors, nurses, physician assistants, psychologists, speech pathologists, social workers, medical students, patients, family members and more. </p> <p>Those who attend will learn how to provide respectful, patient-centered, culturally competent health care and how to better support LGBTQ patients. They will also learn about new research and innovation happening in the field of LGBTQ care through speaking engagements, poster sessions and more. </p> <p>The conference has grown significantly since it was first held in 2017, with over 500 people expected to attend this year. It is a unique opportunity for health care providers and community members not only in Indiana, but nationwide. According to <a href="/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>, IU School of Medicine dean and executive vice president for University Clinical Affairs, the event also showcases the school’s leadership in this area, and offers a wide-range of topics for attendees.<span>  </span></p> <p>“IU School of Medicine is one of the only medical schools in the country to offer such an in depth and comprehensive conference,” said Hess. “We are committed to being a leader in training students, staff and health care providers to provide the best possible care for this vulnerable patient population.” </p> <p>“<span>Some of the LGBTQ+ patient population experience being marginalized in health care. While some of this is due to discrimination by providers, often it is a consequence of lack of knowledge, training and research,” said </span><span><a href="/faculty/15690/tori-alvaro">Alvaro Tori, MD</a></span><span>, associate dean for diversity affairs at IU School of Medicine. “It is our responsibility as a medical school to lead the way in providing high-quality, equity-minded care and listening to the LGBTQ+ community. We will continue strengthening our collaboration with community partners for the benefit of our patient population.”</span><span> </span></p> <p>The virtual conference will be held March 25 and 26. It is free for medical students and trainees and tickets at an affordable cost are available to the public. <span>Topics include</span><span style="background: white;"> supporting gender diverse youth, community advocacy, supporting families of gender diverse people, inclusive sexual health practices, identity development, spiritual care, gender-affirming surgery topics, intersex health and more</span><span>. </span></p> <p>IU School of Medicine faculty members, along with community members, politicians and social workers from across the country, are slated to present. Keynote speakers include Kali Denise Cyrus, MD, MPH, Indiana State Senator J.D. Ford, Kate Bornstein and Alex Keuroghlian, MD, MPH. Biography information for all speakers as well as more information about the agenda for the conference are available on our website.</p> <p><em><a href="/inclusion/programs/lgbtq-conference">Learn more about the IU School of Medicine 2021 virtual LGBTQ Health Care Conference, including how to register.<span> </span></a></em></p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 09 Mar 2021 00:00:00 Z{52F147D2-F564-47E8-8DD6-566C8788EB8C}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/03/iu-school-of-medicine-researchers-discover-new-potential-for-functional-recovery-after-spinal-cord-injuryIU School of Medicine researchers discover new potential for functional recovery after spinal cord injury<p>INDIANAPOLIS — Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine have successfully reprogrammed a glial cell type in the central nervous system into new neurons to promote recovery after spinal cord injury—revealing an untapped potential to leverage the cell for regenerative medicine.</p> <p>The group of investigators published their findings March 5 in <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.cell.com/cell-stem-cell/fulltext/S1934-5909(21)00059-X" target="_blank">Cell Stem Cell</a>. This is the first time scientists have reported modifying a NG2 glia—a type of supporting cell in the central nervous system—into functional neurons after spinal cord injury, said <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/22782/wu-wei" target="_blank">Wei Wu, PhD</a>, research associate in neurological surgery at IU School of Medicine and co-first author of the paper.</p> <p>Wu and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/18840/xu-xiao-ming" target="_blank">Xiao-Ming Xu, PhD</a>, the Mari Hulman George Professor of Neuroscience Research at IU School of Medicine, worked on the study with a team of scientists from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Xu is also a primary member of Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, where he leads the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://medicine.iu.edu/research/centers-institutes/stark-neurosciences/research/spinal-cord-brain-injury/" target="_blank">Indiana Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group</a>.</p> <p>Spinal cord injuries affect hundreds of thousands of people in the United States, with thousands more diagnosed each year. Neurons in the spinal cord don’t regenerate after injury, which typically causes a person to experience permanent physical and neurological ailments.</p> <p>“Unfortunately, effective treatments for significant recovery remain to be developed,” Xu said. “We hope that this new discovery will be translated to a clinically relevant repair strategy that benefits those who suffer from a spinal cord injury.”</p> <p>When the spinal cord is injured, glial cells, of which there are three types—astrocyte, ependymal and NG2—respond to form glial scar tissue.</p> <p>"Only NG2 glial cells were found to exhibit neurogenic potential in the spinal cord following injury in adult mice, but they failed to generate mature neurons," Wu said. "Interestingly, by elevating the critical transcription factor SOX2, the glia-to-neuron conversion is successfully achieved and accompanied with a reduced glial scar formation and increased functional recovery following spinal cord injury.”</p> <p>The researchers reprogrammed the NG2 cells from the mouse model using elevated levels of SOX2—a transcription factor found inside the cell that’s essential for neurogenesis—to neurons. This conversion has two purposes, Xu said: generate neurons to replace those lost due to a spinal cord injury and reduce the size of the glial scars in the lesion area of the damaged tissue.</p> <p>This discovery, Wu said, serves as an important target in the future for potential therapeutic treatments of spinal cord injury.</p> <p>The partnership between the laboratory of Chun-Li Zhang, PhD, professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center, and Xu’s laboratory at IU School of Medicine greatly benefited the research, Xu added, by offering complementary expertise in neuronal reprogramming and in spinal cord injury, respectively.</p> <p>“Such a collaboration will be continued between the two laboratories to address neuronal remodeling and functional recovery after successful conversion of glial cells into functional neurons in future,” Xu said.</p> <p>###</p> <p><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Fri, 05 Mar 2021 00:00:00 Z{515395D4-E269-44D9-B6DE-B2943AE6FF00}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/03/iu-school-of-medicine-receives-helmsley-grant-to-study-colonoscopy-preparation-drugsIU School of Medicine receives Helmsley grant to study how to improve colonoscopy preparation drugs, methods for Crohn's disease patients<p>INDIANAPOLIS—The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust announced today it is awarding a grant to Indiana University’s School of Medicine to support a breakthrough study to inform evidence-based recommendations that could enhance the colonoscopy process for patients with Crohn’s disease. The grant, totaling $644,250, further advances Helmsley’s mission to improve the lives of people living with Crohn’s disease.<br /> <br /> Patients with Crohn’s disease require frequent colonoscopies to enable screening for colorectal cancer and monitoring of disease activity. Current FDA-approved colon preps are poorly tolerated, and thwart adherence: they require fasting, the consumption of liters of salty, viscous liquid, and are often not completed – compounding the burden placed on patients, doctors, and the healthcare system. This burden is multiplied in patients with Crohn’s disease who typically need to undergo frequent procedures to monitor and treat disease activity. Bowel preps have been developed for the largely healthy population undergoing routine colon cancer screening: as many as 20 million colonoscopies are conducted each year in the US alone. But little is known about the specific needs and experience of patients with Crohn’s disease undergoing bowel prep for colonoscopy, and innovation is scant.</p> <p>The “Development of a regulatory roadmap for colonoscopy bowel preparations for Crohn's Disease patients” study is a collaborative effort between multidisciplinary experts from Indiana University’s School of Medicine, ColonaryConcepts, LLC, a gastrointestinal health focused drug development enterprise, and Alimentiv, a leading gastrointestinal contract research organization. <br /> <br /> The study initially focuses on characterizing the current Crohn’s disease patient and medical provider experience, identifying barriers to effective treatment. It will then propose a roadmap for bringing a bowel preparation through the regulatory pathway and ultimately to market. This includes designing a pivotal, Phase 3 study comprising patients with Crohn’s disease that will incorporate ColonaryConcepts’ innovative new ECP colon prep drug candidate, a patient-friendly, split-dose prep kit that features palatable food bars and low-volume beverages. The study will likely also incorporate a novel scoring methodology for judging the efficacy of any colonoscopy preparation in patients with Crohn’s disease.<br /> <br /> “Patients with Crohn’s disease and their providers face unique challenges with their required, frequent colonoscopies. We need to better understand these challenges so that we can optimize the bowel preparation process and their overall colonoscopy experiences,” comments Principal Investigator <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/44593/maratt-jennifer">Jennifer Maratt, MD, MS</a>, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Indiana University (IU) School of Medicine. “This grant will enable us to convene a team of world-class experts in Crohn’s disease, colonoscopy and bowel prep, clinical program design, regulatory pathway management, clinical study biostatistics, and pharmaceutical product development.” Dr. Maratt will be joined in this program by <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/4827/rex-douglas">Douglas Rex, MD</a>, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Medicine at IU School of Medicine and Director of Endoscopy. <br /> <br /> “Improving the lives of people living with Crohn’s disease is a priority for the Helmsley Charitable Trust,” said Pretima Persad, a Helmsley Program Officer. “In 2021, we know that a better colonoscopy experience is possible, especially for those who require frequent procedures. We are grateful that this team of researchers shares our vision.” <br /> <br /> Adds Corey Siegel, MD, Director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Center at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Professor of Medicine at Dartmouth Medical School, “we’re thrilled to tackle this understudied – yet critical – dimension of Crohn’s disease care. Ultimately, we aim to provide patients with Crohn’s disease and their caregivers with better options to monitor and manage their disease states.” <br /> <br /> Comments Joshua Korzenik, MD, Director of Brigham and Women’s Hospital Crohn’s and Colitis Center, and Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School, “We’re excited to develop a roadmap for a Crohn’s-patient-specific bowel prep that provides practitioners and researchers with new insights to support better, targeted diagnostics and care for patients with Crohn’s disease.” He adds, “ultimately, we also hope to catalyze more interest in patients with Crohn’s disease by the pharmaceutical industry, and more innovation in bowel preps.”<br /> <br /> Both Dr. Siegel and Dr. Korzenik are specialists in Crohn’s disease, and are co-founders of ColonaryConcepts, LLC. <br /> <br /> ###</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong><br /> <br /> IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div><strong>About the Helmsley Charitable Trust</strong></div> <p>The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has committed more than $3 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. Helmsley's Crohn's Disease Program supports impactful ideas and mobilizes a global community committed to improving the lives of Crohn's disease patients while pursuing a cure.</p>Tue, 02 Mar 2021 00:00:00 Z{A2CE469C-CB04-40C2-97E8-A5360094D774}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/02/unexpected-protein-key-to-estrogen-protective-effect-on-right-heart-functionUnexpected protein key to estrogen’s protective effect on right heart function, IU researchers find<p>INDIANAPOLIS—For years, scientists have observed that women with pulmonary hypertension have better survival rates than men with the same condition. It wasn’t clear exactly why this is true—until now. </p> <p>Indiana University School of Medicine researchers studying a type of pulmonary hypertension called pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) found that estrogen, its receptor ER-α, and a protein called BMPR2 work together to increase an abundance of another protein called apelin, which exerts a protective effect on the right heart. </p> <p>This team is the first to identify and characterize a protective pathway that is able to prevent and even reverse right heart failure, said <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/4656/frump-andrea">Andrea Frump, PhD</a>, an Assistant Professor of Medicine at IU School of Medicine and the paper’s first author. </p> <p>The researchers shared their discovery in <a href="https://www.jci.org/articles/view/129433/pdf">an article published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation</a> last month.  </p> <p>According to <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/4963/lahm-tim">Tim Lahm, MD</a>, an Associate Professor of Medicine at IU School of Medicine and the paper’s senior author, the researchers expected to find that estrogen increased the production of beneficial proteins. They did not expect the key protein to be apelin, however.</p> <p>Lahm describes apelin as “pro-contractile,” which means that it increases the force generated by the muscle cells of the heart (called cardiomyocytes). In other words, he said, apelin helps the heart beat more strongly. </p> <p>“Apelin has previously been shown to play a role in other cell types, so we were surprised and excited to learn that it plays a prominent role in cardiomyocytes,” he said. “We were also surprised that this effect is mediated by BMPR2. This protein has previously been identified as a signaling mediator in blood vessels, rather than a mediator in the adult heart.” </p> <p>The study, which began in 2014 and also involved researchers from other institutions in the United States and Canada, relied on right heart tissue from patients with PAH and right heart failure, as well as on animal models and cell culture studies.</p> <p>While the study primarily focused on PAH, which is relatively rare, the findings are also pertinent for right heart failure caused by other, more common types of pulmonary hypertension, said Lahm.</p> <p>He said that these other forms of pulmonary hypertension frequently occur in people with chronic lung disease, heart disease, and sleep-disordered breathing, meaning that about70 million people in the U.S. either have right heart dysfunction or are at risk for it.</p> <p>“Ultimately, our goal is to harness this newly identified mechanism to develop new therapeutic interventions for patients with right heart failure from PAH and other types of pulmonary hypertension,” said Lahm. “And those treatments could be beneficial to both women and men.” </p> <p>###<br /> <br /> IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:00:00 Z{12872B6B-4E83-42A9-880B-8440F4464EBA}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/02/iu-school-of-medicine-researchers-discover-gamechanger-combination-drug-for-triple-negative-breast-cancerIU School of Medicine researchers discover gamechanger combination drug for triple negative breast cancerA team of Indiana University School of Medicine researchers has developed a novel antibody-drug conjugate for treating triple negative breast cancer. The study, led by senior author <a href="/faculty/37992/lu-xiongbin">Xiongbin Lu, PhD</a>, Vera Bradley Foundation Professor of Breast Cancer Innovation at IU School of Medicine, has been published in the prestigious interdisciplinary medical journal, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://stm.sciencemag.org/content/13/580/eabc6894" target="_blank">Science Translational Medicine</a>. <br /> <br /> Triple negative breast cancer accounts for about 15 percent of all breast cancer cases. When a patient tests negative for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and has low levels of a protein called HER2, the patient is considered to have “triple negative” breast cancer. Patients with triple negative breast cancer typically have the poorest prognosis because there are not very many treatment options.<br /> <br /> All breast cancers are often missing a chromosome fragment known as 17p, which contains genes that can help your body suppress cancerous tumors.<br /> <br /> Lu and his team combined trastuzumab—a targeted cancer drug for HER2-positive breast cancer patients—with α-amanitin, a small-molecule inhibitor which is originally isolated from a toxic mushroom, to create a novel drug called T-Ama. Even though historically trastuzumab has not been effective at targeting tumors for triple negative breast cancer patients by itself, Lu and his team found that T-Ama was effective at killing breast cancer cells with low HER2 levels in animal models during their study. They also determined that the loss of chromosome 17p makes the tumor cells more likely to respond to α-amanitin. <br /> <br /> “Our big question was whether we could find a new drug which can efficiently kill cancer cells and also enhance the immune response of tumors to cancer immunotherapy,” said Lu, who is also a researcher at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Our work aims to fulfill both of those.” <br /> <br /> While the chromosome 17p loss can promote breast tumor growth, Lu said it also opens up opportunities to develop precision immunotherapy targeted to that area. Lu said the safety and efficacy of T-Ama has already been validated, so their next step will be a clinical study for humans. Lu and one of his postdoctoral fellows have already been awarded the U.S. patent for T-Ama. <br /> <br /> “The drug will be able to be used alone or in combination with current immune checkpoint inhibitors,” said Lu. “I think it will be a gamechanger for the field of triple negative breast cancer therapy.” <br />Tue, 23 Feb 2021 00:00:00 Z{D24EE6A1-5542-42A1-9279-A40A7582E26A}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/02/iu-researchers-identify-disease-related-gene-changes-in-kidney-tissueIU School of Medicine researchers identify disease-related gene changes in kidney tissue<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers from Indiana University have identified key genetic changes in the interstitial kidney tissue of people with diabetes, a discovery that signifies the potential for a revolutionary new genetic approach to the treatment of kidney disease. They will contribute their findings to the <a href="https://www.kpmp.org/">Kidney Precision Medicine Project</a>’s (KPMP) “cell atlas,” a set of maps used to classify and locate different cell types and structures within the kidney. <br /> <br /> They shared their groundbreaking findings in <a href="https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/7/7/eabd3359">a study</a> published on February 10, 2021, in Science Advances.<br /> <br /> In the study, researchers investigated the kidney tissue of healthy people and people with diabetes using a technique called “regional transcriptomics.” This technique involves a rapid stain of kidney tissue, and then using a laser to cut out microscopic regions of interest. <br /> <br /> They found that important genes change when a scar forms on the interstitium, said Daria Barwinska, PhD, the lead author of the study and an Assistant Scientist in the Department of Medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine.<br /> <br /> “The interstitium is the ‘glue’ that holds the kidney together. It is one of the least characterized parts of the kidney, but scars in the interstitium caused by diseases such as diabetes can contribute to kidney disease,” said Barwinska. <br /> <br /> Acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) affect millions of people in the United States and globally. However, no effective therapies exist for AKI, and only a few are available for CKD. The KPMP, a multi-site project focused on understanding and finding new treatments to AKI and CKD, is seeking to bring treatment for these conditions “into the molecular era,” according to Michael Eadon, MD. <br /> <br /> IU is one of KPMP’s many “tissue interrogation sites” across the country. Collectively, these sites are working together bring cutting-edge technologies to aid in the interrogation of human kidney biopsies.<br /> <br /> “Many diseases can look the same under the microscope, but they have very different causes,” said Eadon, who is the study’s corresponding author and an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine at IU School of Medicine. “We’re seeking to understanding how different genes contribute to very common kidney diseases.”<br /> <br /> This study could usher in the era of new and better treatments for millions of people with AKI and CKD. <br /> <br /> “A personalized medicine approach that understands how different diseases affect a patient’s genes will aid in finding potential treatments for kidney disease,” said Barwinska. “This approach can meet any single patient’s needs.”</p> <p>Contributors to this study were funded by the <a href="https://precisionhealth.iu.edu/">Indiana University Grand Challenge Precision Health Initiative</a>.<br /> <br /> ###<br /> <br /> IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <div></div>Tue, 16 Feb 2021 00:00:00 Z{B6DF0F8A-28C7-4BF7-8C47-BCA576E170EB}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/01/nih-funding-milestoneIU School of Medicine reaches NIH funding milestone, continues record-setting trend<p>INDIANAPOLIS—For the fifth-straight year, Indiana University School of Medicine set a school record for research funding received from the National Institutes of Health, showcasing its continued leadership in the field of medical research.</p> <p> IU School of Medicine scientists and physicians were awarded more than $213 million in NIH research funding in the 2020 federal fiscal year—netting about $24 million more than the school record from the previous year and surpassing the $200 million mark for the first time in school history. Over the past five years, the school has increased its NIH funding by more than $104 million, or 95 percent. </p> <p> The NIH is the lead federal agency responsible for biomedical and public health research, and NIH grants are the most sought-after funding for researchers. The school retains its place among the leading researchers in the fields of Alzheimer’s disease and pediatrics. </p> <p> Combining grants across several disciplines, the school ranked fifth in the country in funding from the National Institute on Aging, the NIH branch that is the primary funder of Alzheimer’s disease research. And once again, the Department of Pediatrics ranks sixth out of all U.S. departments of pediatrics. </p> <p> “Our continued growth in NIH funding is a testament to the leadership and expertise of our faculty. I extend my thanks for their tremendous effort,” said <a href="/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>, dean of IU School of Medicine and IU’s executive vice president for university clinical affairs. “NIH grants are the gold standard for research funding, but most importantly this fuels our work in finding answers for some of the most challenging questions. As we continue to navigate the pandemic, this is more important than ever.”</p> <p> According to a report by <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/NIHs-Role-in-Sustaining-the-US-Economy-FY19-FINAL-2.13.2020.pdf" target="_blank">United for Medical Research</a>, every $1 million in NIH funding awarded to Indiana researchers created 18 jobs and $2.7 million in economic activity in 2019. Based on that data, IU School of Medicine’s 2020 NIH funding is responsible for more than 3,768 jobs—with 2,755 of those jobs existing here in Indiana. The income from those jobs, along with other associated expenses, generates an estimated $585 million annually in economic activity. </p> <p> “Seeing our funding continue on this remarkable upward trajectory is such a powerful testament to the quality and strength of our research enterprise,” said <a href="/faculty/276/foroud-tatiana">Tatiana Foroud, PhD</a>, Executive Associate Dean for Research Affairs and Chair of the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics. “As a leader I am proud to work with our great team of Indiana University School of Medicine scientists. As a researcher, the advances we are making as an institution will continue to motivate each of us to push the boundaries of science.” </p> <p> Strategic investments in talent and infrastructure have continued to boost research productivity at IU School of Medicine and highlight the commitment of school leadership to addressing the most pressing health challenges in Indiana and beyond. For the second year in a row, four of the five research studies that received the most NIH funding were for <a href="/expertise/alzheimers">Alzheimer’s disease research</a>, in alignment with the school’s top priorities.</p> <p> The top-funded study with nearly $16 million in NIH support last year was the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://leads-study.medicine.iu.edu/" target="_blank">Longitudinal Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Study</a> (LEADS) led by <a href="/faculty/6815/apostolova-liana">Liana Apostolova, MD</a>. The focus of the LEADS study is a form of Alzheimer’s disease that afflicts patients between the ages of 40 and 65. At No. 2 was the Indiana University/Jackson Laboratory <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.model-ad.org/" target="_blank">Model Organism Development & Evaluation for Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease</a>. Led by <a href="/faculty/23627/lamb-bruce">Bruce Lamb, PhD</a>, Executive Director of the Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, the study focuses on developing new laboratory models to study the disease and test potential therapies. </p> <p> Other top Alzheimer’s grants include: </p> <ul> <li> The school’s Target Enablement to Accelerate Therapy Development for Alzheimer’s Disease (<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://treatad.org/" target="_blank">TREAT-AD</a>) center, one of two such centers funded by the NIH to develop new drug targets for Alzheimer’s disease.</li> <li> The <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://ncrad.iu.edu/" target="_blank">National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia</a>, which is led by Foroud and collects and distributes biological samples like DNA, plasma and tissue from patients with dementia for use in research locally and nationally. </li> </ul> <p> With more than $32 million in grants, the Department of Pediatrics remained ranked at sixth in the nation—accounting for 15 percent of the school’s total NIH funding. Among the 69 studies the department received NIH funding for were sizable grants for work on cystic fibrosis therapies and congenital heart defects in babies. </p> <p> Other key areas of focus for IU School of Medicine are cancer, global health and precision genomics, a priority of the <a href="/expertise/precision-health">IU Precision Health Initiative Grand Challenge</a>. </p> <p> Along with pediatrics, IU School of Medicine saw two more departments join the top 20 rankings—bringing the total to eight. The Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology jumped 13 spots to rank 15th among all other departments in that field nationally. The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery also placed in the top 20, moving eight spots to the rank of 18. They join: Biostatistics (12), Emergency Medicine (11), Medical and Molecular Genetics (10), Neurology (17), Otolaryngology (15) and Pediatrics (6).</p> <p> Overall, IU School of Medicine ranks 14th among public medical schools, and 29th overall in NIH funding nationally. </p> <p> Additional information can be found at <a href="/research">go.iu.edu/research</a>.</p> <p><strong>Contact: </strong>Katie Duffey, <a href="mailto:kaduffey@iu.edu">kaduffey@iu.edu</a> or 317-278-3630</p> <p> ####</p> <p> <strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></p> <p> IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Wed, 27 Jan 2021 10:00:00 Z{1D5BE6AC-0393-4F62-9380-A57D4405135C}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/01/how-breast-cancer-cells-disguise-from-immune-attackIU cancer center researchers discover how breast cancer cells hide from immune attack<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified how breast cancer cells hide from immune cells to stay alive. The discovery could lead to better immunotherapy treatment for patients.</p> <p> <a href="/faculty/37993/zhang-xinna">Xinna Zhang, PhD</a>, and colleagues found that when breast cancer cells have an increased level of a protein called MAL2 on the cell surface, the cancer cells can evade immune attacks and continue to grow. The findings are published this month in <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI140837" target="_blank">The Journal of Clinical Investigation</a> and featured on the journal’s cover.</p> <img src="https://mc-42b990dd-5dae-4647-b81e-424724-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/news/2021/jci-january-2021-cover.jpg?h=470&w=350&rev=8df7061259684ef7a9ec829a0bb53f1d&hash=7DEB2F9077FEE29597392F02D072E7A8" alt="cover of the journal of clinical investigation" class="float-right" style="height: 470px; width: 350px;" /> <p>“Like other cancer cells, breast cancer cells present tumor-specific antigens on the cell membrane, which immune cells recognize so they can kill the tumor cells,” Zhang said. “But our study found that MAL2 can reduce the level of these antigens, so these tumor cells are protected and can no longer be recognized as a threat by these immune cells.”</p> <p> The lead author of the study, Zhang is a member of the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.cancer.iu.edu/" target="_blank">IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> and assistant professor of <a href="/genetics">medical and molecular genetics</a> at IU School of Medicine.</p> <p>Considered the future of cancer treatment, immunotherapy harnesses the body’s immune system to target and destroy cancer cells. Understanding how cancer cells avoid immune attacks could offer new ways to improve immunotherapy for patients, explained <a href="/faculty/37992/lu-xiongbin">Xiongbin Lu, PhD</a>, Vera Bradley Foundation Professor of Breast Cancer Innovation and cancer center researcher. </p> <p> “Current cancer immunotherapy has wonderful results in some patients, but more than 70% of breast cancer patients do not respond to cancer immunotherapy,” Lu said. “One of the biggest reasons is that tumors develop a mechanism to evade the immune attacks.”</p> <p> The collaborative research team set out to answer key questions: How do breast cancer cells develop this immune evasion mechanism, and could targeting that action lead to improved immunotherapies?</p> <p> Zhang and Lu, members of the <a href="/research-centers/breast-cancer">Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research</a>, turned to biomedical data researcher <a href="/faculty/27057/zhang-chi">Chi Zhang, PhD</a>, assistant professor of medical and molecular genetics at IU School of Medicine. Chi Zhang developed a computational method to analyze data sets from more than 1,000 breast cancer patients through The Cancer Genome Atlas. That analysis led researchers to MAL2; it showed that higher levels of MAL2 in breast cancer, and especially in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), was linked to poorer patient survival.</p> <p> “Dr. Chi Zhang used his advanced computational tool to build a bridge that connects cancer genetics and cancer genomics with a clinical outcome,” Lu said. “We can analyze molecular features from thousands of breast tumor samples to identify potential targets for cancer immunotherapy. From that data, MAL2 was the top-ranked gene that we wanted to study.”</p> <p> Xinna Zhang took that data to her lab to determine MAL2’s purpose in the cells, how it affects breast cancer cell growth and how it interacts with immune cells. Using breast cancer tissue samples from IU patients, cell models and animal models, she found that breast cancer cells express more MAL2 than normal cells. She also discovered that high levels of MAL2 significantly enhanced tumor growth, while inhibiting the protein can almost completely stop tumor growth.</p> <p> In <a href="/faculty-labs/lu">Lu’s lab</a>, he used a three-dimensional, patient-derived model called an organoid to better understand how reducing MAL2 could improve patient outcomes.</p> <p> “Tumor cells can evade immune attacks; with less MAL2, the cancer cells can be recognized and killed by the immune system,” Lu said. “MAL2 is a novel target. By identifying its function in cancer cells and cancer immunology, we now know its potential as a cancer immunology target.”</p> <p> Researchers now are exploring ways these findings could be used to develop and improve breast cancer therapies.</p> <p>Lu is co-leading a cancer immunotherapy program for triple negative breast cancer as part of the Indiana University <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://precisionhealth.iu.edu/" target="_blank">Precision Health Initiative</a>. Both Xinna Zhang and Chi Zhang are also involved in the initiative for developing novel breast cancer immunotherapy. The Precision Health Initiative, the first recipient of funding from the Indiana University Grand Challenges Program, is enhancing the prevention, treatment, and health outcomes of human diseases through a more precise analysis of genetic, developmental, behavioral and environmental factors that shape an individual’s health.</p> <p> Additional authors are Bryan P. Schneider, MD, Yunlong Liu, PhD, and Sha Cao, PhD, of IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center; Yuanzhang Fang, PhD, Lifei Wang, Changlin Wan, Yifan Sun, Kevin Van der Jeught, PhD, Zhuolong Zhou, PhD, Tianhan Dong, Ka Man So, Tao Yu, PhD, Yujing Li, PhD, Haniyeh Eyvani, Austyn B. Colter, Edward Dong, George E. Sandusky, PhD, of IU School of Medicine; and Jin Wang, PhD, of Baylor College of Medicine.</p> <p> This study was supported by the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer Research, the American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant, and the National Institutes of Health (R01CA203737 and R01CA206366).</p> <p><strong>Contact:</strong> Candace Gwaltney, <a href="mailto:cmgwaltn@iu.edu">cmgwaltn@iu.edu</a></p> <p>###</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Tue, 26 Jan 2021 00:00:00 Z{7D2FDBC2-4F41-44D5-A491-F6A1E3AE65B0}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/01/cancer-center-findings-could-reduce-treatment-related-complication-for-blood-cancer-patientsIU cancer center findings could reduce treatment-related complication for blood cancer patients<p>INDIANAPOLIS— Researchers at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center published promising findings today in the <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2027372">New England Journal of Medicine</a> on preventing a common complication to lifesaving blood stem cell transplantation in leukemia.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://cancer.iu.edu/research-trials/member-bio.shtml?id=3303&name=sherif-farag">Sherif Farag, MD, PhD</a>, found that using a drug approved for Type 2 diabetes reduces the risk of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), one of the most serious complications of blood stem cell transplantation. GVHD occurs in more than 30 percent of patients and can lead to severe side effects and potentially fatal results. Farag is the Lawrence H. Einhorn Professor of Oncology and professor of medicine at IU School of Medicine, a member of the <a href="http://www.cancer.iu.edu/">IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center</a> and program and medical director of the hematological malignancies and bone marrow and blood stem cell transplantation at IU Health.<br /> <br /> In the IU clinical study, blood stem cell transplant patients received the oral drug called sitagliptin. Acute GVHD occurred in only two of 36 patients within 100 days of their transplant. The 5 percent occurrence represents a drastic reduction of GVHD, which studies have found can affect 34 percent to 51 percent of patients in the first three months after transplant. <br /> <br /> Graft-versus-host disease occurs when the donated blood stem cells (the graft) attack the transplant recipient’s (the host) tissue. <br /> <br /> “The rate looks very encouraging and it’s achieved with a very simple and relatively inexpensive intervention of sitagliptin,” Farag said. “This result is significant and offers a new approach and a new target for inhibition of graft-versus-host disease. We achieved a much lower rate than we could have hoped.” <br /> <br /> Sitagliptin targets an enzyme called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4), which is involved in a variety of processes in the body. It is used for Type 2 diabetes to improve insulin secretion and glucose control. <br /> <br /> Hal Broxmeyer, PhD, a pioneer in the field of umbilical cord blood stem cell transplantation and distinguished professor at IU School of Medicine and a co-author with Farag, previously found that DPP-4 regulates blood cell production and explored if taking sitagliptin would improve engraftment for cord blood transplants. While there seemed to be some improvement in engraftment of cord blood transplants, one striking finding was the patients had a much lower rate of acute graft-versus-host disease than expected. Farag’s lab took on that data and found targeting DPP-4 with sitagliptin inhibits the immune T cell activation that leads to GVHD. <br /> <br /> Farag noted that repurposing sitagliptin offers a relatively inexpensive and accessible approach to preventing GVHD. <br /> <br /> “These findings are very significant because there are a lot of other different drugs that are being tested, including ones that are very expensive or require administration intravenously for a prolonged time well beyond the time of recovery and transplant,” Farag said.<br /> <br /> Patients in the study were ages 18 to 60 and had one of the following blood cancer or diseases: acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), chronic myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome. The patients in the study received sitagliptin orally one day before their transplant and the day of their transplant, plus 14 days after their transplant. <br /> <br /> Patients in the study did not face any unexpected or unusual toxicities or higher relapse rates than what’s expected post-transplant.<br /> <br /> “This is a drug that is used to treat diabetes, and we're using it at a much higher dose. We asked if we are going to cause people to have low blood sugar or hypoglycemia—and we didn't find that,” Farag said. “As long as it's not combined with other drugs that lower the blood glucose in non-diabetic patients, it doesn't do that; we certainly confirm that in our findings.”<br /> <br /> Farag’s findings now need to be confirmed with a larger, multi-center randomized study. He also hopes to explore combination therapies with sitagliptin and if it could prevent chronic graft-versus-host disease.<br /> <br /> Additional authors from the cancer center are Mohammad Abu Zaid, MD, Jennifer E. Schwartz, MD, Rafat Abonour, MD, Michael J. Robertson, MD, and Ann J. Blakley, BS, as well as Teresa C. Thakrar, PharmD, of IU Health and Shuhong Zhang, PhD, of IU School of Medicine.<br /> <br /> This study was supported by grants from the National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute of the National Institutes of Health (R01 HL112669 and R35 HL139599) and the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.</p> <p><strong>Contact: </strong>Candace Gwaltney, <a href="mailto:cmgwaltn@iu.edu">cmgwaltn@iu.edu</a></p> <p>###</p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p>Thu, 07 Jan 2021 00:00:00 Z{97FC2520-749E-4149-8609-8D0323116B1B}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/01/researchers-learn-to-predict-very-preterm-birth-neonatal-complications-in-early-pregnancyResearchers learn to predict very preterm birth, neonatal complications in early pregnancy<p>INDIANAPOLIS—Researchers are learning more about ways to predict the likelihood of newborn complications from early in pregnancy using samples provided by the Indiana University School of Medicine <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/obgyn/research/pregnancy-biobank">Building Blocks of Pregnancy Biobank</a>.</p> <p><span>Preterm birth is a common pregnancy complication that can lead to significant neonatal morbidity and mortality. Very preterm birth, which is delivery before 32 weeks gestation, is particularly associated with increased rates of complications in newborns. In </span><a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0243585"><span>a new study published in PLOS ONE,</span></a><span> researchers looked at levels of progesterone metabolites as well as the demographic and obstetric history of patients. They found that by looking at the combination of these factors, they could accurately predict how likely a pregnant woman was to deliver very preterm or have a newborn with multiple complications. Pregnancies predicted to be at-risk in the study resulted in newborns spending about seven weeks longer in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) than those at lower risk. </span></p> <p><span>“These discoveries about different progesterone metabolites and their roles in prediction and potentially prevention of spontaneous preterm birth are very exciting,” said </span><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/6505/haas-david"><span>David Haas, MD, MS</span></a><span>, vice chair of research for </span><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/obgyn"><span>IU School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology</span></a><span> and a co-author of the paper. “While more research is needed, these findings are a significant step in helping physicians provide multidisciplinary, personalized care to improve perinatal outcomes for their patients.”</span></p> <p><span>The study, led by Avinash Patil, MD, used samples from the IU School of Medicine Building Blocks of Pregnancy Biobank. The biobank has been collecting samples from pregnant patients in all trimesters, as well as during labor and delivery, since 2009. Patil is the founder and chief executive officer of </span><a href="https://nixxihealth.com/"><span>Nixxi</span></a><span>, a company focused on improving women’s health and pregnancy outcomes. This study is part of a larger project being commercialized through the Indiana University Innovation and Commercialization Office and licensed to Nixxi.</span></p> <p><span>“This research breaks new ground by demonstrating that it is feasible to identify pregnancies likely to result in significant neonatal complications as early as the late first trimester,” Patil said. “A method for predicting neonatal complications this accurately does not currently exist. The practical application of these findings is clear: as value-based health care becomes more prevalent, there will be a need for tools to screen and identify women at risk for poor pregnancy outcomes, particularly those affecting the newborn and increasing the length of NICU stays.”</span></p> <p><span>Other participating institutions include University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Valley Perinatal Services, Wake Forest University and Gaikwad Steroidomics Laboratory in Davis, California.</span></p> <p><a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0243585"><em>Read the full paper on the PLOS ONE website</em></a><em>.</em></p> <p><em>Learn more about </em><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/obgyn/research"><em>obstetrics and gynecology research</em></a><em> at IU School of Medicine.</em></p> <p>###</p> <p><span class="normaltextrun">IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span></p>Thu, 07 Jan 2021 00:00:00 Z{D2D5F229-924B-492B-B41C-679D5C776FE7}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2021/01/iu-school-of-medicine-launches-new-regenerative-medicine-phd-program-aimed-at-workforce-developmentIU School of Medicine launches new regenerative medicine PhD program aimed at workforce development<p>INDIANAPOLIS—<a href="/">Indiana University School of Medicine</a> is excited to announce a new PhD program in regenerative medicine and technologies, a rapidly growing discipline which will shape the future of health care. The new PhD program will train next generation leaders who will contribute to the much-required, skilled workforce across the country and in Indiana. The program is expected to make a major economic impact through training new leaders in the field.</p> <p>“This program is interdisciplinary in nature and is primarily focused on skilled workforce development to shape the future of regenerative medicine,” said Chandan Sen, PhD, director of the Indiana Center for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering (ICRME), associate vice president of research for IU School of Medicine and distinguished professor with the <a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/surgery">Department of Surgery</a>. Sen also leads the <a href="https://precisionhealth.iu.edu/areas-of-focus/scientific-pillars/regenerative-medicine-engineering/index.html">regenerative medicine and engineering scientific pillar of the IU Precision Health Initiative.</a> “It provides opportunities for industry internships and will meet the growing market demand in the regenerative medicine field.”</p> <p>Regenerative medicine is an innovative new branch of medicine that develops methods to regrow, repair or replace damaged or diseased cells, organs or tissues. The field includes the generation and use of cell/tissue reprogramming, therapeutic stem cells, tissue engineering and the production of bioartificial organs. A drug is eligible for regenerative medicine advanced therapy (RMAT) designation by the United States Federal Drug Administration (FDA), as described in Section 3033 of the 21<sup>st</sup> Century Cures Act. The new PhD program will be one of only six regenerative medicine PhD programs in the country and the second with an industry emphasis.</p> <p>“Our goal is to have a limited size class made up of students from a variety of backgrounds,” Sen said. “There could be people coming from a biomedical engineering background, material science, biotechnology or many other areas of expertise.”</p> <p>According to PR Newswire, the global regenerative medicine industry was valued at $35 billion in 2019. By 2025, it’s expected to grow to over $124 billion. Central Indiana is a growing hub for the field, with several Indiana-based companies in need of a greater regenerative medicine workforce. Six of these companies—Eli Lilly and Company, Cook Biotech-Cook Regentec, Roche, BioCrossroads, Ossium Health, Inc. and Techshot—are supporting the new PhD program by providing internship opportunities for students. <span></span></p> <p>“Regenerating or engineering components of the body with therapeutic intent is a new horizon in medicine and will change the business of healthcare in general,” Sen said. “Our goal is to equip people to assume leadership positions to assemble new programs and define this new future of health care.”</p> <p>The addition of this program will help continue to grow IU School of Medicine’s leadership in the field of regenerative medicine and engineering—giving learners an opportunity to discover the field at the earliest stages of their careers.</p> <p>“IU School of Medicine is proud to be a leader in the growing field of regenerative medicine and engineering,” said <a href="/faculty/6512/hess-jay">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a><a href="https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/6512/hess-jay">,</a> dean of IU School of Medicine and IU’s executive vice president for university clinical affairs. “This new program will help us address the major shortage of working professionals in this specialty. Students will become skilled in regenerative medicine-based innovations, regulatory science and supply chain management, making major contributions to the state’s economy and becoming leaders in the field on a statewide, national and global level.”</p> <p>The program is part of the Indiana Center for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering, which is housed in the <a href="/surgery">IU School of Medicine Department of Surgery</a>. The center is a national leader in the areas of tissue nanotransfection, wound therapy, cell-based therapies, military medicine and more. There will be ample opportunities to work on research projects for students with an interest in these areas. </p> <p><em>Learn more about the PhD in regenerative medicine program</em><a href="file:///C:/Users/griffchm/Google%20Drive/FromBox/Christina%20Griffiths/Strategic%20Communications/Media%20Relations/Regenerative%20Medicine%20PHD%20Program/medicine.iu.edu/rmatmsphd"><em>,</em></a><em> including information on the curriculum and how to apply.</em></p> <p>###</p> <p><span class="normaltextrun"><a href="/">IU School of Medicine</a> is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</span></p>Tue, 05 Jan 2021 00:00:00 Z{16FA27A3-B037-4E2E-B164-B52D6C5B10FF}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2020/01/iu-school-of-medicine-continues-record-setting-research-trend-up-5-spots-in-national-institutes-of-health-rankingsIU School of Medicine continues record-setting research trend; up 5 spots in National Institutes of Health rankings<p>­INDIANAPOLIS – For the fourth-straight year, Indiana University School of Medicine set a school record for research funding received from the National Institutes of Health, demonstrating national leadership in critical fields like Alzheimer’s disease and pediatrics and providing a major boost to the Indiana economy.</p> <p>IU School of Medicine scientists and physicians were awarded over $189 million in NIH research funding in the 2019 federal fiscal year—about $40 million more than the school record from the previous year. The school’s NIH funding increased more than $80 million, or 70 percent, over the last four years.</p> <p>The NIH is the lead federal agency responsible for biomedical and public health research, and NIH grants are the gold standard for researchers.</p> <p>The increase propels IU School of Medicine to 14<sup>th</sup> out of 92 public medical schools that receive NIH funding and 28<sup>th </sup>out of 145 medical schools overall—up from last year’s rankings of 16<sup>th</sup> and 33<sup>rd</sup>, respectively, and both school records. Notably, the school is now ranked fifth in the country in funding from the National Institute on Aging, the NIH branch that is the primary funder of Alzheimer’s disease research. IU School of Medicine’s pediatrics program ranks sixth out of all U.S. departments of pediatrics.</p> <p>“I want to extend my thanks to the faculty for their dedication and talent. This continued growth of funding from the NIH reflects the high quality of their work and how Indiana is contributing to finding solutions for some of the most challenging diseases. This work also has an immense impact on the local economy in terms of job creation and attracting biotechnology companies,” said <a href="/about/executive-leadership/dean/">Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA</a>, dean of IU School of Medicine and IU’s executive vice president for university clinical affairs. “As our research programs grow, so do the benefits to Indiana and beyond.”</p> <p>According to a <a href="https://unitedformedicalresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/NIHs-Role-in-Sustaining-the-US-Economy-2019-Update-FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">report by United for Medical Research</a>, every $1 million in NIH funding awarded to Indiana researchers creates 18 jobs and $2.8 million in economic activity in 2018.</p> <p>Based on that data, IU School of Medicine’s 2019 NIH funding sustains more than 3,400 jobs –2,400 within Indiana. Income from those jobs, along with spending on equipment, services and materials, generates an estimated $529 million annually in economic activity.</p> <p>“Today’s record-breaking funding announcement showcases the continued journey of excellence our scientists are on,” said <a href="/faculty/10170/shekhar-anantha/">Anantha Shekhar, MD, PhD</a>, executive associate dean for research affairs at IU School of Medicine and associate vice president of research and university clinical affairs at IU. “We are proud of the incredible scientific talent at Indiana University School of Medicine that is made up of career faculty and new recruits who are eager to solve some of the most difficult diseases facing society today. And we are honored that the NIH keeps recognizing their success.”</p> <p><strong>National leadership </strong></p> <p>The increased research productivity is the result of strategic investments in talent and infrastructure and demonstrates IU School of Medicine’s commitment to addressing Indiana and the nation’s most pressing health challenges, Hess said. Four of the five research studies that received the most NIH funding were for <a href="/expertise/alzheimers/">Alzheimer’s disease research</a>, one of the school’s top priorities.</p> <p>The school’s top-funded study, with more than $14 million in NIH support last year, was the <a href="https://leads-study.medicine.iu.edu/" target="_blank">Longitudinal Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Study</a> led by <a href="/faculty/6815/apostolova-liana/">Liana Apostolova, MD</a>. It focuses on an especially devastating form of Alzheimer’s disease that afflicts patients between the ages of 40 and 65. The <a href="https://ncrad.iu.edu/" target="_blank">National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias</a> was second, with more than $11 million. Led by <a href="/departments/genetics/faculty/276/foroud-tatiana/">Tatiana Foroud, PhD</a>, it collects and distributes biological samples like DNA, plasma and tissue from patients with dementia for use in research locally and nationally.</p> <p>Other top Alzheimer’s grants include:</p> <ul> <li>The Indiana University/Jackson Laboratory <a href="https://www.model-ad.org/" target="_blank">Model Organism Development & Evaluation for Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease</a>, which develops new laboratory models to study the disease and test potential therapies</li> <li>The school’s <a href="/expertise/alzheimers/research/preclinical/drug-discovery/">Alzheimer’s Disease Drug Discovery Center</a>, one of two such centers funded by the NIH to develop new drug targets for Alzheimer’s disease</li> </ul> <p>The school’s <a href="/departments/pediatrics/">Department of Pediatrics</a> also continued its climb in the rankings. With more than $29 million in grants, it accounted for 15 percent of the school’s total NIH funding. Grants were awarded to IU School of Medicine pediatrics researchers to study congenital heart disease, severe asthma, cancer, youth substance abuse, and diabetes, among other conditions. The department is also home to a national consortium, led by Chair <a href="/faculty/9949/clapp-d/">D. Wade Clapp, MD</a>, focused on a common genetic mutation that causes life-threatening tumors in children.</p> <p>Other key areas of research include precision genomics, a priority of the <a href="/expertise/precision-health/">IU Precision Health Initiative Grand Challenge</a>, cancer and global health.</p> <p>Additional information can be found at <a href="http://go.iu.edu/research" target="_blank">go.iu.edu/research</a>.</p> <p>####</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> Tue, 28 Jan 2020 14:34:35 Z{98676008-AC88-459D-94F3-0C768015C8F4}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2020/01/indiana-university-school-of-medicine-researchers-discover-emerging-combination-therapy-that-halts-tumor-growth-based-on-tyler-trents-cell-linesIndiana University School of Medicine researchers discover emerging combination therapy that halts tumor growth based on Tyler Trent’s cell lines<p>INDIANAPOLIS – Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine have found a combination therapy that significantly slows tumor growth in models, built from cells taken from Tyler Trent’s tumors. Tyler was a Purdue University student and football superfan who died on January 1, 2019, after waging a long and valiant fight against an aggressive form of bone cancer.</p> <p>The researchers, led by <a href="/faculty/13544/pollok-karen/">Karen E. Pollok, PhD</a>, found a variation in Tyler’s tumors (TT1 and TT2) called the MYC-RAD21 signature, which has been found in tumors that tend to recur. Pollok says there are two drugs that can block its effects, a Chk1 inhibitor (pronounced: “check-one” inhibitor) and a bromodomain inhibitor. Her team tested each of those drugs individually, as well as in combination.</p> <p>“What we found in Tyler’s model is we can take one of these drugs, the Chk1 inhibitor or the bromodomain inhibitor, and we can administer it in models with the TT2 tumor and we get the tumors to stop growing some, compared to a control,” said Pollok. “However, when we put the two drugs together, we block the growth of these tumors substantially.”</p> <p>Pollok and her team found that the combination therapy worked during a four-week treatment, but the tumor started growing again after stopping the therapy. They also determined that the treatment was well-tolerated. Pollok says they are very pleased with the results so far.</p> <p>“Tyler Trent has truly left us a legacy,” said Pollok. “While we still have much work to do, we are hopeful that new therapies for osteosarcoma will be possible in the near future.”</p> <p>Finding a cure for pediatric sarcomas, including osteosarcoma, is one of the focuses of the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://precisionhealth.iu.edu/" target="_blank">Indiana University Grand Challenges Precision Health Initiative</a>. In addition, the number one fundraising priority of Riley Children’s Foundation, the fundraising arm for Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, is pediatric research. The work is being done at the Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research at IU School of Medicine. During Thursday’s media availability at the Wells Center, Tyler’s parents, Kelly and Tony, will also share their hopes for a cure as they honor their son’s memory.</p> <p>The researchers’ next steps include better understanding how the tumors adapt to the treatments and optimizing the combination therapy.</p> <p>Tyler’s legacy as a research advocate started years ago while he was a patient at Riley Children’s Health. He donated several tumor samples to cancer researchers at IU School of Medicine and nationally advocated that others do the same.</p> <p>Tyler also encouraged people to donate money to support research. People have donated millions of dollars for cancer research in Tyler’s name, including approximately $180,000 for the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.rileykids.org/news/tyler-trent-cancer.html" target="_blank">Tyler Trent Cancer Research Endowment for Riley Hospital</a>. The Trent family and Riley Children’s Foundation worked together to create the endowment fund, which supports pediatric research being conducted by IU School of Medicine researchers. </p>Thu, 16 Jan 2020 14:57:34 Z{D83E6C36-71F9-49DA-BDB3-A656E444DE42}https://medicine.iu.edu/news/2020/01/first-randomized-clinical-trial-found-no-harms-from-dementia-screening-in-primary-careFirst randomized clinical trial found no harms from dementia screening in primary care<p>INDIANAPOLIS – Research scientists at Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University School of Medicine have conducted the first randomized controlled trial to evaluate the pros and cons of population screening for dementia. The researchers found no harm, as measured by patient reported depressive and anxiety symptoms, from screening for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia in diverse rural, suburban and urban primary care clinics in Indiana.</p> <p>Furthermore, the trial did not identify any benefit from screening in reducing emergency department visits and hospitalizations, or increasing advance care planning.</p> <p>“Many patients and families have concerns that dementia screenings may create anxiety or depression in patients because there is, as yet, no cure for this disease. However, this study shows that is not the case,” said Nicole Fowler, PhD, MHSA, associate director of the IU Center for Aging Research at Regenstrief Institute.</p> <p>Fowler, an assistant professor of medicine at IU School of Medicine and a Regenstrief research scientist, is first author of the new study, which is published in the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jgs.16247" target="_blank">Journal of the American Geriatrics Society</a>.</p> <p>“Dementia screening provides awareness for the patient and their family, allowing them to take action – including advance care planning — and we now know that the screening does not harm the patient. Though we found many patients declined to follow up a positive screening, the knowledge obtained from a screening at least allows them to enter a watchful waiting period or choose to be engaged,” Fowler said.</p> <p>While 70 percent of study participants who screened positive for cognitive impairment declined a follow up diagnostic assessment, those who did complete a follow up and then received collaborative care had significantly decreased hospital admissions as compared with study participants who were not screened but later developed cognitive impairment. Previous studies led by IU School of Medicine and Regenstrief research scientists have found that the collaborative dementia care model decreased behavioral and psychological symptoms in patients living with dementia and reduced healthcare utilization, resulting in annual cost savings ranging from $908 to $2,856 per patient.</p> <p>“For a number of reasons, including the lack of drugs to treat dementia and the stigma around the condition, people are hesitant to engage in the next steps of the process after screening,” said Fowler. “The health care system needs to help bridge this gap and encourage people to follow up on the results of screening tests as they would for any other condition.”</p> <p>The study noted that “the finding of statistical equivalence of screening on patients’ symptoms of depression and anxiety” is important given that previous studies measuring the public’s perceived attitude of dementia screening reported that patients were concerned that this screening would make them feel depressed or anxious. In fact, it did not.</p> <p>Dementia affects more than 5 million people in the United States and is frequently unrecognized and underdiagnosed in primary care settings, where most older adults receive their health care. It is estimated that as many as half of primary care physicians are unaware of their older patients’ cognitive status.</p> <p>More than 4,000 primary care patients age 65 years and older were enrolled in the randomized, controlled <a href="https://www.regenstrief.org/projects/iu-choice-study/" target="_blank">Indiana University Cognitive Health Outcomes Investigation of the Comparative Effectiveness of Dementia Screening</a> (CHOICE) trial. Two-thirds of study participants were female; two-thirds of study participants were white.</p> <p>“This study is groundbreaking because we have scientifically negated the concern that dementia screening may be harmful,” said Malaz Boustani, MD, MPH, the study’s senior author and principal investigator of the trial. “Until now, the lack of evidence of potential harm of dementia screening has been a barrier to dementia screening in primary care. Hopefully our finding of no harm from screening has eliminated this obstacle.”</p> <p>Additional authors on the paper are Greg Sachs, MD, a Regenstrief Institute research scientist, professor of medicine and division chief of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics at IU School of Medicine; and Anthony J. Perkins, MS, and Sujuan Gao, PhD, IU School of Medicine.</p> <p>This study was funded by National Institute on Aging grant R01AG040220.</p> <p>Fowler is currently leading the <a href="https://www.regenstrief.org/article/first-study-benefits-risks-dementia-screening-family-members-older-adults/" target="_blank">Caregiver Outcomes of Alzheimer’s Disease Screening (COADS) </a>trial examining the impact of dementia screening of older adults on their family member caregivers.</p> <p><strong>About IU School of Medicine</strong></p> <p>IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.</p> <p><strong>About Regenstrief Institute</strong></p> <p>Founded in 1969 in Indianapolis, the Regenstrief Institute is a local, national and global leader dedicated to a world where better information empowers people to end disease and realize true health. A key research partner to Indiana University, Regenstrief and its researchers are responsible for a growing number of major healthcare innovations and studies. Examples range from the development of global health information technology standards that enable the use and interoperability of electronic health records to improving patient-physician communications, to creating models of care that inform practice and improve the lives of patients around the globe.</p> <p>Regenstrief Institute is celebrating 50 years of healthcare innovation. Sam Regenstrief, a successful entrepreneur from Connersville, Indiana, founded the institute with the goal of making healthcare more efficient and accessible for everyone. His vision continues to guide the institute’s research mission.</p> <p><strong>About Nicole Fowler, PhD, MHSA</strong></p> <p>In addition to her role as a Regenstrief Institute research scientist and associate director of the Center for Aging Research, Fowler is an assistant professor at Indiana University School of Medicine and an implementation scientist at the Center for Health Innovation and Implementation Science.</p> <p><strong>About Malaz Boustani, MD, MPH</strong></p> <p>Boustani is the founding director of the Center for Health Innovation and Implementation Science and holds the Richard M. Fairbanks Chair in Aging Research at Indiana University School of Medicine. A research scientist at Regenstrief Institute, Boustani is also the founding director and chief innovation and implementation officer at the Sandra Eskenazi Center for Brain Care Innovation, in addition to serving as director of senior care innovation at Eskenazi Health.</p> Wed, 15 Jan 2020 15:32:38 Z