PACCSM News

Three junior faculty in the Department of Medicine honored by the ASCI for their commitment to research
Drs. Cary Boyd-Shiwarski and Mark Snyder have been awarded ASCI Young Physician-Scientist Awards while Dr. Richard Ramonell has been named a recipient of the Emerging-Generation Award.

Second annual awardees of the KARAT Catalytic Grants announced
Thirteen junior faculty from across the Department of Medicine have received awards to facilitate their transition to R-level funding.

PACCM and Hematology/Oncology faculty collaborate to identify link between telomere mutations and melonama
In a recent Science paper, Drs. Jonathan Alder, John Kirkwood and others describe TPP1 mutations leading to telomere lengthening and the promotion of melanoma cells.

NIH U54 leads to creation of TriState SenNet Tissue Mapping Center
Led by Drs. Toren Finkel and Melanie Königshoff, the TriState SenNet TMC combines the expertise of faculty from Pitt, CMU, OSU, and URMC to develop a high-resolution map of the senescent cell population in the human lung and heart, define the physiological drivers of senescence, and provide a rational approach to understand the therapeutic potential of senolytic therapy.

Kambez H. Benam develops new robot to simulate vaping effects
To better understand potential damage that emerging vaping products may have on human lungs, Dr. Benam and his team have created a first-in-kind biologically inspired robotic system that quantitatively analyzes submicron and microparticles generated from electronic cigarettes in real-time while mimicking clinically relevant breathing and vaping topography exactly as happens in humans.

The Aging Institute’s Bill Chen, PhD, identifies drugs that could combat COVID-19 mutations
In a recent Nature Communications article, the Chen lab discuss how a high-throughput screen could be used to identify FDA-approved compounds that may resist SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Dr. Christopher O’Donnell to head new Office of Emerging Technologies in Health Sciences Education
This new office will advance and enrich interprofessional learning in the health sciences through embracing new technologies from across and beyond the institution while ensuring that technological advances are more integrated, accessible and equitable.

Dr. Oliver Eickelberg Appointed Vice Chair for Basic and Translational Research
Given that the research mission of the Department of Medicine and the development and sustainment of the career development pipeline remain central tenants of our academic vision, it is our pleasure to announce the appointment of Oliver Eickelberg, MD, as Vice Chair for Basic and Translational Research.

Virtual Course: Ventilators for Non-Intensivists
PACCM docs Burton Lee, MD, and Megan Acho, MD, have developed peer-reviewed videos to help train doctors outside the field use ventilators on COVID-19 patients. (Alyson Lee)

Department of Medicine Faculty Receive Excellence in Patient Experience Awards
Congratulations to the 2019 awardees!
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