Pediatrics Research Week 2020 – Abstract Book
Pediatrics Research Week 2020 – Abstract Book
Pediatrics Research Week 2020 - Abstract Book
File: Pediatrics-Research-Week-2020-Abstract-Book-1.pdfNews
Dr. Huttenlocher Receives WARF Named Professorship
Anna Huttenlocher, MD (Professor, Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology) was selected for the prestigious WARF Named Professorship award and has chosen the name “Anna Ruth Brummett Professor of Pediatrics and Medical Microbiology and Immunology” for the chair. The award, which carries a $100,000 flexible research fund, honors faculty who have made major contributions to the advancement of knowledge and is one of the highest honors the University of Wisconsin–Madison bestows. The award is provided by the University of Wisconsin–Madison Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education with funding from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF).
Dr. Huttenlocher’s research at the University of Wisconsin Department of Pediatrics is at the interface of cell biology and immunology. Much of her recent work has centered on understanding innate immune inflammation. Her research group is dissecting how external cues and cell signaling networks regulate cell migration during tissue damage and repair, and how this is altered in human disease. Her laboratory has pioneered approaches to visualize and manipulate cell motility within live organisms and has discovered previously unknown mechanisms that regulate resolution of inflammation.
Dr. Huttenlocher received her BA from Oberlin College and MD from Harvard Medical School. She is a physician-scientist who treats pediatric patients with autoimmune diseases. She is also director of the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, which provides integrated graduate training in scientific research and clinical medicine. She is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and a Fellow of the American Society of Cell Biology for Lifetime Achievement. She has served on the Council of the American Society of Clinical Investigation and is currently serving on the Council for the American Society of Cell Biology and the Association of American Physicians.
About Dr. Anna Ruth Brummett
Anna Ruth Brummett, PhD, was a Professor of Biology at Oberlin College. She grew up and attended college in Arkansas and then obtained her PhD at Bryn Mawr College. As an Oberlin professor, she performed research at the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, MA, and focused much of her scholarship on developmental cell biology. Dr. Brummett had a special interest in promoting women in science and was Dr. Huttenlocher’s first cell biology and teaching mentor. During an independent study project at Oberlin College, Dr. Brummett guided Dr. Huttenlocher in writing about cell adhesion and migration, an area that became the focus of Dr. Huttenlocher’s research.
About WARF and the Award
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) is the private, nonprofit patent and licensing organization for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A pioneer and innovator among university-based technology transfer offices, WARF’s mission is to support, aid and encourage UW-Madison research by protecting its discoveries and licensing them to commercial partners for beneficial use in the real world. Ten faculty are appointed to WARF Named Professorships each year. Support for this award is provided by the University of Wisconsin–Madison Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education with funding from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.
University of Wisconsin, UChicago and NIH-led study sheds light on childhood asthma gene
A study published today in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal sheds light on the most common genetic region associated with childhood-onset asthma in African Americans.
“While people of African ancestry tend to have more asthma and more severe asthma than people of European ancestry, studies of genetic risk factors for childhood-onset asthma in African Americans have been inconclusive,” said lead author Carole Ober, PhD, professor and chairman of human genetics at the University of Chicago.
An associated region on chromosome 17 is very large and contains many genes, making it difficult to pinpoint specific genetic variants and specific genes that contribute to asthma risk. In previous studies in Europeans, all the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across this region are associated with asthma and with the expression of the same gene or genes. The effects of different SNPs on gene expression, which can differ between tissues, can’t be separated.
The new study addressed these two challenges by focusing on African Americans and on gene expression in multiple tissues that are relevant to asthma: blood immune cells, upper airway (nasal) epithelial cells and lower airway (lung) epithelial cells. Because chromosomes of African ancestry are older than those of European ancestry, the pieces of chromosomes harboring SNPs associated with diseases are much smaller in African Americans.
The study shows SNPs associated with asthma in African Americans regulate the expression of the GSDMB gene in both upper and lower airway cells. In contrast, the SNPs regulating the expression of genes in blood cells are not central to asthma risk.
The researchers did a genetic association study and meta-analysis of the 17q12-21 SNPs for childhood-onset asthma in 5,916 European American and 3,904 African American children, which included children participants in birth cohorts from Children’s Respiratory and Environmental Workgroup (CREW), led by Dr. James Gern, professor and vice chair of research at the University of Wisconsin Department of Pediatrics. CREW is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.
“If you look across the 17q region,” said Ober, “you find a lot of genotypes that are highly correlated in people of European origin. But in people of African and African American origin, the correlations between SNPs are much fewer. We were the first group to fine map this region in African Americans to find the variants and genes that underlie the association with childhood-onset asthma at this region.”
The study was funded by the NIH and is available to read in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal.
Department of Pediatrics Faculty Receive Messages of Appreciation for National Doctors’ Day
In Celebration of National Doctor’s Day, UW Health offered an opportunity for people to submit notes of gratitude to their physician. Over seventy notes were received from families and patients who are served by Department of Pediatrics faculty. We’re proud to share excerpts of some of them here.
Allergy, Immunology & Rheumatology
For Dr. Judy Smith: Thanks for everything you do for our son and our family. We’ve had a rough few years but having a wonderful, caring team led by you has made it easier to handle. We are so grateful for you and everything you do. Thank you, Dr. Smith!
Cardiology:
For Dr. Catherine Allen: Dr. Allen has always made us feel as though we were family by always taking the time to explain everything and answer any questions we have. Her bedside manner with our son is superb and we feel so comfortable and blessed knowing he is receiving top-notch care from a top-notch professional. Thank you, Dr. Allen!
Endocrinology & Diabetes
For Dr. Ellen Connor: Since my diagnosis of Type I diabetes twelve years ago, Dr. Connor has always been there for me and my family. Through her guidance and compassionate care, I have learned to manage my condition. Her influence on my life has inspired me to pursue a nursing career so that someday, I will also be able to make an impact on future patients. Dr. Connor, thank you for your dedication to providing excellent care and going above & beyond to ensure the health of all of your patients. You are appreciated!
Gastroenterology & Nutrition
For Dr. Istvan Danko: Thank you for being a part of our daughter’s specialty team! Since she was diagnosed with Celiac disease, you have been there with us to educate and help us to give her the best life she could have. We appreciate your wisdom and care that you have shown us.
For Dr. Luther Sigurdsson: Thank you for all you do! Your collaborative approach to the short gut clinic made a huge difference in those early days tackling difficult vitamin deficiencies and weaning off g-tube feeds. We are also grateful that we have been able to see you at a clinic closer to our house for our daughter’s follow-up care.
For Dr. Dorota Walkiewicz: I am at a loss for words for how to adequately thank you & the entire Pediatric GI team for your care of my son this summer. You gave him his future. You bought him time. You could have taken the easy route, for you, but you didn’t. I didn’t fully understand it in the moment, but I do now. All of those sleepless nights (for me & your team), were necessary for him to lead a normal life now & in the years to come. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!
General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
For Dr. Gwen McIntosh: How could I not thank my primary care doctor of over 15 years? Thank you so much for all the attention and care you have given me and countless other patients. In appointments, you never make me feel rushed and always answer all my questions. You go the extra mile every time and I appreciate you so much! I could not ask for a better primary care physician.
For Dr. Catherine Kelley: Thanks Dr. Kelley for being an amazing doctor. We’ve been through many ups and downs over the almost 16 years (time flies!) and having you as a pediatrician has really made it easier for my kids and for me. We enjoy the check-ups and have complete confidence and trust in you. How lucky are we to have you for a doctor!? Thanks for everything Dr. Kelley!
For Dr. Timothy Chybowski: Thank you for being Alyssa’s pediatrician all of these past years! You have always been supportive of our goals and needs to take the best care of Alyssa as we can. We appreciate all of your efforts in helping us to give Alyssa the best life she could experience.
Genetics & Metabolism
For Dr. Gregory Rice: Dr. Rice, I am so grateful that you are my doctor. I tell everyone about how you explain everything & help me understand my illness. I couldn’t be in better hands. Thank you!
Hematology, Oncology & Bone Marrow Transplant
For Dr. Christian Capitini: Thank you for being the most brilliant, caring and understanding doctor for our son. When it seemed like he had no other options, you helped save his life and he is here almost seven years later. Thank you for listening to my craziness and knowing how to calm me down. You are a part of our family and we are thankful to have you.
For Dr. Carol Diamond: My daughter was 14 months old when I was first introduced to Dr. Diamond. She came in the room almost as an angel and in one clinic visit gave me hope and comfort to finding out what was wrong with my daughter who had been very sick since she was born. Shortly afterwards, Dr. Diamond diagnosed my daughter with a very rare bone marrow condition. While it has still been a hard road, Dr. Diamond held my daughter’s and my hand every step of the way. Not only is she a great provider in every way, she truly cares for her patients, takes time to listen, and truly wants to help. I’m forever thankful to have had the blessing of this women caring for my daughter. I cannot thank her enough for giving my daughter her life back and for saving my little girl. Thank you. I am forever grateful.
Hospital Medicine:
For Drs. Ryan Coller and Mary Ehlenbach: Thank you for being an integral part of my daughter’s care and well-being! She has had a life filled with medical twists and turns, but having a team like Complex Care helps to make things cohesive with her numerous other specialists. Thanks for all that you do on a daily basis.
Neonatology & Newborn Nursery
For Dr. David McCulley: Thank you for all of your hard work today and every day. Thanks to you Connor is able to live a normal life and has become an amazing, smart, independent, beautiful three-year-old thanks to you. She was in the best hands as she recovered from her diaphragmatic hernia. We are forever grateful. Stay safe and keep taking care of all those families that need you!
Nephrology
For Dr. Sharon Bartosh: Thank you Dr. Bartosh for everything you have done for our son. He’s alive and healthy because of your expertise and compassion. We are extremely grateful for everything you have done for our little boy.
For Dr. Neil Paloian: We are so thankful for you. You are an amazing doctor. We know that our son is in very good hands. Thank you for always listening and never giving up. Our son is lucky to have you as his nephrologist.
For Dr. Allison Redpath Mahon: Thank you, Dr. Redpath, for always being a voice of calm and reason since day one with caring for our beloved son. We appreciate everything you have ever done to help keep our beloved little boy alive and kicking. Thank you!
For Dr. Michael Semanik: Thank you, Dr. Seminek, for always going above and beyond to make our son feel at ease during his numerous hospital visits. We appreciate everything you do to keep our little guy healthy and happy!
Pulmonology & Sleep Medicine
For Dr. Vivek Balasubramaniam: Thank you, Dr. B, for the vast improvement you’ve made in our son’s lung function! Because of you, my child has a whole new life with lungs that are able to keep up! I am forever thankful for your brilliance, compassion, determination, & thorough care.
What We Published in April 2020
1. Ascierto PA, Fox B, Urba W, Anderson AC, Atkins MB, Borden EC, Brahmer J, Butterfield LH, Cesano A, Chen D, de Gruijl T, Dillman RO, Drake CG, Emens LA, Gajewski TF, Gulley JL, Stephen Hodi F, Hwu P, Kaufman D, Kaufman H, Lotze M, McNeel DG, Margolin K, Marincola F, Mastrangelo MJ, Maus MV, Parkinson DR, Romero PJ, Sondel PM, Spranger S, Sznol M, Weiner GJ, Wiggington JM, Weber JS. Insights from immuno-oncology: the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer Statement on access to IL-6-targeting therapies for COVID-19. J Immunother Cancer. 2020 Apr;8(1). pii: e000878. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2020-000878. No abstract available. PMID: 32300051.
2. Barretto KT, Brockman-Schneider RA, Kuipers I, Basnet S, Bochkov YA, Altman MC, Jarjour NN, Gern JE, Esnault S. Human airway epithelial cells express a functional IL-5 receptor. Allergy. 2020 Apr 4. doi: 10.1111/all.14297. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32246831.
3. Bastos RW, Valero C, Silva LP, Schoen T, Drott M, Brauer V, Silva-Rocha R, Lind A, Steenwyk JL, Rokas A, Rodrigues F, Resendiz-Sharpe A, Lagrou K, Marcet-Houben M, Gabaldón T, McDonnell E, Reid I, Tsang A, Oakley BR, Loures FV, Almeida F, Huttenlocher A, Keller NP, Ries LNA, Goldman GH. Functional Characterization of Clinical Isolates of the Opportunistic Fungal Pathogen Aspergillus nidulans. mSphere. 2020 Apr8;5(2). pii: e00153-20. doi: 10.1128/mSphere.00153-20. PubMed PMID: 32269156; PubMed Central PMCID:PMC7142298.
4. Chan K, Hoon M, Pattnaik BR, Ver Hoeve JN, Wahlgren B, Gloe S, Williams J, Wetherbee B, Kiland JA, Vogel KR, Jansen E, Salomons G, Walters D, Roullet JB, Gibson KM, McLellan GJ. Vigabatrin-Induced Retinal Functional Alterations and Second-Order Neuron Plasticity in C57BL/6J Mice. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2020 Feb 7;61(2):17. doi: 10.1167/iovs.61.2.17. PMID: 32053727.
5. Comstock JR, Buhalog B, Peebles JK, Hinshaw MA, Co DO, Arkin LM. Lipoatrophic panniculitis in an adolescent. Pediatr Dermatol. 2020 Mar 20. doi: 10.1111/pde.14127. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32198786.
6. Conway JA, Kharayat P, Sanders RC Jr, Nett S, Weiss SL, Edwards LR, Breuer R, Kirby A, Krawiec C, Page-Goertz C, Polikoff L, Turner DA, Shults J, Giuliano JS Jr, Orioles A, Balkandier S, Emeriaud G, Rehder KJ, Kian Boon JL, Shenoi A, Vanderford P, Nuthall G, Lee A, Zeqo J, Parsons SJ, Furlong-Dillard J, Meyer K, Harwayne-Gidansky I, Jung P, Adu-Darko M, Bysani GK, McCarthy MA, Shlomovich M, Toedt-Pingel I, Branca A, Esperanza MC, Al-Subu AM, Pinto M, Tallent S, Shetty R, Thyagarajan S, Ikeyama T, Tarquinio KM, Skippen P, Kasagi M, Howell JD, Nadkarni VM, Nishisaki A; Ketamine Use for Tracheal Intubation in Critically Ill Children Is Associated With a Lower Occurrence of Adverse Hemodyna [published online ahead of print, 2020 Apr 17]. Crit Care Med. 2020;10.1097/CCM.0000000000004314. doi:10.1097/CCM.0000000000004314.
7. Farrell PM, Rock MJ, Baker MW. The Impact of the CFTR Gene Discovery on Cystic Fibrosis Diagnosis, Counseling, and Preventive Therapy. Genes (Basel). 2020 Apr 8;11(4). doi: 10.3390/genes11040401. Review. PubMed PMID: 32276344.
8. Fujiogi M, Camargo CA Jr, Raita Y, Bochkov YA, Gern JE, Mansbach JM, Piedra PA, Hasegawa K. Association of rhinovirus species with nasopharyngeal metabolome in bronchiolitis infants: A multicenter study. Allergy. 2020 Apr 18. doi:10.1111/all.14326. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32306415.
9. Golenberg N, Squirrell JM, Bennin DA, Rindy J, Pistono PE, Eliceiri KW, Shelef MA, Kang J, Huttenlocher A. Citrullination regulates wound responses and tissue regeneration in zebrafish. J Cell Biol. 2020 Apr 6;219(4). pii:e201908164. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201908164. PubMed PMID: 32328635; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7147109.
10. Harer MW, Charlton JR, Tipple TE, Reidy KJ. Preterm birth and neonatal acute kidney injury: implications on adolescent and adult outcomes. J Perinatol. 2020 Apr 10;. doi: 10.1038/s41372-020-0656-7. [Epub ahead of print] Review. PMID: 32277164.
11. Horoz ÖÖ, Aslan N, Yildizdaş D, Çoban Y, Sertdemir Y, Al-Subu A. Somatic regional oxygen saturation as an early marker of intra-abdominal hypertension in critically ill children: a pilot study [published online ahead of print, 2020 Feb 25].Turk J Med Sci. 2020;10.3906/sag-1903-201. doi:10.3906/sag-1903-201.
12. Jackson DJ, Busse WW, Bacharier LB, Kattan M, O’Connor GT, Wood RA, Visness CM, Durham SR, Larson D, Esnault S, Ober C, Gergen PJ, Becker P, Togias A, Gern JE, Altman MC. Association of Respiratory Allergy, Asthma and Expression of the SARS-CoV-2 Receptor, ACE2. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2020 Apr 22. pii: S0091-6749(20)30551-0. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2020.04.009. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32333915; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7175851.
13. Kellom ER, Wolf B, Rice GM, Stepien KE. Reversal of Vision Loss in a 49-Year-Old Man With Progressive Optic Atrophy Due to Profound Biotinidase Deficiency. J Neuroophthalmol.2020 Mar 31. doi: 10.1097/WNO.0000000000000933. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 32235217DOI:10.1097/WNO.0000000000000933.
14. Kling PJ. Iron Nutrition, Erythrocytes, and Erythropoietin in the NICU: Erythropoietic and Neuroprotective Effects. Neoreviews. 2020 Feb;21(2):e80-e88. doi: 10.1542/neo.21-2-e80. PMID: 32005718.
15. Kohler J, Kelly MM. Addition of Dornase to Intrapleural Fibrinolytic Therapy Is Not Superior to Fibrinolytic Therapy Alone for Otherwise Healthy Children Hospitalized With Empyema. JAMA Pediatr.2020;174(4):323-324. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.5910.
16. Kopriva JM, Miller KJ, Legare JM, Noonan KJ. Trevor’s disease of the distal radioulnar joint in achondroplasia. Am J Med Genet A. 2020 Feb29. Doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.61529.
17. Kwan STC, Kezer CA, Helfrich KK, Saini N, Huebner SM, Flentke GR, Kling PJ, Smith SM. Maternal iron nutriture modulates placental development in a rat model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Alcohol. 2020 May;84:57-66. doi: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2019.11.003. Epub 2019 Nov 14. PMID: 31734307; PMCID: PMC7131893.
18. Lai J, Schnapp BH, Tillman DS, Westergaard M, Hess J, Kraut AS. Use of graded responsibility and common entrustment considerations among United States emergency medicine residency programs. J Educ Eval Health Prof. 2020;17:11. doi: 10.3352/jeehp.2020.17.11. Epub 2020 Apr 20. PMID: 32306707.
19. McAdams RM, Pak D, Lalovic B, Phillips B, Shen DD. Dexmedetomidine Pharmacokinetics in Neonates with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Receiving Hypothermia. Anesthesiol Res Pract. 2020;2020:2582965. doi: 10.1155/2020/2582965. eCollection 2020. PMID: 32158472; PMCID: PMC7060842.
20. Meinen RD, Bauer AS, Devous K, Cowan E. Point-of-care ultrasound use in umbilical line placement: a review. J Perinatol. 2020 Apr;40(4):560-566. doi: 10.1038/s41372-019-0558-8. Epub 2019 Nov 22. Review. PMID: 31758061.
21. Mezu-Ndubuisi OJ, Macke EL, Kalavacherla R, Nwaba AA, Suscha A, Zaitoun IS, Ikeda A, Sheibani N. Long-term evaluation of retinal morphology and function in a mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy. Mol Vis. 2020;26:257-276. eCollection 2020. PMID: 32256029; PMCID: PMC7127927.
22. Pampati S, Lowry R, Moreno MA, Rasberry CN, Steiner RJ. Having a Sexual Photo Shared Without Permission and Associated Health Risks: A Snapshot of Nonconsensual Sexting. JAMA Pediatr. 2020 Mar 23;. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.0028. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32202601; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7091371.
23. Pet GC, Eickhoff JC, McNevin KE, Do J, McAdams RM. Risk factors for peripherally inserted central catheter complications in neonates. J Perinatol. 2020 Apr;40(4):581-588. doi: 10.1038/s41372-019-0575-7. Epub 2020 Jan 7. PMID: 31911643.
24. Sandri BJ, Lubach GR, Lock EF, Georgieff MK, Kling PJ, Coe CL, Rao RB. Early-Life Iron Deficiency and Its Natural Resolution Are Associated with Altered Serum Metabolomic Profiles in Infant Rhesus Monkeys. J Nutr. 2020 Apr 1;150(4):685-693. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxz274. PMID: 31722400; PMCID: PMC7138653.
25. Schauberger E, Biagini Myers JM, He H, Martin LJ, Arshad SH, Kurukulaaratchy R, Khurana Hershey GK. Use of the Pediatric Asthma Risk Score to predict allergic and nonallergicasthma. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2020 Mar 20. pii: S1081-1206(20)30154-X. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2020.03.010. [Epub ahead of print]PubMed PMID: 32201305
26. Schmuhl NB, Mooney KE, Zhang X, Cooney LG, Conway JH, LoConte NK. No association between HPV vaccination and infertility in U.S. females 18-33 years old. [published online ahead of print, 2020 Apr 3].Vaccine. 2020;S0264-410X(20)30414-X. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.03.035.
27. Verboon JM, Mahmut D, Kim AR, Nakamura M, Abdulhay NJ, Nandakumar SK, Gupta N, Akie TE, Geddis AE, Manes B, Kapp ME, Hofmann I, Gabriel SB, Klein DE, Williams DA, Frangoul HA, Parkhurst SM, Crane GM, Cantor AB, Sankaran VG. Infantile Myelofibrosis and Myeloproliferation with CDC42 Dysfunction. J Clin Immunol. 2020 Apr 17. doi: 10.1007/s10875-020-00778-7. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 32303876.
28. Von Bergen NH, Anagnostopoulos PV. Commentary: What is invisible to the eye could be seen through the heart: How advancements to the visualization of the conduction tissue can improve surgical and electrophysiology procedures. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2020 Mar 9;. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2020.02.091. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 32279964.
29. Wiesner DL, Merkhofer RM, Ober C, Kujoth GC, Niu M, Keller NP, Gern JE, Brockman-Schneider RA, Evans MD, Jackson DJ, Warner T, Jarjour NN, Esnault SJ, Feldman MB, Freeman M, Mou H, Vyas JM, Klein BS. Club Cell TRPV4 Serves as a Damage Sensor Driving Lung Allergic Inflammation. Cell Host Microbe. 2020 Apr 8;27(4):614-628.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2020.02.006. Epub 2020 Mar 3. PubMed PMID: 32130954.
30. Wooldridge AR, Carayon P, Hoonakker P, Hose B, Eithun B, Brazelton T 3rd, Ross J, Kohler JE, Kelly MM, Dean SM, Rusy D, Gurses AP. Work system barriers and facilitators in inpatient care transitions of pediatric trauma patients. Appl Ergon.2020 May;85:103059. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2020.103059. Epub 2020 Feb 12.
Save the Date: Virtual Pediatrics Research Week Begins 5/26/20
In response to COVID-19, the Department of Pediatrics’ annual Research Week will offer alternative programming to spotlight the scholarly work from its residents, fellows, faculty and staff. Through a mix of livestreamed lectures and interactive sessions, Research Week’s celebration of scholarship will be virtually available to the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health community and anyone interested in the latest advances in pediatric research.
Activities for the week include small group sessions with faculty and trainees to discuss research careers and how to turn an idea into a research project, the distinguished Gerard B. Odell Lecture, a Faculty Research Forum, platform presentations, and an online poster session featuring the research of residents, fellows, faculty and staff. New this year, up to 10 hours of continuing medical education (CME) credit can be earned by attending the lectures.
A brief outline of the week’s activities is below.
| Tuesday, May 26, 2020 Opening Lecture: What Everyone Needs to Know About Quality Improvement, Informatics and Turning an Idea into a Project 8:00-9:00am | Livestreamed via Blackboard Collaborate 1 CME Credit Available* Presenters: James Gern, MD, Jennifer Rehm, MD, Michael Semanik, MD and Kristin Shadman, MD |
| Wednesday, May 27, 2020 Morning Conference Lecture: Research as a Career Choice 8:00-9:00am | Livestreamed via Blackboard Collaborate 1 CME Credit Available* Presenter: Anne Marie Singh, MD |
| Thursday, May 28, 2020 Gerard B. Odell Lecture and Grand Rounds Presentation 7:30-8:30am | Livestreamed via Blackboard Collaborate 1 CME Credit Available* Presenter: Katryn Furuya, MD The Odell Lecture is named for Gerard B. Odell, MD, who directed the Department of Pediatrics’ Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition from 1976 through 1991. Dr. Odell was internationally recognized for his research in the field of neonatal jaundice and bilirubin metabolism, and was highly influential in improving the quality of care for newborns and children with liver disease. The Gerard B. Odell Research Award is given to an assistant or associate professor of pediatrics in recognition of outstanding research accomplishments and demonstrated potential for future contributions. Dr. Pelin Cengiz (Associate Professor (CHS), Division of Critical Care) will be presented with this year’s Gerard B. Odell Research Award. Department of Pediatrics Faculty Research Forum – New! 8:55am-12:00pm | Livestreamed via Blackboard Collaborate Up to 3 CME Credits Available* This session will feature ten research vignettes from Department of Pediatrics faculty who were asked to describe one of their favorite projects. Each presentation will last ten minutes and include an additional five minutes for questions and open discussion. The session will be a great opportunity to learn about exciting new developments in child health research. More details on each presentation will be available on our website. Academic Research Town Hall 12:00-12:30pm | Livestreamed via Blackboard Collaborate Drs. Bikash Pattnaik and James Gern will lead a discussion on mechanisms to promote collaborative research. |
| Friday, May 29, 2020 Research Week Keynote Lecture: “How I Became Interested in Pediatrics Research” and Platform Presentations 1:00-3:00pm | Livestreamed via Blackboard Collaborate Up to 2 CME Credits Available* The Research Week Keynote Lecture will be presented by Pelin Cengiz, MD. The lecture will be followed by presentations from two residents, two fellows, and two faculty members. The platform presentations were selected by the Research Week Planning Committee. Online Poster Session and Presentations 3:00-5:00pm | Livestreamed via Blackboard Collaborate Up to 1.5 CME Credits Available* Research posters will be presented online by residents, fellows, faculty and staff. Starting at 3:30pm, brief presentations by each researcher will be delivered via Blackboard Collaborate. |
Travel Funds Awarded to Erika Zevin, MD
Congratulations to Endocrinology/Diabetes fellow Erika Zevin, MD, who was awarded travel funds of ~$800 to attend the 23rd Advanced Postgraduate Course on Growth and Growth Disorders being held in late September 2020 in Stockholm, Sweden. This 5-day course held by the Karolinska Institute and supported by Pfizer Limited, will cover the biology of human growth as well as clinical management of growth disorders, led by internationally known experts in pediatric endocrinology and other aspects on growth. The conference held at the historic Krägga Mansion, will be attended by 25 pediatric endocrinology fellows from across the globe.
Bruce Klein, MD, Awarded Grant from Vaxine
Bruce Klein, MD, was recently awarded a 1-year, $38,500 grant from Vaxine, an Australian biotechnology company focusing on development of innovative vaccine technologies. This objective of this grant, for the project titled, “Developing Advax adjuvanted vaccine formulation against systemic fungi,” will be to formulate Advax (provided by Vaxine) with protective fungal antigens (provided by the Klein lab) to vaccinate against fungal infections and ultimately to translate the formulation to a human vaccine.
2020 St. Baldrick’s Summer Fellowship Awarded to Capitini Lab
Congratulations to Christian Capitini, MD, who was recently awarded a $5,000 Summer Fellowship from the St. Baldricks’s Foundation, the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants, to fund a student in his lab this summer. Nicholas Mohrdieck, currently completing the junior year of his undergraduate studies, will work in Dr. Capitini’s lab on the project, “Vaccine and checkpoint blockade after allogeneic BMT for neuroblastoma,” with the goal of discovering whether a combination of anti-PD1 inhibitors with an engineered costimulatory vaccine may be an effective strategy to induce apoptosis of neuroblastoma tumor cells. This approach seeks to increase T cell and NK-mediated cytokine production and cytotoxicity and investigate whether anti-tumor effects after bone marrow transplant (BMT) are enhanced.
Saying Goodbye to a Colleague and Friend: A Tribute to Dr. Jon Wolff
This tribute was contributed by the Wolff Family and Drs. David Wargowski, Patrick Remington, and Elizabeth Petty.
We are deeply saddened to share news about the passing of a long-time beloved faculty colleague, Dr. Jon Wolff (pictured below), after a courageous battle with cancer.
Jon was a professor and division chief of genetics and metabolism in pediatrics for most of the 20 years he spent at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Prior to joining our faculty, he received his undergraduate education at Cornell University, received his M.D. from The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, completed clinical training in Pediatrics and Medical Genetics at the University of California-San Diego, and was a post-doctoral fellow at the Agouron Institute. He remained an honorary volunteer faculty member here and was always a strong supporter of our master of genetic counselor studies degree program throughout his career.
As a physician-scientist, Jon made significant contributions to diagnostic and therapeutic knowledge that helped transform the standard-of-care for several different genetic conditions. As an advisory member for Wisconsin’s Newborn Screening Program he helped establish new programs for detecting metabolic disorders and genetic conditions. He also led medical genetics courses for medical students and genetic counseling students over several years, adding cutting-edge molecular content, bringing patients into classrooms as teachers, and greatly improving medical and molecular genetic education throughout various classroom, clinic, and laboratory settings.
Jon played an internationally recognized role in advancing gene therapy for liver, muscle, and brain disorders and in developing innovative techniques to transfer genetic material into cells, including novel vascular delivery of naked nucleic acids into tissues. Collaborating with other scientists he helped develop genetic vaccines. Jon was a highly productive physician-scientist, with well over 150 scientific publications and 80 patents, and he served on multiple committees and boards, including those at the NIH, the American Society of Gene Therapy, several journals, and the French Muscular Dystrophy Association (AFM). With colleagues he founded MirusBio Corporation in 1995. While there he led cutting edge work developing novel nanotechnologies to transfer siRNA into cells. The successful MirusBio therapeutics division he helped create was initially acquired by Roche and later by Arrowhead Research Corporation.
Although Jon was always well ahead of his time as a novel thought leader in gene therapy, throughout his career he also remained passionate about developing innovative and compassionate approaches to the care of people with genetic disorders and for the ethical use of genetic information and technology in health care in general. His patients trusted his tremendous expertise and devotion to their care, and remember his great sense of humor – he had a talent for bringing them joy, even in difficult circumstances. His passion to serve patients led to his creation of the charitable nonprofit foundation, Genetic Support Foundation, which has been dedicated to providing genetic counseling services for all since 2014, and where he has served as chairman of the board. When Jon became a patient himself he applied his incredible intellect and resourcefulness to explore innovative approaches to his own treatment, and in the process he became a powerful support resource for others with cancer.
Jon will be deeply missed by all of his departmental and SMPH colleagues, many of which were his former students and residents, former patients, and many close friends both in our local community and within the global genetics community.