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INSIDE THIS ISSUE: VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1 APRIL—JUNE, 2006

Letter from the Chair Wachter & Kuss 2 Welcomed Haven Retires … Leaves Mark on UNMC Personnel Activity 3 Grants Funding

Weisenburger Award Mary is one of the most incredible individuals I have known and 4 Wickert Travels had the privilege of working with. She is positive, enthusiastic, and innovative, a true leader who has devoted her career to UNMC. She was nationally prominent in before she became Iwen Award dean for Allied Health. She will be missed, but we are pleased that Boyden Award 5 she will continue her involvement with distance learning programs Singh to be Mentor locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. I wish Mary the very best in her new role as Emeritus Professor.

Pearson Samuel Cohen Visitor Seeks 6 Experience/Guidance Mary has been a wonderful leader for the School of Al- Donnelly Award lied Health Professions. Her 7 many accomplishments, her Muellenberg Honored Mary Haven has done it — she has scene gives Haven pride because it vision, support for distance retired! Haven joined UNMC in is a goal she's worked toward since Vickery Award 8 education and dedication to 1968 as a chemist in the pathology her appointment by then College of excellence of the programs and microbiology department, Dean Harold M. Maurer, Burkitt’s Study will continue to have a posi- Harris Awards 9 where she mentored medical tech- M.D. tive impact for UNMC, Ne- braska, and the entire region BIO 2006 nologists, developed new proce- She's been a great leader for dures, assisted with clinical trials on for many years to come. It Allied Health," said Dr. Maurer, has been a real honor and therapeutic drug monitoring of Rowland & Sambol UNMC's Chancellor. "She's highly joy to work with her, first in Nannuru Selected 10 immunosuppressants, and evaluated respected among the chancellor's the Department of Pathology, Visitors new automated analytical instru- council members. The accreditation and then as leader of the ments. committees are always commending School of Allied Health. She Rapid Article 11 has been a friend, mentor, "It was a great time to be in the SAHP. She's just done a phenomenal and strong supporter of all of lab," she said. "Things were changing job." Residency Program 12 us in the laboratory science so rapidly that in about 20 years, Her love for her work shows in professions.

HemePath Program the chemistry field went from man- the growth of the school, but also in 13 Phyllis Muellenberg Graduate Program ual procedures to automated proce- the devotion from her faculty and dures and from doing a few lab tests staff. Allied Health con- Publications 14 daily to thousands." sistently ranks the high- Thirty-eight years later, Haven est in campus-wide em- During her tenure at UNMC, Mary was a Farewell says, “This has been the most excit- ployee satisfaction sur- part of the gyroscope that kept our depart- Congratulations 15 ment, the clinical laboratory, and the Allied ing time in my life. I've worked with veys. Haven recognizes Announcements Health programs on course. We have all wonderful people and the students the strengths of each of been educated through one venue or another have been great. It's exciting that her people and not only by Mary. I have personally enjoyed working the medical center is becoming allows, but encourages, with her both in the department and the Col- more nationally known." creativity and personal lege of Medicine over the years. growth. UNMC breaking onto the national Rodney Markin PAGE 2 Letter from the Chair Mary Haven retired as Associ- partment of Pathology in the section try, published extensively in the ate Dean for the School of of clinical chemistry in the clinical peer-reviewed literature, and edited Allied Health Programs on June laboratory. She continued in this a book, Laboratory Instrumentation, 30, 2006. Mary is one of the position until she became associate which was published ultimately in most remarkable individuals dean 10 years ago. During her ten- four editions. Much of her success that I have known. Her enthu- ure in the laboratory, she excelled in in all that she endeavored was read- siasm for science, clinical medi- all aspects of academia, including ily attributable to her ability to moti- cine, and education are conta- education, research, and clinical vate others to excel. gious, and there is no way that service. Her creativity and expertise one can say no to a request were highly sought after by a num- We wish Mary continued success from her. She has been a fac- ber of companies, who provided in her emeritus role, and also wish Samuel ulty member at UNMC for considerable extramural funding for her and her husband, Dr. Jerry more than 38 years, and will con- her research. She was also able to Christensen, well in their travels M. Cohen, M.D., Ph.D. tinue as an emeritus professor, fo- obtain funding for numerous educa- upon their retirement. They have Department Chair cusing on distance learning pro- tion programs, which greatly ex- both earned the right to relax and grams. panded under her leadership as asso- enjoy their lives, especially to cherish ciate dean. She attained a prominent the time they can spend with their Mary began At UNMC in the De- national reputation in clinical chemis- children and grandchildren.

Welcomes Extended to Wachter and Kuss Keith Wachter, MPA, tor for Laboratory and of military service, four years in College of Continuing Studies. MT(ASCP) Respiratory Services until Bellevue, four more in Italy Director, Clinical Lab After 15 years he took a posi- 2004. The past two years, where his sister was born, then tion in UNO Administration, Born and raised he has assisted with the deploy- back to Bellevue and then over working on special projects for in eastern Ne- ment of a Six Sigma performance to Germany and then guess the Chancellor and the Executive braska, Keith improvement program at Mercy. where…….. back to Bellevue. Staff. Looking for new chal- attended Wayne While in Des Moines, he com- After graduating from what is lenges, Steve has returned to State College and pleted his Master of Public Ad- now Bellevue East, Steve at- UNMC as the Administrative took his Medical ministration degree with an em- tended UNO during the day Personal Info: Wife, Pam Director for Pathology/ and three children: Erica, Technology train- phasis in healthcare administra- while working in Security at Microbiology. “After talking with married (26), a physical ing at Creighton tion at Drake University. Keith UNMC at night. “I really enjoyed many of you I was hooked. This therapist in the Des Moines Memorial St. is excited about becoming a those years, helping in the ER, department has a lot going on area; Andrew (24), who Joseph member of the laboratory team paramedic training, driving the works in sales in Chicago; and is sure to challenge on a (the “old St. at The Nebraska Medical Center ambulances, and helping with and Jeffrey (19), who will daily basis.” Listen for the rattle be a freshman at the Uni- Joseph”). and is looking forward to meet whatever else came up. To this of your door knob. Steve plans versity of Northern Iowa. He briefly the staff and learning about the day when thinking about a prob- on getting around and meeting Hobbies: working in the worked in the institution. lem I will get up and walk, everyone soon. yard, reading, and spend- sometimes tuning out ing time with family. laboratories of Steve Kuss, MBA Administrative both St. Joseph everyone, and grab the Director Personal info: Three kids: Brandon and Bergan Mercy , occasional door knob to (21), senior at UNL, Biology major, before spending 4 years with the Steve is check if it is locked”. baseball nut, coach and umpire for Veteran’s Administration in all Ne- After graduating with a busi- youth baseball.; Mitchell (15), Topeka, Kansas. He returned to braskan ness degree Steve changed de- sophomore at Millard North HS, St. Joseph Hospital to supervise despite partments to Budget and Fiscal soccer fanatic; Katrina (13) 8th the section of the growing Analysis, working with Del Lee grade student at Kiewit Middle School, soccer, acting, jazz saxo- laboratory and later became up in a and Keith Swarts. Continuing his phone and whatever other social Laboratory Manager there. In military family and traveling dur- education at UNO in the eve- thing she can get into. (She really 1992 Keith moved to the Des ing his youth. Born at the old nings, Steve earned his MBA and scares me) Moines, Iowa area where he hospital on Offutt Air Force moved to the UNO campus as served as Administrative Direc- Base, his early years were typical the Business Director for the Hobbies: Backpacking, biking, kayaking... really anything outdoors.

PATHOLOGY/MICROBIOLOGY VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1 PAGE 3 Personnel Activity NEW HIRES: Patrick Olson Melanie Norton RETIREMENTS: Elizabeth LaFave Rebecca Vidlak Kimberly Rothgeb Mary Haven Ethan Mann Adam Kingston Benjamin Wagner JoLene Jones Laurie Wieting Alice Kueh Wai Choi Derick Njawe Solomon Connealy Bari Fritz SERVICE AWARDS (Years) Anuradha Boddeda Sean Welander Lidia Manouilova Samuel Cohen (25) Kristi Robey Amy Costello Mary Barry (5) Jason Booth Tami Lewis PROMOTIONS: Darlene Waters (5) Ashish Tiwari Oluyomi Asojo *Beth Avery Shawn Slater (5) Tricia Aden (5)

Effective June 1, 2006, Personnel Activity Reports must be submitted by the dead- line indicated within the notification packet. Failure to comply will result in loss of funding and no new grant accounts will be allowed for the department. If you NOTE: have questions regarding the new policy, please contact Keith or Maureen.

Grant Funding

OLUWATOYIN ASOJO SAMUEL COHEN (cont’d) STEVEN HINRICHS •DHHS/NIH/NCI — “Structural Basis of •Covance, Inc. — “Urinary Precipitate and •US Army — “Proteomic Approach to Iden- Multidrug Resistance in Cancer” $117,833; Urine Chemistry Evaluations for a Carcino- tification of Proteins for Evaluation in New 6/1/2006 -5/31/2007 genicity Study with CS-011 in Rats” Diagnostic Tests” $120,000; 2/16/2006— •DHHS/NIH/NIAID — Structural Basis of $27,833; 3/6/2006 - 3/5/2007 10/15/2006 Novel Hookworm Vaccines” $71,774; 7/1/2006 - 6/30/2007 PAUL DUNMAN THOMAS JERRELLS •Merck & Co. — “Develop Methods for •DHHS/NIH/NIAAA — “The Role of Im- KENNETH BAYLES Monitoring Bacterial Gene Expression Us- mune Responses in Alcoholic Liver Dis- •DHHS/NIH/NIAID — “The Molecular ing Affymetrix Gene Chips” $85,000; eases” $287,091; 7/1/2006 -6/30/2007 Control of Bacterial Autolysis” $51,891; 6/1/2006 - 5/31/2007 1/1/2006—12/31/2006 STEVE TRACY KAI FU •American Diabetes Association — WING “JOHN” CHAN •Children’s Group — “Impact of “Coxsackievirus Induction of Insulitis in •DHHS/NIH/NCI — “Molecular Signatures p14ARF Inactivation on the Pathogenesis Young NOD Mice” $49,948; 1/1/2006— to Improve Diagnosis in NHL” $1,664,061; and Prognosis of Pediatric BL” $30,000; 12/31/2006 6/1/2006 - 5/31/2007 7/1/2006 - 6/30/2007 •Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation •Nebraska DHHS/LB 506 — “Genetic Al- International — “Coxsackievirus Modula- NORA CHAPMAN terations Essential for the Pathogenesis of tion of T1D Outcome in NOD Mice” •AVI Biopharma — “Cell Culture Test of FL” $40,000; 7/1/2006 - 6/30/2007 $159,954; 3/1/2006—2/28/2007 PMO” $6,300; 2/15/2006 — 8/15/2006 TIMOTHY GREINER DENNIS WEISENBURGER SAMUEL COHEN • Research Foundation — •DHHS/NIH, through Northwestern Uni- •Bristol-Myers Squibb — “Three-month “Methylation Analysis in Mantle Cell Lym- versity-Chicago — “Lymphoma Defined Oral Investigative Study of Urine Composi- phoma” $303,482; 2/1/2006-1/31/2007 Cytogenetically for Epidemiologic Study” tion in Wistar and Sprague Dawley Male $126,236; 4/1/2006 - 2/28/2007 Rates” $71,824; 2/7/2006 — 2/6/2007 PAGE 4 Weisenburger Named “Top Doctor”

For nine years (and among the best in their spe- Education: counting), Dennis cialties and in their communi- Weisenburger, M.D., ties. • BA, Univ. of North Dakota has been listed in the Criteria for making the list • BS, Medicine, Univ. of North Dakota Castle Connolly include education, board cer- • MD, Univ. of Minnesota Medical Ltd.’s tification, reputation, experi- “America’s Top ence, and disciplinary history, Doctors.” The fifth interpersonal skills such as Post-Degree Training: edition, recently empathy, being a good com- • Intern, , Ohio State Univ. published, aids con- municator, educator, and sumers in finding a someone who can instill trust Hospitals, Columbus, Ohio good . and confidence. • Resident, Anatomic and , are nominated Weisenburger Dr. Weisenburger’s spe- Univ. of Iowa Hospitals, Iowa City, Iowa by their peers in a Castle cialty of hematopathology/ Connolly survey process each lymphoma landed him the • Fellow, Hematopathology, City of Hope year. Physicians are then honor, along with 14 other National Medical Center, Duarte, California screened by a physician-led UNMC physicians with vari- research team who rank ous areas of expertise.

Wickert to Participate in Avian Flu Workshops

Bob Wickert, a molecular micro- The National Association of biologist in the Department of Laboratories sent Pathology/Microbiology and the a nation-wide email on behalf of Nebraska Public Health Labora- the US Centers for tory (NPHL) has been selected Control and Prevention (CDC), as one of five representatives to asking for volunteers with tech- travel to Bangkok, Thailand to nical experience in PCR tech- participate in workshops to help niques for rapid detection of train lab specialists in using PCR disease. Wickert applied and was to process human specimens to selected. He will be part of a diagnose avian influenza, as well team that consists of both CDC as build their laboratory capabili- and state public health represen- ties. tatives. Wickert

Nothing will work unless you do.

Maya Angelou

PATHOLOGY/MICROBIOLOGY VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1 PAGE 5 Iwen Awarded Outstanding Teacher for 2006

Dr. Iwen is an associate professor ricular Enhancement grant. He provided and a graduate faculty fellow. He has extensive content expertise in the de- been teaching UNMC students for velopment of three of the eight course more than 27 years. modules, including the content on sur- “Pete Iwen teaches at several lev- veillance, epidemiological investigation, els, including medical, , physi- bacterial, and viral agents. cian assistant, medical technology stu- “Teaching is a rewarding experience dents; pathology residents, and resi- and it’s a wonderful feeling to know Iwen dents and fellows in the section of in- that by just being myself, I have had the fectious in internal medicine,” opportunity to not only help a student On April 25th, Pete Iwen was honored said Samuel Cohen, M.D., Ph.D., Chair learn, but have also gained a col- as an Outstanding Teacher for 2006 of the Department. league that I can interact with in during the Chancellor’s annual faculty the future.” meeting. Dr. Iwen was awarded the Bioter- rorism/Public Health Emergency Cur- I find that

the harder I

work, the

Boyden Receives Chancellor’s Gold U Award more luck I

Congratulations to Marjorie Boyden faced over the years would have driven for being awarded the Chancellor’s away a lesser person.” seem to Gold ‘U’. Marge was named the recipi- Marge is an Office Associate II ent of the award for her outstanding located in Wittson Hall. She is the have. performance and service. Graduate program coordinator and One nominator said that one of the provides support for Drs. Steve Car- Thomas Jefferson most outstanding traits Marge displays son, Toyin Asojo, Donald Johnson, and is her flexibility and “can-do” attitude. Rakesh Singh. She has been with “The number of challenges that she has UNMC for over 35 years. Boyden

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fellow Selects Singh as Mentor Thomas Wilson, a second-year taught one of the small groups dur- students, and the only UNMC stu- UNMC medical student and recipi- ing his second year of studies. dent, to receive the $25,000 fellow- ent of a Howard Hughes Medical Research on the cellular con- ship from HHMI. Institute (HHMI) $25,000 fellow- trols of breast cancer and what “It’s a great program that will ship, has selected Rakesh Singh, triggers it to metastasize to the allow me to gather the skills I will PhD and Associate Professor of bone is the perfect fit for this medi- need to run a research lab of my Pathology/Microbiology, as his men- cal student who would like to even- own someday, while gathering tor. tually specialize in surgical oncol- meaningful data that has the poten- Wilson became interested in ogy. tial to benefit patients.” Dr. Singh’s research when he Wilson is one of 66 medical Wilson PAGE 6 Gladys Pearson Fellowship Award to Nishio

Jun Nishio, MD, PhD, Postdoc- The funds provided to Dr. terized mixed alveolar and toral Research Associate in Nishio will be used to provide embryonal rhabdomyosarco- the laboratory of Dr. Julia support for a research project mas and uncovered a rare Bridge, has been named the related to pediatric cancer molecular translocation variant recipient of the Gladys Pearson entitled, “Gene Amplification in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma Memorial Fellowship in Childhood in Osteosarcoma" (Lab Invest, 86:547-556, 2006). Cancers. Dr. Nishio arrived in the Dr. Nishio plans to return This fund was established United States in 2003 to study to his home country of Japan in 1989 by Dr. Paul Pearson under the direction of Dr. in August, after a three-year and is used to provide support Bridge. His research efforts mentoring program provided for a clinical or post-doctoral have been focused on charac- by Dr. Bridge. He will resume fellow whose research is re- terizing cytogenetic and mo- his responsibilities of Assistant Nishio lated to pediatric cancers. lecular genetic abnormalities in Professor in the Department Preference is given to candidates bone and soft tissue tumors. of Orthopaedic in the committed to a career in childhood Recently, Dr. Nishio devel- School of Medicine at Fukuoka cancer. Candidates are evaluated on oped a FISH probe set for University. the basis of their patient care, teach- diagnosing alveolar rhabdomy- ing, and research activities. osarcoma, genetically charac-

Visitor Seeks Experience and Guidance

“I visited the Human Cytogenetics Labora- to UNMC in May provided an tory at UNMC. opportunity to update her lab to update The reputation of the ser- knowledge and understanding of solid tumor cytogenetics. my knowledge vices provided at UNMC in bone and soft tissue tumors led Dr. Amare is the Director and gain Dr. Amare to Dr. Bridge. Dr. of Cancer Cytogenetics of the Amare's colleague, Dr. Nirmala Tata Memorial Hospital in India. technical Jambhekar, coauthor of the Her lab is highly engaged in

experience.” recent WHO Bone and Soft hematological malignancies — Tissue Tumour Series, encour- around 2000-3000 specimens aged her to expand their cyto- are reported annually. Recently, Amare genetic/molecular cytogenetic Dr. Amare became involved in laboratory to include assays for pediatric sarcomas and bladder Pratibha Amare, Ph.D., recently mesenchymal . cancer with an approach to sought the guidance and experi- Dr. Amare's two-week visit establish genetic diagnostic and ence of Dr. Julia Bridge and the prognostic markers.

PATHOLOGY/MICROBIOLOGY VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1 PAGE 7 Donnelly Named Teacher of the Year

Original article printed June 13, 2006 in UNMC Today.

SAHP Teacher of the Year during the cytotechnology. Donnelly serves on 19th annual awards program and poster several national committees represent- exhibition. ing cytotechnologists in the American

This year's Teacher of the Year is a Society of . classroom and clinical teacher. In the Donnelly's nominators praised her for past year, Donnelly developed the first interesting and challenging case studies, cytotechnology distance learning pro- online classroom tools, assignments, and gram in the United States with the Carle syllabi, and clinical rotation assignments. in Urbana, Ill. She also developed games and other She also is a participant in an innova- interactive learning tools and added a tive Virtual Cervical Cytology project training session on the new automated Haven and Donnelly supported by the National Library of slide reader technology (at Pathology Medicine to prepare, evaluate and test Medical Services in Lincoln, Nebraska) Amber Donnelly, Program Director of the effectiveness of using digitized slides and several lectures on HPV testing to Cytotechnology for the School of Allied on the Internet for teaching, continuing the curriculum this past year. Health Professions (SAHP) was named education and competency testing in

Muellenberg Honored with Outstanding Service Award

Original article printed June 13, 2006 in UNMC Today.

Phyllis Muellenberg is an icon in the history of the stration beginning with the Oppor- School of Allied Health Professions. In presenting tunities Program (RHOP) grant that was her award, SAHP Associate Dean Mary Haven said: awarded to SAHP in 1990. "Phyllis embodies the values and intent of the award She has accounted for $3.5 million in fed- as she has dedicated countless hours toward a bet- eral funding support for projects benefiting ter future for all of us and is highly deserving. She is SAHP. Through these projects, UNMC became a visionary who has always been willing to step up to nationally known for distance education in Clini- the plate." cal Laboratory Sciences, add-a-competency Muellenberg has been involved in medical tech- training, recruitment into allied health profes- nology/clinical laboratory science education for 36 sions, cultural competency, expansion of allied years - including 22 as program director - and has a health programs, degree completion options long list of credits. and bioterrorism preparedness education. Grayson (friend) and Muellenberg She became a national model for grants admini- PAGE 8 Chan Named Vickery Professor of Pathology

Dr. Wing Chung (John) Chan was named the Amelia F. and Austin L. Vickery, Jr. Professor of Pathology. His term became effective January 1, 2006. Dr. Chan was honored with a dinner on June 23, 2006 at The Embassy Suites Downtown Omaha.

John Chan, MD

Dr. Wing Chun (John) Journal of Chan is the first Amelia F. Pathology, and Blood. John and Austin L. Vickery, Jr. exemplifies excellence in Professor of Pathology in both diagnostic pathology the Department of Pathol- and in basic research. He ogy and Microbiology at is co-author of the Fourth the University of Nebraska Series of the AFIP Fascicles Austin L. Vickery, Jr., M.D. known as a leader Medical Center. John on Hematopoietic Neo- (1919-2005) in endocrine pathol- received his medical de- plasms. His research on Dr. Austin L. Vickery, Jr., a native of ogy in general, as gree from the University the clonal nature of Reed- Omaha, Nebraska, was a giant in well as more of Hong Kong in 1973 and Sternberg cells in Hodg- , physically and broadly in surgical completed his residency at kin’s disease and his in- intellectually. After graduating from pathology, he was the University of Chicago sights into the pathogene- in 1979. He became a sis of this disease have the Nebraska College of Medicine in active for many faculty member at Emory been highly recognized, as 1943 with classmate and longtime years in the American Society for University in 1980. In have his recent investiga- friend Dr. Harry W. McFadden, he Clinical Pathology, receiving its 1991, he became professor tions on array analyses of a trained at the Peter Bent Brigham Distinguished Service Award in in the Department of Pa- variety of . Hospital in Boston and Cleveland 1992. He published extensively, thology and Microbiology He clearly exemplifies Clinic. He became a staff pathologist presented at numerous national and at the University of Ne- the high standards set at the Massachusetts General Hospi- international venues, and was braska Medical Center, by Austin Vickery for and last year became co- expertise in diagnostic tal in 1949 and continued in that widely recognized as a renowned director for the Center for pathology and in re- position until 1998, when health educator and diagnostician in surgi- Lymphoma and search. We are privi- concerns prevented him from con- cal pathology. His door was always Research at UNMC. He leged to have Dr. Chan tinuing in that role. He became open to anyone who wanted to bring has made innumerable as a faculty member, professor at Harvard slides to him, a willing consultant, significant and seminal and it is highly appropriate in 1972, a highly prestigious not only concerning the thyroid and contributions to the field for him to be named the achievement for a practicing pa- other endocrine tissues, but on any of hematopathology. He first Vickery Pro- thologist. He was most known for diagnostic problem. The generosity has published more than fessor of Pathol- 160 manuscripts, many in ogy in the De- his contributions to thyroid pathol- of Austin and his wife, Fran, made premier journals such as partment of Pa- ogy and the effects and use of radia- possible the establishment of both a The New England Journal of thology and Mi- tion in the investigation of thyroid chair and professorship in pathology Medicine, Nature, Proceed- crobiology at diseases, both in basic investigations at the University of Nebraska Medical ings of the National Acad- UNMC. and for clinical purposes. Widely Center. emy of Sciences, American

PATHOLOGY/MICROBIOLOGY VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1 PAGE 9 Burkitt’s Lymphoma Breakthrough

The New England Jour- PhD, Head of Molecular Biology of cer Institute. nal of Medicine features Lymphoid Malignancies Section at In addition to Dr. Chan, other an article discussing results of the National Cancer Institute. UNMC participants included: Tim two studies on the molecular Using the gene expression signa- Greiner, MD, Dennis Weisen- diagnosis of Burkitt’s Lymphomas ture for Burkitt’s lymphoma, the burger, MD, and Kai Fu, MD, De- involving several European and group was readily able to distin- partment of Pathology and Micro- North American institutions. guish Burkitt’s lymphoma from biology; Bhavana Dave, PhD and One of the research teams was DLBCL by the high expression of Warren Sanger, PhD, Cytogenet- led by Wing (John) Chan, MD, the c-myc target gene as well as a ics, Munroe-Meyer Institute; Julie the Amelia and Austin Vickery subset of other target genes. Vose, MD, James Armitage, MD, Professor of Pathology and Co- The research was supported and Martin Bast, Oncology- director of the Center for Lym- through a multi-million dollar Di- Hematology. Chan phoma and Leukemia Research at rector Challenge Grant awarded Molecular Diagnosis of Burkitt’s Lym- phoma. NEJM 354(23):2431-2442, UNMC, and Louis Staudt, MD, to Dr. Chan by the National Can- 2006. Harris Awards in Cancer Research

Brian Boer and Anguraj Sadanandam, graduate students in the De- partment of Pathology and Microbiology, have been named recipi- ents of the 2006 Norman and Bernice Harris Award in Cancer Research. Each graduate student receives $500. The scholarship is awarded to graduate students pursuing cancer research. This past fall, an award to recognize outstanding nursing students was also established. The Harris’ interests are in colorectal, breast, and uterine cancer due to their personal battles with these diseases. 2006 Harris Award recipients, from left: Munger, Ashour, Norman Harris, Boer, Vasir, Sadanandam, Lesoing.

Biotechnology Convention Draws 20,000

Biotechnology Industry Organization, biotechnology businesses in Nebraska. known as BIO 2006, was held in Chicago Nebraska’s involvement began in 1999 April 9-12. The Nebraska delegation was and Tom McDonald, PhD, President and among an estimated 20,000 people — CEO of UNeMed Corp, UNMC’s tech- including 1700 companies, organizations, nology transfer company, has been a regu- and institutions — representing the bio- lar participant. technology industry. McDonald said many business rela- The goal was to showcase biotechnol- tionships begin at BIO. ogy inventions, developing inventions, and opportunities for companies to establish

Nebraska’s BIO Booth PAGE 10 Rowland and Sambol: Educators of the Year

On behalf of the Ne- across the state educating firefight- Pathology and Microbiology. braska Hazardous ers, law enforcement, EMS In addition, following the 2001 Materials Association (emergency medical services), other anthrax scare, Sambol helped make a (NHMA), Tony Sam- first responders and public health hazardous materials sampling proce- bol and Josh Rowland specialists on the Nebraska Public dure and techniques kit, which was received Educator of Health Laboratory preparedness developed by Chief Kent Gilbert and the Year Awards for efforts for chemical and bioterrorism other firefighters at the Hastings Fire their work in helping threats. Department available to everyone first responders. The Sambol is assistant director of across the state. awards were given by Capt. Darin the Nebraska Public Health Labora- Rowland and Clark of the Hastings Fire Depart- "Now we have a standardized kit tory, an assistant professor in the throughout the state," said Clark, Sambol ment and Capt. Troy Shoemaker of Department of Pathology/ the Scottsbluff Fire Department. vice chairman of the NHMA. "Tony Microbiology, and has a courtesy worked with the haz mat (hazardous The awards are the first NHMA has appointment in the School of Allied presented. material) teams and considered the Health Professions' medical technol- needs of the Nebraska Public Health For the past three years, Sambol ogy division. Rowland is a state labo- Laboratory and funded the produc- and Rowland have been traveling ratory trainer in the Department of tion of the kits." Nannuru Attends International Student Forum

Kalyan Nannuru (Mentor: Rakesh Singh, sity of the Chinese Academy of Science (GUCAS) Ph.D.) was selected to participate in the and Tokyo University. The forum featured research International Student Forum held in presentations by the students, extensive networking Beijing, China from June 30 through July opportunities and collaboration on research. 2, 2006. The title of his presentation was "Inhibition of The forum brought together students Osteolytic Bone Metastasis of Mammary tumors by from the United States, China and Japan. knocking down the expression of Matrix Metallo- In addition to UNMC, the institutions proteinase 13 and Receptor Activator of NF-kB Nannuru represented were the Graduate Univer- ligand (RANKL)'.

• Fred Beasley — Student, Schulich School of Medicine & , Univ. of Western Ontario (Dunman) Visitors • Charlotte Dittman — Student, Tufts University School of Medicine (Dunman) • Abiodun Adibi, Ph.D. — Professor, Hampton University (Dunman) • Ashish Tiwari — Graduate Student (Cohen) • Xinlan Shi, MD — China Three Gorges University (Chan) • Adam Kingston — Medical Student (Hinrichs) • Oluwayomi Asojo — Medical Student (Hinrichs) • Jawhar Gharbi, PhD - Fulbright Scholar (Tracy) • John Mbonifer, PhD - St. Paul's College (Jerrells) • Pratibha Amare, PhD — Tata Memorial Hospital, India (Bridge) • Rein Rosenbaugh — Student, University of Nebraska at Omaha (Singh)

PATHOLOGY/MICROBIOLOGY VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1 PAGE 11 Patients Help Fight Cancer After Death

Originally printed in USA Today

(AP) Pancreatic cancer killed William filling a special niche, I think." open to international researchers. Schunk. Now scientists are using his body to "Patients and their families are amazing, At Hopkins, Iacobuzio-Donahue has col- fight back. Within about an hour of his that they realize the importance of trying to lected autopsy samples from 45 patients, but death, researchers at the University of Ne- do this," adds Christine Iacobuzio-Donahue, a culls far fewer from each person, focusing braska Medical Center pathologist at Baltimore's Johns Hop- more on the initial tumor and sites where it began collecting the kins University, who runs a smaller has spread. She will accept within Omaha veteran's organs Patients help fight rapid-autopsy program. six hours of death — and, unlike in Ne- as part of a unique "rapid Some 33,700 Americans will be braska, arranges for out-of-state patients to autopsy" program. The most lethal cancer diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this have autopsies performed by their home- goal: To create a library year, and 32,300 will die. town pathologists, who then ship the samples of tissue that could finally even after death by to her Baltimore lab. There is no early-detection test; point scientists to new The autopsy costs families nothing and ways to diagnose and agreeing to 'rapid early symptoms are vague complaints like indigestion. By the time the classic doesn't interfere with normal funeral ar- treat this most lethal of rangements. Still, recruiting participants is a cancers. autopsy' jaundice, or yellowing skin, and itching appears, the cancer usually has balancing act. Doctors don't want to deprive "It probably should be spread. Once that happens, patients patients of hope, and gently broach the pro- called 'rapid organ donation,'" says Dr. typically have only months left to live. gram for those who accept that they're ter- Aaron Sasson, a pancreatic cancer surgeon minally ill. who volunteers his time to help perform the Lack of early diagnosis explains only part of pancreatic cancer's lethality. Overall, less than Schunk, a retired Air Force lieutenant autopsies. "These patients are really donat- colonel, had what Sasson calls a typical reac- ing their bodies and organs to science." 5 percent of patients live five years. But even when patients are caught early enough for the tion. "He just said, 'If they can take anything Organs in the chest and abdomen are arduous surgery — removing parts of the that will help them identify a way to find this meticulously photographed, sliced and flash- pancreas, stomach, intestines and other organs sooner, then I am 100 percent for it,'" recalls frozen before genetic evidence starts to — just 16 percent will survive that long. his daughter, Karen Sater. degrade. So are samples of skin, muscle, Ardith Hopp of Unadilla, Neb., didn't wait nerves, lymph nodes, blood and urine. Rapid autopsies have been used in other diseases, such as Alzheimer's and prostate to be asked. Her cancer was caught early This tissue — 16,000 samples collected cancer. But the Nebraska and Hopkins pro- enough for Sasson to operate in 2001, and from Schunk and 10 others so far _ holds grams are generating intense new interest _ she still feels good despite battling back a vital clues to what causes pancreatic cancer, because they answer an urgent call from a recurrence a year ago. But not knowing she'd and what makes it march so aggressively 2001 National Cancer Institute review for fare so well, she signed up for the program through the body. tissue banks to help overcome a dearth of shortly after surgery, a decision she hasn't A fast autopsy is the only way to get at research into pancreatic cancer. second-guessed. those clues. Pancreatic cancer is grimly dif- One of the biggest questions: Why do "I'm not afraid of dying. It's going to hap- ferent from breast cancer, for example, some patients die with huge pancreatic tumors pen to everybody," says Hopp, 62. "If there's where surgically removed tumors are plenti- while others have tiny ones that prove equally something there they can use, I'm not going ful for research that can lead to new treat- as lethal by seeding themselves throughout the to need it anymore." ments. body? Pancreatic cancer seldom is discovered Nebraska's program is the most compre- in time to even attempt surgery. Not only is hensive, and most strict, requiring autopsy that devastating news for patients, it means within two hours of death. Patients may die at frustration in the quest to improve the dis- home, or the program may pay for them to ease's bleak outcome. spend their final days in a hospice. An 18- "There isn't any tissue available, ever, for member team of doctors, pathologists, medical the researchers to study," says cancer pro- students and scientists is on standby, ready to fessor Michael A. Hollingsworth, who runs preserve not just cancer-riddled tissue but Nebraska's rapid-autopsy program. "It's top-to-bottom samples that make up a library PAGE 12

Residency Program

Shane Kohl, MD has been named the recipient of a 4-week rotation in with Dr. Allen M. Gown at PhenoPath Laboratories in Seattle. Shane was awarded the resident grant from the ASCP. The ASCP Resident Council Resident Pathology Grant Com- mittee selects individuals for the opportunity. Shane has also been selected for a one-month Donald West King Fellowship at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in the Department of Soft Tissue Pathology.

Welcome New Residents!

Kohl

Manouilova Torabi Fritz

Three new residents have joined the Department. Lidia Manouilova, MD, PhD has joined us from the I.M. Sechenov Moscow Medical Academy. Alireza Torabi, MD, PhD comes from the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Bari Fritz, MD has arrived from the University of South Dakota School of Medicine. We’re glad to have you with us!

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PATHOLOGY/MICROBIOLOGY VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1 PAGE 13 HemePath Fellowship Program

The HemePath program wel- Dr. Arevalo is a Research comes two new members this Associate and has most re- month. Dr. Wai (William) Lap cently been part of the faculty Choi and Dr. Alejandro Are- at the University of Santo valo. Tomas. Dr. Choi is a Fellow and He received his MD from joins us from Emory Univer- the University of Santo sity’s Department of Anat- Tomas—España, Manila in the omic/Clinical Pathology. Philippines. He received his medical degree from the University of Choi Hong Kong. Arevalo

Graduate Program Inspiration The following graduate students presented their thesis dissertations: exists, but •June 8 Matthew W. Curtis (MS) — Advisor, Dr. Keith Johnson it has to Aspects of Alpha-Catenin Complex Formation” Destination: Begin work on a PhD degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago in the College of Engineering, find you in the program of Tissue Engineering. He will begin a few weeks after receiving his M.S. degree. _____ •June 13 working. Brian Farrell (Ph.D.) — Advisor: Dr. Robert Lahue Mechanistic Insights into CAG*CTG Contractions in Cultured Human and Simian Cells Destination: Return to Medical School Pablo Picasso _____ •June 14 Xiaoling Shen (PhD) — Advisor: Dr. M.A. Hollingsworth Preclinical Models of MUC1-targeted Immunotherapy Destination: Unknown _____ •June 16 Jill Pecha (PhD) — Dr. Hua Xiao Role of Tip30 in Mammary Gland Development and Tumorigenesis Destination: Return to Medical School PAGE 14 Publications

•Arnold LL, Nyska A, Eldan M, van Gemert M, Expression Profiles in Mantle Cell Lymphoma. •Pirruccello SJ, Young KH, Aoun P: Myeloblast Cohen SM: Dimethylarsinic acid, Results of PNAS 103(7):2352-2357, 2006. phenotypic changes in Myelodysplasia. Am J Clin Chronic Toxicity/oncogenicity Studies in F344 •Hultgren TL, DiMaio DJ: Immunohistochemical Pathol 125:884-894, 2006. Rats and B6C3F1 Mice. Toxicology 223:82-100, Staining of CD10 in Atypical Fibroxanthomas. J •Potula R, Haorah J, Knipe B, Leibhart J, Chrastil J, 2006. Cutan Pathol, in press. Helman D, Dou H, Reddy R, Ghorpade R, Persid- •Barker KT, Spendlove HE, Banu N, Bridge JA, •Iqbal J, Neppalli VT, Wright G, Dave BJ, Horsman sky Y: Alcohol Abuse Enhances Neuroinflamma- Fisher C, Shipley J, Garrett M, Manyonda I, Houl- DE, Rosenwald A, Lynch J, Hans CP, Weisen- tion and Impairs Immune Responses in an Animal ston RS. No Evidence for Epigenetic Inactivation burger DD, Greiner TC, Gascoyne RD, Campo Model of HIV-1 Encephalitis (HIVE). Am J Pathol of Fumarate Hydratase in Leiomyomas and Leio- E, Ott G, Müller-Hermelink K, Delabie J, Jaffe ES, 168:1335-1344, 2006. myosarcomas. Cancer Letters, 235:136-140, Grogan TM, Connors JM, Vose JM, Armitage JO, •Rimsza LM, Roberts RA, Campo E, Grogan TM, 2006. Staudt LM, Chan WC: BCL2 Expression is a Bea S, Salaverria I, Zettl A, Rosenwald A, Ott G, •Chen Z, Varney ML, Backora MW, Cowan K, Prognostic Marker for Activated B-cell-like Type Müller-Hermelink K, Delabie J, Fisher RI, Unger Solheim JC, Talmadge JE, Singh RK: 2005 Down- of Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma. JCO 24: 961- JM, LeBlanc M, Staudt LM, Jaffe ES, Gascoyne RD, regulation of Vascular Endothelial Cell Growth 968, 2006. Chan WC, Weisenburger DD, Greiner T, Braziel Factor-C Expression Using Small Interfering RNA •Kanmogne G, Schall K, Leibhart J, Knipe B, Deu- RM, Miller TP: Loss of Major Histocompatibility Vectors in Mammary Tumors Inhibits Tumor pree J, Gendelman HE, Persidsky Y: HIV-1 gp120 Class II Expression in Non-immune-privileged Site Lymphagiogenesis and Spontaneous Metastasis Compromises Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) Integrity Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma is Highly Coordi- and Enhances Survival. Cancer Res 65:9004-9011, and Enhance Monocyte Migration Across BBB: nated and Not Due to Chromosomal Deletions. 2006. Implication for Viral Neuropathogenesis. JCFM, in Blood 107: 1101-1107, 2006. •Dave SS, Fu K, Wright GW, Lam LT, Kluin P, press. •Roberts C, Anderson KL, Murphy E, Projan SJ, Boerma E, Greiner TC, Weisenburger DD, •Koepsell SA, Larson MA, Griep MA, Hinrichs SH: Mounts W, Hurlburt B, Smeltzer M, Overbeek R, Rosenwald A, Ott G, Müller-Hermelink H, Gas- Staphylococcus aureus Helicase but Not Escherichia Disz T, Dunman PM: Characterizing the effect of coyne RD, Delabie J, Rimsza LM, Braziel RM, coli Helicase Stimulates S. aureus Primary Activity the Staphylococcus aureus virulence factor regu- Grogan TM, Campo E, Jaffe ES, Dave BJ, Sanger and Maintains Initiation Specificity. J Bacteriol 188 lator, SarA, on log-phase mRNA half-lives. J Bacte- W, Bast M, Vose JM, Armitage JO, Connors JM, (13):4673-4680, 2006. riol, 188(7):2593-603, 2006. Smeland EB, Kvaloy S, Holte H, Fisher RI, Miller Mikuls TR, Endo JO, Puumala S, Aoun P, Black N, •Sarosdy MF, Kahn PR, Ziffer MD, Love WR, TP, Montserrat E, Wilson WH, Bahl M, Zhao H, • Barkin J, Abara EO, Jansz K, Bridge JA, Johansson Yang L, Powell J, Simon R, Chan WC, Staudt LM: O’Dell JR, Stoner J, Boilesen E, Bast M, Bergman SL, Persons DL, Gibson JS: Use of a multitarget Molecular Diagnosis of Burkitt’s Lymphoma. D, Ristow K, Ooi M, Armitage JO, Habermann T: fluorescence in situ hybridization assay to diag- NEJM 354: 2431-2442, 2006. Prospective Study of Survival Outcomes in Non- Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Patients with Rheumatoid nose bladder cancer in patients with hematuria. J •Dempsey MP, Nietfeldt J, Ravel J, Hinrichs S, Arthritis. J Clin Oncol 24(10):1597-1602, 2006. Urol 176(1):44-7, 2006. Crawford R, Benson AK: Paired-end Sequence Nishio J, Gentry JD, Neff JR, Nelson M, Daniels •Schweitzer BK, Kramer WL, Sambol AR, Meza JL, Mapping Detects Extensive Genomic Rearrange- • Hinrichs SH, Iwen PC: Geographic Factors Con- ment and Translocation During Divergence of W, Perry D, Gatalica Z, Bridge JA: Monoallelic tributing to a High Seroprevalence of West Nile Francisella tularenis Subspecies tularensis and Fran- deletion of the p53 gene through chromosomal Virus-Specific Antibodies in Humans Following an cisella tularensis Subspecies holarctica Populations. translocation in a small cell osteosarcoma. Vir- Epidemic. Clin Vaccine Immunol 13(3):314-318, J Bacteriol, submitted. chow Arch, 448(6):852-6, 2006. 2006. •Du C, Ge B, Liu Z, Fu K, Chan WC, McKeithan •Nishio J, Althof PA, Bailey JM, Zhou M, Neff JR, •Tam W, Gomez M, Chadburn A, Lee JW, Chan TW: PCR-based Generation of shRNA Libraries Barr FG, Parham DM, Qualman SJ, Bridge JA: Use WC, Knowles DM: Mutational Analysis of from cDNAs. BMC Biotechnology, in press. of a novel FISH assay on paraffin-embedded tis- sues as an adjunct to diagnosis of alveolar rhab- PRDM1 Indicates a Tumor-suppressor Role in •Du C, Ge B, Feng X, Chan WC, McKeithan TW: domyosarcoma. Lab Invest, 86:547-556, 2006. Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphomas. Blood 107:4090- Generation of Variable and Fixed Length siRNA 4100, 2006. Patton TG, Yang SJ, Bayles KW: The Role of From a Novel siRNA Expression Vector. BBRC, • •Yang SJ, Dunman PM, Projan SJ, Bayles KW: in press. Proton Motive Force in Expression of the Staphy- lococcus aureus cid and Irg Operons. Mol Microbiol Characterization of the Staphylococcus aureus •Greiner TC, Dasgupta C, Ho VV, Weisenburger 59(5):1395-1404, 2006. CidR regulon: elucidation of a novel role for DD, Smith LM, Lynch JC, Vose JM, Fu K, Armit- acetoin metabolism in and lysis. Mol •Persidsky Y, Heilman D, Haorah J, Persidsky R, age JO, Braziel RM, Campo E, Delabie J, Gas- Microbiol, 60(2):458-68, 2006. coyne RD, Jaffe ES, Muller-Hermelkin HK, Ott G, Weber G, Shimokawa H, Kaibuchi K, Ikezu T: •Young KH, Chan WC, Fu K, Iqbal J, Sanger WG, Rosenwald A, Staudt LM, Im MY, Karaman MW, Rho-mediated Regulation of Tight Junctions Dur- Ratashak A, Greiner TC, Weisenburger DD: Pike BL, Chan WC, Hacia JG: Mutation and Ge- ing Monocyte Migration Across Blood-Brain Mantle Cell Lymphoma with Plasma Cell Differen- nomic Deletion Status of Ataxia Telangiectasia Barrier in HIV-1 Encephalitis (HIVE). Blood tiation. AJSP, in press. Mutated (ATM) and p53 Confer Specific Gene 107:4720-4730, 2006.

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1 PAGE 15

In June, we sadly said good-bye to nine members of our path/micro “team.” We wish each of them the best of luck in their endeavors Farewell Wishes . . . and are anxious to see them again.

Mary Haven, Associate Dean of the JoLene Jones, receptionist for the past nine years, School of Allied Health Professions announced her retirement in May. for the past 11 years, retired in June.

HemePath Fellow, Vishala Neppali, MD, will join the faculty at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Jim and Julie Gulizia are in Iowa City, Iowa. moving to Texas to join Pathology Partners, Inc. in Irving, and Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, respectively.

Rachel Stevens, MD will join a private practice in renal pathology in Hutchinson, KS. John Gentry, MD will begin a surgical pathology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Resident Kurt Mathews has joined the Univer- Brent Keenportz, MD, will join the faculty at Louisiana State sity of California—San Diego to participate in University in Shreveport, LA in the surgical pathology fellow- the surgical pathology fellowship program. ship program. Congratulations! Announcements

• Megan Slagle, daughter of Peggy Slagle, graduated from Harlan • Christine Hans, MD has assumed the responsibility of the Community High School on May 13. M4 student rotations. Any questions should be directed to her • Congratulations to Nick and Jennifer Strachota (and Grandpa or her assistant, Kim Christian. Tom Jerrells) on the birth of Abby Justine on April 10th. Abby • Dominick DiMaio, MD has recently been named as the weighed 8 lb. 4 oz. and was 20½”. Abby has an older sister, Rapid Pancreas Autopsy Program director for Pathology. Cassie. • Attention Faculty and Support Staff: Please check your • Randi Nelson, Business and Marketing Coordinator for Regional web bio to make sure your information is current. http:// Pathology Services has completed the class hours required for the www.unmc.edu/Pathology/faculty. Contact Tuire Cechin for Masters in Public Health Administration. Randi will be working on more information (9-4040). her Capstone to complete her graduate degree. • The Departmental seminar calendar can be found on-line • Barbara Johnson was awarded the Silver U in June. Congratula- at http://www.calendarwiz.com/unmcpathologyseminars or by tions, Barb, on a well-deserved award! clicking on the Seminars link from the Pathology homepage. • Steve Hinrichs was presented the Vocational Service Award for Please contact Tuire Cechin at 9-4040 with any questions or Outstanding Service to the Community at the Northwest Rotary Club comments. Luncheon on May 2nd.

PUBLISHING INFORMATION:

The Path/Micro Newsletter is published quarterly. Please send your newsletter stories, ideas, and announcements to: Kim Christian, [email protected], 559-7212 Nebraska's Health Science Center

ATTENTION

University of Nebraska Medical Center 983135 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198-3135 Phone: 402-559-4186 Fax: 402-559-6018

We’re on the Web: www.unmc.edu/Pathology