Volume 8, Issue 3 | Summer 2023

Science Feature

Francesca Marassi, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Biophysics and eminent scholar, discusses her new NIH program project grant.

Ectopic, or misplaced, calcification is a hallmark of major diseases of aging, including AMD and AD, disorders that each represent the leading causes of central vision loss and dementia among the aging population worldwide, and that are currently incurable. There is an urgent need to understand disease mechanisms to enable the development of effective diagnostic and treatment approaches. In this PPG, four projects, an administrative core, and a technical core will synergize to investigate ectopic calcification at the molecular, cellular, and organism levels, and build a comprehensive view of the key molecules and pathways responsible for this aging-related phenomenon. 

Zooming in on ectopic soft tissue calcification. BM: Bruch's membrane, CC: choroid capillaries, CP: collagenous pillars, RPE: retinal pigment epithelium, S: calcified spherule, Vn: vitronectin, HAP: hydroxyapatite

My collaborator, Galia Debelouchina, PhD, University of California San Diego, and I will lead Project 1, which will focus on the molecular structure and function of the calcified deposit assemblies and their components. We will use a range of biophysical techniques, including NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy, to determine how key proteins, cholesterol, fats, and mineral components interact to  cause deposit formation and accumulation. We will also lead the technical core, which will focus on developing chemical biology tools that advance structural and imaging studies in vitro, in cells, and, ultimately, in vivo. Further, I will lead an administrative core to facilitate interactions among PPG investigators and generate a comprehensive view of calcification.

Project 2, led by Richard Thompson, PhD, University of Maryland School of Medicine (Baltimore), will develop and test new methods for tagging deposited biominerals with small molecules that cause the minerals to emit specific colors, or wavelengths, of light that enable imaging. These fluorescent and luminescent sensors will serve as research tools for the other projects and ultimately lead to new tools for diagnosing and monitoring AMD and AD.

Imre Lengyel, PhD, Queen's University Belfast, will lead Project 3, which aims to develop new 2D and 3D cellular models of calcifications that mimic the deposits found in animals and humans. Dr. Lengyel and his team will study how levels of certain proteins, genetic predispositions, environmental factors, and other biological conditions influence deposit formation.

Finally, Project 4, led by Jose Luis Millan, PhD, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, will examine how cells and tissues maintain the right balance of phosphate levels, an essential aspect of healthy bone development. In human adults, approximately 90% of the body’s total phosphorus is contained in bone as hydroxyapatite crystals, which are also part of the errant deposits associated with AMD and AD. 

The principal goal of the PPG is to do basic science and contribute fundamental knowledge about misplaced calcification in disease, but there is also tremendous potential for our discoveries to provide a foundation for new diagnostic techniques and treatments in the future. This approach is best expressed in the MCW mission statement knowledge changing lives, and we are fortunate that the PPG has its start at MCW.

Remembering Dr. James E. Youker

Balaraman Kalyanaraman, PhD, shares a brief history of Dr. Youker's immense impact in making the Department of Biophysics what it is today.

James E. Youker, MD, former chair and professor emeritus of Radiology, passed away on June 12, 2023, and we in Biophysics mourn his loss.

The Department of Biophysics began as the Biophysics Section within the Department of Radiology, of which Dr. Youker was the chair. Dr. Youker was responsible for bringing James S. Hyde, PhD, from Varian Associates in California to MCW, and naming him chief of the Biophysics Section. When Dr. Hyde established the National Biomedical EPR Center, it was part of Radiology, and we were all faculty in Radiology. This structure lasted for a long time, until we became the Biophysics Research Institute under the direction of Dr. Hyde. When I proposed to Mike Dunn (who was Dean at the time) that the Biophysics Research Institute should become a department, Dr. Youker supported my proposition. He had a lot of charisma and convinced the rest of the clinical chairs to support the move. Dr. Youker had the foresight to believe in EPR and that the magnetic resonance technique would become the mainstay of biomedical research. He was a true visionary!

Alumni Q&A

Learn about the diverse career paths our alumni have pursued after graduating from the Biophysics Graduate Program, or—in this case—the Marquette University Engineering and MCW Biophysics joint Functional Imaging Program.

Todd R. Jensen, PhD, Consultant/Software Developer, Jensen Informatics LLC

Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in science? 

A: I think I would describe my career as in engineering rather than science. Math and science were always my favorite subjects since Grade 1. During my undergraduate and graduate studies in Electrical and Computer Engineering at UW-Madison in the late 1980s, I saw demos of early MEG scanners and added a medical physics course that covered MRI. Those experiences made me more focused on pursuing something related to medical imaging as a career after completing my MS in 1990. After a stint in telephony at AT&T Bell Labs, I finally landed a position in the medical imaging industry at General Electric in 1996 and since then have been immersed in the medical imaging field.

Q: Since completing your PhD in Biomedical Engineering in 2006, share with us your career progression to your current role as consultant and software developer at Jensen Informatics, LLC.

A: My PhD degree was in Biomedical Engineering and completed in 2006 as part of the joint functional imaging program that was a collaboration of Marquette University Engineering and MCW Biophysics. I went back to industry as a software developer for Emageon (now part of Meritive after a long series of acquisitions), working on cardiology and radiology applications for a year. This was similar work to what I was doing before my PhD studies for other companies. In 2007, Dr. Kathleen Schmainda (my PhD advisor) and her husband (Michael Schmainda of Imaging Biometrics, LLC) approached me about helping them port Dr. Schmainda’s lab scripts for post-processing MR perfusion-weighted imaging to a commercial product. So, I started my own consulting company for that work, which eventually became Imaging Biometric’s IB Neuro. In addition to IB Neuro and other post-processing plugins for Imaging Biometrics, I reached out to contacts I knew in the medical industry and secured other contracts. Now, 16 years later, I seem to have created a niche for being a person that can help companies implement their ideas for medical imaging software products.

Q: Tell us about your major responsibilities, and the types of projects, committee service, or other activities you might work on in a typical week.

A: A “typical” week involves juggling tasks for two or three projects. The projects generally are medical imaging software products, though very diverse. For example, I currently work on a cloud-based teleradiology PACS in India, web-based clinical trial portals, and post-processing algorithms. Examples of tasks would be designing and implementing a new feature, helping support staff set up and integrate products, triaging DICOM and other issues, or estimating the effort of new requests. Outside my consulting role, I also have been a reviewer for NIH/NCI SBIR grant proposals and contribute to a number medical imaging and informatics open-source projects.

Q: What aspect of your current job do you find most rewarding, and why?

A: The most rewarding aspect of my work is seeing how the products I helped scope and implement are being used to help diagnose and treat patients throughout the world. I am happy to be able to use my skills to help clinicians and support staff do a better job or at least have an easier job. 

Q: What advice do you wish you had been given as a graduate student?

A: I was lucky to have very good mentors as a graduate student at UW-Madison and Marquette University/MCW. I cannot think of any advice I missed out on.

Q: How do you continue learning and growing as a professional? What are some of your habits aside from reading/listening?

A: I try to attend the annual Radiology Society of North America meeting. I do enjoy getting to learn about new areas of clinical research and software development tools as I research and develop new projects for clients.

Department News

Welcome

• Anand Anilkumar (Graduate Student, Sidabras lab)
• Ryan Bonate (Graduate Student, Paulson lab)
• Alyssa Kraft (Graduate Student, Marassi lab)
• Nick Wood (Postdoctoral Fellow, Marassi lab)

Farewell

• Karson Hilgendorf (Research Technologist I, Klug lab)
• Rebecca Holzel (Research Technologist I, Feix lab)

Congratulations

• Gang Cheng and Balaraman Kalyanaraman published an article in Scientific Reports and an article in Free Radical Biology and Medicine.
• Bryna Goeckner published an article in Brain.
• Balaraman Kalyanaraman published his memoir, Bombay to Brew City: Reflections of a Cheesehead from India.
• Michael Lerch was appointed to the Faculty Information Technology Committee.
• Francesca Marassi was awarded a five-year, $13 million program project grant from the National Eye Institute to study misplaced calcification in the eyes and brains of patients suffering from age-related macular degeneration and Alzheimer’s disease.
• Francesca Marassi published a communication in Biochemistry.
• Briana Meyer published an article in Journal of Neurotrauma and an article in Journal of Athletic Training.
• Briana Meyer successfully defended her dissertation, titled Spinal Cord Perfusion MRI: Technical Advancements with Arterial Spin Labeling and Application to Preclinical Traumatic Injury, for her PhD (advisor: Matthew Budde).
• Kathleen Schmainda published a chapter in Handbook of Neuro-Oncology Neuroimaging.
• Kathryn Schultz and Candice Klug published an article in Protein Science.
• Kathryn Schultz, Nicholas Cina, and Candice Klug published an article in Protein Science.
• Jason Sidabras was awarded a five-year, $1.62 million R01 grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to investigate the structure–function relationship of enzymes using electron paramagnetic resonance technology.
• Jason Sidabras published an article in Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry.
• Casey Zoss published an article in Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences.
• Casey Zoss received an MCW Cancer Center fellowship.

Francesca Marassi celebrating her P01.

Briana Meyer celebrating receipt of her PhD. Congratulations, Briana!

Ravi Misra (left), Neil Hogg (center), and Francesca Marassi (right) ready for the May 2023 Commencement Ceremony.

Years of Service

Congratulations to Richard Scherr on his 25 years of service to MCW! Thanks, Rich, for your skillful work and dedication.

Richard Scherr (left) and Candice Klug (right) at the Employee Service Awards event.

Department of Biophysics Awards

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2023 Department of Biophysics Awards!

• Lifetime Achievement Award: Balaraman Kalyanaraman
• James S. Hyde Research Award: Michael Lerch
  This award recognizes a faculty member whose research has advanced our fundamental understanding of biological systems through the development of novel techniques, concepts, theory, models, or applications. 
• Biophysics Scholar Award: Savannah Duenweg
  This award recognizes an outstanding contribution to biophysical research by a graduate or postdoctoral scholar.
• Department of Biophysics Outstanding Service Award: Tim Thelaner
  This award recognizes exemplary service and contributions beyond achievements in research. 

Below are photographs from the 2023 Biophysics Award event:

Balaraman Kalyanaraman (left) and Mike Lerch (right)

Recipe

Shrimp Ceviche

Thanks to Christine Zeller for sharing her recipe!

1-2 lbs cooked, cleaned, & peeled shrimp, chilled and cut into large pieces
1 large tomato, diced
2-3 fresh serrano or jalapeno peppers, diced
1 small red onion, diced
1-2 large ripe avocados, diced
A good handful of cilantro, chopped

Juice of 1½ limes
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
½ tsp salt

Mix together and enjoy!

Note: Do not prepare longer than a few hours before serving, as the lime juice begins to macerate the shrimp and an unpleasant texture may result.

Biophysics News is a quarterly MCW departmental newsletter aimed at enhancing departmental engagement through information and good news sharing. Do you have information you’d like to share—news, a photo, a recipe? Send it to Lydia.

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