february/march 2019 volume 15, issue 1 Advancing Biomedical Science, Education, and Health Care

Alpern will not seek a fourth term as School of Medicine dean Will continue to serve until colleagues I have worked with so First, there is a deanship to com- successor is installed, and closely over these years.” But, he says, plete. Alpern looks back with satis- he is looking forward to what will faction at achievements that include then remain on the faculty come next. “I’m really excited about recruiting outstanding research- going back to my pre-dean years and ers—scientists at the top of their Robert J. Alpern, MD, dean and En- being able to focus on the latest ad- fields—along with young investigators sign Professor of Medicine, informed vances in medicine and the biomedi- whose accomplishments and personal the Yale School of Medicine (YSM) cal sciences. Right now, my time is development have been a source of community in December that he will entirely consumed with responsibili- particular pride; a much-enhanced not seek to serve a fourth five-year term ties associated with the dean’s job.” relationship with Yale New Haven as dean when his current term expires After he steps down, Alpern ex- Health System (YNHHS) and a later this year. Alpern said he will re- pects to devote more time addressing clinical practice that he says has been main as dean until his successor is ap- his varied academic interests, some of transformed; a curriculum revision pointed, and then plans to continue on which are related to renal physiology in 2015 (for which he credits Richard the Yale faculty and pursue a number and kidney disease. He wants to focus Belitsky, MD, Harold W. Jockers As- of academic interests. more on the development of a drug sociate Professor of Medical Education Alpern, who arrived in 2004 that has the potential to transform the and associate professor of psychiatry,

after serving since 1998 as dean of care of kidney patients. He also hopes and deputy dean for education) as well robert a. lisak the University of Texas Southwest- to pursue other areas of interest related as the YSM Teaching and Learning Robert Alpern, who arrived in 2004 as dean of Yale ern Medical School, calls the change to biomedical science, clinical medicine, Center; enhanced financial aid for School of Medicine, has announced that he will not seek to serve a fourth five-year term. He will “bittersweet” after 21 years as a dean. teaching, and issues of national and students; and huge strides by a cancer remain as dean until a successor takes office, and “I will especially miss the many international importance in medicine. center that was in // Dean (page 8) then continue on the medical school faculty. Endowment to support student research Foundation endows directorship of the Medical students receive a MD-PhD program summertime opportunity to A new gift from the Gustavus and do research at Woods Hole Louise Pfeiffer Research Foundation will create an endowed directorship Roughly 170 miles up the highway for Yale School of Medicine’s MD-PhD from New Haven, at the southwest tip Program. The foundation has a long- of Cape Cod, lies Woods Hole, Mass. standing relationship with Yale, having Nestled in this seaside village, be- generously supported the Yale Com- tween Eel Pond and the Atlantic coast, bined Program in the Biological and is the Marine Biological Laboratory Biomedical Sciences and made grants (MBL), founded in 1888. to bolster research ranging from cancer A dozen or so Yale scientists head to prosthetics to psychiatry. to the MBL every summer, joining The new gift builds on a $1 million some 500 other researchers and train- endowed gift made by the founda- ees from institutions around the world tion in 2015 that provides long-term who also spend their summers making support to current students in the use of the MBL’s unique resources and program, especially those with an collegial environment. Discoveries sullivan dee interest in neurological and psychiatric by investigators at or affiliated with him in research on platelets—the cells Shobana Subramanian (center) became the medical diseases. the MBL have produced more than school’s first Levin Fellow when she joined faculty in blood that contribute to blood members Elizabeth Jonas (left) and Leonard The inaugural Gustavus and 50 Nobel prizes since 1920. coagulation—Levin spent a summer at Kaczmarek at Woods Hole’s Marine Biological Louise Pfeiffer Research Founda- Hematologist Jack Levin, MD ’57, the MBL. Hopkins professor Frederik Laboratory during the summer of 2018. tion MD-PhD Program Director is took full advantage of what Woods Bang, MD, was there working on blood coagulation in Limulus, and Barbara Kazmierczak, MD, PhD, Hole offers. During a research fellow- Limulus polyphemus, the Atlantic also to the use of Limulus as a model professor of medicine (infectious ship at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in horseshoe crab. Their collaboration led organism to provide new insights into diseases) and of microbial pathogen- the early 1960s, which had immersed to a major scientific discovery about the non-hemostatic // MBL (page 4) esis, a School of // MD-PhD (page 8)

Non-Profit Org. INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 Church St., Suite 300, New Haven, CT 06510-3330 U. S. Postage www.medicineatyale.org 2 Lifelines PAID Valentina Greco has developed previously New Haven, CT unknown insights about functions of the Permit No. 526 epithelium related to cancer and stem cells. 3 Harnessing burgeoning data A new center is devoted to deriving new insights from massive amounts of data obtained from a multitude of sources. 5 Mutual doctor-patient respect A patient felt such a bond with her primary care physician that she supported YSM both while alive and through a bequest. FOLLOW & SHARE twitter.com/YaleMed facebook.com/YaleMed instagram.com/YaleMed lifelines Institute for Global Health names its inaugural director

Valentina Greco has made Saad B. Omer, singular contributions to knowledge about long- MBBS, MPH, hidden functions of skin PhD, has been cells. She and members of her lab have explored the named the epithelium’s role in guiding inaugural direc- stem cell regeneration, and in containing cells that might tor of the Yale become cancers. She also Institute for has worked forcefully to advance women in science. Global Health Saad Omer (YIGH). Omer is currently the William H. Foege Professor of Global Health, Epide- miology, and Pediatrics at Emory University’s schools of public health and medicine. He will hold joint appointments at Yale School Valentina Greco of Public Health and Yale School robert a. lisak of Medicine and a secondary ap- pointment at Yale School of Nurs- ing, effective July 1. Scientist finds skin deep is very deep “Some of the most pressing problems of our time are related to Reveals skin properties I saw that science was a world of fun,” says. “We make a special effort to think global health,” says Omer. “Ad- that may limit cancer and Greco says. “It was essentially the dif- carefully about the biases we hold that dressing them will require us to aid stem cell regeneration ference between having resources that affect the way we hear and respond bring our ‘A game.’ Therefore, allow you to really move your ideas to ideas from others.” This philosophy, global health needs and deserves Two images published in a Cell Stem forward, as opposed to having to be in turn, “creates a space where these the involvement of an institution Cell paper in September 2018 summa- creative, but for survival.” people can conceptualize the best idea such as Yale.” rize years of relentless questioning on After studying principles of tissue ever, and shape it in a way that, as they Omer plans to tap Yale’s pre- how skin stem cells regenerate, which growth under Suzanne Eaton, PhD, at approach science within my lab, they has driven much of the research of EMBL, a supportive and “powerful” are independent.” eminence in research, teaching, and Valentina Greco, PhD, Carolyn Walch experience that she cherishes, she She credits her dedication to clinical care. His vision for YIGH is Slayman Professor of Genetics and pro- took a postdoctoral fellowship in the younger colleagues’ success to that to support faculty and trainees in fessor of cell biology and of dermatol- lab of Elaine Fuchs, PhD, at the Rock- of her own mentor at Yale, the late developing transformative initia- ogy, and her lab members. efeller University. That is where she Carolyn W. Slayman, PhD, deputy dean tives that cross disciplines and have The side-by-side images feature first delved into epidermal stem cells for academic and scientific affairs, an impact on people’s lives across individual mouse cells in grayscale and the epithelium itself, which have Sterling Professor of Genetics, and the globe. microscopy and those same cells ren- been her focus since she arrived at professor of cellular and molecular Omer has published widely in dered in a pastel, color-by-numbers Yale in 2009. biology. Greco says Slayman set a stan- peer-reviewed journals, has multi- image that illustrates skin stem cells’ The Greco lab has observed that, dard for developing opportunities for ple awards, and has served on sev- self-renewal process. Greco and her aside from their interplay with stem junior faculty. “The fact that I carry her eral advisory panels including the team shattered dogma, which held that cells, epidermal cells in mice perform endowed professorship is particularly skin stem cells decide when to renew roles usually left to the immune system, touching to me.” National Vaccine Advisory Com- themselves. Instead, they found that such as the clearing of dead cells and Greco says she wants her mentees mittee, the Presidential Advisory neighboring epidermal cells create correction of tissue defects including to feel deep respect, so they can share Council on Combating Antibiotic- a niche environment that drives the tumor-like growths. “We are fascinated any idea, no matter how unusual it Resistant Bacteria—Incentives for timing of stem cell regeneration. by the idea that the epithelium can take might seem, through conversations Vaccine Working Group, and the Greco’s personal journey toward care of many housekeeping functions in that are often difficult, but necessary. WHO Expert Advisory Group for making these discoveries was filled the skin,” Greco says. In particular, she “That’s how you create an environ- Healthcare Worker Vaccination. with twists and turns, punctuated by suggests, a better understanding of ment for learning and creative think- He received his PhD and MPH one transformative moment as she how epidermal cells address microinju- ing and pushing forward, rather than degrees from Johns Hopkins Uni- considered pursuing her doctorate in ries or mutations may lead to new ways something that needs to fit a very versity, and his MBBS from the Aga the late 1990s. After earning an under- of approaching cancer treatment. narrow filter.” Khan University Medical College. graduate degree in molecular biology The goal of many current therapies Her desire for a positive environ- at the University of Palermo in her is to prevent malignant cells from pro- ment also extends to women through- native Italy, Greco stayed on for two liferating. Greco and her team hope to out the medical school. Greco is deeply years as an unpaid researcher, a typical validate a different approach, by devel- involved with the Committee on the Managing Editor Robert Forman practice at the time, in a lab with oping knowledge of how epidermal Status of Women in Medicine (SWIM), Contributors Sonya Collins, Paula Derrow, Charles meager resources. The bleak research cells tolerate, and then contain within which has worked to provide a more Gershman, Pamela Hartley, Bill Hathaway, Ziba environment was all Greco knew and it the epithelium, aberrant cells that have favorable balance of power and of Kashef, Kathleen Frey Raven, Jacqueline Rocheleau, Ashley P. Taylor, and Sarah C.P. Williams felt normal to her, until—fortuitously not yet developed into cancers. opportunity for women faculty since Design Jennifer Stockwell —her alma mater turned down her Greco also finds it important to 1979. Says Greco, mindful of her own Web Coordinator/Proofreader Cheryl Violante doctoral application. That rejection contemplate the environment of her growth since her postdoc years: “If you Medicine@Yale is published four times each year by: became her catalyst to look elsewhere. own laboratory, to ensure that her give people a voice and empower them Yale School of Medicine, Office of Communications She landed at the European team members can thrive. “I am contin- and invest in individual quality, then 1 Church Street, Suite 300, New Haven, CT 06510-3330 Telephone: (203) 785-5824 Fax: (203) 785-4327 Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) uously scrutinizing myself and our lab people could do so much better and Email [email protected] in Heidelberg, Germany, which felt a to be as free from codes that society the organization that they are part of Website medicineatyale.org world away. “When I interviewed there, gives for determining talent,” Greco will have more impactful outcomes.” Copyright ©2019 by Yale University. All rights reserved. If you have a change of address or do not wish to receive future issues of Medicine@Yale, please write to us at the above address or via email at [email protected]. Role of humanities in treating the seriously ill is a new fund’s focus Postal permit held by Yale University, 155 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT 06520 The Max Ritvo ’13 and Alan B. of those affected by illness, and to Slifka ’51 Program Fund for the Medi- strengthen the ability of providers cal Humanities has been established at to deliver compassionate care. It will Robert J. Alpern, MD the Yale Child Study Center to explore include a guest speaker and visiting Dean and Ensign Professor of Medicine Roopashree Narasimhaiah the interface between children’s illness scholar component, as well as the pres- Associate Vice President for Development experiences—particularly of psychiat- ence of an artist-in-residence. & Alumni Affairs (203) 436-8504 ric conditions and of chronic or termi- Riva Ariella Ritvo, PhD, and Mary Hu Associate Dean for Communications and nal illnesses—and the humanities. the Alan B. Slifka Foundation have Chief Communications Officer

The multidisciplinary program endowed the initiative, in memory of A program at the Child Study Center honors (l to r): aims to improve the clinical experience Ritvo’s husband and son. Max Ritvo (1990-2016) and Alan Slifka (1929-2011). Printed on recycled paper ♻

2 www.medicineatyale.org advances New center to harness burgeoning data Health & Science News Promising path seen School of Medicine joins universitywide It is a kind of “data fusion,” adds Mark B. Gerstein, to a malaria vaccine move toward using advanced data science to PhD, Albert L. Williams Professor of Biomedical Informat- ics, professor of molecular biophysics and biochemistry, of enhance research, scholarship, and education computer science, and of statistics and data science, and CBDS co-director. “We’re integrating all the different types Data have become an essential ingredient for investigators of data together, and that’s just something that is hard to do pursuing advanced biomedical science. James Noonan, in a completely generic, automated way. You need to think PhD, associate professor of genetics, says the time has long about what you’re putting together.” passed when his lab could do its work on the human phe- That includes gathering insights that enhance clinical notype without the insights that abundant data provide. care. Krumholz says that one of CBDS’s great advantages A vaccine targeting a protein that “To really understand these complex biological systems, we is the presence and participation of Yale clinicians, who can malaria parasites use to evade need data,” Noonan says. “We need a lot of data and a lot help steer data-driven science toward its greatest possible the immune system protects mice of different kinds of data.” impact. “We have a medical center and actual patients being from malaria infection, a new study This reality for labs throughout the School of Medicine, seen and care being delivered,” he explains, “and so we have reports. It raises hope for humans, and for the school’s clinical researchers and providers, led to the opportunity to go end to end, where we’re thinking at for whom surviving malaria infection the recent establishment of the Center for Biomedical Data first about the end users.” That, Krumholz says, could lead can reduce later susceptibility to the Science (CBDS), which is one part clearinghouse for the to new discoveries, quicker paths toward better treatment disease’s worst symptoms, but does newest data-related ideas; one part incubator for ways to decisions by clinicians, and even insights into how the not rule out reinfection. educate students, trainees, and faculty on what data can of- broader health care system can be redesigned for the better. Richard Bucala, MD, PhD, professor fer; and, one part an innovator of data techniques to advance The center also has a vital educational mission, giving of medicine, epidemiology, and pa- biomedical science and data science. As CBDS matures, Yale scientists at all levels—including accomplished investi- thology, and colleagues hypothesized additional pursuits are sure to follow. gators whose training preceded the “big data” era—a greater that PMIF, a Plasmodium version of Xinxin (Katie) Zhu, MD, PhD, arrived last August from familiarity with data science and what it can do for them. the mammalian protein MIF—which the IBM Watson Research Center to take primary respon- That will require detailed planning, and extensive listening interferes with immunological sibility for moving CBDS forward. “People don’t necessar- to various constituencies’ needs. “It’s easy to expose gradu- memory—might be the parasite’s key ily consider biomedicine as a big data field, or health care ate students to it because you can just make a course,” says to reinfection success. To find out, as a big data field, but we are,” says Bucala’s group gave an RNA-based Zhu. One of her first jobs has been to vaccine against PMIF to mice with identify and connect Yale experts who a rodent equivalent of malaria. The can enhance each other’s work. “You vaccinated mice combated initial and could have a biologist working on repeat malaria infections better than things s/he’s been doing before,” Zhu mice that received a control vaccine. says, “but s/he may not have the data The results tell the authors that science knowledge; or may not have a an MIF-based vaccine could provide a computer scientist to help with some new tool to fight malaria in humans. computational models. That’s where Further, since such other parasites we come in.” In turn, there are quanti- as hookworm also have MIF-like tative experts throughout Yale whose molecules, similar vaccines might also methods could help shape biomedical work against other parasite-caused science, but have not been introduced diseases. This collaboration between to potential collaborators. Bucala’s team and Novartis appeared Ruth R. Montgomery, PhD, as- July 13 in Nature Communications. sociate dean for scientific affairs and

professor of internal medicine, who robert a. lisak helped establish CBDS, says connections such as those Xinxin (Katie) Zhu came to Yale last August, to take primary responsibility for Parkinson’s function growing the Center for Biomedical Data Science, whose goals include bringing Zhu describes have greatly helped her own science. “I have together biomedical scientists and quantitative experts to bolster each other’s uncovered in genes really found it fascinating to work with my bioinformatics research, adding to data science expertise throughout the medical school and The function of a gene family as- colleagues when they analyze my data in a way that is not university, and exploring how to manage rapidly expanding sources of data. sociated with Parkinson’s and other from my own background,” she says. “We go back and forth inherited diseases has been eluci- several times until we have each understood what the other Noonan, who also is on the CBDS steering committee. “But dated by Yale scientists. Mutations was looking for and really find new things.” you can’t do that with postdocs and faculty. What we have in human VPS13 genes were known One-to-one matchmaking is just an early step. CBDS to do through the center is get people in place who know to cause neurodevelopmental and already has enlisted more than 100 faculty members, how to teach these concepts to a diverse group of people neurodegenerative diseases, but the and expects to welcome even more, to facilitate broader with diverse backgrounds and help them understand what mechanisms were unknown. exchanges of ideas that can boost the scientific enterprise they need to know to function in this new world because In a new study, the labs of Pietro De exponentially. Yale is the ideal place for it, according to they’re going to need to know it.” Gerstein adds that having Camilli, MD, chair and John Klingen- Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, Harold H. Hines, Jr. Professor more data expertise in the Yale community will be a catalyst stein Professor of Neuroscience and of Medicine, who is a member of the CBDS faculty steering toward another essential goal—attracting future recruits in professor of cell biology, and Karin committee. “We have a small-town atmosphere here,” says the field at all levels, from students to expert faculty. Reinisch, PhD, Jean and David W. Krumholz. “People are not worried about turf in general. CBDS is part of a constellation of data science activity Wallace Professor of Cell Biology and They are open to people from different sectors of the uni- exploding throughout the university, from a new under- professor of molecular biophysics and versity coming together and thinking about how we might graduate major to the recruitment of theoreticians at the biochemistry, probed the locations best do things together.” most advanced levels of the field. “Integrative data science and roles of VPS13 proteins. Zhu foresees experts sharing insights with each other and its mathematical foundations” is on the University The proteins, they found, tether dif- as never before. “Data science is quite new, a quite different Science Strategy Committee’s suggested list of the most ferent organelles in cells to each other discipline in the academic world,” she explains. “This is one promising opportunities for investment across the sci- and help move organelle-defining of the areas where the more you share, the more you have, ences, which President Peter Salovey, PhD ’86, endorsed lipids between them. VPS13C—associ- instead of holding something very tight to your chest, and in November. “CBDS fits perfectly into this new empha- ated with Parkinson’s—works at the you become very good.” sis,” says Zhao. “This center really serves at the interface junctions between the endoplasmic An essential task for CBDS will be figuring out how to of mathematics, statistics, computer science, biology, reticulum (ER) and endosomes and manage ever-expanding datasets from multiple sources that medicine, and public health.” lysosomes, while VPS13A—associated Yale both generates and receives, so as not to drown in a sea “We’re poised to do good work. We’re positioned to be with a Huntington’s-like syndrome— of numbers without knowing how to make sense of them. successful,” says Krumholz, who credits the late Carolyn W. functions at contacts between the ER “With all the technological advances we have seen, such as Slayman, PhD, deputy dean for academic and scientific af- and mitochondria. imaging, sequencing, wearable devices, hospital databases, fairs, Sterling Professor of Genetics, and professor of cellular The findings, published Aug. 9 in and cloud computing,” says Hongyu Zhao, PhD, chair and and molecular physiology, for having the early sense that the Journal of Cell Biology, imply that Ira V. Hiscock Professor of Biostatistics, professor of genetics a center was needed, and considers CBDS to be part of her these diseases arise from defects in and of statistics and data science, and co-director of CBDS, legacy. “I think Yale has a unique opportunity to lead and lipid dynamics and could suggest new “there is a great need to develop efficient ways to collect, inspire and produce tools that will take us into that next era, therapeutic strategies to treat them. store, manage, analyze, visualize, and interpret the results.” and I’m excited to be part of it.”

Medicine@Yale February/March 2019 3 out & about

May 29 Colleagues, friends, family, students, and former patients packed September 30 Researchers, cancer doctors, and community leaders kicked off into Harkness Hall for a Retirement Party, to celebrate the widespread impact the 6th annual Discovery to Cure Beverly Levy Walk, with a ribbon-cutting at of Margaret Bia, MD, professor emerita of medicine (nephrology) and senior Yale’s Payne-Whitney Gymnasium. The Discovery to Cure program raises money transplant nephrologist, on the medical school community. 1. From right to left, for research projects for former patient James Silvertrini; Shin Lin, MD, a nephrologist in West Haven; the early detection and Bia; and Sharon Silvestrini, wife of treatment of women’s 1. James. 2. From left, Janylet Dopico, reproductive cancers. The RN, transplant coordinator at Yale New walk is named in honor of Haven Hospital (YNHH); Bia; Debbie Beverly Levy, who started Patton, RN, transplant coordinator at the walk to raise aware- YNHH; Cindy Banuelos-Blessing, asso- ness and lost her battle to

ciate transplant coordinator; and Kelly harold shapiro ovarian cancer in 2014. Flynn, RN, transplant coordinator. robert A. lisak (2)

2. 1. October 18 Stephen and Margery Riker hosted a Din- ner Party, at the Lotus Club in New York City to highlight recent advances by the Yale Cancer Center (YCC). 1. From left, Joel E. Smilow, YC ’54, philanthropist and former CEO of Playtex Products, Inc., Charles S. Fuchs, MD, 2. MPH, director of YCC and physician-in-chief of Smilow Cancer Hospital; and Nick Makes, senior vice president of Turner Construction Company and YCC board member. 2. From left, Stephen Riker, YC ’58, vice chair of Cushman & Wakefield, and YCC board member; and Iris Morse, wife of

julie brown (2) Andrew Morse, YC ’68, share a laugh.

October 9 On Yale Founders October 8 Recipients of the Wilbur Day, university staff members Lucius Cross Medal, the highest celebrated Service Mile- award given by Yale’s Graduate School stones. Lena Smith Parker Alumni Association (GSAA) included (second from right), director Kelsey Martin, MD ’92, PhD ’91, a of operations at the School of graduate of the medical school’s Medicine’s Office of Com- MD-PhD program. Martin, dean of the munications, planted a tree at David Geffen School of Medicine at Phelps Gate to mark 15 years the University of California, Los An-

at Yale. Celebrating from the robert a. lisak geles, is a celebrated neuroscientist. Office of Communications were (l-r) Justin Navarro, operations deputy director; From left, Anna Barry, PhD ’98, chair

Maya Szatai, visual design specialist; Mary Hu, MBA, associate dean for commu- fiorini tony of GSAA; Lynn Cooley, PhD, dean of nications and chief communications officer; Liz Pantani, web support specialist; Yale’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences; Martin; and President Peter Salovey, Parker; and Claudia Davis, business systems analyst and web producer. PhD, at a dinner Salovey hosted at the Yale Center for British Art.

// MBL (page 1) functions of human techniques and used students and faculty at the MBL. test for bacterial endotoxin, which platelets. The discovery’s significance them to examine the Kaczmarek has been a sum- was commercialized in the U.S. in the was such that a resulting product was structural dynamics mer regular at the MBL since 1986. ’70s and makes it possible for drug later commercialized. of synapses in rodent “When medical students hear ‘marine companies to detect minute concentra- In recognition of MBL’s influence brains, studying biology’ they initially think it may not tions of potentially deadly endotoxin on Levin’s career and the opportunities how the synapses’ be related to their interests,” he says, during the manufacturing process and it can offer to Yale medical students, cytoskeletal structure “but the fact is that the world’s top thereby prevent contamination. he and his wife Francine have made a changes under vari- scientists go to the MBL to meet and Levin subsequently spent more philanthropic commitment to establish Jack Levin ous conditions. collaborate on key questions in medi- than 20 summers doing research at the the Jack and Francine Levin Yale-at- Subramanian “was of course so cal science and basic biology.” MBL. He was a faculty member at the MBL Initiative for Student Research. brilliant and was able to learn this Levin’s experience at the MBL in Johns Hopkins University School of Second-year medical student really complex super-resolution the 1960s epitomized this rich scien- Medicine for 17 years and then moved Shobana Subramanian was selected microscopy, and she learned how to tific atmosphere. During their work to the University of California, San as the first Levin Fellow in 2018 and process the images,” Jonas says. “She on Limulus, anticoagulants that he and Francisco School of Medicine, where he spent this past summer at the MBL got amazing data by the end of the Bang had expected to prevent coagula- remains a member of the faculty of the conducting research on synaptic condi- summer.” Jonas and Subramanian tion had no effect on the crab’s blood, departments of Laboratory Medicine tions alongside Leonard Kaczmarek, are working together to prepare their which continued to clot. In what he and Medicine. Francine Levin was an PhD, professor of pharmacology and results for publication. calls “an act of scientific desperation,” important scientific collaborator and a of cellular and molecular biology, and The Levin Fellowship will support Levin prepared glassware that was co-author of many of his papers. Elizabeth A. Jonas, MD, professor up to five Yale medical students next free of endotoxin, which is a compo- Jack Levin sees medical school as a of medicine (endocrinology) and of summer and possibly a greater num- nent of Gram-negative bacteria like E. formative period in which scientific ex- neuroscience. ber in future years. Its aim is to enable coli. When he collected Limulus blood ploration can yield tremendous payoffs. The MBL, an affiliate of the YSM students to engage in biomedi- using the endotoxin-free glassware, His advice: “One should never hesitate University of Chicago, provides access cal research related to human health the blood did not clot, and so Levin to tackle a new unusual project because to, and training in, super-resolution at the MBL and encourage them to and Bang established that the blood you’re unfamiliar with it.” He hopes and high-resolution microscopy. The consider careers that include original coagulation mechanism in Limulus that future Levin Fellows will also have necessary instrumentation is offered at biomedical research. The Levins was sensitive to bacterial endotoxin. the experience of serendipity that he no cost by such specialty manufacturers hope that over time their initiative This observation paved the way for encountered at Woods Hole more than as Zeiss and Olympus. Subramanian will encourage the formation of a the development of what is known as five decades ago and shaped an impor- became adept with these imaging self-renewing community of YSM the Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) tant component of his life’s work.

4 www.medicineatyale.org advances Patient’s bequest supports research by her physician Health & Science News Behavior of cervical Posthumous gift adds to years of generous cancer virus is seen support for the Department of Medicine

Shortly after Walter Newberry Kernan, MD, profes- sor of medicine (general medicine) joined the School of Medicine faculty in 1989, he became Liesa Bing Allen’s primary care physician. Their doctor-patient relation- ship would last nearly three decades until her death on July 19, 2017, six days shy of her 87th birthday. Throughout her time as Kernan’s patient, Allen, a suc- Human papillomavirus (HPV), the vi- cessful attorney and corporate officer during her career, rus that causes cervical cancer, enters took an interest in his research, which focused on educa- the cells it infects inside a membrane- tion in primary care and secondary stroke prevention. bound sac called the endosome, a new “They had a relationship of mutual respect,” says Allen’s Yale study has found.

stepdaughter, Jane Allen. allen jane of courtesy A team led by Daniel DiMaio, MD, Early in that relationship, Allen donated money to the Liesa Bing Allen (above) and her primary care physician at Yale, Walter Newberry PhD, deputy director of Yale Cancer medical school to support education in the Department Kernan, developed a long doctor-patient relationship that inspired Allen to give Center and Waldemar Von Zedtwitz financial support to education in the Department of Medicine during her life- of Medicine. The gift was directed toward improving the time, and then to make a $1 million bequest that continues to support Kernan’s Professor of Genetics, and profes- research into preventing stroke, as well as targeting health care disparities that training of students and residents at the school. “This may adversely affect medical education. sor of molecular biophysics and funding was instrumental in several studies that used biochemistry, and of therapeutic novel databases at Yale to examine and improve emerging “gave me an insight into her brilliance, her moral compass radiology, had previously found that practices in office-based education,” says Kernan. and the sensibilities that underlaid her grace, strength, and the retromer protein shepherds HPV As her final years approached, Allen wanted her finan- generosity. She would tell stories about her life which af- from the endosome to the nucleus by cial support of Yale School of Medicine to continue after fected my awareness of bigotry and the opportunities we all grabbing onto an HPV protein called her death. She shared this wish with Kernan. “She invited have to treat each other with respect and care. I learned a lot L2. But it was unclear in what way the me to help with the language for a gift so that the funds from her. I am sure many other people can say the same.” retromer, in the cytoplasm, could ac- could be used to support ideas and purposes that we had Kernan plans to use some of her funds to explore how cess L2, within the endosome. discussed over the years, particularly education and stroke health care payment disparities may affect primary care In a study published Aug. 16 in Cell, prevention,” he says. education among medical students and residents. Some DiMaio and his team reveal that a Nearly nine months after Liesa’s death, her husband teaching institutions establish separate clinics or care short portion of L2, a cell-penetrating of 35 years, Milton Allen, and Jane Allen presented Ker- pathways for patients who are uninsured or underinsured. peptide (CPP), protrudes from the en- nan with the final installment of this bequest, a check for Research has not yet demonstrated how widespread this dosome into the cytoplasm. When the $1 million. When Allen’s family learned about the bequest practice is or its consequences. However, Kernan says, “We CPP, which is next to L2’s retromer and her previous donations, which Liesa—who kept her risk conveying the message to students and residents that binding site, enters the cytoplasm, philanthropy private—had not disclosed to them, they say it’s okay to treat different patients differently. I think Mrs. it brings along the retromer binding they were not surprised. Milton Allen describes his wife as a Allen would be interested in this issue because she had a site and exposes it to the retromer, principled person with a long, though quiet, history of giv- very strong interest in helping those with limited resources the researchers found. Drugs that ing, including completely funding the educations of several to have a fair opportunity.” target the CPP or retromer binding children she had encountered through the years. “Dr. Ker- Liesa Allen’s final gift also helped Kernan complete could potentially block HPV infection, nan was another person that she ran into that she wanted to secondary analyses of data from the Insulin Resistance DiMaio says, and his lab is testing do something for,” says Milton Allen. “So, she did it.” Intervention after Stroke (IRIS) trial, leading to publica- that possibility. Her principles grew from a personal history of adver- tion in the journal Circulation, among others. The main sity. When she was a young girl, Allen and her parents IRIS trial showed that a medication lowering cellular Labs visualize cell fled Nazi Germany in 1938 for the United States. “Those resistance to insulin reduces the risk of subsequent stroke “skeleton” structure experiences as a refugee affected her character and how she in insulin-resistant, nondiabetic patients who have previ- dealt with people for the rest of her life,” says Milton Allen. ously experienced a stroke. He plans to devote more of the The protein filamin and its close rela- “She was always very concerned people were treated fairly,” funds to studying novel stroke prevention methods. tives help assemble filaments of the says Jane Allen, which motivated her philanthropy. Kernan says he is grateful that Allen entrusted him protein actin into a kind of cellular As Kernan learned more about Allen through the years, with her bequest. “My job,” he says, “is to be sure that the skeleton. A number of genetic dis- he came to know her concerns with fairness and equity. good that comes out of this opportunity is commensurate eases result from defects in this cyto- Occasionally, Allen would tell him stories that, Kernan says, with her intentions and the goodwill in her heart.” skeleton. Researchers led by Charles V. Sindelar, PhD, associate professor of molecular biophysics and biochem- istry, and David A. Calderwood, PhD, Leducq Transatlantic Network makes Schwartz a team leader associate professor of pharmacology It is rare for science to identify one CRISPR to perform a Leducq in 1996 to fund cardiovascular and of cell biology, have used cryo- key protein that determines a cell’s genome-wide screen and neurovascular research. In 2003, the EM to visualize the 3D structure of behavior in health and disease. KLF2 is in endothelial cells, organization established the Transat- filamin’s actin-binding section as it one such protein. Among other func- the cells that line lantic Networks of Excellence program tions, “it is the principal transcriptional attaches to actin. blood vessels. The to foster collaborative research in these pathway that keeps your arteries open The protein, they found, has three friction generated domains. According to its mission state- and healthy,” says Martin A. Schwartz, by blood flow past ment, the fight against vascular disease is actin binding sites. Each has slight PhD, Robert W. Berliner Professor of these cells induces a battle that “should be waged at the in- nuances in how it binds to actin and Medicine (Cardiology) and professor of KLF2 expression, and ternational level.” Including the five 2018 which part of the actin structure it biomedical engineering and of cell biol- Martin Schwartz Schwartz and Coon grants, the foundation has supported interacts with. They then showed ogy. Because it performs this essential wanted to know which genes mediate 62 of these networks. how slight changes in filamin’s actin- role, Schwartz takes particular interest this process. “What we got out of it During the early stages of this binding section, or domain, can inter- in anomalies in KLF2 expression that was astounding,” says Schwartz. The project, Schwartz and his network rupt its connection to actin. underlie multiple vascular diseases. screen produced a hit list of 500 pos- will develop tools to test the hit list’s The findings, published Sept. 16 in Fondation Leducq’s Transatlantic sible genes. “The trouble is, to really genetic targets. The Schwartz Lab will Nature Structural Molecular Biology, Networks of Excellence program has exploit this amount of data, you need a receive $1.16 million of the grant to un- awarded Schwartz and a network of explain why mutations linked to ge- team,” he says. ravel the signaling network that allows five other researchers, from North netic diseases are so detrimental. The Schwartz began reaching out to blood flow to influence KLF2 expres- America and Europe, a five-year, $6 mil- other investigators. After talking to a sion. Other investigators will test these actin-binding domain must open and lion grant to study the KLF2 transcrip- colleague about possible experiments genes in vitro in endothelial cells as close to bind actin, and some disease tion factor. Schwartz will oversee the and funding, “we decided that Leducq well as in vivo in mice. At the end of the mutations apparently enhance this North American researchers of the would be a good way to do it,” he says. grant period, Schwartz says, “we will opening, leading to increasing binding, network, marking the fourth time a Yale They forged a team from both sides have realistic drug targets.” while others more directly disrupt the professor has played such a role. of the Atlantic and took their plan to Schwartz projects confidence in his interactions between one of filamin’s Two years ago, a postdoctoral Leducq, which endorsed it. team’s ability to push vascular research actin-binding sites and actin, leading researcher in the Schwartz Lab, Brian G. Based in Paris, Fondation Leducq was forward. “I think it’s a problem that is to an entirely separate disease. Coon, PhD, used the gene-editing tool founded by the late Jean and Sylviane ripe to be solved.” he says.

Medicine@Yale February/March 2019 5 Grants and contracts awarded David Schatz, NIH, Interdisciplinary Immunology Jessica Cerdena, Richard Bribiescas, Robert Wood Training Program, 5 years, $3,314,619; NIH, Mecha- Johnson Foundation, Health Policy Research Schol- nism and Targeting of V(D)J Recombination, 5 years, ars Program, Health Policy Research Scholars - to Yale School of Medicine $2,301,595 • Christian Schlieker, NIH, Defining the Minor, 5 years, $120,000 • Sidi Chen, V Foundation Nuclear Envelope-resident Protein Turnover for Cancer Research, Tackling Epigenetic Drivers of Machinery Implicated in Diseases Affecting Choles- Medulloblastoma in Vivo, 2 years, $200,000 • Chris- September 2017–December 2017 terol Metabolism, 3.3 years, $1,265,581 • Martin tian Connell, State of Rhode Island Dept. of Chil- Schwartz, Gaudenz Danuser, Mark Ginsberg, NIH, dren, Youth & Families (DHHS), Evaluation of RI Federal and in Vitro Systems to Validate Geronic Proteins Mechanisms of Mechanosensing through Integrins, TIPS-MAPP Curriculum, 1.2 years, $65,000 • Philip Syed Ali, NIH, Function of Slack Potassium Channels and Their Mechanisms of Action, 3.7 years, 3.7 years, $1,648,200 • Gerald Shulman, NIH, Corlett, University of Maryland (NIH), Predictive in Early Onset Epilepsy and Intellectual Disabilities, $2,093,519 • Henry Huang, NIH, Novel PET Radio- Effects of Hepatic Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase Inhibi- Coding as a Framework for Understanding Psycho- 3 years, $176,906 • Susan Baserga, NIH, A New Role tracer for Muscarinic M1 Receptor, 2.8 years, tion on NAFLD and Hepatic Insulin Resistance, sis, 11 months, $294,770 • Kelly Cosgrove, Brain & for the PAX9 Protein in Ribosome Biogenesis, $2,357,664 • Shuta Ishibe, NIH, Role of Clathrin 4.9 years, $3,656,218 • Justin Shyer, NIH, Metabolic Behavior Research Foundation (formerly NARSAD), 4 years, $1,260,397 • Jeffrey Bender, NIH, Competi- Mediated Endocytosis in Podocyte Biology, 5 years, Regulation of Follicular B Helper T (Tfh) Cell Devel- Imaging Glucocorticoid and Neuronal Dysfunction tive Macrophage microRNA-RNA Binding Protein $1,884,375; DoD, Targeting Histone Deacetylase in opment, 3 years, $132,612 • Michael Simons, NIH, in PTSD, 2 years, $99,986 • Nicholas Dainiak, Joseph Interactions in Wound Repair, 3.9 years, $1,289,752 Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis—From Mice Syndecan Function in Endothelial Cells, 4 years, Albanese, Oak Ridge Assoc. Universities, Inter- Steven Bernstein, NIH, Yale Scholars in Implemen- to Patients, 3 years, $1,195,342 • Yasuko Iwakiri, $2,022,285 • Albert Sinusas, James Duncan, NIH, laboratory Comparison of Procedures, Calibration tation Science (YSIS), 4.8 years, $2,975,435 • Linda NIH, The Role of Kupffer Cells in Alcohol-Induced Image Guided Delivery of Bioresponsive Hydrogels, Curves and Results for Cytogenetic Biodosimetry Bockenstedt, NIH, Pathogenesis of Borrelia miya- Liver Disease, 5 years, $1,895,974 • Monika Jadi, 4 years, $3,069,279 • Dana Small, Sonia Caprio, NIH, Laboratories Located at Yale and the Radiation motoi Infection and Lyme Coinfection in Mice, NIH, Cholinergic Modulation of Cortical Visual Pro- Neurocognition in Youth with Prediabetes, 4.9 years, Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site 5 years, $2,093,750 • Douglas Brash, NIH, Chemiex- cessing, 2.9 years, $722,629 • Elizabeth Jonas, NIH, $3,795,286 • Dieter Soll, Jeffrey Townsend, (REACTS), 1.6 years, $218,999 • Amy Davidoff, Lung citation: A New Mode of Skin Disease, 3.9 years, Requirement for Enhanced Metabolic Efficiency in NSF, CCI Phase I: Center for Genetically Encoded Cancer Research Foundation, Patterns of Palliative $1,670,093 • Christopher Burd, NIH, Lipid Dynamics Hippocampal LTP, 1.9 years, $399,879 • Amy Justice, Chemical Materials (C-GEM), 3 years, $1,800,001 Care and Concurrent Therapy for Lung Cancer at in the Golgi Apparatus, 4.3 years, $1,638,320 NIH, 3/3 COMpAAAS Tripartite: ART-CC, KP, and Yajaira Suarez, NIH, MicroRNAs in Vascular Dis- End-of-Life: Implications for Quality, 2 years, Jason Cai, NIH, Synthesis and Evaluation of an VA, 4.9 years, $2,908,542 • Robert Kerns, Cynthia eases, 4 years, $1,687,412 • Zhaoxia Sun, NIH, Role of $149,270 • Henk De Feyter, James S. McDonnell 18F Labeled SV2A Ligand as a Novel Biomarker for Brandt, Peter Peduzzi, NIH, Pain Management Col- Cilia in Renal Fibrosis, 4.7 years $1,884,375 • Carson Foundation, 21st Century Science Initiative-Planning Alzheimer’s Disease, 6 months, $170,629 • Sree- laboratory Coordinating Center (PMC3), 5.9 years, Thoreen, NIH, Translational Control of Gene Grant: Explore Opportunities to use Magnetic Reso- ganga Chandra, Charles Greer, DoD, Mechanisms $9,755,798 • Trace Kershaw, Nathan Hansen, NIH, Expression by the mTOR Pathway, 5 years, nance Spectroscopy (MRS) Together with Meta- of Olfactory Deficits in Parkinson’s Disease, 3 years, Using Smart Phones to Understand the Link $1,758,750 • Susumu Tomita, NIH, Mechanisms for bolic Perturbations to Study Effects on Brain Func- $586,250 • Sandy Chang, NIH, Role of BRIT1 in Telo- Between Social and Geographical Context and HIV Synaptic Localization of Ionotropic GABA Recep- tional-Neuroenergetic Networks, 1 year, $50,000 mere Dysfunctional Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Risk Behavior Among MSM, 4.7 years, $4,143,253 tors in the Brain, 5 years, $2,093,750 • Anthony Van Robin de Graaf, University of Minnesota (NIH), 2 years, $167,500 • Katarzyna Chawarska, Joseph Daryl Klein, NIH, Harnessing Receptor Pleiotropy to den Pol, NIH, Zona Incerta GABA Neurons Modu- Imaging Human Brain Function with Minimal Mobil- Chang, Todd Constable, Laura Ment, Kelly Powell, Control Cancer, 3 years, $430,314 • Diane Krause, late Energy Homeostasis, 4.8 years, $2,009,140 ity Restrictions, 1.2 years, $769,181 • Enrique De La Flora Vaccarino, Fred Volkmar, NIH, Cellular, NIH, Megakaryocyte Erythroid Progenitor Fate Tiara Willie, NIH, She’s PrEPared: The Impact of Cruz, University of California, Davis (NIH), Function Molecular, and Functional Imaging Approaches to Specification, 4 years, $2,061,936 • Maria Lara- Intimate Partner Violence on Women’s Engage- and Regulation of a DEAD-box Protein in mRNA Understanding Early Neurodevelopment in Autism, Tejero, Joerg Bewersdorf, NIH, Structural and ment in the PrEP Care Continuum, 2.2 years, $88,568 Export, 4.7 years, $251,250 • Gail D’Onofrio, State of 4.9 years, $4,810,051 • Xi Chen, NIH, Social Pension, Functional Characterization of the Salmonella Frederick Wilson, NIH, Mechanistic Dissection of CT Dept. of Public Health (DHHS), CT DPH Prescrip- Health, and Healthy Aging, 4 years, $513,518 Typhimurium Type III Secretion System Sorting an Arginine Methyltransferase Dependency in tion Drug Overdose Prevention for States, 1.8 years, Hyung Joon Chun, NIH, Molecular Mechanisms of Platform, 1.9 years, $460,625 • Francis Lee, NIH, Cancer, 5 years, $876,420 • Francis Wilson, DoD, $728,538 • James Duncan, Pamela Ventola, George Neonatal Pulmonary Hemorrhage, 1.9 years, ERK Signaling in Inflammatory Bone Loss, 2 years, Targeting Histone Deacetylase in Focal Segmental Washington University (NIH), Multimodal Develop- $631,803 • Daniel Colon-Ramos, NIH, Cellular and $767,890; NIH, Modification of Bone Grafts for Glomerulosclerosis - From Mice to Patients, 3 years, mental Neurogenetics of Females with ASD, Molecular Mechanisms that Modulate Synaptic Orthopaedic Procedures, 4 years, $2,157,614 $1,295,599 • Dan Wu, NIH, DKK2 Regulates NK 4.9 years, $1,674,159 • Tore Eid, University of Con- Function and Plasticity, 5 years, $2,191,560 • Daniel Morgan Levine, Gerald Shadel, NIH, Molecular Activation and Tumor Immunity, 5 years, $2,566,560 necticut Health Center, UConn Health Personal Colon-Ramos, Zhirong Bao, William Mohler, NIH, Mechanisms and Social Constructs: How Genes Xiaoyu Xue, NIH, Functions of the DNA/RNA Service, 1 month, $4,369 • Stephanie Eisenbarth, WormGUIDES: A Resource for Global Understand- and Environment Regulate the Rate of Aging, Motor Protein AQR in R-loop Resolution, 9 months, Bloodworks Northwest (NIH), Immunobiology of ing in Dynamic Embryonic Systems, 3.7 years, 2.7 years, $772,656 • Morgan Levine, Gerald $209,375 • Yang Yang-Hartwich, NIH, A New Transfusion, 1.3 years, $420,844 • Carrie Epstein, $3,242,190 • Edward Courchaine, NIH, Cajal Body Shadel, Christopher Van Dyck, NIH, Molecular Ovarian Cancer Mouse Model Based on Nanoparti- National Children’s Alliance, Introducing, Imple- Assembly Mechanisms in Vitro and in the Context Networks Underlying Resilience To Alzheimer’s cle Gene Delivery, 1.9 years, $160,750 • Jessica Ye, menting and Evaluating CFTSI in Children’s Advo- of Neurodegenerative Disease, 3 years, $73,300 Disease Among Apoe4 Carriers, 4.7 years, NIH, Insulin Signaling in Tissue Resident Macro- cacy Centers in the Northwestern U.S., 1.9 years, Joseph Craft, Richard Flavell, NIH, An in Vivo $4,542,145 • Don Li, NIH, Mechanistically Linking phages, 3 years, $107,052 • Laura Yockey, NIH, $110,000; National Children’s Alliance, Spreading CRISPR-Cas9 Genetic Screen in Murine Primary T Insulin Action and the Thermic Effect of Food, Immune Control of Zika Virus after Vaginal Infec- and Sustaining Child and Family Traumatic Stress Cells to Discover Metabolic Regulators of Follicular 3 years, $106, • Judith Lichtman, NIH, Patterns of tion, 3 years, $109,708 • Z. Jimmy Zhou, NIH, Visual Intervention (CFTSI) in Child Advocacy Centers in B Helper T (Tfh) Cell Differentiation, 2 years, Recurrent Stroke in the Elderly, 1.9 years, $834,672 Science Training Grant, 5 years, $681,929 the Carolinas, 2 years, $198,373 • Thomas Fernan- $809,597 • Amy Davidoff, NIH, Patterns of Medica- Jun Liu, NIH, Structural Basis of Phage Infection and dez, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo Sequencing tion Therapy and Patient-Reported among Older DNA Ejection, 1.5 years, $311,515; NIH, Structural Non-federal Agreement, 1 year, $16,000 • Alfonso Galderisi, Adults with Cancer: SEER-MHOS Part D Linkage, Basis of Signaling Between Bacterial Chemorecep- Clara Abraham, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Robert Leet and Clara Guthrie Patterson Trust, 1.2 years, $99,932 • Pietro De Camilli, Katherine tors and Flagella, 2 years, $524,375; NIH, Structure- Sinai (ISMMS) (NIH), Mount Sinai School of Medi- Pathogenesis of Youth Onset Pre-diabetes and Type Bownes, NIH, Lipid Transfer at Membrane Contact Function Relationships in the Spirochetal Flagellar cine Inflammatory Bowel Disease Genetics Research 2 Diabetes: Effect of TCF7L2 on Beta Cell Function Sites in Neuronal Function, 4.8 years, $1,825,240 Motor, 2.7 years, $1,372,082 • Naila Makhani, NIH, Center, 11 months, $103,947 • Thomas Adams, Inter- and Incretin Response, 2 years, $100,000 • Patrick Pietro De Camilli, Xinran Liu, Derek Toomre, NSF, The Radiologically Isolated Syndrome in Children, national Obsessive Compulsive Foundation, Non- Gallagher, New York Blood Center (NIH), Red Cell MRI: Acquisition of a Focused Ion Beam Scanning 5 years, $791,856 • Robert Malison, NIH, Assessing Invasive Brain Stimulation to Improve Consolidation Membrane Studies (Project), 1.4 years, $320,288; Electron Microscope (FIB-SEM) for Large Volume Glutamate Homeostasis in Cocaine Addiction of Therapeutic Learning Memories, 2 years, $48,646 New York Blood Center (NIH), Red Cell Membrane 3-Dimensional Imaging of Whole Cells, 3 years, Using 7T 1H-MRS, 2 years $460,625; NIH, Imaging Jean Adnopoz, Child Health & Development Inst. of Studies (Core), 1.4 years, $169,538 • Alison Galvani, $698,558 • Robin de Graaf, NIH, Robust 3D MR Complement Component 4 Gene Effects on Connecticut, Singh CONNECT FY18 Agreement, Oxford University, ATF: Projections on Eliminating Spectroscopic Imaging through Multi-Coil Mag- Human Synaptic Density in Vivo Using 11C-UCB-J 1 year, $98,471 • Kathleen Akgun, University of Colo- NTDs (Integrating Mapping with Modelling), 1 year, netic Field Shaping, 3.7 years, $1,882,538 • Nicole PET, 2 years, $404,250 • Nikhil Malvankar, NIH, rado Denver, Duke University, Refinement and $63,698 • Guadalupe Garcia-Tsao, University of Deziel, James Saiers, Environmental Protection Targeting Bacterial Infections by Imaging Electrical Expansion of the Palliative Care Research Coopera- Pittsburgh (NIH), Molecular Subtypes for Targeted Agency, Drinking Water Vulnerability and Neonatal Interactions Between Host Surface Pathogens, tive Group (PCRC), 10 months, $28,000 • Frederick Therapies in Alcoholic Hepatitis, 1.3 years, $30,004 Health Outcomes in Relation to Oil and Gas Produc- 4.8 years, $2,479,145 • Gilbert Moeckel, DoD, MIF Altice, University of Connecticut (NIH), Testing a Evan Geller, Autism Speaks, High-throughput tion in the Appalachian Basin, 3 years, $1,998,515 as Preventive Drug Against Combat Injury-Related Bio-Behavioral Primary HIV Prevention Intervention Screens to Discover Regulatory Mechanisms Con- George Dragoi, NIH, Development of Predictive Acute Renal Failure, 3 years, $1,218,967 • Gil Mor, Among High-Risk People Who Use Drugs, 1.3 years, tributing to Autism Spectrum Disorder, 2 years, Coding Networks for Spatial Navigation, 5 years, NIH, Discovery to Cure Summer Program, 4.8 years, $78,720 • Kumar Ashtekar, Arnold and Mable $64,000 • Mark Gerstein, University of Chicago $2,093,750 • Deepak D’Souza, NIH, Fatty Acid $540,000 • Kristen Morie, NIH, Development Beckman Foundation, Development of Novel Plat- (NIH), Center for Functional Validation and Evalua- Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) Inhibitor Treatment for of Reward Processing in Prenatally Exposed forms Toward Expanding the Druggable Kinome, tion of ENCODE Enhancer Regions, 1.3 years, Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD), 2.8 years, $8,633,637; Adolescents and Young Adults, 5 years, $907,145 2 years, $139,673 • Lynnette Averill, American Foun- $48,146 • Antonio Giraldez, University of Utah NIH, Synaptic Vesicle Density in Cannabis Depen- Rebecca Muhle, NIH, Mapping Regulatory Net- dation for Suicide Prevention, Brain Connectivity (NIH), Initial Formation of 3D Chromatin Domains in dence, 2 years, $460,625 • Thomas Fernandez, works of Autism Risk at Cellular Resolution during Networks and Predictors of Rapid Improvement in Early Vertebrate Embryos, 1.5 years, $226,681; NIH, Neurogenetic Investigations of Obsessive- Neurodevelopment, 4 years, $616,340 • John Suicidal Ideation Among Veterans, 1.5 years, Simons Foundation, Effect of Autism Risk Genes in Compulsive Disorder, 5 years, $2,760,879 • Carlos Murray, NIH, Linking Large-Scale Dysconnectivity $85,000 • William Becker, Northern California Insti- Neural Cell Identity Using Single Cell Seq., 3 years, Fragoso, NIH, COPD Pharmacotherapy in Aging in Schizophrenia to Cortical Circuit Function at the tute for Research & Education (NIH), Implementa- $825,000 • Valentina Greco, Glenn Foundation for Populations, 2 years, $167,500 • Gigi Galiana, NIH, Individual Level through Computational Modeling tion of a Pragmatic Trial of Whole Health Team vs. Medical Research, Glenn Foundation Unsolicited Practical Nonlinear Gradient Encoding for and Multimodal Neuroimaging, 4 years, $1,660,406 Primary Care Group Education to Promote Non- Award, 2 years, $60,000 • Abigail Greene, American Enhanced Accelerated Imaging, 4.8 years, Mandar Muzumdar, NIH, Elucidating KRAS-Specific Pharmacological Strategies to Improve Pain, Func- Psychiatric Association, Health ACT: Toward $1,507,500 • Mark Gerstein, NSF, Collaborative Vulnerabilities in Pancreatic Cancer, 3.7 years, tioning, and Quality of Life in Veterans, 1.9 years, Improved Integration of Primary and Behavioral Proposal: ABI Innovation: A Graph Based Approach $702,675 • Xenophon Papademetris, Dustin $66,148 • Morris Bell, University of Texas at Arling- Health Care, 1 year, $4,579 • Jeffrey Gruen, Lafay- for the Genome Wide Prediction of Conditionally Scheinost, NIH, Multi-context Software for Robust ton (NSF), PFI:BIC: iWork, a Smart Robot-Based ette College (NIH), Genes to Behavior: Unlocking Essential Genes, 3 years, $1,203,514 • Leigh and Reproducible Neuroscience Image Analysis, Service for Vocational Assessment, Personalized the Code for Early Detection of Reading Disorder, Goedeke, NIH, Effect of Liver-Specific Acetyl-CoA 2.8 years, $1,223,156 • Chirag Parikh, NIH, AKI Training and Rehabilitation, 3 years, $383,822 Helene 3 years, $38,733 • David Hafler, The Saudi Arabian Carboxylase Inhibition on Hepatic Steatosis and Matched Phenotype Linked Evaluation with Tissue Benveniste, SUNY Stony Brook (NIH), Nitric Oxide- Cultural Mission, Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroim- Insulin Resistance, 2 years, $116,832 • Carlos Grilo, (AMPLE-Tissue), 9 months, $377,001 • Katerina Mediated Changes in Glymphatic and CSF Systems munology Fellowship (Saudi Arabia), 1 year, $75,807; Sherry McKee, NIH, Efficacy and Mechanisms of Politi, DoD, Functional Characterization and Model- in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease, 5 years, $1,170,561 The Nancy Taylor Foundation for Chronic Diseases, Naltrexone & Bupropion for Binge Eating Disorder, ing of Acquired Resistance to Immune Modulation • Ranjit Bindra, Stephanie Halene, Leukemia and Inc., Longitudinal, Single-cell Assessment to Define 4.8 years, $3,615,287 • Jaime Grutzendler, NIH, Bio- in Lung Cancer, 2 years, $586,250 • Lajos Pusztai, Lymphoma Society, Exploiting Mutant IDH1/2- the Mechanism of B Cell Depletion Therapy in Auto- logical Basis of Post-Delirium Cognitive Decline, NIH, Immune Biological Differences between Triple induced BRCAness with PARP Inhibitors as a Novel immunity, 2 years, $216,000 • Kassandra Harding, 4.8 years, $2,853,240 • Ruth Halaban, NIH, Integra- Negative Breast Cancer in African American and AML/MDS Therapy, 3 years, $600,000 International Society for Research in Human Milk tive Genomic Biomarkers for Predicting Response non-African American Women and Potential Ranjit Bindra, W. Mark Saltzman, Alex’s Lemonade and Lactation, Will #Breastfeeding4Ghana Go to Immunotherapy in Melanoma Patients, 2 years, Immunotherapy Opportunities to Improve Treat- Stand, Development of Nanoparticle-encapsulated Viral? Evaluating the Impact and Potential of the $400,744 • Marc Hammarlund, Oliver Hobert, ment Outcome, 4 years, $1,974,200 • Elizabeth Chemo/Radio-Sensitizers for Intrathecal Delivery, First Breastfeeding Social Media Marketing Cam- David Miller, Nenad Sestan, NIH, Discovery and Ralevski, NIH, Effect of Allopregnanolone on 2 years, $250,000 • Marc Brackett, University of paign in Ghana, 1.4 years, $99,215 • Jeanne Hen- Analysis of the C. elegans Neuronal Gene Expres- Stress-induced Craving, 3 years, $343,613 • Jesse Tennessee, UT RULER Training, 1 year, $12,000 drickson, Bloodworks Northwest (NIH), Immunobi- sion Network (CENGEN), 4.8 years, $6,081,264 Rinehart, NIH, Expanding the Genetic Code with Demetrios Braddock, Texas Children’s Hospital ology of Transfusion, 1.3 years, $404,764 • Kevan Alicia Heapy, Christopher Ruser, NIH, Cooperative Phosphotyrosine and Phosphothreonine, 4 years, (NIH), Novel Pathways in Ischemic Stroke in Sickle Herold, Albert Einstein College of Medicine (NIH), Pain Education and Self-management: Expanding $1,084,289 • Marc Rosen, Steve Martino, NIH, Cell Anemia, 11 months, $10,162 • Christina Camell, Mechanisms Underlying the HIV-HSV-2 Syndemic, Treatment for Real-world Access (COPES ExTRA), Engaging Veterans Seeking Service-Connection American Federation for Aging Research, Macro- 1 year, $267,053; University of California, San Fran- 1.9 years, $1,090,947 • Michael Higley, NIH, Cellular Payments in Pain Treatment, 1.9 years, $1,176,868 phage Inflammasome Activation and the Mecha- cisco, Identification of Antigen-specific Responses Mechanisms of GABAergic Inhibition in Neocortical Craig Roy, NIH, Functional and Structural Analysis nism of Lipolysis Resistance in Aged Adipose, in Patients with Autoimmune Endocrinopathies Fol- Dendrites, 4.9 years, $2,091,810 • Tamas Horvath, of the Legionella Pneumophila Dot/Icm Apparatus, 2 years, $120,000 • Lloyd Cantley, Augusta Univer- lowing Checkpoint Inhibition in Cancer Immuno- NIH, AgRP Neurons Promote the Effects of Calorie 2 years, $460,625 • Santiago Salazar, NIH, sity (Formerly Georgia Regents University) (NIH), therapy, 1 year, $110,000; L2 Diagnostics (NIH), Restriction on Lifespan, 3.7 years, $1,733,964 Investigating the Role of Pyk2 in Alzheimer’s Simultaneous Spatially Preserved Protein and mRNA Novel Diagnostic for Autoimmunity from Check- Tamas Horvath, Matthew Lawrence, NIH, In Vivo Disease Pathophysiology, 9 months, $38,083 Expression Profiling of the Hum, 1 year, $99,538 point Inhibitor Immune Therapy, 1 year, $98,663

6 www.medicineatyale.org Developing more resilience in children and communities

Joint program to counteract Scholastic, the global children’s pub- Karen Baicker, publisher life-diminishing hardships lishing, education, and media compa- for family and commu- ny, and the Child Study Center expect nity engagement cur- in families and communities the partnership to operate like a think riculum at Scholastic. tank, to which both will contribute and Through the Dis- Physicians, in their often-limited from which ideas will emerge organi- cover Together program, time with patients, try their best to cally and become concrete products parents and children zero in on a person’s deficits—his or and practices. Both groups see their learn storytelling. Par- her physical and emotional vulnera- individual differences as their collec- ents can use the skills to bilities—and find a way to shore them tive strength. “We’re bringing together instill in their children up. But it often is a person’s strength, people who are immersed in the de- the sense of security they an area on which physicians cannot velopment of children’s literature with need in order to be resil-

always afford the time to focus, that people who are immersed in the care of ient. Stories about family dettmer m. amanda can make the difference between children’s mental health,” says Mayes. origins help children feel The collaboration between the Yale Child Study Center (CSC) and Scholastic includes (l-r): Greg Worrell, president, Scholastic Education; sickness and health. That is especially “In a partnership between a for-profit grounded. Stories about Fay Brown (CSC), Karen Baicker, publisher for family and community true in children’s mental health. and a not-for-profit, there are interest- others overcoming ad- engagement, Scholastic; Linda Mayes, chair of CSC; Janelle Cherrington, “How do you foster that resilience ing and different ways of thinking that versity help children feel SVP and publisher, Scholastic Education, and Megan Smith (CSC). in children, their ability to bend and come together, too.” safe. “The single most not break in the face of challenging The Child Study Center and developmentally nurturing condition well-being are inextricably linked. stressors?” asks Linda C. Mayes, MD, Scholastic started their work to- is relationships,” says Mayes. “Having They expect their collaboration to Arnold Gesell Professor of Child Psy- gether in 2012 when they teamed people around who can put adversity result in numerous materials that chiatry, Pediatrics, and Psychology, and up to pilot Discover Together in ru- into context, help children come back will promote the two simultaneous- chair of the Yale Child Study Center. ral Grundy County, Tennessee. The to the baseline, and say, ‘You’re going ly. Among the ideas already on the The new Yale Child Study Center- literacy and place-based educational to be ok.’ ” table are to adapt Discover Together Scholastic Collaborative for Child and program aims to build community For children who live in the shadow for other locations; to create class- Family Resilience aims to answer that pride and strengthen relationships of poverty, addiction, or violence, room materials that destigmatize question. The two organizations antici- in order to develop family and com- stories are a vehicle for changing their childhood mental health problems; pate a long-term alliance that will yield munity resilience. circumstances. “If kids understand and to develop a tool to assess the numerous methods to cultivate resil- “One of the biggest predictors of the idea of story, they can craft their skills inherent in resilience. ience in children, families, and commu- resilience is social connectedness, so own narratives and imagine different Scholastic is the ideal partner nities that face ongoing adversity. our initial research question was, ‘Can futures,” says Baicker. for this work, says Mayes. “It stands The Collaborative is not a pro- literacy be used to foster those con- Scholastic and the Child Study out as a company that truly cares gram with a fixed endpoint. Instead, nections that build resilience?’ ” says Center agree that education and about children.”

Joy Hirsch, Haskins Laboratories (NIH), Tracking Utilization Among Justice-Involved Men in a Spe- Disciplinary Practices, 4 months, $20,000 • David University, FSU Minding the Baby FY18, 3 months, Neurocognitive Changes During Computer-Aided cialized Primary Care Setting: The Role of Trauma in Rimm, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Tar- $11,550 • Robin Stern, The Lower Eastside Girls Reading Instruction in Typically and Atypically Patient Engagement, 1 year, $16,200 • Steven geted and Immune Therapies in Breast Cancer, Club, RULER Training The Island School, 7 months, Developing Children, 1.8 years, $291,301 • Karen Marans, New Alliance Foundation, Child Develop- 1 year, $250,000; University of Michigan, Financial $15,000 • David Stitelman, Cystic Fibrosis Founda- Hirschi, Columbia University (NIH), Multi-tissue ment-Community Policing Program, 1 year, $5,000; Support for the Breast Cancer Intergroup Correla- tion (CFF), Fetal Gene Editing for Treatment of Platform for Modeling Systemic Pathologies, National Children’s Alliance, Introducing, Imple- tive Science Studies, 1 year, $19,399 • Marjorie Cystic Fibrosis, 2.7 years, $216,000 • Carla Stover, 10 months, $83,750 • Michael Hoge, Southern menting, and Evaluating Child and Family Traumatic Rosenthal, Child Health & Development Inst. of University of South Florida (NIH), IPV and Father- Connecticut State University, Southern Connecti- Stress Intervention in the Carolinas, 4 months, Connecticut, Healthy Eating through Group Well hood Intervention in Residential Substance Abuse cut University, Department of Social Work, $5,000 • Carolyn Mazure, Jennifer Culhane, Child Care, 2 years, $59,903 • Joseph Ross, Regents Treatment, 9 months, $94,468 • Carla Stover, 10 months, $37,210 • Melinda Irwin, Breast Cancer Michelle Silasi, Eppley Foundation, Viral Infections of the University of Minnesota (DHHS), Medical Belinda Oliver, University of South Florida (NIH), Research Foundation, Biological and Biochemical During Pregnancy: Enhancing Detection and Reduc- Reversals: De-implementing Ineffective and Unsafe Randomized Controlled Trial of Prenatal Co-parent- Effects of Exercise and Diet on Breast Tissue, 1 year, ing Adverse Outcomes, 1 year, $25,000 • Wajahat Treatments, 10 months, $30,184; New York Univer- ing Intervention for African American Fragile Fami- $250,000; Oregon Health Sciences University Mehal, Gilead Sciences, Cellular Mechanism of sity School of Medicine (DHHS), Understanding lies, 1.3 years, $48,870 • Stephen Strittmatter, (NIH), SWOG NCORP Research Base, 1.7 years, Action of ASK1 Specific Inhibitors in Reducing Hospital Readmission Rates: Patients, Hospital and Dr. Ralph & Marian Falk Med. Res. Trust, Fyn Kinase $52,232 • Nikhil Joshi, Lung Cancer Research Foun- Hepatocyte Steatosis and HSC Activation, Community Effects, 1 year, $12,432 • Douglas Inhibition for the Tauopathy in Fronto-Temporal dation, Investigating Anti-tumor T Cell Function in 1.4 years, $52,300 • Kofi Mensah, Robert Leet and Rothman, Columbia University, Services Contract Dementia and Glaucoma, 1 year, $300,000 Autochthonous Models of Lung Adenocarcinoma, Clara Guthrie Patterson Trust, Erosive Rheumatoid between Columbia University and Yale University, William Tamborlane, George Washington Univer- 2 years, $150,000 • Kellie Ann Jurado, L’Oréal USA, Arthritis Correlates with Defective B Cell Expres- 1 year, $33,926 • Michael Rowe, Hospital Authority sity (NIH), Glycemia Reduction Approaches in American Association for the Advancement of sion of Ataxia-telangiectasia Mutated Protein, Hong Kong, Program for Allied Health Profession- Diabetes: A Comparative Effectiveness Study Science, Type I Interferon-mediated Zika Virus 11 months, $95,000 • Walther Mothes, Duke Uni- als in Recovery of People Experiencing Psychiatric (GRADE), 1.4 years, $737,117 • Hugh Taylor, Lubna Neuroimmuno Protection, 1 year, $60,000 • Benja- versity (NIH), The Conformational State of Immu- Disability, 3 months, $27,500 • Julia Rozanova, Pal, Mayo Clinic of Rochester (NIH), Prevention of min Kelmendi, Heffter Research Institute, Neural nogens Assessed by smFRET, 8 months, $199,650 Robert Leet and Clara Guthrie Patterson Trust, Alzheimer’s Disease in Women: Risks and Benefits Correlates of the Effects of Psilocybin in Obses- Linda Niccolai, American University (NIH), Social Improving HIV Prevention and Treatment in Prisons, of Hormone Therapy, 1 year, $273,037 • Janis sive-compulsive Disorder: a Double-blind, Placebo- Determinants of HIV/AIDS: The Intersecting 2 years, $95,000 • Joel Rozowsky, Beth Israel Dea- Tondora, Via Hope Texas Mental Health Resource, controlled Study, 1 year, $139,142 • Babar Khokhar, Impacts of Mass Incarceration, Housing Policy and coness Medical Center (NIH), The Impact of Circa- VIA HOPE Professional Service Agreement, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association (ALS Housing Instability, 3.5 years, $698,052 • James dian Rhythm in Obtaining Reference Profiles of 1.2 years, $34,931 • Christopher Van Dyck, Univer- Association), Memorandum of Understanding Noonan, Simons Foundation, Mapping ASD Regula- exRNAs in Healthy Individuals, 7 months, $20,062 sity of Southern California (NIH), Alzheimer’s (MOU) ALS Association CT Chapter (ALSACT) tory Networks at Cellular Resolution in Neurode- Helena Rutherford, Massage Therapy Foundation, Clinical Trials Consortium (ACTC), 1 year, $182,725 and Yale Department of Neurology (YDN), 1 year, velopment, 3 years, $825,000 • Elaine O’Keefe, Massage Therapy as an Adjunct Intervention to Arjun Venkatesh, Addiction Policy Forum, Rapid $40,000 • Anthony Koleske, Broad Institute, Trio State of CT Dept. of Public Health (DHHS), Basic Decrease Tobacco Use in Pregnancy, 2 years, Implementation and Assessment of Emergency Haploinsufficiency as a Therapeutic Target in Infection Control Training Project, 1.6 years, $137,162 $29,757 • Basmah Safdar, American Medical Asso- Department Interventions to Reduce Opioid Asso- Schizophrenia, 1 year, $100,247 • Alex Koral, Nasp- Stephanie O’Malley, Columbia University (NIH), ciation Foundation, Does Stereotyping of a Physi- ciated Harm, 3.2 years, $1,406,589 • Pamela ghan Foundation, Unsedated Transnasal Endos- Multi-site Study: Varenicline Treatment of Alcohol cian by Gender and Race Affect Patient Satisfac- Ventola, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia copy in Monitoring of Eosinophilic Esophagitis and Dependent Smokers, 1 year, $23,320 • Manoj Pillai, tion? Evidence from a Patient Analog Experiment, (DHHS), Autism Intervention Research Networks: Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori, 1 year, $5,000 Stephanie Halene, Fox Chase Cancer Center (NIH), 1 year, $10,000 • Tara Sanft, University of Connect- Online Parenting Training in Pivotal Response Treat- Priti Kumar, University of Utah (NIH), Center for Robust Rational Design of Chemical Tools to Inhibit icut (NIH), Multilevel Resilience Trajectories in the ment: Increasing Access to Care, 1 year, $21,529 the Structural Biology of Cellular Host Elements in RNA-binding Proteins, 10 months, $52,032 • David Transition to Cancer Survivorship, 11 months, Pamela Ventola, Kevin Pelphrey, Simons Founda- Egress, Trafficking, and Assembly of HIV (Cheetah Pitt, University of Michigan (NIH), Arginase-1 and $29,540 • Kurt Schalper, Institut De Recherche tion, Translating Neuroprediction into Precision Center), 1.7 years, $75,000 • Gary Kupfer, Boston iNOS Expressing CNS Myeloid Cell Subsets in EAE Pierre Fabre, Localized Measurement and Signifi- Medicine via Brain Priming, 6 months, $194,450 Children’s Hospital, Community Counts CDC and MS, 1.8 years, $142,924 • Renato Polimanti, cance of Vista (PD-1H) Pathway in Lung and Jacob Wallace, Harvard University, Health Care Public Health Surveillance for Bleeding Disorders Simons Foundation, Cognitive and Brain Imaging Colorectal Tumors, 1 year, $269,675 • Curt Scharfe, Markets and Regulation Lab, 1 year, $37,316 • Carol Program, 3 years, $93,452 • Heather Lipkind, Study of Autism Spectrum Disorder Risk Alleles Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF), Implementing Weitzman, Boston University (NIH), Early Identifi- HealthPartners Institute (DHHS), Evaluating the Under Positive Selection in Affected and Unaf- Rapid and Comprehensive Molecular Testing for cation and Service Linkage for Urban Children with Risk of Spontaneous Abortion Following 4vHPV fected Individuals, 1 year, $69,984 • Lajos Pusztai, Cystic Fibrosis, 2 years, $216,000 • Michael Schil- Autism, 1.8 years, $53,612 • Li Wen, National Multi- and 9vHPV, 1 year, $28,453; HealthPartners Insti- Regents University of California, San Francisco, sky, Wilson Disease Association, Wilson Disease ple Sclerosis Society, The Role of IgA-bound Gut tute (DHHS), HealthPartners Institute Response to I-SPY2 +: Evolving the I-SPY 2 TRIAL to Include MRI- Registry Study, 1 year, $174,389; Wilson Disease Bacteria in MS, 1 year, $44,000 • Travis Whitfill, VSD Infrastructure Recompete (RFTOP# 07607), directed, Adaptive Sequential Treatment to Opti- Association, Wilson Disease Registry, 1 year, Indiana University, Implementation of a Pediatric 5 years, $56,427 • Anthony Lisi, Lori Anne Bastian, mize Breast Cancer Outcomes, 1 year, $12,194; $76,346 • Dena Simmons, Aspire Public Schools, Community Outreach Mobile Education (PCOME) Cynthia Brandt, Palmer College of Chiropractic Regents University of California, San Francisco, Aspire Public Schools Anchor Tools Training, 1 year, Program, 8 months, $22,050 • Joseph Woolston, (NIH), Chiropractic Care for Veterans: A Pragmatic I-SPY2 +: Evolving the I-SPY 2 TRIAL to Include MRI- $178,000; Hawaii Association of Independent Lorain County Board of Mental Health, IICAPS Randomized Trial Addressing Dose Effects for directed, Adaptive Sequential Treatment to Opti- Schools, Hawaii (HAIS) RULER Training, 1 year, Training and Consultation, 7 months, $2,000 • Qin cLBP, 1.9 years, $205,208 • Jun Liu, University of mize-Project 4, 1 year, $12,194 • Chin Reyes, Cham- $36,000; Hawaii Community Foundation, Hawaii Yan, Meharry Medical College (NIH), Mechanism Texas at Austin (NIH), Initiation of Phage Infection, plain Valley Head Start, CHILD Training—Vermont (HCF) RULER Training, 1 year, $96,000 • Albert and Oncogenic Role of Lysine Demethylase Kdm5b 3.7 years, $396,976; University of Kansas (NIH), Head Start, 2 months, $7,500; The Theresa and Sinusas, Children’s Hospital Corporation, (formerly in Prostate Cancer, 4.8 years, $167,500 • Amer Assembly/function of the Sorting Platform of the Frank Caplan Foundation, Closing the Achievement CHB) (NIH), A Novel F-18 PET Myocardial Perfusion Zeidan, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, A New Para- Shigella Type III Secretion Apparatus, 3.4 years, Gap without Closing the School Door: Addressing Radiopharmaceutical based on Rhodamine Dyes, digm of Transfusion Support for Patients with $589,701 • Aug Liu, University of Texas Health Implicit Biases and Preschool Expulsions by Nurtur- 1.3 years, $148,157 • Patrick Skosnik, Brain & Behav- Myelodyplastic Syndromes, 2 years, $99,244 • Yu Science at Houston (NIH), Virulence Determinants ing the Mental Health Climate of Classrooms, ior Research Foundation (formerly NARSAD), An Zhang, William O. Seery Foundation, Evaluating the of Fusobacterium Nucleatum, 10 months, $41,034 1.5 years, $82,001; The New York City Dept. of Electrophysiologcial Examination of CB1 and Effect of Anti-program Death Immune Therapy on Johanna Madera, Miriam Hospital-The Center for Health and Mental Hygiene, Exploring Classroom NMDA Receptors: Relationship to Psychosis, Anti-Tumor T Cell Responses in Non-Small Cell Behavioral & Preventive Med. (NIH), Care Factors Relating to Preschool Expulsions & 2 years, $100,001 • Arietta Slade, Florida State Lung Cancer Patients, 2 years, $90,000

Medicine@Yale February/March 2019 7 David Hafler elected to National Academy of Medicine Awards & Honors Gregg Gonsalves, Physician-scientist is widely and to demonstrate and Alpern for the opportunity to PhD, assistant recognized for his work to their dysfunctional come to Yale. “You didn’t know how professor of state in MS. passionate I would be about building epidemiology unravel multiple sclerosis As a found- a clinical department. You put trust (microbial diseases) ing member of the in me. You’ve created an incredible mi- and associate (adjunct) professor of law, has David A. Hafler, MD, chair and Wil- Broad Institute of lieu for us to be physician-scientists, liam S. and Lois Stiles Edgerly Pro- been named a MacArthur Fellow, MIT and Harvard educators, and clinicians, and I thank an award commonly known as a fessor of Neurology, and professor of prior to arriving at you for everything you’ve done,” said “genius grant,” honoring his immunobiology, has been elected to David Hafler Yale in 2009, Hafler Hafler. “I wouldn’t have made it into advocacy in the early years of the National Academy of Medicine, identified the genes that cause MS. He the National Academy without the HIV/AIDS and how that informed in recognition of his outstanding also identified the key transcription help of Yale and thank you for that.” his later epidemiology work achievements in medicine. Hafler is factors and signaling pathways associ- Hafler earned his medical degree which serves poor and marginal- among 75 inductees from the United ated with MS genes that are potential from the University of Miami School ized communities. States and 10 international newly treatment targets, and went on to dis- of Medicine, and completed an intern- elected members. Peggy S. Myung, MD, cover that salt plays a role in inducing ship in internal medicine at Johns PhD, assistant Hafler, who also is neurologist-in- pathogenic immune responses in such Hopkins and a neurology residency at professor of derma- chief at Yale New Haven Hospital, is autoimmune diseases as MS. New York Hospital-Cornell Medical tology and pathol- widely recognized for his contributions Robert J. Alpern, MD, dean and Center. He received training in im- ogy, has received a in identifying the underlying causes of Ensign Professor of Medicine, noted at munology at the Rockefeller Univer- Clinical Scientist multiple sclerosis (MS). Early on, he a reception celebrating Hafler’s election sity and Harvard, where he joined the Development Award for early- demonstrated that the disease begins that when he recruited Hafler to be faculty and was one of the executive career physician-scientists from in the blood, as opposed to the brain, chair of neurology nearly a decade ago, directors of the Program in Immunol- the Doris Duke Charitable a discovery that led eventually to the Hafler’s goal was to elevate the depart- ogy and the Breakstone Professor of Foundation. Myung’s research development of natalizumab, which ment’s research, clinical practice, and Neuroscience. He has received numer- focuses on tissue generation in the skin that can be orderly, blocks the migration of immune cells teaching. “David has hit all of the mis- ous honors, including the National from the blood to the brain. He was the as in hair follicle formation, or sions and truly personifies the vision- Institutes of Health Javits Investigator uncontrolled as in the develop- first to identify myelin-reactive T cells ary physician-scientist and department Award, the Raymond Adams Prize ment of cancers. in MS, showing that it is an autoim- leader,” Alpern said. from the American Neurologic Asso- mune disorder, as well as the first to Hafler thanked everyone in his de- ciation, and the Dystel Prize from the Harvey Risch, MD, identify regulatory T cells in humans partment “for making me look good,” American Academy of Neurology. PhD, professor of epidemiology (chronic diseases), // Dean (page 1) danger of losing its and his successor takes office, there address these issues,” he says. “But has received a Ruth National Cancer Institute funding are several things Alpern still wants to I will continue to focus on them as Leff Siegel Award for when he arrived but now does stellar accomplish. One is bringing the school long as I am the dean and hope to Excellence in Pancreatic Cancer research and provides unsurpassed and YNHHS even closer. “I think we accomplish as much as I can.” Research, for “novel, sustained, clinical care at Smilow Cancer Hospi- have developed a great relationship,” Alpern says his time at the helm and substantial contributions to tal, which Yale New Haven Hospital he says, “but we still function as two of the School of Medicine has been understanding the etiology and opened in 2009. organizations.” He wants to come incredibly rewarding and credits a early diagnosis of pancreatic Alpern also points to a school that closer to operating “virtually as one.” team effort by YSM deans, chairs, cancer,” such as associating ran annual deficits when he arrived, Another priority is continuing to faculty, students, and staff alike for colonization by Helicobacter but where surpluses are now the work on issues related to climate at making it so. “It’s a wonderful place,” pylori with the disease. norm. “It’s those surpluses,” he says, the school, which range from physi- he says, “because you are continually Lauren Sansing, MD, “that have allowed us to recruit top cian burnout, to faculty engagement, surrounded by the best.” associate professor faculty, build the school’s new research to creating an environment free of all The same atmosphere of coopera- of neurology, has and education programs, and attain so forms of bullying, harassment, and tion and excellence that is so charac- received the Ameri- many other important goals.” racial and gender disparities, as well teristic of Yale will greet his successor, can Neurological In the time that remains before as broader issues of inclusion. “It’s Alpern predicts, paving the way for Association’s the search for a new dean concludes probably going to take some time to even greater achievements ahead. highest award, the Derek Denny- Brown Young Neurological Scholar Award. Sansing’s work // MD-PhD (page 1) Medicine faculty The Yale MD-PhD focuses on mechanisms by which member since 2001 who has led the program trains students inflammation contributes to program since 2014. to be both versatile secondary injury after acute brain Kazmierczak strongly embodies the physicians treating hu- injury, and the modulation of program’s dual-degree ethos. She is an man disease and adept inflammation to promote accomplished physician-scientist who basic scientists who brain recovery. works on infectious diseases in clinical conduct research at the Hugh S. Taylor, MD, settings and also studies host-pathogen cellular and molecular chair and Anita interactions in her lab. “The most obvi- levels. Brian R. Smith, O’Keeffe Young ous reason to have both degrees is to MD, deputy dean for Professor of Obstet- carry out the practice of medicine and scientific affairs (clinical rics, Gynecology, through that, to see what the limitations departments), chair and and Reproductive of our current practice are,” Kazmierc- professor of laboratory Sciences, has been elevated to the zak says. “A person trained in this way medicine, and professor top leadership of the American can see what we actually don’t know, of biomedical engi- Society of Reproductive Medi- cine. Taylor is vice president what we can’t treat—and then has the neering, of medicine robert a. lisak during 2018–19, president-elect in skills to turn those questions into op- (hematology), and of pediatrics, says The directorship of the School of Medicine’s MD- 2019–20, and president of the portunities to do basic fundamental re- that equipping tomorrow’s leading PhD program is now an endowed position. Barbara Kazmierczak (above), who has run the program society in 2020–21. search that leads to new ways of treating investigators with both an MD and a since 2014, is the inaugural Gustavus and Louise Pfeiffer Research Foundation MD-PhD Program patients and understanding disease.” PhD unlocks tremendous potential. Director. The program trains students to be both Stephen G. Waxman, “We are honored to endow the direc- “It is particularly powerful when versatile physicians treating human disease and MD, PhD, Bridget M. adept basic scientists who conduct research at the Flaherty Professor torship of Yale’s MD-PhD Program and you can invest the knowledge of the cellular and molecular levels. to support Yale’s work in training a new bench and the knowledge of the bed- of Neurology and generation of physician-scientists under side in the same person,” Smith ex- “We desperately need physician- professor of neuro- the leadership of Barbara Kazmierczak,” plains. “Today’s physician-scientists scientists for the advancement of biology and pharma- says Kimberly Alvarez, president of are helping define diseases with new medicine,” adds Pietro De Camilli, cology, has received the Julius Axelrod Prize from the Society for the foundation. “We are confident that diagnostics and developing targeted MD, chair and the John Klingen- Neuroscience, for providing “a graduates of the program will continue therapeutics against cancer and other stein Professor of Neuroscience and model of rigorous laboratory to be leaders in medicine and biological diseases. We are grateful to the Gus- professor of cell biology, who works studies coupled with application research and to make the most of the tavus and Louise Pfeiffer Research routinely with MD-PhD students in to human patients in studying the unique preparation that the MD-PhD Foundation for its investment in this his lab. “They are some of the best role of ion channels in diseases of Program offers them.” vital program.” students we have at Yale.” the brain and spinal cord.”

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