CAREER
[EXIT, PURSIED BY SCIENCE] IN THIS ISSUE
Professional development office taps its Career Alumni Network to support those in search of non-academic employment. » PAGE 4
Beloved ‘science guy’ opposes genetically modified crops, but Harvard and Yale scientists may have containment solution. » PAGE 7
Yes, you CAN
Nye says ‘nay’
Calendar » PAGE 2 Puzzles » PAGE 8 Mama M » BACK PAGE Comics » BACK PAGE
Synapse Newspaper The UCSF Student
synapse.ucsf.edu | Thursday, February 5, 2015 | Volume 59, Number 8
Moving day arrives for new medical center
Hanna Starobinets/Synapse
Mission Ready: A fleet of ambulances moves 131 patients from the Parnassus campus to the newly opened UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay on Sunday, Feb. 1. According to a statement from UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood and medical center CEO Mark Laret, hundreds of physicians, nurses and staff were involved in the move from around 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. “A village of determined people came together to create something extraordinary,” said the statement. The new medical center, constructed both to meet growing needs and address seismic structural concerns at existing facilities, includes the Benioff Children’s Hospital, Betty Irene Moore Women’s Hospital, Bakar Cancer Hospital and Ron Conway Family Gateway Medical Building. Its first baby was born at 12:11 p.m. on Sunday.
Atul Butte to head new UCSF institute Lauren Shields Staff Writer
UCSF recently appointed Atul Butte director of the new Institute of Computational Health Sciences. Butte will move from his current position as chief of the Division of Butte Systems Medicine at Stanford University. His formal training in computer science as an undergraduate at Brown University—combined with an M.D., Ph.D.— make Butte a unique candidate for the job. His credentials are further bolstered by roles as an investigator at Stanford, a former software engineer at Apple and Microsoft, and a founder of multiple biotech startups. The Institute of Computational Health Sciences began just four years ago. “The institute got started out of a initiative to try to expand bioinformatics and clinical informatics at UCSF,” said Katherine Pollard, a UCSF professor in biostatistics who became involved early on in the efforts to establish the nascent institute. The institute’s recruitment subcommittee, chaired by Pollard, has already begun to partner with other departments to bring new computational faculty to UCSF. Eight new investigators have been recruited thus
BUTTE » PAGE 10
Housing advisory committee proposes short-term changes By Bryne Ulmschneider and Taylor LaFlam Staff Writers
Editor’s note: This is the second part in a series of articles the Synapse is writing covering the housing challenges faced by UCSF students. The last issue of Synapse explored the history of campus housing at UCSF and the new housing projected in the recent UCSF Long Range Development Plan.
San Francisco is an expensive city, and the UCSF students and administration know it. Soon the senior leadership will decide what actions to take to respond to concerns over how affordable it is to live in San Francisco while being supported by a meager graduate student stipend or student loan package. The UCSF administration seeks to address these concerns by tasking the housing advisory committee with finding immediately implementable housing solutions. In the next two weeks, senior
leadership will hear the housing advisory committee’s recommendations and decide which, if any, to implement. “People are actively considering not coming to San Francisco because of housing,” said Leslie Santos, a committee member and the director of campus housing. To increase access to below-market-rate housing necessary for recruiting top students, faculty and postdocs to UCSF, the housing advisory committee was tasked with the challenge of making more housing available to incoming students without actually having any additional inventory until 2019 at the earliest. “None of the options were attractive,” said committee member Jason Cyster, a UCSF professor and former director of the BMS graduate program. The need for more UCSF housing was recognized by all, he said, but the committee’s purpose was to “give specific recommendations to the chancellor on how to use the housing that we actually have.”
Added Santos: “The priority was to help new people to San Francisco get settled.” The housing advisory committee included faculty from across all departments at UCSF, staff from the Office of Student Life and the Housing Susan Merrell/UCSF News While many look to the Mission Bay campus for long-term residential solutions, Office, and students—including current options mainly involve setting limits on existing student housing. one of the reporters enrolled students in order to aid in the of this story. The housing advisory comtransition to San Francisco. mittee is going to strongly recommend to One challenge to ensuring incoming the senior leadership that securing addistudents have access to housing is that tional funds to subsidize housing is critical about 25 percent of the current housing to the mission of recruiting and retaining inventory is being occupied by students top talent here at UCSF. who have been in housing since 2013. Other recommendations included prioritizing incoming students over currently HOUSING » PAGE 10
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Calendar » Events
VALENTINE’S DAY CARD MAKING
Friday, February 6, noon-1:30 p.m., Genentech Hall Atrium, Mission Bay Create a handmade card for your loved ones to make their day extra special or donate one of your handmade cards and brighten the day of someone else.
MUSLIM FRIDAY PRAYER SERVICES
Friday, February 6, 1:30-2 p.m., Helen Diller, 160, Mission Bay 1-1:30 p.m., Medical Sciences,157, Parnassus The Muslim Community at UCSF holds regular Friday prayer services (Jum’a) every week. Come join your fellow brothers and sisters for prayer and socializing.
MISSION BAY RIPS
Friday, February 6, 4-5 p.m., Genentech Hall Auditorium, Mission Bay RIPS is a seminar series wherein one student and one postdoc present their current research. Talks are 15 minutes in length and are preceded by a 20-minute social. Snacks and beverages are provided.
CAMPUS EVANGELISTIC FELLOWSHIP Friday, February 6, 7-10:30 p.m., Nursing 517, Parnassus Join the Campus Evangelistic Fellowship for their weekly meeting with Bible study, hymn-singing and fellowship.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS FAN FEST
Friday, February 7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., AT&T Park Join the 2014 World Series Champions, the SF Giants, at the 2015 Fan Fest celebration. This year’s event is on Saturday, February 7. Meet some of the players, get autographs, and find your gear for this year’s season. Buy single game tickets, get your picture taken with the World Series trophies and more.
ASGD MONTHLY MEETING
Monday, February 9, 6-7 p.m., Library, CL220, Parnassus ASGD invites graduate students interested in learning about various issues (e.g. CA residency problems, Gaps in Workers’ Compensation coverage, Building Graduate Student Community, etc.) affecting students at UCSF to come to the Board Meeting. It is also a great opportunity to meet other students in other PhD and Masters programs. No RSVP is necessary.
BUSINESS CLUB: SANOFI
Tuesday, February 10, 5-7 p.m., Mission Hall, 1407, Mission Bay Join the Business Club for a panel discussion surrounding the opportunities and challenges of transitioning to a business career from academia with speakers from Sanofi.
CARRY THE ONE RADIO WORKSHOP
Tuesday, February 10, 5 -7 p.m., Mission Hall, 1107, Mission Bay Carry the One Radio is a UCSF-based science podcast. The show is run completely by a dedicated group of young scientists who want to share their enthusiasm for research with a wider audience. The group meets weekly to workshop various pieces. No radio experience needed.
SCIENCE POLICY GROUP DISCUSSION
Tuesday, February 10, 5:30-7 p.m., Genentech Hall, S204, Mission Bay Chris Schaffer, a Cornell professor in biomedical engineering, will present to the Science Policy. Chris did a sabbatical in Washington DC in the office of a representative and is very interested in science education policy.
ENTREPRENEUR’S CLUB
Tuesday, February 10, 6-8 p.m., Library 220, Parnassus
Speaker Caleb Bell, CEO of Bell Biosystems was living on food stamps and “technically homeless.” Since then, he has been accepted into Thiel Foundation’s Breakout Labs, Stanford’s StartX accelerator, and raised millions from investors and grant funding. The Stanford Ph.D. will describe his path and why he believes that entrepreneurs are born, not made. Tickets (free for UCSF): entrepreneurs-club-with-calebbell-ceo-bell-biosystems-entrepreneursdont-give-up-tickets-15474997133
FARMERS’ MARKET
Wednesday, February 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Gene Friend Way Plaza, Mission Bay 10 a.m.-3 p.m., ACC, 400 Parnassus Ave., Parnassus Shop the Farmers’ Markets on Wednesdays to pick up locally grown produce and more. Sponsor: Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association.
WINTER HUMP DAY SERIES: STI’S WHAT SHOULD I KNOW?
Wednesday, February 11, noon-1 p.m., Health Sciences West, 303, Parnassus What should I know about sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) for my patients and myself? Lee Fagen, RNP provides updates about STI’s and provides ample time to answers your questions. Free lunch for students with RSVP.
BROWN BAG SEMINAR: EBOLA, STORIES FROM THE FIELD
Wednesday, February 11, noon-1 p.m., Nursing, 417, Parnassus Joel Adelson, public health physician and emeritus member of the UCSF Institute for Health & Aging faculty, and Farrah Kashfipour, critical care nurse and UCSF Global Health Sciences fellow, will share their experiences from 5 weeks working with Partners in Health to care for Ebola patients in Liberia.
SYNAPSE MEETING
Wednesday, February 11, 12:30-1:30 p.m. MU 108, Parnassus Get involved with writing, editing, photography and more for UCSF’s one and only student newspaper, Have fun and let your voice be heard, all while gaining valuable communications experience and clips. Come with your story ideas or other interests to discuss, and we’ll do the rest.
CULTURAL FILM SERIES: ‘VALENTINE ROAD’
Wednesday, February 11, 5-7 p.m., Cole Hall, Parnassus Join the Multicultural Resource Center and LGBT Resource Center for a screening of “Valentine Road” with a special questions and answer session with the Director, Marta Cunningham. Light refreshments will be served. RSVP by February 11. facebook.com/ events/1542490642668105
UCSF RUN CLUB
Wednesday, February 11, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Millberry Union Central Desk, Parnassus Please drop by and join UCSF Fit & Rec for a run! Each Wednesday night the Run Club runs various distances (3-6 miles) at a 9-11 minute per mile.
IMN MIDWEEK MEDITATION HOUR
Wednesday, February 11, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Library, CL215, Parnassus The Integrative Medicine Network invites everyone in the UCSF community to experience a weekly guided meditation. All are welcome, whether you are looking to combat day-to-day stress using meditation or you’d like to uncover subtle layers of yourself by diving deep. No experience in meditation is necessary.
ENGLISH CORNER
Wednesday, February 11, 6-8:30 p.m., Nursing, 527, Parnassus English Corner is an informal conversational English class given as a free community service and provided on a voluntary basis by both people born and raised in the United States as well as many people who have, at one time in their lives, experienced life as a new immigrant.
FOOD TRUCK THURSDAYS AT MISSION BAY
Thursday, February 12, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Fourth Street & Nelson Rising Lane, Mission Bay Join the food truck lunch party every Thursday at Mission Bay and explore the tasty culinary options to break up your routine. Each week will feature two different vendors, so there will always be something new. Grab some friends, get some food, and take your lunch experience up a notch. Rumor has it: come early and don’t miss out. http://campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu/retail/ services/dine/food_trucks
TOASTMASTERS MEETINGS
Thursday, Feb. 12, noon-1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, noon-1 p.m. Nursing 729, Parnassus Toastmasters empowers people to achieve their full potential. Through the Toastmasters’ meetings, people throughout the world can improve their communication and leadership skills, and find the courage to change. Be the speaker and leader you want to be! Attend one of the Toastmasters’ meetings to learn more. Meetings are open to UCSF students, faculty, staff and volunteers.
CHANCELLOR’S CONCERT SERIES
Thursday, February 12, noon-12:45 p.m., Cole Hall, Parnassus Looking for a place to study or relax between classes? CLS Arts & Events has got just what you need. The Chancellor’s Concert Series on Thursdays is a great place to set up your laptop and study or just take a break from classes while listening to classical music. Seating begins at noon. Lunch will be served while supplies last.
DOG DAYS OF FEBRUARY
Thursday, February 12, noon-2 p.m., MU 111W, Parnassus Take time to DeStress with this week’s visitor from Animal Assisted Therapy of SPCA. Enjoy some tea or hot chocolate, and leave your stress at the door!
NATIONAL BLACK HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY
Thursday, February 12, 3-4:30 p.m., Mission Hall, 1406, Mission Bay Come to a screening of “Endgame: AIDS in America.” The screening will be followed by a discussion facilitated by Lauren Broussard and Byron Mason, Center for AIDS Prevention Studied (CAPS). RSVP by February 12. Sponsors: CAPS, Multicultural Resource Center, and LGBT Resource Center facebook.com/events/351249591744493
SWEET REVENGE SCREENING AND PANEL DISCUSSION
Thursday, February 12, 7-8:45 p.m., Cole Hall, Parnassus Join the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine for a free screening of Sweet Revenge followed by a panel discussion with Drs. Lustig, Hecht, and Epel.
VALENTINE’S DAY CARD MAKING AND SALE
Friday, February 13, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Millberry Union Conference Center, Parnassus
Campus Life Services Arts & Events present Valentine’s Day Card Making and Sale. Create a handmade card for your loved ones to make their day extra special! Donate one of your handmade cards to the UCSF Medical Center. Your card will brighten the day of a patient in the hospital. Sponsored by the Performing Arts Fund.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION Tuesday, February 17, 5-6:30p.m., Library, Lange Reading Room, Parnassus Join the Office of Diversity and Outreach and Alumni Relations for a Black History Month Celebration. Registration deadline February 16. Sponsors: Diversity and Outreach; Alumni Relations. ucsfalumni.org
THE EIGHT SECRETS OF BUILDING A BILLION DOLLAR COMPANY
Tuesday, February 17, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Genentech Hall Room N-114, Mission Bay Silicon Valley entrepreneur Michael Baum discusses building a hyper-growth company. His Founder.org’s Company Building Program, an intensive, competitive yearlong program, invests in entrepreneurs who are solving big problems. There will be an opportunity to make a 60 second pitch to Baum. Tickets: eventbrite.com/e/ the-eight-secrets-of-building-a-billion-dollar-company-at-ucsf-tickets-15173614690
MUSIC IN THE LIBRARY
Wednesday, February 18, noon-1 p.m., Library, Lange Reading Room, Parnassus Campus Life Services Arts and Events presents Music in the Library. Bring your books and study or just sit back and relax while listing to acoustic music. Enjoy free chair massage and lunch. First come first served. Sponsored by the Sarah B. Childs fund.
FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE COMMUNITY RECEPTION
Wednesday, February 18, 5-6:30 p.m., Millberry Union Conference Center, Parnassus All UCSF first generation college students, postdocs, residents, fellows, faculty and alumni are invited for the annual community reception. RSVP: firstgenreception. eventbrite.com
CHANCELLOR’S CONCERT SERIES
Thursday, February 19, noon-12:45 p.m., Cole Hall, Parnassus Looking for a place to study or relax between classes? CLS Arts & Events has got just what you need. The Chancellor’s Concert Series on Thursdays is a great place to set up your laptop and study or just take a break from classes while listening to classical music. Seating begins at noon. Lunch will be served while supplies last.
DOG DAYS OF FEBRUARY
Thursday, February 19, noon-2 p.m., MU 111W, Parnassus Take time to DeStress with this week’s visitor from Animal Assisted Therapy of SPCA. Enjoy some tea or hot chocolate, and leave your stress at the door.
LGBTQI HEALTH FORUM
Saturday, February 22, 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Health Sciences West, Parnassus The LGBTQ Student Association (LGBTQSA) is proud to be hosting its 6th Annual LGBTQI Healthcare Forum. The forum educates attendees about healthcare disparities faced by members of the LGBTQI community and aims to prepare current and future healthc are providers on how to better serve the needs of LGBTQI people in a clinical setting. Eric Sawyer, co-founder of ACT UP, Housing Works Inc., and Health GAP, Inc., will provide the keynote presentation. This health forum is offered as elective credit for current UCSF students.
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ST. TERESA OF AVILA CATHOLIC CHURCH YOUR INCLUSIVE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY FOR MISSION BAY, POTRERO HILL, DOGPATCH AND SOUTH BEACH SERVED BY THE CARMELITES
1490 19TH STREET (AT CONNECTICUT STREET) Mass with Distribution of Ashes 12:15 pm & 6:15 pm
LENTEN SPEAKER: FR. JACK WELCH, O. CARM. Carmelite Educator and Author
THE CHALLENGE OF AN INTERIOR LIFE Wednesday, March 11 at 7pm (Mass at 6:15pm)
“DARK PRAYER”
Wednesday, March 18 at 7pm (Mass at 6:15pm)
SUNDAY MASSES
4:15 pm 8:30 10:00 am
WEEKDAY MASSES
Tuesday & Friday 8:30 am
PARISH OFFICE (MAILING ADDRESS):
Visit Our Website StTeresaSF.org
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Announcements
no later than Friday, February 6.
UCSF’s Alpha Eta chapter of Sigma Theta Tau would like to announce that we are now accepting applications for our 2015 Alpha Eta Research Awards. Applications will be accepted from any active Alpha Eta member. alphaeta-ucsf.org/researchawards.html. Please submit applications via email to jillian.lam@nursing.ucsf.edu
UC Students throughout California are invited to Direct Change by submitting 60-second films in two categories: “Suicide Prevention” and “Ending the Silence about Mental Illness.” The winning teams will win prizes, get to participate in a meeting with state legislators on these topics, and
ALPHA ETA RESEARCH AWARDS
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DIRECTING CHANGE 2015 STUDENT FILM CONTEST
500 Parnassus Ave. Millberry Union 108W San Francisco, CA 94143 tel: (415) 476-2211 | fax: (415) 502-4537 synapse@ucsf.edu | synapse.ucsf.edu
Jenny Qi | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Hanna Starobinets | WEB EDITOR Taylor LaFlam | SCIENCE EDITOR Yi Lu | ASSOCIATE EDITOR Bryne Ulmschneider | STAFF WRITER Akshay Govind | STAFF WRITER Ilka Fensen | STAFF WRITER
Theresa Poulos | STAFF WRITER Yarrow Madrona | STAFF WRITER Sean Treacy-Abarca | STAFF WRITER Andrea Villaroman | STAFF WRITER Lauren Shields | STAFF WRITER Mayya Shveygert | STAFF WRITER Ben Sellers | MANAGING EDITOR
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Advertising Paid advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views of Synapse. Synapse and its editorial board reserve the right to decline advertisements promoting false or misleading claims, known health risks, or content deemed by the editors to be antithetical to the interests of UCSF students or the UCSF community. Synapse does not accept advertisements from tobacco or alcohol manufacturers, or sexually oriented personal ads. Synapse reserves the right to run any ad with a disclaimer. Visit synapse.ucsf.edu to view the publication schedule and to submit an ad.
Synapse is UCSF's student-run biweekly newspaper and public forum for the campus community. It runs biweekly on Thursdays during the academic year and publishes online in between print issues. Articles and columns represent the views of the authors and not necessarily those of the Board of Publications or the University of California.
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Announcements and letters should be submitted seven days before publication. All submissions must be e-mailed to synapse@ucsf.edu. All material is subject to editing.
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» RCO of the Week The John Greene Society (School of Dentistry) By Anna Nonaka Staff Writer
As health care providers at a premier research campus, many of us contribute to cutting-edge developments in our respective fields. This requires commitment and sacrifice, but the John Greene Society helps dental students succeed in summer fellowships and competitions year UCSF Library Archives after year. The eponymous dean John Greene remains a strong research advocate. The JGS helps students Research and Clinical Excellence Day, reand faculty mentors come together to insearch electives, journal clubs, proposal adcrease exposure to new research and plan, vice, socials and more for students interested discuss, and succeed in research together. in dental research. It competed nationally “The John Greene Society is an invaluto win the Local Student Research Group able part of dental student culture at award for its Fall 2014 newsletter. UCSF, providing a resource for research The JGS is also a local chapter of the opportunities and keeping the spirit of National Student Research Group of the scientific inquiry alive,” said Roger Mraz, American Association of Dental Research. program administrator in the School of It will be recognized at the 2015 AADR Dentistry’s Office of Graduate and Reannual meeting and receive $400 to supsearch Affairs. port club activities. The JGS was founded in 2002, named “I am proud of my board members for after a School of Dentistry dean emeritus advocating for student involvement in reat UCSF. Greene was—and is—an inspirational, beloved leader who actively con- search,” said JGS president Minerva Loi. “We appreciate being recognized on a tributed to students’ interest in research. Thanks to the JGS, dental student research national level for what our RCO has done to enrich the dental education experience participation is also at an all-time high. at UCSF.” Participation ranges from volunteering to Find out more at jgs.atucsf.com. paid fellowships to international conferAnna Nokana is a member of the School of Dentistry ence attendance. Class of 2018. The JGS provides a quarterly newsletter,
Ash Wednesday, February 18
Saturday Vigil Sunday
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We’re looking for students from all different UCSF programs and campuses to contribute. See the contact info above or attend one of our Wednesday meetings to find out more.
attend the award ceremony at the end of the 2014-15 school year. Submissions due by February 16. directingchange.org
UC PRESIDENT’S SUSTAINABILITY STUDENT FELLOWSHIP/INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Submit a proposal to advance the University of California Carbon Neutrality Initiative (UCCNI). This six-month fellowship, for up to $7,500, supports a program you design. Learn more! Applications are due February 15 by 7 a.m.
APPLY TO BE THE 2016-17 UC STUDENT REGENT!
The student Regent is a voting member of The Regents of the University of California, attends all meetings of the Board and its Committees and serves for two years (one year as a designate and one year as a voting member) commencing July 1. All mandatory University fees and tuition are waived for the student Regent during the academic years in which he or she serves as a Regent-designate and as a member of the Board. Submit applications by February 22 at 5 p.m.
2015 HUMAN RIGHTS FELLOWSHIP
The Human Rights Center at UC Berkeley amd UCSF Global Health Sciences will sponsor one fellow for the University of California-wide Human Rights Fellowship program for trainee fellowships in partnership with organizations working on human rights issues. Stipend is $4,500. Registered trainees/students at UCSF and UCSF graduates within the last academic year are eligible. Application deadline: February 20. For more information, visit globalhealthsciences.ucsf.edu.s116768. gridserver.com/education-training/ human-rights-fellowship.
Tips
Did you know that you could borrow electronics from the UCSF Library? Loaner laptops, iPads and learning technologies equipment are available for your use. http://bit.ly/144nfYn SNMA invites you to
“My Culture…” An Open Mic Event Thursday, February 5, 2015 7:00 – 9:00 pm Toland Hall Auditorium (U132) PERFORMERS NEEDED!! All members of the UCSF community are welcome to participate.! This is a FREE event, but any donations received will go to Youth Creating Change, a non-profit organization in SF. ! To sig' up and lear' more, go to the Facebook event page! Or email us at snmaopenmic@g<ail.com
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Career and Professional »
UCSF marks sesquicentennial by recognizing 150 top alumni
By Hanna Starobinets Web Editor
To mark UCSF’s 150th anniversary, the Alumni Board honored 150 of its best and brightest alumni with an Alumni Excellence Award. Recipients were chosen from 900 anonymous nominations on the basis of excellence and distinction in the major components Hanna Starobinets/Synapse of UCSF’s mission: The names of the 150 recipientsof the Alumni Excellence Award will be education, patient care, listed on a commemorative plaque at the UCSF Faculty Alumni House. research and service— Award distribution across the schools as well as business and industry. is: approximately 50 in the School of The Award Committee, comprising 14 Medicine, 40 in the Graduate Division, alumni and representatives from all of 25 in the School of Nursing, 17 in the UCSF’s schools, brought insight on what School of Pharmacy and 17 in the School it meant to be distinguished in their fields of Dentistry. Six recipients live outside the and professions. United States. “It’s very humbling to see the people The award who are nominated. They’re just a small All 150 winners will receive a physical fraction of the excellence that we see,” prize, and their names will be commemosaid Susan Walczak (Nursing, ’02), the rated on a permanent plaque installed at Award Committee chair. the Faculty–Alumni House along with Diversity past winners of other alumni awards. A While various annual alumni awards are celebratory event will take place at the given out by specialized alumni organizaannual UCSF Alumni Weekend in May. tions from different schools at UCSF, these Connecting with alumni Alumni Excellence Awards were a onetime effort on the part of the Alumni Board The Alumni Board said it is open to working with student groups looking for to connect with a diverse group of alumni panelists or speakers to invite from the who had not previously been recognized. alumni community. “This list would be “When you have 150 awards, you have the first place that students can look,” said the opportunity to really focus on diverKaufteil. They are already working on sity,” said Andrew Kaufteil, executive bringing some winners back to UCSF for director of alumni relations. “Schools and a Black History Month event scheduled degrees, specialties, backgrounds, gender, for Feb. 17 and are excited to facilitate ethnicity, sexual orientation … diversity future events, he said. of every kind that we could find.” “Stay tuned. When students see the The committee also paid attention to list, they’ll be thrilled to see the outstandthe “age factor”: It recognized not only ing work that our alumni do, and see seasoned alumni but also young alumni what their futures hold ahead of them,” who have already proven to be innovative said Kaufteil. The complete list will be in their practice and research. It took into released in March. account success at the global health level as well as within local communities. Hanna Starobinets is a fourth-year BMS student.
OCPD’s alumni network will assist with career exploration Mayya Shveygert Staff Writer
Successful networking leads to job offers. A survey conducted in 2010 by a career management group showed that 41 percent of people got their new job through networking. However, most students and postdocs treat networking as it were a visit to a dentist’s office—a necessary, but tedious and uncomfortable, experience. Often, we keep our interactions within the comfort zone, discussing our career options only with colleagues and peers. However, this circle of acquaintances will not help a typical student to identify and secure jobs outside of academia. And according to a recent biomedical workforce report from the National Institutes of Health, about half of the Ph.D. holders end up in nonacademic positions, such as industry research, science policy or regulatory affairs. Such jobs may be very attractive to students who feel disenchanted with the tenure track adventure; however, transitioning into a new, unfamiliar field can seem challenging and confusing. To tackle this problem, UCSF Graduate Division, together with the Office of Career and Professional Development, is launching the Career Alumni Network. CAN is a database of alumni who have volunteered to serve as informal career advisors for students and postdocs. Notably, all of these mentors,
as UCSF graduates, have been in the same shoes––some recently, others 10 to 20 years ago. Thus, they understand where career searchers are coming from, as well as offering insight from experience into one’s strengths and weaknesses. Best of all, they already agreed to speak in person or communicate via phone or e-mail—so the days of awkward, forced introductions are over. Currently, OCPD is just testing the utility of the database. For instance, as of now, visitors cannot directly access the contact information of the alumni they are interested in. Instead, one must make an appointment with a career counselor who would help choose appropriate people. Some alumni may become very popular with trainees, and the OCPD wants to control the amount of times they will be contacted to avoid the burnout from too many informational interviews. The database already has about 200 alumni, and the OCPD expects it to grow very quickly. Many of the alumni are in industry research, but a lot of people also work in academia, business and consulting, science policy, etc. Some alumni are located in the Bay Area, whereas others reside outside of California and even outside of the United States. More information about the database can be found at the OCPD website, under Career Exploration section (career.ucsf.edu/gradstudents-postdocs/careeralumni-network). Mayya Shveygert is a third year postdoctoral fellow.
News Briefs » New cancer center director says cure is coming Renowned breast cancer researcher Alan Ashworth arrived at UCSF last month to take over as director of the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. He succeeds Frank McCormick, who had been director of the cancer center since its founding in 1997. McCormick now assumes a role Ashworth as director of the National Cancer Institute’s RAS Project, and will also continue as a faculty member in the cancer center. Ashworth, a fellow with the Royal Society, played an influential role in the discovery of the BRCA2 gene in the 1990s. The gene is involved in the DNA repair pathway and has been implicated in several types of cancer, including breast, ovarian and prostate. This, in turn, led to the development of PARP inhibitors, a group of DNA damage-inducing drugs successful in clinical trials of BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutated cancers. Ashworth said he aims to create close ties between the HDFCCC and the newly opened Bakar Cancer Hospital at Mission Bay. He told UCSF News recently that over the next 10 to 20 years a combination of conventional, targeted and immune therapeutic approaches would make advanced cancers manageable and early-stage cancers curable. Asked to give advice to young researchers, he responded: “Don’t take advice from old farts like me.”
Survey identifies wide variety of opinion gaps between scientists and public The Pew Research Center has released a major survey comparing opinions of the American public to those of scientists in the American Association for the Advancement of Science on a range of topics covering science and society. While both scientists and the public support government investment in scientific research and acknowledge that science has improved quality of life, there were several major opinion differences regarding specific topics. The largest difference in opinion was a 51-point gap: While 88 percent of AAAS scientists believed that genetically-modified foods were safe to eat, only 37 percent of the American public agreed. Other gaps of 30 points or more included animal research, pesticides, human evolution and human causes of climate change. A major area of agreement was in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. There, 16 percent of scientists and 29 percent of the public considered American K–12 STEM education to be above average compared to other countries. The complete report can be found on the Pew Research Center website: pewinternet.org/2015/01/29/ public-and-scientists-views-on-science-and-society. —Hanna Starobinets Courtesy of Pew Research Center
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» Life of a Dental Student In this column we interview students anonymously from each year of the UCSF Dental School. We want to put a face on the people we pass in the hallways, highlight their experiences, similarities and differences.
STUDENT: 4TH YEAR, MALE Tell us about your UCSF experience so far: One of my favorite things about UCSF is that it’s a pass/fail system, so it’s not like undergrad. I can spend more time learning the material conceptually and have more time to get involved with the things I’m passionate about—community outreach, research and clinical services. My peers are extremely intelligent and I’m proud to have them as my future colleagues. The location is also amazing … it’s California; you can’t complain. How did you decide to go to dental school? I actually took a really nontraditional route. I was originally interested in ENT [otolaryngology], and when shadowing ENT faculty in undergrad I came in contact with an OMFS [oral maxillofacial surgery] faculty member who really took me under his wing. I realized the scope of practice is really similar to ENT but also a broader scope of practice, which included the orthopedics of head and neck, cancer, plastic surgery, dento-alveolar surgery and more. In order to pursue OMFS, you have to go to dental school, and that’s why I applied. Dentistry is also a stimulating challenge because we perform microscopic surgery every day. Having experienced both the macroscopic surgery of OMFS and the microscopic surgery of dentistry, I can say with confidence that a simple filling is not really simple. They are actually extremely difficult because of the dexterity required. I think it’s really enjoyable to be able to use your hands and have something materialize right in front of you.
Is it different from what you originally expected? General dentistry is extremely hard on your body. Working five to six days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., your back hurts. It takes a lot of stamina and physical training and strength, just like any other surgical field. In other surgical situations you stand and there is much more movement; general dentistry is much harder on your body and poor ergonomics! Becoming a good dentist really means being good with people. It doesn’t matter how good your restorative skills are if patients don’t like you. I’ve come to realize that the communication aspect contributes more. What do you wish you could have changed about dental school? UCSF is a large clinic with all kinds of patients and lots of providers, so you really have to stay within the constraints of what the clinic can handle. I think the predoc clinic should expand to train us to deal with simple specialty cases like minor gum surgeries, light orthodontics, surgical implantology or other things you would have to deal with as a general dentist. In real life, if you can only do simple fillings and crowns, you’re not going to survive in private practice, and handling other types of cases would make you more confident.
What advice would you give to your underclassmen? Start working on indirect vision early on. Pay attention to ergonomics so you build good habits. It’s not uncommon for people to be considered disabled even before graduation fourth year. It’s also really important to take time to learn how to do things right in pre-doc simulation lab. Don’t try to do it fast—don’t take shortcuts. Don’t do things you wouldn’t do in a real patient, like stretching the crap out of the mouth so you can see all the way in the back. Adjust to everything—like loupe magnification, mirror placement, drilling with water—before you hit the real clinics, because even I’m struggling to see stuff sometimes. Last, do things outside of dental school to stay decompressed. In clinic, you have to work as your own office manager, dental assistant, front desk clinic and dentist, so it’s a lot of stress. You need other hobbies to relax and break up the constant demand. Do you have advice for other health care professionals that may have to work with dentists? The mouth is a major component to systemic health, so I think it’s important for all health professionals to recognize some basic oral pathology—abnormal presentations in oral mucosa, rampant caries, xerostomia, serve gingivitis, etc. If other physicians are able to recognize obvious signs of deteriorating oral health, a referral could benefit the patient’s overall health and quality of life. Looking forward, what excites you the most? I’m very appreciative of what UCSF has trained me for, and I am looking forward to continuing my education in OMFS. It’s exciting to be one step closer to becoming a full-fledged health provider. (NOTE: After this interview, this student matched very successfully for OMFS on the East Coast.) Anything else? I used to think that dentistry was pretty easy because whatever my dentist did looked simple and he looked relaxed and chill. Underneath the veil of chillness, though, they’re freaking out. They’re a small-business owner and health professional with a lot of responsibilities on their shoulders. You need business acumen, dexterity and people skills to succeed in this field. I’d also emphasize that the dexterity and manual skill required is close to the margin of error for microvascular surgery, so I think that’s incredibly admirable.
STUDENT: 4TH YEAR, FEMALE Tell us about your UCSF experience so far. I feel that UCSF definitely gives you a very well-rounded education. I feel prepared to go out [into the world] as a future dentist. I had some great mentors [who] have given me greater perspective and realistic expectations about dentistry. I have gotten involved with various student groups, extracurricular activities and research. I really wanted a fulfilling experience. UCSF gives us independent study time, so I had time to explore different activities alongside my regular curriculum.
How did you decide to go to dental school? Actually, I grew up in a family of dentists. Sounds kind of clichéd, but my dad is a dentist. Some of that inspired me. I liked working with my hands, and I like that physical aspect—that you are using your hands to do something. I liked the idea of medicine with the combination of manual dexterity. My dad never spoke poorly about his profession, but he never pushed me toward it either. He let me explore my own path and see what I really wanted to do.
Is it different from what you originally expected? If so, how? There are more surprises coming into the clinic. First and second year, I had a good idea of what to expect because I talked to many dental students—a lot of reading, a lot of studying, Sim-lab work. But clinic was more of a mystery to me. You don’t really know what to expect until you are actually in clinic. For me, what surprised me was that it takes a lot of initiative, especially with when you need to contact patients. You are basically your own practice manager. You have to schedule the appointments, call these patients, address their needs. It’s physically exhausting! You don’t have a dental assistant, either. You are the one who tells them how much it is, what is the insurance and so forth. You are like a one-man team. It is very scary, but once you go through it, it is OK.
Illustration by Jillian Varonin
What do you wish someone had told you in the beginning? I got some great advice from upperclassmen. But, I think [dental school] is just one of these things that you just have to experience for yourself, because everyone has different experiences and different patient populations. I don’t think anyone could have prepared me better for this than just dealing with what happens when it comes.
What advice would you give to others? First and second years: Explore your interests. Find out what you like and you don’t like, if there is a specialty you are interested in. When get into clinic your third year, work as hard as you can because every minute counts. As fourth years we don’t get that much time in the clinic because they expect us to work faster and be more efficient. It’s beneficial to have as much clinical experience as you can, so in fourth year you can focus on those last requirements and your application for residency. It’s easy to get burnt out. Dental students have a particular personality type— perfectionists. We are really critical of our work. It’s very visual and you get direct feedback on it. So it’s important to stay well, stay healthy so you don’t burn out. Stay positive and focused. Looking forward, what excites you the most? I am looking forward to just being an independent doctor. It will be a lot of fun. It’s a privilege to be able to make clinical decisions. You don’t have to get any more start checks [from attending dentists]. There is some nervousness associated with that but also excitement.
Nursing students take break with quarterly ASSN social
2015 First Generation College Community Reception
Feb 18, 5-6:30pm
UCSF first gen faculty, postdocs, residents, fellows, alumni and students are invited!
RSVP: firstgenreception.eventbrite.com Learn more: firstgen.ucsf.edu Building Community
Photo by Diana Teng; Caption by Ashley King The Associated Students of the School of Nursing hosted a winter social Jan. 14. Muffins, croissants, coffee, tea and hot cocoa were served to the 81 nursing students in attendance. Students took time midday to relax and catch up with peers in the Nursing Mezzanine. Next quarter, nursing students can look forward to the spring social with dinner, drinks and raffle prizes to celebrate the end of the school year!
6 | February 5, 2014
| synapse.ucsf.edu
Let’s Get Physical … Therapy » Journal Club »
Is your bike doing more than simply getting you around? Five causes of bike-related pain Ilka Felsen Columnist As San Francisco continues to be blessed with occasional sun, biking remains one of the most popular ways to commute. However, pain with biking also continues to plague many of us. If you are experiencing pain, consider the culprit. Injuries from biking typically fall into one of five categories:
Fit problem There is a problem with the way your bike is fit to your body. The fit is especially important, because most of road biking is spent with the cyclist in a static position on the bike. Except for the frame itself, a surprising number of bike components can be adjusted. One of the most common problems is riding a seat that is too low or too forward, thereby increasing the amount of knee flexion and force on the patella during the power phase. If you have pain, consider investing in a good bike fit. Don’t settle for a 30-minute quickie from a clerk—seek out an experienced professional in bike fitting, who also looks at your flexibility and strength. If you’re going to make changes yourself, only move parts a few millimeters at a time. Training problem Have you increased your mileage or intensity too quickly? Getting excited a little too soon and vamping up your ride prevents the body from adapting to the load. Off-the-bike problem This is related to problems before biking that have a chance to affect cycling performance. These include: Hip weakness » results in poor coronal plane control. Watch out for your knees coming inwards instead of staying straight ahead. Poor trunk mobility and core strength » results in increased pelvic rotation during pedaling, increased neck extension,
Letter »
My compliments to Ms. Felson for being such a rebel [“Why Walgreens orthotics are just as good as customized orthotics … and other secrets,” Jan. 8]. Thirty years of practice as an foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon, and you have uncovered the three things that hit a nerve (synapse) in me. Your concept of trying inexpensive OTC orthotics first is perfect: 80 percent of orthotics are not needed and most are not even tolerated and spending $300-plus is a tough way to find out they are not for you. Running shoes, don’t get me started. Here is the right advice: If the shoe fits wear it. Let’s just say marketing is very powerful. Then there is stretching! Misperception abounds on this subject. McHugh has it right, but only for pre-exercise warm-up. Muscles, not tendons, tighten as we age, producing silent, ignored imbalance, which causes damage over time, step after step. Keeping our muscles out to their length with daily stretching temporally away from sports is money, especially for prevention. Thanks again. James Amis, M.D.
increased lumbar extension, and fatigue on the arms Reduced hip mobility » results in increased compression of the spine, hip, knee and ankle Trauma This is pretty obvious, but watch out for other vehicles, pedestrians jumping in front of you and MUNI tracks, which fit road bike tires perfectly. No kidding, one of the nurses at Student Health confided seeing at least three accidents a week à la MUNI tracks. Unresolved injuries can cause a cyclist to be at risk for future pain. Problem caused by the body’s adaptation to cycling Cycling involves a crazy high number of revolutions in just one hour. Repeated hip flexion and knee flexion results in tight hip flexors and hamstrings, respectively, while bending forward over the bike results in increased thoracic flexion, pectoralis tightness, restricted abdominal mobility, and tight upper traps and neck muscles. Consider stretching each of these areas.
Note: The content of this article was adapted from material presented by UCSF physical therapist Rami Weinberg, DPT, OCS—thank you! Ilka Felsen is a third-year physical therapy student who enjoys watching people walk, palpating joints and muscles, and all things physical therapy!
By Taylor LaFlam Science Editor IMMUNOLOGY: A20 restricts ubiquitination of pro-interleukin-1β protein complexes and suppresses NLRP3 inflammasome activity. Duong, B.H., et al. (Ma, A.). Immunity. 2015. 42(1):55-67. The production of certain inflammatory molecules, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), requires the activity of large protein complexes called inflammasomes. Aberrant activation of inflammasomes has been linked to several diseases in which the immune system acts against the body. Here, Duong and colleagues add to the field’s growing understanding of how these inflammasomes are normally controlled. They show that the protein A20, already well known in immunology for its role as a negative regulator of an important signaling pathway, is required for normal regulation of a particular inflammasome. In the absence of A20, macrophages exposed to LPS spontaneously activated the NLRP3 inflammasome. In A20deficient macrophages there was increased ubiquitination of pro-IL-1β, leading to more of it being processed to its active form. The observed phenotype required RIPK3 but not MyD88. DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY: A dynamic Shh expression pattern, regulated by SHH and BMP signaling, coordinates fusion of primordia in the amniote face. Hu, D., et al., (Marcucio, R.S.). Development. 2015. 142(3):567-574. Successful development of the skull is important for more than just having a pretty face. Problems with facial development can lead to disorders such as cleft palate that, if not treated, can cause great discomfort and serious health problems. An important event in facial development is the fusion of three portions of the frontonasal process to form the primary palate. It is at this point that the faces of developing birds and mammals are most similar. In this study, the authors show how SHH and BMP signaling coordinate this fusion. They found that SHH and BMP signaling act in series to coordinate an expanding wave of Shh expression. This dynamic Shh expression allows for appropriately controlled growth of the facial components that contribute to the primary palate.
This Date in UCSF History » By Taylor LaFlam Science Editor
From 25 Years Ago: Vol. 34, No. 18, Feb. 8, 1990: Today, those needing a bone-marrow transplant are likely to be able to find a reasonably well-matched, nonrelated donor. This is thanks largely to having a very large pool of potential donors to draw on; there are currently more than 10 million people registered with the National Marrow Donor Program in the United States. A generation ago, it was a far different story, especially for people of color. The lead story in the Synapse from 25 years ago explored this issue in “Asian bone marrow recipients face great odds.” The article, by Eric M. Yabu and Karen L. Lee began, “Less than six months ago there were fewer than 150 Asians listed on the National Marrow Registry.” At the time the article was written, however, “that number has increased about 20-fold, totaling over 3,000.” At that time, there were approximately
80,000 people registered in total. That rapid increase in registration was due largely to efforts spearheaded by the families of Judith Jan–Berkholtz and Amanda Chiang, both of whom were from Sacramento and needed a marrow transplant. To support these registration drives required both a significant time and financial investment by the families. Yabu and Lee reported, “Heddy Chiang, mother of Amanda, estimates that the drives cost their family nearly $200,000, of which three-fourths went to the blood testing process which cost $75 per person.” The article discussed possible reasons for a lower rate of registration by people of color, as well as the role of UCSF in the history of bone-marrow transplantation. It is still true that the majority of registered marrow donors are white. Since a person is more likely to be an HLA match with someone of the same ethnicity, this translates to differing probabilities of successfully finding a match depending on ethnicity. The National Marrow Donor Program estimates that while there is a 97 percent
CELL BIOLOGY: The Nck-interacting kinase NIK increases Arp2/3 complex activity by phosphorylating the Arp2 subunit. LeClaire, L.L., et al. (Barber, D.L.). J Cell Biol. 2015. 208(2):161-170. Cell migration—as in that famous biology class video clip in which the macrophage chases down the bacterium— requires successful formation of branched actin filaments. The Arp2/3 complex is known to be essential for that process. It is also well known that members of the WASP and WAVE protein families play an important role in regulating Arp2/3. Now, these authors report that an unrelated protein can also drive Arp2/3 activity. They observed that the kinase NIK directly phosphorylates the Arp2 subunit, increasing complex activity. Normally, epidermal growth factor can cause membrane protrusions and increased Arp2/3 activity. The researchers found that this effect depended on NIK, thus identifying a new link between the growth factor and cellular cytoskeleton dynamics. NEUROSCIENCE: SIRT1 deficiency in microglia contributes to cognitive decline in aging and neurodegeneration via epigenetic regulation of IL-1β. Cho, S.H., et al. (Gan, L.). J Neurosci. 2015. 35(2):807-818. That’s right, more IL-1β, this time regarding its role in neurodegeneration. There is a strong link between aging and many neurodegenerative diseases. There is also increased inflammation in the brain as it ages, driven by increased innate immune system activity. In this article, Cho and colleagues present evidence linking these two phenomena. They begin by observing that there is less SIRT1 in microglia of old mice— immune cells resident in the brain. SIRT1 is a deacetylase that has previously been implicated as having anti-aging activity. They found that decreased SIRT1 led to changes in the methylation at the IL-1β promoter and to increased IL-1β transcription. Finally, they noted that IL-1β can in turn lead to heightened aging-associated or tau-mediated memory defects in mice. Taylor LaFlam is a fourth-year BMS / sixth-year MSTP student.
likelihood of finding a match if one is white, the likelihood is only 90 percent if American Indian, 84 percent if Asian or Pacific Islander, 83 percent if Hispanic and 76 percent if African–American. Less of a problem than 25 years ago, certainly, but still a problem. Taylor LaFlam is a fourth-year BMS / sixth-year MSTP student.
Also from 25 years ago:
This may be gone, but fortunately we still have ready access to travel solutions: the Internet.
I would have thought that one seems-too-good-tobe-true money-earning opportunity would be all the Synapse would attract. I was wrong.
synapse.ucsf.edu
| February 5, 2015 | 7
» [Exit, Pursued by Science]
The Science of Food: The safe GMO and the un-boiled egg
Hanna Starobinets/Synapse Geneticists are tacking the challenge of keeping genetically modified organisms from escaping into the wild.
By Hanna Starobinets Web Editor GMO containment Humans have been developing genet-
ically-modified organisms for millennia through the process of artificial selection—human-directed selective breeding—of plants and animals for specific traits. For example, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and kale are all descended from the wild mustard plant, and there are now hundreds if not thousands of dog breeds. Laboratory-based genetic modification was first developed the 1970s, and applications toward improving the quality of human life were soon to follow. Calgene Inc.—a biotech company based in Davis, California—brought the first FDAapproved GMO crop to the commercial market in 1994. Many years and commercialized GMOs later, a divided public continues to debate the safety and ethics of this technology fiercely, mostly on the grounds of myths and misunderstandings. One worry that is grounded in fact, however, is that GMO plants will cross-pollinate with neighboring wild plants, passing the edited gene throughout an ecological system. To the disappointment of some in the science community, the science educator Bill Nye
said in November 2014 that “although you can know what happens to any individual species that you modify, you cannot be certain what will happen to the ecosystem.” While Nye all other anti-GMO arguments are easily debunked, this one has been difficult to address. Now, two groups of scientists have made significant progress toward overcoming this obstacle. Two publications in Nature, published online on Jan. 21, both described synthetic safety switches to ensure GMO control and containment. The groups, led by Farren Isaacs from Yale University and George Church from Harvard University, semi-independently engineered E. coli bacteria such that their altered biology makes it very nearly impossible for them or their DNA to escape into the wild. Let me back up. I say semi-independently, because both publications were based on a previous joint 2013 publication between these two groups that developed the world’s first “genomically recoded organism.” This remarkable strain of E. coli
bacteria carries an altered genetic code – which is otherwise conserved among all living organisms. Cells make proteins based on RNA instructions. Each three-nucleotide combination calls for a particular amino acid. Three of these sequences, however, have no matching tRNA molecule to bring the correct amino acid and therefore act as a stop command. To make the genomically recoded organism, the scientists meticulously removed every instance of one of these stop sequences, TAG, from E. coli strain’s entire genome, replacing it with a different stop sequence. They then reintroduced the TAG sequence into strategic sites in the bacterial genome along with a matching engineered tRNA. You can already see where they were headed with this painstaking engineering project: toward organisms with a completely alien form of basic molecular biology that makes them a) incompatible with all normal life on earth, and b) irreversibly dependent on synthetic biological building blocks not found anywhere in nature. This proof of concept is where the 2013 paper stopped, but the logical next step was clearly to give the synthetic tRNA a synthetic amino acid match. And that is exactly what each group has now done. The two groups used different approaches to decide where to insert the TAG codons and also different screens for potential synthetic amino acids. The Isaacs’ group screened through 22 different reintroductions and various synthetic amino acids and identified combinations that did not disrupt normal protein function. Church’s group screened 6 different reintroductions, at times mutating flanking amino acids in order to facilitate the process. Interestingly, both groups found success with different synthetic amino acids similar to phenylalanine. This strategy of containment is impressive in both its elegance and thoroughness. Church’s group wrote that “Effective biocontainment strategies must protect against three possible escape mechanisms: mutagenic drift, environmental supplementation and horizontal gene transfer.” While a GMO crop incorporating this synthetic safety switch—which fulfills all three criteria—is years away, the path there has just become much clearer. Your move, Bill Nye. Sources: Nature, Nature News, Harvard News, N.Y. Times, Popular Science, Discover Magazine
Un-boiling an egg
Science news was abuzz last week when UC Irvine released a press release that some of its scientists had figured out how to un-boil an egg—in science terms, to refold aggregates of denatured proteins. The work was a collaboration between Gregory Weiss’ group at UC Irvine and Colin Raston’s group at Flinder University in Australia and was published in ChemBioChem on Jan. 23. The scientists used boiled egg whites—which are 12 percent protein—to demonstrate the power of their technique. They began by boiling egg whites at 90 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes (ensuring that they were so hardboiled that a “Top Chef” judge would spit them out with indignation with the words “These are hammered!”). They dissolved the hardboiled egg whites in urea—a major component of urine, most news sources were quick to note—to re-solubilize the protein aggregates. They then spun them at room temperature at high speeds in a vortex fluid device—a narrow, glass cylinder that spins rapidly on its axis at a 45-degree angle. The shear stress exerted on the liquid in this device appeared to be enough to coax apart protein aggregates and allow them to re-fold into their natural conformations. This was demonstrated by the rescue of normal lysozyme enzymatic activity and normal caveolin-1 interaction with a protein-binding partner. The protocol had to be tweaked to optimize refolding of a protein kinase A, a bulkier protein, and the authors noted that individual optimization would likely be necessary for others as well. This process could have major implications for industries that manufacture proteins in bulk—notably, the pharmaceutical and food industries—because these struggle with protein misfolding in yeast and E. coli protein overexpression platforms. Existing strategies to recover misfolded proteins take multiple days. “The new process takes minutes,” Weiss noted. “It speeds things up by a factor of thousands.” Sources: ChemBioChem, UCI News, Popular Science, IFLScience Hanna Starobinets is a fourth-year BMS student.
The RAMP UCSF Staff and Students Please bring this in for a 15% discount on food Monday-Friday at The RAMP restaurant! (excluding special offers) Join us for our Happy Hour Monday-Friday 5-7pm -Drink & Appetizer Specials Weekend Brunch 9:30-4:30 Live Salsa/Brazilian on Saturday/Sunday The Sun, The Water, The Ramp! The RAMP
855 Terry Francois St Where Mariposa St intersects with Illinois St (415) 621-2378 www.theramprestaurant.com www.facebook.com/TheRampSF
8 | February 5, 2014
| synapse.ucsf.edu
Synapse Speaks to Startups »
SmartDerm wants to stop bedsores before they start
Kyle Kurpinski SmartDerm’s Sachin Rangarajan (left) and Michael Hemati got help from their mentor, Hanmin Lee.
By Yarrow Madrona Staff Writer Michael Hemati and Sachin Rangarajan, cofounders of SmartDerm, operate their medical device startup company from the Mission Bay QB3 garage. There, they are developing technology to predict and prevent pressure ulcers—commonly called bedsores—in hospital patients. They are developing thin sensors that measure a patient’s pressure profile and position while bed bound. The data is sent to risk assessment software installed on a mobile device, where algorithms calculate when and how these patients should be moved in order to reduce the risk of developing pressure ulcers. Eventually, they aim to develop a hardware interface with automated patient repositioning. Their work was inspired by the frequent occurrence of bedsores in immobile patients and incentivized by a recent Medicare and Medicaid policy that denied reimbursment for preventable injuries termed “never events.” In 2013, Hemati and Rangarajan joined the joint UC Berkeley–UCSF Masters of Translational Medicine program. They met in the first couple of weeks of the program through a project development team. They graduated last spring and have been working with UCSF since then to improve previously developed sensor prototypes. Hemati and Rangarajan said they have been greatly assisted in their transition from academia to startup by Dr. Hanmin Lee, their mentor and SmartDerm cofounder. Lee helped develop clinical and legal connections through the Department of Surgery and the UCSF Innovation, Technology and Alliances Office. They also credit the Clinical and Translational Science Institute with giving them the direction to turn an idea into a viable company. The CTSI also granted them a Spring 2014 Catalyst Award. Synapse sat down with Hemati and Rangarajan to talk to them about this new technology and their journey in cofounding SmartDerm Inc.
Synapse: What is the motivation for this new technology? Hemati: There is now a higher cost associated with increased nurse labor under the current system. Nurses check and reposition patients approximately every two hours, which is an inefficient use of their time. Our system aims to automate this time-intensive process and improve patient outcomes. How did you improve upon the existing technology when you first started? Hemati: We came in and re-analyzed the technology for pressure sensors and risk assessment software. Our team designed sensors, wrote code and developed algorithms. We re-analyzed the materials, got clinical feedback, and created a whole new line of prototypes in the past six months. What makes your technology unique? Hemati: A lot of the current technologies have one aspect where they either do just pressure sensing or risk assessment. Our approach is to combine these multiple avenues to create a complete stand-alone system to prevent pressure ulcers. Rangarajan: When it comes to solving this problem, it really requires a multidisciplinary approach. Right now there is a variety of pressure sensing mats except they use existing pressure sensor technology developed for industrial applications. They have very accurate pressure sensors but are extremely expensive. Hospitals are not adopting them. Will you implement clinical feedback into your product design? Hemati: Our approach is to talk with nurses to see what their user requirements are for using a device such as ours. We take these requirements and we incorporate them into our product development. Rangarajan: [One is able to] go in directly to the hospitals, and work with surgeons, nurses and patients to get data and feedback on our device. This cycle and turnaround is something that really draws us. You credit CTSI for giving you direction; how did they guide you?
Puzzles » The Crossword
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Rangarajan: Working with CTSI really helped us revamp our idea to realize what our value proposition was and how we needed to pitch this to make it a profitable idea. [They helped us] develop into an actual business—not just a cool research project. What do you think are some of the differences between a medical Solution to Sudoku technology company and a therapeutic company? biotechnology Rangarajan: My initial focus was to create new medical therapies. [As an we were working on undergraduate] various stem cell projects. But I realized the timeline for that was too long for me to a direct impact. That’s why Iwanted to see transition into something thathasa shorter timeline. We just started our work a year ago and will soon begin implementing intoclinics. I think the time to SmartDerm patient impact in this field is much faster and much more exciting. So in some respects this is similar to the technology industry timeline?
HOW TO SOLVE: (Answer appears elsewhere in this issue)
SOLUTIONS » PAGE 10
Hemati: That’s what draws me as well. You can work from an idea on paper to having a physical device you can hand off to somebody and see that it has a direct beneficial impact on people’s lives. What is the biggest difference between academic research and research at SmartDerm? Rangarajan: With any kind of new technology you don’t know what direction you’re going, especially when it comes to making a new medical device and trying to integrate business, clinical and research aspects. [In academia] the approach has also always been more methodical and slow. For us, our rate of rapid prototyping, testing and development is on a completely different scale. But I guess that’s what also makes it fun. It’s always a new challenge each day. Trying to get things done by a certain timeline. Bringing all the different parts together is a really rewarding experience. Yarrow Madrona is a postdoctoral scholar at UCSF.
synapse.ucsf.edu
| February 5, 2015 | 9
Saturday and Sunday
Come and see the future of biomedical research at the Free Exhibition
BiOS EXPO
BiOS TECHNICAL CONFERENCE
Saturday and Sunday, 7–8 February 2015 The Moscone Center · San Francisco, California, USA
BiOS EXPO
TECHNICAL CONFERENCE
EXHIBITION IS FREE
2,200 PRESENTATIONS Registration fees vary
The world’s largest biomedical optics and biophotonics exhibition. See the latest devices, components, and instrumentation for diagnostics and therapeutics. Find solutions for your lab or company.
The latest information on biomedical optics, diagnostics and therapeutics, biophotonics, molecular imaging, optical microscopy, optical coherence tomography, and optogenetics is presented and discussed.
SATURDAY HOT TOPICS · 7:00 to 9:00 pm Symposium Chairs
James Fujimoto
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA)
Part of
SPIE Photonics West 2015 7–12 February 2015 SPIE Photonics West is the most influential conference for biomedical optics, biophotonics, translational research, industrial lasers, 3D printing, optoelectronics, microfabrication, MOEMS-MEMS, displays, and more.
www.spie.org/biosexpo
R. Rox Anderson, M.D. Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard School of Medicine (USA)
· 20,000 attendees · 2 free exhibitions · 1,250 exhibiting companies · 4,700 technical presentations · 20 plenary presentations (Including recent Nobel Prize Winners) · 40 technical and networking events · 65 courses, and more
10 | February 5, 2014
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Continued » Butte
» FROM FRONT PAGE
Institute aids in ‘Big Data’ work
far, working in areas ranging from statistical genetics to high-throughput imaging and machine learning. The institute has also started to examine how it can improve curriculum for UCSF students. “[We have been] surveying the landscape of teaching in the professional schools and the graduate schools for quantitative disciplines: where are things now, where should they be, where are the gaps,” said Pollard. “I hope [Dr. Butte] and the people he recruits will really expand the breadth and depth of the courses we can offer.” Students also have hopes for new changes on campus. “I think what this institute will do is bring in some opportunities for more formal training on how to actually deal with big data, how to parse these huge data sets, [and] how to properly analyze them,” said Raul Torres, a fourth-year graduate student and computational biologist. Beyond students, the institute and Butte have a vision of impacting all aspects of UCSF—from the bench, to the clinic, all the way to the patient. Its inception should help break down remaining silos separating basic science and clinical practice, hopefully leading to new breakthroughs for patients. As Pollard said, “From the point of view of the patients, I think Atul honestly really hopes to have an impact in that area. I think he would be disappointed if … in the five-year time frame things he and the
people working in this institute were doing hadn’t changed practice in the hospitals.” The institute’s founding is part of the effort by UCSF to take advantage of larger and larger data sets being generated by cheaper technology. As Torres said, “When I first became a graduate student a little over three-and-a-half years ago, we were talking about thousands of genomes. And now we’re talking about hundreds of thousands of genomes.” With this big data comes the possibility of learning information only available from large sample sizes, such as identifying rare genomic variants that contribute to diseases. The institute already has begun to work toward these goals by teaming up with existing UCSF efforts to input patientcare data into a data warehouse. The warehouse will hold all of the electronic medical records and also provide information for people studying quality of care. Of course, data aggregation is only a start toward improved practices. The more difficult process will be sorting through the data to find meaningful trends that can improve patient outcomes and inform basic research. With the arrival of Dr. Butte in April, the institute will be a step closer to coalescing its goals and making UCSF a pioneer in computational health practices. Pollard best summed up the anticipation of Butte’s arrival: “We’re really excited that Atul’s coming. Everybody from … the most basic scientist to the most applied-person working totally in the hospital could get behind him, and that’s really unique.” Lauren Shields is a fourth-year BMS student.
Look out for an interview with Atul Butte in the Feb. 19 issue of the Synapse.
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Puzzle Solutions » » FROM PAGE 8
Solution to Crossword:
S A L T E R
O R I O L E
L I N N E T
O A K
C R E R E A S E N T A D R E U F O C A L L E C L A R E E V D E E
M A S T O I D
E X T E R N
S T A N D H I N E N A L A P I N T S E E M A
L L A M A
D E B
T A O R I T L P P R R E O F V E E R
G A P F E E N E D N T P R L A E N N T A R Y
A M I D
M O N O T M O A N H E O U D T I S M U I S D E
E N T R A N C E
G O A T E E
I C I C L E
T E T H E R
Solution to Sudoku
Crossword Sudoku
Housing
» FROM FRONT PAGE
Committee says new students have priority
Prior to 2013, professional students could stay in housing for five years, and graduate students could stay for six years. The committee also recommended that the timing of leases be adjusted such that they end during the summer, regardless of when they start during the year. “We were trying to improve the situation for the large cohort of students arriving in the summer period,” said Cyster. Currently, people are limited to two years in student housing, and those limits will remain the same. To encourage older students who have already taken advantage of several years of below-market rents, those who have been in housing for three years or more may be subject to additional rent increases, beyond the standard rental increase. In addition to the recommendations made by the housing advisory committee, the Office of Financial Aid is compiling
the results of a cost-of-living survey. This survey is similar to one conducted by the Graduate Student’s Association in 2012. The 2012 survey showed that while most students were able to eventually find a place to live in the city, many students struggled if they had to move, on average paying at least $100 more per month after a move. One anonymous student said in a comment on the GSA survey, “Living in San Francisco is so expensive, I decided to move to Oakland. Now, my commute is long, but at least my rent is reasonable.” Current students also remain pessimistic about the housing situation. “The campus housing advisory committee is playing a shell game, quickly moving around terms and eligibilities with the promise that under one of these schemes UCSF will find a magic pea that can solve its housing ills,” said Richard Parenteau, an MSTP student, in an e-mail. “Yet the truth is this: there is no pea, and no amount of shuffling the units we have in campus housing will solve our current housing crisis.” When and how the senior leadership will take tangible steps in response to the housing advisory committee’s recommendations—and the degree to which they improve the lives of UCSF students—remain to be seen. Bryne Ulmschneider is a fourth-year Tetrad student. Taylor LaFlam is a fourth-year BMS / sixth-year MSTP student.
Humans of UCSF »
Humans of UCSF is a student-run photography and multimedia project aimed at putting a name to the faces we see on campus. We want to learn about the diverse experiences of the UCSF community and get a glimpse of our shared humanity. You can view the project on our Facebook page (facebook.com/UCSFsynapse) or on our website (synapse.ucsf.edu/humans-of-ucsf).
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Hanna Starobinets/Synapse
“We’re in the process of planning recruitment, and it’s reminding me a lot of last year— this was me interviewing at schools, deciding where I’d end up, getting really nervous about that. And I can look back now, a year later, and know that I definitely made the right decision. I love UCSF, especially the friends I’ve made here, like Jorge.” “UCSF was my No. 1 top choice for graduate school, and just coming here and seeing the breadth and excellence of the students and faculty has been a blessing. It’s been hard—grad school is tough—but I just love it here. Definitely people like Francesca have made the transition a lot easier.”
—Francesca Aloisio and Jorge Ortiz–Carpena First-year BMS Ph.D. students As told to Hanna Starobinets
synapse.ucsf.edu
| February 5, 2015 | 11
» Student Life
Conference highlights health technology Discussion centers on data questions, showcases cool gadgets
By Andrea Villaroman Staff Writer
On Jan. 15, UCSF kicked off the semester with its second annual Informatics and Digital Health conference at Mission Bay Conference Center. The event coincided with JP Morgan’s 33rd annual healthcare conference in San Francisco, by some accounts the industry’s largest and most informative health care investment symposium. According to Rock Health, the past decade has seen a surge in venture capital investment with a record-breaking funding year in 2014 at more than $4 billion. The multitude of startups spawning in the Bay Area, including well-known fitness wearable startups like FitBit and JawBone, testifies to this. “There is so much data out there and all that information is starving for attention,” said Atul Butte, new executive director for UCSF’s Institute of Computational Health Sciences during the UCSF conference. With so much spawning out of the big data age, what does a successful digital health technology look like? Many discussions involve trends such as virtual reality, robotics, mobile health applications, brain-computer interface, telemedicine and wearable health monitors like watches and earpieces. Yet, making the new technology commercially viable remains a challenge for the industry as a whole. As Butte said in comparing the ups and downs of cuttingedge advances, “a rollercoaster is thrilling for some and scary for others.” Technology Cool technology is a huge promise for many startups, but it often requires months or years of developer work before it can be applied for consumers.
For example, hospitals have the capacity to monitor a plethora of physiological metrics: heart rate, respiratory rate, glucose levels and skin electrical conductivity. The UCSF-Samsung Digital Health Innovation Lab emphasizes the development of novel sensors into their wearable SIMband module. These sensors would accurately help humans listen to their body and interpret what is happening in real time. The “electrocardiogram” sensor can output blood pressure and heart rate estimates. Traditionally, however, electrocardiograms use multiple skin electrodes and robust algorithmic models that can only be interpreted with a trained eye. Instead, “wearable” monitoring technology relies on biomedical models and data collection; hence, readings are somewhat compromised. Despite this, many are optimistic that with further development, sensor technology could create new avenues for intuitive human use.
Patient data-sharing With the lifespan of wearable tech averaging about three months, Samsung collaborators posed the question, “How do you get the user engaged?” Many patientreported outcome websites, for example, rely on social media and data sharing between patients. However, patients must be willing to reveal private data and feel that they receive something in return. Glooko.com, a disease management site that links blood glucose meters, is one example of a user-friendly mobile application offering data analytics. Patients get a better idea of the best way to manage their disease in return for sharing their glucose monitor and lifestyle data. Perception of technology must also be
Susan Merrell/UCSF News Tim Reha, left, CEO of New Media Synergy, assists Warren Kibbe, director of the Center for Biomedical Informatics and Information Technology at the National Cancer Institute, with 3–D glasses. These were one of many heath-related innovations discussed at the digital health conference on Jan. 15.
positive or readily changed. While technology advances, digital health challenges privacy concerns and the human dynamic of care practices. In the past, talking to a “computer” on the telephone about a medical condition was an undesirable. However, automated and electronic doctors and nurses are gaining more traction as their programs become more knowledgeable and more patient-centric.
Infrastructure needs
Perhaps the most difficult challenge for emerging digital health technologies is the need for infrastructure in federal regulations, clinical research and the financial model of health care. Current health industry paradigms often impede development. A technology needs to demonstrate that adoption results in a
higher return on investment over existing technologies. The benefit would need to be radical enough to push doctors to overhaul their existing care practices if necessary. In addition, insurance companies’ tendency to resist redefinition to their longstanding reimbursement models may hamper even the most tech-friendly practices. Sherpaa’s telemedicine model, for instance, encourages social engagement of patients, doctors and nurses with mobile technology. This blurs the lines between payer and payee; do you charge insurance companies for the time a doctor spends on the phone with a patient? Do you charge money for time with a robot? Andrea Villaroman is a research coordinator in the School of Medicine.
UC health workers employ Regents’ visit to Mission Bay rare strike tactic in dispute sees surprisingly little unrest
Sean Treacy–Abarca Staff Writer
BERKELEY—Physicians from UCSF Student Health and 10 other University of California student health centers went on strike Tuesday, Jan. 27 with the support of the Union of American Physicians. The union noted that the strike marked the first time in nearly 25 years that licensed medical doctors had gone on strike in the United States. Supporters chanted, “Prioritize students’ health first!” as they congregated at the UC Berkeley’s Tang health services center to protest as talks for their first contract have stalled. Other rallies occurred at UC Davis, UCLA and UC San Diego. “We wanted basic information about budget constraints and we got nothing,” said striking UC Santa Cruz physician Linda Kirby at the UC Berkeley picket lines. Physicians at 10 University of California campuses unionized in November 2013 and have been in talks with campus administrators over their first union contract. Talks stalled after UC administration have shown reluctance on detailing discretionary budgets of university chancellors as well as the breakdown of how student fees are appropriated. Although striking physicians noted that contract negotiations provided the impetus for the current work stoppage, the union originally formed in order to advocate for improved student
health care services. “All of the physicians that work with us and this union are all incredibly dedicated to the best quality of student health center services,” said Lynne Alper, a UC Berkeley physician and bargaining team member. Currently, the union has more than 150 physicians at all 10 UC campuses that have supported the measure to go on strike. These health care professionals provide services for students such as flu shots, psychiatric counseling and urgent care services. This differs from the larger cohort of physicians at the various UC medical center campuses, which are represented by a distinct and separate union and were not involved in the negotiations. Those larger health care centers such as UCSF’s Medical Center operated normally. Left behind at the vacated student health centers were administrators, many of them medical doctors as well, who said they would take charge of any student requiring emergency or urgent care treatments. However,, some non-urgent appointments had to be moved to other days as a result of the physician walk out. Striking physicians were due to return to their posts the following day, though union officials noted that further work stoppages may be necessary and possible in the near future. Seant Treacy–Abarca is a research specialist at the Hooper Foundation.
Lauren Shields/ Synapse A lone police car amd news van sit outside the UC Regents meeting in the Rutter Center at Mission Bay.
Although campuswide e-mail messages warned in advance of possible large-scale protests during the UC Regents’ recent visit, concerns proved unfounded. Despite contentious debates over tuition increases and other matters, few—if any—protestors made an appearance at the Mission Bay Conference Center on Jan. 21 and 22. The Regents discussed an array of issues, including the appointment of Rachael Nava as UC executive vice president and chief operating officer. Nava formerly served as COO for the nonprofit
Central California Alliance for Health. The board also approved an amendment increasing the threshold of President Janet Napolitano’s spending on capital improvement projects without board approval from $60 million to $70 million. A complete agenda and live streaming of the open sessions is available online at regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/ meetings/agendas/jan15.html. The Regents are scheduled to return to Mission Bay for their next three bimonthly meetings in March, May and July, as well as in November.
12 | February 5, 2014
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» Dear Mama M
More than animal attraction?
Dear Mama M, I don’t know why, but I keep dating people who “aren’t good for me.” That’s what my friends and family tell me. I don’t even know really what they mean, but I am starting to wonder about it as I get older. In general, I just know we are attracted to be together a lot, and we enjoy each other’s company most of the time. What should I be asking myself, to know if I am choosing the right person to date, and even maybe to commit to, someday?
Sincerely, How Do I Know
Dear “How,” I was married once, to a crazy-assed,
» Comics
homeless Englishman. The reasons I got married are long and complicated and have to do with living in NYC in the ’80s, Green Cards and what not. But, one thing I will say, I had an amazing run of crazy, wild, fun and adventure. Was he good for me? Illustration by Joe M Was he the “right” person? Did I need to live in a tent and wander around the country laughing my ass off and living on coffee and cigarettes? I think for me, yes, I did! Do I want to live like that right now? Probably not, but what a way to learn to grow into what I do want. If your mind persists in asking questions about the right person, try these:
• Am I connected with myself? Am I connected with my joy?
• Does this person know how to connect to their own self and their own joy?
• Do we like each other? Do our bodies like each other? Our spirits? • But most importantly, am I having fun?
Often, as I read these heartfelt questions,
Piled Higher and Deeper
» Caption Contest Results from Jan. 22 caption contest
Winner: “Generic: 10 cents vs. Brand Name: $2.50.” –Kathy Bailey
If you have a funny or clever caption to describe the scene below, submit it online to Facebook (www.facebook.com/ UCSFSynapse) or Twitter (@UCSF_Synapse) using the hashtag #SynapseCaption. The winning captions will be printed in the next issue, and the best overall UCSF student caption winner will receive a $5 BearHug redeemable at many campus vendors (to be picked up in-person at the Synapse office in Millberry Student Union, Parnassus). Also, if you have a funny original photo of life around UCSF that you’d like to share, or any other content or ideas to contribute, feel free to email us at synapse@ucsf.edu.
I hear another question behind the words written in front of me. Mostly, underneath a question is a fear or a worry. With you, sugar, I am wondering what you really fear? Do you fear the opinions of others? Do you fear making a mistake of love? Are you afraid of wasting time with attraction if it does not lead to commitment? I think love is a cliff you just have to fall over. … You either get bruises and broken bones or you don’t. There is no way of knowing until you jump. That said, you can know more about the terrain before you jump, if you so choose. I also wonder what your friends mean, when they say you are dating someone who is not “good for you.” Do they mean, “You don’t look happy sweetheart, maybe you should dump your lover.” Or are they saying, “We are worried that you are getting lost. We can’t find you anymore. We think this relationship is changing you in ways we don’t understand.” Or, are they saying, “You know, you didn’t used to smoke crack and your new partner seems like a bad influence on you.” So, I guess if you want to use your friends and family as guides, you need to get clarification on the ways in which a certain person is not good for you. Let me admit to you that I am no expert on love or doing what is good for me. I have dated some of the craziest people on the planet and I can only tell you that they have all been important. To be perfectly honest, sugar, I am not sure that we are even having relationships with other people. I am of the belief that most of our relationships are projections and that if we want to connect with another person in any meaningful way, we need to claim ourselves. It is not a
romantic or popular view, and you need to discover what you believe. But, I think it makes sense to examine the ways in which we engage with the world to see what we are here to learn. Sometimes we project all of our amazing qualities on to another person and then “fall in love” with these qualities, thinking they belong to someone else. Conversely, we also can project all our shadowy qualities onto someone else and become “attracted to people who are no good for us.” I am of the belief that there is no right or wrong person. Primary process: We make a choice. Secondary process: We react to that choice. Life arises and then we assign meaning to what we experience. We can either have solid, loving relationships with ourselves and see that in other people; or we can look to others to fill in our spaces. The latter is the more popular path. You ask: What should I be asking myself, to know if I am choosing the right person to date and even, maybe, to commit to, someday? Well, sugar, these are just my own thoughts, my personal way of answering your question, using the reasoning that comes from my heart. … What you need to do is to listen carefully for the reasoning that comes from your own uniquely wise heart. And remember, it may not always seem logical, but your heart will be your most trusted guide in this journey. “The heart has its reasons whereof Reason knows nothing.” —Blaise Pascal Good luck in your adventures, my dear one. Mama M
xkcd
By Jorge Cham
By Randall Monroe