APRIL 2024 NEWSLETTER
The newsletter of the Feinberg School of Medicine Research Office
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Uncovering The Culprits of Neurodegenerative Disorders |
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The World Health Organization estimates that 50 million people worldwide are affected by neurodegenerative disorders – primarily characterized by motor neuron dysfunction and loss – and that number is expected to rise as our population ages. Recent studies from Feinberg scientists have uncovered new insights into these disorders, elucidating the mechanisms behind Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. |
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SQE Inspire Program Hosts Shadow Day |
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High school juniors from Our Lady of Tepeyac High School in Little Village had the chance to shadow and learn from Feinberg scientists as part of an event hosted by the Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics Inspire program on March 5. |
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Mustanski Named Associate Vice President of Research |
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The Office for Research at Northwestern University announced the appointment of two distinguished faculty members, Brian Mustanski, PhD, and Enectali Figueroa-Feliciano, PhD, to associate vice president for research. These appointments come after a rigorous search to strengthen Northwestern's research enterprise. The leadership roles report to vice president for Research Eric Perreault, PhD, and are tasked with advancing innovation in the social and behavioral sciences and enhancing scientific collaborations with national laboratories. |
Faculty ProfileDeveloping Clinical Trials and Novel Immunotherapies for the Treatment of MelanomaSunandana Chandra, MD, MS, is an associate professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology. Her clinical and research interests include the development of robust clinical trials and studying novel biomarkers that may be used as prognostic and predictive tools for managing melanoma and other advanced skin cancers, as well as cancer of unknown primary. |
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Staff ProfileExpanding Administrative Capabilities to Support ResearchJen Zhou, MBA, is associate administrator in the Division of Cardiology at Feinberg. As the associate division administrator for the Division of Cardiology, she supports the expansion of the administrative team and fast division growth as well as optimizes operations to enhance overall efficiency. |
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Student ProfileFurthering the Understanding of Addictive and Compulsive BehaviorNkatha Mwenda is a PhD student in the Northwestern University Interdepartmental Neurosciences (NUIN) Program. After falling in love with science in the sixth grade, Mwenda went on to earn her BA in biology from Kalamazoo College. Now in the lab of Talia Lerner, PhD, assistant professor of Neuroscience, she investigates the neuronal circuitry underlying compulsive-like behavior. |
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Campus Events |
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Research in the NewsTIME, April 5 ABC News, April 2 US News & World Report, March 24 |
NUCATS CornerPostdoctoral Scientists Can Apply for T32 FundingThe NUCATS Institute has extended the deadline to apply for Equitable TRanslational science to Accelerate Impact of New innovations (E-TRAIN) funding. This T32 (formerly TL1) program is contingent on funding by NIH/NCATS of the NUCATS UM1 and T32 applications. Applications are now due June 30. The earliest appointment date is September 1. The T32 program aims to catalyze the careers of postdoctoral scientists, who will expand their domain expertise through mentored research with increasing independence while developing foundational skills in boundary-crossing, interdisciplinary team science. |
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Sponsored ResearchTitle: Nuclear Rotation and Cellular Reorganization During Cytomegalovirus Infection
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Sponsored ResearchTitle: A Novel Role for EZH2 in A-to-I RNA Editing in Prostate Cancer
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Breakthroughs PodcastDiscovering New ALS Therapeutic Avenues with Evangelos Kiskinis, PhDNorthwestern investigators have uncovered novel cellular mechanisms involved in two types of genetic ALS that might lead to future targeted therapies. Evangelos Kiskinis, PhD, shares insights on these findings recently published in Science Advances and Cell Reports. |
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New FacultyDavid Winlaw, MBBS, MD, FRACS, joined Feinberg on November 1, 2023 as professor of Surgery and Pediatrics. He was also appointed Division Head of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgery and Surgical Co-Executive Director of the Heart Center at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. He holds the Willis J. Potts, MD Founders’ Board Professorship in Surgery. Winlaw was previously at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati where he was associate director in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Heart Institute and professor of Surgery. Prior to his Cincinnati appointment, Winlaw served as the head of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Program at Children’s Hospital of Westmead in Sydney, Australia from 2008 to 2020, where he specialized in neonatal and infant cardiac surgery, including surgery for hypoplastic left heart syndrome, corrected transposition and the Ross-Konno procedure as well as pioneered approaches to several other complex neonatal heart conditions. |
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Galter LibraryInvestigation of Ethics Dumping CasesGalter Library, led by Mohammad Hosseini, PhD, is pursuing an international and multidisciplinary effort to create more awareness about ethics dumping, which happens when investigators seek out lenient Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) and ethics committees to conduct ethically problematic research. |
High Impact ResearchDulai PS, Singh S, Jairath V, Wong E, Narula N. Integrating Evidence to Guide Use of Biologics and Small Molecules for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Gastroenterology. 2024; 166(3):396-408.e2. Gharzai LA, Morris E, Suresh K, Nguyen-Tân PF, Rosenthal DI, Gillison ML, Harari PM, Garden AS, Koyfman S, Caudell JJ, Jones CU, Mitchell DL, Krempl G, Ridge JA, Gensheimer MF, Bonner JA, Filion E, Dunlap NE, Stokes WA, Le QT, Torres-Saavedra P, Mierzwa M, Schipper MJ. Surrogate endpoints in clinical trials of p16-positive squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx: an individual patient data meta-analysis. The Lancet. Oncology. 2024; 25(3):366-375. Halabi S, Roy A, Rydzewska L, Guo S, Godolphin P, Hussain M, Tangen C, Thompson I, Xie W, Carducci MA, Smith MR, Morris MJ, Gravis G, Dearnaley DP, Verhagen P, Goto T, James N, Buyse ME, Tierney JF, Sweeney C. Radiographic Progression-Free Survival and Clinical Progression-Free Survival as Potential Surrogates for Overall Survival in Men With Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2024; 42(9):1044-1054. Hernández-Díaz S, Straub L, Bateman BT, Zhu Y, Mogun H, Wisner KL, Gray KJ, Lester B, McDougle CJ, DiCesare E, Pennell PB, Huybrechts KF. Risk of Autism after Prenatal Topiramate, Valproate, or Lamotrigine Exposure. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2024; 390(12):1069-1079. |
Featured CorePathology Core FacilityThe Pathology Core Facility (PCF) is a centralized, comprehensive, core laboratory providing histology, immunohistochemistry, molecular analysis, and microscopic evaluation services for human tissue-based studies. Services Offered
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NIH NewsPreparing for Funding Opportunities Using the Simplified Review Framework Last fall, NIH announced the implementation of a simplified review framework for most research project grants. The goals of this new framework include enabling peer reviewers to better focus on answering the key questions necessary to assess the scientific and technical merit of proposed research projects, mitigate the effect of reputational bias and reduce reviewer burden. NIH just released a Guide Notice that provides guidance to applicants on navigating new and updated funding opportunities expected to be published between now and January 2025. NIH encourages applications to review the Guide Notice for more details on the implementation plans. Applicants and reviewers can expect to receive further guidance and support as the implementation date of January 2025 draws near. Changes Coming to Applications and Peer Review in January 2025 NIH is implementing multiple changes that will impact the preparation and peer review of most grant applications submitted to NIH for due dates on or after January 25, 2025. A video is available to provide overview for several changes including: simplified review criteria for most research project grants, revisions to the fellowship application and review process, updates to reference letter guidance, updates to NRSA training grant applications, updated application forms (FORMS-I), and common forms for biographical sketch and current support. NIH has developed a centralized webpage on Changes Coming in January 2025 that NIH will continue to update as details of each change and resources are developed and released. It is encouraged for all connected to NIH to learn more about these changes, and take advantage of the many resources NIH is developing. |
Funding OpportunitiesResearch Initiative for Vaccine and Antibiotic Allergy (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Addressing HIV in highest risk sexual and gender minorities (R34 Clinical Trial Required)
More Resources |
Thank You For ReadingWe are testing an updated format for this newsletter. We welcome your feedback. Please share it with us via email. |
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