http://newscenter.iupui.edu/ News about Life and Health Sciences from Newscenter en-us Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:09:21 -0500 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4312/IUPUI-Chemistry-Professor-Receives-Prestigious-NIH-Grant http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4312/IUPUI-Chemistry-Professor-Receives-Prestigious-NIH-Grant The National Institute of Environmental Health Science at the National Institutes of Health recently awarded Dr. Lei Li, a tenure-track assistant professor in bioinorganic chemistry at the School of Science at IUPUI, a three year R00 grant for $750,000 exploring DNA damage and repair related to Ultraviolet (UV) light in endospore-forming bacteria. New to the School of Science this year, Li will engage undergraduates, graduates and post doctorate researchers in investigations focused on the DNA repair enzyme named spore photoproduct lyase (SPL). Understanding how the SPL enzyme repairs DNA UV damage will help scientists develop inhibitors to prevent the damage repair process. The goal of this research is the discovery of mechanisms leading to the death of the spores which cause diseases such as anthrax, botulism (food poising), and tetanus -- diseases that harm and even kill humans every day. “IUPUI is a renowned institution with many experts studying various aspects of DNA biochemistry,” said Li. “I am thrilled to join experts within the School of Science, and on campus, in collaborative chemical, biological and medical research.” For the past 10 years, Li’s research in the area of bioinorganic chemistry has been internationally recognized. His work to design copper complexes as anti-cancer drugs earned Li two international patent applications and the “Outstanding Invention of the Year Award” from the University of Maryland in 2001. Li is also widely published in top chemistry and biochemistry journals. “The School of Science is honored to have a leader in DNA biochemical research join our faculty,” said Bart Ng, Dean of the School of Science at IUPUI. “Dr. Li’s experience will provide our students with great exposure to research methods and discovery. His work on our campus will eventually improve the way we combat harmful bacteria threats throughout the world.” Li joins the School of Science’s Department of Chemistry this fall from the University of Michigan where he received one of the NIH’s most prestigious career development awards - the Pathway to Independence Award. This award at K99 phase (postdoctoral phase) provided Li the resources to study the structure and mechanisms of radical enzymes, including SPL. Li earned his Ph.D. in Bioinorganic Chemistry from The Johns Hopkins University as well as his Masters of Science in organometallic chemistry and Bachelors of Science in chemistry from Peking University in Beijing, China. About the School of Science at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis The School of Science is committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service in the biological, physical, behavioral and mathematical sciences. The School is dedicated to being a leading resource for interdisciplinary research and science education in support of Indiana's effort to expand and diversify its economy. For more information go to www.science.iupui.edu.   Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_li_headshot.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_li_headshot.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4302/Attacking-Emerging-Health-Risks-Through-Innovative-Health-Information-Technology http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4302/Attacking-Emerging-Health-Risks-Through-Innovative-Health-Information-Technology Researchers from Indiana University and the Regenstrief Institute, with its world-renowned medical informatics research group and regional health information exchange, have been awarded a $4.8 million grant by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to create the Indiana Center of Excellence in Public Health Informatics, one of only four such centers in the nation. The five-year award builds upon the unique capabilities of the Indiana Network for Patient Care to securely exchange health information when and where needed for purposes of health care treatment. INPC, developed by Regenstrief physician-researchers, currently allows medical providers across the state to securely obtain patients' medical histories, providing information critical to patient care. Nowhere else in the nation can this be done. The new center also brings together the expertise of the Polis Center, a national leader in community-based and public health research and applications using geographic information technologies; the Indiana State Health Department; the Marion County (Ind.) Health Department; the IU School of Medicine's Department of Public Health; the Department of Geography in the School of Liberal Arts at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis; IUPUI’s Center for Health Geographics, and a unique data visualization group at IU Bloomington. "We are very excited to draw upon the broad expertise of these diverse groups,” said Shaun Grannis, M.D., Regenstrief Institute investigator and IU School of Medicine assistant professor of family medicine. “With the addition of their input plus our extensive work in informatics and biosurveillance, we can leverage Regenstrief's strengths in truly novel ways to improve the health of our community and eventually the nation. And by building on existing proven technology already used for clinical health care, we minimize development costs and rapidly implement technology that delivers real-world value to public health." Dr. Grannis is director of the new center. The new multidisciplinary center is the first to take this comprehensive approach to expand and develop innovative public health information tools to improve patient care. Areas of initial work by the center include: (1) identifying infants who lack newborn screening by improving electronic exchange of newborn screening results; (2) improving exchange of immunization data between physicians and public health agencies to prevent both under- and over- immunization; and (3) expanding ability to identify cases and events of potential interest to public health officials and to ensure instant delivery of public health alerts to physicians and other health-care providers. Much of this work will utilize DOCS4DOCS®, a clinical messaging service developed by Regenstrief’s health-care information technology professionals and operated by the Indiana Health Information Exchange, one of the nation’s most respected health information exchange organizations. Currently DOCS4DOCS delivers more than five million messages with information, such as laboratory or other test results, critical to patient care. “The two-way communication model we have developed to send critical data such as lab test results to public health officials and to convey public health alerts to doctors in a fashion that is seamlessly integrated into their work flow will increasingly be the model for bi-directional public health data exchange,” said Dr. Grannis. The other Centers of Excellence in Public Health Informatics established by the CDC are located at the University of Utah, the University of Pittsburgh, and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.   Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_grannissphoto.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_grannissphoto.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4298/Mens-Soccer-Team-to-Wear-Pink-in-Fight-against-Breast-Cancer http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4298/Mens-Soccer-Team-to-Wear-Pink-in-Fight-against-Breast-Cancer The IUPUI men's soccer team will be donning pink jerseys on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009,  when the Jaguars host Oral Roberts in an effort to raise funds in the fight against breast cancer. It marks the second straight year Head Coach Steve Franklin's squad has hosted a 'Kick for the Cure' event and the match will be part of IUPUI's 'Pack It Pink' weekend. The volleyball team will host a similar event on Friday, Oct. 23 when they host South Dakota State at 7 p.m.. All of the proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation as Richard Mann P.C., Attorney at Law will be sponsoring the contest. Last year's event raised more than $2,000. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For additiona information, go to: http://www.iupuijags.com/news/2009/10/2/MSOC_1002093047.aspx .   Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_rp_primary_pink_jerseys_ou_08-1.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_rp_primary_pink_jerseys_ou_08-1.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4297/Depression-Predicts-Increases-in-Inflammatory-Protein-Linked-to-Heart-Disease http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4297/Depression-Predicts-Increases-in-Inflammatory-Protein-Linked-to-Heart-Disease Which comes first, depression or inflammation? To help solve this long standing chicken and egg conundrum, researchers led by Jesse Stewart, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis asked two critical questions. Does depression lead to elevated inflammatory proteins in the human body? Or does an increase in these proteins lead to depression? They found that the answer to the first question appears to be “yes,” and the answer to the second question may be “no” among healthy adults. The researchers report that depressive symptoms are associated with increases over time in interleukin-6, an inflammatory protein that predicts cardiovascular events. In contrast, levels of interleukin-6 were not related to later increases in depressive symptoms. The new study, published in the October 2009 issue of the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, is the first to examine both directions of the depression-inflammation connection and to measure the physical symptoms of depression, such as fatigue and sleep disturbance, in addition to the cognitive-emotional symptoms, such as pessimism and sadness. Several previous studies have linked depression to increased inflammatory protein levels measured at the same time. These studies, however, cannot speak to which is the cause and which is the effect. “There is two-way communication between the brain and the immune system, so we had to determine whether activation of the body’s immune system sent a signal to the brain to affect mood and behavior or whether the depression activated the immune system,” said Dr. Stewart, a clinical health psychologist in IUPUI’s School of Science and an IU Center for Aging Research affiliated scientist. Participants in the study were 263 healthy men and women aged 50-70 years at the start of the study. They were tested at baseline and again six years later to determine their levels of depressive symptoms and interleukin-6. Levels of C-reactive protein, another inflammatory protein, were also measured but were not related to depression. The strength of the association of depression with future heart disease is similar to that of traditional risk factors like smoking, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol, according to Dr. Stewart. “Promotion of inflammation may be one pathway through which depression may ‘get under the skin’ to negatively influence cardiovascular health. The link to cardiovascular disease demonstrates that there may be physical as well as mental health reasons to treat depression,” said Dr. Stewart. Co-authors of “A Prospective Evaluation of the Directionality of the Depression–Inflammation Relationship” are Kevin Rand, Ph.D., of the Department of Psychology in the School of Science at IUPUI; Matthew Muldoon, M.D., M.P.H., and Thomas Kamarck, Ph.D., of the University of Pittsburgh. This study was funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.   Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_stewart-40.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_stewart-40.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4291/ASM-Undergraduate-Research-Fellowship-Awarded-to-School-of-Science-Student http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4291/ASM-Undergraduate-Research-Fellowship-Awarded-to-School-of-Science-Student The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) has selected Tiffany Blackgrove from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis as a 2009 award recipient of the ASM Undergraduate Research Fellowship. This fellowship is aimed at highly competitive students who wish to pursue graduate careers (Ph.D. or MD/Ph.D.) in microbiology. Fellows have the opportunity to conduct full time summer research at their institution with an ASM mentor and present their research results at the 2010 ASM General Meeting in San Diego, CA if their abstract is accepted. Each fellow receives up to a $4,000 stipend, a two-year ASM student membership and reimbursement for travel expenses to the 2010 ASM General Meeting. This year, sixty-nine applications were received and thirty-three were awarded. Of the thirty-three awardees, twelve students were from doctoral/research universities—extensive institutions, four students were from doctoral/research universities—intensive institutions, one student was from a specialized institution—schools of engineering and technology, eight student were from a master’s college and university institutions, and eight students were from baccalaureate colleges. Dr. Anna Malkova from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis is Tiffany Blackgrove’s mentor. The title of the research project is: Analysis of proteins in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae involved in break-induced replication. The American Society for Microbiology (ASM), headquartered in Washington, DC, is the oldest and largest single biological membership organization, with over 40,000 members worldwide. Please visit http://www.asm.org/students for more information on this fellowship.   Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4290/Researchers-at-IUPUI-to-Study-Goals-End-of-Life-Decisions-in-Advanced-Cancer-Patients http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4290/Researchers-at-IUPUI-to-Study-Goals-End-of-Life-Decisions-in-Advanced-Cancer-Patients Imagine being told you have an advanced form of cancer that threatens to end your life. What goals would you set for yourself, how might those goals influence what kind of health care you want, and would the health care you receive match those goals? Dr. Kevin Rand, a psychology professor in the School of Science at IUPUI, and Dr. Larry Cripe, a professor of medicine and oncologist at the IU Simon Cancer Center, have launched a two-year, $330,000 American Cancer Society funded study to examine those questions. The project is titled “Goal-related thoughts & end-of-life decisions in advanced cancer patients.” The focus of the study will be some 60 patients who have been diagnosed with advanced lung or gastro-intestinal cancer, Rand said. The median life expectancy of these patients is less than a year. “We are interested in understanding how these patients make treatment decisions as they go through their care and how their thoughts about the goals they have for their life and for their health care change over the course of their illness and how these goals predict treatment decisions, especially as they get close to the end of their lives,” Rand said. “Do they choose to enroll on hospice, or get aggressive treatments such as chemotherapy even though they may have been told it is unlikely to benefit them? What do their goals predict as to their health care choices? Are they getting health care in line with their goals?” Patients will be interviewed twice, three or four months apart. Each time, they will be asked to list their life goals and treatment goals. Among the questions: What are your most important goals? Patients will also be asked how they would invest their time and energy in pursuing those goals. “We want to see if the goals of the patients change over time and if those changes relate to the progress of their disease or treatment,” Rand said. Whether patients are making decisions and then receiving treatment that is in line with their goals isn’t really known, Rand continued. “If the answer is yes, that’s great. But if not, we want to know why not. There are lots of reasons why that might not happen. Health care providers may not be aware of the goals as well as they should be, or the goals may be so dynamic and changing that it would be hard for the treatment they receive to be in line with the goals because they are in flux.” The study itself has an ultimate goal. “We want to design an intervention for health care providers so that everyone understands what the goals of the patient are and to help ensure patient care is in line with those goals.” According to Rand, the two-year study will demonstrate the feasibility of gathering necessary information from patients who may be near the end of their lives. The next step would be to engage in a longer term study involving a larger number of patients.   Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_rand_kevin.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_rand_kevin.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4285/Bodys-Immune-System-Response-to-Dental-Plaque-Varies-by-Gender-and-Race http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4285/Bodys-Immune-System-Response-to-Dental-Plaque-Varies-by-Gender-and-Race Will neglecting to brush your teeth damage more than just your smile? Can failing to attack dental plaque increase your risk of heart damage? The answer to both questions may be yes if you are male and black, an Indiana University School of Dentistry study published in the current issue of the Journal of Dental Research reports. The researchers, led by Michael Kowolik, B.D.S., Ph.D., professor of periodontics and associate dean for graduate education at the IU School of Dentistry on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, studied 128 black and white men and women and found that dental plaque accumulation did not result in a change in total white blood count, a known risk factor for adverse cardiac events. However, in black males the researchers noted a significant increase in the activity of neutrophils, the most common type of white blood cell and an essential part of the immune system. Unlike most other studies that attempt to understand the link between oral inflammatory disease and heart disease risk, these study participants did not have periodontal disease. They were healthy individuals who by the study design were asked to neglect oral hygiene. “We are talking about healthy people who simply neglect oral hygiene and if they were male and black, we found a response from their white blood cells, or neutrophils, that might be a cause for concern," said Dr. Kowolik. “If you get a bacterial infection anywhere in the body, billions of neutrophils come flooding out of your bone marrow to defend against the intruder. Our observation that with poor dental hygiene white blood cell activity increased in black men but not black women or whites of either sex suggests both gender and racial differences in the inflammatory response to dental plaque. This finding could help us identify individuals at greater risk for infections anywhere in the body including those affecting the heart,” he said. Physicians have known for about a quarter of a century that one of the principal risk factors for a heart attack is an elevated white blood cell count. "While we did not observe higher white blood cell counts as the result of dental plaque accumulation, the increased activity of white blood cells, which we did find, may also carry a higher risk for heart disease," he added. “Neutrophil Response to Dental Plaque by Gender and Race” appears in the August 2009 issue of the Journal of Dental Research and adds to the body of evidence that dental hygiene plays an important role in a preventive health program for the whole body. Other authors of the study, which was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, are Vivian Y. Wahaidi, B.D.S. of the IU School of Dentistry; Sheri A. Dowsett, B.Ch.D., Ph.D. of Eli Lilly and Company and the IU School of Dentistry; and George J. Eckert, M.A.S. of the Division of Biostatistics of the IU School of Medicine. ### Located on the Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis campus, the Indiana University School of Dentistry is one of the oldest dental schools in the United States and has more than 11,000 living alumni who are pursuing careers throughout the nation and in more than 30 other countries. The only dental school in Indiana, it has educated about 85 percent of Indiana dentists.   Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_kowolik michael2009.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_kowolik michael2009.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4266/New-IUPUI-Biology-Professor-Receives-5Year-15-Million-NIH-Grant-Award http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4266/New-IUPUI-Biology-Professor-Receives-5Year-15-Million-NIH-Grant-Award Assistant professor of biology at the School of Science at IUPUI, Guoli Dai, was recently awarded a five-year, $1.5 million grant from the The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the role of a transcription factor in liver regeneration. Dai is new to the School of Science from the University of Kansas Medical Center. He plans to use the grant to blend his research to better understand the molecular mechanisms governing hepatocyte proliferation in response to liver injury. Various insults including drug toxicity and viral infection cause acute or chronic liver injury. However, the liver has an extraordinary ability to regenerate, replacing damaged tissue and restoring original structures and functions. Hepatocytes, as the main structural and functional cells in the liver, are extremely capable of replicating during liver tissue repair process. “Understanding the regulation of hepatocyte proliferation will help in the development of pharmacological approaches to advance tissue repair for prevention and treatment of liver injury,” said Dai. “I am very excited for the opportunity to be exposed to various resources in biology, medicine and regenerative biology at IUPUI.” For the past 20 years, Dai’s research in the area of reproductive endocrinology and liver biology have been published and presented among researchers and scientists throughout the world. Specifically, his work has focused on molecular mechanisms governing hepatocyte proliferation and liver regeneration as well as the molecular and cellular mechanisms controlling maternal hepatic growth response to pregnancy. “Guoli Dai is a great addition to the research we are conducting at the School of Science and Center for Regenerative Biology and Medicine,” said Bart Ng, Dean of the School of Science at IUPUI. “Dr. Dai’s research will not only advance science and medicine in this arena, but also enhance the university’s profile in the areas of biology and regenerative biology.” Dai earned his Ph.D. in molecular and cellular biology from the College of Agricultural and Animal Sciences at Jilin University as well as his masters in molecular and cellular biology from Changchun Veterinary University in China. Dai has held various research and teaching positions at universities and medical centers throughout the U.S. For more information about research in regenerative biology or Dai’s work at the School of Science at IUPUI go to www.science.iupui.edu. About the School of Science at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis The School of Science is committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service in the biological, physical, behavioral and mathematical sciences. The School is dedicated to being a leading resource for interdisciplinary research and science education in support of Indiana's effort to expand and diversify its economy. For more information go to www.science.iupui.edu.   Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4207/School-of-Science-at-IUPUI-Professor-Earns-National-Science-Foundation-Career-Award- http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4207/School-of-Science-at-IUPUI-Professor-Earns-National-Science-Foundation-Career-Award- Assistant chemistry professor at the School of Science at IUPUI, Dr. Sapna Deo, quickly made her mark on the world of chemistry and research when she was recently awarded the “Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers” from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF award for scientists is one of the most prestigious awards honoring investigators excellence in the laboratory and classroom. Deo, a professor for only four years, was one of roughly 30 recipients receiving the highest honor bestowed by the United States government to scientists for their extensive research accomplishments and noteworthy educational contributions. “The School of Science is thrilled for the leadership role Dr. Sapna Deo has taken with research and education early in her career,” said Bart Ng, Dean of the School of Science at IUPUI. “Her work in science will be modeled for years to come and her efforts to educate young students will prove to be beneficial to the University and the entire science community.” Deo’s research is opening new avenues of inquiry in dealing with disease and combating the threat of biowarfare by identifying the RNA markers that exist in those divergent fields. But her most valued work is making her research, and science in general, fun and exciting for students. “I like to make research and science fun so young students will begin to have interest in research and science,” said Deo. “I believe nurturing a young student’s curiosity for science is most imperative for the advancement of science and community.” In researching and working with RNA markers, Deo designed probes to be able to detect RNA markers. The probes force the markers to light up in a colorful glow giving students a great visual tool when looking at RNA markers for diseases. Deo has taken the experiment to various primary schools throughout the state to entice students to consider science as a career. Further, she involves university graduates and undergraduates as well as high school students in her research mentoring and nurturing each one’s passion for discovery. For more information about research in chemistry or Deo’s work at the School of Science at IUPUI go to www.science.iupui.edu. About the School of Science at IUPUI The School of Science is committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service in the biological, physical, behavioral and mathematical sciences. The School is dedicated to being a leading resource for interdisciplinary research and science education in support of Indiana's effort to expand and diversify its economy. For more information go to www.science.iupui.edu -###-   Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq__dsc8393-(3).jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200__dsc8393-(3).jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4191/SPEA-Policy-Brief-Addresses-Challenges-in-Health-Reform http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4191/SPEA-Policy-Brief-Addresses-Challenges-in-Health-Reform Congress may approve health reform legislation this year, but it remains to be seen whether the changes will stem the rising tide of health-care costs that is threatening the U.S. economy, an Indiana University expert writes in a new policy brief. Eric Wright, director of the IU Center on Health Policy and professor and associate dean of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, writes about health reform in the August 2009 issue of SPEA Insights. He says that President Barack Obama's health-reform proposal takes important steps, but it may not change behaviors that lead to high health-care costs. "Clearly, change is necessary," he writes. "But we also need to address the many social and cultural issues -- many of which are direct outgrowths of our current fragmented system -- behind the problematic ways that both patients and providers use our health care system." Wright, an active researcher in the areas of health policy and health services, points out that U.S. health-care costs are increasing rapidly. Health care expenditures consumed 16.1 percent of the nation's gross domestic product in 2007 and, at the current rate of growth, are expected to top 20 percent by 2018, according to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Obama's proposal, he writes, focuses on:     Expanding the use of health information technology and electronic medical records     Expanding research on the effectiveness of treatments and providers     Investing more in prevention     Reforming the payment system to reward excellence     Preventing insurers from denying coverage because of pre-existing medical conditions The president also has proposed a national health insurance exchange to assist individuals and small businesses in purchasing health-care coverage, and he has called for including a "public option" -- that is, a government-run health insurance product available through the exchange. But it isn't clear that the proposed reforms will deter excessive use of health-care and specialty health services, one of the main drivers of cost increases, Wright says. Both patients and providers are involved in making decisions about health care, he points out. And "cultural beliefs and values," not just their knowledge of costs and effectiveness, influence their choices. "Of particular importance are cultural beliefs that 'more is better' and 'higher tech care is better care,' which can encourage inappropriate and over-use," he writes. Wright says there has been a cultural shift in medicine from healing to "doctoring," with productivity concerns causing providers to spend less and less time with patients. To reverse that trend, he said, "will require fundamentally changing the culture of medical practice to value 'healing' over 'treatment,' something not easy to do within a traditional policy perspective on health services." The complete policy brief can be seen online at http://www.indiana.edu/~spea/pubs/SPEA_insights_3.pdf.   Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_eric wright, center on health policy0.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_eric wright, center on health policy0.jpg