Inside Einstein ::: Albert Einstein College of Medicine


November 2007-March 2008
	New Faces & Faculty Dr. Jonathan Backer has been appointed the next Director of the Belfer Institute for Advanced Biomedical Studies. He succeeds Dr. Allan Wolkoff, who is stepping down after his five-year term as director. Dr. Backer, who also is professor of molecular pharmacology at Einstein, studies a family of enzymes, known as the phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI 3-kinases), which regulate key cellular activities. These enzymes are vital for normal insulin action, and inappropriate activation of PI 3-kinase signaling is strongly implicated in human cancer. His research has earned him an international reputation in molecular pharmacology, as well as the role of sought-after mentor to many promising young scientists here at Einstein. He has trained some 20 individuals in his own lab and has served on the Belfer Institute Advisory Committee for nine years. As the Belfer Institute's director, Dr. Backer's focus will be on enhancing opportunities for postdoctoral investigators to take part in ground-breaking research by improving the mentoring, career development and quality of life assistance that Einstein provides to them. Read more articles... Einstein-in-the-News In its March 24th Health Care Report, *Crain's New York Business* prominently featured Albert Einstein College of Medicine and its new Michael F. Price Center for Genetic and Translational Medicine/Harold and Muriel Block Research Pavilion in a cover story for the special section about new development and expansion at New York City's leading biomedical research institutions. Dr. Allen M. Spiegel, The Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean at Einstein, was quoted throughout the article. In another article in the special section, Dr. Harris Goldstein, director of Einstein's Center for AIDS Research, and Dr. Jeffrey Pessin, director of Einstein's Diabetes Research Center, were quoted about collaboration between research institutions. (March 24, 2008) Read more articles... Research Round-up Community Health: Major Study of Latinos—On December 7, 2007, the medical school celebrated the opening of its Study of Latinos (SOL) Clinic at Fordham Plaza. The clinic will serve as the site for Einstein’s participation in the Hispanic Community Health Study—an unprecedented and landmark study that will ultimately evaluate the health status of 16,000 people of Hispanic/Latino origin nationwide. The Bronx is one of only four study sites for the study (which also include Chicago, Miami, and San Diego) selected by the National Institutes of Health. Einstein researchers and co-investigators at our University Hospital, Montefiore Medical Center, are currently enrolling participants from the Bronx (4,000 in total), ages 18 to 74, and will study their cardiovascular health, diet, exercise habits and other health behaviors. The overall focus of the study is to identify both the prevalence of, and risk factors for, a variety of diseases and disorders among the Hispanic/Latino population, with the ultimate goal of improving health. Principal investigators for the study are Sylvia Smoller, Ph.D. and Robert Kaplan, Ph.D., professor and associate professor of epidemiology and population health, respectively. Read more articles... Clinical Close-ups New Center for SIDS/SUDS—Our new Montefiore-Einstein Center for Sudden Cardiac Death recently opened and will provide a unified venue for the diagnosis and treatment of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), Sudden Unexpected Death Syndrome (SUDS), and other types of sudden cardiac death. Led by Drs. Robert Marion, Thomas McDonald, and John Fisher, this unique center brings together clinicians and basic scientists at Einstein and our University Hospital, Montefiore Medical Center, as well as pediatric and other physicians, to offer this novel and valuable service. Read more articles... Student Spotlight Global Health & Cancer—Einstein fourth-year students Eleanor Chung and Chava Kahn recently returned to Uganda, where they will help to combat cervical cancer. The two Einstein students will spend the next two months working with staff from the organization PINCC (Prevention International: No Cervical Cancer) to administer the “see-and-treat” screening program. They also will assist in training local health care workers in the techniques involved in performing such screenings. During an earlier visit to Uganda, Ms. Chung and Ms. Kahn observed that there was no routine screening for cervical cancer, so they established education and screening programs to address this need. They then enlisted PINCC to bring their vital screening program to Uganda, after assisting the organization with their program during a summer 2007 elective in Nicaragua. Read more articles... Academic Honors & Events On March 27, 2008, the Einstein Graduate Division held its 12th annual Julius Marmur Research Award Symposium, which highlights exemplary student research. Three students presented their award-winning research as part of the morning session presentation and awards ceremony, followed by an afternoon session of poster presentations and a reception. The student awardees were Boris Heifets, in the laboratory of Dr. Pablo Castillo (neuroscience); Shaeri Mukherjee, in the laboratory of Dr. Dennis Shields, (developmental & molecular biology); and Kyung-Min Noh, in the laboratories of Drs. Michael V.L. Bennett and R. Suzanne Zukin (neuroscience). Read more articles... Donor Gifts, News & Events Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz, longtime benefactors of Einstein, donated $7 million to establish the Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Comprehensive Cancer Prevention and Control Program, which will bring together Einstein scientists to design new methods for promoting the health of Bronx residents. The Program also will help launch major studies to identify lifestyle and environmental factors that cause cancer, and will implement cancer prevention initiatives focusing on smoking cessation, exercise, healthy nutrition and preventing obesity. Read more articles... Alumni Update Stanford Goldman, M.D., Class of 1965, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Uroradiology at the Abdominal Radiology Course, a combined meeting of the Society of Uroradiology and Society of Gastrointestinal Radiologists in Rancho Mirage, CA in February 2008. Stan is professor of diagnostic and interventional imaging and urology at Baylor College of Medicine and clinical professor of radiology at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. He is also a full professor working in the fields of chest and abdominal imaging and is section chief of uroradiology at the University of Texas. Dr. Goldman is the 1996 Distinguished Alumnus at Einstein. Read more articles... Board of Overseers Samuel G. Weinberg, who serves on the Einstein Board of Overseers and chairs the Building Committee that has overseen the construction of the Price Center/Block Research Pavilion, received an honorary doctoral degree in humane letters from Yeshiva University at the Hanukkah Dinner, held November 9, 2007, at the Waldorf-Astoria. Read more articles...

November 2007-March 2008

New Faces & Faculty
Dr. Jonathan Backer has been appointed the next Director of the Belfer Institute for Advanced Biomedical Studies. He succeeds Dr. Allan Wolkoff, who is stepping down after his five-year term as director. Dr. Backer, who also is professor of molecular pharmacology at Einstein, studies a family of enzymes, known as the phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI 3-kinases), which regulate key cellular activities. These enzymes are vital for normal insulin action, and inappropriate activation of PI 3-kinase signaling is strongly implicated in human cancer. His research has earned him an international reputation in molecular pharmacology, as well as the role of sought-after mentor to many promising young scientists here at Einstein. He has trained some 20 individuals in his own lab and has served on the Belfer Institute Advisory Committee for nine years. As the Belfer Institute's director, Dr. Backer's focus will be on enhancing opportunities for postdoctoral investigators to take part in ground-breaking research by improving the mentoring, career development and quality of life assistance that Einstein provides to them.
Read more articles...

Einstein-in-the-News
In its March 24th Health Care Report, Crain's New York Business prominently featured Albert Einstein College of Medicine and its new Michael F. Price Center for Genetic and Translational Medicine/Harold and Muriel Block Research Pavilion in a cover story for the special section about new development and expansion at New York City's leading biomedical research institutions. Dr. Allen M. Spiegel, The Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean at Einstein, was quoted throughout the article. In another article in the special section, Dr. Harris Goldstein, director of Einstein's Center for AIDS Research, and Dr. Jeffrey Pessin, director of Einstein's Diabetes Research Center, were quoted about collaboration between research institutions. (March 24, 2008)
Read more articles...

Research Round-up
Community Health: Major Study of Latinos—On December 7, 2007, the medical school celebrated the opening of its Study of Latinos (SOL) Clinic at Fordham Plaza. The clinic will serve as the site for Einstein’s participation in the Hispanic Community Health Study—an unprecedented and landmark study that will ultimately evaluate the health status of 16,000 people of Hispanic/Latino origin nationwide. The Bronx is one of only four study sites for the study (which also include Chicago, Miami, and San Diego) selected by the National Institutes of Health. Einstein researchers and co-investigators at our University Hospital, Montefiore Medical Center, are currently enrolling participants from the Bronx (4,000 in total), ages 18 to 74, and will study their cardiovascular health, diet, exercise habits and other health behaviors. The overall focus of the study is to identify both the prevalence of, and risk factors for, a variety of diseases and disorders among the Hispanic/Latino population, with the ultimate goal of improving health. Principal investigators for the study are Sylvia Smoller, Ph.D. and Robert Kaplan, Ph.D., professor and associate professor of epidemiology and population health, respectively.
Read more articles...

Clinical Close-ups
New Center for SIDS/SUDS—Our new Montefiore-Einstein Center for Sudden Cardiac Death recently opened and will provide a unified venue for the diagnosis and treatment of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), Sudden Unexpected Death Syndrome (SUDS), and other types of sudden cardiac death. Led by Drs. Robert Marion, Thomas McDonald, and John Fisher, this unique center brings together clinicians and basic scientists at Einstein and our University Hospital, Montefiore Medical Center, as well as pediatric and other physicians, to offer this novel and valuable service.
Read more articles...

Student Spotlight
Global Health & Cancer—Einstein fourth-year students Eleanor Chung and Chava Kahn recently returned to Uganda, where they will help to combat cervical cancer. The two Einstein students will spend the next two months working with staff from the organization PINCC (Prevention International: No Cervical Cancer) to administer the “see-and-treat” screening program. They also will assist in training local health care workers in the techniques involved in performing such screenings. During an earlier visit to Uganda, Ms. Chung and Ms. Kahn observed that there was no routine screening for cervical cancer, so they established education and screening programs to address this need. They then enlisted PINCC to bring their vital screening program to Uganda, after assisting the organization with their program during a summer 2007 elective in Nicaragua.
Read more articles...

Academic Honors & Events
On March 27, 2008, the Einstein Graduate Division held its 12th annual Julius Marmur Research Award Symposium, which highlights exemplary student research. Three students presented their award-winning research as part of the morning session presentation and awards ceremony, followed by an afternoon session of poster presentations and a reception. The student awardees were Boris Heifets, in the laboratory of Dr. Pablo Castillo (neuroscience); Shaeri Mukherjee, in the laboratory of Dr. Dennis Shields, (developmental & molecular biology); and Kyung-Min Noh, in the laboratories of Drs. Michael V.L. Bennett and R. Suzanne Zukin (neuroscience).
Read more articles...

Donor Gifts, News & Events
Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz, longtime benefactors of Einstein, donated $7 million to establish the Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Comprehensive Cancer Prevention and Control Program, which will bring together Einstein scientists to design new methods for promoting the health of Bronx residents. The Program also will help launch major studies to identify lifestyle and environmental factors that cause cancer, and will implement cancer prevention initiatives focusing on smoking cessation, exercise, healthy nutrition and preventing obesity.
Read more articles...

Alumni Update
Stanford Goldman, M.D., Class of 1965, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Uroradiology at the Abdominal Radiology Course, a combined meeting of the Society of Uroradiology and Society of Gastrointestinal Radiologists in Rancho Mirage, CA in February 2008. Stan is professor of diagnostic and interventional imaging and urology at Baylor College of Medicine and clinical professor of radiology at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. He is also a full professor working in the fields of chest and abdominal imaging and is section chief of uroradiology at the University of Texas. Dr. Goldman is the 1996 Distinguished Alumnus at Einstein.
Read more articles...

Board of Overseers
Samuel G. Weinberg, who serves on the Einstein Board of Overseers and chairs the Building Committee that has overseen the construction of the Price Center/Block Research Pavilion, received an honorary doctoral degree in humane letters from Yeshiva University at the Hanukkah Dinner, held November 9, 2007, at the Waldorf-Astoria.
Read more articles...