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November 18, 2024
What you will learn in this week's Research edition of the Bulletin:
- Introducing our NEW monthly Research-themed Bulletin!
- Meet the Office of Research's new Program Coordinator
- Key Takeaways from DOM Research Day
- EDDI Seminar Series -December 12
- DOM shines at AAMC Annual Meeting
- Emory News Center spotlights research from Ghosn Lab
- SCDP Project ECHO Session - November 21
- DOM in the news
Scroll down to read more!
RESEARCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Introducing our NEW Research-themed Bulletin!
We are thrilled to introduce that, starting this week, the third DOM Bulletin of the month will be a research-themed edition. So, every third Monday of the month, the Office of Research team will "take over" the DOM Bulletin and share their latest news, events, updates, and more.
We hear that you receive too many emails, so with this new schedule, the weekly What's Up in DOM Research will be permanently discontinued. Past editions of the What's Up can be found on our DOM News & Updates Archive.
We look forward to showcasing the great work of our DOM researchers! Stay tuned to see these exciting changes.
The DOM Office of Research welcomes Kanika Chatkara as Program Coordinator
Please join us in welcoming Kanika Chatkara, the Office of Research's new Program Coordinator!
Kanika Chatkara is an eager public health professional with an interest in access to care, health education, and health equity, among many others. She received her Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology from Augusta University and her Masters of Public Health from the Rollins School of Public Health.
With a deep passion for fairness, justice, and science, Kanika always knew she wanted to work in the healthcare field. It wasn’t until the pandemic amplified her desire for ameliorating social inequities, supporting marginalized communities, and improving the social determinants of health and led her to public health. In her spare time, Kanika loves cooking, watching movies, and spending time with loved ones!
Have any research questions? Contact Kanika for at kanika.chatkara@emory.edu.
Innovation and Insights: Key Takeaways from DOM Research Day
The Office of Research wants to thank each one of you for making the 17th Annual Department of Medicine David S. Stephens Research Day a huge success! We had over 180 poster presentations, insightful presentations from our five featured research speakers, twelve outstanding oral presenters, and an excellent keynote presentation on rural healthcare delivered by Emory SOM Dean Sandra Wong, MD.
In addition, this year, DOM researcher David Weiss, PhD (Infectious Diseases), presented the Lifetime Achievement in Research lecture as the fifth and final featured researcher of the day. His presentation entitled “Heteroresistance: from the clinic to the bench and back” reviews his research that was recently featured in a Nature Medicine article, Antifungal heteroresistance causes prophylaxis failure and facilitates breakthrough Candida parapsilosis infections.
We received 200 abstracts, a record high, covering themes such as women’s health, diabetes, kidney disease, and the healthcare workforce.
Congratulations to this year’s Research Day award winners!
- Best Oral Presentation (Basic Science Research):
Ti Wang (pictured top left) - Best Oral Presentation (Clinical/Health Services Research): Sam Lim, MD, MPH
- Best Poster Presentation (Basic Science Research):
Benjamin Babcock - Best poster presentation (Clinical/Translational Research):
Shreya Ganguly (pictured bottom left) - Best poster presentation (Health Services Research): Alex Galloway, MD
Thanks to all who participated this year. We hope to see you at the 18th Annual Department of Medicine David S. Stephens Research Day on October 30, 2025!
Researcher Spotlight: Kyoung ‘Shin’ Park
Assistant Professor, Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology
What is your professional background?
I received my PhD in Biobehavioral Health Science from the University of Florida. Afterwards, I worked as a postdoctoral research scientist and graduate faculty in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Since then, my work has focused on understanding the process and benefits of physical activity behavior change, especially in preventing cognitive and functional decline in the aging population.
Which division do you work in, and who is your mentor?
In October of this year, I started working in the Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, where I direct the Exercise for Precision Health and Rehabilitation Laboratory or the ExPHR lab. I am fortunate to have several amazing mentors in my career. Currently, Camille Vaughan, MD, and Madeleine Hackney, PhD, are helping me settle in here at Emory.
Briefly describe your research. Why is it important?
My current research tests the efficacy of sonically enhanced personalized music stimulation for physical activity behavior change in preclinical older adults with and without subjective cognitive complaints. Older adults’ low uptake of nationally prescribed physical activity regimens could be due to the failure to improve affective attitudes toward physical activity. Exercising with personalized music playlists has shown promise in improving affective attitude toward physical activity and thereby facilitating behavior change. However, its efficacy and mechanistic underpinning have not been fully tested with physically low-active older adults, a growing population at risk of dementia and other age-related declines.
UPCOMING RESEARCH EVENTS
December DOM Ease of Research Initiative Town Hall
When: Friday, December 6 | noon–1 p.m.
Where: Zoom
Guest Speakers:
Esmerelda Meyer, MD, JM, CPIA
Director of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
Deepika Bhatia, Associate Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Research Compliance and Regulatory Affairs
The Emory Digestive Disease Initiative (EDDI), launched in the Fall of 2023, provides a community for GI, liver, and pancreas researchers spanning different academic units at Emory, Georgia Tech, Georgia State, and Morehouse School of Medicine. The goal of EDDI is to enhance interactions and provide training opportunities for GI-focused clinicians and scientists in Atlanta. To learn more, visit HERE.
Thanks to all who attended the November EDDI Seminar Series lecture on Thursday, November 14, with Karen Edelblum, PhD, Associate Professor, Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The event was well attended and hosted by Emory Peds/GI T32.
We hope you can join us for the December EDDI Seminar Series lecture on Thursday, December 12, from 4–5 p.m. with speaker Thomas Rutkowski, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Iowa. Click here to register for the December 12 EDDI lecture.
This monthly seminar series on Thursdays from 4-5 p.m. in Whitehead Auditorium, Emory University, followed by a GI Social Hour from 5-6 p.m.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Call for Pilot Proposals: Center for Health in Aging
Emory's Center for Health in Aging aims to promote the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual health of older adults and address the challenges that threaten their health and well-being.
They are seeking applications that fit this mission, which can be completed in one year. Submissions are due to Glen Thomas by Monday, November 25, 2024, at 5 p.m. EST.
Emory School of Medicine: Bridge Funding Program
To assist investigators who have temporarily lost significant federal research funding, and to facilitate carefully planned changes in research direction, the SOM offers a Bridge Funding Program. Bridge funding up to $100,000 (including department support/matching funds) will be available to investigators based on merit, potential for renewal of external funding, and availability of SOM funds. Deadline: Monday, December 9 by 5 p.m.
For Department of Medicine Applicants Only: DOM internal review due date is December 1. Please click the button below for more details.
Call for Applications: Georgia CTSA TL1 and K12 Programs
The Georgia CTSA TL1 Program provides opportunities for clinical and translational science (CTS) training for predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees at Emory University. The program offers didactic and mentored research training.
Georgia CTSA TL1 Program Application Deadline:
- Monday, February 17, 2025, 5 p.m. (EST) for the predoctoral TL1 track
- Monday, March 17, 2025, 5 p.m. (EST) for the postdoctoral TL1 track
The Georgia CTSA KL2 Program is a career development support for junior faculty (MD, PhD, MD/PhD, or PharmD) interested in careers in clinical and translational sciences (CTS) and clinical and translational research (CTR). Trainees accepted into this program will receive didactic and mentored research training, and much more, under expert supervision. Georgia CTSA KL2 Program Application Deadline: Monday, February 3, 5 p.m. (EST).
Learn more about CTSA’s programs and resources here. For more information, contact Karen Lindsley (Karen.Lindsley@emory.edu).
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Benjamin Babcock, Astrid Kosters, Scott Jenks, Ignacio Sanz, Eliver Ghosn (Immunology), Brian Dobosh, Rabindra Tirouvanziam (Pediatrics), F. Eun-Hyung Lee (Pulmonary)
Babcock et al. “Transient anti-interferon autoantibodies in the airways are associated with recovery from COVID-19.” Science Translational Medicine. 2024 Nov 6; 16(772). Read more.
F Eun-Hyung Lee, Martin Runnstrom, Pedro Lamothe, Doan Nguyen, Ian Hentenaar, Natalie Haddad (Pulmonary); Carlos Castrillon (Rheumatology); Sagar Lonial (Hematology); and Ignacio Sanz (Immunology)
Nguyen et al. “SARS-CoV-2-specific plasma cells are not durably established in the bone marrow long-lived compartment after mRNA vaccination.” Nat Med. 2024 Sep 27. Read more.
Vin Tangpricha (Endocrinology)
Bushnell et al. “2024 Guideline for the Primary Prevention of Stroke: A Guideline From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.” Stroke. 2024 Oct 21. Read more.
Modele Ogunniyi (Cardiology), Marina Mosunjac (Pathology), and Alison Ward (Surgery)
Olakunle et al. “The Constricted Heart: A 31-Year-Old Man with a Case of Constrictive Tuberculous Pericarditis.” Am J Case Rep. 2024 Sep 24. Read more.
Natalie M Walker, Yuta Ibuki, A Patrick McLinden, Keizo Misumi, Dylan C Mitchell, Gabriel G Kleer, Alison M Lock, Ragini Vittal, Nahum Sonenberg, Amanda L Garner, Vibha N Lama (Pulmonary)
"MNK-driven eIF4E phosphorylation regulates the fibrogenic transformation of mesenchymal cells and chronic lung allograft dysfunction." J Clin Invest. 2024 Aug 15;134(16) Read More
Have you or a colleague recently published an article? Let us know below!
DOM ANNOUNCEMENTS
DOM shines at AAMC Annual Meeting
DOM members from several divisions participated and attended the AAMC Annual Meeting last weekend here in Atlanta. Each year, this meeting brings together the academic medicine community from across the nation to discuss the most pressing issues impacting health and health care.
There were 14 Emory speakers, including the following individuals from DOM's Division of General Internal Medicine:
- Stacy Higgins, MD - "Attaining and Retaining Women of Color in Leadership in Academic Medicine"
- Tracey Henry, MD - "Developing the Next Generation of Physicians and Researchers as Policy Advocates"
- Stan Sonu, MD, MPH - "Health Justice: Building a Medical-Legal Partnership"
- Kimberly Manning, MD - "Jordan J. Cohen Humanism in Medicine Lecture: Wisdom at the Bedside"
RYSE Vice Chair Dr. Manning delivered the Jordan J. Cohen Humanism in Medicine Lecture. She gave a powerful address on the profound impact of being present with patients and keeping humanism central to medicine, especially with the continued advancement of AI technology. In her speech, she shares insights she's gathered from her time working from the bedside.
“Humanism and the kindness of our patients and what they teach us, and this immense privilege that we have to care for human beings, it’s sometimes something to cry about. And we have to normalize emotions other than just anger, dark humor, and sarcasm. I think that crying can be a really beautiful and cleansing thing.”
Emory News Center spotlights research from Ghosn Lab
Check out the recent Emory News Center article, "Nasal swab tests predict COVID-19 disease severity, Emory study finds" spotlighting research conducted by the Ghosn Lab, within our Division of Rheumatology. This study was led by recent DOM Research Day award winner, Ben Babcock (PhD student in the Cancer Biology Graduate Program).
Read an excerpt of the article below.
Research from Emory University is providing a more precise prediction of COVID-19 severity that can be found by looking at autoantibodies in the nasal cavity, leading to more personalized treatment plans.
The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, followed 125 patients with varying levels of COVID-19 (from mild to severe) for nearly two years. They tracked antibodies in both the blood and nasal airways, finding that more than 70% of people with mild or moderate COVID-19 developed certain autoantibodies – generally an indication of disease – in the nose that were surprisingly linked to fewer symptoms, better antiviral immunity, and faster recovery.
This study was part of a large collaboration between the Ghosn Lab at Emory and Drs. Sulggi Lee from UCSF and Nadia Roan from Gladstone Institutes and UCSF, and in partnership with Emory laboratories of Frances Eun-Hyung Lee, MD, Iñaki Sanz, MD, and Rabin Tirouvanziam, PhD.
Event Spotlight: Upcoming SCDP Project ECHO Session:
November 21 | Marburg Virus Disease: Updates in Care
Join us for the next SCDP Project Echo Session, "Marburg Virus Disease: Updates in Care" on Thursday, November 21, from 11 a.m. to noon, via Zoom.
Gavin Harris, MD, SCDP Director of Education and Outreach (Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, Sleep Medicine, and Infectious Diseases), will facilitate this session.
Speakers include:
Didactic Presenter: Mary Choi, MD, MPH
Medical Officer, Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Case Presenter: Aneesh Mehta, MD, FIDSA, FAST Professor of Medicine, Transplant Infectious Diseases Physician, Emory University School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases
Expert Panelist: Patricia Tennill, RN, BSN
Director of Nursing at Bellevue Hospital and the Special Pathogen Program Nurse Lead; NETEC’s Infection Prevention and Control Workgroup Chair
Jada Bussey-Jones, MD, named host of the Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) President's Podcast
Check out DOM leader and SGIM President, Jada Bussey-Jones, MD (General Internal Medicine) on the new podcast, SGIM President's Podcast! This podcast will feature insights from current and past SGIM Presidents and leaders. These conversations highlight diverse general internal medicine leaders across health care, public health, policy, and academia. Listen below!
Registration is now open!
The Office of Faculty Development is hosting a two-part workshop series designed specifically to meet the professional development needs of mid-career faculty. This series will be most beneficial for assistant professors (at least five years in rank) and associate professors.
Featured topics will include:
- Navigating changes in mid-career
- Tips for promotion
- Skills for successful, inclusive leadership
- Team building and building collaborations
- Building financial acumen and managing your funds
- Negotiating for your success
- Mentoring for mid-career
- Educating the next generation
Questions?
Contact Dorothy Kitchens, Senior Program Coordinator, in the DOM Office of Faculty Development.
December 6, 2024 is the registration deadline. Be sure to register soon to secure your spot; only a limited number of seats are available for this workshop series.
CME pending.
MEDICINE GRAND ROUNDS
Tomorrow's Medicine Grand Rounds
#MedicineGrandRounds
Topic: Updates in Pulmonary Medicine
Tuesday, November 19 | noon–1 p.m., Zoom
Zoom Link Meeting ID: 940 3699 7411
Passcode: MGR
Session ID # 18861
Speakers:
Lucian Marts, MD,
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine
Wendy Neveu, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine
Aaron Trammell, MD, MSc
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine
For more information about Medicine Grand Rounds, visit bitly.com/grandround.
IN THE NEWS
Recent Department of Medicine News
CNN, This Morning, Week: Trump Taps Vaccine Skeptic RFK Jr. for HHS (Carlos del Rio interviewed)
Griffin Daily News: New combination tests for flu, COVID-19 are here (Greg Martin quoted, Emory University cited)
Health Day: Nasal swab might predict how severe COVID-19 will be (Eliver Ghosn and Laney Graduate School doctoral student Ben Babcock quoted)
i News: Why some people only get mild COVID-19, flu and colds (Eliver Ghosn quoted, Emory University cited)
STAFF NEWS
Check out the latest list of open staff jobs within the DOM. See a job you are interested in or know someone who would be a good fit? Click the job title below to read the full description and apply. Be sure to follow the DOM LinkedIn page to stay up-to-date on the latest job openings!
- Academic Research Scientist - Department of Medicine, Office of Research
- Advanced Practice Provider - Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant (NP/PA), Nocturnal - School of Medicine, Hospital Medicine
- Director, Projects - School of Medicine, Infectious Diseases
- Public Health Program Associate - The Hope Clinic
- Research Dietitian - School of Medicine, Endocrinology
EVENTS
SCDP Project ECHO Program Marburg Virus Disease
Thursday, November 21 | 11 a.m.–noon | Zoom
DOM Ease of Research Initiative Town Hall: Esmerelda Meyer and Deepika Bhatia
Friday, December 6 | noon–1 p.m. | Zoom
6th Annual Diabetes Update & Technology Symposium
Saturday, December 7 | 8 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Emory Conference Center Hotel
December K-Club Mentoring Networks: What they are & how to build yours *New*
Monday, December 9 | noon–1p.m. | HSRB II, N600 and Zoom
EDDI Seminar Series with Karen Edelblum, PhD *New*
Thursday, December 12 | 4–5 p.m. | Whitehead Biomedical Research Building Auditorium
DOM Mid-Career Workshop Series
Friday, January 31, and Friday, February 7, 2025 | Woodruff Memorial Research Building, 1109
DOM CV Review Session (DOM faculty only) *New*
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 | 8–10 a.m. | Zoom
Faculty Education, Enrichment, and Development Conference (FEED)
Friday, March 28, 2025 | 8 a.m.–noon | Zoom
RYSE Health Equity Day
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 | Hybrid: Grady Hospital Trauma Auditorium and Zoom
GIVE TO US
The Department of Medicine includes more than 800 faculty members across our ten divisions. Your support for our work can make a difference to health care locally and globally. Click the button below to learn more about making an impact through your support for the DOM. For general department giving inquiries, please contact Ashley Michaud, Executive Director of Development, at 404-778-1250.
STAY CONNECTED
Please send photos and news from your division to deptofmed@emory.edu and visit the Department of Medicine's blog, EmoryDailyPulse.com.
The Emory University Department of Medicine is a component of the Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center of Emory University, which includes the Emory Schools of Medicine, Nursing, and Public Health; Yerkes National Primate Research Center; Winship Cancer Institute; and Emory Healthcare.