Community Pride Honoring the Behind-The-Scene Supporters Research Support Comes Innovative Projects Forward, As Well As Ventured Into New Areas of Research
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Front Line news from the Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience Community Pride Honoring the behind-the-scene supporters Research support comes innovative projects forward, as well as ventured into new areas of research. in many forms including In 2006, department chairman Howard grants from the National E. Gendelman, M.D., hosted the first Institutes of Health (NIH) Community Pride in Neuroscience Lecture and Dinner to recognize the and other federal agencies, outstanding support and generosity of not-for-profit foundations, these individuals and to recognize out- and industry sponsors. standing scientists in the field of neu- roscience. Now, in its fourth year, the two-day event kicks off with a lecture by But, what happens to research ideas an international scientist, followed by when such funding is not available? meetings of faculty and students and Thanks to the generosity of a quiet a dinner honoring the distinguished group of individuals, the Department scientist and community members. of Pharmacology and Experimental This year the lives of lifelong Nebraska Neuroscience at the University of Nebraska Medical Center has moved see Community Pride pg 6 Two Neuroscience Centers In June two neuroscience center’s established in 1997 under Howard were approved. The Center for E. Gendelman, M.D. The Center Neurodegenerative Disorders and the for Integrative and Translational Center for Integrative and Translational Neuroscience, directed by Howard Neuroscience will both explore the S. Fox, M.D., Ph.D., is the link be- causes of neurodegenertive diseases to tween basic science discoveries and improve diagnostics and potential drug translational implementation in the therapies. clinic. “It is our vision to make UNMC a world leader in the treatment of The Center for Neurodegenerative neurodegenerative disorders such as Disorders, directed by Tsuneya Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases,” Ikezu, M.D., Ph.D., evolved from the Dr. Gendelman said. Both centers former Center for Neurovirology and Neurodegenerative Disorders, see Neuroscience Centers pg 3 Volume 1, Issue 1 | October 2009 Letter from the Chair It seems like yesterday that I walked into the halls of the University of Ne- braska Medical Center with hope, promise and some dollars to launch a new research program in the neurosciences. What has happened in just over a decade was honestly beyond my wild- est dreams. A department focused on brain research was not imagined let alone being among the top in the nation. Achievements at an inter- national level in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, stem cell biology, nanomedicine, drug abuse and HIV disease research were also not imag- ined but are true today. Our publications have appeared in high-level journals and are among the most cited in neuroscience research. Patents abound and are now being translated into real inventions to benefit mankind. The recruitments of Howard Fox, M.D., Ph.D., and Shilpa Buch, Ph.D. have solidly set the stage for even further growth. Their wisdom, enthusi- asm and team spirit raised our bar again. Can we go even further? Yes we can! A new biotechnology company, Neuropel Pharma Inc., was founded and is designed to take our inventions and develop them for clinical use. Tsuneya Ikezu, M.D., Ph.D., and his team discovered a new gene targeted for Alzheimer’s therapeutics. Can we take an incurable disease and find Newsletter new treatments? We can and we will! October 2009 Volume 1, Issue 1 Not to be undercut, our education program in pharmacology is the best This newsletter is produced by the it has been in nearly a decade. Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience An early vaccine for Parkinson’s disease spells a formidable combination University of Nebraska Medical of science, technology and educational developments. Can we see clini- Center cal applications? We can and we will! There is much that lies before us. Can we meet those challenges? With Editor: Robin Taylor our partnerships together, yes we can and yes we will! Assistant Editor: We developed this program with you. You have made dreams come true Lesley Gendelman and even more will certainly be realized these next few years. Cures, and Photography: at the least, better treatments for diseases are within our grasp. Malone & Company, Birrell Signature Photography, James Thank you for your support and I look to our future and the future of our Roubal, Lennart Mucke, M.D. and mission with excitement and awe in finding cures to so many devastating Robin Taylor diseases. For additional printed copies, contact: Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience 985800 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198-5800 Howard E. Gendelman, M.D. (402) 559-4035 Chair, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience www.unmc.edu/pharmacology Larson Professor of Internal Medicine Front Line | 2 New Research Dollars Howard S. Fox, M.D., Ph.D., and Their work, in conjunction Shilpa Buch, Ph.D., recently joined with others in the department, bringing with them the department, multiple millions of dollars in Na- set the stage for tional Institutes of Health research understanding grants. commonalities of neurodegenerative Each of them is carrying out pathways as they important work examining the relate to other mechanisms of neurodegenera- disorders such as tion and potential treatments for Alzheimer’s and protecting the brain. Parkinson’s Disease, In addition, they jointly and means to research on how illicit drugs prevent or treat affect brain pathology, these debilitating immunology and the disorders conditions. Growth in total grant dollars for the resulting from HIV infection. Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience Neuroscience Centers continued from pg 1 were built from major research gains develop world–class scientists and radiology, medicine and surgery, in in neuroscience made at UNMC. health care professionals of the highest order to rapidly move new discoveries integrity, compassiont and competence. out of the lab and into the clinic. “The development of “Neuroscience is now at the stage neurodegenerative research and The Center for Neurodegenerative where we can move our laboratory education at UNMC is one of the Disorders will succeed the findings up through molecular, cell primary goals of our strategic extraordinary successful Center for culture and animal models to people, plan,” said Dr. Ikezu. Currently, Neurovirology and Neurodegenerative so we can alleviate the burden of there is no organizational structure Disorders and will direct the these neurodegenerative illnesses in place at UNMC to stimulate program to be more focused on as soon as possible,” Dr. Fox said. neurodegenerative disorder research basic and therapeutic research on “Advances in technology now allow on a campus–wide basis. The Center neurodegenerative disorders with close relationship and partnership us to diagnose diseases of the brain for Neurodegenerative Disorders will with the Center for Integrative and earlier and more exactly. It is at enhance the research infrastructure, Translational Neuroscience at UNMC. these early stages that treatments provide an administrative home for would likely be most effective.” interdepartmental graduate and The Center for Integrative and postdoctoral training and be a conduit Translational Neuroscience will focus between the academic and private on translational medicine and take the sectors. There is an increasing demand fruits of neurodegenerative research for innovative research and education from the bench to the bedside. in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, Dr. Fox said the center brings together multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic basic research faculty with clinicians lateral sclerosis. This is necessary to in neurology, psychiatry, pediatrics, Volume 1, Issue 1 | October 2009 Parkinson’s Research In 2000, the Center for Neurovirology and minted clinical investigations have demonstrated that the Neurodegenerative Disorders was not known for approach is reasoned and viable. research in Parkinson’s disease. Eric Benner, an The work, published in many major scientific journals, M.D./Ph.D. student, had an idea to develop a serves as a cornerstone as our scientists look for new ways Parkinson’s vaccine. Unfortunately, funding was to refine the vaccine to change the landscape of this and not available in this area of research. Although other incurable diseases that affects so many millions of the initial studies failed, community-supported Americans. funds allowed a vaccine program for Parkinson’s Collaborations with neurologists at the University to begin. of Alabama and here at UNMC are underway with the hope of bringing actual vaccine trials The dream to establish a Parkinson’s vaccine continued with to patients within the next two years. the mantle taken over by graduate students Ashley Reynolds and David Stone. Over the past eight years working under Although a vaccine is a long way off, Phase I clinical trials the guidance of Howard Gendelman, M.D., and R. Lee to be performed here at UNMC are now being considered. Mosley, Ph.D., this dream has become a recognized reality. Pre-clinical studies have shown proof of concept and newly Translational Research Michele Aizenberg Ansari, M.D., These works, jointly developed by and parts of Asia. The value of having is among UNMC’s most active Michael Boska, Ph.D., Irena Kadiu, long-acting medicines made available and successful neurosurgeons. Ph.D., Howard E. Gendelman, M.D., through the works of UNMC scientists Zhiya Ma, Ph.D., Huangyu Dou, Ph.D., cannot be overstated. A single injection She began a brain tumor program and Dr. Aizenberg, are used in rodent of a therapeutic drug given once per where none existed in Nebraska and in models of disease and in a new brain month is being developed for clinical a time frame of less than a year. tumor repository developed by Dr. trials (Dou et al. Blood 2006; Dou et al. Aizenberg. Journal of Immunology 2009; Nowacek Patients are attracted from all over the et al, Nanomedicine 2009).