Spring 2015 Center for Clinical and Translational Science e-Newsletter Center News Rockefeller University and Clinical Directors Network Share $2.8 million Award to Better Prevent Drug-Resistant Infections in the Community By Jennifer Einstein A collaborative research team at The test in a randomized fashion whether responsible for an increasingly common Rockefeller University Center for household decontamination helps community-acquired infection. Clinical and Translational Science prevent reinfection and transmission. (Image by Janice Carr, Centers for (CCTS) and Clinical Directors Network Disease Control and Prevention.) (CDN) has received a $2.8 million The project, known as CAMP2, will be award from the Patient-Centered led by Jonathan N. Tobin, president Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and CEO (CDN) and co-director of to study a home-based intervention to community-engaged research and an prevent recurrence of a community- adjunct faculty member at Rockefeller, acquired drug-resistant Staphylococcal Alexander Tomasz, Dr. Plutarch aurea infection (MRSA). PCORI Papamarkou Professor and head of was established under the Patient the Laboratory of Microbiology and Protection and Affordable Care Act to Infectious Disease, and Rhonda G. Kost, fund research on clinical effectiveness. co-director of community-engaged The Community Acquired MRSA research and clinical research officer Project will enroll patients with skin MRSA up close of The Rockefeller University Hospital. infections, provide English- and An electron micrograph shows clumps “This is an innovative, patient-centered Spanish-language health education project to determine the best method materials about community-acquired of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus drug-resistant staph infections, and aureus (MRSA) bacteria, the pathogen continued on Page 9 Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, The Rockefeller University and Weill Cornell Medical College Form Pioneering Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, Inc. (Tri-I TDI) expedite early-stage drug discovery chemists who work on TDI projects in By Michael Foley leads to novel therapeutics that will close collaboration with the project PI’s impact human health. The TDI is and their lab members. These chemists funded, in part, by a generous $15 are fully embedded in the Tri-I million gift from Lewis and Ali Sanders. community and work in TDI’s labs in the Belfer Research Building. In addition The TDI is a novel organization, to these on-site chemists, the TDI also governed by its own Board of Directors has access to other Takeda resources, drawn from the Leadership of the such as structural biology capabilities, three parent institutes. Its mission ADME/tox determinations, and virtual is to effectively develop therapeutics screening services through its groups that arise from discoveries made in located in Shonan, Japan, San Diego, basic science labs. Its focus is on the CA and Boston, MA. early stages of developing compounds that make possible all-important At present, there are seven projects “proof of concept” studies – those that in the TDI portfolio. A Scientific Michael Foley, Ph.D., Sanders Director increase the likelihood that targeting Advisory Board made up of experts in of Tri-I TDI a specific biologic pathway can biology, chemistry and drug discovery In October of 2013, Memorial favorably alter the course of a disease. and development from academics and Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, The industry selected these from over 45 Rockefeller University and Weill Takeda Pharmaceuticals, a global applicants. These projects span a wide Cornell Medical College formed research-based pharmaceutical swath of the therapeutic spectrum, the pioneering Tri-Institutional company with a strong record of from oncology and psychiatric disease Therapeutics Discovery Institute, Inc. bringing new medicines to market is a to rare diseases. Wet chemistry work on (Tri-I TDI) and partnered with Takeda close collaborator in this effort. Takeda these projects began in July of 2014 and 1 Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd, to provides 16 highly trained medicinal they are making swift progress. continued on Page 9 C. David Allis Wins the 2015 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences By Zach Veilleux Launched in 2013 by a group of Internet The judges recognized Allis “for the and technology entrepreneurs, the prize discovery of covalent modifications of recognizes “transformative advances histone proteins and their critical roles toward understanding living systems and in the regulation of gene expression extending human life.” and chromatin organization, advancing A $3-million cash award accompanies the understanding of diseases ranging the Breakthrough Prize, making it the from birth defects to cancer.” Histones richest prize in the life sciences, roughly are DNA-packaging proteins, one double the Nobel Prize. component of chromatin, the material of The founders are Google’s Sergey Brin which chromosomes are composed. and Anne Wojcicki, Facebook’s Mark Over the last decade, Allis and others Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, Yuri and have provided evidence that suggests that Julia Milner, and Alibaba’s Jack Ma and patterns or combinations of chemical Cathy Zhang. Seth MacFarlane, executive modifications to histones represent a producer of the 2014 television series layer of gene regulation that takes place Cosmos, hosted the award ceremony, away from the DNA, an epigenetic C. David Allis, Ph.D. which also featured the actors Kate layer of regulation. Epigenetic errors For his foundational research on the Beckinsale, Benedict Cumberbatch, have been associated with cancer and unexpected regulation of gene activation Cameron Diaz, Jon Hamm and Eddie other diseases, and scientists’ growing by modifications to proteins that package Redmayne as presenters. understanding of the fundamental DNA, work with implications for many “Through his work on histonemechanisms involved holds great diseases including cancer, Rockefeller’s modifications, David has opened new promise for entirely new treatment C. David Allis has been honored with the doors of scientific understanding for approaches. Histone modifications have 2015 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences. colleagues around the world interested also been found to play an important role Allis, Joy and Jack Fishman Professor in penetrating the complexities of gene in cell reprogramming and are expected and head of the Laboratory of Chromatin expression,” says Marc Tessier-Lavigne, to contribute to the field of regenerative Biology and Epigenetics, was one of Rockefeller president, Carson Family medicine. six life scientists to receive the prize at Professor, and head of the Laboratory “Tracking down answers to these a gala awards ceremony in November of Brain Development and Repair. “The fundamental questions concerning gene 2014 at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Breakthrough Prize is a wonderful regulation has been deeply satisfying. Mountain View, California. confirmation of the impact of his truly More recently, too, we’ve seen that some of pathbreaking research.” our findings are leading to new treatment continued on Page 9 Jeffrey Ravetch Wins Wolf Prize in Medicine By Wynne Parry work together at National Jewish Health documentation of the importance of in Denver, and Marrack is a member of diverse receptors for the constant ‘Fc’ Rockefeller’s Committee on Scientific part of antibody molecules.” Ravetch Affairs. has studied in great detail the Fc region Since 1978, the Wolf Foundation in of many antibodies, and has showed that Israel has awarded annual prizes in the they are important in mediating antibody arts and sciences, which are presented function both in pathogenic disease and by the President of Israel. This year, five the body’s normal state. prizes were presented to seven scientists “Jeff’s work on Fc receptors has and two musicians. The three winners revealed critical knowledge of the of the medicine prize were selected for molecular biology that underlies the their work on the molecular basis of the immune system,” says Marc Tessier- immune response. Lavigne, the university’s president. “By Ravetch dissects the cellular and showing how antibodies communicate molecular mechanisms that govern the chemically with immune system cells, generation of antibody specificity and the his research is of great importance to the translation of that specificity into cellular fight against both pathogenic disease and responses. By identifying the genetic autoimmune disorders. It is gratifying to Jeffrey Ravetch, M.D., Ph.D. components that cause immune system see his pioneering work recognized with Jeffrey V. Ravetch, head of the Leonard cells to respond to specific antibodies, this prestigious international award.” Wagner Laboratory of Molecular Dr. Ravetch hopes to gain a better Ravetch graduated from Yale University Genetics and Immunology at Rockefeller understanding of how a functioning in 1973 and entered the Rockefeller University, was named a recipient of the immune system protects organisms University-Cornell University M.D.- 2015 Wolf Prize in Medicine. He shares from invaders, and how a dysfunctional Ph.D. program. He received his Ph.D. in the prize, which includes a monetary immune system attacks the body’s own 1978 from The Rockefeller University, award of $100,000, with two other tissues. where he studied under Norton Zinder immunologists, Drs. John Kappler and Ravetch’s award recognizes his and Peter Model and his M.D. from Philippa Marrack. Kappler and Marrack studies of