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Houston Methodist Academic Institute
NEWSLETTER
Week of February 22, 2021
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The Office of Academic Affairs Enhances Online Access to Resources
Academic Affairs web page
The Office of Academic Affairs, which supports Houston Methodist academic faculty and departments in achieving their research and education goals, has a new web presence. The new sites allow the Academic Institute's services to be readily highlighted as a differentiator for educational and research programming.
To explore the offerings in the areas of faculty development, intramural funding opportunities, institutional development, academic communications and external relations, and planning and reporting services designed to meet the needs of faculty, trainees and academic programs, visit the Academic Affairs web page.
Announcements
GME tour video
Office of Education Offers Video Tour
The Houston Methodist Office of Education has developed a new virtual tour video to highlight its educational offerings. To show the video to potential students or take the tour yourself, please visit the Graduate Medical Education page.
Adopt-a-Unit Shares the Love
The theme of February’s Adopt-a-Unit celebrations is love, and various teams in the Academic Institute found creative ways to show the love for the health care workers on Alkek 7 who are caring for COVID-19 patients. Each week the teams are preparing treats and delivering handmade cards to express appreciation and boost morale. In addition to delivering cookies, soda and goodie bags with personalized messages, the Academic Institute teams have printed and hung up encouraging memes in the break room. Participating teams include Academic Affairs, DeBakey CV Education, Translational Imaging and MITIE. Other teams, including CME, are scheduled to participate in the coming weeks.
Alkek 7 Valentines thank you
Faculty Dev NIH Grants
Grant Writing Workshops for Faculty Career Development
The faculty development team is offering a new series of Grant Writing Workshops for faculty. Led by Dorothy Lewis, PhD, faculty development program director, each 90-minute workshop will be offered biannually, on Tuesdays. The format typically includes an online lecture combined with larger discussion opportunities and small working groups, with registration limited to facilitate interactive participation. Find details and registration at the links below:
Key Components of Your NIH Grant - March 9 NIH Grant Research Strategy - March 16 Career Mentoring Documents for F and K Awards - March 30
Ensemble Theatre Shares Insights for Black History Month
In recognition of Black History Month, the Center for Performing Arts Medicine arranged a virtual conversation on Feb. 9 with members of the Ensemble Theatre troupe who discussed contributions that Black people have made to American culture. Watch the CPAM recording of this discussion. The troupe also shared a video with scenes about the Ensemble Theatre’s current production of "I, Too, Am America," a jazz-infused theatrical journey through historic moments of the African American experience. To receive a $5 discount to watch the play online from now through Feb. 28, enter the coupon code methodist5off.
I Too Am America
MCTM Ranked #2 for Clinical Research Degrees
The Master in Clinical Translation Management (MCTM) program—a collaboration between Houston Methodist and the University of St. Thomas—ranked #2 on the 2021 national list of Top 30 Master’s in Clinical Research Degree Programs on Intelligent.com. The MCTM program offers a one-year, online graduate degree in biotech commercialization and entrepreneurship that teaches students how to transform benchtop laboratory research into patient care. MCTM is accepting applications for its sixth cohort beginning in July 2021. Access the online application here, or email MCTM@stthom.edu for more information.
Master in Clinical Translation Mgt
NIH Applicants and Funding Recipients Website
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 the highlights for Feb. 2021:
  • FY 2021 Fiscal Policies for Grant Awards offers guidance for NIH FY 2021 fiscal operations, including the policies on funding levels, salary limits, and stipend levels.
  • A new NIH COVID-19 website was launched in late January to provide a central location for up-to-date, accurate information about NIH research and its strategic role in COVID-19 research.
  • "Writing an Effective 'K' Application: A Video Guide" offers tips in a 25-minute YouTube video. Presented by Kay Lund, director of the Division of Biomedical Research Workforce, the video is designed for junior investigators and those who assist in the preparation of the scientific portions of an application.
To have NIH notices sent directly to you when they are announced, subscribe to the NIH Extramural Nexus News.
NIH All About Grants
Accolades
Andrew Lee MD
Andrew Lee, MD, chair and professor, Department of Ophthalmology-Blanton Eye Institute, was selected as a 2021 recipient of the Excellence in Clinical Teaching Awards established by UTMB's John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine. These awards recognize faculty who excel in teaching students and residents in clinical settings, thus modeling the ideals of compassionate, scientifically sound, patient-centered care exemplified by Sir William Osler.
Erika Greene MD
Ericka P. Greene, MD, The Sumner Family Chair in Neuromuscular Research, associate professor of clinical neurology, and program director, Neurology Residency and Neuromuscular Medicine Residency, Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology, was the featured speaker for International Day of Women and Girls in Science on the Feb. 11 Connecting ALS podcast. Produced by The ALS Association national organization, the program asked Greene to discuss her inspiration to become a neurologist and the importance of being a role model throughout her career. She encouraged young women everywhere to achieve their dreams through perseverance and belief in themselves, and talked about the inspiration her ALS patients provide daily and the most promising advances in ALS research. Hear the interview here.
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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
    • Curated COVID-19 Funding Opportunities
    • 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.
In the Media
Dirk Sostman, MD, FACR, Ernest Cockrell, Jr. Presidential Distinguished Chair, and chief academic officer, was featured in a Feb. 8 The Hill story about whether it’s dangerous or smart to get two different COVID-19 vaccines. He was quoted, “Getting one kind of COVID-19 vaccine does not make it unsafe or ineffective to get a different kind later. As far as future boosters, since the vaccine updates will be based on the current vaccines, it may make sense to stay with the same one you started with, but likely this will be less critical.”
Stanley H. Appel, MD, Peggy & Gary Edwards Distinguished Endowed Chair, Stanley H. Appel Department of Neurology, and co-director of Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, was quoted in a Feb 4 Endpoints News article about the Treg approach he developed for ALS. The article discussed Coya Therapeutics’ unveiling a $10 million Series A to advance the program and build out a pipeline. Coya has already conducted a Phase I trial, with an ongoing Phase II trial underway. The story also was covered in a Feb. 3 Innovation Map article.
S. Wesley Long, MD, MD, PhD, assistant professor of pathology and genomic medicine, Department of Pathology & Genomic Medicine, was featured in several news stories about Houston Methodist detecting the region’s first case of the fast-spreading variant of the coronavirus from South Africa, found in Ft. Bend. In January, the SARS-CoV-2 gene sequencing team also detected the region’s first two cases of the variant discovered in the United Kingdom. Media coverage included:
• Feb. 8 NBC KPRC Channel 12 interview • Feb 9 Houston Chronicle front page story • Feb. 10 ABC-13 TV interview • Feb. 10 Click2Houston TV interview • Feb. 10 KUHF radio interview 8 a.m. newscast • Feb. 10 KUHF radio Houston Matters show at the 1:19-mark
Long also was interviewed for a Feb. 5 KUHF radio interview about the historic decrease in flu cases related to COVID-19 precautions. KUHF 88.7 FM is Houston’s NPR affiliate, serving an audience of 227K unique visitors across the Houston metropolitan area. Read the press release here. Long also was interviewed for a Feb. 2 Bicycling Magazine article about what athletes can expect from the Covid-19 vaccines. It was picked up by MSN, Yahoo News and Yahoo Lifestyle for a combined audience reach of 44.6 million unique visitors.
Stephen Wong, PhD, John S. Dunn, Sr. Presidential Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Engineering, professor of computer science and bioengineering in oncology, was interviewed for a Jan. 27 Lifewire article entitled, “How AI Could Personalize Medicine for You: Decoding DNA for Treatments.” He describes attempting to use AI to predict the effects of drug treatments and his focus on using AI to repurpose known drugs. He is using machine learning to repurpose chloroquine—initially intended to prevent and treat malaria and recently studied for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19—for metastatic breast cancer.
New Employees
We welcome these new employees who joined the Academic Institute Feb. 1 - 8, 2021.
  • Jocelyn Campa Carranza, Graduate Research Fellow, Nanomedicine Research
  • Carnayla Johnson, Research Assistant I Bench, Center for Outcomes Research
  • Enedelia Molina, Research Coordinator II, Academic Office of Clinical Trials Operations
  • Blake Melton, Research Technician I, Cardiovascular Regeneration
  • Quynh Nguyen, Research Assistant I Bench, Cardiovascular Regeneration
  • Roshalette Pickens, Research Protection Analyst, Research Protection
  • Raksha Raghunathan, Postdoctoral Fellow, SMAB
  • Shubhashish Sarkar, Research Scientist, Transplant
  • Shaun Stevenson, Research Technician I, Cardiovascular Regeneration
  • Christoph Wagner, Graduate Research Fellow, Orthopedics Research
  • Tamer Yahya, Research Coordinator I, Preventive Cardiology
  • Rafi Zaman, Research Coordinator I, Cancer Clinical Trials
  • Sadia Zubair, Research Assistant I Bench, Vascular
View postings for new job opportunities at the Academic Institute here.
Research Highlight
Zhihui Wang, PhD, associate research professor, and Vittorio Cristini, PhD, director and professor, and their colleagues in the Mathematics in Medicine Program, developed a mathematical model to predict how specific cancers will respond to a wide variety of immunotherapy treatment combinations, thus enhancing chances for successful treatments. The results were published in January’s Nature Biomedical Engineering in collaboration with researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Read the press release here.
Publications
The publications with the highest impact factors posted in Scholars, Jan. 27 - Feb. 12, 2021, include:
Comparing Risk Scores in the Prediction of Coronary and Cardiovascular Deaths: Coronary Artery Calcium Consortium
Blaha, MJ, Whelton, SP, Al Rifai, M, Dardari, Z, Shaw, LJ, Al-Mallah, MH, Matsushita, K, Rozanski, A, Rumberger, JA, Berman, DS, Budoff, MJ, Miedema, MD, Nasir, K & Cainzos-Achirica, M 2021, JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 411-421.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2019.12.010
Dexmedetomidine or Propofol for Sedation in Mechanically Ventilated Adults with Sepsis
MENDS2 Study Investigators [Joshua Swan] 2021, The New England Journal of Medicine, 130(12), 6728-6738.
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2024922
Extracellular Volume in Primary Mitral Regurgitation
Kitkungvan, D, Yang, EY, El Tallawi, KC, Nagueh, SF, Nabi, F, Khan, MA, Nguyen, DT, Graviss, EA, Lawrie, GM, Zoghbi, WA, Bonow, RO, Quinones, MA & Shah, DJ 2021, JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2020.10.010
Impact of Myocardial Scar on Prognostic Implication of Secondary Mitral Regurgitation in Heart Failure
Tayal, B, Debs, D, Nabi, F, Malahfji, M, Little, SH, Reardon, M, Zoghbi, W, Kleiman, N & Shah, DJ 2021, JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.
DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa662
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
2022 Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences
Request for Pre-Applications The Pew Charitable Trusts has invited Houston Methodist Research Institute to submit one application to its Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences. This program supports assistant professors within four years of their appointment that show outstanding promise in science to advance human health. Strong proposals should incorporate particularly creative and pioneering approaches to basic, translational, and applied biomedical research. This program does not fund clinical trials research. For full eligibility criteria, please refer to the program website. Note: Deadlines this year are earlier than usual. Submit pre-applications by 12:00 p.m. CST on April 9, 2021 to the Office of Academic Affairs at academicaffairs@houstonmethodist.org. Pre-Application Requirements • Research Strategy (2 pages max, including figures/tables but not including references) • References (1 page max) • Budget (use attached template) • Budget Justification (1 page max) • Curriculum Vitae (5 pages max) • Letter of support from the chair of the candidate’s division/department/program
Eligibility • Candidates must have been awarded a doctorate in biomedical sciences, medicine, or a related field. • As of Sept. 1, 2021, nominees must hold full-time appointment at the rank of assistant professor. (Appointments such as research assistant professor, adjunct assistant professor, assistant professor research track, visiting professor, or instructor are not eligible.) • Must not have been appointed as an assistant professor at any institution prior to June 14, 2017, whether or not such an appointment was on a tenure track. Time spent in clinical internships, residencies, in work toward board certification, or on parental leave does not count as part of this four-year limit. • May apply to the program a maximum of two times. All applicants must be nominated by their institution and must complete the 2022 online application. • If applicants have appointments at more than one eligible nominating institution or affiliate, they may not reapply in a subsequent year from a different nominating entity.
Effort • It is expected that Pew scholars will spend at least 80 percent of their time in work or activities related to the accomplishment of their overall research goals (which are not restricted to the specific aims proposed for this award). However, Pew provides flexible support to the general research aims of the scholar and does not require effort reporting.
Funding • The award provides $300,000 in flexible support—$75,000 per year for four years. • No more than $12,500 of the annual award can be used for the scholar’s salary (including benefits) or $50,000 over the duration of the grant. There are no limits on student or postdoctoral salaries. • Not more than 8 percent ($24,000) of the total award value may be allocated for facilities and administration (F&A) charges or indirect costs (IDCs). • Subawards are allowed.
Important Dates • May 17: Institutional Nomination due to the Pew Charitable Trusts • June 14: Invited Pew Biomedical Scholars grant application portal opens • Sept. 1: Pew Biomedical Scholars application deadline
Updated and expanded program information is available on the Pew Charitable Trusts website. Additionally, please note a webinar for potential applicants and sponsored research staff will not be available. For any questions about any part of the application process, please feel free to reach out to the Pew Biomedical Program team at any time at scholarsapp@pewtrusts.org, or you may contact Academic Affairs at academicaffairs@houstonmethodist.org.
American Lung Association Covid-19 and Emerging Respiratory Viruses Research Award
In 2020, the American Lung Association launched a $25 million, three-year initiative to end COVID-19 and defend against future respiratory virus pandemics. This multi-pronged initiative highlights the American Lung Association’s long-term commitment to lung health across their three areas of focus: education, advocacy and research. As part of that continued investment, the American Lung Association is launching a second funding cycle and call for proposals to address this critical issue.
Eligibility • Evidence of faculty status and independence beyond the fellowship/training stage • Institutional commitment showing that the applicant is eligible to be continuously employed throughout the duration of the grant term stated in the Department Chair’s Letter of Support • Doctoral degree at time of application and faculty appointment or equivalent with demonstrated institutional commitment (salary support, research space as evidenced a Department Chair or equivalent letter)
Key Dates • Letters of Intent (LOIs) due: February 18, 2021 • LOI Results. proposalCENTRAL opens to invited applicants: March 1, 2021 • Application deadline: April 30, 2021, 11:59 PM ET • Outcome notifications are sent to all applicants: June 30, 2021
Click here for additional details regarding eligibility and LOI requirements. For technical questions concerning proposalCENTRAL, email pcsupport@altum.com or call 1-800-875-2562. For questions regarding awards and grants program, email research@lung.org.
DoD Broad Agency Announcement for Extramural Medical Research
The Department of Defense funding for extramural medical research aims to provide solutions to medical problems of importance to the American service members at home and abroad, as well as to the general public at large. The scope of this effort and the priorities attached to specific projects are influenced by changes in military and civilian medical science and technology, operational requirements, military threat assessments, and national defense strategies. This funding opportunity is continuously open for a five-year period, from Oct.1, 2017 through Sept. 30, 2022, 11:59 p.m. ET. Access the announcement, including all details, in this PDF. Find the DoD proposal form template in this document.
CITO-PSOC Funding Opportunities
The Center for Immunotherapeutic Transport Oncophysics (CITO) is funded by the NIH to examine the physics of cancer and strategies to improve immunotherapies. Details for the following RFAs are available on the CITO website:
  • Trans-Network Projects are small research projects aimed at addressing a challenge in cancer biology from a physical sciences perspective and leveraging the expertise and investigators from multiple PS-OP U01s and/or PS-OC U54s. Focus area(s) and collaborative teams for Trans-Network projects may be proposed by the teams of investigators, with appropriate rationale and justification. The budget is up to $100,000 direct costs per year, with applications submitted on a rolling basis.
  • Scientist Exchange Research Program allows scientists (faculty or researchers beyond the trainee level) to conduct laboratory or clinical research with a host investigator within the CITO, PS-ON, or beyond. A main goal of the Scientist Exchange Program is to encourage cross-disciplinary collaborations between research groups. Applications may address any particular challenge and are highly encouraged to complement or synergize with the current CITO projects. The budget is approximately $10,000 in direct costs for up to six months, with applications submitted on a rolling basis.
  • Trainee Research allows trainees (postdoctoral, graduate, or undergraduate trainees) to participate in short-term, interactive laboratory or clinical research with a host investigator within the CITO/PS-ON. The proposed research should be under the overarching theme of transport oncophysics, in the context of cancer immunology and immunotherapy. Applications may address any particular challenge and are highly encouraged to complement or synergize with the current CITO projects. The budget is approximately $5,000 in direct costs for up to 10 weeks, with applications submitted on a rolling basis.
All applications should be in PDF and emailed to cito-psoc@houstonmethodist.org. The PS-ON Catalogue of Techniques is available on the Synapse Knowledge Portal, offering additional methods for potential collaboration or training opportunities.