Center for Clinical and Translational Science Fall 2017
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Fall 2017 Center for Clinical and Translational Science e- e-NewsletterNewsletter Center News Rockefeller University Biologist Michael W. Young Honored With Nobel Prize for Pioneering Studies on Circadian Rhythm The Rockefeller University website Dr. Young used genetics to identify his pioneering work on circadian rhythm,” gene mutations that disrupt the ability of says Richard P. Lifton, Rockefeller the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to University’s president. “The discoveries appropriately modulate its internal clock made by Mike and his colleagues have in response to a changing environment, provided fundamental insight into the and went on to define their biochemical molecular mechanisms by which the mechanisms. This clock found in fruit brain responds to environmental cues, a flies proves to be conserved throughout profound advance. The Nobel Prize is the the animal kingdom, and provides pinnacle of scientific recognition, and I insight into how the brain translates can think of no one more deserving than environmental cues into altered behavior. Mike to receive this award.” His work has direct implications for Dr. Barry Coller, Physician-in-Chief understanding human sleep disorders, of the Rockefeller University Hospital the mechanisms of jet lag, and the and Director of the Center for Clinical challenges of working on the night shift. and Translational Science (CCTS), noted Dr. Young’s lab is currently working “We are thrilled that the Nobel Prize 2017 Nobel Laureate and Rockefeller professor to assess how rhythmic gene and protein Committee is recognizing Mike for his Michael W. Young, Ph.D. activities are established in cells derived landmark studies with this singular from patients with sleep and depressive honor, and delighted that the CCTS, with Rockefeller University biologist disorders. Among other discoveries, support from an NCATS CTSA grant, Michael W. Young is this year’s recipient this work recently identified a common has helped support Mike’s translation of of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or mutation that slows the human biological his basic findings in Drosophila to new Medicine for his discovery of the clock. People with the “night owl” variant insights into human diseases.” molecular mechanism of circadian of this gene have a long circadian cycle, rhythm, which governs biological clocks Dr. Young, Richard and Jeanne Fisher making it challenging for them to stay on Professor and head of the Laboratory of that regulate sleep, eating behavior, and a normal 24-hour cycle. metabolism. He shares the prize with Genetics, is the 25th scientist associated Jeffrey C. Hall and Michael Rosbash of “I am delighted that the Nobel with Rockefeller University to be honored Brandeis University. Foundation has chosen to honor Mike for with the Nobel Prize. In addition to Continued to Page 3 Roger Vaughan, MS, DrPH, Joins the Center for Clinical and Translational Science as Director of Biostatistics of Biostatistics in the Center for Clinical Association, the American Public Health By Dr. Barry Coller and Translational Science (CCTS). Dr. Association, and The Mailman School Vaughan comes to us from Columbia of Public Health, as well as Columbia University where he held several University’s Presidential Teaching leadership positions, including Professor Award. He is an active member in many and Chairman of the Department of professional organizations, including the Biostatistics, Vice Dean for Academic New York Academy of Medicine, the Advancement, and Director of the American Statistical Association, and the Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Association for Clinical and Translational Design Core for Columbia’s Clinical Science. He has been a leader in the and Translational Science Award American Public Health Association (CTSA). Dr. Vaughan received his and currently serves as Associate Editor MS in Mathematical Statistics and his and Editor for Statistics and Evaluation doctorate in Biostatistics from Columbia for their flagship journal, the American Roger Vaughan University. He has won numerous awards Journal of Public Health. Dr. Vaughan’s We welcome Dr. Roger Vaughan to for outstanding teaching, including biostatistical expertise lies in methods The Rockefeller University as Director awards from the American Statistical for the analysis of clustered and 1 Continued to Page 10 Albany Medical Center Prize awarded to Luciano Marraffini The Rockefeller University website and archaea, can target DNA. Building on Today, Marraffini continues to this observation, he suggested that these elucidate the molecular mechanisms systems could be used for editing genome by which CRISPR-Cas operates in sequences outside of their native contexts. bacteria. For example, his lab recently Then, in 2013, Marraffini reported showed during what stage of infection the first successful in vivo genome- this bacterial immune system kicks in, editing projects in both prokaryotes and and discovered a way to ramp up its eukaryotes, work done in collaboration ability to form immunologic memories. with colleagues at the Broad Institute. Established in 2000, the $500,000 Luciano Marraffini In the relatively brief period since Albany Prize honors scientists who Luciano Marraffini has been named those landmark findings were published, have altered the course of medical a recipient of the 2017 Albany Medical biomedical science has seen the research. Marraffini will receive this Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical usefulness of the new technology expand year’s award on September 27 together Research, one of the country’s most dramatically. CRISPR has now been used with Emmanuelle Charpentier of the prestigious science prizes. Marraffini to create cell lines and organisms with Max Planck Institute in Germany; and four other scientists will share the targeted mutations, as well as to perform Jennifer Doudna of the University of prize for development of the genome- genetic screens for novel phenotypes California, Berkeley; Francisco Mojica editing system known as CRISPR-Cas9, by systematically turning genes on of University of Alicante, in Spain; which in recent years has revolutionized or off. CRISPR has the potential to and Feng Zhang of the Broad Institute. biomedical research and provided new revolutionize agriculture by introducing Previous Rockefeller recipients hope for the treatment of genetic diseases. desired mutations into crops, and its of the prize include James E. Darnell In 2008, Marraffini published the ability to correct specific disease-causing and Robert G. Roeder in 2012, Elaine pathbreaking observation that CRISPR- genetic errors in humans has clear Fuchs in 2011, Ralph Steinman in Cas systems, first discovered in bacteria implications for improving human health. 2009, and Arnold J. Levine in 2001. Rockefeller Nurses Lead NYC Pilot Chapter of International Association of Clinical Research Nurses Board of Directors to create a pilot chapter and Weill Cornell Medical Center. By Rita Devine, RN, MPA of IACRN for the hundreds of clinical These meetings provide a mechanism The International Association ofresearch nurses and nurse practitioners in for exchange of ideas, opportunities Clinical Research Nurses (IACRN) is a the NYC area. This chapter will provide for education and collaboration, professional nursing organization whose representation, education and support and dissemination of best practices. mission is to define, validate and advance for their professional development as There are only four IACRN Chapters clinical research nursing as a specialty well as recognition in the international in the USA: Boston, Ohio Valley, Rocky practice and to support the professional clinical research nurse community. Mountain and Oklahoma. Ireland, development of registered nurses who Led by Rita Devine, CRN, President, United Kingdom and Japan are the directly or indirectly impact the care of Regina Butler, CRN, Vice-President and current International Chapters and a clinical research participants. Its vision Vedanta Sharma, CRN, Treasurer, and China Chapter is in pilot status. At the is to enhance clinical research quality with the support of Dr. Barry Coller, 2017 Annual International Conference in and safety through specialized nursing Physician in Chief, Rockefeller has already October, the New York City Pilot Chapter practice. IACRN was established in hosted three successful meetings. The hopes to attain full chapter status, keeping 2009 and Rockefeller University Clinical last meeting was attended by 35 Clinical the long Rockefeller University Hospital Research Nurses under the leadership Research Nurses and Clinical Research traditional started by Nancy Ellicott, of Kelly McClary played a vital role Nurse Practitioners representing CRN, of leading the advancement and in the founding of the organization. five New York hospitals, Rockefeller support of clinical research nursing. More recently, Rockefeller University University Hospital, Memorial Sloan Hospital clinical research nurses Kettering, Hospital for Special Surgery, spearheaded an application to the IACRN New York University Langone Health, 2 Clinical Research Nurses and Clinical Research Nurse Practitioners Representives Clinical Scholar Graduate Louis Cohen Identifies Novel Human Microbiome-Produced Small Molecules That Affect Blood Glucose By Louis Cohen, MD It is increasingly understood that the publically available sequencing datasets microbiome has an important role in from the human microbiome, 43 human health. Little is known, however, phylogenetically diverse