Methodology Magazine - Spring/Summer 2021

METHODOLOGY

The Research and Education Magazine of Houston Methodist Spring/Summer 2021

The Future is Here MITIE advances medicine at the intersection of simulation, robotics and imaging SM

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MITIESM Hub of Innovation

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Nano Doses Delivered in Space

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Up for the Challenge: COVID-19

Bridge to TRI 15

Technology Transforms Facial Surgery

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Addressing Health Care Provider Stress 17

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Expanding Excellence at MITIESM

Studying Nature’s Impact via Images 18

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The Hospital of the Future is Here

Shedding Light on Surges & How They Shift 20

Opening an Outpatient Unit for Infectious Diseases Research 21

A First for Cyclotron cGMP Core

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

FEATURES

Ovarian Cancer & Alzheimer’s

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News Briefs 24

Endowed Positions 25

Recruitment 26

Grants 27

Accolades 28

Upcoming Events

Houston Methodist Academic Institute

FROM THE PRESIDENT While 2020 and 2021 brought the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges, it also has offered opportunities to appreciate the dedication, courage and resilience of our health care providers and staff. I’m grateful to our academic teams that tirelessly operated throughout the pandemic, continuing their work and leaning into supporting the system wide COVID-19 response with rapid outcomes studies and clinical trials.

In parallel, we are refocusing our vision on the operating room of the future. The Houston Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation & Education (MITIESM) continues to lead in outreach, pivoting its immense audiovisual (AV) and imaging capabilities to expand virtual

H. Dirk Sostman, MD, FACR Ernest Cockrell, Jr. Presidential Distinguished Chair, Houston Methodist Emeritus Professor of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine Distinguished Member, Houston Methodist Research Institute President, Houston Methodist Academic Institute Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, Houston Methodist

training to a global scale. DeBakey Education leader Alan B. Lumsden, MD, shares his vision for extending these training capabilities across all of Houston Methodist’s Centers of Excellence and service lines. His plan includes the new Houston Methodist Institute for Robotics, I­­maging and Navigation established by Stuart Corr, BEng, MEng, MA, PhD, which eventually will support the integration of robotics and artificial intelligence across the system.

The pandemic inspired a transformative gift to create the Infectious Diseases Research Unit, a new outpatient unit devoted to clinical trials for COVID-19. Recognizing the need for a comprehensive center to administer clinical trials for the myriad infectious diseases, Houston Methodist benefactors have provided funding to establish this unique unit as part of the Cockrell Center for Advanced Therapeutics.

We look forward to the medical revolution that is sure to follow this pandemic, as we continue to rise to the challenge of COVID-19 and reinforce our faith in the power of science and medicine.

H. Dirk Sostman, MD, FACR Edward A. Jones President and CEO, Houston Methodist Research Institute Chief Business Officer, Houston Methodist Academic Institute

Ernest Cockrell, Jr. Presidential Distinguished Chair, Houston Methodist Emeritus Professor of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine Distinguished Member, Houston Methodist Research Institute President, Houston Methodist Academic Institute Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, Houston Methodist

Board of Directors • Houston Methodist Academic Institute Edward R. Allen, III

Martha S. DeBusk

Gregory V. Nelson

David C. Baggett, Jr.

W. Leslie Doggett

Joe Bob Perkins

John F. Bookout, Jr.

Antonio M. Gotto, Jr., MD, DPhil

Mary Eliza Shaper

John F. Bookout, III (Chair)

Edward A. Jones

Suzanne H. Smith

Marc L. Boom, MD

Evan H. Katz

H. Dirk Sostman, MD

Joseph R. "Rod" Canion

Edwin H. Knight

Douglas E. Swanson, Jr.

Craig C. Brown and Suzanne H. Smith

David T. Chao

Kevin J. Lilly

David M. Underwood, Jr.

Centennial Chair in Medical Education

Stephen I. Chazen

Steven S. Looke

Amy Waer, MD

Augustine M.K. Choi, MD

Ransom C. Lummis

Joseph C. "Rusty" Walter, III

Ernest D. Cockrell, II

David A. Modesett

Martha S. Walton

Martin S. Craighead

W. Benjamin Moreland

Judge Ewing Werlein, Jr. (Sr. Chair)

Timothy B. Boone, MD, PhD

Director, Education Institute Professor of Urology Houston Methodist

Find videos and additional resources in our online edition: read.houstonmethodist.org/methodology.

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FEATURES

MITIE HUB OF

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INNOVATION

The Houston Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation & Education (MITIE ) SM

fosters collaboration among researchers, educators and clinicians from across Houston Methodist and with extramural innovators and industry partners.

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Widely known for its hands-on learning opportunities,

The Center for Rapid Device Translation connects industry with

MITIE has attracted a growing number of trainees, physicians,

subject matter experts in clinical and translational medicine to

researchers and clinical innovators from around the globe.

collaborate on preclinical device development and good laboratory

It hosted nearly 8,000 guest encounters in 2019 alone.

practice to meet regulatory standards and achieve FDA approval.

MITIE has become an incubator for innovative ideas and technological advances that offers an extensive array of

As a platform for connecting clinical innovators and industry

resources for training, research and device development.

partners alike, MITIE offers Houston Methodist’s Centers of Excellence an entry point to innovation when encountering a

Education Simulation at MITIE offers a procedural and

clinical challenge. It provides resources to develop a device

clinical simulation environment for education and research,

concept or prototype, and opportunities for industry collaboration

including a virtual hospital and procedural skills labs that

and novel procedural development. Relationship building

support evidence-based practice.

between industry partners and clinical experts increases access to licensing and commercialization and encourages rapid

The Houston Methodist Institute for Robotics, Imaging

development of technologies in the research pipeline.

and Navigation connects conceptualization to rapid prototyping related to robotics. It can identify needs for

Ultimately, these advances support new educational initiatives,

specific robotics projects and support clinicians and care

while continuing to seed collaborations with clinicians, researchers,

teams as they transform ideas into products and processes.

innovators and entrepreneurs that drive development of technologies to shape the hospital of the future.

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FEATURES

Expanding Excellence The Centers of Excellence and MITIE leverage resources for leading medicine into the future

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by LaVonne Carlson

2020 magnified the vision of collaboration for cross-disciplinary education, research and development across the system.

Yusuf Chauhan, MD, came into contact with MITIE during his first summer as a medical student at Texas A&M. He worked on a research project with Alan Lumsden, MD, mapping how radiation used during vascular surgery imagery spreads across a hybrid OR. The project was used to develop best practices for minimizing exposure and ensuring the highest safety standards during surgery. After completing med school, Chauhan was thrilled to match with Houston Methodist for his residency. “MITIE was critical to making Houston Methodist my top-ranked choice,” he said.

MITIE’s state-of-the-art simulation spaces, access to a worldclass imaging center and integrated audiovisual and virtual reality capabilities position it to create a comprehensive training system not matched elsewhere in the U.S. But of greater value than any technology or facility is MITIE’s access to the combined expertise of professionals from across Houston Methodist.

Building on its reputation as the gold standard for hands-on training, MITIE has begun further realizing its potential as an innovation incubator, offering a wide spectrum of training, clinical research and industry development resources. Under the leadership of Alan Lumsden, MD, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center tapped MITIE’s technological capabilities to build its world-renowned cardiovascular education program, DeBakey CV Education. Now, as Lumsden takes the

helm at MITIE, he’s leveraging what he’s learned to

professor of clinical neurosurgery in the Neurological

support all of Houston Methodist’s Centers of Excellence

Institute, is exploring orthorobotic navigation for both

as they build similarly successful training programs.

spinal neurosurgery and orthopedics using navigation robotics. Another project, proposed by Diego R. Martin,

Houston Methodist thought leaders have come together

MD, PhD, chair of the department of radiology, is an

to identify opportunities for training and certifying learners

artificial intelligence-based interface using voice description

at all levels, from the newest trainees to the most seasoned

to manipulate images and match them with conditions.

surgeons. They all agree on the importance of teaching multi-disciplinary skills that reach beyond specific

With so many exciting possibilities, Lumsden looks

specialties to train complete teams of doctors, nurses

forward to further unlocking MITIE’s potential and

and allied health professionals.

enhancing its educational and clinical innovations.

Expanding the scope so significantly will require

Leaders in critical care, for example, propose a simulated

robust philanthropic support to supply seed funding

training environment to build situational awareness when

for departments to develop their programming. Beyond

medical complications occur, preparing all team members

that, the larger goal is clear—to integrate resources

to coordinate a more efficient response.

and innovative thought for leading medicine and clinical education into the future.

Along similar lines, anesthesiology leaders envision simulated training for quality and patient safety when

Soon to begin year four of his residency, Chauhan

addressing sentinel events—a challenge experienced

appreciates that MITIE is unique for its many resources.

by hospitals across the U.S. In particular, such training could prepare teams for rapid response to anaphylaxis.

“Our program is so diversified that we can obtain

Other possibilities focus on central line and airway

training to pursue practically any type of clinical practice

management, for example, ensuring all team members

or research,” Chauhan said.

maximize use of a difficult airway cart.

Leaders in transplant are responding to requests by residents to add training elements that include mentor feedback after recorded trainings and a telepresence via augmented reality for remote teaching in real time.

“

Houston Methodist is a clinical powerhouse. Aligning our education and research efforts with our

Leaders in transplant suggest including these components

Centers of Excellence allows us

in a new training for general surgery skills, such as

to share these clinical strengths.

suturing and removing organs, taught earlier in the curriculum. Also key for transplant is interdisciplinary

We are building relationships with

simulation training for organ recovery in donation after

collaborators and experts that

circulatory death liver transplantation, which requires rapid and efficient team coordination in a high-stress

create a powerful synergy as we

situation.

continually expand.

Plans are underway to develop robotic capabilities,

– Alan B. Lumsden, MD Walter W. Fondren III Presidential Distinguished Chair, DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center Professor and Chair, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery Houston Methodist

with an emphasis on designing surgical robots to be multi-functional and less limited to a single surgical specialization. For example, Paul Holman, MD, assistant

”

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FEATURES

The Hospital of the Future is Here MITIE robotics initiative completes a continuum of translational resources SM

by LaVonne Carlson

The Center for Device Translation and the new Houston Methodist Institute for Robotics, Imaging and Navigation are perfectly paired to integrate robotics into research and development.

Robotics are not new to Houston Methodist. Surgeons at the

To lead the robotics core, Stuart J. Corr, PhD, joined Houston

Houston Methodist Neurological Institute and DeBakey Heart

Methodist as director of innovation systems engineering.

& Vascular Center have been using the four hybrid operating

Formerly at Baylor College of Medicine, Corr is well connected

rooms in the Paula and Joseph C. “Rusty” Walter III Tower

to Houston’s innovation and tech start-up community, as well

since it opened in 2019. And clinical areas across the system

as NASA’s robotics community. Shortly after his arrival in

use dozens of robots, representing investments in the millions

April 2020, Corr was awarded a National Institutes of Health

of dollars.

Small Business Technology Transfer grant to improve patient outcomes using intraoperative analytics. In September, he

Now leaders from the Centers of Excellence are collaborating

received a National Science Foundation Small Business

to expand use of robotics, artificial intelligence, imaging and

Innovation Research grant to use AI for optimizing organ

navigation beyond single specialties in the O.R. to maximize

transplantation outcomes.

their use for research and development. MITIE offers the perfect platform to fill the gap between new ideas for technological

The new institute will assist Houston Methodist clinicians

advances and the Center for Rapid Device Translation, which

who develop devices or procedures with the potential to be

helps devices and processes achieve regulatory approval and

“roboticized.” Eventually, a biodesign core for prototyping

get to market.

will add electronics and optics capabilities to Houston Methodist’s existing machine shop core.

The Houston Methodist Institute for Robotics, Imaging and

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Navigation will serve as a central source for coordinating

The next step in the translational continuum, The Center for

expertise, interactions and processes for the many robotics-

Rapid Device Translation brings the MITIE innovation hub full

related projects currently underway at Houston Methodist.

circle to connect new devices with potential industry partners

It will track all robots across the system, describe their purpose

as well as clinical expertise. The center will advance ideas

and the procedures for using them, and identify gaps where

for robotics and AI by providing a one-stop source for

robots can be built or repurposed to meet specific needs.

streamlined access to labs, surgeons and other experts

necessary for assessing usability and safety, including resources

“MITIE provides a platform for sharing ideas, developing

for comparative medicine. The center facilitates the entire

them into prototypes and getting them to market,” said

process for obtaining good laboratory practice required for

Alan B. Lumsden, MD, Walter W. Fondren III Presidential

preclinical testing, with the overall goal of conducting clinical

Distinguished Chair, DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center.

trials that ultimately allow these novel devices and treatments

“The robotics initiative and Center for Rapid Device

to reach the patient.

Translation are building a synergy that will fuel powerful innovation and technological advances.”

One project currently underway at the center is a wearable device developed by the UK-based company, Patchd. It incorporates artificial intelligence to track possible infection by monitoring a patient’s pulse, blood pressure, heart rate, respiration, temperature and blood oxygenation. The device sends an alert if sepsis is detected---crucial to combatting sepsis in its earliest stages. Its eight-hour advance warning allows high-risk patients to be discharged from the hospital, while assessment continues from the comfort of home. Houston Methodist physicians in the Departments of Anesthesiology & Critical Care, Surgery, and Medicine, as well as the Houston Methodist Cancer Center, will validate the device’s algorithms and consult on clinical trial design and execution. The center also ensures the project is reviewed by the Institutional Review Board before it begins clinical trials.

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FEATURES

Ovarian Cancer & Alzheimer’s Systems biology team discovers link between ovarian cancer protein and Alzheimer’s disease development

by Gale Smith

Stephen T.C. Wong, PhD

Alzheimer’s research has traditionally

The scientists reviewed bioinformatics data collected from brain

focused on a few major themes—the

tissue of deceased Alzheimer’s patients and conducted preclinical

role of the amyloid protein on neuronal

studies using a mouse model. By blending computational analyses

loss and how this toxic protein causes

with laboratory research, they determined that OCIAD1 plays a

injury by interacting with tau. New

role in Alzheimer’s progressive neurodegeneration by impairing

evidence, however, is leading

mitochondrial function. Mitochondria produce the energy that

researchers to consider amyloid beta

neurons and every other cell in the body depend on to function

a bystander and questions whether it

properly. Neuronal cells containing damaged mitochondria

causes neuronal degeneration at all.

malfunction and eventually die. Because neurons are organized

A research team at Houston Methodist’s Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Center for Bioinformatics Research and Imaging for

a ripple effect on the neighboring neural networks.

Neurosciences has discovered a new key player in Alzheimer’s

“We applied a system biology strategy to see if we could find a

disease progression called OCIAD1, or ovarian cancer immune-

different mechanism of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease.

reactive antigen domain containing 1, which is known for its

We identified OCIAD1 as a new neurodegeneration relevant

effect on ovarian cancer metastasis. The team found that OCIAD1

factor, predicted its function and demonstrated that it mediates

protein impairs human neurons and damages synapses in the brain,

the long-term impact of amyloid beta on cells and synaptic

contributing to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease.

damages by impairing mitochondria function,” said Xuping Li, MD,

“Our findings suggest another known protein may be coming into play here, which could help us identify a new therapeutic target one day,” said Stephen T.C. Wong, PhD, the study’s lead author

PhD, Assistant Research Professor of Neuroscience in Oncology in Wong’s group and co-corresponding author of the paper in the Lancet-published journal, EBiomedicine.

and John S. Dunn Presidential Distinguished Chair in Biomedical

Wong’s team is examining whether OCIAD1 plays a role in the

Engineering. “Many Alzheimer’s researchers have focused on

interplay between two known aggravators in Alzheimer’s—amyloid

amyloid beta alone, or connections between amyloid beta and

beta and tau aggregates. If so, their future research will focus on

another protein, tau. These findings suggest a different role of

OCIAD1’s potential as a biomarker or therapeutic target.

the protein amyloid beta in neurodegeneration.”

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into complex webs connected by synapses, neuronal death has

“

Our research addresses a fundamental question of Alzheimer’s disease— how, or if, amyloid beta accumulation that can be seen up to two decades prior to brain function decline is involved in progressive neurodegeneration.

Examining factors that contribute to the progressive decline in people with Alzheimer’s will help us develop diagnostic biomarkers and new therapeutics.

”

– Stephen

T. Wong, PhD John S. Dunn Presidential Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Engineering Professor of Computer Science and Bioengineering in Oncology Houston Methodist Cancer Center

In brain cells of mice with Alzheimer’s, amyloid plaques (A) appear near areas with: fewer neural network cells (B), dying neurons (C) and higher OCIAD1 (D). In cultured neuronal cells, the OCIAD1 proteins (E) appear in the mitochondria (F).

Li, X, Wang, L, Cykowski, MD, He, T, Liu, T, Chakranarayan, J, Rivera, A, Zhao, H, Powell, SZ-E, Xia, W & Wong, ST 2020, 'OCIAD1 contributes to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease by inducing mitochondria dysfunction, neuronal vulnerability and synaptic damages', EBioMedicine, vol. 51, 102569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.11.030 This study was supported in part by grants from the Ting Tsung & Wei Fong Chao Foundation, John S Dunn Research Foundation, Cure Alzheimer's Fund and the National Institutes of Health (R01AG057635 and R01AG028928).

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FEATURES

Nano Doses Delivered in Space Study explores potential biomedical applications at the International Space Station

by Gale Smith

Houston Methodist researchers are testing medical applications for carbon fiber materials developed by Automobili Lamborghini. Their unique properties—of radio transparency, radio compatibility and ultra lightweight—offer a new frontier for biomedical advancement.

The collaborative project between Houston

2019 launch to the ISS for this project marked the fourth of

Methodist, Automobili Lamborghini and the

10 ISS research experiments scheduled with Grattoni’s lab over

International Space Station U.S. National

the next several years. The Center for Space Nanomedicine

Laboratory (ISS National Lab) is designed

explores possibilities for nanotechnology-based therapeutics,

to evaluate the capacities of Lamborghini’s

biomedical devices for precision medicine, regenerative

carbon fiber materials for possible use in

medicine and tissue engineering.

prosthetic implants, as well as subcutaneous Alessandro Grattoni, PhD

devices. Additionally, the materials’ ability

For the past 12 years, Grattoni’s work has focused on implantable

to withstand temperature fluctuations and

nanochannel platforms aiming to control the delivery of therapies

radiation exposure (including ultraviolet and linear energy transfer),

for various chronic medical needs, including HIV-prevention,

as well as vacuum and atomic oxygen exposure, opens the door

muscle atrophy, obesity and cancer. Understanding the durability

to future possibilities.

of Lamborghini’s proprietary material in accelerated and extreme environmental conditions in space can move future research

Alessandro Grattoni, PhD, who heads the Center for Space

efforts for biomedical technologies beyond drug-delivery devices,

Nanomedicine at Houston Methodist, has been collaborating with

to include applications in dental and orthopedic implants as

the ISS on select research projects since 2015. The November

well as prostheses.

Photo of carbon fiber samples and MP4 video file available courtesy of the ISS National Lab.

Watch the video and learn more at read.houstonmethodist.org/nano-delivery-in-space

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“Compared to conventional materials, Lamborghini’s carbon fiber composites could prove to be more durable at a fraction of the weight. If this study shows mechanical strength and robustness, I could see the possibility of additional biomedical applications as well as those of the aerospace industry," Grattoni said.

The ISS National Lab works collaboratively with NASA to launch research investigations that have the capacity to benefit life on Earth through space-based inquiry. Future Houston Methodist experiments scheduled for launch to the ISS include an implantable nanochannel drug-delivery device that will be remotely controlled on Earth, as well as a platform for the controlled delivery of therapeutics for osteoporosis prevention and treatment.

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Environmental conditions at low-Earth orbit allow us to evaluate the properties and robustness of carbon fiber materials under extreme conditions. This is a unique environment to learn more about their characteristics, in the hope of one day developing technologies and devices that could be used on Earth and in space.

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– Alessandro Grattoni, PhD Frank J. and Jean Raymond Centennial Chair Chair and Professor, Department of Nanomedicine Houston Methodist

Implantable Medical Devices

Re

Houston Methodist

developed new carbon fiber materials to withstand extreme conditions

Researchers explored properties and uses of new materials

International Space Station researchers test the material’s durability

Process for Testing Properties and Potential

tcomes h Ou arc se

Lamborghini

Prosthetics

Orthopedic Implants

Uses of Carbon Fiber

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FEATURES

Bridge to TRI New Funding Fills the Gap for Promising Technologies

The Bridge to Translational Research Initiative was launched in August 2020 to provide gap funding to help promising new ideas afford early validation—and eventual consideration for full TRI funding.

QualiaHat shows improved motor function after stroke QualiaHat, the wearable brain stimulation device designed to safely improve motor function after stroke, is gaining attention.

B2TRI meets an identified need to help promising new projects achieve proof of

The TRI-funded device attracted interest

concept validation or additional data generation. By providing necessary funding

when study results were shared at the

for one year, B2TRI assists in positioning new projects to qualify for consideration

American Stroke Association's International

for TRI funding. The $26 million fund was established to promote product development

Conference held in Feb. 2020. David Chiu,

for clinical translation from "bench to bedside." Examples of opportunities for funding

MD, Elizabeth Blanton Wareing Chair in the

that can help bridge the gap include the monoclonal antibody (mAb) humanization

Eddy Scurlock Stroke Center and professor

project, library screening projects, and small animal studies.

of clinical neurology in the Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology, reported early results of an initial, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial of 30 chronic

Funding given to the inventor with budget tied directly to milestone(s)

Discuss project with Office of Technology Transfer

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ischemic stroke survivors. Physiologic brain activity measured before, immediately after, and one month after treatment showed that active treatment produced significantly greater increases in brain activity: nearly 9 times higher than the sham treatment.

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3 Reviewed by Office of Technology Transfer and Academic Institute

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Inventor uses early validation when requesting full funding from TRI Board

Technology Transforms Facial Surgery Novel medical technology for craniomaxillofacial surgery receives FDA clearance for market

by Laura Niles

James Xia, MD, PhD

Jaime Gateno, MD, DDS

In March 2020

Developed by James Xia, MD, PhD, professor of oral and

Houston Methodist

maxillofacial surgery, and Jaime Gateno, MD, DDS, chair of the

reached a major

Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and professor of oral

milestone, receiving

and maxillofacial surgery, AnatomicAligner uses modern computer

U.S. Food and

graphics and modeling technologies to simulate an entire operation

Drug Administration

in a computer. The goal is to enable surgeons to more quickly

(FDA) 510(k)

and accurately develop a surgical plan and fabricate surgical

clearance to

templates that can be used at the time of CMF surgery.

market the AnatomicAligner, a novel, comprehensive software program used to improve planning for craniomaxillofacial (CMF) surgeries.

The FDA has cleared AnatomicAligner to be used for pre-operative simulation of jaw surgery treatment options, based on imaging information from multiple medical imaging modalities, such as

With its first propriety technology FDA-cleared, Houston Methodist

computed tomography, cone-beam computed tomography or

now joins an elite group of academic medical centers with an

3D surface scanner, in patients who have reached skeletal

approved medical technology ready for market access.

and dental maturity.

The AnatomicAligner System for Surgical Planning was funded in part by Houston Methodist’s Translational Research Initiative (TRI), a dedicated $30 million product development fund that helps multiple promising medical technologies navigate the translational medicine pipeline.

In addition to TRI funding, Xia and Gateno also received nearly $10 million in funding from the National Institute of Craniofacial and Dental Research to develop the methodology and the AnatomicAligner software system.

AnatomicAligner uses modern computer graphics and modeling technologies to simulate an entire operation in a computer.

Before surgery, Lindsay’s bone structure was not symmetrical.

AnatomicAligner software calculated which adjustments were needed to achieve symmetry.

After two extensive surgeries, Lindsay wore braces for several weeks. With newfound confidence, she began her career at a large corporation.

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FEATURES

Up for the Challenge Houston Methodist conducts outcomes research while continuing to combat COVID-19

Addressing Health Care Provider Stress

Faisal N. Masud, MD

Farzan Sasangohar, PhD

Well before the arrival of

and Department of Surgery, and Faisal N. Masud, MD, FCCP,

COVID-19, the Houston

FCCM, Mary A. and M. Samuel Daffin, Sr. Centennial Chair in

Methodist Center for

Anesthesia and Critical Care, medical director of critical care,

Outcomes Research

Houston Methodist Hospital, and professor of clinical anesthesiology,

had long-standing

Departments of Anesthesiology & Critical Care and Cardiovascular

partnerships with ICU

Sciences, DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center.

teams across Houston Methodist and other

"During the second surge, ICU workers showed reduced stress

Texas Medical Center hospitals to study the effect of stress on

levels because they no longer had to contend with significant

health care providers working in the ICU. During the initial peak

shortages in PPE and testing capabilities,” Sasangohar noted.

of COVID-19 infections, Houston Methodist researchers were

“However, health care providers were also faced with the prospect

well positioned to offer analysis and recommendations for dealing

of spending a long, undetermined amount of time in an

with ICU staff burnout. They shared their findings with a global

environment that has an increased risk of exposure to the virus,

audience in the April 2020 edition of Anesthesia & Analgesia

which contributes to a less intense but more chronic form of stress.

in an article entitled, "Provider Burnout and Fatigue during the

As the numbers of COVID-19 cases increased, providers felt

COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned from a High-Volume

increasingly less safe, including while out among the community.

Intensive Care Unit.”

The arrival of the vaccines against COVID-19 was certainly a perfect capstone for the year 2020.”

The published study, which remained in Altmetric’s top 99th percentile of publications for months, was led by an interdisciplinary

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team of ICU leaders in collaboration with research scientists at

Sasangohar F, Jones SL, Masud FN, Vahidy FS & Kash BA. Provider Burnout and Fatigue

Houston Methodist, including: Farzan Sasangohar, PhD, Assistant

During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned from a High-Volume Intensive Care Unit.

Professor of Outcomes Research, Center for Outcomes Research

Anesthesia and Analgesia, 2020. DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000004866

SARS-CoV-2 3D model spike and envelope proteins were created from PDB structural data (6VXX, 5X29), and the membrane proteins were created from a model predicted by DeepMind.

Graphic illustrated by Rachael Whitehead. © Houston Methodist 2021.

Studying Nature’s Impact via Images

Principal investigator Terri Menser, PhD, MBA, Assistant Professor of Transplant in Outcomes Research at the Center for Outcomes Research, recruited 60 participants from medical and public health backgrounds who were asked to rate the degree to which certain images represented three

Burnout in health care workers

concepts: pain/empathy, urban scenes, and nature. Results from the study,

was an issue before COVID-19

entitled “Validation of fMRI Images,” will be used as validated images in a

arrived. It was estimated to affect

future study that seeks to better understand the effect nature may have on

more than half of practicing

burned out individuals.

physicians nationwide, and little was known about practical Terri Menser, PhD, MBA

interventions to prevent and reduce physician stress. The

Center for Health & Nature and the Physician & Provider Engagement Resilience Task Force provided funding for a study to validate and select images as a first step toward understanding the effect nature may have on burned out individuals working in health care.

View the images at symposium.centerforhealthandnature.org/ fmri-images-research-study.

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FEATURES

Shedding Light on Surges & How They Shift Houston Methodist leads the way in looking at health care disparities during COVID-19

by LaVonne Carlson The unexpected and urgent nature of the

“From a health systems standpoint it is important to pre-emptively

SARS-CoV-2 pandemic challenged Houston

identify changing demographics between various phases of the

Methodist to quickly obtain real time data about

pandemic,” Vahidy said. “The data provided through CURATOR

patients’ diagnoses, treatments, suitability for

indicate a demographic shift in the pandemic towards a Hispanic

enrollment in clinical trials and outcomes, and

and younger population.”

socio-demographics. The Center for Outcomes Farhaan S. Vahidy, PhD

Research met this challenge using a newly

Based on information about the second surge of COVID-19,

instituted bioinformatics repository: COVID-19

Houston Methodist took immediate action. Community outreach

Surveillance and Outcomes Registry, or CURATOR.

increased Spanish-language education across zip codes with higher rates of illness. They also enhanced translation services

Farhaan S. Vahidy, PhD, associate director of the Center for

to raise awareness about COVID-19 and its prevention. The

Outcomes Research, who also holds the Coneway Family Centennial

hospital’s critical care team adapted treatment plans to care

Endowed Directorship in Quality and Outcomes, led a team in

for the younger patient population with lower co-morbidity.

developing CURATOR and has since co-authored a series of studies providing evidence-based comparisons between Houston’s

Despite showing higher susceptibility to the virus, the data

first COVID-19 surge, March 13-May 15, and the resurgence,

demonstrated that race and ethnic disparities are not linked

May 15-July 7, 2020. Access to data during these surges has proved

to increased mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

invaluable for planning treatments and preventing spread of the virus.

These data were reported in a study published in medRxiv on August 22.

In an August 13 research letter in JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, Houston Methodist leaders and

“We believe that the mechanisms for higher susceptibility to

researchers at the Center for Outcomes Research shared early

contracting the virus lie in social determinants of health, such

findings about the demographic shifts seen in surge 2. They had

as residence in densely populated areas and higher rates of

reported that minorities (Black and Hispanic) had a higher

poverty, rather than biological susceptibility to infection,”

susceptibility to contracting SARS-CoV-2.

Vahidy said.

To read more about CURATOR, visit read.houstonmethodist.org/curator-learninghealth-care-system.

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“

It is critical to elucidate causes of higher mortality rates among

ANNUAL FACTS HOUSTON METHODIST

minorities, reported at the population level. The evidence points towards higher incidence

8 Hospitals

as a contributor to high mortality

2541 Operating beds

rather than overt disparities in

1.38 M Patient encounters

specialized care. This differentiation is important in order to develop

590,000 Sq.ft. research space

and test targeted strategies and

$158.5M Research expenditures

effectively allocate resources

$64.1M Extramural funding

to close the disparity gap.

”

– Farhaan S. Vahidy, PhD, MBBS, MPH, FAHA Coneway Family Centennial Endowed Directorship in Quality & Outcomes Associate Director, Center for Outcomes Research Associate Professor of Outcomes Research Houston Methodist

1,470 Clinical protocols 59 GME programs 41,344 Total learners 26,098 Employees 8,268

Dave B, Gonzalez DD, Liu ZB, Li X, Wong H, Granados S, et. al. Role of RPL39 Vahidy FS, Drews AL, Masud FN, Schwartz RL, Askary BB, Boom ML, Phillips RA. Characteristics and Outcomes of COVID-19 Patients During Initial Peak and Resurgence in the Houston Metropolitan Area. JAMA. Published online August 13, 2020. DOI:10.1001./jama.2020.15301 Vahidy FS, Nicolas JC, Meeks JR, Khan O, Pan A, Jones SL, Masud F, Sostman HD, Phillips R, Andrieni JD, Kash BA, Nasir K. Racial and ethnic disparities in SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: analysis of a COVID-19 observational registry for a diverse US metropolitan population. BMJ Open Aug 2020, 10 (8) e039849; DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039849 Pan A, Khan O, Meeks J, Boom ML, Masud FN, Andrieni J, Phillips RA, Tiruneh Y, Kash B, Vahidy FS. Disparities in COVID-19 Hospitalizations and Mortality among Black and Hispanic Patients: Cross-Sectional Analysis from the Greater Houston Metropolitan Area. medRxiv 2020.08.19.

DOI: 10.1101/2020.08.19.20177956

in Metaplastic Breast Cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2016 Physicians Dec 31;109(6)

920 Trainees-in-residence 2,047 Credentialed researchers 775 Faculty – Jenny Chang, M.D. Emily Herrmann Chair in Cancer Research & Director, Houston Methodist Cancer Center As of January 2021

5

19

FEATURES

Opening an Outpatient Unit for Infectious Diseases Research

COVID-19 As the COVID-19 pandemic continued to surge, Houston Methodist identified the urgent need to develop an outpatient clinical trials infrastructure and network for infectious diseases research.

The solution was to establish The Infectious Diseases Initiative, as part of the Cockrell Center for Advanced Therapeutics. It will administer clinical trials for infectious diseases, which require specialized facilities, equipment, training and protocols—beginning with COVID-19 patients.

The Infectious Diseases Initiative was made possible by charitable gifts from more than 150 contributors, including those who generously created two foundational Challenge Funds: Ann and John Bookout III, the Jerold B. Katz Foundation, Diane and David Modesett, Freeport LNG, and the Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation.

Several infectious disease trials are already underway, including new protocols for monoclonal antibody treatment of COVID-19. The Regeneron monoclonal antibody study is determining whether an experimental cocktail of two antibodies can prevent progression of asymptomatic to symptomatic COVID-19. The Lilly BLAZE-1 study focuses on preventing the progression of COVID-19 in participants with early symptoms.

Studies that require an outpatient infusion and overnight stay benefit greatly from the unit’s unique set up. Other outpatient trials that require intensive in-person follow-up include one for Favipiravir, and another one sponsored by philanthropist Steve Kirsch, in collaboration with colleagues at Yale University, involving the drug Camostat, which may block the coronavirus from entering cells.

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A First for Cyclotron cGMP Core The first clinical dose of Ga68 NETSPOT was delivered to a cancer patient The Houston Methodist Cyclotron cGMP Core successfully delivered its first clinical dose of Ga68 NETSPOT (Ga68 Dotatate) to image a somatostatin receptor-positive neuroendocrine tumor patient on July 30.

Meixiang (Max) Yu, PhD

Ga68 NETSPOT is a radioactive diagnostic agent indicated for use with PET for visualization of somatostatin receptor-positive neuroendocrine tumors in adult and pediatric patients. Somatostatin receptor-positive neuroendocrine tumors have receptors for binding somatostatin. As Ga68 Dotatate binds to somatostatin receptors, the signal intensity in PET images indicates the presence and density of somatostatin receptors in the tumor.

By administering the medication in a cyclotron, the team was able to create tracers for positron emission tomography (PET) scans showing exact measurement when the drug was being administered. This process allows minute amounts of a drug to be delivered, with clinical grade tracers that have half-lives ranging from 2 minutes to 12 hours.

The Houston Methodist Academic Institute and the Walter Innovation Fund supported the delivery, which was overseen by Meixiang (Max) Yu, PhD, director of the Houston Methodist Cyclotron cGMP Core and Associate Research Professor of Translational Imaging.

The Cyclotron and Radiopharmaceutical Core is a cGMP-compliant facility that produces clinical-grade

Used to create radioactively tagged isotopes for imaging and research, the cyclotron at the Houston Methodist Academic Institute is connected through an underground system of shielded conduits to specific labs in the building — allowing rapid, efficient transmission of these short-lived particles to where they are needed.

and rare custom radiopharmaceuticals for research and medical applications, which are not commercially available.

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NEWS BRIEFS 1

Building a Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences Campus at Houston Methodist The Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences (WCGS) has expanded its PhD program to an additional campus at Houston Methodist Academic Institute. This enhancement builds upon the 16-year academic affiliation between Weill Cornell Medicine and Houston Methodist to train the next generation of physicians and scientists. WCGS faculty at the New York campus will provide the didactic curriculum via remote learning with mentoring by WCGS faculty at the Houston campus. The thesis research will be performed at the Houston Methodist Academic Institute, under the direction of WCGS faculty located at both the Houston and NYC campuses.

1

Graduate students and WCGS faculty based in Houston will visit New York City for program retreats and graduate school events.

2

Students Get Hands-On Experience A total of 150 Texas A&M medical students are studying across Houston Methodist campuses in 2021-22, including 49 new EnMed students. In addition, a virtual version of the annual Houston Methodist Association for Postdoctoral and Trainee Affairs (MAPTA) Summer Science Symposium, took place showcasing work from summer interns, research trainees, postdoctoral fellows, and clinical residents.

The symposium featured all fields of translational, basic science and clinical research. Anirban Maitra, MBBS, Professor of Pathology and Translational Molecular Pathology at The University of Texas MD Anderson

2

Cancer Center and David P. Huston, MD, Director, Immunology Center at Houston Methodist were the keynote speakers. The summer undergraduate research internship (SURI) program also returned to an in-person experience, hosting 64 interns in 41 HMRI labs.

3

Center for Translational Neural Prosthetics and Interfaces Rice University and Houston Methodist have partnered to launch the Center for Translational Neural Prosthetics and Interfaces. This collaboration, lead by center co-directors Gavin W. Britz, MD, MPH, MBA, FAANS, of Houston Methodist and Behnaam Aazhang, PhD, of Rice University, brings together scientists, clinicians, engineers and surgeons to solve clinical problems with neurorobotics.

2

Houston Methodist neurosurgeons, seven engineers from the Rice Neuroengineering Initiative and additional physicians and faculty from both institutions form the center's core team. The center will focus on areas including spinal cord injury, memory and epilepsy studies, and cortical motor and sensation conditions. The center includes space at Rice Neuroengineering Initiative laboratories and experimental spaces in the university's BioScience Research Collaborative, as well as an extensive build-out underway at Houston Methodist’s West Pavilion that’s expected to be completed.

The Houston Methodist facility will include operating rooms and a human laboratory where ongoing patient/volunteer diagnosis and assessment, device fabrication and testing, and education and training opportunities are planned.

22

3

Gavin W. Britz, MD

Behnaam Aazhang, PhD

4

Best Hospitals Honor Roll 2020-2021 Houston Methodist Hospital has been named to U.S. News & World Report’s prestigious Honor Roll for the fourth time, the second consecutive year and the third time in five years. The hospital also was named the No.1 hospital in Texas for the ninth year in a row.

Houston Methodist also increased the number of ranked specialties from nine (in 2019) to 11. This marks the 28th year in which Houston Methodist had at least one ranked specialty and the 14th year in a row with more ranked specialties than any other hospital in Texas.

4

5

There’s an App for Your Health Care Roberta Schwartz, PhD, chief innovation officer of Houston Methodist Hospital, led an observational study of patients and concluded that the use of mobile health technology (mHealth) has shown significant improvement in clinical outcomes among patients.

The investigators found that among patients who used mHealth technology had average shorter hospital stays and lower postsurgical readmission rates. Breast cancer patients often gain weight during treatment, and that is a concern because obesity is factor in the recurrence of the cancer. The Methodist Hospital Cancer Health Application, or the MOCHA app, developed by Stephen T. C. Wong, PhD, and his informatics development team to help cancer patients make healthy lifestyle choices. In a pilot study, patients who used the app showed that 56 percent of enrolled patients lost an

5

average of 3.5 pounds and that frequency of app use was positively linked with weight loss.

6

Making it a Match for 2021-22 Due to precautions put into place by COVID-19, all interviews for the roughly 60 residency positions in the Main Match were held virtually in 2020, as recommended by the Coalition for Physician Accountability. The timeline established by the Electronic Residency Application Service was pushed to Oct. 21, 2020, when residency programs could begin reviewing applications.

Programs prepared for an expected busy interview season, as applications were increased as a result of the virtual interview process.

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7

2020 Annual Report is Available Online The Annual Report made its digital debut in 2019, and it as well as the 2020 Annual Report are now available online. The online report capitalizes on interactive capabilities to showcase the people and programs that have developed next-generation technologies and educational programs across the continuum of care. Visit read. houstonmethodist.org/2020-annual-report to experience the format and read the report. You can also view the 2019 Annual report at read.houstonmethodist.org/2019-annual-report.

7 23

ACCOLADES & LEADERSHIP

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Endowed Positions Honor Centennial Year In recognition of Houston Methodist’s 100-year anniversary in 2019, Paula and Joseph C. "Rusty" Walter and the Walter Oil & Gas Corporation made a philanthropic gift to attract and retain the most talented physicians and scientists to help pioneer lifesaving new treatments. Eleven new appointees are listed here.

Beverly B. and Daniel C. Arnold Distinguished Centennial Chair, Department of Cardiology Dipan J. Shah, MD, FACC Professor of Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston Methodist

Beverly B. and Daniel C. Arnold Distinguished Chair, Department of Cardiology Mouaz H. Al-Mallah, MD Professor of Cardiology, DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston Methodist

Carole Walter Looke Centennial Chair in Anesthesia and Critical Care, Department of Anesthesiology & Critical Care Randolph H. Steadman, MD, MS Chair, Department of Anesthesiology & Critical Care and Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology, Houston Methodist

C. Richard Stasney, MD Distinguished Chair in Performing Arts Medicine Robert E. Jackson, MD, MACP Professor of Clinical Medicine, Department of Medicine, Houston Methodist

Coneway Family Centennial Endowed Directorship in Quality and Outcomes Farhaan S. Vahidy, PhD, MBBS, MPH, FAHA Associate Professor of Outcomes Research, Center for Outcomes Research, Houston Methodist

Elkins Family Distinguished Centennial Clinical Academic Scholar in Neurology John J. Volpi, MD Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology, Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Houston Methodist

Ernest Cockrell, Jr. Presidential Distinguished Chair H. Dirk Sostman, MD, FACR President, Academic Institute, Chief Academic Officer, Houston Methodist Emeritus Professor of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College

John F., Jr. and Carolyn Bookout Presidential Distinguished Chair in Surgery A. Osama Gaber, MD, FACS, FAST Chair and Professor, Department of Surgery Program Director, Transplant Surgery Fellowship, Department of Surgery J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center, Sherrie and Alan Conover Center for Liver Disease & Transplantation, Immunobiology & Transplant Science Center, Houston Methodist

Lois E. and Carl A. Davis Centennial Chair in Cancer Research Charles E. Geyer, MD, FACP Professor of Medicine in Oncology and Deputy Director, Cancer Center, Houston Methodist

Mary A. and M. Samuel Daffin, Sr. Centennial Chair in Anesthesia and Critical Care Faisal N. Masud, MD, FCCP, FCCM Medical Director, Critical Care, Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology & Critical Care and Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston Methodist

W. Bryan Trammell Jr. Family Presidential Distinguished Chair in Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine David P. Huston, MD Director, Immunology Center, Houston Methodist

24

RECRUITMENT

Chih-Chi Andrew Hu, PhD Center for Translational Research in Hematological Malignancies, Professor of Oncology Previously, professor in the Immunology, Microenvironment & Metastasis Program, Wistar Institute Cancer Center, Philadelphia; professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.

Zhonglin Liu, MD Department of Radiology, PET Imaging Core Previously, Research Professor of Medical Imaging, Clinical and Translational Oncology Program, Cancer Center, University of Arizona.

Diego R. Martin, MD, PhD, FRCPC Chair and Professor of the Department of Radiology Previously, chair of the Department of Diagnostic Radiology, McGill University, Montreal; Chair of the Medical Imaging Department at the University of Arizona. Current chair and director of Education for Body MRI at the American College of Radiology Learning Center and the Continuous Professional Improvement Program.

Joan Nichols, PhD Director, Center for Tissue Engineering; affiliate, Department of Surgery Previously, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; affiliate appointment at Houston Methodist Research Institute since 2015.

Chih-Hang Anthony Tang, MD, PhD Assistant Professor of Oncology, Center for Translational Research in Hematological Malignancies at Houston Methodist Cancer Center Previously, Staff Scientist in the Immunology, Microenvironment & Metastasis Program at the Wistar Institute.

Jing Yang, PhD Center for Translational Research in Hematological Malignancies, Associate Professor of Oncology Previously, associate professor, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Ming You, MD, PhD Director, Center for Cancer Prevention, Cancer Center Previously, Joseph F. Heil Jr. Professor in Molecular Oncogenesis in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Associate Provost for Cancer research, Founding Director of the Disease Prevention research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin.

25

GRANTS

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS John P. Cooke, MD, PhD, Joseph C. “Rusty” Walter and Carole Walter Looke Presidential Distinguished Chair in Cardiovascular Disease Research, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Chair, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Professor of Cardiovascular Sciences, Director, Center for Cardiovascular Regeneration, Medical Director, Center for RNA Therapeutics, was awarded $710,878 from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute for the first fiscal year of a new R01 entitled, “Reversal of Heart Failure: Role of Vascular Recovery.

Philip Horner, PhD, Professor of Neuroregeneration, Scientific Director, Center for Neuroregeneration, was awarded $444,125 from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke for the first fiscal year of his new grant entitled, “A Versatile Reporter for Visualization of Myelin Plasticity in the Genetically Modified Rat.”

Chih-Chi Andrew Hu, Professor of Oncology, was awarded $360,852 from the National Cancer Institute for the first fiscal year of his new R21 entitled, “African Trypanosome Parasites: a New Tool to Unveil Potential Immunological Strategies to Target CLL.”

Rose Khavari, MD, Associate Professor of Urology, Program Director, Urology Residency, was awarded $121,066 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases for the first fiscal year of her R03 entitled,” High-resolution Mapping of the Human Brainstem During Continence and Micturition: Noninvasive in vivo 7 Tesla fMRI Study.”

Muthiah Kumaraswami, PhD, Associate Professor of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, was awarded $563,732 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for the first fiscal year of a new R01 entitled, “Molecular Mechanism of Virulence Regulation in Streptococcus Pyogenes.”

James Musser, MD, PhD, Fondren Presidential Distinguished Chair, Research Institute, Chair, Department of Pathology & Genomic Medicine, Director, Center for Molecular & Translational Human Infectious was awarded $439,989 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for the first year of a new R56 entitled, “Novel Determinants of Streptococcus Pyrogenes Virulence and Protective Immunity in the Primate Oropharynx: A Genome-Wide Strategy.”

Chih-Hang Anthony Tang, PhD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, was awarded 194,184 from the National Cancer Institute for the first fiscal year of a new K22 entitled, “The Immunosuppressive Function of Secretory IgM in Tumor-bearing Mice.”

26

GRANTS

Jin Wang, PhD, Professor of Transplant Immunology in Surgery, was awarded $483,369 from the National Institute of Mental Health for the first fiscal year of a new R01 entitled, “ Targeting the HIV-1 Reservoir in Myeloid Cells.”

Stephen T. Wong, PhD, John S. Dunn, Sr. Presidential Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Engineering, Professor of Computer Science and Bioengineering in Oncology, Associate Director, Cores, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, was awarded $806,177 from the National Institute on Aging for the first fiscal year of a new R01 entitled, “Systematic modeling and prediction of cell-type-specific

ACCOLADES - CORNERSTONE AWARDS

and spatiotemporal crosstalk pathways in Alzheimer's Disease.”

Cornerstone Award Career Cornerstone Awards acknowledge junior faculty members who have successfully secured their first National Institute of Health R01 grant. The R01 is the original grant mechanism used by the NIH to support health-related research and development.

Arshad Khan, PhD, Assistant Research Professor of Pathtology & Genomic Medicine, for his study of “Novel Stem Cell Immunotherapy for MDR-tuberculosis.” The researchers will Investigate the molecular mechanisms through which, BCG vaccine and MTB infected or conditioned human mesenchymal stem cells to epigenetically program naive human macrophages and investigate the in vivo therapeutic and prophylactic effects of conditioned MSCs during experimental tuberculosis. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, R01 $4.8 million.

Zhihui (Bill) Wang, PhD, Associate Research Professor of Mathematics in Medicine, for his new NIH R01, “Nanoparticle Delivery of miRNA-based Therapeutics to Overcome Clinical Challenges in Triple Negative Breast Cancer.” The research team will employ an integrated computational and experimental approach to better understand the mechanisms involved in a new, potential triple negative breast cancer nanotherapy. National Cancer Institute, R01 $2.4 million.

Kyuson Yun, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, for her new NIH R01, “S100A4-mediated Immune Suppression in GBM.” The researchers will test their hypothesis that S100A4 is a critical regulator of the glioblastoma (GBM) immune landscape. S100A4 is a small calcium-binding protein that Yun and her team have recently shown to be necessary for glioma stem cell self-renewal. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, R01 $2.7 million.

Zhiqiang Zhang, PhD, Assistant Professor of Transplant Immunology in Surgery, for his “Studies of a New Checkpoint Regulator in the Control on Intestinal Inflammation.” The researcher will dissect molecular pathways that control TRIM29 expression in epithelial cells under normal and inflammatory conditions; define the mechanism by which TRIM29 inhibits IL-1 inflammation; and investigate in vivo functions of TRIM29 in regulating IECs function in colitis and anti-fungal immunity. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, R01 $2 million.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS Activities are tentative, subject to cancellation or change in date, location and format.

Visit attend.houstonmethodist.org for updates.

September 17, 2021 Sepsis Symposium 2021: Sepsis Survivorship*

November 6, 2021 Annual Adult Congenital Heart Symposium

September 21, 2021

December 11-13, 2021

Natural Foci of Neurodegenerative Diseases in the Western Pacific

11th Annual Multimodality Cardiovascular Imaging for the Clinician*

October 18, 2021 George and Angelina Kostas Research Center For Cardiovascular Nanomedicine: Annual International Meeting

METHODOLOGY The Research and Education Magazine of Houston Methodist

Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Walker Managing Editors Donna Ostermayer Erin Graham Design & Creative Lead Doris T. Huang Photographers Khalil Abusharekh Fernando Castaldi Scott Jones Zachary Moore Contributing Writers LaVonne Carlson Laura Niles Donna Ostermayer Gale Smith

Public Relations Contact Gale Smith 832.667.5843 gsmith@houstonmethodist.org Find more online: read.houstonmethodist.org/methodology Office of Communications and External Relations Houston Methodist Academic Institute Houston Methodist news@houstonmethodist.org HMAINEWS-016 | 08.2021 | 1000

* These activities have been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM. Houston Methodist is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.