CTSI Collaborator Newsletter Fall 2008

University of Rochester CTSI Receives Funding to Develop a National CTSA Online Educational Resource Program

In August, the National Institutes of Health announced that the University of Rochester CTSI will be the recipient of an administrative supplement award focused on expanding the clinical and translational educational modules that are available to researchers online. The supplement proposal was submitted by the CTSI Program Director, Dean David Guzick, and CTSI Co-Director, Dr. Thomas Pearson. The idea for the proposal was created by Dr. Pearson, who recently had the opportunity to see first hand the many educational modules available online through NIH during his sabbatical working with the National Human Genome Research Institute. The experience prompted Dr. Pearson to develop a proposal that would make NIH clinical research modules, as well as CTSI consortium member clinical research educational modules, openly available to researchers and trainees at CTSI sites.

The overall goal of this proposal is to develop a National CTSA Educational Resource Program (NCERP) to identify, catalog, and assess training modules supplemental to core curricula in clinical and translational research (CTR) training. This program will also provide access for CTSA trainees to partake in these opportunities, and evaluate the use and effectiveness of such a resource. To achieve this goal, the NCERP will engage CTSI Educational Directors of current and incoming CTSI sites to nominate and contribute educational programs which might supplement the core curriculum, including web-based modules, short courses or other modules. NCERP staff will survey each of the NIH Institutes and Centers for educational modules relevant to Clinical and Translational Research available online or amenable to attendance over a limited duration. A CTSA Educational Resource Catalog (CERC) will also be created to describe offerings that are available. Dr. Pearson will chair the NCERP Oversight Committee of CTSI Educational Directors and they will assess the currently available resources and identify gaps. Dissemination of and access to the CERC from CTSA scholars across the consortium will be facilitated by modifications which allow NCERP modules to be offered on the CTSA Website. This program will also sponsor a limited number of traveling scholarships for CTSA trainees to travel to and participate in courses of limited duration at other CTSA institutions. Visiting Professorships will also be sponsored through this program, allowing professors from CTSA institutions to present courses of limited duration at a CTSA other than their own.

CTSI Announces New Trainees and Scholars

The Clinical and Translational Science Institute is proud to announce the new round of awardees for each of its education brain and training programs. The CTSI will support 16 trainees and scholars during the upcoming year as they pursue research, career development and didactic training. The KL2 and TL1 selection committee chose each trainee and scholar based on the merit of their application and the strength of their training environment. Primary mentors for each trainee and scholar are listed next to their names, and each mentor will also receive support from the CTSI through the mentor development program. For more information on CTSI KL2 Career Development program or the CTSI TL1 Training programs please visit the CTSI website at http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/ctsi/education/.

CTSI KL2 Scholars
Jennifer Carroll MD, MPH (Dr. Ronald Epstein)
Project: "The Effect of a Primary Care Clinician Communication Intervention linked to a Community Based Exercise Program"
Jennifer Carroll, MD, MPH, is a Research Assistant Professor in the department of Family Medicine. Her research interests include refugee health and diet and exercise counseling in primary care.

Susan Groth PhD, RNC, NP (Dr. Diane Morrison-Beedy)
Project: "Clarification of the Gene Environment Interaction of the GNB3 Gene and Establishing a foundation for Genetic –Based Behavioral Intervention Research"
Dr. Groth is an Assistant Professor in the University of Rochester School of Nursing. Dr. Groth's research interests include New Mother’s Views of Exercise and Weight, Socialization Strategy, and Temperament & Childhood Injuries.

Holly Hindman MD (Dr. Krystel Huxlin)
Project: " Wound Healing Responses and Myofiloblast Activity Following Endothelial Keratoplasty when modified by using Anti TFG-B Therapies"
Holly Hindman MD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology. Dr. Hindman has expertise in the medical treatment of cornea and ocular surface disease and in the latest surgical techniques including: penetrating, lamellar (DALK) and endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK), keratoprosthesis, and laser refractive surgery.

Julie Ryan PhD (Dr. Alice Pentland)
Project: "Curcumin Intervention and Biological Analysis of Radiation Dermatitis"
Julie Ryan, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology and the Department of Dermatology. Dr. Ryan's research utilizes both her radiation oncology an dermatology experience and focuses on testing a promising non-therapeutic agent and identify biological mediators of radiation dermatitis, which could aid in the treatment of other types of radiation toxicity and skin disorders.

TL1 MD/PhD Students
Michael Jacob (Dr. Charles Duffy)
Michael Jacob is a MD/PhD student in the Neurobiology and Anatomy program. His research interests include all things related to Neuroscience.

Mercedes Szpunar (Dr. Edward Brown)
Mercedes Szpunar is a MD/PhD student in the Department of Pathology. Mercedes' research interests include women's health, developmental health, and the corresponding environmental influences.

TL1 Year-Out Students
Youngsun Cho (Dr. Julie Fudge)
Project: Sources of Dopamine Input to the Amygdala-an Anatomic and Neurochemical Focus of Mood Disorders

Christopher Hogan (Dr. Patricia Sime)
Project: Mechanisms for Protecting Human Lung Fibroblasts from Cigarette Smoke-Induced Cell Death: Implications for COPD

Ajay Kuriyan (Drs. Phipps and Feldon)
Project: Inhibition of corneal fibroblast differentiation to scar forming cells

Judy Liu (Dr. Arthur Moss)
Project: Mutation specific risk stratification of Long QT Syndrome type 3 via measure of evolutionary conservation of amino acids expressed by the SCN5A gene

Andrew Marky (Drs. Berislav Zlokovic and Rashid Deane)
Project: Role mutant APC on neuroprotection and neurogenesis in mice following traumatic brain injury

Daniel Platt (Dr. Robert Griggs)
Project: Phenotypic Variability in and Treatment of Episodic Ataxia Type 1

Laurel Stevens (Dr. Glynnis Scott)
Project: Role of Plexin B1 receptor in Melanoma Tumor Progression

Joanna Walker (Dr. Norma Lerner)
Project: Central Venous Catheter Thrombosis in Children

Helen Wei (Drs. Maiken Nedergaard and Edward Vates)
Project: Vasomotor Regulation of the Microciruculation After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Christine Zanghi (Dr. Michael Eaton)
Project: Anticoagulation in the era of Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia: Combination Therapy with Bivalirudin and Fondaparinux Versus Conventional Heparin During Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Consumer Feedback Shapes the URMC's Goal to Raise Awareness of and Participation in Clinical Research

Pictured Top: Andrea Lennon, MBA, Executive Director and COO of the Center for Community Health

Pictured Bottom: Dr. Ann Dozier, Co-Investigator of the Recruitment and Retention Community Engagement Core

Fear. It is the single greatest barrier to participation in clinical trials, according to recent qualitative research facilitated by the URMC’s Center for Community Health, which administers the Community Engagement Key Function of the CTSI. This marketing research, completed this spring, was undertaken to inform a comprehensive community-based communication/education initiative designed to increase community awareness of and participation in clinical and translational research.

Developed and conducted by Heffernan Market Research in consultation with Ann Dozier, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, and other members of the Community Engagement Key Function, the research results will shape communication and messages to help the URMC achieve these three goals: (1) promote the value and importance of clinical research and its implications for improving health, (2) increase the recruitment, retention and diversity of research study participants, and (3) increase involvement and support of key influencers in the recruitment and retention process.

In focus groups comprised of key community segments, including African-Americans and Latinos, the research explored perceptions of research, the awareness of the impact of research on improving health, benefits and barriers to participation, and the importance of key influencers.

Findings were fairly similar across all segments, and included:

The anticipation of personal benefit (desire to live a healthier life style, prevent/control disease, improve quality of life) appears more important than altruism in motivating consumers to participate in a research study.
Widespread perception of serious harm from experimental drugs creates a significant barrier to participating in clinical research.
Consumers are most likely to seek information about participating in research from their physicians, family members and the Internet.
Money does not appear to be a major driver for participating in clinical research studies, but it may serve as an extra inducement for those considering participating. Access to new treatments and drugs are strong incentives for participation.
In general, both Strong Memorial and URMC are viewed favorably as research sponsors.

These findings were used to craft messages, designed to look like print ads or posters, which were tested with consumers via an online Internet-based message evaluation survey conducted in June. Clear message preferences were expressed by each community segment, and these preferences are currently being converted into communication tools (print ads, posters, radio spots, Web site, etc.) for awareness-building and recruitment purposes. Members of the Community Engagement core, along with faculty and study coordinators, will review and refine the communication tools this fall, prior to presentation to the CTSI. For more information, please call Ann Dozier at 758-7812 or Gwenn Voelckers, Director of Health Communications, CCH, at 276-4640.

Article by Andrea L. Lennon, MBA, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, CCH

CTSI Online Training Program in Community Engaged Research

online learning The Community Engagement Core, one of eleven key functions of the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, was established to implement best practices to foster collaborative partnerships and enhance public trust in clinical and translational research. One of the central challenges for academic institutions is to translate research findings more quickly from the bench to the community. In order to do this successfully, a great deal more involvement of the community is necessary; therefore, engaging the community in the research endeavor to reflect community interests will enhance the potential for more rapid translation of research.

To address this challenge, the Center for Community Health, established in 2006, has developed an online training program to introduce clinical investigators and clinical research coordinators to the principles and practice of Community Engaged Research.

The primary goals of this training program are to educate investigators to:

Engage more effectively with community organizations, agencies, and diverse population groups to identify research questions critical to the community and to improve methods to reflect community preferences;
Develop more effective strategies for recruitment and retention of participants in clinical studies; and
Improve the dissemination of information from health promotion interventions and/or clinical trials to increase the community’s knowledge of health promotion and disease prevention.

The online modules include the following topics:

Translational Research in Academic Medical Centers
Perspectives on Race, Ethnicity, and Research in the United States
Community-Based Participatory Research: A Collaborative Approach to Improving Population Health
Community Engaged Research Methods
Collaboration Between Academic Investigators and Community Physicians

Training will be encouraged for investigators participating in the K30 and K12 grants and will be offered to all investigators associated with the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI). Participants will complete five required online modules, all designed for self-paced learning. Investigators can participate in the training program individually or with members of their teams to complete online didactic components. Modules will be instructor-supported through e-mail feedback and/or informal meetings.

The online training program in Community Engaged Research has been approved for CME credits by the Office of Continuing Professional Education and will be beta tested in August and September 2008. Approval for CNE credits is pending.

For more information about the Community Engaged Research Training, please contact Noelle Andrus, Director of Education, Center for Community Health (noelle_andrus@urmc.rochester.edu).

Laboratory Support Center Announces the Newest Round of Awardees

The Laboratory Support Center is pleased to announce the fourth round of awardees. The Laboratory Support Center offers funding for laboratory cost support for clinical and translational research projects. The program offers funds up to $50,000 for laboratory costs to collect pilot data, supporting data or data to complete an initial study. For more information on this program please contact Mark Plessinger at mark_plessinger@urmc.rochester.edu.

Arthur Moss, MD Professor of Medicine
Project: “Investigation into the variable penetrance of mutations in the long QT syndrome”
Long QT Syndrome, or LQTS, refers to a prolonged QT interval of the EKG and is associated with syncope, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac failure. LQTS’s mechanism is due to altered potassium ion channels which delays repolarization of the heart prior to the next beat. Genetic mutations in ion channels link family members to LQTS and the project investigates SNP polymorphisms in subunit proteins among many family members utilizing the Functional Genomics Center.

Jiaoti Huang, MD, PhD Professor of Pathology
Project: “Targeting neuroendocrine cells of prostate cancer”
Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in men and the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths. A novel theory that prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs) survive conventional therapy explains why prostate cancer may reemerge as androgen independent and treatment refractory. Dr Huang has identified a sub-population of prostate tumor cells that possess characteristics of PCSCs. This project seeks to target cell surface molecules that would inhibit proliferation and differentiation of PCSCs, and when combined with conventional therapy, may eliminate prostate cancer entirely.

Carl T. D’Angio, MD Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Project: “Immune responses in preterm and full-term infants following live, attenuated influenza vaccination.”
Infants are particularly susceptible to influenza infection and are a significant proportion of the yearly 1 million influenza deaths worldwide. There are limited data regarding the vaccination of premature infants and infants under the age of two, which are at greatest risk of contracting influenza infection. Currently there are two influenza vaccine types available: trivalent, inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) and live, attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV). This project seeks to determine the immunogenicity of these vaccine types in children 24-30 months of age to provide important data for subsequent clinical trials in infants less than two years of age.

Iñaki Sanz, MD Professor of Medicine, Microbiology & Immunology
Chungwen Wei, PhD Assistant Research Professor of Medicine
Project: “Gene expression analysis of the distinct human memory B cell subsets”
Human survival against infectious agents has succeeded because of antibody generation and response by memory B-cells. Drs Sanz and Wei have identified many novel subpopulations of B-cells that establish a strong association between certain memory B-cell subsets and active immune responses. This project seeks to utilize the Functional Genomics Center to determine gene expression profiles of these memory B-cell subsets to provide the supporting data for a competitive Program Project Grant that examines the function and regulation of memory B-cells in several disease states.

Alan Friedman, PhD Assistant Professor of Environmental Medicine
Thomas Gasiewicz, PhD Professor of Environmental Medicine
Project: “Proteomic analysis of prostate cancer progression: A drug study using EGCG”
The etiology of prostate cancer progression from the non-tumorigenic state to tumorigenic state to metastasis is largely unknown. Genetic changes in tumors are recognized, however, protein changes as a result of the tumorigenic to metastasis mutations are problematic and largely unknown. This project will utilize the Proteomics Core Lab to determine whether up or down regulated proteins can account for phenotypic differences in the progression of prostate cancer to the metastasis state. Identification of protein changes can also identify targets for therapeutic interventions.

Margot Mayer-Pröschel, PhD Associate Professor of Biomedical Genetics
Project: “Establishment of a non-invasive diagnostic tool for diffuse myelination defects.”
Prenatal exposure to mercury, lead, or lack of maternal iron can result in hypomyelination that can lead to lower IQs, impaired verbal skills, and behavioral abnormalities. Chemotherapy with 5-fluoruracil can result in myelin disruption and damage. The project seeks to utilize the auditory brainstem response (ABR) as a tool to detect early demyelination changes prior to the onset of clinical symptoms.

Stephen Cook, MD Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Project: “STRONG KIDS: Study tracking the regulation of nutrition and growth in kids”
Obesity in children ages 6-18 years has tripled in the last 20 years. Inherent in this obesity group is an apparent increased risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In adults, metabolic syndrome (MS) are a cluster of different characteristics of lipid values, glucose, blood pressure and waist size directly associated with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular events. Smoking and waist size are also risk factors associated with MS in adults. This project seeks to identify the risk for MS and cardiovascular risk in children.

Barbara L. Gracious, MD Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Project: “Bone formation biomarkers and SSRI treatment in reproductive age women”
Many medications alter bone metabolism, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Patients beginning SSRI therapy for depression are at possible risk for bone loss. This project will demonstrate if a collagen biomarker detects decreases in bone formation in women undergoing SSRI therapy. If successful, this collagen biomarker may help monitor bone health during SSRI therapy, assess need for alternative therapies, and indicate bone loss in clinical trials of novel therapeutics.

Participant and Clinical Interactions Resources Pilot Project Program Announces Awardee

Pictured above: Robert Block, MD, MPH

The CTSI’s Participant and Clinical Interactions Resources (PCIR) Pilot Project Program is pleased to announce a new pilot project awardee. The PCIR pilot project program awards funding to support clinical research among junior faculty who have not yet established independent NIH or comparable funding. Senior faculty are eligible for this program if the research they propose represents a change for them in their research career path. The program provides funding for research projects of up to $20,000 per year for one year with the potential to apply for a second year of funding of up to $20,000. Preference is given to projects which use traditional Clinical Research Center resources.

Awardee:
Robert Block, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Epidemiology
Project: The Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Aspirin Resistance

Although aspirin has been a stalwart component of the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease, aspirin does not exert its beneficial effects in a large proportion of individuals who consequently have an increased risk of cardiovascular events. This public health problem is referred to as “aspirin resistance.” Omega-3 fatty acids are also cardioprotective and can exert antithrombotic effects, similar to that for aspirin but little is known about the potential for omega-3 supplementation in overcoming aspirin resistance. This study will, in 20 non-smoking individuals with no chronic disease and not taking systemic medication chronically, investigate the effects of aspirin and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on aspirin resistance while measuring potent lipid mediator products of fatty acids.
The primary question to be answered is whether treatment interval will affect measures of aspirin resistance. The effect of treatment interval on production of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) species and 15-epi lipoxin A4, potent lipid mediators, will also be determined. It is hypothesized that these will correlate with aspirin resistance measures.

The RCTRC Seminar Series Resumes on September 2nd, 2008- Save the Date

The RCTRC Seminar Series (click here for the full schedule) will hold the first seminar of the year on September 2nd, 2008, from 12:15-1:15 pm, in the Whipple Auditorium (Room 2-6424). This year the seminar series will focus on the URMC strategic plan and the nine Integrated Disease Programs / Innovative Science Programs that are outlined within it. The first seminar will feature Dr. Brad Berk, Chief Executive Officer of the Medical Center, giving an overview of the strategic plan and its’ goals.

CTSI Calendar of Events

Please click here to view the CTSI interactive calendar.

September fall

09/02/08 RCTRC Seminar, 12:15-1:15 pm, Whipple Auditorium (2-6424). “Overview of the URMC Strategic Plan” presented by Dr. Brad Berk, CEO of the University of Rochester Medical Center.
09/09/08 RCTRC Seminar, 12:15-1:15 pm, Whipple Auditorium (2-6424). “Biology Drives the Future Treatment of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma” presented by Dr. Richard Fisher, Director of the Wilmot Cancer Center.
09/16/08 RCTRC Seminar, 12:15-1:15 pm, Whipple Auditorium (2-6424). “Therapeutic Targeting of Stem Cells” presented by Dr. Craig Jordan.
09/17/08 Faculty Development Workshop, 11:00-1:00 pm, Helen Wood Hall Fiaretti Room (1w-501). “Learning and Learning Styles” presented by Mark Quirk, E.d.D.
09/23/08 RCTRC Seminar, 12:15-1:15 pm, Whipple Auditorium (2-6424). “Thrombosis, Angiogenesis and Cancer” presented by Dr. Alok Khorana.
09/30/08 RCTRC Seminar, 12:15-1:15 pm, Whipple Auditorium (2-6424). “Standard Operating Procedures for Conducting Clinical Trials” presented by Dr. Karen Woodland. This seminar is presented in part by the Office of Human Subject Protection (OHSP).

October

10/02/08 Faculty Development Workshop, 2:00-4:00 pm, Anderson Room (G-8534). "The NIH Clinical Research Training Program and the Clinical Center's Clinical Research Curriculum" presented by Frederick Ognibene MD, Director of the NIH Office of Clinical Research Training and Medical Education.
10/07/08 RCTRC Seminar, 12:15-1:15 pm, Whipple Auditorium (2-6424). “Anatomy of Clinical Research Consulting” presented by Dr. Edwin Van Wijngaarden.
10/14/08 RCTRC Seminar, 12:15-1:15 pm, Whipple Auditorium (2-6424). “Expanding the Frontiers of Stem Cell Medicine” presented by Dr. Mark Noble.
10/14/08 Faculty Development Workshop, 2:00-4:00 pm, Natapow Room (1-9545). “Adult Learning” presented by Camille Martina, PhD, and Andrew Wall, PhD.
10/21/08 RCTRC Seminar, 12:15-1:15 pm, Whipple Auditorium (2-6424). Topic TBD presented by Dr. Jim Palis.
10/28/08 RCTRC Seminar, 12:15-1:15 pm, Whipple Auditorium (2-6424). Topic TBD presented by Dr. Steve Goldman.
10/28/08 Faculty Development Workshop, 2:00-4:00 pm, Slaughter Room (1-9555) “Assessment Methods” presented by Ron Epstein, MD.

November

11/04/08 RCTRC Seminar, 12:15-1:15 pm, Whipple Auditorium (2-6424). “The DBS/ Functional Stimulation Program” presented by Dr. Irene Richard and Dr. Jason Schwalb.
11/11/08 RCTRC Seminar, 12:15-1:15 pm, Whipple Auditorium (2-6424). “Developing treatment for genetic disease by targeting RNA” presented by Dr. Charles Thornton.
11/11/08 Faculty Development Workshop, 2:00-4:00 pm, Louise Slaughter Conference Room (1-9555). “Educator Profiles” presented by Connie Baldwin PhD.
11/18/08 RCTRC Seminar, 12:15-1:15 pm, K-307 Auditorium (3-6408). HSPP presentation. Topic and speaker TBD.
11/27/08 Thanksgiving Day

In Recognition of Excellence

Congratulations to Dr. Susan Fisher, Co-Director of the CTSI Design, Biostatistics, and Clinical Research Ethics Key Function, for being named as Chair of the Department of Community and Preventive Medicine. Dr. Fisher also received a Presidential Citation for her role in a collaborative, national study of head and neck cancers.
Congratulations to Dongwen Wang, PhD, co-director of the CTSI Biomedical Informatics program, for being named Administrative Director of the Technology Center for online HIV education.
Congratulations to Andrea L. Lennon, Director of the Center for Community Health, who received the Richard P. Miller Sr. Award for her work coordinating the university-wide United Way campaign for three years, each of which employees and retirees donated more than $1 million.
Congratulations to Stephen Dewhurst, Ph.D., professor of Microbiology and Immunology and senior associate dean for Basic Research, who has received the University’s William H. Ricker Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching. Given annually, the award is the University’s highest honor in graduate education.

CTSI Contact Information

Please click here to go the CTSI contact information web page