Houston Methodist Academic Institute
NEWSLETTER
May 2021
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Houston Methodist and Rice Launch Neuroprosthetics Collaboration
Neurosurgery’s history of cutting diseases out of the brain is morphing into a future in which implanting technology into the brain may help restore function, movement, cognition and memory after patients suffer strokes, spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders.
To meet that future head on, Rice University and Houston Methodist have partnered to launch the Center for Translational Neural Prosthetics and Interfaces. This collaboration brings together scientists, clinicians, engineers and surgeons to solve clinical problems with neurorobotics.
“This will be an accelerator for discovery,” said center co-director Gavin Britz, MD, chair of the Houston Methodist Department of Neurosurgery. “This center will be a human laboratory where all of us — neurosurgeons, neuroengineers, neurobiologists — can work together to solve biomedical problems in the brain and spinal cord. And it’s a collaboration that can finally offer some hope and options for the millions of people worldwide who suffer from brain diseases and injuries.”
Houston Methodist neurosurgeons, seven engineers from the Rice Neuroengineering Initiative and additional physicians and faculty from both institutions form the center's core team. The center also plans to hire three additional engineers who will have joint appointments at Houston Methodist and Rice. The center will focus on areas including spinal cord injury, memory and epilepsy studies, and cortical motor and sensation conditions.
The center includes more than 25,000 square feet of Rice Neuroengineering Initiative laboratories and experimental spaces in the university's BioScience Research Collaborative, as well as an extensive build-out underway at Houston Methodist’s West Pavilion that’s expected to be completed later this year. The Houston Methodist facility will include operating rooms and a human laboratory where ongoing patient/volunteer diagnosis and assessment, device fabrication and testing, and education and training opportunities are planned. Learn more about the new center here.
Announcements
The Houston Methodist Magnetic Stimulation Device Core Lab Now Open
The Houston Methodist Magnetic Stimulation Device Core Lab (MSDCL) is now open. Santosh A. Helekar, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, is the lab’s director and Blessy S. John, MS, ASQ CQE, is the Chief Biomedical Engineer and Core Manager.
The MSDCL develops and provides for research purposes unique prototypes of noninvasive portable wearable magnetic stimulators based on a new multifocal magnetic stimulation technology invented by Santosh Helekar in collaboration with Henning Voss, PhD, of Weill-Cornell Medicine. This platform technology involves generation of oscillating magnetic fields (OMF) using strong permanent magnets rotated by battery-operated high-speed electric motors. The core lab has also developed OMF generating laboratory apparatuses for cell culture and animal experiments.
The MSDCL provides technical services through iLab, such as construction of TRPMS and OMD prototypes with customized gear; design and construction of OMF-generating equipment for cell culture and animal studies; test, repair and maintain all OMF device prototypes and equipment; and training for researchers/research subjects in the proper use of these devices and equipment.
The MSDCL also offers consultation on the experimental design of studies involving OMF device prototypes and advice on the development of treatment protocols involving OMF stimulation.
Houston Methodist hosted Susan Bailey, MD, President of the American Medical Association on April 27
Dr. Bailey’s interest and involvement in the American Medical Association began early in her career, as a student in the charter class of the new Texas A&M University College of Medicine. The opportunity to serve as president of the AMA has been a goal of Dr. Bailey’s for a number of years. Her term began in the midst of the pandemic in June 2020. What would have otherwise been a year of crisscrossing the country on behalf of the AMA has been relegated to series after series of virtual meetings and “appearances” from a studio in Fort Worth. Until now, Tuesday’s visit to the new EnMed Discovery Tower and Houston Methodist was Dr. Bailey’s first official, live site visit as AMA president.
Pictured from left: Trevor Burt, MS, EdD; Julia Andrieni, MD; Amy Waer, MD; Ryan Logue, MD; Marc Boom, MD; Susan Bailey, MD; Timothy Boone, MD, PhD; Lara Colton, MD; Stuart Solomon, MD; and Rob Phillips, MD, PhD
Houston Methodist’s Academic Institute Town Hall Available for Viewing
Houston Methodist’s Academic Institute Town Hall was streamed online on Thursday, April 22. If you were unable to view the live event or would like to listen again, click here.
Fifth Annual Cardiology for the Non-Cardiologist
Saturday, May 22 from 7:45 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
This conference will teach non-cardiovascular physicians, nurse practitioners and nurses to identify common risk factors, guidelines and treatment approaches for cardiovascular diseases. Attendees will learn about the latest medical and surgical therapies for heart disease and advances in managing common clinical cardiovascular conditions. Faculty will also discuss the clinical challenges often associated with caring for patients with heart disease.
Register for this event here.
Praying for each other
It has been a little over a year since the launch of the Prayer Connect Team at Houston Methodist. Every week, an email has been sent out to this community with requests to pray over. In that time, nearly 160 Methodist employees have committed to pray for more than 500 requests from our colleagues and community.
We believe that staying connected is vital to our wellbeing, so please consider joining the chaplains in this initiative. If you would like to join us in praying for the requests of our employees and community, please reply to this email or contact Michela deTranaltes, Project Specialist for Grace Ministries at mdetranaltes@houstonmethodist.org, so we can add you to our confidential online community. If you would like to submit a prayer, either text PRAYER to 45991 or email us at HMHPrayerRequest@houstonmethodist.org.
NIH News
The National Institutes of Health Office of Extramural Research continues to offer resources and information for NIH applicants and recipients of NIH Funding. Here are highlights for April 2021:
Explore Our New Extramural Nexus Site and Subscription Options. We have done some spring cleaning! Our Extramural Nexus emails and site have been refreshed to improve your reading and browsing experience.
Reminder: NIH Will Continue to Accept Preliminary Data as Post-Submission Material Through January 2022 Council. In recognition of the fact that COVID-19 may still be adversely affecting the ability of applicants to generate preliminary data, NIH will continue to accept a one-page update with preliminary data as post-submission materials for applications submitted for the January 2022 Council (beginning with applications submitted for the May 25, 2021 due date for Fall 2021 review meetings), ONLY if the Funding Opportunity Announcement used for submission allowed preliminary data in the application.
The Use of Internet Explorer for eRA Modules is Coming to an End July 19. eRA is phasing out the use of Internet Explorer for all eRA systems due to security concerns. By July 19, 2021, eRA systems will no longer be available when using the IE browser.
All Senior/Key Personnel Required to Have A Commons ID Listed on Applications for Due Dates on Or After January 25, 2022. For due dates on or after January 25, 2022, NIH, AHRQ, FDA, and ORD/VA are targeting a requirement that all individuals listed on the R&R Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Form have an eRA Commons username listed on grant applications.
Reminder of NIH Closeout Policies. Is your NIH grant coming to an end soon? Here’s a refresher on reporting deadlines, timeframes for drawing funds from the Payment Management System (PMS), and the process for amending a Federal Financial Reports (FFR).
To have NIH notices sent directly to you when they are announced, subscribe to the NIH Extramural Nexus News.
Accolades
Xian Li, MD, PhD, director of the Immunobiology and Transplantation Sciences Center, JC Walter Jr. Transplant Center, department of surgery, Max & Lillie Frosch Centennial Chair in Transplant Research, has been awarded the Transplant Scientist Award by the American Society of Transplantation.
Dr. Li joined Houston Methodist in 2013 to establish an immunobiology laboratory. He has received continuous NIH funding over the past two decades and has mentored more than 50 scientists and fellows. Dr. Li’s work had been published in numerous professional journals and is widely considered the global-leading scientist in immune cell regulation. He has lectured widely on topics related to transplant sciences and has chaired many committees, including the American Transplant Congress organizing Committee.
BMJ Quality & Safety’s Top Articles of 2020
A paper by Farzan Sasangohar, PhD, assistant professor of outcomes research, and his colleagues was named one of BMJ Quality & Safety’s Top Articles of 2020. Their article detailed the work enabling online family visitation within a closed ICU at Houston Methodist during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Use of Telecritical Care for Family Visitation to ICU During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Interview Study and Sentiment Analysis
Farzan Sasangohar, Atiya Dhala, Feibi Zheng, Nima Ahmadi, Bita Kash, Faisal Masud
Patent Issued for IP Designed to Improve Breast Reconstructive Surgery
Career Cornerstone Awards Announced
Congratulations to the recipients of the Career Cornerstone Awards, which are a part of the Houston Methodist Academic Institute President’s Award program. The following award winners were announced during the April 22, 2021 Academic Institute Town Hall:
Zhihui (Bill) Wang, PhD, Associate Research Professor of Mathematics in Medicine, for his new NIH R01, “Nanoparticle Delivery of miRNA-based Therapeutics to Overcome Clinical Challenges in Triple Negative Breast Cancer.” The research team will employ an integrated computational and experimental approach to better understand the mechanisms involved in a new, potential triple negative breast cancer nanotherapy.
Kyuson Yun, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, for her new NIH R01, “S100A4-mediated Immune Suppression in GBM.” The researchers will test their hypothesis that S100A4 is a critical regulator of the glioblastoma (GBM) immune landscape. S100A4 is a small calcium-binding protein that Yun and her team have recently shown to be necessary for glioma stem cell self-renewal.
RNA Therapeutics Award
The Houston Methodist Center for RNA Therapeutics received the Vaccine Industry Award for the Best Academic Team Research Award, at the World Vaccine Congress on May 5. The competing groups included Dr. Barney Graham’s group at the NIAID Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory, who developed the sequence for the Moderna Vaccine. Moderna won the award for the best COVID-19 vaccine. The center was recognized for its work as an academic research organization supporting small companies and academic groups in their development and testing of mRNA Therapeutics.
COVID-19 Resources
Houston Methodist provides a variety of tools to facilitate collaborative research projects related to coronavirus. The following resources are available at www.tmh.tmc.edu/tmhri/acma.html
- Elsevier Coronavirus Research Hub
- National Institutes of Health Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources
- PURE Coronavirus Portal for Research Collaboration
- Read about our COVID-19 research on the Methodology COVID-19 News page. View recent Town Hall Conversations on COVID-19 here:
- Town Hall Conversation XIII: The Front Lines of the Fight Against COVID-19 (Marc Boom, MD) on April 8.
- COVID-19 Vaccine Town Hall with Roberta Schwartz and Houston Methodist Experts on April 16.
In the Media
James Musser, MD, PhD Fondren Presidential Distinguished Chair, chair and professor in the department of Pathology & Genomic Medicine, and director, Center for Molecular & Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research was interviewed by KHOU Channel 11 about those latest genome sequencing results from Houston Methodist. The interview was picked up statewide. He also spoke with KHOU Channel 11 about the four cases of India ‘double mutant’ COVID-19 variant identified at Houston Methodist.
Musser also spoke with Bloomberg, noting a successful vaccination campaign, adherence to wearing masks and other health measures helped keep COVID-19 numbers down in Texas.
Wesley Long, MD, PhD, Professor of Clinical Pathology and Genomic Medicine was interviewed for an article in Healthline on an Israeli study suggesting the Pfizer vaccine may be less effective against the South Africa B.1.351 coronavirus variant. Long also was interviewed in another Healthline article on the purpose of COVID-19 vaccination cards, why they can be helpful down the line and tips on how to protect them (i.e., better not to laminate them in case of future boosters).
Luz Venta, MD, professor of clinical radiology, program director, breast imaging residency, Department of Radiology, was cited in an article in The Healthy, the Reader’s Digest science-backed health publication, on whether individuals should proceed with getting their mammograms despite the potential for some patients to experience lymph node swelling following COVID-19 vaccines, which can lead to false positives in mammogram results. While some hospitals are delaying mammograms for this reason, Venta advises patients not to change their plans for a mammogram, regardless of when they were vaccinated, as the risk of delaying a possible diagnosis of breast cancer is worse.
Randall Wright, MD, was interviewed for an article on how to sleep better and through the night. The story appeared in the Reader’s Digest science-backed health publication, The Healthy.
H. Dirk Sostman, MD, Ernest Cockrell, Jr. Presidential Distinguished Chair and Houston Methodist Chief Academic Officer answered KHOU Channel 11 viewers questions on the effects of the COVID-19 vaccine on women’s menstrual cycles, fertility, and several other topics.
Stories on Houston Methodist’s mandated vaccinations:
CBS News (national)
KHOU-TV, Ch. 11 (local)
Forbes
Healthline
Story on walk-in vaccinations:
KPRC-TV, Ch. 2 (online story)
New Employees
We welcome these new employees who joined the Academic Institute April 2021.
- Amber Behne, Research Coordinator, Urology
- Abanti Chattopadhyay, Copywriter, National Reputation
- Nada Bejar, Postdoctoral Fellow 0
- Tyrone Burnett, Research Coordinator II
- Erin Graham, Editor, External Relations
- Monica Gri, Director of Research Contracts
- Adrienne Hall, HR Generalist, Human Resources
- Chihiro Hashimoto, Research Assistant II Bench
- Hirokazu Hashimoto, Research Associate 1
- Ping Li, Research Asst III Bench, Neurology
- Sarah Madonna, ACM cGMP Specialist I, Translational Prod & Quality
- Carrie McAllister, ACM Sr. Scientific Writer, Academic Affairs
- Meagan Olivares, Research Coordinator II
- Jean Michel Saad, Postdoctoral Fellow, Imaging
- Michael Williams, Graduate Research Fellow
- Juanita Young, Sr Continuing Medical Education Coordinator
View postings for new job opportunities at the Academic Institute here.
Policy Reminders from the Business Practices Office
BP in Practice is an educational reminder designed to raise awareness regarding Business Practices hot topics, relevant laws and policies & procedures. Find archives of BP in Practice here.
- The May 2021 edition of BP in Practice centers on respect, defined by treating every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value. The May edition discusses what it means to live out this core value at Houston Methodist in our everyday interactions.
- Use these links to access PDFs of System Policies PCPS045 and PCPS049. If you have questions, contact the BP EthicsLine at 800.500.0333 or visit tmhs.myethicsline.com.
Publications
The publications with the highest impact factors posted in Scholars from April 1 – April 30, 2021, include:
NAD+ Repletion Reverses Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction
Tong D, Schiattarella GG, Jiang N, Altamirano F, Szweda PA, Elnwasany A, Lee DI, Yoo H, Kass DA, Szweda LI, Lavandero S, Verdin E, Gillette TG & Hill JA, Circulation Research, In Press.
https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.120.317046
Inactivating Histone Deacetylase HDA Promotes Longevity by Mobilizing Trehalose Metabolism
Inactivating Histone Deacetylase HDA Promotes Longevity by Mobilizing Trehalose Metabolism
Yu R, Cao X, Sun L, Zhu JY, Wasko BM, Liu W, Crutcher E, Liu H, Jo MC, Qin L, Kaeberlein M, Han Z, & Dang W, Nature Communications, 12(1), 1981.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22257-2
Neutralizing Aptamers Block S/RBD-ACE2 Interactions and Prevent Host Cell Infection
Liu X, Wang YL, Wu J, Qi J, Zeng Z, Wan Q, Chen Z, Manandhar P, Cavener VS, Boyle NR, Fu X, Salazar E, Kuchipudi SV, Kapur V, Zhang X, Umetani M, Sen M, Willson RC, Chen SH, & Zu Y, Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, In Press.
https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202100345
Increasing Under-represented Minorities in the Surgical Profession
Bass BL, Annals of surgery, 272(3), 521-522.
https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA.0000000000004190
A Phase 2 Proof-of-Concept, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of CX-8998 in Essential Tremor
Papapetropoulos S, Lee MS, Versavel S, Newbold E, Jinnah HA, Pahwa R, Lyons KE, Elble R, Ondo W, Zesiewicz T, Hedera P, Handforth A, Elder J, & Versavel M. Movement Disorders, In Press. https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.28584
If you have a featured publication, for example on a journal cover, please let us know so we can include it in our next issue.
Funding Opportunities
Paula & Joseph C. ‘Rusty’ Walter III Neurorestoration Program
NeuroSpark Seed Funding Request for Applications
The Kostas family continues to support Houston Methodist investigators, who are working toward high-impact solutions that apply nanomedicine approaches to diagnose and treat cardiovascular diseases. This Request for Applications seeks research projects in the field of Cardiovascular Nanomedicine. Applications may address any challenge in cardiovascular care that employs nanomedicine technologies, such as the development and application of diagnostics, delivery systems, therapeutics, novel devices, and imaging. Research projects should include significant and immediate nanomedicine applications within the funding period. This funding is not intended to support exploration into biological pathways or mechanisms.
Competitive applications should propose an interdisciplinary and collaborative strategy that promotes innovation in cardiovascular care and nanomedicine. The proposed projects should define a translation pathway to a clinical application(s), and a strategy for securing extramural funding. Proposals must include a clear patient population that would benefit from the nanomedicine application being developed.
Any Houston Methodist-employed faculty with a primary HMAI academic appointment is eligible to apply as a Principal Investigator. Houston Methodist-employed, non-independent researchers with a primary HMAI faculty appointment (e.g., research scientists, research associates, and instructors) are eligible to apply as a co-Principal Investigator.
Applications are solicited for the following project categories:
I. Strategic Impact Projects may contain little to no preliminary data. The proposed research should fit within a 1-year timeframe with a budget of up to $50,000 in direct costs.
II. Early Translational Research Projects further develop promising ideas toward clinical applications. Typically, these projects are not yet positioned for development under Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) conditions, Good Manufacturing Practices, or for clinical trials. These projects should have sufficient preliminary data and be based on a submitted Houston Methodist Invention with the Office of Technology Transfer, as stated under Business Policy BP12. The proposed research should fit within a 2-year timeframe with a budget of up
to $100,000 in direct costs.
To receive the complete RFA and budget template, please contact Academic Affairs at academicaffairs@houstonmethodist.org.
Key Dates
Submission Deadline: Wednesday, July 21, 2021, at noon
Committee Review: July-September 2021
Award Announcement: October 2021
Estimated Funding Start Date: January 1, 2022
Houston Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation, & Education (MITIESM) Requests Proposals for Education Training Awards
The Houston Methodist Academic Institute is pleased to announce this funding opportunity to further the commitment to improve safety and quality in health care. These funds will support faculty in the development of simulation education programs in the Houston Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation & Education. MITIE is a simulation training facility that provides a unique and safe arena for health-care professionals to develop and maintain excellent clinical skills, including advanced surgical skills. Through high-fidelity simulation, clinicians train for high-risk, low-frequency events to improve quality of care throughout the hospital. A dedicated skills lab facilitates group and team training for clinicians of all levels and enables competence assessments.
Houston Methodist Faculty and GME Program Directors are eligible to apply as Principal Investigator. Applicants are required to meet with a MITIE representative to discuss the curriculum design, cost and feasibility of the course.
Project proposals are solicited for three funding categories:
1. MITIE Showcase Awards provide funds for the digital offering of existing courses to a national audience. These courses should showcase differentiating expertise from Houston Methodist, that elevates our reputation as a national leading academic medical center. The proposed educational project should fit within a 1-year timeframe (academic year) with a budget of up to $10,000 in direct costs to offer live and/or on demand video/enduring content and demonstrate educational need, effectiveness, and differentiation.
2. Graduate Medical Education Program Training Awards provide funds for the creation and delivery of educational courses in MITIE for graduate medical education trainees. The proposed educational project should fit within a 1-year timeframe (academic year) with a budget of up to $50,000 in direct costs.
3. Quality & Safety Training Awards provide funds for the creation and delivery of courses that advance Quality and Safety. Projects should target key areas of system Quality and Patient Safety goals, consider incorporating principles of high reliability organizations, and use team-based training approaches. These projects should fit within a 1-year timeframe (academic year) with a budget of up to $100,000 in direct costs. Competitive applications should be interprofessional when possible, bringing together teams from a variety of disciplines, and focus on an area of training that is a system priority for quality improvement and patient safety. Courses should reinforce high reliability organization principles whenever possible.
To receive the complete RFA and budget template, please contact Academic Affairs at academicaffairs@houstonmethodist.org.
Key Dates
Submission Deadline: May 28, 2021
Committee Review: June 2021
Award Announcement: June 2021
Estimated Funding Start Date: July 1, 2021
Call for Nominations for Fall 2021 Kleberg Foundation Grant
Houston Methodist has been invited to nominate one candidate for the Fall 2021 Kleberg Foundation Grant.
The Kleberg Foundation supports “highly innovative and groundbreaking medical research proposals in both basic biological and applied research that will have the greatest impact on scientific knowledge and human health. Proposals should be distinctive and novel in their approaches, question the prevailing paradigm, and lead to advancement of knowledge in the field.”
A selection committee will evaluate and recommend the most suitable application to represent Houston
Methodist and formally apply for the Fall 2021 Kleberg Foundation Grant.
Any Houston Methodist-employed faculty with a primary HMAI academic appointment is eligible to apply as a Principal Investigator. Houston Methodist-employed, non-independent researchers with a primary HMAI faculty appointment (e.g., research scientists, research associates, and instructors) are eligible to apply as a co-Principal Investigator.
To receive the complete RFA and budget template, please contact Academic Affairs at academicaffairs@houstonmethodist.org.
Key Dates
Applications Due: June 30, 2021, noon
Applications Reviewed: July 2021
Candidate Selection: August 2021
Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Request for Proposals
The Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) and Houston Methodist are working together to support research on Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRDs). As part of this collaboration, the institutions have agreed to initiate a pilot grant program to stimulate the development of cross-institutional research teams through targeted investment of seed funds.
The three goals of the AD/ADRD Collaborative Pilot Grants are to:
- Promote mutually beneficial partnerships that will lead to productive and long-lasting research collaborations between BCM and HM that positively impact the AD/ADRD field.
- Kick-start or expand research that has a high likelihood of leading to peer-reviewed publications and external funding, including catalyzing a successful NIH-funded Houston AD Research Center Consortium based in the Texas Medical Center.
- Engage Houston Methodist and BCM trainees in mentored research experiences and team science, and cultivate future leaders in basic, clinical, and translational investigation for AD/ADRDs.
EnMed Capstone Program Announcement
The Houston Methodist Academic Institute is pleased to announce the launch of the EnMed Capstone Program. As part of EnMed student extra-curricular activities, the program is designed to provide students with an opportunity to practice innovative research and technology development at Houston Methodist. Houston Methodist faculty on the Texas Medical Center campus are eligible to host EnMed students in their research laboratories for their Capstone Projects and will receive financial support to offset the cost associated with the projects.
Capstone Projects will be 2 years or more in duration and will be awarded competitively. Interested Houston Methodist faculty have submitted ‘statements of needs’ to identify clinical or biomedical challenges aligned to their areas of research. These Needs may result from individual Houston Methodist faculty or from collaborating Houston Methodist and TAMU investigators. EnMed students will have the opportunity to select a Need of interest and submit a 1-page Capstone Project Proposal for consideration for funding.
Proposals will be evaluated by the EnMed Capstone Program Review Committee, based on the key criteria of innovation and feasibility. Additional considerations will be given to the student’s academic records and level of advancement in the EnMed program. Capstone Project Awards will be announced yearly at the EnMed Innovation Symposium, which will be held annually at Houston Methodist during the month of June. Each project will receive funding support of $12,000 per year.
Key Dates
Student Submission Deadline: June 11th, 2021; 12 noon
Award Announcement: June 28th, 2021
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