THE OFFICIAL NEWS OF THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER SINCE 1979 — VOL. 36 / NO. 8 — JUNE 2014
Tackling Tropical Diseases
Once thought to affect only developing countries, neglected tropical diseases are threatening populations in the Gulf Coast region.
INSIDE: Pediatric Robotic Surgery, p. 6 » designing a landscape of health, p. 14 » Innovation for Cerebral Palsy Therapy, P. 26 ISABELLA PLACE WOODLAND PARK VIEWS RENOIR PLACE
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5 12 14 19
A Vision for Health Policy Illuminating Data Industry Spotlight: Tackling Tropical Diseases ...... Roksan Okan-Vick ...... Arthur Garson Jr., M.D., MPH, is named Ayasdi helps partners map patterns Houston Parks Board Roughly a billion people in the world director of the emerging Texas Medical and relationships in health care data...... suffer from a neglected tropical disease. Center Health Policy Institute. The executive director shares her A team of researchers at Baylor College passion for Houston’s green space, of Medicine have built a program they and the Texas Medical Center’s role hope will help change that. in creating a more connected city.
20 Profiles of Neglected Tropical Diseases ...... A look at what researchers are doing to combat some of the world’s most pressing tropical diseases. 26 Game On ...... In conjunction with Shriners Hospital for Children, senior engineering students at Rice University have invented a wireless device to help track the progress of cerebral palsy patients through therapy. 30 Beyond Bench to Bedside ...... A multi-institutional initiative seeks to translate environmental health research into practice, community outreach and the improvement of human health. 34 SPOTLIGHT: Robotic Surgery//p. 6 Accolades ......
chester Koh, M.D., director of pediatric robotic surgery at 36 Short Takes Texas Children’s Hospital, and associate professor of urology ...... at Baylor College of Medicine, Talks about the potential for pediatric robotic surgery, and the program that he and 40 colleague Patricio Gargollo, M.D., pictured above, Calendar ...... have built on a foundation of passion and experience.
tmc» pulse | june 2014 1 President’s Perspective
TMC | PULSE Vol. 36 No. 8 June 2014
Robert C. Robbins, M.D. President and Chief Executive Officer
William F. McKeon Publisher
Amanda D. Stein Editor [email protected]
Alex Orlando Staff Writer [email protected]
L. Morgan Farrar Business Strategist
Contributing Photographers Scott Dalton Michael Stravato Terry Vine Photography Robert C. Robbins, M.D. t continues to amaze me how new technologies are being adopted and adapted President and to help physicians improve the quality of care for their patients. From the technol- I Newsroom Chief Executive Officer, ogies being implemented within the hospitals—like the pediatric robotic surgery 713-791-8812 Texas Medical Center program that you will read about in this issue of TMC Pulse—to remote monitoring [email protected] and information sharing, the innovations in the field of health care are setting a truly exciting stage for the future. Advertising We are increasingly seeing a focus on connectivity. If patients are connected 713-791-8894 to their physicians, and their physicians to each other, the team can base care and [email protected] treatment decisions on relevant, tangible information. As a cardiothoracic surgeon, I know well the value of communication in Texas Medical Center Pulse is a monthly helping maintain those connections. Especially for patients that require multiple publication of the Texas Medical Center, physicians and specialists, the process of sharing the most current patient records in Houston, Texas. Permission from the can be daunting. Looking to new platforms for sharing electronic medical records, editor is required to reprint any material. as is being done by the local non-profit Greater Houston Healthconnect, we see Editorial/advertising information available hospitals and physicians actively retrieving their patients’ files from a growing on request. network of care providers within the Texas Medical Center, and across the Houston region and the state of Texas. Texas Medical Center News is a member of: It is also exciting to see the growing interest in mobile medical devices, particu- Houston Press Club, larly those that allow patients to be monitored from the comfort of their own homes. American Medical Writers Association, Researchers here within the Texas Medical Center are actively working on tech- Association of Healthcare Journalists, and nologies that have the potential to change the way we think about the delivery of American Advertising Federation care. Imagine allowing a cancer patient to wear a wireless bracelet, like many of the fitness devices available today, that can remotely monitor their body temperature and other physical symptoms of their disease, and share that information with their physicians in real time. I believe we are not too far from having these types of platforms more widely available, connecting physicians and patients in a more proactive approach to care and treatment. We are already seeing promising new capabilities, like the new melanoma screening app, created by a University of Houston professor, to give rural physicians or global health care providers a way to provide skin cancer screenings for underserved populations. As is often the case, the driving force behind these technologies is the passion and purpose of individuals dedicated to improving patient care. They are changing the future of medicine, and it is inspiring to see so many collaborating and innovat- ing here in our own community.
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ink muscles, joints and bones. It’sabout getting your life back. If Eleanor isn’t moving, she isn’t happy. There’s skiing, wakeboarding, rock climbing, and the more down to earth activities like biking to the store. When she needed surgery on her ankle, she was worried. She came to UTMB Health and benefited from a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, doctors, nurses, and physical therapists who knew that Eleanor needed aggressive treatment to return to her active lifestyle. They kept her informed at every step. “I’m a Nurse Practitioner.I practice what I preach about staying active and healthy.When it came time for rehab, the people here made sure I stayed with the plan.You get out of it what you put in.” Today, Eleanor is back to her old tricks, which also happened to include kicking up her heels and dancing at a friend’s wedding. Whether it’s working in ortho, neuro, or any aspect of the musculoskeletal system, UTMB has gifted clinicians. These are the doctors and surgeons who teach others their art, using the very latest equipment, technology and techniques. It’s about getting your life back.Your life. Whether that means gardening, hiking, fishing, playing guitar,typing on a keyboard, extreme sports or just lifting your grandkids, our team is ready to return you to the things you love to do. If something isn’t right, do what Eleanor did. Take charge of your health and call us at 800-917-8906, or go to Left: Nikoletta Carayannopoulos, DO, Chief, Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery utmbhealth.com to work wonders Center Left: Joel Patterson, MD, FACS, FAANS, Chief, Division of Neurosurgery for you.
Center Right: Vinod Panchbhavi, MD, FACS, Chief, Division of Foot and Ankle Surgery
Right: Gregory McGowen, PT, Cert MDT, AIB Certified in Vestibular Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Services
The four clinicians featured here are representative of the whole team of specialists spanning our musculoskeletal services.
e University of Texas Medical Branch Member, Texas Medical Center
4 tmc» pulse | june 2014 A Vision for Health Policy T exas Medical Center names new Health Policy Institute director, ushering in a new era of programmatic collaboration
By Alex Orlando
n the current landscape of health “[Garson] was always at the Ipolicy and health care reform, expe- forefront of policy and innovation; he rience underscored by a collaborative became very much involved in devel- mindset is a necessity. Furthering the oping new ways to administer health efforts to fulfill a long-range master care,” said Jack Sweeny, chairman of plan for programmatic collaboration the Houston Chronicle. “He always had in health policy, clinical trials, regen- a love of the public policy side of health erative medicine, genomics, and life care, considering ways that costs could science innovation, the Texas Medical be lowered and innovations in afford- Center announced the appointment of able health care could be achieved. He Arthur Garson, Jr. M.D., MPH, to serve even established a rapport with our as director of the newly formed Texas editorial board and I was publisher at Medical Center Health Policy Institute. the time, so I helped him get his work “Dr. Garson’s insight, expertise, and published.” Sweeny and Garson have visionary leadership make him the ideal cultivated a close friendship for over selection to direct our Health Policy two decades, ever since Garson oversaw Institute,” said Robert C. Robbins, M.D., the heart surgery of Sweeny’s 11-year- president and chief executive officer old son at Texas Children’s Hospital. of the Texas Medical Center. “Having Previously, Garson served as the (Credit: Scott Dalton) developed policy and drafted legisla- director of the Center for Health Policy tion, Dr. Garson is the perfect person to at the University of Virginia (UVa), help the Texas Medical Center emerge where he was also a professor of Public as a world-leading health center. We Health Sciences and Public Policy. When this group decides to sink its teeth into a are delighted to welcome him back Until 2011, he served as executive vice to Houston.” president and provost of UVa, where particular problem, it will be able to create solutions The Texas Medical Center’s he was responsible for overseeing the for incredibly diverse groups of people. Health Policy Institute will focus on university’s 11 schools and a $1.3 billion fundamental health policy issues academic budget. As provost, Garson — Arthur Garson, Jr. M.D., MPH important to Houston, the state, the recruited 7 of the 11 deans throughout Director of the Texas Medical Center Health Policy Institute nation, and beyond, including topics UVa and established the Batten School such as public health advocacy, health of Leadership and Public Policy. UVa’s care delivery models, health care fund- Center for Health Policy provided ing, patient quality outcomes, patient Garson with a foundational model According to a non-profit organi- At some level, health policy influ- safety and health ethics. As director, for what he hopes to achieve at the zation based in Texas, health policy ences each of the 54 member institu- Garson will develop and implement the medical center. “In an interesting broadly describes the actions taken tions within the Texas Medical Center. institute’s strategic vision, managing way, it wasn’t dissimilar to our aims by governments—national, state, and “This is the single most varied group the operations and funding in support at the Texas Medical Center. It was local—to advance the public’s health. of institutions in the world in one place, of that objective. all about fostering discussion and The roughly 20 percent increase in life and we have the opportunity to tap “At a basic level, the Texas Medical stimulating collaboration.” expectancy across the United States on the wide ranging interests of our Center Health Policy Institute will “Utilizing expertise across our is due to public health measures that community,” said Garson. “I suspect revolve around creating approaches member institutions will enable the affect individuals. Examples include that there isn’t an area of health policy, to health policy that are unique to Texas Medical Center to develop policy seat belts, smoking regulations and in either the U.S. or internationally, both Houston and Texas” explained solutions for the benefit of all,” added immunizations, and such currently that someone within the medical Garson. “We want to take some of those Garson. “We will seek collaborative approaching issues as the MERS epi- center isn’t interested in. When this approaches that might be piloted here strategies with external organizations demic. Health care policy, in particular, group decides to sink its teeth into a and make them available nationally, while advancing health policy across deals with the organization, financing particular problem, it will be able to and even internationally. The vision the medical center. The institute will and delivery of health care services, create solutions for incredibly diverse of the institute, as determined by the fund research and teaching programs, ranging from training of health groups of people.” strategic planning committee and I, is some of which are aimed at educating professionals to administering public to go from local to international.” the public.” programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
tmc» pulse | june 2014 5 6 tmc» pulse | june 2014 TMC Spotlight
chester Koh, M.D., FACS, FAAP, director of the pediatric robotic surgery program at texas Children’s Hospital, and associate professor of urology at Baylor College of Medicine, sat down with Texas Medical Center Executive Vice President and ChieF Strategy and Operating Officer William McKeon to talk about robotic surgery, pediatric medical devices, and the collective experience upon which he and his colleagues are building an exceptional program.
Q | Can you tell us about your industry; Dr. Donald Skinner, my formative years and how you got chairman at USC during my urology into medicine? residency; and Dr. Alan Retik, one of the Finally the technology has caught up to A | I was born and raised in Los great leaders in pediatric urology, who Angeles, California. I would say that was my chairman at Boston Children’s this with robotic surgery, where we can now do my first thought about wanting to Hospital/Harvard Medical School become a doctor probably came from during my pediatric urology fellowship. the same surgical maneuvers that we perform my pediatrician, Dr. Romans. I always For robotic surgery, I give thanks to loved going to the doctor because it was Dr. Craig Peters at Children’s National with our hands, but now we can do them through Dr. Romans and even when he gave me Medical Center in Washington D.C. a shot. So I think that I was always des- for teaching me about the new field tiny incisions with the robot. tined to enter a pediatric-related field in of pediatric robotic surgery while we medicine like pediatric urology. were at Boston Children’s, as well as Dr. I attended a great junior high and Inderbir Gill, a true pioneer in mini- high school that is now called Harvard- mally invasive and robotic surgery who internal organs like the kidney, where Westlake in N. Hollywood, California, succeeded Dr. Skinner as chairman at we previously needed to make large and then UC Berkeley as an undergrad- USC. He is a very driven, focused, and and painful incisions just to get to the uate where I majored in mechanical accomplished surgeon and academic organ. We no longer have to do that. engineering, so I think that’s where physician. I feel that I have been The ones who truly benefit are the kids. the science background came from. I blessed with the opportunity to work They are going home faster to be with had always been interested in building with so many great mentors. their families, and the parents don’t things and putting things together. have to take too many days off from I thought about becoming a doctor, Q | What was it about robotic surgery work since they are only spending one but I wanted to take the safe route and and pediatrics that inspired you? night in the hospital instead of two, went for the engineering degree. An A | Robotic surgery gives us the ability three, four, or more. They have much engineering co-op after my third year to do what we already know how to do smaller scars and therefore less need at UC Berkeley, where I worked for Dow with open surgery, except now we can for pain medications, which helps them Chemical in Walnut Creek, California, do so in a minimally invasive fashion, to recover faster. Because of these, we allowed me to obtain some hands-on and I think that’s the key advantage believe that all kids who can benefit engineering experience. of the technology. This is especially from robotic surgery should receive it. Even with the science background, important in our field of pediatric urol- I also knew that I liked the patient ogy where we have many reconstructive Q | You built out a substantial care aspect of medicine because it is procedures for our small patients. We robotics program at USC. Tell us a so rewarding. So I’ve been attempting have been doing laparoscopic surgery little bit about that and what drew to put the two fields (engineering and for many years, where we can easily you here to Texas Children’s to do the medicine) together for my whole career remove damaged or diseased tissue, same at the Texas Medical Center. to date. So, here I am. and we can try to fix things using con- A | In pediatrics, it is a reality that ventional laparoscopic surgery, but it we have to partner with our adult Q | Have you had any mentors requires a completely different skillset colleagues, as pediatrics will always throughout your career? from what we have learned through involve a smaller population than A | I consider myself to be very lucky open surgery. So finally the technol- the adult world. At USC, I had the to have had a lot of great mentors, all ogy has caught up to this with robotic opportunity to partner with top-notch of whom have shown me the value of surgery, where we can now do the same innovative adult surgeons like Dr. Gill, hard work in their careers. Some exam- surgical maneuvers that we perform as well as his partners, Dr. Mihir Desai ples are: at Tufts University School of with our hands, but now we can do them and Dr. Monish Aron, who came with Medicine in Boston, Dr. Grannum Sant, through tiny incisions with the robot. him from Cleveland Clinic to USC, who was my urology chairman when So for many procedures in pediatric where they brought a world of I was a medical student, who also has urology, the need for large incisions minimally invasive and robotic had a long career in the pharmaceutical is quickly going away, especially for surgery experience.
(Photos by: Terry Vine Photography) tmc» pulse | june 2014 7 Currently, most devices are built for adults and somehow either miniaturized or adapted for pediatrics. But I think that many of us in the pediatric device field would love to see more focus on the pediatric first model, where devices are designed and implanted with the pediatric patient in mind, and not just an adaptation of the adult product.
(Credit: Terry Vine Photography)
(Credit: Terry Vine Photography)
8 tmc» pulse | june 2014 I was able to partner with them to Q | You are about to surpass fixed, built-in amount of curvature. In program, since both Dr. Gargollo help build our robotic and minimally 100 robotic cases at Texas Children’s adult patients, these fixed articulation and I are bringing our previous invasive experience for children, Hospital. With all of the capabilities lengths are adequate when there is a lot experience to Texas Children’s, and because of what they had done in that you see today, what will the of space in the body cavity. However, serve as its physician champions. The the adult world. It’s a partnership program look like in three years? with pediatrics, you usually have a fact that we reached a hundred cases that I greatly cherished. A | We will keep moving towards shorter working distance between the in such a short amount of time is not With the Texas Medical Center, I see the next frontiers. We already perform skin and, for example, the kidney. And if surprising, since we have done it before. the same opportunities for partnership multiple-site robotic surgery, but we this curve is outside the body, you have here. For example, in March, we hosted would like to eventually move toward lost all advantages of that instrument. Q | Let’s talk about technology. the third annual Pediatric Urology virtually scar-less surgery all through We need new technology for single port Industry does not put a lot of Robotic Surgery Hands-on Training a single incision in the belly button. and minimally invasive virtually scar- emphasis on pediatrics because of Course here in Houston after the The belly button looks like a scar less surgery, but it should be adapted the lower patient volume compared first two years were held in Northern already, hence the virtually scar-less for children as well. to the adult market. Do you see California. Part of having a hands-on description. In addition, for pediatrics, potential within the Texas Medical training course is that you need a lot we also need smaller instruments for Q | Most parents wouldn’t know Center for innovation in pediatric of robots. It is not just watching videos our patients, but those that can still whether a program has a robotics medical devices? and observing other people doing perform the required tasks. We are program or not. What advice do you A | Having been one of the co-founders robotic surgery. You can best learn using instruments that have been have for parents looking for the right of an, FDA-funded pediatric medical when you are at the robotic console. So designed for adult patients, but we need surgical program for their child? device consortium—the Southern we needed a place that has enough of instruments that are designed with the A | Especially for pediatric patients, California Center for Technology and these multi-million dollar robots (we pediatric patient in mind. Over time, one feature can be surgical experience. Innovation in Pediatrics—and near used six), and the training center to we will continue to see the expansion Dr. Patricio Gargollo recently joined a large number of medical device support them, and that is right here in of pediatric urology cases for which the our pediatric urology division and companies, I see the same necessary the Texas Medical Center at MITIE at robot can be used, with expansion to together we have one of the largest elements that we had in Southern Houston Methodist Hospital, which is other pediatric specialties as well. pediatric robotic surgery experiences California here in Houston as well. It’s next door to Texas Children’s Hospital. with over 500 robotic cases in children not only the amazing energy, but also With an esteemed panel of expert pedi- Q | Does moving to a single port to date. However, this is only one factor. the amazing talent and experience. I atric urologic robotic surgeons from require a complete revision of the Surgery and especially robotic surgery, think the difference is that each place across the U.S., as well as Texas Medical triangulation approach that you is a team effort, and the one guaran- has varying strengths. Some of the Center-based experts including Dr. use today? tee that we can make is that the team strengths that I’ve learned about here Alvin Goh from Houston Methodist, A | It may, but technology may help at Texas Children’s Hospital, which in Houston are NASA / Johnson Space an adult urologic robotic surgeon who surgeons to overcome this. Surgeons includes the nurses, the staff, and the Center, and engineers at associated served as co-director of the course, we understand the need for triangulation rest of nearly 10,000-member family at companies such as Jacobs. But we also were able to host pediatric urologic with minimally invasive cases, and the hospital, is dedicated to caring for have the engineers associated with the surgeons including surgeons from some of the prototypes of future instru- children. This is reflected in everything abundance of oil and gas engineering Japan, Turkey, Canada, and others from ments are fantastic, where multiple that we do. technology. This complements the institutions here in the U.S., where they instruments are traveling through a medical and scientific talent within the came to Houston and the Texas Medical single channel, but then expand to a Q | Relative to other programs, that’s Texas Medical Center, all next door to Center for hands-on robotic training. multi-pronged instrument inside the extremely large. When you look at the each other. There are great minds at That was the type of partnership that body cavity that provides triangula- top programs in the country, what work in Houston. I was envisioning that we were able tion. This again leads to the dilemma kind of volume are they seeing? So we have a lot of talent here, to bring to reality. And I think that’s regarding medical devices in children. A | Since pediatrics is a smaller world, but there is also the commercializa- a great example of collaboration for A lot of these are being built for adults, a handful of places are going to reach tion drive. One only needs to open the Texas Children’s, Houston Methodist, and may not be adaptable for use in 100 pediatric cases per year and usually Houston Chronicle on a daily basis to and Baylor College of Medicine, as well children. For example, the curved at the larger children’s hospitals, and learn about the growing number as the Texas Medical Center. instruments and ports that we often it does take time to work up to that of startups and new companies. used for single-incision surgery have a level. We’ve had a running start for our
tmc» pulse | june 2014 9 While physicians, nurses, and allied the finished medical device that is bring it to pediatrics. Currently, most here is that the sky is the limit. People health professionals are identifying helping patients. devices are built for adults and some- have the resources, they have the will, unmet needs in the hospital after I agree with the call by the FDA how either miniaturized or adapted for they have the experience and just the experiencing the shortcomings of the for more focus on pediatric medical pediatrics. But I think that many of us drive to move very quickly. And espe- current medical products, with all of the devices. We know that the pediatric in the pediatric device field would love cially with all of these institutions in the local talented engineers, I see example medical device pipeline is a broken to see more focus on the pediatric first Texas Medical Center, they appear to after example of working partnerships. one. The pediatric medical device model, where devices are designed and spur each other to do their best. So they That’s what I see here at the Texas market lags the adult market by ten implanted with the pediatric patient are always trying to think about what Medical Center. You have top-notch years. I think that many of us in pedi- in mind, and not just an adaptation of the next best step is. Then they have the universities and hospitals, all next door atrics realize that we need a different the adult product. It appears that the resources to act upon them, and finally to each other. And then you have expe- approach to pediatric devices, because solution may lie in academics, where quickly advance to the next frontier and rienced people in town who can take we know that the usual pathway for the pediatric device projects must be be ready for the frontier beyond that. prototypes to the commercialization adult devices doesn’t seem to work further developed before advancing to process, get that product manufactured in pediatrics. So we want to be able the next stages. Q | Any closing thoughts? and then bring them into the clinics. to take the expertise and experience Often the financial hurdles due A | I see this as a great time for Texas I think that’s what we all want to see, that we see in the adult market, and to the smaller market in pediatrics Children’s and the Texas Medical hinder many of these pediatric projects. Center. It’s a time of major expansion. However, my hope is that many follow We are expanding into more areas to the examples of successful pediatric support the population growth. We are device companies out there that enjoy hiring great people, who are bringing the pediatric space because it’s not a their talent to Houston and into the crowded field. They have found their medical center. Dr. Patricio Gargollo is niche and they are happy to be in a one example of that. He and I are work- smaller market for which they are the ing together to build a pediatric robotic dominant player, as opposed to going surgery program that is really unique, into an adult market like the cardiovas- that builds upon our previous experi- cular market, which is quite crowded. ences and is quite complementary. He will take the robotic field and especially Q | How have you been adjusting the reconstructive field in pediatric to Houston since your move from urology to new heights. It’s part of a Los Angeles? world class program, which is part of a A | I would just say it has been excit- world class hospital and medical center ing—the amount of activity, the hustle and in a world class city. It is an exciting and bustle. I think one thing you realize time to be here.
we are hiring great people, who are bringing their talent to Houston and into the medical center. Dr. Patricio Gargollo is one example of that. He and I are working together to build a pediatric robotic surgery program that is really unique.
10 tmc» pulse | june 2014 B:9.5” T:9.5” S:9.5” B:6.25” T:6.25” S:6.25”
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HIVF.2012_Ads.indd 3 5/3/12 8:42 AM Illuminating Data T opological data analysis helps identify patterns, relationships in medical data
By Alex Orlando
rich network of research enterprises, as two dimensional shapes made up the Texas Medical Center is a prime of interconnected nodes. The nodes contender for a revolutionary approach represent the subjects under analysis, to data analysis. In keeping with their whether they are a dataset of breast can- endeavors to create a world-class center cer tumors or statistics of players from for complex data research and opera- the Miami Heat—the team leverages tional excellence in medicine, the medi- Ayasdi’s software to analyze basketball cal center has selected Ayasdi, a startup data in order to make smarter match company from Palo Alto, California up decisions. The most similar nodes that uses topological data analysis to will cluster together, with lines drawn quickly glean meaning from big data, between them, while dissimilar nodes as part of its vision to revolutionize will be separated into different shapes. patient care, translational medicine The idea is that emergent patterns, like and clinical research. loops, forks, or separated clusters, will In 2012, the health care industry reveal meaningfully different subpopu- amassed over 500 petabytes (a unit of lations in the dataset. data measurement) of health care data; “Think of studying data like look- this number is on the trajectory to grow ing for a hammer in a dark garage,” to 25,000 petabytes by 2020. Although explained Carlsson, who specializes in we have figured out how to store, a branch of mathematics called topol- manage and process data, the ability to ogy, the study of shape. “If you have a derive insights from that information flashlight and point it at the ceiling, or has not changed much in the last 30 in the corner, it’s not very likely that the years. In most cases, organizations rely narrow beam of light will illuminate on labor-intensive, hypothesis-based your target. If you were able to turn on analytical approaches that exclude the light in the garage, your eyes would anyone without advanced degrees be drawn to the hammer and maybe a Mount Sinai utilized Ayasdi Cure—which he sheer volume of data in our in computational mathematics and bucket of nails in the corner you hadn’t uses machine learning and topological data Tworld has been expanding expo- statistics. With exponential data growth noticed. The idea is to visualize the analysis—to analyze over 20,000 patient nentially. Analyzing large, complex estimates and increased data com- data in order to see the whole statisti- medical records paired with genetic data. sets of data has become a necessity in plexity, new data analysis techniques cal landscape, generating questions Because Ayasdi’s approach is query-free, and can automatically map relevant data understanding everything from the like Ayasdi’s will be integral to finding accordingly. It’s the Jeopardy method points based on hundreds of algorithms, wealth of information derived from breakthroughs and innovations from of data analysis: answers first.” Mount Sinai was able to gain new break- social media to data obtained from health care data. Topology, the subset of mathemat- through insights that can dramatically analysis of the human genome. From “We regard this partnership as ics that focuses on the study of shapes, impact how Type 2 Diabetes patients are the office of the White House to every a tremendous opportunity,” said dates back to the 19th century, but diagnosed and treated. (Photos by: Ayasdi) pharmaceutical and health care orga- Gunnar Carlsson, Ph.D., co-founder of scholars were writing treatises on the nization in the world, data is the key Ayasdi and professor of mathematics subject for over a century beforehand. strategic asset that has the potential to at Stanford University. “The Texas While topology has existed, in a theo- change the way that we provide patient Medical Center has an enormous vari- retical sense, since the 1700’s, Carlsson care, cure diseases and save lives. In ety of very sophisticated institutions. pioneered the applied use of topology 2011, McKinsey & Company estimated It provides the perfect place to use our to solve complex, real world problems that, “If U.S. health care were able to use software because of the sheer volume beginning in the mid 1990’s. In big data creatively and effectively to of data being generated. The scientific the early 2000’s, this work led to drive efficiency and quality, more than potential of their research enterprises $10 million in research grants, $300 billion in value would be created is unparalleled.” courtesy of the National Science every year.” Ayasdi’s software is based on topo- Foundation (NSF) and the Defense With an annual patient volume logical data analysis, which visualizes Advanced Research Projects Agency that exceeds 7 million and a vast, relationships between data points (DARPA) to study the application of
12 tmc» pulse | june 2014 topological data analysis to problems cardiometabolic phenotypes, an effort of interest within the U.S. government. to understand the genetic basis of Based on the success of these efforts, health and disease. Carlsson, in conjunction with two other The remaining submissions that Stanford mathematicians, Gurjeet were not selected for sponsorship will Singh, Ph.D., and Harlan Sexton, Ph.D., also have access to Ayasdi’s software, founded Ayasdi in 2008. with the support of Texas Medical This past January, the medical Center’s in-house data scientist, equip- center and Ayasdi conducted a data ping them to make significant strides analysis “boot camp,” where data scien- in their areas of research. Deriving tists and researchers from around the knowledge from data with a non-biased, medical center were introduced to the fact-based approach will be critical Ayasdi topological data analysis plat- to allowing the medical center and form. The boot camp was the first step its member institutions to leverage a taken to introduce the Ayasdi software greater quantity of their data to solve to the member institutions. difficult and disparate problems. “Ayasdi offers an innovative “We’re honored to work with a technology that demonstrates new world-class organization like Texas relationships in data that might other- Medical Center to target some of the The idea is to visualize the data wise go unnoticed,” said Paul Klotman, most challenging diseases and condi- in order to see the whole statistical M.D., president and chief executive tions and to accelerate breakthroughs landscape, generating questions officer at Baylor College of Medicine. in health care and life sciences,” said “It further enhances our ability to Gurjeet Singh, co-founder and CEO at accordingly. It’s the Jeopardy method convert complex medical data into Ayasdi. “We are excited to enable TMC of data analysis: answers first. actionable knowledge.” with a new approach to discover knowl- The goal of the training session was edge about leukemia, heart disease, — Gunnar Carlsson, Ph.D. to entice research teams in the medi- traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic Co-founder of Ayasdi and cal center to submit project ideas that stress disorder and many more.” Professor of Mathematics at Stanford University would be considered for sponsorship on This past May, Ayasdi stood head the Ayasdi platform. With sponsorship, and shoulders above the competition as teams would have access to the knowl- the grand prize winner of both awards edge and experience of the award win- at Bio-IT World 2014, where more than ning Ayasdi data science team to assist a hundred companies set up booths to in the analysis of their data. Drawn from showcase the myriad applications of IT a pool of 12 submissions from various and informatics to biomedical research member institutions, three teams have and the drug discovery enterprise. They been awarded the full support of the were the only company to be recog- Ayasdi research team. nized for both an innovative solution, Andrew Futreal, Ph.D., a professor Ayasdi Cure, and for that solution’s key of Genomic Medicine at The University role in a breakthrough medical discov- of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, ery. The new Ayasdi Cure application describes the goal of his study as, is designed to help pharmaceutical and “discovering key patient-centric ‘fac- biotech companies accelerate the drug tors’ that impact outcome.” Futreal’s discovery process. study will be conducted with the help “Texas Medical Center is entering of Joseph Petrosino, Ph.D., assistant a new era in our evolution where mem- professor of Molecular Virology and ber institutions are exchanging ideas Microbiology at Baylor College of and sharing insights and resources to Medicine. Alok Madan, Ph.D., MPH accelerate discovery to advance care,” and his team were selected for their concluded Robert C. Robbins, M.D., research among adult and adolescent president and chief executive officer psychiatric patients during and after of Texas Medical Center. “Specifically, hospitalization, a collaborative effort we’re focused on five areas—health between The Menninger Clinic policy, stem-cell research, clinical trials, and Baylor. genomics and innovation—and data is Erik Boerwinkle, Ph.D., professor the key to revolutionizing all of them.” at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and his TOP: Gunnar Carlsson, Ph.D. BOTTOM: From left to right—Gurjeet Singh, Ph.D., team were also selected for their work Gunnar Carlsson, Ph.D., and Harlan Sexton, Ph.D., founded Ayasdi in 2008 to on whole genome sequence analysis of commercialize their research in topological data analysis.
tmc» pulse | june 2014 13 Industry Spotlight
People generally don’t remark that Houston is a beautiful city, but I see Houston as very beautiful. Every city has its own beauty, and finding that, working that and making that an asset to the city is very important.
Q | Tell me a bit about your different culturally, all of those mold childhood and where you spent you in terms of the kind of person you your formative years. are. So hardworking, loyal, committed, A | I am one of those diversity peo- all of those qualities come from family, ple that is talked about so much in whether you are here in Houston or Houston. I was not born here, but somewhere else. some say I got here as fast as I could. But coming here and gaining an Though that really wasn’t deliberate, understanding of the urban context it was totally coincidental. I grew up in Houston offered, was very interest- Istanbul, Turkey. And actually went to ing. People generally don’t remark a school of architecture there, at a very that Houston is a beautiful city, but I prestigious university. But very quickly, see Houston as very beautiful. Every thanks to my family’s encouragement— city has its own beauty, and finding which I needed because in the late 70s, that, working that and making that an life was a little different, particularly in asset to the city is very important. So a country like Turkey—I applied to uni- ultimately when a career opportunity versities in the U.S., not knowing what provided an avenue back to a place the country was like, where I was going. where I could have an impact on that I liked a lot of different universities, and context, I jumped at it. Even though Rice University was the one that gave I still love traditional architecture—I me the largest scholarship and stipend, follow trends and all of the wonderful so I ended up here. happenings in architecture—my heart (Credit: Michael Stravato) I wanted to do my masters here, so is now firmly directed toward shaping I ended up coming and really falling our city. You can impact so much more in love with Houston. When you are when you are dealing at the city scale. I houston Parks Board Executive Director young, the world is just lovely and there consider myself lucky enough to be up to my elbows doing that right now. Roksan Okan-Vick talks about Houston’s green is nothing you cannot do. So I ended up making Houston my home for a variety space, and how a hundred-year-old parks plan of reasons, and finished the school of Q | Did the culture of Istanbul, where is inspiring efforts throughout the city. architecture and stayed here. But hav- East meets West, shape your architec- ing the formative years of my life in a tural perspectives? city like Istanbul had an impact on how A | Most certainly. Interestingly I viewed the urban context. enough, the Turkey of 1978, when I left The rich, dense, historically signif- it, was actually much more oriented to icant urban fabric of Istanbul taught the West than the Turkey of today. You me that the urban context means a lot might not feel it in a city like Istanbul, in a city. Even though I was trained but certainly the path that the current as an architect and I practiced many administration is pursuing is quite years as a traditional architect, I always different from the Turkey that I grew understood that you cannot just build up in. I don’t want to make a judgment a building without understanding call. However, I am saddened by this everything else that is going on around path because it was a less divided, more it. So I think wanting to understand the informed community during the 24 bigger picture certainly had an impact. years I was living there. And there were other things. Growing While the country you are born in up in a family that is somewhat and spend your formative years—in my
14 tmc» pulse | june 2014 case Turkey—always occupies a very The education you get in architecture in terms of his ability to think through the vision that the gentleman put forth, special place in your heart and soul, the is exceptional. The practice of architec- things and then suddenly crystalize it remains amazingly valid today. As we country you have made home for much ture is life-altering experience. I am sur- on paper, and then make the same thing grow our city exponentially, we must longer—in my case the USA—holds a prised that more leaders don’t come out happen on the ground. So under his take advantage of these beautiful eco- similar, if not deeper place. I am lucky of an architecture background, because influence, I started moving away from logical corridors. So once we realized because I have two wonderful homes of how you are taught to work, and the traditional architecture, and started the huge opportunity of completing and am able to still go back and forth practice. And it’s a tough profession to going into the parks/urban design Comey’s plan to create an equitable between the two. I cherish that. It’s excel in. And it gives you some terrific world. I have since stayed there as well distribution of green spaces, the stars something that always stays with you. skills. Occasionally I will return to Rice as in the private non-profit world. A suddenly lined up. University and I will talk to the students non-profit world is a slightly different Leadership was supportive and Q | Many architects knew very early about the profession, which actually arena to work in, as is the municipal there was a lot of sentiment in the on in life that they were drawn to wasn’t a course at Rice when I was there. government where I spent a couple of community that these are assets that design and structure. Did you always The curriculum was focused heavily on years after my work at Hermann Park. we need to value, which wasn’t neces- see yourself working as an architect? design and the creative process. I was the director of Parks and sarily appreciated thirty-five years ago A | No. And I hear a lot of architects You always thought you were this Recreation for the City of Houston for when I came to Houston. But over the saying that they knew from childhood magic creator coming out of Rice, and a period of two, very educational, years. thirty-five or more years I have been they were going to be architects. I had you hit the job market and you are in a You see life from a very different angle here, I have seen a change in the way we no idea. Because again, where I grew up firm running blueprints on a machine and you understand the bureaucracy the community embraces this city. So, and the schooling I had, you didn’t have and you wonder, ‘where is the magic?’ involved, and why it is there, and you with this fresh perspective, along with choices like you have in the United So I think it is nice now that they are understand the checks and balances leadership commitment, and our board, States. The number of choices you have providing professional classes where and all of the political maneuverings we crafted a grand program along the here is incredible. It is very difficult to people come and talk to you about not that happen there. After those two greenways. Our foundation idea from understand what I am about to tell you, only the profession of architecture, but years, I came back to the non-profit Comey set a hundred years ago, makes but in Turkey, you would finish your of the way I have gone, off on my own arena with the Parks Board, and I have even more sense today. high school years, go through some rig- road. Yes, I am an architect, but there stayed here since. The beauty of where We had a bond election in late orous exams and you would get points. are other ways to practice and to bring I am is it just allows me to do things 2012. Prior to the bond election, we So you have, say 158 points, on the your skills to the city you love. like the bayous greenway projects and embarked on a significant campaign to entrance exams to universities. the projects that very few people in educate the citizens, and it passed with And there were only a handful of Q | How did your career move from the this country are lucky enough to be the highest margin of all other bond really good universities. classic architecture to what you are involved in. referendums in the city. It surpassed all I knew that I wanted to do some- doing now at the Parks Board? other bond elections with an approval thing that helped people. That was A | That is something that I have Q | Please tell us more about the his- rating of 68.2 percent—a very rewarding a broad goal. The higher education thought about a lot. Graduating from tory of the bayous greenway program. outcome. We now have a pretty strong commission gives you this little card architecture school, you get a job, and A | A lot of people don’t know what a mandate, and have already privately that indicates the programs that match the job is traditionally in an architec- bayou is. It is a slow-moving waterway. raised more than $75 million to match your number of points and the univer- ture office. And that is actually quite Our bayou corridors are beautiful and the $100 million of bond funds dedi- sities where you are entitled to register. fascinating. You get involved in all of collectively represent very special cated to the greenways in the city of A prestigious school of architecture in these projects which involve a lot of happenings in Houston. There is no Houston. There is no turning back. It Istanbul, ITU, was one of those on my different people, a lot of different cli- other city of our size and our growth is a long-term initiative, and once it card, even though I had not thought ents in a lot of interesting places—very that has this kind of beauty in the midst is done, we will experience Houston extensively about architecture as a rewarding. At one point after I had my of it, crisscrossing across the whole very differently. profession. As I was standing in line to daughter, I opened my own business. city. So, for the purpose of equitable select my program, a group of friends That proved to be difficult because cash distribution, as we started acquiring Q | How is Houston changing as a came by and excitedly said, ‘We signed flow become an issue. Some months lands and building trail segments along result of Bayou Greenway program? up for architecture at ITU, and we think you are good, some months are not the bayou corridors at the Parks Board, A | Hopefully people will drive less. it is much more exciting than any- so good. So when I was approached we also remembered a plan established Hopefully as soon as visitors land here, thing else on your list.’ That made my by the Hermann Park group, and they more than 100 years ago. In 1912, Arthur for whatever reason, they will be made decision. I don’t tell this story to a lot said they needed someone to oversee Comey—a well-respected urban planner aware of the opportunities to jump on of people because it makes the choice the capital projects, I thought that was and landscape architect, was commis- a bike, jog or walk along the scenic seem so random. I want to be able very attractive. So I joined them to sioned to come to our city and do a bayou corridors. The difference will be to say I was always passionate about start building all of their capital proj- general plan, part of which was a plan you will have connected green spaces, architecture. But the thing is that in a ects and shortly after, I became their for the parks system. That was quite for- parks, nature areas, along all of the city like Istanbul, you take it for granted executive director. During my years at ward thinking of our city leaders at that major bayou corridors in the city. You that architecture is rich. It has history. the Hermann Park Conservancy I met time. A hundred years ago, Houston will have virtually unlimited access. Maybe that had an impact on me, but Laurie Olin, who is a world renowned was much smaller, but Comey laid out This is really critical. And they will feel it was also that I knew I wanted to do landscape architect, urban planner, who the vision of creating continuous green- inviting and safe. “Safe” is a very tricky something that made a difference. helped us do a lot of the planning and ways along our bayou corridors since he word to use, so I use it very carefully. I totally fell in love with architecture. thinking about Hermann Park. And believed they were the most significant Because what makes places like these It was like a highly successful arranged talk about magical…he was probably natural resource our city was blessed greenways safe is the level of use. marriage. It’s a fabulous profession. the most magical person I have met with. I read his book again recently and
tmc» pulse | june 2014 15 as we grow our city exponentially, we must take advantage of these beautiful ecological corridors. So once we realized the huge opportunity of completing Comey’s plan to create an equitable distribution of green spaces, the stars suddenly lined up.
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³ Homeward Date: 5/21/2014 Post Oak 288 Settlers Way Dixie Farm New Territory Austin Clay Mchard Cartwright 48 Clear Creek Sources: Esri, USGS, NOAA (Credit: Houston Parks Board)
16 tmc» pulse | june 2014 The more use you have, the more safe it years to become the primary private are usually like that, they are so simple, going to get richer and richer along is perceived to be. And perception is non-profit partner to the city to grow, but you just have to get there. What’s those corridors. usually 80 percent of the challenge. improve and protect the park lands important about that is being able to So I fully expect if we are having The majority of the landscapes you will within the city. navigate in a setting that may not be this conversation years from now, that see, with few exceptions, will be native. Particularly in the last ten years, we the most pedestrian friendly. It com- it will be a very different fabric in the They will be enhancing the natural have grown exponentially for a variety pounds that feeling of frustration and city of Houston and a good amount of habitat of those ecological corridors, of reasons, both board related and staff- fear. In terms of the urban context, the it will be attributable to the greenway so you will be able to enjoy the respite ing related. We are now the major over- TMC has a large footprint, and getting development that is underway here. that they will provide. You will have seer, planner, doer of the city’s parks larger by the day. a continuous green corridor, which system, in tandem with the City of How do you take it to the next level Q | How do you handle the connects the diverse neighborhoods Houston. A lot of private money comes and make it shine in a way that it hasn’t work-life balance? and activities we have along the bayous. through the Parks Board, and the Parks before? In a way that is much more A | I have been a workaholic ever They weave together disparate but Board has right of entry to every public inviting. I think it will help tremen- since I can remember being me. When I wonderful pieces. Think about Brays space in the city of Houston, which dously in transforming the image of married my husband, he knew that well. Bayou. On the lower end of the channel, means we can go in and make improve- the Texas Medical Center. There is When you have children, you focus on you start at the Port of Houston, which ments or buy land—all on behalf of the great synergy there. I think if we can them. And to some extent, they drive is number one in the world for tonnage. city. Private citizens cannot just go into continue to work with your team on the your schedule. And now that my daugh- You travel thorough the historically a public space and make improvements. land that happens to traverse through ter is an adult, both my husband and significant east end neighborhood, with We do all of that throughout the your campus, it can be something of joy I love what we do and can spend even all of its industry. You go through the city, and we are particularly focused and beauty and interest to you. That’s more time doing that. When people call historically significant Gus Wortham on equitable distribution of amenities one part of the relationship, but what I you a workaholic, it is almost like it’s a golf course, then U of H, additional and green spaces. For example, parks would also like to focus on is that there dirty word. It’s not. What’s wrong with historical neighborhoods. And then you like Hermann Park, Memorial Park is something of joy and beauty and that? You spend so much time in your land at the Texas Medical Center. So and Buffalo Bayou Park—I am naming interest in the Texas Medical Center, life working or practicing your profes- you are now able to experience these the three jewels of our system—have that needs to be one of those very spe- sion; it’s a crying shame if you aren’t diverse places, which you wouldn’t their own very effective boards. So cial places where you pause. Just stroll enjoying it. have a chance to otherwise experience they don’t need our help. But JC Park around in this very special “neighbor- And I think part of my role, as without this green connection that feels in Northwest Houston, for example, hood”. Take a break. Not only when you I get older, in my profession, is to comfortable and inviting. So being able doesn’t have such a resource. So the need to see a doctor, but as a place to help younger ones push out to the to make those connections throughout Parks Board helps with improvements enjoy in Houston in its own right. great beyond—push those limits. our city is, I think, one of the terrific to those parks that may not have that Working hard is not necessarily to things about the bayou greenways, in kind of stewardship that tend to them. Q | When you think about our city now the exclusion of a healthy family or addition to the ecological features. And the greenways pretty much fall and in five years from now, is it your social life. I still fully enjoy time with into that category, because, for all prac- hope that Houston is known as one of my family and friends. It all can work Q | Can you describe the oversight tical purposes, they are also the park the most green and connected cities? together just wonderfully. responsibilities of the Parks Board? lands for some of those neighborhoods A | The way we have grown has been A | The Parks Board has been around through which they meander. As of very spread out. And Houston was Q | Any closing thoughts that you for 38 years now. It was formed by July 1st of this year, the parks board will not known for its mixed-use kind of would like to share? Mayor Hofheinz, with the intent of also be in the maintenance business on living. But that is changing. And it is A | I would really encourage creating an entity that looked after the the bayou greenways. So in addition to changing more rapidly now than ever, Houstonians, young and old, to get interest of private donors who wanted raising private funds to help build gre- and there’s no going back. So, millions involved in the public realm. Get to contribute to the city’s parks system. enways, we will also be entrusted with more people are going to come here, involved in the community. Think There was a lot of interest; in fact, a maintaining those corridors. and the changes are being driven by the about giving a little back. Because I lot of our parks have come through The key is to do this all efficiently. “creative class,” the “new intellectuals.” firmly believe that while making a the Parks Board, but those potential To make the dollar go much further, by This new and younger workforce is wonderful living, you can feel really, donors just didn’t feel comfortable leveraging every single dollar we have demanding that. They could live and really good about public service. The giving their assets or their money to the and making it work for us, for those who work anywhere, especially the best and great things you can do are endless, city. So they formed the Parks Board, fund us. the brightest. And we want the best whatever your passion is. Get involved and as years went by, its influence and the brightest to live and work and and give a little. It is very rewarding, grew, primarily because a lot of private Q | The Texas Medical Center rep- contribute to Houston’s future. We and it also opens you up to a whole citizens—Houstonians—decided to gift resents one of the largest pieces of real want to attract them, we want to keep different slice of the community. I think large parks to the city. Quite quickly, estate in the city. How can we maxi- them, including the ones who are home that’s a life-enriching experience, and it the Parks Board becomes the entity mize that opportunity relative to the grown. What we are finding is that the is something you can do for the rest of through which the city started forming green space? quality of life, the quality of place is your life. its large green spaces. A | One thing that I have found very pretty significant to those folks who are Well over half of the city’s park land heartening is that part of the TMC deciding if they should go to Austin, has come through the Parks Board. vision is to create a park-like setting for Los Angeles, or come to Houston. So Either through acquisition or through the Texas Medical Center. And it seems what I believe will happen is as we donations. So it has grown over the like such a no-brainer. Brilliant ideas transform these greenways, life is
tmc» pulse | june 2014 17 Achieving exciting milestones in cardiac care.
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18 tmc» pulse | june 2014 Tackling Tropical Diseases The National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine partners strategically to combat tropical disease, one vaccine at a time.
By Amanda D. Stein
Peter Hotez, M.D., Ph.D. right, and Maria Elena Bottazzi, Ph.D., serve as the dean and Diseases of poverty. “We call them tropical diseases, but it associate dean, respectively, of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor That’s a more fitting name for is really a misnomer. They are diseases College of Medicine. (Credit: Terry Vine Photography) neglected tropical diseases, according of poverty. The tropical and subtropical to Peter Hotez, M.D., Ph.D., found- climate is a component of it, but pov- ing dean of the National School of erty is the overriding determinant. Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of “Many of these tropical We call them tropical diseases, but Medicine. They are diseases that con- infections are not like infections you taminate bathing and drinking water, typically think of. These tend to be it is really a misnomer. They are diseases cling to the feet of children playing chronic, debilitating conditions— barefoot in dirty streets, and are carried things like leprosy, or hookworm, of poverty. The tropical and subtropical thousands of miles by ticks and mos- or shistosomiasis,” he continued. quitos. They not only linger in places of “Sometimes people have these climate is a component of it, but poverty is poverty, but also seem to cause poverty. diseases their entire lives, making And Hotez’s team intends to do some- them too disabled to work, so they the overriding determinant. thing about them. lose income. Or these diseases actually “Over a billion people in the world reduce child intelligence and cognition. — Peter Hotez, M.D., Ph.D. suffer from neglected tropical diseases, They shave IQ points off of kids, so they Founding Dean of the National School of Tropical and about 1.3 billion people live on no lose future wage earnings. And this has Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine money. That includes 1.65 million fam- actually been shown. So these are major ilies in the United States that live on forces that actually trap the bottom less than two dollars a day,” said Hotez. billion in poverty.” (continued page 22)
tmc» pulse | june 2014 19 Profiles of Neglected Tropical Diseases
T he National School Hookworm Disease Schistosomiasis An estimated 440 million people are More than 250 million people suffer of Tropical Medicine infected with hookworms. from schistosomiasis. at Baylor College of Medicine, together with its Sabin Vaccine Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development and other programs based in the Tropical Medicine section of the Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine (Infectious What is it? What is it? Half-inch long parasitic worms that feed on A blood fluke (parasitic worm) infection. There are two Diseases), has an active human blood and cause intestinal blood loss forms of the disease—intestinal schistosomiasis that leading to anemia. also affects the liver, and urogenital schistosomiasis. portfolio of products Where is it found? Where is it found? and research devoted Hookworm can be found worldwide, commonly in Most of those infected live in either sub-Saharan areas with warm, moist climates. Today, hookworm Africa or Brazil. Female genital schistosomiasis is to addressing the world’s disease is one of the leading causes of anemia in the now considered one of Africa’s most common poorest countries of Africa, Asia and the Americas. gynecologic conditions and a major co-factor in most important neglected It is one of Africa’s leading maternal and child health Africa’s AIDS epidemic. problems—an estimated 7 million pregnancies in tropical diseases. Africa are complicated by hookworm disease. How is it spread? Schistosomiasis is often found in areas of the world How is it spread? with poor sanitation, where swimming or bathing Hookworm is transmitted through contaminated soil. water may be contaminated.
What is being done about it? What is being done about it? Through support of the Gates Foundation, Dutch A new shistosomiasis vaccine has also been developed Government and a new European Union-supported at the Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children’s HOOKVAC Consortium, a new recombinant pro- Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, through tein-based vaccine has been developed by the Sabin support from the National Institutes of Health, Texas Vaccine Institute PDP, which is now in phase one clin- Children’s Hospital, the Michelson Medical Research ical trials in Brazil and soon to enter clinical testing Foundation, and the Mort Hyman and Blavatnik in Gabon, in collaboration with the Albert Schweitzer Family Foundation. The vaccine will soon undergo Hospital. Through additional support from the clinical testing at Baylor College of Medicine’s Michelson Medical Research Foundation, efforts Vaccine Trials Evaluation Unit. are underway to expand the vaccine to cover all of the three major intestinal helminth infections. Rojelio Mejia, M.D., is working to develop new diagnostics for intestinal helminth infections. (Photos by Center for Disease Control) (Content contributed by Peter Hotez, M.D.)
20 tmc» pulse | june 2014 Chagas Disease Severe Acute Respiratory West Nile Virus C hagas disease causes an estimated Syndrome (SARS) In 2013, 48 states within the U.S. reported cases $800-900 million in economic losses in In 2003, a reported 8,098 people worldwide of West Nile Virus, according to the CDC. the U.S. annually. became sick with SARS.
What is it? What is it? What is it? Chagas disease is a parasitic protozoan infection Caused by the SARS coronavirus, it emerged out of West Nile Virus (WNV) can cause neurological transmitted by a blood-sucking insect known as the South China and caused a highly lethal epidemic in disease and death. Symptoms include fever, head- “kissing bug.” 2002-03. The most common symptom of SARS is a ache, fatigue, aches and swollen lymph nodes. high fever, followed by body aches and discomfort. Approximately 80 percent of infected individuals Where is it found? Most patients also develop pneumonia. will not show any symptoms. Roughly 7-8 million people are believed to be infected with Chagas Disease worldwide, with the majority liv- Where is it found? Where is it found? ing in Latin America. The Center for Disease Control During the epidemic, the illness spread to more than It is commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle (CDC) estimates that more than 300,000 of those two dozen countries in North and South America, East, North America and West Asia. persons live in the United States. Europe and Asia. There have been no known cases of SARS anywhere in the world since 2004. How is it spread? How is it spread? West Nile Virus is most often the result of being Infection is most commonly spread through contact How is it spread? bitten by an infected mosquito. with the feces of an infected “kissing bug.” SARS is most commonly spread through human- to-human contact, often in the form of respiratory What is being done about it? What is being done about it? droplets, from coughing or sneezing. Murray’s group in the section of pediatric tropical The National School of Tropical Medicine treats medicine has identified a new chronic kidney disease Chagas disease patients at its Tropical Medicine What is being done about it? among people with chronic persistent West Nile Virus Clinic, in collaboration with Harris Health System. The Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children’s infection. Her group is working this summer to deter- A team of epidemiologists headed by Kristy Muray, Hospital Center for Vaccine Development— mine the full extent of West Nile Virus and Dengue DVM, Ph.D., is working with the Baylor Cardiovascular in collaboration with a consortium that includes Fever in Houston, as well as a third new arbovirus Research Institute to determine the extent of the The University of Texas Medical Branch at infection known as Chikungunya. In parallel, scien- disease in the Houston area and adjoining regions Galveston, the New York Blood Center, and Walter tists in the vaccine development group are working to of Southeast Texas. The Sabin Vaccine Institute and Reed Army Institute of Research—is developing develop a therapeutic WNV vaccine for chronic renal Texas Children’s Hospital, in collaboration with a new receptor binding domain recombinant disease sufferers through support of a grant from the the Southwest Electronic Energy Medical Research SARS vaccine, potentially for stockpiling in Houston-based Chao Family Foundation. Institute and the Carlos Slim Health Institute, is the event of a biodefense emergency. developing an innovative therapeutic vaccine now Arbovirus Infection undergoing preclinical testing. Viruses transmitted by anthropods, such as mosquitoes and ticks. DEFINITION
tmc» pulse | june 2014 21 For years, Hotez and his team have envisioned the Texas Medical Center as being the ideal place for expanding and creating novel strategic collab- orative research efforts dedicated to addressing those issues of global health. So when the opportunity arose, following a conversation with Texas Children’s Hospital Physician-in-Chief Mark Kline, M.D., and Baylor President Paul Klotman, M.D., for the establish- ment of a new school dedicated to researching and addressing neglected tropical diseases, Hotez, then the chair of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine at George Washington University, didn’t hesitate. His George Washington University colleague and vice-chair, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Ph.D., was the natural pick to join him as associate dean of the new school. Together, the pair, along with twelve experienced researchers who also relocated to join the team, established the National School of Tropical Medicine. This endeavor was also made possible by the strategic partnership between Baylor, Texas Children’s Hospital and the Sabin Vaccine Institute, for which Hotez also serves as president. The Sabin Vaccine Institute relocated its Product Development Partnership (PDP), which is one of only 16 PDPs globally and the only one located in an academic medical center and in the state of Texas. Hotez and Bottazzi serve as director and deputy director, respectively, for the Sabin PDP. They also serve as professors of pediatrics and molecular virology and microbiology, and Hotez holds the Texas Children’s Hospital endowed chair in tropical pediatrics. “Dr. Hotez and his team at the Texas Children’s Hospital - Sabin Vaccine Institute Center for Vaccine Development are working to prevent some of the world’s biggest medical scourges, diseases like hookworm and schistosomiasis that literally affect hundreds of millions of individuals globally,” said Kline. “The potential of this absolutely novel work to impact the lives of many of the world’s poorest and least fortunate children cannot be overstated.”
The National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine is actively working on developing vaccines for neglected tropical diseases, which affect over a billion people worldwide. (Credit: Baylor College of Medicine)
22 tmc» pulse | may 7, 2014 When the dengue epidemic occurred in Houston, Dr. Murray found that not a single case was diagnosed by physicians. Physicians are not getting trained in most U.S. medical schools about these diseases…Because they have always been thought of as problems unrelated to the
United States. In fact, we find they are very much related. — Peter Hotez, M.D., Ph.D.
Modeled after the Liverpool people outside of the United States, it the non-profit arena.” the United States. In fact, we find they School of Tropical Medicine, and often comes down to doing the work Beyond developing vaccines, the are very much related. So we are really the London School of Hygiene and that many pharmaceutical companies National School of Tropical Medicine trying to expand our collaborations Tropical Medicine, the National will not. has core faculty working on other to include a lot of major universities School of Tropical Medicine has a “The vaccines that we are develop- major areas of tropical medicine. in the area.” fourfold mission, centered around ing are vaccines for the poorest people Major programs in the epidemiology of Collaboration and strategic part- research, training, clinical activities in the world,” said Hotez. “Industry vector-borne and zoonotic diseases, for nerships are crucial to the success of and public policy. is not going to make these vaccines example, are headed by Kristy Murray, the school. From running the Tropical While often found in tropical because they only affect people of DVM, Ph.D., an associate professor in Medicine Clinic and Travelers Clinic regions, where weather and environ- extreme poverty. So it is really science the department of pediatrics where she in conjunction with the Harris Health ment allow disease to spread by way of for the poor. We make the vaccines is also associate vice chair for research. System and Baylor Clinic, to working insects, soil or contaminated water- that the drug companies can’t make Murray’s group has made important with international researchers and ways, the diseases Hotez and his team or won’t make.” discoveries that include the first iden- governments on jointly developing work with are not exclusive to any one “No one else is making these vac- tification of epidemic dengue fever in vaccines, the tropical medicine team region or climate. cines because products developed for Houston, a new renal disease syndrome recognizes the incredible power of “People often think of these as the poorest populations in the world that results from West Nile Virus partnerships. They take that same sub-Saharan African diseases, but generally have no commercial return Infection, and the transmission approach in tackling issues of health what we are finding is that the world on investment,” added Bottazzi. “So of Chagas disease in southeast Texas. policy. They are, among many other has changed,” said Hotez. “These are usually those who really can commit to In addition, Rojelio Mejia, M.D., and projects, currently working to introduce not just diseases of Africa, or develop- support those populations are either others are leading efforts for the new legislation to Congress around ing countries. This whole concept of groups in the nonprofit sector, or the development of new diagnostics for tropical disease, and the distribution developing versus developed countries, governments or the population itself.” parasitic infections. of packages of medicine that have I like to say ‘That’s your father’s global Through the PDP model, the In the area of training, the National so far reached over 250 million health.’ That’s not the way it is any- Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas School of Tropical Medicine provides a people worldwide. more. It’s wherever you have poverty. Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine unique Diploma in Tropical Medicine Hotez and Bottazzi hope to leverage It doesn’t matter if that poverty is in Development and the National School for physicians, physician assistants these kinds of allies and resources to Southern Mexico, Northern India, of Tropical Medicine are actively and medical students to recognize help carry their mission even further. Northern Brazil, or the Gulf Coast working on a number of vaccines for and understand how to identify and “I am so grateful to the vision of Dr. of Texas. This is where you find some of the major “diseases of the treat these diseases. Given the ease of Mark Kline, Baylor College of Medicine tropical diseases. poor,” including a human hookworm international travel, it is critical that President Dr. Paul Klotman, Texas “We have a particular emphasis on vaccine, now in clinical trials in Brazil physicians have the skills to help isolate Children’s Hospital Chief Executive diseases of the poorest regions in the and soon in Africa, a shistosomiasis or possibly stop the spread of tropical Officer Mark Wallace, and Sabin western hemisphere. Not exclusively, vaccine that is about to start clinical diseases, particularly those transmitted Vaccine Institute Board Chairman though. We do projects in Africa and trials, and new vaccines for Chagas through human contact. Mort Hyman,” said Hotez. Asia, but particularly in Latin America,” disease, Leishmaniasis and Sever Acute “Part of this arose out of the fact that “Our school is at the forefront of he added. “It is an important area of Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). when the dengue epidemic occurred in global health innovation, and the future emphasis. In fact, the largest number of “A lot of university-based vaccine Houston, Dr. Murray found that not a looks very promising for tackling tropi- people living in poverty live in the state institutes call themselves vaccine insti- single case was diagnosed by physi- cal diseases,” added Bottazzi. “Together of Texas, so we have now found a sub- tutes because they do immunology with cians,” explained Hotez. “Physicians are with our strong partnerships within the stantial burden of tropical diseases here an interest in vaccines,” said Hotez. not getting trained in most U.S. medical Texas Medical Center, we will be able to in the United States, in the Gulf Coast.” “What’s unique about us is we actually schools about these diseases—how to serve as global health accelerators and When addressing treatment and make the vaccines, and transition them recognize them, how to diagnose them, bring new knowledge, new interven- prevention of neglected tropical dis- from discovery, into the clinic. We are and how to manage, treat and prevent tions and renewed access to care to eases like Schistosomiasis, caused by doing everything that a small to mid- them. Because they have always been the people in need, locally and around parasitic worms that affect 250 million size biotech company would do, but in thought of as problems unrelated to the world.”
tmc» pulse | june 2014 23 24 tmc» pulse | june 2014 tmc» pulse | june 2014 25 Game On High-Tech Peg Measures Cerebral Palsy Patients’ Dexterity
By Alex Orlando
LEFT AND FAR RIGHT: The DeXcellence n one side of the board, patients to inform a nearby computer, tablet or pediatric upper extremity surgeon at device, invented by senior engineering Oare tasked to move a small peg, other Bluetooth-enabled device of how Shriners, who has worked with Rice’s students at Rice University, tracks the comfortable enough for a 3-year-old to the cylinder is moving through space. engineering program for several years, dexterity of cerebral palsy patients through hold, over a hurdle and center it on the In tandem with a board that directs the suggested that the team look into ways their ability to move a Bluetooth-enabled cylinder through a series of tasks. bulls-eye shaped target. On the flip side patient’s movements, the cylinder sends to quantify movement. MIDDLE: Sonia Garcia, a senior at Rice is a set of paths that the patient tracks a steady stream of data to the computer. “There’s a huge gap in technology University, guides Brandon Sierra, a patient with the peg, tracing across designs and That data is analyzed by the design for the evaluation of movement pat- at Shriners Hospital for Children, Houston, shapes reminiscent of a coloring book. team’s software to give a therapist a terns in [patients with] cerebral palsy,” through tasks intended to measure his dex- In spite of an exterior that resembles clear picture of a patient’s progress in explained Gogola. “At one end, we have terity. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University) a game board rather than a clinical occupational therapy. clinical exams that are all visual, even evaluation tool, there’s some serious The DeXcellence device is the work relying on videotape exams to catch intent behind a device designed by Rice of five Rice seniors who designed it more subtle movements. The next step University students to test the abilities at the Oshman Engineering Design up in technology is Shriners’ high-tech of cerebral palsy patients. Kitchen as their capstone project in motion analysis lab. This project aims At the heart of the DeXcellence collaboration with Shriners Hospital for for something in the middle—the peg platform is a simple peg—packed Children, Houston, and Rice advisers the patient moves through the test inside, there are enough electronics Gary Woods, a professor in the prac- provides a phenomenal output of data. tice of computer technology in the They put a whole motion analysis lab in Department of Electrical and Computer a peg!” Engineering, and Eric Richardson, a “There’s nothing comparable that This device could be used in any situation lecturer in bioengineering. we encountered,” said electrical and where dexterity, or the fine motor movements of A synthesis of high and low tech- computer engineering major Vivaswath nology, the Rice students’ efforts would Kumar, a member of the team along the hand, needs to be tested. The ultimate goal is complement the device that inspired with Sonia Garcia (bioengineering), to better understand these disease processes so them, a therapeutic evaluation tool Shaurya Agarwal (mechanical engi- we can better understand and treat our patients. known as a Functional Dexterity Test neering), Allison Garza (mechanical (FDT). A simple, low-tech pegboard engineering) and Andrew Schober that only quantifies the speed of hand (bioengineering and computational — Gloria Gogola, M.D. dexterity, the FDT doesn’t provide any and applied mathematics). Pediatric Upper Extremity Surgeon at data about the patient’s quality or fluid- “The DeXcellence device com- Shriners Hospital for Children ity of movement. Gloria Gogola, M.D., pletely reimagines the way that pegs
26 tmc» pulse | june 2014 A device like this shows the power of the synergies that can happen between insti- tutions like Rice and Texas Medical Center. You’ve got a treasure trove of resources at Rice in the engineering field, and you have a treasure trove of clinically minded profes- sionals at the medical center.
— Vivaswath Kumar Rice University Electrical and Computer Engineering Student, ‘14
were being used in traditional dexterity enormous,” said occupational therapist Design Showcase at the University of Rice and TMC,” said Kumar. “You’ve tests—using time as a metric for success Dorit Aaron, former president of the Minnesota’s Design of Medical Devices got a treasure trove of resources at Rice is pretty rough and imprecise,” added American Society of Hand Therapists conference in April. in the engineering field, and you have Kumar. He explained that the team and a Shriners volunteer. “The device To cap off their recognition and suc- a treasure trove of clinically minded installed an inertial measurement unit is different from the original FTD in cess, the team was thrilled to see their professionals at the TMC. We’re very within the peg, which tracks patient the sense that it requires both gross device in action. A week before gradua- thankful for both the support of Rice motion, as well as a Bluetooth chip to motor as well as fine motor movements tion, the students gathered at Shriners University and at Shriners. This project transfer the motion data to be displayed to accomplish the task. They have to to observe as Brandon Sierra, 15, put the is very applicable to a wide variety of visually on a graphical user interface. manipulate the peg and they have to device through its paces. Sierra under- patients, which is something that drove The quality of movement of the motion move it in space. That gives us infor- went surgery on his right arm in April us to make it better and better.” path is the new metric for success— mation about the shoulder and elbow to help him improve motion in the arm Gogola envisions a future for the an important factor in determining motion as well as the digits, and we can that had been hindered by hemiplegic Rice invention extending beyond whether the patient needs more therapy track it in the computer.” cerebral palsy. cerebral palsy therapy, capitalizing on or more surgery. The students worked hard to pres- Although the team will be parting the rich pool of resources within the For mechanical engineering major ent a polished project. “We have the ways after graduation, their device medical center. “This device could be Allison Garza, working with kids made motion-capture technology with the stands as a testament to interdisci- used in any situation where dexterity, or the accessibility of the DeXcellence peg, we have the exam itself, we built plinary teamwork. “We had worked the fine motor movements of the hand, device an essential factor in the design the software in the computer and we previously together in other classes needs to be tested,” she said. “It could process. “If you look at the design, you have the charger for the peg,” Agarwal and, fortunately, our professors paired be used to evaluate patients being have targets on one side, because kids said. “That’s what we set out to do. We us together,” said Kumar. “We had four treated for stroke, Parkinson’s, spinal can really easily associate targets with wanted to give them the entire solution; different engineering majors on our cord injuries, trauma—any situation being able to land as close to the center not one part of it, but everything they team—I can’t think of collaboration where the ability to use their hands as possible,” she said. “It was the same needed to conduct an exam.” more interdisciplinary in my experi- is affected. The potential for wider with the trace paths—kids all know The team’s success was recognized ence at Rice. Four majors within one collaboration within the Texas Medical about tracing lines, and the bright color by all who watched the DeXcellence five person team is pretty out there.” Center is massive. The ultimate goal scheme of using red on black makes it team demonstrate it at Rice’s annual The project between the five is to better understand these disease very vibrant. It’s all about presenting George R. Brown Engineering Design students reflects the larger scale processes so we can better understand it to patients not as a scary tool, but as Showcase and Poster Competition, at institutional collaboration between and treat our patients.” something that’s fun. For them, it’s a which the team won the grand prize of Rice and Shriners. “A device like this game.” $5,000 in April. The team also placed shows the power of the synergies that “I think the possibilities for this are second in the International Student can happen between institutions like
tmc» pulse | june 2014 27 Free one-to-one education Free one-to-one support for and support for psoriasis Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis
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28 tmc» pulse | june 2014 Treating the Tiniest Patients New Neuro-NICU Program offers specialized care for babies suffering from neurological complications
By Amanda D. Stein
Timing is critical when it comes to these cases and we strongly believe that with access to this cutting-edge clinical technology, we will be able to deliver a higher quality level of care to this very specific neonatal patient population, faster than ever before. — Nicole Francis Clinical Director of Neonatal Services at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital
24 hours if needed, unlike a regular The Neuro-NICU team was imme- EEG machine, which is only capable diately put to the test, when a baby was of short-term monitoring of the brain’s brought in on their first day of opera- spontaneous electrical activity. tions. Baby Morris was believed to be “This around-the-clock, uninter- suffering from birth asphyxia, from rupted monitoring system will allow for complications with the umbilical cord the delivery of faster, better data which during delivery. For oxygen-deprived will lead to faster, more accurate diag- babies, monitoring and treatment must noses and, therefore, speedier treatment begin within six hours of delivery to Baby Morris was the first to be treated hildren’s Memorial Hermann options provided by our team of expert reduce damage to the brain. in the new Neuro-NICU Program at CHospital recently announced their pediatric neurologists and neurosur- Thankfully, after careful monitoring Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital. new Neuro-Neonatal Intensive Care geons,” said Dr. Gretchen Von Allmen, in the Neuro-NICU, Morris was given He has since been given a clean bill of Unit (Neuro-NICU) Program, the first director of the Pediatric Epilepsy a clean bill of health. But for the team health. (Credit: The Dunford Family) of its kind in Houston, with five new Program at Children’s Memorial behind the program, it reinforced their amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG) Hermann Hospital and assistant profes- mission, and the need for the training machines, and a highly-trained staff sor at UTHealth Medical School. and technology to respond quickly to of nurses and physicians. The unit Children’s Memorial Hermann possible neurological complications. will be equipped to care for newborn Hospital has also long had the capa- “As one of the first hospitals in the babies suffering from neurological bility for whole-body cooling, which nation to use whole-body hypother- complications. lowers the body temperature of babies mia for newborns suffering from birth “Timing is critical when it comes suffering from hypoxia, relieving stress hypoxia, our team has been leading the to these cases and we strongly believe on the brain, and saving brain cells. way in research and technology in the that with access to this cutting-edge “The community is really good field of neuro-neonatology for many clinical technology, we will be able to about referring babies here in under six years,” said Susie Distefano, chief exec- deliver a higher quality level of care hours so that we can initiate our cooling utive officer of Children’s Memorial to this very specific neonatal patient therapy,” said Francis. “Outlying hospi- Hermann Hospital. “Now with the addi- population, faster than ever before,” tals are good about getting the babies tion of our new 24-hour Neuro-NICU explained Nicole Francis, clinical direc- here because they know we have this monitoring program, we are continuing tor of Neonatal Services at Children’s technology. So for the community, this to refine and speed medical treatment Memorial Hermann Hospital. Neuro-NICU Program should mean an for these complex cases by improving The unit’s new technology allows extra layer of protection, extra monitor- upon the already advanced level of care staff to monitor the tiny patients’ brain ing, and hopefully improved outcomes we have available to these tiny patients, activity in real time, for more than for the babies.” delivering the best possible results.”
tmc» pulse | june 2014 29 Beyond Bench to Bedside T exas A&M partners to unlock the mysteries of environmental health through team science
By Alex Orlando
Recently named by the National received funding to come on board. We Institute of Health (NIH) as the newest came in the gate with about 35 mem- National Center of Excellence in bers in our center. Now, we are opening Environmental Health Science, the up the doors to everyone; we’re excited center will serve as the cornerstone to be bringing a lot of new members to for integrated environmental health CTEHR in our first year.” In their partic- research, translation of research ular study section round, CTEHR tied advances into practice and community for the top score with Harvard’s NIEHS outreach and engagement aimed at Center for Environmental Health, improving human health. One of only which was founded in 1962. 21 centers of excellence in the country, The Center will bring together sci- CTHER, which includes collaborators entists from a wide array of fields, rang- from across the Texas A&M University ing from cell and molecular biology to System, Baylor College of Medicine, biostatistics and engineering. Working and the University of Houston, is towards a collective goal, the scientists poised to lead the state and nation in will examine a number of environmen- better understanding the effects of the tal risk factors such as air quality, radia- environment on human health. tion, bacteria and lifestyle choices—diet Members of the Center for Translational he environment influences our The planning process to secure ini- and exercise, for example—to determine Environmental Health Research (CTEHR) Thealth in ways that we might not tial research funding from the National the link to disease in humans through- are focused on translating research anticipate—through exposures to Institute of Environmental Health out the course of their lives. advances in environmental causes of physical, chemical and biological risk Sciences (NIEHS) spanned over a year Melissa Bondy, Ph.D., professor in disease to improve detection, prevention and management of diseases induced or factors and through related changes and a half, crossing both institutional the National Cancer Institute desig- worsened by environmental exposures. in our behavior in response to those silos and town lines, as Walker and nated Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center at (Credit: Texas A&M Health Science Center) factors. Globally, nearly one quarter of others reached out to various research- Baylor College of Medicine and associ- all deaths and disease can be attributed ers whose work had the potential to ate director of the new center, is intent to the environment. A multidisci- significantly impact environmental on advancing environmental research plinary research team led by Cheryl health. Without exception, everyone through emphasis on the human Lyn Walker, Ph.D., with the Texas they reached out to was eager to declare microbiome—the bacteria, single-cell A&M Health Science Center Institute their interest. organisms and viruses which colonize of Biosciences and Technology (IBT) “By the time we were ready to sub- the body. and College of Veterinary Medicine mit our grant application, we had over “For us, this center is a great and Biomedical Sciences, along with 65 people who wanted to be involved, opportunity because Baylor has been partners from across Texas A&M and and those 65 people had over $80 involved in environmental health the Texas Medical Center, is committed million in independent grant support,” research, with a major focus on the to altering that staggering statistic. said Walker. “When we submitted microbiome, for many years,” said Together, they have created an unprec- the application, we actually had to Bondy. “To leverage that work collab- edented, cross-institutional initiative ask some people to wait until we had oratively, sharing ideas and striving known as the Center for Translational Environmental Health Research (CTEHR). Our number one aim is to provide the Texas “Our number one aim is to pro- Medical Center with a focal point for environmental vide the Texas Medical Center with a focal point for environmental health health research. The medical center has so many research,” said Walker, professor and incredible, world class research enterprises, but director of the Texas A&M IBT and there has never really been a nucleus for those director of CTEHR. “The medical involved in environmental health. We’re intent center has so many incredible, world class research enterprises, but there has on changing that. never really been a nucleus for those — Cheryl Lyn Walker, Ph.D. involved in environmental health. We’re Professor and Director at intent on changing that.” Texas A&M Health Science Center Institute of Biosciences and Technology
30 tmc» pulse | june 2014 Through their combined efforts, the Center informed decisions about environmen- literacy of communities throughout tal exposures and to mitigate environ- Texas, furthering the center’s ultimate for Translational Environmental Health Research mental disease risks. goal of promoting health and prevent- will harness the unparalleled scientific capabilities The Community Outreach and ing disease. “We work with populations of this resource-rich location to promote new Engagement Core (COEC) of the that are considered health disparity CETHR is dedicated to improving populations, where folks are dispropor- discoveries that could have the potential to save environmental health science literacy. tionately exposed to environmental millions of lives worldwide. “One of our major goals is to provide contaminants and/or have low access to — Brett P. Giroir, M.D. objective, evidence based information resources,” she said. “We interface with Executive Vice President and CEO of Texas A&M Health Science Center for a variety of target audiences so that community leaders and key informants they can make informed decisions,” to assess the capacity of a community towards seeing the whole picture rather we have all embraced the translational said Robin Fuchs-Young, Ph.D., pro- to deal with environmental health than each individual piece, is invalu- research paradigm which says that fessor in the Texas A&M College of problems and to identify what their able.” Joseph Petrosino, Ph.D., associate you have to get it from the bench to Medicine, with a joint appointment at issues are and how to address them, professor of Molecular Virology and the bedside. It’s essential to translate the Texas A&M IBT, and COEC direc- often putting them in touch with policy Microbiology, directs the Alkek Center those results to the patient themselves,” tor. “Sometimes, scientific results are makers. It’s a long term process.” for Metagenomics and Microbiome reflected Walker. “One of the things complex and not easy to understand. As part of this process, the Research (CMMR), where researchers that our center does exceptionally well Our job is to take research results and Community Outreach and Engagement strive to identify the organisms that is to actually go to the next step, the put them in a form that’s easily digest- Core is committed to working within impact human health and disease. community; we take it from bench to ible and understandable for a variety of school systems, using education as Kjersti Agaard, M.D., Ph.D., associate bedside to community.” target audiences.” another conduit to communicate professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology This novel approach will allow the That audience includes state with the overall population. “Science at Baylor, heads the PeriBank tissue center to accelerate the process of legislators as well as regional policy performed in a vacuum is of lesser repository, which collects perinatal advancing basic scientific discoveries makers. “The idea is to provide evi- impact than science that is translated to samples from mothers and their chil- and translating them into treatment dence based, research driven infor- the public,” said Fuchs-Young. “One of dren born at Texas Children’s Pavilion and prevention approaches for indi- mation in a useable form,” clarifies the overall aims of our center, and the for Women and Ben Taub Hospital. viduals at the highest risk for environ- Fuchs-Young. “It’s not about trying NIH as well, is to provide information James Versalovic, M.D., Ph.D., head of mental disease, including vulnerable to inject our opinions into policy or about health promotion and disease the Department of Pathology at Texas populations such as children and low influence the decision making process. prevention strategies for communities Children’s Hospital, is conducting socio-economic individuals. Through That’s a critical distinction.” and their members to utilize in their research on how the microbiome affects fostered resources and expertise, the As an extension of her work with decision making.” intestinal diseases. center will enable individuals, com- health policy, Fuchs-Young wants to The support of institutional leaders “Here in the Texas Medical Center, munities and policy makers to make enhance the environmental health within the Texas Medical Center has been a driving force behind the scenes while center members focus on trans- Cheryl Lyn Walker, Ph.D. (Credit: Texas A&M Health Science Center) lating research advances to improve detection, prevention and management of diseases intensified by environ- mental exposure. “The assistance we received, all across the board, was abso- lutely tremendous,” said Walker. “It was another reason why we got one of the top scores in the study section. They appreciated that this was a multi-insti- tutional center; Baylor was contributing to the success at Texas A&M and Texas A&M was contributing to the success at Baylor.” “The TMC is the most important health-related district in the world; up until now, no entity has existed to lead the world-class research performed here in the area of human environmen- tal health,” said Brett P. Giroir, M.D., executive vice president and CEO of Texas A&M Health Science Center. “Through their combined efforts, CTEHR will harness the unparalleled scientific capabilities of this resource- rich location to promote new discover- ies that could have the potential to save millions of lives worldwide.”
tmc» pulse | june 2014 31 Original Magna Carta and Only Known Copy of King’s Writ United for First Time in U.S. The Houston Museum of Natural Science
By Alex Orlando
excessive bail, fines or cruel and relationship between the monarchy unusual punishment. and leading nobles of England during “We are honored to be the museum the preceding century. Following with which Hereford Cathedral has earlier charters issued by Henry I and elected to share this precious document Henry II, and decades of increasing with Houstonians and many others in conflict and civil war, the rebel barons Texas and the U.S.,” said Joel Bartsch, of England, along with the Archbishop president of the Houston Museum of of Canterbury, Stephen Langton, and a Natural Science. “To be able to put on number of bishops, forced King John display and unite for the first time in to establish peace through the issuing the U.S. a copy of the Magna Carta and of a new charter, at Runnymede, near King’s Writ, two documents that helped Windsor, on June 15, 1215. The charter shape many other landmark documents safeguarded certain rights, privileges including our U.S. Constitution, is a and liberties of the clergy and the momentous occasion for HMNS.” nobles, while also placing some limits This special, limited time exhibi- on the power of the crown. tion, which runs from February 14th “When we knew these documents to August 17th, 2014, consists of two were coming our way, right in time for (Credit: The Houston Museum of Natural Science) sections. The first section serves as an the 800th anniversary of the Magna introduction to the Middle Ages, famil- Carta in 2015, we realized the impor- iarizing visitors with various aspects of tance of placing them in a larger con- n original edition of the Magna medieval life. Set against the backdrop text,” explained Van Tuerenhout. “The A Carta, along with the only known of timelines and maps to situate when second part of the exhibit sets up the example of the King’s Writ, a letter from and where events occurred, patrons are chronology in a more refined manner.” King John to the Sheriff of Gloucester treated to a visual and informational A wall of text emblazoned across the dated June 20, 1215 A.D., announcing feast of different topics, ranging from end of the room discusses the legacy of the signing of the Magna Carta, is hygiene (or lack thereof) to textiles Magna Carta, specifically as it relates to currently on display at the Houston to writing, complete with samples of the American Constitution. Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) parchment and a scribe’s desk. Two “On both sides of the Atlantic we from its home in Hereford Cathedral. mannequins, one dressed as a poor have come to see Magna Carta as an The two documents are on display peasant boy and one as the boy King iconic milestone on the long road together on United States soil for the III, invite class comparisons while an of human liberties and justice,” said first time in their collective history. extensive weapons portion, allowing Canon Chris Pullin, Chancellor of The Magna Carta is considered visitors to lift a carefully rigged life-size Hereford Cathedral, who has overall to be Great Britain’s most valuable jousting spear or take a glimpse at tra- management responsibility for the export to the world and a model upon ditional armor, sheds light on the real- documents. “Many world leaders have which the United States Constitution— ities of medieval warfare. A brief video been inspired by what it stands for, and among many other important world introducing King John and the Magna we hope that this loan will strengthen documents—was based. The Magna Carta sets the historical framework for the resolve of a new generation to Carta continues to serve as the defin- the second section of the exhibit. safeguard the values of justice, peace itive document modeling basic civil “The interactive elements really and liberty.” liberties and is the source of many of appeal to the younger visitors, and the the most fundamental concepts of law, tactile elements help provide them with including the very concept of a written a point of engagement,” said Dirk Van General Information: constitution. In more than one hundred Tuerenhout, Ph.D., curator of anthro- Houston Museum of Natural Science decisions, the United States Supreme pology at the HMNS. “After all, we even 5555 Hermann Park Dr. Court has traced dependence on the have a life-size replica of a medieval Houston, TX 77030 Magna Carta for an understanding of toilet—what’s not to love about that?” www.hmns.org | 713-639-4629 due process of law, trial by jury of one’s The Magna Carta’s history, as peers, the importance of a speedy and illustrated in the second part of the unbiased trial, and protection against exhibit, is complex, part of the evolving
32 tmc» pulse | june 2014 AHP_May16.pdf 1 5/19/2014 12:20:19 PM
M aGNA Carta Timeline
1190-1300 Magna Carta was the first document imposed upon a King of England by a group of his subjects, the feudal barons, in an attempt to limit his powers by law and protect their rights.
The Magna Carta is considered to be Great Britain’s most valuable export to the world and a model upon which the United States Constitution—among many other important world documents—was based.
King Richard the Lionheart joined the Third Crusade, leaving for the Holy Land never to return to England 1190
Prince John crowned King of England 1199
Pope Innocent III excommunicated John as a result of their conflict When recovering from a serious injury or illness, you need highly 1209 specialized therapy to help ease the transition back home. John recognized the authority of the Pope and made England a papal fief; High taxes to fight war and defeat by the French at the Battle of Located in the Houston Medical Center area, Accel at Hermann 1214 Bouvines resulted in dissatisfaction by the English Barons Park is an award winning, resort-style transitional care center. Our sta is speci cally focused on providing state-of-the art short-term rehabilitation to help you recover as comfortably and quickly as May 17: English Barons rebelled and captured Tower of London possible. Jun. 15: Magna Carta sealed under oath by King John at Runnymede 1215 Jun. 19: Barons renewed oath of allegiance to John - Orthopedic Recovery Aug. 24: Pope Innocent III annulled Magna Carta - Stroke Recovery - Wound Care - Joint erapy Barons rebelled again and invited a French invasion in May - Cardiac Recovery Oct. 18: John died of dysentery - Diabetes Management and much more... 1216 Oct. 28: Henry III, John’s son, age 8, succeeded Nov. 12: William Marshal Regent and Earl of Pembroke issued “When patients come to Accel, they recover and a revised version of Magna Carta return back to their life.” - Accel at Hermann Park Administrator
French forces are defeated and forced to withdraw—second revision of Magna Carta was issued
1217
feb. 11: Third revision of Magna Carta issued 1225
Edward I confirmed the Magna Carta. It remains in statute today 1297
(Timeline Credit: The Houston Museum of Natural Science)
tmc» pulse | june 2014 33 A cCOLAdes
DORA E. ANGELAKI, M.D., professor and the WALT LOWE, M.D., chairman of the Department Wilhelmina Robertson Chair in Neuroscience at of Orthopaedic Surgery at The University of Texas Baylor College of Medicine, has been named to one Medical School at Houston and director of Memorial of the nation’s most prestigious honorary societies— Hermann IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute, has the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. It been recognized for his contributions to sports med- brings together some of the world’s most accom- icine by the American Physical Therapy Association plished leaders from academia, business, public (APTA). Lowe received the Jack. C Hughston affairs, the humanities and the arts. Angelaki’s Sports Physician Award from the APTA’s Sports research focuses on multisensory integration that is Physical Therapy Section. Lowe has been treating needed for self-motion perception, spatial orienta- Houston’s top professional and college athletes for tion and the control of movement. She has also been more than a decade and is a team physician for the elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Houston Texans and Houston Rockets, as well as the University of Houston.
HAGOP KANTARJIAN, M.D., professor and Department of Leukemia chair at The University CESAR MALDONADO, PH.D., P.E., PMP, has of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, received been named chancellor of Houston Community a lifetime achievement award for his dedication College (HCC) by the HCC Board of Trustees. to research and clinical practice from Castle & HCC conducted a nationwide search for the next Connolly Medical Limited. Kantarjian leads the leader of the institution by engaging a professional nation’s largest leukemia practice, a department search firm and convening a diverse external group known for its extensive participation and leader- of 29 leaders, educators and students. Maldonado ship in the development of new treatments through is an accomplished engineer, civic and business research and clinical trials. He holds the Kelcie leader, and higher education administrator. Since Margaret Kana Research Chair and serves as 2008, he has served as president of Texas State associate vice president of MD Anderson’s Global Technical College (TSTC) in Harlingen. In 2011, Academic Programs. he was also named vice chancellor for Institutional Effectiveness and Commercialization for the state- wide TSTC System. MARK W. KLINE, M.D., physician-in-chief at Texas Children’s Hospital and chair of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, was presented with MARTIN M. MATZUK, M.D., PH.D., director of the the Program for Global Pediatric Research (PGPR) Center for Drug Discovery and vice chair of pathol- Award for Outstanding Contributions to Global ogy and immunology at Baylor College of Medicine, Child Health 2014. The ceremony took place during has been elected to the National Academy of the 2014 PGPR symposium in conjunction with the Sciences. Matzuk’s research focuses on discovering 2014 Pediatric Academic Societies/Asian Society for the critical proteins and mechanisms involved in Pediatric Research Joint Meeting. Kline was chosen both normal and abnormal reproductive develop- as this year’s recipient based on his significant ment. He is also a professor with the department of contribution to changing the global child health molecular and human genetics and co-director of landscape through capacity building, leadership the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) training and program implementation focused on at Baylor. revolutionizing the care of children with HIV/AIDS in developing countries. FREDERICK A. MURPHY, PH.D., professor of pathology at the University of Texas Medical THOMAS G. KSIAZEK, PH.D., professor of pathol- Branch (UTMB), was recognized with a Lifetime ogy at the University of Texas Medical Branch Achievement Award at the 6th annual International (UTMB) and director of high containment opera- Symposium on Filoviruses, which brings together tions for the Galveston National Laboratory, was experts from around the world to discuss advances recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award in the diagnosis, treatment and control of Ebola and at the 6th annual International Symposium on Marburg viruses. Murphy was the co-discoverer of Filoviruses, which brings together experts from this group of deadly viruses. Prior to his arrival at around the world to discuss advances in the diag- UTMB in 2005, he served in a number of prominent nosis, treatment and control of Ebola and Marburg positions at the Centers for Disease Control and viruses. Ksiazek also directs the National Biodefense Prevention, concluding his career as director of the Training Center, which provides researchers with National Center for Infectious Diseases. the skills necessary to work safely with deadly pathogens in high-containment laboratories.
34 tmc» pulse | june 2014 ADVERTISEMENT Houston MetHodist Gratefully acknowledGes GeorGe and anGelina kostas
The new GeorGe and anGelina During World War II, Lea served as a spotter KosTas research cenTer for for enemy aircraft over the Houston area. Cardiovascular Nanomedicine at the Houston Married for 62 years, George and Angelina are Methodist Research Institute began operations the parents of four talented daughters. The recently after receiving a generous gift from Kostas family has been generous supporters of George J. and Angelina P. Kostas. The gift is the the Annunciation and St. Basil’s Greek Ortho- largest philanthropic gift ever given in support of dox Churches of Houston. They built the St. cardiovascular nanomedicine and could revolu- George Chapel and then donated it to the tionize the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Cathedral. St. Basil’s church honored Mr. Kostas by naming the Education Center in his honor. The GroundbreaKinG cenTer In 2008, they honored Lea Kostas by naming the will fosTer inTernaTional Auditorium in her honor. collaboraTion and bring together top laboratory and physician scientists from the The KosTas cenTer will be Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular direcTed by Houston Methodist Research Center and the Houston Methodist Research Institute President & CEO Mauro Ferrari, PhD, Institute Department of Nanomedicine to investi- and the Heart & Vascular Center Medical gate how emerging technologies in nanomedi- Director Alan B. Lumsden, MD, who, along cine can be used to heal damaged hearts and anGelina p. KosTas with the executive committee, will guide the vascular tissue. This gift will fund an inter- and GeorGe J. KosTas center’s development, approve new research national annual meeting in Houston on cardio- initiatives and initiate collaborative ventures vascular nanomedicine that involves scientists afTer his reTiremenT from Conoco that will transform cardiovascular nanomedicine. worldwide in order to serve as a platform for in 1972, where he was manager of the Organo- The center’s program and working group leaders the exchange of ideas. metallics Division, he founded and has been include some of Houston Methodist’s best president of TESCO (Techno Economic nanotechnology researchers and cardiovascular The KosTases, american-born Services Inc.) for 30 years. Under his leadership, physicians and surgeons, such as Guillermo children of GreeK immiGranTs, TESCO developed a revolutionary new process, Torre-Amione, MD, PhD, Elvin Blanco, PhD, have a lonG TradiTion of based on his patents, termed “Xenoclad”, which Miguel Valderrábano, MD, John Cooke, MD, PhD, philanThropic GifTs, including plates aluminum in an atomic form on metal Ennio Tasciotti, PhD, William Zoghbi, MD, establishment of The George J. Kostas Research substrates to render them resistant to corrosion. and Paolo Decuzzi, PhD. The groups are de- Institute for Homeland Security (2010) and George Kostas was recruited in 1943, along with signed to work in sequence, a bit like runners The George J. Kostas Nanoscale Technology and seven other engineers, to start and operate in a relay race, to translate discoveries quickly Manufacturing Research Center at Northeastern the first U.S. synthetic rubber manufacturing into technologies for human clinical trials. University (2003) in Boston, George Kostas’ alma plant which was already being built in Baytown, mater. The George J. Kostas Research Institute Texas. In 1946, Kostas was appointed a member of one possible area of for Homeland Security is a secure building at the U.S. Research & Development Committee and invesTiGaTion is the use of non-toxic, Northeastern University, Burlington Campus. served in this capacity until 1955 when the govern- silicon-based nanoparticles to dismantle and Its mission is to conduct classified research ment decided to exit the synthetic rubber program. disperse the fatty plaques that often form along to protect Americans in the face of 21st the inner sides of blood vessels. These plaques century risks. Northeastern awarded him in anGelina, “lea,” a woman of contribute to hypertension. When larger plaques 2008 an honorary Doctorate of Sciences and deep faiTh, Grace, and warmTh, are dislodged, they can cause blockages down- the President’s Medallion award. and devoted lifelong member of Annuncia- stream, leading to heart attacks and strokes. tion Greek Orthodox Cathedral, served as a member of the Philoptochos charitable society for 70 years, and board member for 40 years.
tmc» pulse | june 2014 35 SHORT TAKES
Team Performs Successful Open Fetal Surgery to Treat Rare Condition
aby Cabellotrejo was born healthy malformation (CCAM). Mom and baby removed the giant mass, returning him treat prenatally. The fetus continued to Blast month at Texas Children’s were transferred from their hometown safely back into his mother’s womb deteriorate despite medical treatment. Pavilion for Women following a com- of Austin to Texas Children’s Fetal less than 30 minutes later. The fetal “Fetal surgery was the only hope plex pregnancy that involved open fetal Center in Houston, where a nationally heart failure resolved, and the baby for this baby boy who was sure to die surgery. The announcement was made recognized, multidisciplinary team of and mother subsequently recovered without surgical intervention. The good by the physicians at Texas Children’s surgeons intervened with an open fetal smoothly. Mom remained pregnant for outcome achieved in this case is the Fetal Center, who, early in the preg- surgery that saved the baby’s life. over 11 weeks before she delivered her result of great teamwork, including the nancy, diagnosed baby boy Cabellotrejo During the procedure, surgeons par- health baby boy. contributions by our expert fetal radiol- with a very large lung mass, called tially removed the baby from his moth- To date, only two other centers ogists, cardiologists and maternal fetal congenital cystic adenomatoid er’s womb, opened the baby’s chest and in the world have been successful at surgery team. I am so pleased this baby treating this rare and complex medi- has recovered fully and now has the cal condition, an abnormal growth of hope of a completely normal life,” said malformed lung tissue that is the result Dr. Darrell Cass, co-director of Texas The good outcome achieved in this case of abnormal organ development. The Children’s Fetal Center, and lead sur- is the result of great teamwork, including the adenomatous overgrowth of terminal geon on this case. “Baby Cabellotrejo contributions by our expert fetal radiologists, bronchioles and reduced number of is a fighter and a survivor. We are normal alveoli may cause significant ecstatic that his parents have delivered cardiologists and maternal fetal surgery team. pulmonary effects. It is incredibly rare a healthy baby boy.” for these malformations to grow to such The open fetal surgery involved — Darrel Cass, M.D. a large size as to lead to fetal heart fail- removing the mass, which had over- Co-Director of Texas Children’s Fetal Center ure, a condition that is very difficult to grown the left lower lung of the fetus. In order to reach the mass, the arm and part of the shoulder were extracted from the mother’s womb. Time and precision are, of course, crucial in the success of this surgery. In addition to an expert operating room team and pediatric anesthesiologists, a multidisciplinary team of specialists led the surgery from Texas Children’s Fetal Center. “Texas Children’s Fetal Center is one of only a few centers in the world capable of such a complex surgical intervention,” Belfort says of his team. “We have acquired a team of experts from around the world who focus specifically on fetal surgery, all with top technical skills and a commitment to medical innovation, which makes our center one of a kind.”
— Sarah Frankoff, Texas Children’s Hospital
During the procedure, surgeons partially removed the baby from his mother’s womb, opened the baby’s chest and removed the giant mass, returning him safely back into his mother’s womb less than 30 minutes later. (Credit: Texas Children’s Fetal Center)
36 tmc» pulse | june 2014 No Bioengineered Gut Bacteria, No Glory
combine two of the hottest fields in the In his new ONR-funded research, Tabor life sciences—synthetic biology and plans to program probiotics for highly microbiomics. reliable disease prevention in people Synthetic biologists like Tabor with different genetic backgrounds, specialize in programming single- diets and so on. Tabor’s team aims celled organisms like bacteria and to do this by creating a network of yeast, much like one would program genetic circuits that can sense, a robot. In particular, Tabor engineers compute and respond to disease in bacterial sensors that can be used to a highly reliable way. detect a wide range of environmental “There are about 10 times more information, including disease signals bacterial cells in our bodies than in the gut. By linking these sensors human cells, and numerous studies to synthetic genetic circuits—groups over the past decade have found that of interacting genes that carry out these bacteria play important roles in complex information processing— obesity, immune function, depression Jeff Tabor, assistant professor of bioengineering at Rice University Tabor’s team can program bacteria for and other health processes,” Tabor said. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University) advanced autonomous behaviors. In his Collectively, the trillions of bacteria most recent work at Rice, he and his stu- in our bodies are known as the micro- he motto “no guts, no glory” may a common large-intestine disorder that dents created a toolkit of bacterial light biome. Innovative studies over the Tneed rewriting if Rice University causes obesity and depression,” said sensors and optical hardware to bring past decade have found that a person’s synthetic biologist Jeff Tabor succeeds Tabor, assistant professor of bioengi- both mathematical predictability and microbiome contains more genetic in his quest to help the Navy create an neering at Rice and the lead investi- cut-and-paste simplicity to the world of information than the human genome. edible probiotic bacterium that can gator on a new project funded by the genetic circuit design. Increasingly, clinicians and scientists help protect sailors and marines from Office of Naval Research (ONR). Probiotics—edible bacteria that like Tabor are interested in finding obesity and depression. A three-year grant from ONR’s improve health—are increasingly being ways to use the microbiome to treat “Our goal is to engineer a new probi- Young Investigator Program will fund used to treat diseases, but they have not disease and improve health. otic bacterium that can protect against Tabor’s work, one of the first studies to yet become a major medical paradigm. — Jade Boyd, Rice University Family Donation Funds Research for Rare Neurological Disorder
rare and mysterious neurologi- answer after a meeting with Huda ultimately solved the mystery after Neurological Research Institute (NRI) Acal disorder inspired the Wilsey Zoghbi, M.D., Howard Hughes Medical scouring the medical literature and at Texas Children’s Hospital. The family of San Francisco to fund Institute investigator and director of identifying another child with similar Baylor/NRI group is using fruit flies to researchers at the Jan and Dan Duncan the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological unusual symptoms, which were tied to understand the cellular and physiologi- Neurological Research Institute at Research Institute at Texas Children’s an NGLY1 gene defect. cal defects caused by the loss of NGLY1 Texas Children’s Hospital and the Hospital. Zoghbi examined Grace and “Having the support and engage- and to identify potential therapeutic Department of Molecular & Human recommended a new test called whole ment of the Wilsey family was critical targets for the disease. These studies Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine genome sequencing, which helped to solving this case and their ongoing are coordinated with those of a group to study and develop treatments for identify Grace as the second child efforts in patient-research advocacy will of researchers around the world who NGLY1 deficiency. The Wilseys’ in the world diagnosed with NGLY1 be paramount to solving more genetic are using biochemical, cell biological, daughter, Grace, is one of only deficiency. Experts at Texas Children’s diseases in the future,” said Bainbridge. mouse genetics and systems biology 14 known children worldwide affected Hospital and Baylor used the new test The research was published in a approaches to understand the biology by the rare condition, which is charac- to decode the DNA sequence of her recent issue of the journal Genetics of NGLY1 and the pathophysiology terized by a mutation in the gene genome allowing them to identify in Medicine. of NGLY1 deficiency. It is hoped that coding for N-glycanase 1, an enzyme abnormal genes. The technology helps “Whole genome sequencing has this multidisciplinary approach, which that is thought to help recycle defective patients and families understand the been a powerful tool in diagnosing has been made possible by generous products from a cellular assembly cause of neurologic diseases, as well as some of the most challenging cases and funds from the Wilsey family, will line. Children who lack this enzyme the risk of recurrence. we are increasingly finding patients significantly expedite the progress experience varying degrees of In Grace’s case, the testing provided with rare syndromes who have been of this project and will lead to the movement disorders, suffer from researchers eight different genes, through a battery of previous tests with- identification of a therapy for developmental delays, have liver including NGLY1, and they began out a diagnosis,” said Richard Gibbs, NGLY1 deficiency. and gastrointestinal problems investigating the genes in order of Ph.D., director of the Human Genome and cry without producing tears. the likelihood that they might explain Sequencing Center at Baylor. — Veronika Javor Romeis, After a lengthy saga of visiting with her disease. Hamed Jafar-Nejad, M.D., in Texas Children’s Hospital physicians across the nation searching Matthew Bainbridge, Ph.D., post- consultation with Zoghbi, is leading for answers about Grace’s condition, doctoral associate in the Human research efforts for NGLY1 deficiency the Wilsey family finally found the Genome Sequencing Center at Baylor, at Baylor and the Jan and Dan Duncan
tmc» pulse | june 2014 37 SHORT TAKES
University of Houston Biomedical Engineer Works to Make Blood Transfusions Safer
biomedical engineer at the the patient,” said Sergey Shevkoplyas, AUniversity of Houston (UH) is Ph.D., associate professor of biomedical working to develop highly innovative engineering with UH’s Cullen College technology to make blood transfusions of Engineering. “The only thing you safer by separating well-preserved red need to transfuse into the patient is blood cells from potentially harmful well-preserved red blood cells. There’s materials. His work is supported by a no point to giving you these other $1.8 million grant from the National potentially toxic materials.” Institutes of Health. Shevkoplyas is working under While blood transfusions save mil- an NIH Director’s Transformative lions of lives every year, there’s strong Research Award to develop a simple evidence that transfusions of red blood device to separate healthy, well-pre- cells stored in a refrigerator for pro- served red blood cells from all the longed periods of time can be danger- other material in the blood bag just ous or even deadly for some patients. before transfusion. The longer blood is in storage, the more The system Shevkoplyas is develop- potentially harmful materials, such as ing will consist of two tubes that feed the anticoagulant-preservative solution into a plastic device just a few inches in The system Shevkoplyas is developing will consist of two tubes that feed into a plastic device just a few inches in size. One tube will send blood into the device, while another will send that keeps blood cells alive during size. One tube will send blood into the saline solution. (Credit: Jake Brown, Cullen College of Engineering Communications Office) storage as well as cells themselves device, while another will send saline that have been irreparably damaged, solution. In the first step, the saline will build up. wash harmful particles and the storage through an array of precisely designed technology as we can into the existing “Therapeutically, there’s absolutely solution off the healthy red blood cells. micro fluidic channels, where the paradigm of transfusion. We want to no reason to transfer any of this into Next, the entire mixture will be sent shape, size and flexibility of healthy empower medical professionals at red blood cells will allow them to be the scene to make the decision about separated from the particles, damaged using this system,” Shevkoplyas said. cells and storage solution. At that “You cannot save people’s lives without LUXURY APARTMENTS point, the healthy red blood cells, blood transfusions. We’re just trying to along with saline acting as a transport make this life-saving procedure as safe medium, can be transfused safely into as possible.” • On-Site Storage the patient. Included “We’re trying to fit as much of this — Lisa Merkl, University of Houston • Assigned Garage Parking You cannot save people’s lives without • No Water or Garbage Bills blood transfusions. We’re just trying to make • 24hr. Valet this life-saving procedure as safe as possible. & Concierge Service — Sergey Shevkoplyas, Ph.D. • Pets Accepted Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at • Minutes from Texas Medical Center the University of Houston’s Cullen College of Engineering • Sophisticated Surveillance System • Discount to Texas Medical Center Employees www.theparklane.com
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38 tmc» pulse | june 2014 New Drug Boosts Immune System to Protect Against World’s Deadliest Infectious Diseases
esearchers at the Texas A&M PUL-042 remains effective in a protective therapy to the market to save grant from the Cancer Prevention RHealth Science Center (TAMHSC) patient’s system for three to four days lives and address a critical unmet need Institute of Texas as well as several and the University of Texas MD and although short-lived, the protection worldwide,” Höök said. “Ultimately, Small Business Innovation Research Anderson Cancer Center have devel- is very broad with promising protective this drug has the potential to alter our Grants from the National Institutes of oped a new therapy to stimulate the capabilities for a number of infections vulnerability to deadly epidemics and Health. Additionally, Pulmotect, Inc. body’s natural immune system, thereby and pathogens that impact the health bioterror threats.” received an investment award from providing effective protection against a and safety of populations around Founded in 2007, Pulmotect’s the Texas Emerging Technology Fund wide range of life-threatening infec- the world. technology is licensed by Texas in 2009. tious diseases. The drug, PUL-042, The first human clinical trials are A&M and The University of Texas recently entered human clinical trials now underway, designed to assess the MD Anderson Cancer Center. In 2012, — Holly Lambert Shive, Texas A&M through Houston-based biotechnology safety and tolerability of the inhalation the company received a $7 million company Pulmotect, Inc. solution. The next phase will include “The lungs are the point of entry repeat dosing of the drug to expand for many viruses and bacteria. We protection and determine the efficacy We are delighted to see the technology hypothesized that activating the innate in cancer patients. Depending on immune defense of the lungs might outcome of the trials, the drug could be advancing into clinical trials, moving us one step provide effective protection against available on the market in the next four closer toward our end goal: bringing this protective a wide range of deadly pathogens,” to five years. therapy to the market to save lives and address a said Magnus Höök, Ph.D., regents “A development seven years in the critical unmet need worldwide. and distinguished professor at the making, we are delighted to see the TAMHSC Institute for Biosciences technology advancing into clinical — Magnus Höök, Ph.D. and Technology, and co-founder of trials, moving us one step closer Director of the Center for Infectious and InflammatoryD iseases Pulmotect, Inc. “Based on our theory, toward our end goal: bringing this at the TAMHSC Institute of Biosciences and Technology we created a drug that stimulates the innate immune system, leading to rapid protection against many deadly lung infections.” Originally designed to prevent and treat respiratory infections, PUL-042 is an inhaled substance that offers intense, short-term protection against bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens by protecting the lungs against infectious diseases. Initially, the team focused efforts on prevention of pneumonia in cancer patients. “Patients receiving chemother- apy are highly susceptible to life threatening respiratory infections, including pneumonia, while in their immune-compromised state,” Höök said. “PUL-042 holds promise to protect these patients from deadly infection during their most vulnerable period, allowing for significantly higher treat- ment success.” Potential applications of the drug extend beyond cancer patients, reach- ing into the public and global health arenas. By bolstering the body’s first line of defense, PUL-042 shows promise in the areas of biodefense, as well as the prevention of seasonal and pandemic influenza and other respiratory infec- tions, such as those commonly suffered by asthmatic patients. Magnus Höök, Ph.D., director of the Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases at the TAMHSC Institute of Biosciences and Technology, has discovered a new lung protective therapy that could alter our susceptibility to a number of deadly epidemics. (Credit: Texas A&M Health Science Center )
tmc» pulse | june 2014 39 calendar June 2014
Symposium on the Future of Patient-Centered Communication 12 I Will Survive: Hope in Motion— 4 Cancer Science 10 During Cancer Care: Preventing A Survivors’ Celebration of Life Keynote lecture by Dr. Ronald DePinho Breakdowns and Mitigating Harm Guest speaker Bob Losure, former on “Modeling Cancer, Translating Presented by Kathleen Mazor, EdD, CNN Headline News anchor, author Discovery,” followed by a series of professor of medicine, University of and cancer survivor National Postdoctoral Fellows Massachusetts Medical School; The Westin Houston Memorial City Wednesday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. assistant director, Meyers Primary [email protected] MD Anderson, Hickey Auditorium, Care Institute 713-222-2273 Main Building, Floor 11 (R11.1400) Tuesday, Noon-1 p.m. [email protected] MD Anderson, Hickey Auditorium, 713-563-9637 Main Building, Floor 11 (R11.1400) [email protected] Disparities in Health in America: 713-563-1484 23-28 Working Towards Social Justice Workshop Evidence for Natural Killer Cell Provides participants with a 5 Dysfunction in Childhood Acute comprehensive understanding of Lymphoblastic Leukemia History of Infectious Disease in the health disparities, of means to Guest speaker Rayne Rouce, M.D. Texas Medical Center enhance health equity, and of the Thursday, 8-9 a.m. Presented by Daniel M. Musher, M.D., bio-psychosocial approach in Texas Children’s Hospital, Department of Medicine-Infectious addressing health disparities in Feigin Center, 1st Floor, Disease professor minority and the medically Conference Room A (C140.05) Tuesday, Noon-1 p.m. underserved populations. [email protected] One Baylor Plaza, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Michael E. DeBakey Center Prairie View A&M University College [email protected] of Nursing, 847-987-7751 6436 Fannin Street UTMB Pharmacology & Toxicology Main Auditorium, 1st Floor, Rm. 134 6 Student Summer Seminar Series: [email protected] “Disruption of the Hippocampal 919-680-4000 GABAergic System in the www.naatpn.org fgf12 -/- Transgenic Mouse Model” 10-12 6th Annual Adolescent Sexual Health Presented by Tahani Alshammari, Course: From Talk to Action, Helping Graduate Assistant Teens Build Healthy Relationships Friday, Noon-1 p.m. Keynote address by Elizabeth Smart Integrating Ethics into University of Texas Medical Branch - Bayou City Event Center, 26 Everyday Teaching Galveston, 9401 Knight Road, Houston Thursday, 2-4 p.m. Basic Science Auditorium, Rm 2.212 713-500-9670 One Baylor Plaza, [email protected] [email protected]. Michael E. DeBakey Center, edu Room M319.01 713-348-4020 [email protected] 713-798-4951
40 tmc» pulse | june 2014 THANK YOU! United Way thanks these company leaders and employees for their outstanding support of our community!
United Way of Greater Houston is a leader and trusted partner in improving lives, tackling key community social issues and making a lasting difference. Thanks to your generosity, United Way is making a better Houston possible by embracing the entire circle of life and focusing on tough issues, like family financial stability, education and the quality of life for returning veterans.
Chairman’s Division Platinum ($1,000,000+) Memorial Hermann Healthcare System
Century Division Vanguard Division Friends of the United Way ($75,000 - $99,999) ($10,000 - $24,999) Abbott Laboratories Alcon, a Novartis company Merck & Co., Inc. Aetna Inc. Houston Methodist Thermo Fisher Scientific Co. Baylor College of Medicine St. Luke’s Health System UnitedHealth Group Business Health Strategies, LLC Eli Lilly & Co. Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Texas Challenger Division Cigna Healthcare ($25,000 - $49,999) Harris Health System Humana Inc. Harris County Medical Society Johnson & Johnson Medical Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Texas Medical Center Library Texas Children’s Hospital
(Results as of print deadline)
Under the leadership of United Way Community Campaign Chair, Lynne Liberato, partner at Haynes and Boone, L.L.P., health care related campaigns contributed over $1.7 million to support the United Way 2013-14 Community Campaign. We support the community health efforts of local hospitals and other healthcare organizations and strive to improve health care access.
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