The Department is delighted to announce three recipients of the Walter B. Frommeyer, Jr., Fellowship in Investigative Medicine. This annual research award is designed to foster the development of outstanding physician-scientists by supporting a two-year intensive, mentored research experience.
• Nav Bajaj, MD, (left) will be defining novel inflammatory, myocardial blood flow and metabolism endotypes in acute decompensated heart failure and their association with future cardiovascular outcomes
• Radhika Gangaraju, MD, (center) will investigate clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (chip) and racial differences in stroke
• Trisha Parekh, MD, (right) will examine the impact of stress on acute care use in low-income COPD populations
Congratulations to this year’s exceptional awardees!
More Good News for May 15, 2019
Aadia Rana, MD (Associate Professor, Infectious Diseases) will lead a clinical trial to determine whether monthly antiretroviral therapy (ART) injections can help improve adherence to treatment for patients with HIV. This addresses a common problem with traditional ART, which is often not taken as prescribed, leaving the virus unsuppressed and risking further transmission of the disease. To learn more about the LATITUDE study or to enroll, please contact Tracy Phillips, BSN, Lead Research Nurse, in the UAB Center for AIDS Research.
Anand Iyer, MD (Assistant Professor, Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care) and colleagues have published new information that stresses the need for increased mental health care for current and former smokers, especially those who suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Their study finds that one in four smokers has untreated anxiety and depressive symptoms. The report was published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research.
Veena Antony, MD (Professor, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care) and colleagues have demonstrated that blocking the assembly of a thread-like protein called vimentin can prevent myofibroblasts from invading the lungs in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Their findings reported in JCI Insight show promise for a therapeutic intervention for patients with IPF.
Sunil Rangarajan, MD (ABIM/Onconephrology Fellow) won 3rd place at the 14th Annual Young Investigators Forum at the National Kidney Foundation meeting for his research in the association between immunoglobulin free light chains and progressive kidney disease. His mentor in this work is Paul Sanders, MD (Professor, Nephrology). Kudos, Dr. Rangarajan!
The 3rd Annual SOM Diversity Fair Annual SOM Diversity Fair was a veritable festival of flavor, and the DOM was proud to take second place for the second year in a row. In recognition of their success in the school-wide culinary competition, the team reunited to enjoy a sweet treat from Nothing Bundt Cakes. Special thanks to everyone who participated in making the event a “fun-tastic” celebration of our department’s diversity!
On the softer, furrier side of medicine, we’re delighted to report on a new fund that’s helping teams get the training they need to deliver Hand in Paw pet therapy. Anna’s Fund is a special memorial by Dr. Rodney Tucker and Billy Connelly that funds teams who volunteer to visit sick patients in the hospital, especially those here at UAB in the Palliative and Supportive Care Unit. Grab a tissue and read the heartwarming story…
Dr. John I. Kennedy Jr, MD, UAB Department of Medicine Senior Advisor and Director for Wellness, will present, “FreeDOM Through Wellness. Data and Ideas That Make Us ‘Well-er’” at noon on Wednesday, May 22, in Margaret Cameron Spain Auditorium.