Advance Research Digest - Summer 2017

ADVANCING RESEARCH FROM LAB TO LIFE A Biannual Research Digest of the University of Tennessee Medical Center

On the Horizon:

Amyloidosis research at UTMC

Research Spotlight: Health Literacy Summit

Studies in Brief:

Wall receives NIH grant Quality Improvement Research Forensic Dentistry Rare Disease Day Cancer Research Symposium

Summer 2017

Wisdom for Your Life.

Spirit of Discovery…

Observations

Table of Contents

This issue focuses on amyloid disease and the exciting research at the medical center on amyloidosis-related diseases such as multiple myeloma and Alzheimer’s disease. Light chain-associated (AL) amyloidosis is one of the most common forms of amyloid; it affects liver, kidneys, heart and skin and has a high mortality, especially when not diagnosed early.It is considered a rare or “orphan” disease, with approximately 5000 new cases in the US every year. The commitment of the amyloid research group to focused, in-depth research that can be brought to the clinic and benefit patients is what UTMC is all about. We strive through basic and clinical research, and quality systems analysis to better our patient’s lives and their experience in the clinical setting. Our researchers have had an impact in a number of areas. Dr. Orucivic’s published research on predicting outcomes in breast cancer using readily available clinical information is a good example of analyzing patient information and using it to help other patients in the future.

The research in forensic dentistry, which has been ongoing at UTMC for many years has enabled forensic experts to respond quickly and effectively in times of disaster like during the Gatlinburg fires of last year. While I still call the Health Information Center the “library”, it is obvious that the group there does more than restack books. Their comprehensive research sources and expertise can improve delivery of information to our patients helping them navigate the health care system and understand the information given by providers in the hospital. Improving our communication, both literary and verbal, will improve patient’s health and treatment outcomes. Finally, at UTMC we have three missions, patient care, research and education. Dr. Martin’s ascendency from undergraduate student to faculty in the Graduate School of Medicine is an excellent example of fulfillment of the latter and the commitment of our students to continue to work to benefit patients.

Featured Researcher: Emily Martin Health Literacy Forensic Dentistry and the Gatlinburg fires In Brief: Wall receives NIH grant In Brief: Quality Improvement Research Defined

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10 In Brief: Rare Disease Day 11 In Brief: Cancer Research Symposium 12 News 13 In Brief: Breast Cancer Nomogram

Advance

Issue 14: Summer 2017 Publishers James Neutens, Ph.D. Mitch Goldman, M.D. Managing Editors Kristen Vandergriff, M.S. Rachel Echols Contributors Mitch Goldman, M.D. Kandi Hodges Photography Kandi Hodges Design Jerry Tracy/J Squared Graphics Advance is produced by the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine. The mission of the digest is to spotlight research programs at the institution and explain how the work of our researchers impacts health care in East Tennessee and beyond.

Institutional Review Board All research using human volunteers follows stringent federal regulations that require a review by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) before it is approved. The IRB committee is comprised of physicians, pharmacists, scientists, researchers and non-scientific community representatives. The members review research protocol to ensure protections are in place.

Faculty from the UT Graduate School of Medicine influence medical care across the world by publishing and presenting.

For a comprehensive list of publications and presentations, visit http://gsm.utmck.edu/scholars Contact Us Advance UT Graduate School of Medicine Kristen Vandergriff 1924 Alcoa Hwy., Box 93, Knoxville TN, 37920 Telephone: 865-305-9749 E-mail: klvandergriff@utmck.edu Web: http://gsm.utmck.edu

Mitchell H. Goldman, M.D.

Assistant Dean of Research University of Tennessee, Graduate School of Medicine

Wisdom for Your Life.

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FEATURED RESEARCHER »»»»»»

Emily Martin

From student researcher to assistant professor Emily Martin, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, began her career at The University of Tennessee Medical Center as an undergraduate student in 2009. At that time, she was a volunteer researcher with the Molecular Imaging and Translational Research Program which sparked her interests in research as a career. Dr. Martin has always been interested in science, but she had planned to pursue a career in medicine as a physician. After spending time out of the classroom and in the laboratory at the medical center, it was clear to her that research as a full-time career was something she was interested in.

“In this environment, I watched scientists not only work together, but also think together,” Dr. Martin said. “The ideas and opinions of everyone in the group were considered valuable, and in that room, the passion for research was tangible. It lured me in, and I have been hooked ever since.”

After completing her undergraduate studies, Dr. Martin enrolled in the Comparative and Experimental Medicine Graduate program through the University of Tennessee. This program is unique in that it is a partnership program between UT Knoxville, the UT College of Veterinary Medicine, and The University of Tennessee Medical Center. As a graduate student, Dr. Martin worked in the Amyloidosis and Cancer Theranostics Program under the direction of Jonathan Wall, Ph.D. In the second year of her graduate studies, Dr. Martin received a small internal grant from the Physicians Medical and Education Research Foundation which aided in the completion of imaging studies for her dissertation. During the course of her studies, she presented her work at several national and international meetings including: Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) 2011 in San Antonio, TX; SNMMI 2012 in Miami, FL; World Molecular Imaging Society (WMIS) 2011 in San Diego, CA; WMIS 2012 in Dublin, Ireland; WMIS 2013 in Savannah, GA; International Symposium on

Amyloidosis (ISA) 2012 in Groningen, Netherlands and; ISA 2014 in Indianapolis, IN. She applied for travel awards from the Amyloidosis Foundation to attend the ISA meetings and felt fortunate to receive the travel award both years. Additionally, at both ISA meetings, Dr. Martin won the Best Presentation award. Her dissertation— “Characterization and development of amyloidreactive peptides as tracers for quantitative molecular imaging”—was completed in 2014.

Upon completion of her doctorate degree, Dr. Martin joined the medical center as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine working in Dr. Wall’s Amyloidosis and Cancer Theranostics Program. As a new faculty member, in addition to her ongoing research, she set her sights on areas of the program in which she could make the biggest impact. Despite having a world-renowned amyloidosis program at the medical center, Dr. Martin noticed the lack of patient support in the Knoxville area. This led her to attend a patient support group at Duke to see if it was something she should try to bring to Knoxville.

“Until that day at Duke, I had never actually met a patient with this horrible disease,” Dr. Martin said.” When I was able to physically speak to and listen to those afflicted by the disease I have spent years studying, I was incredibly inspired”.

Dr. Martin was able to jumpstart a patient support group in Knoxville with the help of Charlotte Haffner, Director of the Amyloidosis Foundation. With her help and the support of the entire Amyloidosis and Cancer Theranostics laboratory, the first patient support group in Knoxville was hosted in June 2016. The support group was such a success that its second meeting was in October 2016. With Charlotte’s connections to the Amyloidosis Foundation, they were able to host internationally renowned speakers in amyloidosis research. With favorable reviews from the patients and family members in attendance, Dr. Martin is already planning future meetings in Knoxville.

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Dr. Martin also identified a research opportunity that could potentially impact amyloidosis patients, and the Amyloidosis Foundation awarded a prestigious $50,000 junior research grant known as the Donald C. Brockman Memorial Research Grant, in support of her proposal. Dr. Martin’s project will evaluate a novel test for identifying patients who have multiple myeloma, or a similar disease, who are at risk of developing light chain (LC) amyloidosis—a deadly disease for which new treatments may be available in the near future. Early detection of amyloidosis is key to improved survival. She will study light chain proteins, isolated from patients’ urine, for their ability to make amyloid fibrils.

Based on the lab’s previous work, she believes this

is a simple test that will identify LC proteins that have a tendency to form amyloid deposits before symptoms of the disease appear in patients. The Donald C. Brockman Memorial Research Grant award is given in memory of one of the co-founders of the Amyloidosis Foundation who passed away in 2004 after being diagnosed with amyloidosis. His disease progressed from a different initial diagnosis, but once his amyloid was detected, it was too late. It was his story that inspired the focus for Dr. Martin’s project, and she hopes her research will be able to make a difference for these patients by enabling them to be diagnosed and treated earlier. Dr. Martin personifies the values of service, research, and innovation promoted by UTHSC. 3

Health Information Center Analyzes Organizational

Low health literacy affects people of all ages and education levels, but it is more common among older patients and those with low income or education. These characteristics describe a high percentage of the patient population in the 21 county area served by The University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC). Patients with low health literacy are less able to manage chronic conditions, have increased readmission rates, frequently return to the emergency department for the same conditions, and are less likely to get health screenings. For these reasons, health care costs are higher for low health literate patients who often arrive in the health care setting with advanced stages of disease.

At first glance, health literacy appears to be a problem that lies with the patient and is incumbent upon them to acquire the necessary skills. However, it is now understood, and generally accepted, that the primary responsibility for improving health literacy lies with the healthcare professionals

and systems. At UTMC, a research task force was created in 2016 to assess the current “organizational health literacy.� The objective was to measure the current state of the organization in order to identify opportunities to reduce existing barriers to patients with low health literacy and to initiate changes at UTMC. The research task force led by the Health Information Center faculty included Sandy Oelschlegel, MLIS, Kelsey Leonard, MSIS, Jennifer Russomanno, MPH, Eric Heidel, PhD, and Emily Pollard, BA. Researchers chose the Health Literacy Environment of Hospitals and Health Centers (HLEHH) because it offers a set of tools to measure five aspects of the health care organization that impact patients with low health literacy. Included in the assessments were: Print Communication, Oral Communication, Navigation, Policies & Protocol, and Technology. Each of the five HLEHH tools were applied sequentially to the environment of UTMC. Data for each

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Research Health Literacy Attributes

assessment was collected over a six-month time period and then analyzed by the research team using both statistical analysis and qualitative research methods. The scope of the project included the following: analyzing 150 print patient education documents for grade level and readability, interviewing 298 patients regarding oral communication with the health care professionals at UTMC, feedback from 7 navigators assigned to find specific target locations within the medical center, measuring policies and protocols knowledge of 77 administrators, and assessing technology using an authoritative source.

Overall, UTMC’s aggregate score ranked in the highest of three categories, which translates to “continue to monitor and

eliminate literacy-related barriers.� Although three of the individual categories also scored in the highest category (print, technology, navigation), these ratings were on the lower end of that range. In addition, two categories scored in the middle category indicating opportunity for improvement (oral communication, policies and protocols).

Researchers reviewed the results of each of the assessments on a question-by-question basis to reveal more granular information on where there are opportunities to improve the health care environment for low health literate patients. These findings will be presented to UTMC administration with recommendations for improvements based on the best evidence to be implemented by 2020.

Why this matters:

Patients with low health literacy are less able to manage chronic conditions, have increased readmission rates, frequently return to the emergency department for the same conditions, and are less likely to get health screenings, finding a way to improve their health literacy helps these patients receive better care 5

Medical Center Team IDs Fire Victims

East Tennessee will feel the cost of the Gatlinburg fires for decades to come. But the families of the 14 people who perished in the fire will be impacted forever. A team from the medical center’s Division of Forensic Odontology and Human Identification offered these families some closure by positively identifying eight of the 14 people who perished in the fire.

The fires happened to occur on the same weekend the team was scheduled to take a forensic class with forensic anthropologist William Bass, PhD, Professor Emeritus from The University of Tennessee. Because the team was already in town, they were able to complete the identifications before any other team.

Daniel Knight, DDS, a dentist in Morristown, Tennessee, headed the effort, while Murray Marks, PhD, Director of the Forensic Odontology Program, coordinated the identifications. In addition to Dr. Hartel, Drs. Knight and Marks were assisted by Beverly Hedgepeth, DDS, Heath Blockley,

DDS, and Dr. Daniel Burgin, DMD, a dentist in the Department of General Dentistry.

Dr. Hedgepeth, who completed the fellowship program last year, had the opportunity to assist Knight in identifying several of the remains.

“For our fellowship, we had just completed the workshop on identification through dental records, so we immediately got to use our knowledge in the field,” said Dr. Hedgepeth. “As practicing dentists, Dr. Hartel and I are used to examining dental records and comparing them to actual teeth, but it was a new experience to use these skills outside of a clinical setting.”

Families who were worried about people they hadn’t heard from requested the dental records, which were provided usually within a day of the request.

“The task was to make IDs for legal purposes and to give closure for the families,” said Hartel. “While we do positive identifications for legal reasons, it’s just as much about closure for the families.”

Why this matters:

The skillset of graduates from the fellowship program were invaluable in our region during this devstating circumstance 6

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IN BRIEF »»»»»»

Researcher Jonathan Wall, PhD, $1 Million to Study Antibody Therapy for Systemic Amyloid Disease We anticipate that this novel, two-stage immunotherapy will enhance the effectiveness of current treatments for AL patients and potentially extend the utility of antibodies to other forms of systemic amyloid disease.”

There is no cure for light chain amyloidosis currently, and the prognosis for patients is poor with a median survival of less than three years. Using technology that Dr. Wall and his team have worked with for years, the goal of this project is to take this new peptope and combine it with antibodies that are already approved for use in industry in the hopes of it moving to clinical trials much faster.

“Even though this project is early in development, we have already started conversations with stakeholders to maximize the success of this project,” Dr. Wall said. “Our lab is absolutely dedicated to the translation of research. We do everything to try and generate novel agents that will hopefully, benefit patients. This approach will complement and extend current antibody-based therapies for amyloid removal, thereby restoring organ function and securing long-term survival and remission for patients with light chain amyloidosis.”

Dr. Wall has been with UTHSC since January 1995, and has received continuous funding to study Amyloidosis for almost 10 years. The Knoxville research program has been working on Amyloidosis for over 50 years, developing new diagnostic techniques and drugs for this very rare disease.

The amyloidoses are a group of rare diseases that are a consequence of abnormal protein (amyloid) deposits in various body tissues and organs.

Characterized as systemic or localized, light chainassociated amyloidosis (AL) is the most common form of systemic amyloid disease, with an estimated 4,500 new cases each year in the United States.

Systemic amyloid disease can cause serious damage to virtually any organ of the body, including the kidneys, heart, and lungs.

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s Jonathan Wall, PhD, professor in the Graduate School of Medicine and director of the Amyloidosis and Cancer Theranostics Program in Knoxville, has been studying amyloidosis for over 20 years. He recently received a new three-year grant totaling $1,050,000 from the National Institutes of Health to study “Pre-targeting Immunotherapy for Light Chain (AL) Amyloidosis.” For this project, Dr. Wall is working to develop a novel, two-stage immunotherapy that will increase the success of currently available treatments for AL patients and possibly widen the opportunities of using such antibody-based therapies to other forms of systemic amyloid disease. His grant will assess the use of novel bifunctional “peptope,” a combination of a pan-amyloid-reactive peptide and a linear epitope sequence, that targets amyloid deposits for removal.

“By adding this peptope we found that it attracts antibodies to sites of amyloid deposition and signals for amyloid removal to commence,” Dr. Wall said. “

Why this matters:

Funding from the NIH helps this research team work on this rare disease that otherwise does not get a lot of attention in the medical field 8

IN BRIEF »»»»»»

Quality Improvement (QI) Vs Human Research

What distinguishes QI activities from research? There is often a fine line between the two. Federal regulations do not define QI. Research is defined in the federal regulations as a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge 45 CFR 46. QI has been described as using existing knowledge to improve health care outcomes within a local health care institution to improve a process or system. Research projects must meet HIPAA requirements. QI falls under the HIPAA category of Health Care Operations.

So how does a clinician determine if their project is QI or research? Answers to the following should be considered: what is the purpose or goal of the activity, what are the risks and benefits, how will the data be analyzed and what is the intent of the results?

The goal of QI is to make healthcare better by creating a better process, or creating a better system within the clinician’s institution. The goal of research is to answer a research question that can be expanded outside the institution and applied to other populations. Research may put subjects at risk. QI does not increase risks to patients

other than the potential risk of a loss of confidentiality. Research may not benefit current subjects but may benefit society in the future where QI benefits a process or system.

Both research and QI include systematic data collection. Research statistically proves or disapproves a hypothesis. QI compares systems to an established set of standards.

Research answers a research question where QI improves or creates a system that results in greater safety or efficiency.

A misconception is that the intent to publish a QI project means that the project is research and needs IRB approval. But the intent to publish does not mean that the QI activity meets the definition of research.

Human research is governed by the IRB; QI is not. However, submission of QI projects to the IRB is required for GSM residents, fellows and trainees to ensure an authoritative determination of whether an activity does or does not meet the definition of research with human subjects. If a QI project contains a research element, federal regulations that govern human research at 45 CRF 46 will apply and the final determination of whether an activity is QI or human research requiring IRB review will be made by the GSM IRB.

References: OHRP Quality Improvement Activities Frequently Asked Questions https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/guidance/faq/quality-improvement-activities/index.html

Why this matters:

Both research and quality improvement projects are carried out by researchers and faculty at UTMC to improve the care that patients receive.

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IN BRIEF »»»»»»

New Online Breast Cancer Nomogram Predicts Oncotype DX Breast Cancer Recurrence Score Amila Orucevic, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pathology, has created a nomogram to predict the Oncotype DX breast cancer recurrence score in collaboration with John Bell, MD, Professor and Director of the Cancer Institute; Alison McNabb, MS, Director of Health Information and Management Services; and Eric Heidel, PhD, Biostatistician and Assistant Professor. This nomogram can be used to help clinicians and patients evaluate the probability that a patient’s breast cancer has a low-risk or a high-risk Oncotype DX recurrence score. The nomogram uses readily available clinical information to predict a recurrence score otherwise obtained by pathology analysis.

Oncotype DX is a commercially available 21-gene breast cancer test that predicts the 10-year likelihood of breast cancer recurrence for patients treated with tamoxifen. It also helps determine the benefit of using chemotherapy along with anti-estrogen therapy for the same patients.

Oncotype DX test is an expensive test and is used in approximately 30% of eligible breast cancer patients in the United States and in less than 20% of breast cancer patients in Europe. The nomogram created at the UT Graduate School of Medicine at the University of Tennessee Medical Center helps predict the Oncotype DX breast cancer recurrence test results without actually performing the test.

The team’s project was published in the May issue of Breast Cancer Research and Treatment (DOI: 10.1007/s10549017-4170-3) and outlines the utilization of this nomogram. The nomogram uses

clinicopathologic variables readily available from any breast cancer patient pathology report to predict the Oncotype DX recurrence score.

“The use of breast cancer genomic prognostic assays, such as Oncotype DX, MammaPrint, EndoPredict and others, is an ideal way of practicing personalized medicine for each breast cancer patient.

These assays provide prognosis for breast cancer patients while identifying ones for which chemotherapy treatment may not be necessary based on the analysis of the genetic makeup of the breast cancer cells of each individual breast cancer patient.

Unfortunately, these tests are expensive and are not affordable or available for many breast cancer patients,” said Dr. Orucevic.

“Therefore, our nomograms may be useful tools to help doctors worldwide select patients for which further Oncotype DX testing may or may not be necessary. They can also be used for patients who can’t afford or access this testing,” said Dr. Orucevic

Why this matters:

This nomogram may be a helpful tool to physicans who are trying to determine if a patient needs further screening 10

IN BRIEF »»»»»»

Amyloid Researchers Celebrate Rare Disease Day February 28

On February 28th, researchers in the Amyloidosis and Cancer Theranostic Research Program celebrated Rare Disease Day® with patients, researchers and health care advocates. As part of this event members of the Amyloidosis Research Program and the Amyloidosis Foundation hosted a disease awareness booth near the Health Information Center-Preston Medical Library at The University of Tennessee Medical Center from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Our Amyloidosis research program is internationally recognized. Nine patents have been issued in the U.S. and internationally with five more pending therapies for amyloidosis, imaging agents for amyloid, therapy for cytomegalovirus, and diagnostics for identifying patients at risk of amyloid.

Additionally, these research efforts have been

awarded $8 million in National Instititutes of Health grants over the last 10 years.

Rare Disease Day occurs each year on the last day of February, and on this day, millions of patients and their families will share their stories to focus a spotlight on rare diseases as a global public health concern.

The day is observed in more than 80 nations.

Patient advocates have joined with the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), the national sponsor of the day in the US, to organize this special event for legislators, legislative staff, the public and the media.

For more information about Rare Disease Day in the U.S. and how you can find an event near you, go to www.rarediseaseday.us.

For information about global activities, visit www.rarediseaseday.org.

Why this matters:

Bringing attention to rare diseases is important for patients and clinicians 11

IN BRIEF »»»»»»

Cancer Research Presented at 3rd Annual Cancer Research Symposium

Several UT Graduate School of Medicine research projects were included among the poster presentations. View abstracts for all UT cancer research projects.

A method for identifying patients with multiple myeloma or monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance who are at risk of developing light chain amyloidosis Emily Martin, Angela Williams, Eric Heidel, Sarah Adams, Ronald Lands, Stephen Kennel and Jonathan Wall

The 3rd Annual Cancer Research Symposium featured the latest in cancer research by UT investigators, including a poster presentation program to share research and collaborate on new ideas, and a presentation by featured speaker Daniel DiMaio, MD, PhD, the Waldemar Von Zedtwitz Professor of Genetics and Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and of Therapeutic Radiology and Deputy Director of the Yale Cancer Institute. More than 20 research poster projects were featured including collaborations among UT institutions as well as national and international collaborations. The symposium is sponsored by UT Cancer Community of Scholars, UT Medical Center, UTK Office of Research and Engagement, Cancer Institute, Departments of Biochemistry and Cellular & Molecular Biology, Genome Science & Technology, Nutrition, Microbiology, and Center for Environmental Biotechnology.

Dr. DiMaio’s presentation discussed, “Building proteins with minimal chemical complexity,” noting that most biochemical reactions are carried out by proteins that are hundreds or thousands of residues long and consists of amino acids with 20 or more chemically distinct side-chains. By exploiting the unique chemistry of protein segments that cross membranes and the power of genetic selection, his team has constructed the simplest biologically active proteins ever described. These 26-residue proteins, named traptamers, provide novel tools to understand protein function and manipulate cell behavior.

Liposomal bupivacaine and pre-operative acetaminophen; Useful in minimally invasive surgery too?

Kelly Schwirian, Randi Connor, Kristopher Kimball, Eric Heidel, S K Adams, Stacy Lenger and Larry Kilgore Anticancer properties of resin isolated from Sciadopitys verticillata David Yates, Hugh Miller III, James Foster, T.A. Ford, Kimberly Gwinn Supplemental selenium may decrease ovarian cancer risk in African-American Women Paul Terry, Bo Qin, Fabian Camacho, Patricia Moorman, Anthony Alberg, Jill Barnholtz-Sloan, Melissa Bondy, Michele Cote, Ellen Funkhouser, Kristin Guertin, Edward Peters, Ann Schwartz, Joellen Schildkraut and Elisa Bandera Changing the quantitative paradigm in PET/CT Dustin Osborne Molecular Imaging & Translational Research Program, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine

Why this matters:

This symposium allows researchers from many campuses to display their work and builds collaborations among our institutions 12

News»

Dr. W. Bedford Waters Named First Chair of Urology

her distinguished career in genetics research, including an extensive study of the K-562 cell line, which she began studying at The University of Tennessee Medical Center in 1970. Although retired, Dr. Lozzio, who still actively collaborates in UTGSM research, has created a cell therapy that has potential use among many types of cancers. She credits the collaborative atmosphere and talented faculty and staff at the University and at Oak Ridge National Laboratory with making her research contributions possible

W. Bedford Waters, MD, has been named the first Chair of the new Department of Urology at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, taking effect July 1. Urology began as a division of the Department of General Surgery in 1983 and initiated its Urology Residency Program in 2004.

Dr. Goldman Receives Lifetime of Excellence Award for Vascular Surgeons

MITRP receives numerous awards

Mitchell Goldman, MD, Assistant Dean for Research and retired vascular surgeon, received the Rudolph Matas Award from the Southern Association for Vascular Surgeons for a lifetime of excellence, achievement and contributions to the field of Vascular Surgery, and service to the organization. Dr. Matas has been called the “Father of Vascular Surgery” and the Rudolph Matas Award was initiated in 2004. The Rudolph Matas Award is the highest award bestowed by the Southern Association for Vascular Surgery

Beeler Recognized as Distinguished Health Information Specialist

Congratulations to Cynthia Beeler, MLS, AHIP, for her Distinguished Membership into the Academy of Health Information Specialists (AHIP). The AHIP credential represents the highest standards of professional competency and achievement in the field of health care information. Beeler serves as an associate professor and clinical librarian at the Health Information Center-Preston Medical Library. Her research focus includes health literacy, reference trends, clinical librarianship’s impact on patient care, and the impact of consumer health information training on public library staff.

The Molecular Imaging and Translational Research Program (MITRP) recently presented 9 works at the 2017 Society of Nuclear Medicine in Molecular Imaging (SNMMI. Shelley Acuff, clinical research leader, and Alan Stuckey, Preclinical Lab Manager, both won $1,000 travel awards for their original research accepted to this conference making this the 5th year in a row they have won this award. Shelley Acuff and Dustin Osborne, Director of the Molecular Imaging Program, received an award for the best CE article published in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Technology for the 2016 calendar year which was accepted at the annual SNMMI Technologist Section Business Meeting. Three radiology residents (Cain Green, Charles Gaston, and Rachel Taylor) attended and presented works at this meeting.

Dr. Lozzio Is Featured UTRF Inventor

Carmen Lozzio, MD, retired Professor of Medicine and geneticist, was featured in the UT Research Foundation’s Inventor Spotlight for

Your Chance to Advance The people at the UT Graduate School of Medicine would be happy to discuss our research programs and how your support can help advance healthcare. For information about philanthropic giving to the UT Graduate School of Medicine Office of Research, please contact the development office at 865-305-6611 or development@utmck.edu.

If you would like more information about any research programs described in this issue of Advance, please contact the UT Graduate School of Medicine’s Research Coordinator, Kristen Vandergriff, at 865-305-9749 or visit online: http://gsm.utmck.edu/research/main.cfm.

Thank you.

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