Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Announcements

Call for DOM Faculty Development and Research Committee Members!
Deadline Extended: Friday, August 4
The Department of Medicine Office of Faculty Development and Office of Research provides career development programs and opportunities to our 800+ faculty! This critical work is possible in large part through our committees. We are currently looking for new members for three committees: Faculty Development Council, Mentoring Committee, and STrategic Advisory Research Team (START).

Remember, service counts toward promotion! Please click below for opportunities to contribute to a department of excellence and innovation.

Informatics Service Support
The GA CTSA informatics program consists of a team of engineers, data scientists, and clinicians working together to provide expertise through an array of services including but not limited to informatics architecture design, the processing of data, real time data flows, grant generation, machine learning model development, and more. They now offer 20 hours of investigative support to SOM junior faculty and other GA CTSA early career investigators annually. Sign up for a project consultation today!

Research Appreciation Day Nominations
Deadline: Monday, August 14
Do you have a colleague who is conducting groundbreaking research, developing new technologies, or pursuing novel and innovative ideas? Has your colleague published exciting research in notable journals or a newly funded grant? Who is advancing the knowledge base in your field?

Help us celebrate our researchers by sending in your nomination via the link below. The committee will select the most outstanding nominations for recognition on Researcher Appreciation Day.

2023 DOM Research Day Call for Abstracts

The Department of Medicine is now accepting abstracts for the 16th Annual DOM Research Day, held Thursday, October 26, from 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Emory Student Center. Abstracts for oral and poster presentations must be submitted by Tuesday, August 22, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Late submissions will not be accepted.

All Department of Medicine faculty, fellows, residents, and students (whose primary mentor is a member of the Department of Medicine) are invited to submit an abstract. There is a limit of two abstracts per presenting author.

Remembering Emory Research Albert Anderson, MD

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the unexpected death of our research colleague, Dr. Albert (Bert) Anderson, Associate Professor and Senior Physician within the Division of Infectious Diseases. Dr. Anderson’s research focused on the neurobehavioral effects of HIV and other infectious diseases and was considered an Emory Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) success story by those who worked with him. Dr. Anderson was PI on an NIH-funded R01 study entitled, "Phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of baricitinib for reduction of HIV in the central nervous system."

Dr. Anderson had a recent publication in the June edition of the Journal of NeuroVirology,

Fu R, Jinnah H, Mckay JL, Miller AH, Felger JC, Farber EW, Sharma S, Whicker N, Moore RC, Franklin D, Letendre SL, Anderson AM. Cerebrospinal fluid levels of 5-HIAA and dopamine in people with HIV and depression. J Neurovirol. 2023 Jun 8. Read more

Please join us in sending our sincere condolences to Dr. Anderson's wife, son, sister, and mother, as well as his family, friends, and colleagues. Dr. Anderson's contributions to Emory University and the Department of Medicine will not be forgotten. A memorial service/celebration of his life at Emory is planned for later this fall. More details to come.

RAS News

Upcoming Events

The Peculiarities of Sickle Cell Disease Among Gulf Arabs
Thursday, August 3 | 4:30 5:30 p.m. | Egleston Classroom 8 & 9 and Zoom
Speaker: Adekunle D. Adekile, MBBS, PhD (Professor of Pediatric Hematology, Dept of Pediatrics, Kuwait University)

2023 Southeastern Critical Care Summit
August 3–4 | Emory Conference Center and Hotel | Register
This program uses interactive and case-based lectures from content experts across all disciplines (physicians, nurses, NP and PA providers, pharmacists, and respiratory therapy personnel as well as administrators), and hands-on teaching in breakout sessions. Topics of particular importance in critical care will involve roundtable discussions with stakeholders and/or break-out sessions; these topics will also be utilized for small-group discussions, teaching, and procedural education.

Do you have an upcoming event or educational opportunity?

Highlighted Resource

Funding & Award Opportunities

A searchable External Funding Opportunities Database has been compiled from FOAs in this weekly newsletter, including archived COVID FOAs.
Emory credentials are required to view.

Limited Competition: National Primate Research Centers (P51) (Clinical Trials Not Allowed)
Deadlines: Monday, September 25; January 25; May 25; September 25, 2024; 2025; 2026
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages grant applications that support the activities of the National Primate Research Centers (NPRCs). 

Integrative Research to Understand the Impact of Sex Differences on the Molecular Determinants of AD Risk and Responsiveness to Treatment (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)
Deadlines: 30 days prior (LOI); Wednesday, October 25; February 21, 2023; 2024; 2025
The purpose of this FOA is to gain a comprehensive mechanistic understanding of the impact of sex differences on the molecular trajectories of brain aging on the phenotypes of risk and resilience to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD), and on the molecular determinants underlying responsiveness to pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions.

Center without Walls for PET Ligand Development for Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (ADRDs) (U19 - Clinical Trial Optional)
Deadline: Tuesday, September 26
The purpose of this FOA is to develop novel ligands targeting abnormal neuronal proteins (e.g., alpha-synuclein, TDP-43, TMEM106B, etc.) or pathways (e.g., inflammatory, oxidative, autophagic, etc.), but the selected target should be clearly justified as having the potential for identifying risk, onset, or progression of Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (ADRDs).

Michelson Medical Research Foundation: Michelson Philanthropies & Science Prize for Immunology
Deadline: Friday, September 29
The purpose of this FOA is to focus on transformative research in human immunology, with trans-disease applications to accelerate vaccine and immunotherapeutic discovery and to support young investigators from a wide range of disciplines, including computer science, artificial intelligence/machine learning, protein engineering, nanotechnology, genomics, parasitology and tropical medicine, neurodegenerative diseases, and gene editing, who apply their expertise to perform research that has a lasting impact on vaccine and immunotherapy.

Health Equity and the Cost of Novel Treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and AD-Related Dementias (ADRD) (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Deadlines: Friday, September 29 (LOI); October 31 (Full application)
This notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) invites applications to address health equity, drug costs, and access to new therapeutics for people living with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD).

Kenneth Rainin Foundation: Innovator Awards
Deadlines: September 30 (LOI); January 26, 2024 (Full application)
The purpose of this FOA is to support innovative ideas which can lead to improvements in preventing, predicting, diagnosing, and treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

Congratulatory Corner

Vasilis Babaliaros (Cardiology) received funding from Edwards Lifesciences LLC for a project entitled, “Structural Heart and Valve Disease Fellowship.”

Micah Fisher (Pulmonary) received funding from Aeorvate Therapeutics, Inc. for a project entitled, “IMPAHCT: A phase 2b/3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 24-week dose ranging and confirmatory study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of AV-101 in patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH).”

Adam Greenbaum (Cardiology) received funding from Emboline, Inc. for a project entitled, “Protect the Head-to-Head Study.”

Anand Jain (Digestive Diseases) received funding from Georgia Research Alliance for a project entitled, “EndoBlock - Venture Development Award.”

Sam Lim (Rheumatology) received funding from Bristol-Myers Squibb Company for a project entitled, “Efficacy and safety of Deucravacitnib compared with placebo in participants with active SLE (POETYK SLE-2)."

Have you or a colleague recently received an award or grant funding?

Recent Notable Publications

Tracey Henry (General Internal Medicine), Lauren Jenkins (Medical Student), Mariana Sanchez-Medina (Medical Student), Josue Rodriguez (Medical Student)
Henry TL, Freeman CD, Sheth A, Jenkins L, Olakunle OE, Adeagbo S, et al. Making an Impact with E.M.P.A.C.T. Engage, Mentor Prepare, Advocate, Cultivate, and Teach: An Innovative Pilot Mentoring Program Evaluation for Students Underrepresented in Medicine. Adv Med Educ Pract. 2023 Jul 21;14:803-813. Read more

Imran Iftikhar (Pulmonary)
Iftikhar IH, Iftikhar NH, Naeem M, BaHammam A. SPECT Ventilation/Perfusion Imaging for Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Meta-analysis of Diagnostic Test Accuracy. Acad Radiol. 2023 Jul 22:S1076-6332(23)00333-1. Read more

Stephanie Pouch (Infectious Diseases)
Francí EV, Adekunle RO, Nucci M, Pouch SM. Complex considerations - Fever and pancytopenia after solid organ transplantation. Transpl Infect Dis. 2023 Jun 6:e42. Read more

Have you or a colleague recently published an article? 

Spotlighted Researcher

Ashish Tripathi
Post Doctoral Fellow – Endocrinology

What is your professional background?
I completed my Master's in Genetics at Banaras Hindu University, India, followed by a PhD in Biological Sciences at Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR), India. During my doctoral research, I focused on advancing novel therapies for male osteoporosis. After that I relocated to Atlanta to undertake my postdoctoral research at the esteemed Emory University.

Which division do you work in? Who is your mentor?
Currently, I am a postdoctoral fellow in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipids, where I feel incredibly fortunate to be mentored by Dr. M. Neale Weitzmann, PhD.

Briefly describe your research. Why is it important?
With the advent of anti-retroviral therapies (ART), people with HIV (PWH) are now living into old age but experiencing aging-related comorbidities such as osteoporosis and bone fracture, much earlier than the general population. Interestingly, ART itself induces profound bone loss but the cause of this bone loss is unclear. Work from our lab suggests that this bone loss is caused by inflammation associated with CD4 T cell regeneration. I am testing novel therapies to prevent bone loss and studying the mechanisms of T cell activation following ART, specifically the gut microbiome as a potential source of T cell activating antigens, underlying the bone loss in PWH.

What do you like most about Emory?
Emory University attracts individuals from diverse backgrounds and various parts of the globe due to its academic excellence. I enjoy the cultural diversity and the campus itself is renowned for its stunning beauty.

What is your favorite movie or TV show?
My favorite movies are Gladiator and The 300. 

What do you like to do in your spare time?
In my spare time, I love to play games online.

What is a fun fact about you?
I want my superpower to be the ability to read everybody’s mind.