Research News

Drs. Vanderpool, Knox Among 14 to Win ABRC Grant Awards Worth Total of Over $5.92 Million

The UA Department of Medicine’s Dr. Rebecca Vanderpool, research investigator, Division of Translational and Regenerative Medicine, and Dr. Ken Knox, former pulmonary chief, were recently awarded three-year grants from the Arizona Biomedical Research Commission—among 14 given to the University of Arizona. Her study involves a molecular link in development of right ventricular heart failure in pulmonary hypertension patients. His involves “tissue bioengineering” of a spinach leaf to serve as a model to study lung inflammation. See their co-investigators and funded research list…   


Reducing the Risk of Transplant Rejection Focus of Nephrology Guest Speaker, April 20

The University of Cincinnati transplantation director Dr. E. Steve Woodle will speak on “Innovative Approaches for Prevention and Treatment of Rejection: The Cincinnati Experience” in a special guest lecture hosted by the University of Arizona Division of Nephrology on Friday, April 20, 12-1 p.m., UAHS Room 8403. In addition, Dr. Rita R. Alloway, University of Cincinnati director of transplant clinical research, will give an industry-sponsored talk April 19, 6:30 p.m., at Tavalino's Restaurant on "A Unique Tacrolimus Treatment Option." RSVP now…


Drs. Laukaitis, Langlais Headline Next DOM Research Seminar on Genetics, Proteomics

Two researchers with cross-disciplinary roots are lined up for an in-depth look at the genetics and proteomics of precision medicine solutions at the University of Arizona Health Sciences for the next UA Department of Medicine Research Seminar on May 10. Dr. Christina Laukaitis will discuss Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and joint hypermobility, and Dr. Paul Langlais will talk about microtubule-associated proteins and insulin…


UA Sleep Medicine Studies Focus of PCORI Videos, Article and National Journalist Panel Talk

Dr. Sai Parthasarathy’s research on sleep disorders, a peer-buddy approach to mentoring and care coordination for better adherence is the subject of two videos posted to the Washington, DC-based Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) website and viewable at this past weekend’s Health Journalism 2018 conference and expo in Phoenix. PCORI also included the research in its annual magazine as a “Featured Project”…


Most Recent Bressler-Alpert Travel Award Goes to Sleep Medicine Fellow

Dr. Chithra Poongkunran, a fellow with the UA Sleep Medicine Fellowship in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, has been presented with a Bressler-Alpert Society Travel Award to attend the American Thoracic Society International Meeting in May. She's the third internal medicine trainee in 2018 and the sixth this academic year (2017-18) to receive awards. Overall, 42 trainees have received awards since they were first presented six years ago…


UA Research Team Led by Center for Integrative Medicine Wins FLEXI Award for Wearable Hydration Monitor

Congratulations to the University of Arizona flexible hybrid electronics research team led by the UA Center for Integrative Medicine (AzCIM), which was part of the winning group for a R&D Achievement Award at the FLEXI Awards in Monterey, Calif., in February. The multidisciplinary team includes Drs. Esther Sternberg and Perry Skeath…


Two More UA Internal Medicine Trainees Win Bressler-Alpert Travel Awards

Two trainees in internal medicine at the University of Arizona Department of Medicine were presented with Bressler-Alpert Society Travel Awards this week to present their research at academic conferences. Dr. Luke Gabe, a Pulmonary and Critical Care fellow, and Dr. Shilpa Junna, an Internal Medicine Residency Program (University Campus) resident, are the first in 2018 to receive awards…


New March 8 DOM Research Seminar Lineup Focuses on Biomarkers in Lung, Heart Muscle Disease

Dr. Jil Tardiff, a UA Sarver Heart Center cardiologist, replaces Dr. Yves Lussier for the UA Department of Medicine Research Seminar, noon-1 p.m., Thurs., March 8, in COM-T Room 5403. She’ll discuss her research on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The other speaker for this seminar, Dr. Stefano Guerra, a pulmonary epidemiologist with the UA Asthma & Airway Disease Research Center, will talk on his research to end persistence of asthma into adulthood. Both are NIH-funded principal investigators. Dr. Lussier’s presentation is moved to the June 7 seminar…


UA, Banner Clinicians and Staff Celebrate New Banner – UMC/U.S. News Signage

Several dozen UA College of Medicine – Tucson and Banner – University Medicine faculty, clinicians and staff gathered on the front lawn of the Banner – University Medical Center Tucson front lawn in recognition of new hospital signage honoring its best U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals” rankings in a decade. See mini-photo gallery…


With UA Roots, Avery Therapeutics Selected for Flinn Bioscience Entrepreneurship Program

Flinn Foundation to provide $30,000 to six Arizona firms through program. The Tucson startup company—led by Drs. Steve Goldman, Jordan Lancaster and Jen Watson Koevary—conducted its basic science research in a University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center lab. It’s also been assisted by Tech Launch Arizona, the commercialization arm of the UA tasked with helping bring innovations developed at the university to market…


TB Expert from UCLA to Offer Medicine Grand Rounds Lecture on ‘World’s Leading Infectious Killer,’ Jan. 31, Noon

Marcus A. Horwitz, MD, former chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, will deliver the Medicine Grand Rounds lecture as a special guest speaker Jan. 31, noon-1 p.m., COM-T Room 5403, on the topic: “Fighting the World's Leading Infectious Killer: Advances in Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of TB”…


DOM Chair to Receive American Thoracic Society’s 2018 Distinguished Achievement Award

UA Department of Medicine Chair Monica Kraft, MD, will receive the American Thoracic Society’s Distinguished Achievement Award at the ATS 2018 International Conference held in San Diego, May 18-23...


Feb. 8 DOM Research Seminar Pairs Jr., Sr. Investigators on Critical Care, Pulmonary Hypertension

Dr. Jarrod Mosier, Critical Care Fellowship associate program director, to speak on “Translating Research to a Life Saved,” while the topic for Dr. Steve Black—who won a $2.74 million NHLBI award last spring—will be, “Metabolic Reprogramming in PH.” Save the date, Thursday, Feb. 8, 12-1 p.m., Room 5403. A light lunch will be served. Also see links to video and photo galleries from prior lectures, and who’s next up (Dr. Stefano Guerra)…


Two UA Research-hosted ‘NIH Grant Writing Workshops’ Tailored for Faculty, Postdocs, Feb. 15-16

UA Research Development Services has two opportunities for investigators to attend workshops with Peg AtKisson, PhD—a former Tufts University neuroscience research investigator whose team was involved in bringing in $140 million in funded grants—to learn how to improve their applications for funding from the National Institutes of Health. The workshops are at the student union, Feb. 15-16, with opportunities for individual consultations…


Celebration of Life for Late Past DOM Chair, UA Liver Institute Founder Dr. Tom Boyer, Jan. 21

Dr. Tom Boyer, immediate past chair of the University of Arizona Department of Medicine, founding director of the UA Thomas D. Boyer Liver Institute and a world leader on research and care of the liver, died on Thursday, Jan. 11, at his home in Tucson after a long battle with cancer. A gathering to celebrate his life will be held at the Skyline Country Club, Sunday, Jan. 11, 3-5 p.m. RSVPs required… 


2018 Complex Diseases Spring Colloquium Zeroes in on Genetics of Maladies

A Weekly Colloquium on Problems in the Biology of Complex Diseases will feature several speakers and topics of interest to University of Arizona Department of Medicine physicians and investigators. These include DOM faculty, Drs. Xingnan Li, Deb Meyers, Gene Bleecker and Stefano Guerra, who are among the speakers. The series runs through April 27…


Dozens of Dynamic DOM Investigators to Be on Hand for 2nd P.I. Research Poster Night, Jan. 24

This open format research fair recognizes work across the UA Department of Medicine by faculty physicians and scientists who serve as principal investigators on projects financed by federal grants to develop innovative therapies to the world’s most challenging health problems. Come to Kiewit Auditorium. Ask questions, listen, learn and lay the groundwork for future collaboration, mentorship and training…


Fall Photo Galleries Showcase Busy Agenda for UA Department of Medicine in 2017

This past fall sped by so quickly it was difficult to keep track of the many fabulous events across the University of Arizona Health Sciences campus. See photo galleries from “Medical Student Meet-n-Greet with DOM Faculty” on Oct. 5 to the "Cancer Immunotherapy Minisymposium" on Dec. 15. In between, see photos for the Annual Cardiology Research Fair, the Innovation & Invention Research Fair, Founders Week activities, special lectures, fellow’s retreat and the topping off ceremony for the Health Sciences Innovation Building… 


BizTucson, Tucson Lifestyle Pay Tribute to UA Health Sciences, DOM Docs in 2017

Dementia, breast cancer, game-changing medical technologies, top doctors, women who lead, UA as a ‘hotbed of innovation’ and a special report on the UA College of Medicine – Tucson anniversary, “Picking up Speed at 50”—all are themes for magazine coverage for the UA Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Department of Medicine in the past year. Among faculty spotlighted were Drs. Pavani Chalasani, Mindy Fain, John Galgiani, Mathew Hutchinson, Monica Kraft, Akinololu Ojo and Andrew Weil…


BIO5 to Host 2nd Annual University of Arizona Core Facilities Fair, Feb. 20

The University of Arizona Office of Research, Discovery and Innovation (RDI) will host the second annual UA Core Facilities Fair on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at the UA BIO5 Institute, Room 103, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a networking reception to follow in the lobby of the new BioSciences Research Laboratory building….


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