PATHOLOGY in focus Volume 1, Issue 4, November 2007 Quarterly Newsletter of the UAB Department of

Jay M. McDonald, MD Robert and Ruth Anderson Professor and Chair MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR MESSAGE FROM THE FACULTY ACHEIVEMENTS The Department of Pathology faculty PATHOLOGY achieved significant success in the past FACULTY ADVISORY COUNCIL year in fundamental and translational The FAC has been active in promoting research and international health. Below mentoring activities among faculty and are four notable breakthroughs. trainees. Our faculty and trainees make this Maaike Everts, PhD, process work and keep us at the forefront of Assistant Professor, Molecular and Moon Nahm and colleagues discovered national recognition. This newsletter Cellular Pathology, received the John R. and named 6c, a pneumococus in showcases many of the accomplishments of Durant Award for Excellence in Cancer Strepococcus pneumoniae, a major our faculty and trainees on a national level. Research at the Comprehensive Cancer achievement critical to the development of Since our last newsletter, we have received Center retreat. pneumococcal vaccines. The NIH selected suggestions to increase interaction among our this discovery as a major achievement in faculty. Two of the suggestions received from pneumococal research for 2007. Their departmental colleagues and alumni are listed study appeared in the Journal of Clinical below. Microbiology. 1. Trainee Recruitment: Ensure that clinical Rakesh Patel, et al, reported in the and non-clinical faculty are represented Gregory Davis, MD, Journal of Clinical Investigation that on the Molecular and Cellular Pathology Associate Professor, Forensic Pathology, administering inhaled nitric oxide during Graduate Program and Pathology has been appointed to the Forensic liver transplantation decreases the risk of Residency Program selection committees. Pathology Committee of the College of organ failure by limiting reperfusion American Pathologists. injury, which may also improve heart, 2. Encourage inter-divisional faculty lung, kidney and pancreas transplant participation in conferences and lectures. outcomes. This has been very effective in the Thomas Clemens, et al, showed in the Advances in Molecular and Cellular Journal of Clinical Investigation the Pathology Noon Seminar as well as the Ona Marie Faye-Petersen, importance of the key hypoxia-inducible Translational Research Seminar in MD, Associate Professor, Anatomic factor alpha pathway that couples Anatomic Pathology. Pathology, has been appointed to the angiogenesis to osteogenesis during Editorial Board of Obstetrical and skeletal development. Such suggestions are very productive, so keep Gynecological Survey. She is Chair-elect them coming. of the Education Committee and a Casey Weaver and his team were instrumental in defining, in Nature, a new Councilor-at-Large for the Society for Please contact us at [email protected] Pediatric Pathology. lineage of T cells that promises to improve with your ideas. understanding of the mechanisms by which the adaptive immune system coordinates host defense and, when dysregulated, Nirag C. Jhala MD, MIAC , Chair generates autoimmune disease. David Chhieng, MD-Anatomic Path William Benjamin, PhD-Lab Sincerely, Stephen Moser, PhD-Lab Medicine Robert Hardy, PhD Associate Professor, Laboratory Medicine, Jay M. McDonald, M.D. Gary Simmons, MD-Forensic/Neuropath Rakesh Patel, PhD –Molecular & Cellular has been appointed to the American Board ``````````````````````````````````````````````` of Clinical Chemistry.

``````````````````````````````````````````````` Department of Pathology Web Site PATHOLOGY IN FOCUS http://www.path.uab.edu EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Editor-in-Chief: C. Bruce Alexander, M.D. Nirag C. Jhala, M.D. KEEP IN TOUCH……Newsletter Joanne Murphy-Ullrich, Scott Ballinger, Ph.D. E-Mail: [email protected] PhD, Professor, Molecular and Cellular Walter C. Bell, M.D. Pathology, has been elected Vice-Chair in Marisa B. Marques, M.D. 2010 and Chair in 2013 of the FASEB Gary T. Simmons, M.D. Summer research Conference and was the Marty Simmons & Margaret Dotzler opening speaker at the SIBLING Gordon Conference in 2007. FACULTY ACHEIVEMENTS Charlotte, North Carolina. She was Adjunct FACULTY PROFILE Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina Hospital and Duke University Medical Centers. Dr. Troughton received her undergraduate Ralph Sanderson, PhD, Professor, degree at Austin Peay State University and Molecular and Cellular Pathology, has been her medical degree at James H. Quillen appointed to the Editorial Board of the College of Medicine, East Tennessee State Journal of Biological Chemistry University. After completing Pathology Xu Feng, PhD Residency at the University of South Associate Professor of Pathology Alabama and a Fellowship in Transfusion Div. of Molecular and Cellular Pathology Medicine at the University of North Dr Xu Feng received his PhD in Carolina, Dr. Troughton practiced surgical Zoology/Molecular Biology from the John Shacka, PhD, Instructor, pathology in Knoxville, Tennessee before University of Vermont in 1994 under the Neuropathology, has been appointed to the transferring to the American Red Cross in mentorship of Dr. George Happ. He pursued Editorial Board of Autophagy & a member of 2004. his postdoctoral research training in the the Council for The Histochemical Society. Dr. Troughton serves as an AABB laboratory of Dr. Steven Teitelbaum at Assessor of hospital transfusion services Washington University School of Medicine and blood donor centers. She also serves where he was transformed from an the AABB and American Society for entomologist into a bone biologist. In 2000, Ken Waites, MD, Professor, Apheresis (ASFA) as a member of various Dr Feng joined the UAB Department of Laboratory Medicine, has been selected to committees. Pathology as an assistant professor and was present the Division G “Mycoplasmology” promoted to associate professor in 2005. Dr Lecture at the 2008 American Society for Feng received an individual National Microbiology General Meeting. Research Service Award (NRSA) from the National Institutes of Health (1997-1999) and was a recipient of the John Haddad Young Investigator Award from Advances in Mineral Metabolism (AIMM) and the Omar Hameed, MD, Assistant American Society for Bone and Mineral Professor, Anatomic Pathology, has been Klaus F. Sellheyer, MD Research (ASBMR) in 2000. inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha, the Associate Professor of Dermatology & Since coming to UAB, Dr Feng has national medical honor society. Pathology, Division of Anatomic Path focused on investigating the molecular Dr. Sellheyer comes to UAB from the mechanism of osteoclast differentiation and Cleveland Clinic where he served as a staff function and understanding the regulatory Dermatopathologist since 2003. Dr. role and signaling mechanism of the Sellheyer has trained extensively receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B Gary Simmons, MD, Assistant internationally and in the United States. In (RANK) and its cognate ligand (RANKL) Professor, Forensic Pathology, has been 1985 he received his MD from the in osteoclasts. His laboratory has recently elected to the Board of Directors of the University of Gottingen in Germany and identified numerous RANK cytoplasmic National Association of Medical Examiners. completed his residency in dermatology motifs that mediate osteoclast formation, there also. He completed his Anatomic function and survival in in vitro assays. The Peter Anderson, PhD, DVM, Professor in Pathology residency at Mount Sinai College potency and specificity of these RANK Molecular and Cellular Pathology has been of Medicine in NY. He then completed a motifs in osteoclast biology have convinced appointed Chair of the National Board of Dermatopathology fellowship at New York him to expand his research programs into Medical Examiners Pathology Committee, University followed by a Dermatopathology translational research. He is currently and to the USMLE Step 1 Test Material fellowship at the University of Chicago. He developing innovative cell-based assay Development Committee for Pathology. is board certified in dermatology, anatomic systems for identifying compounds through pathology and Dermatopathology. high throughput screening (HTS). Upon Dr. Sellheyer has a primary appointment completion of the assays, he will seek WELCOME NEW FACULTY in Dermatology and a secondary collaboration with NIH HTS screening appointment in Pathology. He will serve as centers or pharmaceutical companies to Head of the Dermatopathology service and develop the next generation of have general Dermatology clinic service. antiresorptive drugs with higher efficacy In addition to his clinical expertise, Dr. and specificity. In addition, his laboratory Sellheyer has extensive research experience has just begun to investigate the molecular including a postdoctoral fellowship in mechanism of tumor (breast and prostate) electron microscopy and a research bone metastasis. He is specifically interested Marla C. Troughton, M.D. fellowship in molecular dermatology at in addressing how breast cancer cells are Assistant Professor of Pathology Baylor College of Medicine. His current attracted to the prospective bone metastasis Division of Laboratory Medicine research focuses on skin and hair follicle sites. A better understanding of the Prior to joining UAB, Dr. Troughton development. Dr. Sellheyer has identified a molecular mechanism by which breast served as Medical Director for the Carolinas novel protein that is asymmetrically cancer cells are attracted to bone may Blood Services Region of the American Red expressed in hair papilla and may be facilitate the revelation of better therapeutic Cross. The largest of the American Red responsible for directing the orientation of targets/strategies for the devastating disease. Cross blood regions, it is headquartered in hair growth. FROM THE CHIEF Residents presenting abstracts at the CAP RESIDENTS Arthur Purdy Stout Award Annual Meeting included: An Arthur Purdy Stout Society of Surgical Pathologists Study Stipend for 2008 was Shi Wei, MD, PhD: Incidental awarded to Shi Wei, MD, PhD, a PGY4 In Situ in a 35-Day-Old resident who will be doing a Surgical Neonate Born at 23 Weeks of Gestational Pathology Fellowship at UAB next year. Age (Faculty mentor: Dr. Ona Faye- Petersen). The Arthur Purdy Stout Study Stipends are Zhaohai Yang MD, PhD: Clostridium Carrie Knight, M.D. designed to allow residents in pathology to septicum Aortitis Causing Aortic Dissection Anatomic Pathology spend a month at another institution to in a 22-Year-Old Man (Faculty mentor: Dr. pursue study of a specific area of diagnostic Stephanie Reilly). . Shi's award will enable him to spend a month at Emory University studying Surgical Pathology/Soft Tissue Diane Peterson, MD, will attend the Pathology under the supervision of Dr. Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Sharon Weiss, Vice Chair of Pathology and Meeting in Washington, D.C. in February Associate Dean of Emory University School 2008. Her poster presentation is entitled Meredith Lakey M.D. Clinical Pathology of Medicine. “Gas Chromatography of Postmortem Blood Revealing Sevoflurane in a Patient We are off to a great start this year with yet AABB Meeting in Anaheim Six Hours Post-op". Her faculty mentor is another recruiting season just around the Shaoying Li, MD, and Tad Cherry, MD, Dr. Andrew Robinson, and co-authors corner. Resident candidates are scheduled presented posters at the recent American include Dr. Gary Simmons and Dr. Robert for interviews starting in November. Current Association of Blood Banks Meeting. Brissie. residents, together with faculty, will play a Shaoying’s poster was entitled “Thrombotic large role in our recruiting process. Thrombocytopenic Purpura Following Hepatitis B Vaccination.” Her faculty Resident Socials ASCP Meeting in New Orleans mentors were Drs. Huang and Marques. The residents would like to thank Dr. Many UAB residents and faculty members Tad’s poster was entitled “Therapeutic Alexander for his continued support of recently attended the 2007 meeting of the Plasma Exchange in HIT Prior to Heparin UAB Pathology Resident Socials. The American Society for Clinical Pathology. In Re-exposure.” His faculty mentor was Dr. socials were instituted by last year’s chief addition to numerous abstract poster Marques. residents, Drs. Yara Park and Preeti Sharma, presentations, two UAB trainees, Holly and have been well attended this academic Burford, MD, and Carrie Knight, MD, year. Residents, fellows, and their families were chosen as finalists in the Resident meet monthly after work to enjoy good eats Research Symposium. and company. Recent venues have included Mellow Mushroom, Acapulco Mexican Jeremy Henderson, MD, and Liz Hanson, Restaurant, and Dave’s Pizza. MD, represent UAB on the ASCP Resident Council. Jeremy is one of nine members nationally of the ASCP Resident Council as well as a member of the ASCP eCourse Committee. Liz is our program's liaison to the Resident Council and was recently Shaoying Li (PGY2) with Drs. Marques and Huang at appointed as a member of the ASCP Finance the AABB Meeting. Committee.

CAP Meeting in Chicago Meiklejohn McKenzie, DO, and Amanda Crowe, MD, represented UAB at the CAP Residents’ Forum which took place in October during the College of American Pathologists Annual Meeting. Topics discussed during the forum included the proposed Standardized Fellowship Application Form, the CAP Residents Online Community, and the Clinical Pathology Training Survey.

Liz Hanson (PGY1) and Jeremy Henderson (PGY4) at the ASCP Resident Council Luncheon.

PATHOLOGY GRADUATE PROGRAM Pathology Graduate Student Research Day Mr. Ralph Patterson has been appointed as staff coordinator for Scott W. Ballinger, PhD, Friday, October 19, 2007 the Pathology Graduate Program. Program Director The Pathology Graduate Student Research Day was He replaces Theresa Henson. Mr. The Molecular and Cellular Pathology held on October 19, 2007 at the Great Hall in Hill Patterson can be reached at (205) Graduate Program is now accepting University Center. This year’s guest speaker was 934-2445. applications for Fall 2008. Please see the MCP Graduate Program Alumnus Dr. Sruti Shiva, Graduate Program’s website at Vascular Medicine Branch National Heart Lung http://peir.path.uab.edu/pathgrad/ for more UPCOMING EVENTS: Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health. information Christopher Dodd will present his

Final Defense, December 14, Pictures from Research Day ACHIEVMENTS 2007. Bevil Building , Room 170 Congratulations to Scott Isbell who successfully defended his thesis on

October 31, 2007. “Nitrite Conversion to Nitric Oxide: Biological Mechanisms and

Therapeutic Implications.”

Congratulations Saman Khaled, one of only fifteen graduate students, post- doctoral fellows and working scientists from 11 different countries selected for the NASA Space Radiation Summer School at the U.S. Department of Energy's

Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Congratulations to Jason Ashley and Joel Jules who were awarded ASBMR Annual Meeting Young Investigator Travel awards.

Congratulations to Scott Isbell for his selection by the Hughes Med-Grad Fellowship Program Steering Committee to represent UAB and the UAB Hughes Med- Grad Program at the national HHMI Meeting in Maryland, September 24-26.

Congratulations to Ashley Preston who Oral Presentations Winners: received a travel grant from Cayman Chemical to attend the Society for Free 1st Place Joel Jules Radical Biology and Medicine meeting in 2nd Place Thomas Bodenstine Washington, DC. 3rd Place Christopher Dodd

Congratulations to Matthew Beatty who was awarded a travel scholarship by the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the 2007 American Society of Gene Therapy meeting.

Congratulations to Pritish Pawar for receiving the AACR-Aflac, Inc. travel award.

Congratulations to Dario Vitturi for 1) receiving a travel award to the NIH “Role of Poster Presentations Winners: Nitrate in Physiology, Pathophysiology & Therapeutics meeting and 2) for his 2nd Place 1st Place Dario Vitturi poster presentation award at the 18th Vascular 2nd Place Jason Ashley Biology & Hypertension Symposium at UAB. 3rd Place Brian Dranka & Lakisha Moore

Congratulations to Lakisha Moore who received 1st place at the UAB Gene Therapy Symposium poster presentation.