Methodology Newsletter - Fall 2017

METHODOLOGY The Research and Education Newsletter of Houston Methodist

Fall 2017

Siemens Healthineers and Houston Methodist launch imaging innovation hub in Houston

by Maitreyi Muralidhar

When neurologist Joseph Masdeu first saw anatomical images of the brain from a Siemens 7 Tesla (7T) MRI machine, he marveled at their photographic quality. “The precision is remarkable − it gives us insights into the diseases of the brain and spinal cord that have been impossible to realize until now,” said Masdeu, MD, PhD, Graham Family Distinguished Chair for Neurological Sciences in the Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology. Over the course of his career, Masdeu has seen imaging technologies the ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography have a revolutionary effect on the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases. He sees 7T MRI as the next big leap in imaging innovation.

The 7T MRI scanner is one of the world’s most powerful MRI machines. It is coming to the Texas Medical Center in 2018 through a Siemens Healthineers and Houston Methodist multi-year consortium agreement and will be accessible to all institutions in the TMC. The consortium currently includes The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, University of Houston, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas A&M, and Rice University. Scientists from Siemens will be housed full time at Houston Methodist to collaborate with consortium physicians and researchers. >> CONT. PAGE THREE

are building on our decades-long partnership “ We with Siemens to combine their frontline imaging technology with our unique translational research infrastructure and clinical care facilities.

”

– Mauro Ferrari, PhD President and CEO Houston Methodist Research Institute

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Contents

Hurricane Harvey hit Houston shortly after our last issue of Methodology and we are still recovering with our fellow Texans.

More than 5,300 of our employees were personally impacted by the storm. I am truly thankful to work an organization that

Cover

has supported all our employees – those impacted and those

Siemens Healthineers and Houston Methodist launch imaging innovation hub in Houston............... 1

that continue to volunteer and rebuild our community.

The hurricane brought some unexpected attention to our ongoing infectious disease research. A deadly bacterial disease called

Research Highlights:

necrotizing fasciitis or flesh-eating disease claimed multiple victims

$21 million propels translational research................................................4

in the aftermath of Harvey. Muthiah Kumaraswami, PhD, and

Researchers unlock potential pathway to treat flesh-eating bacteria................................................6 Two forces collaborate to create new biocompatible implants..............8

his team had been studying the bacteria responsible for this disease, and they discovered a promising target for a treatment and a vaccine that may help prevent future flood-borne tragedies. Their findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal about the time the storm hit.

This work is a timely reminder of why we invest in research and innovation. Our friends Evan and Nicole Katz

RNA therapeutics slow the effects of accelerated aging............ 9

and the Katz family share this vision. I am overwhelmed with gratitude by their unprecedented $21 million

Treatable condition could be mistaken for schizophrenia............10

time to read more about how this gift will impact our mission by supporting the work of our dedicated

Resident immune cells provide clues to liver inflammation.............12

gift from the Jerold B. Katz Foundation that will support our research efforts. Please take some faculty and physicians.

In this time of recovery, may we remember our blessings. Together we lead medicine. Together we heal.

Education News Ideas to clinic: Mentors equip clinicians with the power of research............................................. 14

Mauro Ferrari, PhD

Sherilyn A. Gordon Memorial Award for Leadership and Professionalism................................ 15

Ernest Cockrell Jr. Presidential Distinguished Chair President and CEO, Houston Methodist Research Institute Director, Institute for Academic Medicine at Houston Methodist Executive Vice President, Houston Methodist

Houston Methodist Interprofessional Education Day.................................. 16

Senior Associate Dean and Professor of Medicine Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY

Summer Internship Program inspires the next generation of health professionals........................ 17

Of Interest Awards & accolades.......................18 New faculty.............................................20 Upcoming events..................................22

>> CONT. FROM PAGE ONE

Ultra-high-field 7T MRI boosts resolution for clear visualization of previously unseen structures.

In addition to anatomical details, images from 7T MRI can also show physiology or biological function. “MRI is the cardiovascular imaging modality of the future. While most modalities show structure, MRI allows for imaging the dynamics of blood flow and the opening and closing of heart valves,”

facility and the cGMP-compliant cyclotron

explained Alan Lumsden, MD, Walter W. Fondren III

facility. Access to such high-throughput

Distinguished Endowed Chair in the Houston Methodist

multi-modality imaging equipment in a translational

DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center and chair of the

research setting enables Houston Methodist and its

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery.

consortium partners to seamlessly translate research

Siemens’ 7T MRI machine, called the MAGNETOM Terra, is

findings to a true clinical setting.

the first 7T MRI scanner cleared for clinical use in the United

As part of the agreement, Siemens will also outfit the

States by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “The FDA

Houston Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation

approval could not have come at a better time for us,” said

& Education (MITIESM) and the newly constructed North

Christof Karmonik, PhD, associate research professor of

Tower with triple hybrid operating suites. These will be

translational imaging and director of the MRI Core at Houston

equipped with the most advanced CT, angiography

Methodist. “Though the FDA has currently approved the

and MRI technology. Houston Methodist will also receive

device for diagnostic imaging of the head and the knee, the

a dual PET and CT scanner that can image specific

possibilities with 7T are endless,” Karmonik said. Houston

biochemical activations in the brain, such as the presence

Methodist researchers have already begun developing projects

of pathological proteins and inflammation in Alzheimer’s

that will leverage the exceptional capabilities of this technology.

and other types of neurodegenerative diseases.

For instance, Masdeu expects to apply the higher spatial resolution and stronger image contrast of 7T to better understand the role of tau protein in Alzheimer’s disease, a research interest of his for many years.

As part of their partnership, Houston Methodist and Siemens will conduct joint research in several areas of common interest, including 7T MRI research; PET and molecular theranostics; and outcomes research in the

The new 7T machine will be located within the Houston

context of imaging and image-guided intervention. Houston

Methodist Research Institute’s Translational Imaging Core,

Methodist investigators will also have the opportunity to

in close proximity to the positron emission tomography

visit Siemens for collaborative research rotations.

physicians and investigators are eager to explore the 7T MRI “ Our scanner’s applications a clinical research setting. It provides significantly higher resolution and faster acquisition times than the 3T we use today.

”

– Christof Karmonik, PhD Director, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Core Houston Methodist

3

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

$21 million propels translational research Houston Methodist received a $21 million commitment from the Jerold B. Katz Foundation to advance the translation of medical discoveries and bring them quickly to patients.

This gift from the Katz family, dedicated supporters of medical research, empowers the Houston Methodist Research Institute by establishing a translational research academy, launching a research and development catalyst fund, and acquiring specialized technology required to drive translational research.

According to Evan H. Katz, one of Jerold B. Katz’s sons and a trustee of the Jerold B. Katz Foundation, the gift is designed to continually seed innovation, facilitating the discovery of improved treatments and medications. The research institute will enlist the brightest researchers from various fields, encouraging them to develop collaborative, interdisciplinary solutions to combat the most challenging diseases patients face.

Of the $21 million gift, $12 million will endow eight Katz Investigators as members of the Jerold B. Katz Academy of Translational Research, funding their corresponding research projects. Translational research is at the forefront of medical breakthroughs and is the foundation for the establishment of the research institute. This gift will support researchers seeking to progress through the cycle of a cure to see their ideas go from invention to potential treatments and therapies.

Nicole and Evan Katz

4

typically take two decades and billions of dollars to go from the lab to the patient’s bedside. This generous donation can speed up the process by stimulating a cross-pollination of ideas among clinicians and scientists, and mobilizing them to innovate.

QUICK FACTS HOUSTON METHODIST

8 2,165 810,880 103,783 21,195

”

– Mauro Ferrari, PhD President and CEO Houston Methodist Research Institute

This gift also creates a $5 million matching fund, initiating the second phase of the Translational Research Initiative that helps researchers avoid the “Valley of Death” – the time between a scientific discovery and its successful use in humans, when many projects are lost due to lack of funding. Houston Methodist will raise the matching funds, increasing the donation’s philanthropic impact to $26 million.

Finally, the Katz award designates $4 million to the Jerold B. Katz Translational Research Infrastructure Fund to support state-of-the-art laboratories with the latest research equipment, ensuring the success of these new research projects. This large gift assures funding and provides an avenue for the continued support of medical discoveries stemming from translational research endeavors.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

“ New medical therapies

“

5,591 1,843 647 46 412 23,319 1,075

Hospitals Operating beds Outpatient visits Admissions

Employees

Physicians Credentialed researchers Faculty GME programs Trainees

(residents, postdoctoral fellows & students)

CME, GME & MITIE learners

Dave B, Gonzalez DD, Liu ZB, Li X, Wong H, Granados S, et. al. Role of RPL39 in Metaplastic Breast Cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2016 Dec 31;109(6)

Clinical protocols

440,000

Sq.ft. dedicated research building with 12 stories and 150 lab benches

100,000

Additional sq.ft. research space embedded throughout the hospital

$49.6 M $131 M

– Jenny Chang, M.D. Emily Herrmann Chair in Cancer Research & Director, Houston Methodist Cancer Center

Annual extramural funding Annual research expenditures

5

5

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

Researchers unlock

potential pathway to treat

flesh-eating bacteria

by Lisa Merkl

Researchers at Houston Methodist have solved a 100-year-old mystery, providing them a possible key to unlock a pathway for treating diseases caused by flesh-eating bacteria.

Also called necrotizing fasciitis, flesh-eating disease is caused by Group A Streptococcus infections.

A rare but deadly bacterial disease, it claimed multiple lives in Houston after Hurricane Harvey when these bacteria were still lurking in the debris left behind by the floodwaters. Unless detected early, flesh-eating disease is very challenging to treat and has a high mortality and morbidity rate.

Muthiah Kumaraswami, PhD

“

Group A Streptococcus infections are pretty widespread. Not only do they cause several million cases of strep throat every year, but also can lead to more severe infections, such as flesh-eating disease and acute rheumatic heart disease. If you don’t treat strep throat in children, for instance, recurring infections can lead to those more serious

“

diseases and are very difficult to treat. We don’t have a vaccine, so basic research is geared toward finding targets for vaccine development.

– Muthiah Kumaraswami, PhD Assistant Professor of Pathology and Genomic Medicine Houston Methodist

6

Muthiah Kumaraswami, PhD, an infectious diseases

“The signal we found is compact and doesn’t have

researcher at Houston Methodist, is the corresponding

many of the features we traditionally see in other

author of an article published in the Proceedings of

bacterial peptides, which is probably why it was so

the National Academy of Sciences. Kumaraswami and

hard to find for such a long time. There could be

his team have found a critical target that can be used

similar atypical signals in other bacteria that have

to develop a potential Group A Streptococcus (GAS)

been overlooked, so we believe the discovery of

vaccine or antibiotic. By manipulating this target with

this peptide will make it easier to find more bacterial

vaccines or drugs, they hope to either reduce the

peptide signals in other pathogens.”

severity of these infections or clear them up faster.

Moving forward, there are several different avenues Kumaraswami and team discovered a peptide secreted

researchers could take to target this peptide signal

by the bacteria that signals its neighbors to produce

for either antibiotic or vaccine development. They can

a toxin called streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin B

develop antibodies to target it or a competing peptide

(SpeB). The production of SpeB is critical for the

to jam the communication path, which would allow

development of necrotizing fasciitis. Blocking

them to block toxin production and reduce disease

production of this toxin will be crucial for disease

severity. A second strategy involves triggering the

prevention and treatment.

toxin production at an early stage when the toxin level would be minimal. Then, the host’s immune response

“Researchers have known for more than 100 years

would be triggered to clear the bacterial infection

that GAS uses the toxin SpeB and that it is crucial

much earlier.

for disease development,” Kumaraswami said.

“We did not know, however, what signals the timely

Collaborating institutions include the Genome Biology

production of SpeB by GAS. Now that we have

Unit of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory

discovered how GAS bacteria communicate with

in Germany and the Ludwig-Maximilians-University

each other to coordinate the production of this toxin,

of Munich.

we can target the signaling pathway to develop vaccines and fight infections.”

Visit vimeo.com/233845662 to learn more about this work.

Kumaraswami says that the fact that bacteria talk to each other and produce toxins is not new. Their communication codes have been characterized for a long time, so researchers know a lot of the classic features in these signals. What’s different in his

The work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of

team’s discovery, is the nature of the language.

(Exc114-2) and Fondren Foundation.

Health (1R01AI109096-01A1), Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

The GAS communication signal they found lacks a majority of those classic features.

“Typically, the signal is quite long and has a number of characteristic hallmarks,” Kumaraswami said.

Do H, Makthal N, VanderWal AR, Rettel M, Savitski MM, Peschek N, Papenfort K, Olsen RJ, Musser JM, Kumaraswami M. Leaderless secreted peptide signaling molecule alters global gene expression and increases virulence of a human bacterial pathogen.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017 Sept. 18;114(40)

7

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

Two forces

collaborate to create new

biocompatible implants

by Gale Smith

Researchers at the Houston Methodist Research Institute have established a collaboration with super sports car maker Automobili Lamborghini to identify biocompatible carbon fiber composite materials for use in prosthetic implants and drug delivery devices.

Orthopedic implants are typically created from biocompatible and corrosion resistant metal alloys like titanium and stainless steel. The joint project aims to make them better – by identifying new, lighter, moldable materials that are well tolerated by the human body and have improved mechanical properties.

Over the next three years, this collaboration aims to combine Lamborghini’s advanced carbon fiber composite technology with the Houston Methodist Research Institute’s nanomedicine applications to design innovative and lightweight surgical tools and biomedical devices.

Mauro Ferrari, PhD, president and CEO of the Houston Methodist Research Institute, signed the agreement with Stefano Domenicali, chair and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., officially launching the collaboration in June 2017. Alessandro Grattoni, PhD, chair of the Department of Nanomedicine at the Houston Methodist Research Institute, will lead Stefano Domenicali and Mauro Ferrari, PhD

8

the study as principal investigator.

RNA therapeutics slow the effects of accelerated aging Children with Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome age at eight times the normal rate, causing complications and premature death, usually from heart attack or stroke in their teens.

by Patricia Akinfenwa

Progeria is a rare genetic disorder caused

A Houston Methodist team led by John P. Cooke, MD, PhD,

by an autosomal mutation in the LMNA

chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at

gene encoding lamin A. This scaffolding

Houston Methodist, has developed an mRNA therapeutic

protein forms the protective envelope

that reverses cellular senescence in progeria cells.

around the nucleus – the home of a cell’s DNA. Mutations in the envelope expose the John P. Cooke, MD, PhD

nucleus to damage that ultimately leads to

premature cell senescence. While most research has been focused on restoring the nuclear envelope by repairing the gene or mutant lamin A, Houston Methodist researchers are taking a

Cooke hypothesized that restoration of telomere length could improve progeria cell function and the ability of these cells to divide and respond to stress. This is exactly what his team found – delivery of telomerase mRNA into the cells lengthened telomeres, stimulated growth, and lengthened their lifespan.

different approach. They are focusing on the observation that progeria cells have accelerated telomere shortening. Telomeres protect the ends of chromosomes from deterioration and serve

Li Y, Zhou G, Bruno IG, Cooke JP. Telomerase mRNA reverses senescence in

as biological timekeepers of cells, naturally shortening as we

Progeria cells. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017 Aug 8; 70(6):804–805.

get older.

erode over time as cells age. Telomerase mRNA can “ Telomeres reverse the erosion and can potentially delay problems associated with premature aging in conditions like progeria. ”

– John P. Cooke, MD, PhD Joseph C. "Rusty" Walter and Carole Walter Looke Presidential Distinguished Chair in Cardiovascular Disease Research, Houston Methodist 9

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

Treatable condition could be mistaken for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder

by Hannah Pietsch

Researchers at Houston Methodist believe that a significant number of people diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder may actually have a treatable immune system condition.

Joseph Masdeu, MD, PhD

A new research study could have a significant impact on the millions diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, including many homeless.

The study was inspired by the 2007 discovery of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, a disease that causes symptoms similar to schizophrenia or bipolar disorder but can be treated with existing immunotherapy medications.

The immune system normally produces antibodies to attack foreign substances in the body, such as bacteria. When this process goes wrong, antibodies are produced that attack receptors in the brain, causing the receptor to stop listening to the signals being sent to it. In cases of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, antibodies attack N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the brain.

Conditions that cause the brain’s receptors to stop functioning properly are often mistaken for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder because these diseases are associated with a decrease in activity of the NMDA receptors, which control how someone thinks, makes decisions, and perceives the world around them. Classic schizophrenia and bipolar

10

disorder symptoms seen in anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis and similar conditions include hearing voices and paranoia.

could suppress the production of the attacking antibodies.

Masdeu plans to use study results to develop more sensitive

“We know that nearly 1 percent of the U.S. population –

tests to aid in the detection of attacking antibodies. He

or more than 3.5 million people – have schizophrenia,”

first began researching possible autoimmune causes of

Masdeu said. “Another 2.6 percent of American adults

schizophrenia in the early 2010s while working at the

have bipolar disorder. What we don’t know is how many

National Institutes of Health and published early papers

of these patients actually have one of these treatable

on the subject. Masdeu is now collaborating with Josep

immune system disorders.”

Dalmau, MD, PhD, who first described how antibodies

The study will enroll 150 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia

can attack NMDA receptors.

or bipolar disorder and 50 healthy people between the ages

Houston Methodist is leading this study, which includes

of 18 and 35 who are willing to undergo a spinal tap to

Ben Taub Hospital, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs

collect a small amount of their cerebral spinal fluid, which

Medical Center, Texas Children’s Hospital, Harris County

will be screened for the presence of antibodies attacking

Psychiatric Center, and The University of Texas Health

NMDA and other receptors. If abnormal antibodies are

Science Center at Houston.

discovered, researchers will notify the patient or caregiver, so that they may consider asking their health care provider

For more information on this study, call 346.238.0083.

about treatment options, such as using existing drugs that

“

We suspect that a significant number of people believed to have schizophrenia or bipolar disorder actually have an immune system disorder that affects the brain’s receptors. If true, those people have diseases that are completely reversible – they just need a proper diagnosis and treatment to help them return to

”

normal lives.

– Joseph Masdeu, MD, PhD Graham Family Distinguished Chair for Neurological Sciences in the Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology Houston Methodist

11

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

Resident immune cells

provide clues to

liver inflammation

by Gale Smith

Liver disease has long been associated with excessive alcohol consumption and viral infections like hepatitis C. Both can lead to liver inflammation, cell damage and, in severe cases, cirrhosis.

Immune cells that reside in the liver are key suspects in the inflammation that precedes liver disease, but when and how they trigger inflammation is a complicated mystery that immunologists are just beginning to solve.

One of the immune cells found in abundance in the liver is the invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell. Normally, iNKT cells aid in the host defense system and immune tolerance, but the mechanism governing their survival Xian C. Li, MD, PhD

remains an active area of research.

Houston Methodist scientists have identified that liver iNKT cells constitutively express the cell surface tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily receptor OX40. OX40 serves as a costimulatory signal for circulating T-cells, aiding in cell division and survival by suppressing the differentiation of T-regulatory cells, which inhibit T-cell function. OX40 in the liver, however, takes on an entirely different role.

12

“ Instead of helping liver resident immune cells survive, OX40 drives a messy inflammatory cell death. ”

– Xian C. Li, MD, PhD Director, Immunobiology & Transplant Science Center Houston Methodist

In a study led by Xian C. Li, MD, PhD, director of

In addition, they would like to see this research open

the Immunobiology & Transplant Science Center at

new avenues of intervention such as OX40 inhibitors.

the Houston Methodist Research Institute, findings

In the future, the group plans to run clinical studies to

revealed that hepatic expression of OX40 triggers

see if the effects shown in their models are present in

the death of liver-resident iNKT cells. Unlike its

patients with liver disease. According to the American

enhancing effects on systemic T-cells, Li and his

Liver Foundation, 30 million Americans suffer from

team observed a negative effect — in the liver, OX40

some form of liver disease.

stimulation results in massive destruction of iNKT cells through pyroptosis, a programmed cell death characterized by high levels of inflammation.

Lan P, Fan Y, Zhao Y, Lou X, Monsour HP, Zhang X, Choi Y, Dou Y, Ishii N, Ghobrial RM, Xiao X, Li XC. TNF superfamily receptor OX40 triggers invariant NKT cell pyroptosis and liver injury. J Clin Invest. 2017 Apr 24;

Li theorizes that the OX40 liver threat is a two-step

127(6):2222–2234.

process. First, OX40 activates a chain reaction resulting in caspase-1 production. Caspase-1, in turn, activates gasdermin D, which forms pores in cell membranes.

Once the membranes become permeable to circulating molecules, the immune cells swell and burst, releasing inflammatory cytokines and causing liver inflammation, a response that is even more pronounced in the liver due to the large amount of iNKT cells present.

These findings provide a potential mechanism of liver damage and disease. Li and colleagues are interested in learning how the liver microenvironment increases iNKT cell susceptibility to pyroptosis.

13

EDUCATION NEWS

Ideas to clinic:

Mentors equip clinicians with the power of research

by Thomas Ellington

The Mentored Clinical Research Training Program, a joint program between Weill Cornell Medicine and Houston Methodist, provides early career physicians with concentrated training to turn their ideas for clinical research into successful project plans.

“Cultivating the skills to do high-quality, prospective clinical

During these sessions, participants present their research

research really requires you to partner with a mentor who has

idea and the mentors provide their critique by teasing it

experience conducting this type of research,” said Eric Salazar,

apart, helping to shape it, and providing guidance on how

MD, PhD, assistant professor of pathology and genomic

to improve it. For Salazar’s project idea – comparing the

medicine at Houston Methodist. Salazar, who just finished his

use of a fibrinogen concentrate to the use of cryoprecipitate

first year as faculty at Houston Methodist, is a member of the

for fibrinogen replacement in liver transplant patients – his

current program cohort.

mentors advised beginning with a pilot study to test the

The program begins with four days of didactics and small group sessions in New York City, before which participants must identify two mentors from either Houston Methodist or Weill Cornell. “In addition to lectures on biostatistics and grant writing, they review simple but critical concepts such as the elements

feasibility of a larger study. “With a pilot, we can assess whether a larger study would generate enough statistical power, and whether the study’s logistics – which will involve coordination between pharmacists and anesthesiologists – are sustainable,” said Salazar.

of a good research question and a good hypothesis, and time

After the four-day intensive training, participants meet with

management, which is especially important when balancing

their mentors at six-month and one-year intervals to discuss

clinical practice and research work,” Salazar said when explaining

the progress of their projects. For Salazar, the program has

the program. “But the real meat is in the small group sessions.”

been an excellent experience. “So far, this program has been a very exciting step in furthering my goal of integrating clinical research into my career. I expect to have this pilot project started in the next few months and I look forward to where the results of this study will lead me,” said Salazar.

14

Sherilyn A. Gordon Memorial Award for Leadership and Professionalism

by Patricia Akinfenwa On March 19, 2017, Houston Methodist Hospital lost an extraordinary leader, mentor, colleague, surgeon, and friend, Sherilyn A. Gordon, MD. A skilled and compassionate transplant surgeon at Houston Methodist since 2009, Gordon transformed the Houston Methodist Hospital Residency in General Surgery after becoming program director in 2012. Gordon took a special interest in each resident, and was known for her commitment to mentorship and professionalism.

In memory of Gordon, the Houston Methodist Graduate Medical Education Committee has established an award in her name. The award recognizes an outstanding resident or fellow, a program director or faculty member, and a residency program coordinator who exhibit the Houston Methodist I CARE values of integrity, compassion, accountability, respect, and excellence, and demonstrate leadership and professionalism.

Gordon Memorial Award recipients are honored at the annual graduation ceremony for residents and fellows. The recipients receive a certificate of recognition and up to $1,500 of travel support to a leadership development meeting. Awardees for 2017 include resident and fellow awardee, Stephanie G. Yi, MD; program director and faculty awardee, Donald A. Briscoe, MD; and residency coordinator awardee, Erika L. Robinson.

Houston Methodist Earns Continuing Medical Education Accreditation Houston Methodist has earned accreditation with commendation from the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, a distinction awarded for implementing best practices in pedagogy, engagement, evaluation, and change management, and for focusing on generating meaningful outcomes.

Accreditation as a CME provider continues through 2023.

15

EDUCATION NEWS

Houston Methodist

INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION DAY

In May, Houston Methodist held an inaugural Interprofessional Education Day. The conference focused on training multidisciplinary health professional teams to cultivate collaborative practice.

Over one hundred and fifty professionals attended the conference from Houston Methodist and other Texas Medical Center institutions including Baylor College of Medicine, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

Keynote speaker, Ashley Hughes, PhD, discussed team-based

Interprofessional Education Day was led by Jessica Uriarte,

health care research evidence showing that interprofessionalism

DrPH, manager of the Houston Methodist Office of Academic

reduces medical error and mortality. With real-world examples,

Development, who specializes in interprofessional collaboration

Hughes demonstrated how communication between specialists

and training.

saved time, money, and prevented physical and emotional distress of patients.

16

SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Summer Internship Program inspires the next generation of health professionals The Institute for Academic Medicine hosted its annual summer internship for the recent graduates of 26 universities including Johns Hopkins, Duke, Columbia University, and Washington University in St. Louis. Each intern was paired with a mentor to shadow during their 10-week clerkship. Interns were placed in either a research or clinical setting, according to preference, and concluded the program with a poster or oral presentation detailing their project and their future goals.

Read about the experience and background of two of our 2017 interns.

MATTHEW REYES

KIERRA CRAWFORD

From: Houston Interests: Surgery & engineering Mentor: Sherry Lim, MD

From: Kentucky Interests: Wellness & dietetics Mentor: Colin Barker, MD

Born and raised in Houston, Matthew Reyes knew early

For Kierra Crawford, college was an opportunity to leave her

on that he wanted to be in health care. Now a biomedical

hometown in Kentucky and see the world. Crawford became

engineering major at Texas A&M University, Reyes says that

a Fulbright Scholar and received support to travel abroad

the summer internship enlightened him about the rigors of

to the Dominican Republic, Germany, and South Korea.

being a surgeon, and strengthened his resolve to pursue

She says these experiences shaped her appreciation for the

medicine. Reyes was paired with Sherry Lim, MD, a breast

education and resources she has access to in the US. That

cancer surgeon, and described his days in the operating

realization inspired her to apply to the Houston Methodist

room like an adventure, which started with him scrubbing

Summer Internship Program after graduating from the University

in as a member of the operating room staff bright and early

of Kentucky with a bachelor’s in Dietetics. She was paired with

at 7:30 a.m. Reyes aspires to be a physician engineer and

Colin Barker, MD, an interventional cardiologist. After the

plans to pursue a dual degree in medicine and engineering

internship, Crawford was offered a position at the Houston

in the Engineering and Medicine (EnMed) program, a

Methodist Wellness Center. The next step, Crawford says,

partnership of Houston Methodist and Texas A&M School

is becoming the first doctor in her family.

of Engineering.

15

OF INTEREST

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

James M. Musser, MD, PhD, named president-elect of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology James M. Musser, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine at Houston Methodist Hospital and the Fondren Presidential Distinguished Chair at the Houston Methodist Research Institute, has been named president-elect of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) for 2017-2018.

Musser will serve as FASEB president for 2018-2019 and for 3 years as a member of the FASEB executive committee. FASEB represents 125,000 international members and is recognized as the international policy voice of biological and biomedical researchers around the world.

A. Osama Gaber, MD, elected secretary of American Society of Transplant Surgeons J.C. Walter Jr. Presidential Distinguished Chair and Director of the J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center, Osama Gaber, MD, has been elected secretary of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS). He started a 3-year term in May 2017 after completing his term as councilor-at-large. He has served in several ASTS leadership roles over the past 12 years.

Omaima Sabek, PhD, receives the Network of Minority Health Research Investigators award Omaima Sabek, PhD, assistant research professor of surgery, has been recognized by the Network of Minority Health Research Investigators (NMRI) with the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) award. In April 2017, Sabek was acknowledged for her many years of service, contribution, and loyalty to the NMRI, and received a medallion, representing the highest commitment to improving the understanding of minority health.

Barbara L. Bass, MD, made an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons Barbara Bass, MD, John F., Jr. and Carolyn Bookout Presidential Distinguished Chair and executive director of the SM

Houston Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation & Education (MITIE ), has been made an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. Bass was recognized for her contributions to the development of surgical quality measurement systems in the United States, innovation and leadership in surgical education and policy, advancement of women in surgery, and contributions to advance the surgical profession.

18

Mauro Ferrari, PhD, appointed as a corresponding member of the Pontifical Academy for Life Mauro Ferrari, PhD, president and CEO of the Houston Methodist Research Institute, has been appointed as a corresponding member of the Pontifical Academy for Life. The members advise the Vatican on issues related to human life and bioethics. Ferrari joined the assembly in the New Synod Hall in Vatican City.

Katherine K. Perez, PharmD, appointed to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee of the CDC Katherine K. Perez, PharmD, assistant professor of allied health sciences, has been appointed to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for a 4-year term beginning in 2017. Perez and other advisors will provide scientific and technical advice and guidance to the Department of Health and Human Services. The committee comprises members from across various laboratory specialties, laboratory management, physicians, nurses, and a consumer representative.

Robert A. Phillips, MD, PhD receives distinguished service award from the American Society of Hypertension Robert A. Phillips, MD, PhD, chief medical officer of Houston Methodist and CEO of Houston Methodist Specialty Physician Group, received a distinguished service award from the American Society of Hypertension for 30 years of service, and most recently, for his pivotal role in merging the society with the American Heart Association. Phillips accepted the award and delivered a podium presentation at the American Heart Association meeting held in September in San Francisco. Phillips presented research conducted in collaboration with Leif Peterson, PhD, and Susan Xu, PhD, that identified a specific population of patients with increased cardiovascular risk who would benefit from intensive blood pressure lowering.

Julia D. Andrieni, MD, named in Modern Healthcare’s women leaders to watch in 2017 list Julia Andrieni, MD, vice president of population health and primary care, and president and CEO of Houston Methodist Coordinated Care and the Houston Methodist Physicians’ Alliance for Quality, was selected by Modern Healthcare as one of 25 women leaders to watch in 2017. This program honors female executives from all health care sectors who are developing policy, leading change, and guiding the improvement of health care delivery across the country.

Patient advocate Anne H. Meyn, MEd, named Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Program advisor Anne H. Meyn, MEd, a patient advocate for the Department of Nanomedicine at Houston Methodist, was selected as one of eight members of the Susan G. Komen Advocates in Science Steering Committee and Komen Scholar.

This group guides the organization's education and advocacy work, public health efforts, and help direct Komen's $920 million research program.

19

NEW FACULTY

OF INTEREST

CENTER FOR OUTCOMES RESEARCH Bita A. Kash, PhD, MBA Bita Kash, PhD, MBA, joined Houston Methodist as director of the Center for Outcomes Research. Kash is also an associate professor at Texas A&M University and director of the National Science Foundation Center for Health Organization Transformation – an industry/university cooperative that conducts research supporting management, clinical and information technology innovations in health care. Kash's research goals are to improve patient outcomes in acute-care settings, throughout the cycle of care in the ambulatory environment, the community, and globally.

Terri Menser, PhD Terri Menser, PhD, joined the Center for Outcomes Research in October 2017. Previously, she was a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Family Medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. She earned her PhD in health services research at Texas A&M University and received her MBA at Florida State.

Farzan Sasangohar, PhD Farzan Sasangohar, PhD, joined the Center for Outcomes Research in June 2017. He is also an assistant professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering as well as the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at Texas A&M University. His research interests are centered around understanding and improving human decision-making and performance in multi-task, safety-critical work environments. He earned his PhD in mechanical and industrial engineering from the University of Toronto.

CENTER FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY RESEARCH Shu-Hsia Chen, PhD Shu-Hsia Chen, PhD, joined Houston Methodist as the founding director of the Center for Immunotherapy Research. Previously, She was a tenured professor of oncological sciences at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Her research focuses on harnessing the immune system to fight cancer by developing and identifying new therapies that can change the tumor microenvironment and render tumors responsive to treatment. She brings with her a team of ten.

Ping-Ying Pan, PhD Ping-Ying Pan, PhD, joined Houston Methodist as the associate director of the Center for Immunotherapy Research.

Previously, he was an associate professor of oncological sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. Pan earned his PhD in immunology from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Maen Abdelrahim, MD, PhD, BPharm Maen Abdelrahim, MD, PhD, BPharm joined Houston Methodist in September 2017 as the medical director for the Cockrell Centers for Advanced Therapeutics and as a GI medical oncologist. Previously, he was a fellow in the Department of Medical Oncology at Duke University School of Medicine. He earned his MD and PhD from Texas A&M University and his pharmacy degree from Isra University. He will be leading the Phase I clinical trials program, and pursuing research in targeted therapy and immunotherapy for GI oncology.

20

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Houston Methodist Research Institute Steven D. Arnold

Mauro Ferrari, PhD

David C. Baggett, Jr.

Antonio M. Gotto Jr., MD, DPhil

John F. Bookout, Jr.

Mark A. Houser

John F. Bookout, III

Catherine S. Jodeit

Marc L. Boom, MD

Evan H. Katz

Timothy Boone, MD, PhD

Rev. Kenneth R. Levingston

Giorgio Borlenghi

Kevin J. Lilly

Carrie L. Byington, MD

Vidal G. Martinez

Joseph R. "Rod" Canion

Gregory V. Nelson

Albert Chao

Andrew C. von Eschenbach, MD

Stephen I. Chazen

Joseph C. "Rusty" Walter, III

Augustine M.K. Choi, MD

Martha Walton

Ernest D. Cockrell, II

Elizabeth Wareing

John P. Cooke, MD, PhD

Judge Ewing Werlein, Jr.

NEW FACULTY

Dan O. Dinges

Nhat Tu Le, PhD Nhat Tu Le, PhD, joined as an associate member of the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at Houston Methodist.

Previously, she was an assistant professor in the Department of Cardiology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Le earned her PhD from Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea.

Yulin Li, MD, PhD Yulin Li, MD, PhD, joined the Houston Methodist Biomarker Research Program in September 2017. He was previously an instructor and postdoctoral researcher at the Stanford University School of Medicine. His research interests include early tumorigenesis, differentiation therapy, and rare diseases. He earned his PhD in genetics from Pennsylvania State University, and his MD from Beijing Medical University.

21

OF INTEREST

UPCOMING EVENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS January 12, 2018

March 3, 2018

Cytopathology and Small Biopsy Update in

Delivering Excellence In Critical Care Conference

Texas Medical Center

January 22, 2018

Clinical Ethics Case Consultation: Tips and Pitfalls

CME credit available

CME credit available

March 23, 2018 4th Annual David M. Underwood Center for

February 6, 2018

Digestive Disorders: Exploring Frontiers in

MAPTA Workshop Series: Entrepreneurship

the Management of Digestive and Liver Disorders

& Start Up

CME credit available

February 9, 2018

April 5, 2018

3 Annual Houston Heart Failure Summit

9th Annual Re-Evolution Summit - Minimally Invasive

rd

Cardiac Surgery (MICS): The Ultimate Hands-On Summit

CME credit available

February 10, 2018

CME credit available

Updates in Hospital Medicine

April 16, 2018

CME credit available

Intensive Bioethics Course

CME credit available

February 16, 2018

Nantz National Alzheimer Center 7th Annual Symposium

CME credit available

February 17, 2018 Below the Beltline 2018: An Insider's Guide to Neuro-Urology and Urological Emergencies

CME credit available

February 23, 2018 8th Annual Multimodality Cardiovascular Imaging for the Clinician

22

CME credit available

Go to houstonmethodist.org/hpeventslist for more information.

OF INTEREST

METHODOLOGY The Research and Education Newsletter of Houston Methodist

Editor-in-Chief Rebecca M. Hall, PhD Editors and Writers Maitreyi Muralidhar, MS Thomas Ellington Design & Creative Lead Doris T. Huang

Contributing Writers Patricia Akinfenwa, PhD Lisa Merkl Hannah Pietsch Gale Smith Public Relations Contact Gale Smith 832.667.5843 gsmith@houstonmethodist.org

Read more online: issuu.com/instituteforacademicmedicine Office of Communications and External Relations Institute for Academic Medicine Houston Methodist news@houstonmethodist.org IAMNEWS-009 | 12.2017 | 1500