November/December | 2010
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Fajans lectureship in diabetes inaugurated

The Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology & Diabetes in the Department of Internal Medicine recently hosted the first annual Stefan S. Fajans Lecture in Diabetes at the Kahn Auditorium in the Biomedical Sciences Research Building. The lectureship was created to honor the distinguished career of endocrinologist and diabetician Stefan S. Fajans, M.D., active professor emeritus in the MEND Division.

The inaugural speaker for the lecture was Graeme I. Bell, M.D., Louis Block Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine and Human Genetics at the University of Chicago, who has been a research collaborator and close friend of Fajans for more than 20 years.

Pierce named fellow of cancer organization

Lori J. Pierce, M.D., a radiation oncologist at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center, was one of 11 physicians nationwide selected as a fellow of the American Society of Radiation Oncology. ASRO is a prestigious cancer organization with more than 10,000 members who specialize in treating patients using radiation therapy.

The ASTRO Fellows program was created to recognize the best and brightest in the field of radiation oncology. Pierce has gone above and beyond in her efforts to help patients, the specialty and the society.

Knopf retires from MEND Division, recognized for distinguished service

Ralph F. Knopf, M.D., retired as professor emeritus, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology & Diabetes Department of Internal Medicine, after a 47-year career at U-M. He was recognized at a MEND Fellows Graduation Dinner and was presented with a plaque for his distinguished service.

Dr. Knopf held the title of emeritus professor of medicine (active) since 1996. He  was also a consulting physician at the Veterans’ Administration Hospital in Ann Arbor from 1992 until he retired this year. He graduated from UMMS in 1954 and began his career as a faculty member at U-M in 1962.

Linderman praised by football fan for improving access to U-M Game

At the request of the U-M Athletic Department, MedEQUIP provided wheelchair support at Michigan Stadium on home football game days for the second year this year.

Following a game this year, a note was published on the public Michigan Fan website praising Greg Linderman, equipment coordinator for U-M MedEQUIP.
The writer, referring to his friend Greg, wrote: “Greg’s wheelchair broke about a block away from the stadium on the uneven A2 sidewalks. As we got to the game the ushers called Greg (Linderman) and he brought a replacement wheelchair for Greg to the gate!!! He took Greg’s info and the broken wheelchair away … Then he promised to return it to Greg at his home in Oakland County today or tomorrow (fixed if he had the parts) and to pick up the loaner!! No trouble no hassle. We were amazed.”

Schteingart retires to active emeritus status

David E. Schteingart, M.D.,  recently retired into active emeritus status from the Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology & Diabetes. Schteingart, professor of internal medicine in the MEND Division, began at U-M 51 years ago. He is a recognized national and internal expert in the treatment of adrenal cancer and Cushing’s disease. He founded the Millie Schembechler Adrenal Cancer Program in 1993 and was its director until four years ago. The program won national and international recognition for its leadership in the management of patients with adrenal cancer.

U-M launches new nutrition and obesity research center

The University of Michigan received a $5.7 million grant to establish the Michigan Nutrition Obesity Research Center—one of only 13 federally- funded centers that focuses on studies related to diet and metabolism. The center will encourage the use of new technologies to help researchers understand the relationship of diet and health.

Charles Burant, M.D., Ph.D., professor of internal medicine, and the Dr. Robert C. ad Veronica Atkins Professor of Metabolism, will serve as director of the center. Karen E. Peterson, Sc.D., professor of environmental health sciences, and director of the Human Nutrition Program at the U-M School of Public Health, will serve as co-director.

U-M Brehm Center for Diabetes Research receives federal grant to examine type 1 diabetes treatment

Researchers at the U-M Brehm Center for Diabetes Research have received a $3.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health that could lead to new drug targets for early treatment of type 1 diabetes.

Using immunology laboratory findings and mathematical models, researchers expect to create a detailed picture of the immune responses leading to  pancreatic cell damage in those considered at risk for developing type 1 diabetes.

The investigative team includes Santiago Schnell, Ph.D., co-investigator, associate professor of computational medicine and biology, UMMS; Gilbert S. Omenn, M.D., Ph.D., professor of internal medicine, UMMS,  directorof the Center for Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics; and Arthur Sherman, Ph.D., director of the laboratory of biological modeling at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

UMHS receives grant for cervical cancer screening

The Verizon Foundation awarded a $24,500 grant to U-M Health System for a cervical cancer screening project led by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Women’s Health Program.

The project will offer women who are unable to access routine preventive medical care a free screening session, providing up to 550 women with free Pap tests and related follow-up care.

The day-long screening sessions will be held five times within a year at five UMHS locations throughout southeastern Michigan. Those dates have not yet been determined.

Researchers in aging receive grants

Rich Miller M.D., Ph.D., and Scott Pletcher, Ph.D have earned the Ellison Medical Foundation Senior Scholar Award. The foundation supports basic biological research in aging including studies that are relevant to understanding the aging processes and age-related diseases.  Miller and Pletcher will each receive $150,000 per year for four years in support of these two projects.

Miller's research project, "Two New Methods That Extend Maximal Lifespan in Mice," will support work done in the Geriatrics Center to learn more about the factors that regulate the pace of aging and the relationship of aging to late life diseases in mice.

Pletcher's research project is entitled "Molecular dissection of neurosensory circuits that specify health and longevity in Drosophila." The Pletcher lab seeks to determine how small groups of neurons, particularly those involved in sensory perception, control aging in the fruit fly.

Dunnick named 2010 Honorary Member of the American Society for Radiation Oncology

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has named N. Reed Dunnick, M.D., a distinguished leader in the field of diagnostic radiology, as its 2010 Honorary Member.  The appointment is the highest honor the Society bestows upon distinguished cancer researchers and leaders in disciplines other than radiation oncology, radiation physics or radiobiology.

Dunnick was recognized with the honor during the Awards Ceremony at ASTRO's 52nd Annual Meeting at the San Diego Convention Center. He is the Fred Jenner Hodges Professor and chair of the University of Michigan Department of Radiology and an American Board of Radiology certified diagnostic radiologist.

Current president of the American Board of Radiology and past president of the Academy of Radiology Research, American Roentgen Ray Society, Association of University Radiologists, Michigan Radiological Society and Society of Uroradiology, Dunnick has been heavily involved with professional societies throughout his career.

Balis, Hamilton and Sica win caBIG award

Three researchers from the Division of Pathology Informatics recently received the caBIG Enabling Research Award from the National Cancer Institute for the Laboratory Information Digital  Data Exchange - or LIDDEx. The winners of this award are Ulysses Balis, M.D., director, Division of Informatics, John Hamilton, senior applications programmer and Jeffrey Sica, database analyst. This award recognizes innovative use of caBIG technology to solve real-world research challenges. 

Balis and his team developed LIDDEx to address the need for the seamless exchange of clinical laboratory data between disparate healthcare entities and locations, partnering with caBIG. This standard allows researchers and any healthcare institute to easily exchange clinical results on demand and in real time. In addition to the technical accomplishment, they were also able to get vendors to work cooperatively with LIDDEx.

The Cancer Biomedical Informatics Grid - or caBIG - was developed to connect the entire cancer community, from bench scientists to cancer clinicians to the Food and Drug Administration. It was started in 2004 by the National Cancer Institute National Center for Bioinformatics to develop an information infrastructure to improve the connection between basic research and patient care. 

Department of Social Work's Guest Assistance Program receives $50,000 from TCF Bank

TCF Bank recently donated $50,000 to the Department of Social Work's Guest Assistance Program (GAP). The program provides emergency financial assistance, transportation, specialized medical and infant equipment, clothing, and other services for in-need UMHS patients. In 2010, GAP provided over $160,000 of transportation services alone to in-need patients. TCF Bank is the University’s official Mcard bank and offers a number of services, including totally free checking, to Mcard holders.   

Pictured with at a recent ceremony are (from left): Bob Borgstrom, executive vice president and director of retail banking, TCF Bank, Anita Clos, social work manager, Kathy Wade, director of social work, and Amy Cobb, campus relationship manager, TCF Bank.

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