Featured Article Columbia Researchers United Against COVID-19
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Summer/Fall COLUMBIA PATHOLOGY 2020 AND CELL BIOLOGY REPORT Featured Article Columbia Researchers United Against COVID-19 Lab Snapshot Effects of COVID-19 on Histology Lab COVID-19 Response Departmental collection of the clinical response to the pandemic in this issue 3 From the Chair 4 Honors and Awards 9 Faculty Promotions 10 Grants Awarded 13 In Memoriam 15 New Administrative Staff 16 New Faculty 7 17 Research 18 COVID-related Research 20 Feature Article: Columbia Researchers United Build a COVID-19 Patient Biobank 27 Lab Snapshot: Impact of COVID-19 on Histology 28 New Residents & Fellows Columbia Pathology and Cell Biology Report Chairman Kevin A. Roth, MD, PhD Donald W. King, M.D. and Mary Elizabeth King, M.D. Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology Chair, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology Pathologist-in-Chief, CUIMC Department Administrator/CFO Joann Li, PA, MPH Editor and Layout Designer 20 Milan Fredricks Copy Editor and Webmaster Ping Feng Contributing Writers Alvaro Cuesta-Dominguez, Phd Annette Wu, MD Address correspondence to: PCB Reports, Editor c/o Milan Fredricks Columbia University Department of Pathology and Cell Biology 630 W. 168th St., Box 23 New York, NY 10032 E-mail: [email protected] Website: pathology.columbia.edu on the cover: Illustration, men and women wearing masks 24 (Source: graphics4u on envato elements) FROM THE CHAIR A Changing Landscape ARS -CoV-2 had, and world to advance studies of continues to have, a the virus and to develop novel Grants Awarded Sdevastating effect on our SARS-CoV-2 assays and therapies community. At its peak in mid- (https://www.pathology.columbia. In Memoriam April, we had over 600 SARS- edu/departmental-covid-19- CoV-2 patients admitted to NYP- article-collection). CUIMC with over 200 patients on ventilators. To date, SARS-CoV-2 Many of these efforts are has resulted in over 3000 patient highlighted in this newsletter Research admissions and more than 500 and detailed further on our deaths at NYP-CUIMC. Tragically, departmental website (https:// Kevin A. Roth, M.D., Ph.D., Chair the pandemic outbreak of SARS- www.pathology.columbia.edu/). [email protected] CoV-2 has disproportionally I encourage everyone in the affected vulnerable populations department, particularly those including elderly and patients returning to onsite work duties, with co-morbidities such as to continue to be vigilant and to cancer and other immune follow all Columbia University and deficiencies. NYP-CUIMC guidelines for keeping yourself and your colleagues safe. Recently released Federal data indicate that Blacks and Hispanics Finally, I want to thank each of are three-times as likely as whites you, whether you are working to be infected and twice as likely from home or at CUIMC, for to die from Covid-19. Thankfully, everything you have contributed the number of new cases has to our clinical, research and decreased significantly over educational missions during this the last few months and some pandemic. I am hopeful that a aspects of pre-Covid-19 life have second wave of cases doesn’t begun to re-emerge. Although occur in the coming months but these are good indictors, we I am confident that if it does, we must be prepared for a rise will once again face the challenge in cases over the upcoming with professionalism and months as social distancing and compassion. ◆ other precautions become less rigorously followed. Best wishes, The Department of Pathology and Cell Biology has been integral to the clinical response to the pandemic and has partnered with numerous colleagues and collaborators throughout the 4 PCB REPORTS Honors and Awards Jay Lefkowitch, MD Brie Stotler, MD Dr. Jay Lefkowitch and Dr. Brie Stotler Accepted into ACE Congratulations to Jay Lefkowitch, MD, professor of ACE also includes the following faculty members from pathology and cell biology at CUMC, and Brie Stotler, the Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, inducted MD, assistant professor of pathology and cell biology since the launch of ACE: at CUMC, who have been recently accepted into the 2020 class of the Academy of Clinical Excellence Govind Bhagat, MBBS - Professor of Pathology and Cell (ACE). Biology at CUMC Vivette D. D’Agati, MD - Professor of Pathology and Cell The Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians Biology at CUMC and Surgeons Academy of Clinical Excellence (ACE) Hanina Hibshoosh, MD - Professor of Pathology and was established in 2016 to define, recognize, and Cell Biology at CUMC perpetuate excellence in clinical care by faculty, Charles C. Marboe, MD - Professor of Pathology and trainees, and students. It honors the clinical faculty Cell Biology at CUMC who contribute to the Vagelos College of Physicians Glen S. Markowitz, MD - Professor of Pathology and and Surgeons through patient care marked by Cell Biology at CUMC evidence-based clinical science coupled with deeply Kathleen M. O’Toole, MD - Professor of Pathology and compassionate humanism. Each member of ACE Cell Biology at CUMC exhibits excellence in the following characteristics: Anjali Saqi, MD, MBA - Professor of Pathology and Cell reputation, communication and interpersonal Biology at CUMC skills, professionalism and humanism, diagnostic Joseph Schwartz, MD, MPH - Professor of Pathology acumen, skillful negotiation of the health care and Cell Biology at CUMC system, knowledge, scholarly approach to clinical David N. Silvers, MD - Professor of Dermatology and care, commitment to mentoring trainees and junior Pathology and Cell Biology at CUMC colleagues, and passion for clinical medicine. Steven L. Spitalnik, MD - Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology “Well deserved honor for both of you and the Matthias J. Szabolcs, MD - Professor of Pathology and department”, said Dr. Kevin Roth, the department Cell Biology at CUMC chair, congratulating Dr. Lefkowitch and Dr. Stotler for achieving this remarkable honor. SUMMER/FALL 2020 5 Honors and Awards Dr. Eldad Hod Elected to the NBF Hall of Fame The National Blood Foundation has Currently, Dr. Hod is conducting research to determine just announced Eldad Hod, MD as whether plasma from those who have recovered from one of its two newest members of COVID-19 could be used to treat those who are infected. the NBF Hall of Fame. We warmly NBF introduced its Hall of Fame in 2007 recognizing a congratulate Dr. Hod for achieving prestigious and select group of NBF grant recipients who this remarkable recognition! leveraged their early-career grant funding into successful careers in transfusion medicine, cellular therapies, or Dr. Eldad Hod is an associate professor of pathology patient blood management and who demonstrated and cell biology, as well as a researcher and expert in exemplary leadership within the field. This important transfusion medicine. His research investigates important recognition was reinstated annually in 2015 inducting one problems related to red blood cell transfusion and iron to three new members each year. biology. He has received several awards including the Jean Julliard Prize and the Jack Latham Memorial Award for The NBF Research and Recognition Awards are scheduled Innovative Research from the National Blood Foundation in to be presented at the AABB Annual Meeting in October 2014 and was named an NBF scholar in the same year. 2020 in Baltimore, MD. OTHER HONORS AND AWARDS Dritan Agalliu, PhD The Harold and Golden Lamport Award for Excellence in Basic Science Research Dr. Minah Kim Wins VELOCITY Osama Al Dalahmah, MD, PhD Translational Therapeutics Accelerator Pilot Award Cancer Research Award Francesca Bartolini, PhD Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Fulbright specialist in 2019 Center Leadership just announced that Mina Kim, PhD, assistant professor of Ibrahim Batal, MD pathology and cell biology at Columbia 2020-2021 Mendez National Institute of Transplantation University Irving Medical Center, has Foundation Research Grant been selected as one of this year’s Velocity Fellows for her research Eunhee Choi, PhD project entitled “Targeting Vascular Winner, Alice Bohmfalk Charitable Trust Award Abnormalities to Overcome Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Resistance in Catherine Clelland, PhD Metastatic Melanoma”. Winner, Translational Therapeutics Accelerator Pilot Award Dr. Kim is studying mechanisms by Erin Heinzen Cox, PharmD, PhD which vascular abnormalities lead Named 2019 Irving Scholars to therapeutic resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitor in patients with Serge Cremers, PhD, PharmD melanoma and drug combinations Named Editor-in-Chief of the British Journal of Clinical that could reverse resistance. This Pharmacology (BJCP) information will also help find potential Piero Dalerba, MD vascular biomarker to predict patient 2019 Velocity Fellow responses to therapy. Vivette D’Agati, MD To learn more about the award, read Castle Connolly Top Doctors for 2020 the full announcement at HICCC News. 6 PCB REPORTS Honors and Awards Dr. Stuart Weisberg Named 2020 Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Scholar Stuart Weisberg, MD, PhD, assistant professor of high-resolution immunophenotypic, transcriptomic pathology and cell biology, has been appointed to and functional analysis. In parallel, he performs a three year term as a Louis V. Gerstner Jr. scholar multispectral staining of pancreas tissue sections to effective July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2023. examine the spatial interrelationships between these pancreatic immune cells and their position within the Each year since 2008, the Louis V. Gerstner Jr. tissue microenvironment. His studies now are focusing Scholars Program has supported tenure-track on mechanisms of pancreatic inflammation and physicians who conduct research that has the promise how obesity and type 2 diabetes alter the pancreatic to bring new treatments to patients. The fund provides immune landscape to increase risk for pancreatitis and a stipend of $75,000 per year, for up to three years, to pancreatic cancer. support the awardees’ research projects. Scholars are nominated by a committee of distinguished research As an MD/PhD student, Stuart’s doctoral work in faculty and selected by the VP&S dean. the lab of Drs. Anthony Ferrante and Rudolph Leibel revealed that obesity is associated with accumulation Dr.