The annual Zubrod poster competition is held in honor of the late Charles Gordon Zubrod, M.D., who spent 25 years with the University of Miami and was director of the cancer center. Kermit Carraway, Ph.D., professor of cell biology and anotomy, was honored with the 2007 Outstanding Cancer Researcher Award for his 30 years of work fighting cancer. Dr. Carraway thanked the late Dr. Zubrod for playing a key role in recruiting him to the University of Miami, with two of Dr. Zubrod's children in the audience.

The research poster competition takes place in two levels of competition - fellows, residents and medical students, and graduate/post-doctoral students. The winners in the fellow/resident/medical student category were, Hyo Sook Han, M.D., fellow in the Division of Hematology Oncology, first place; Juan C. Gutierrez, M.D., resident in the Division of Surgical Oncology, second place; and Juan Chen, M.D., research fellow in the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, third place. The winners in the postdoc/graduate student category were, Lucas Cavallin, graduate student in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, first place; Dan Ilkovitch, M.D., Ph.D., student in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, second place; and Goldi A. Kozloski, Ph.D., candidate in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, third place.

Each winner also receives a monetary award to further their research. Congratulations to all.

“This generous gift from The William Randolph Hearst Foundations is vitally important in our efforts to combat the nursing shortage,” said Dean Nilda P. Peragallo, Dr.P.H., R.N., F.A.A.N. “The Hearst Foundations’ scholarship endowment represents an investment in quality education that will increase the number of nurses in our community and help improve access to health care in South Florida and beyond.”

One of the most diverse nursing schools in the nation, the UM School of Nursing and Health Studies has expanded its programs and increased its enrollment in recent years to help address the nursing shortage. The school, which offers Ph.D., M.S.N. and B.S.N. programs in nursing, celebrated the graduation of over 230 nurses, nurse practitioners, and nurse scientists at the University of Miami’s convocation ceremony last week. To enhance the learning environment for nursing at UM, the school recently opened the M. Christine Schwartz Center for Nursing and Health Studies. The Schwartz Center is a $20 million state-of-the-art facility, featuring leading-edge classrooms, seminar rooms and computer labs, and the International Academy for Clinical Simulation and Research - one of the top centers in the nation to utilize the vast potential of simulation technology to build students’ clinical skills and improve patient safety.

Founded in 1945, The William Randolph Hearst Foundations are committed to supporting programs that seek to improve and assure access to quality health care for underserved populations in both urban and rural areas.

This issue features the newly created Earl W. Sutherland, Jr., M.D., web site, which includes the full text of his research notebooks that contain his Nobel-prize winning research on cyclic AMP. Digitized by the Calder Library, the notebooks are the first publicly accessible files in the University’s new Content DM software program.

The newsletter also contains answers to common questions about the library’s e-resources, services and profiles on the four faculty members in the Reference and Education Department. There is also information on ebrary, a collection of more than 32,000 books accessible at ebrary.com/lib/univmiami/ and on a new exhibit of “cups” recently donated to the library by Murray Kane, M.D. Previous issues of the newsletter can be browsed by clicking on the “News” link along the top of the library’s website at calder.med.miami.edu. All issues and all links on the website can be easily searched by using the “Search” links.

ULearn includes a search engine that will let employees search for topics of interest and register for those classes. In addition, ULearn automatically creates individual Outlook calendar items, placing any class that you register for in your UM Outlook calendar. If a class is canceled or if a training date changes, the calendar items will be updated automatically.

ULearn also offers individual and customizable home pages for each user upon login. These pages will display each employee’s professional development information including schedules, curricula and transcripts, which will facilitate the learning process. The PDTO is excited about this upcoming development and feels that it will truly provide a new beginning for university faculty and staff and their professional development needs.

For additional information about ULearn, call the PDTO at 305-284-5110 or 305-243-3090.

Team building is a method of building positive business relationships, helping you and your colleagues face challenges together, developing new and innovative ideas and improving the decision-making process. This leadership academy course has been developed to help frontline supervisors increase their own effectiveness and the effectiveness of their teams in achieving top levels of operational and relational performance through collaboration and mutual respect. Participants will practice diagnosing and improving team issues and dynamics using the team performance model as well as create team development plans. Participants will also define and demonstrate appropriate team dynamics and learn to utilize new methods for working in teams.

Setting goals is a vital part of personal and business planning. Circumstances may force one to modify previously set goals, or priorities may change over time. However, goal setting remains an important part of achievement. This leadership academy online and live course will help emerging leaders identify their values, set principle-based goals and develop an appropriate action plan to achieve these goals. Participants will apply the concepts of developing long-term vision and motivation and also explore the role that organizing time and resources plays in effective goal setting.

Behavioral interviewing is a technique used to match the best candidate with the best position. This technique postures that an individual’s future behaviors may best be predicted based on past behaviors. The purpose of using a behavioral-based interviewing technique is to increase the success rate of the selection process by hiring the most qualified candidates, reducing turnover for new hires and maintaining a stable and high-performing team.

All courses will be held in the Professional Development and Training Office, Dominion Parking Garage, suite 155.

To view a course description, see specific course time, or register for a session, go to NetLearning at http://netlearning.miami.edu. Some courses have a computer-based learning module that must be completed before participants can attend the live classroom session. Participants must register for both the CBL as well as the live sessions in NetLearning. Please register early as seating is limited.

The Grants.gov computer lab training course provides practical instruction for NIH electronic submission of proposals. The instructor will also provide tips for avoiding common errors.

To register, please visit netlearning.miami.edu or for help with registration, please e-mail saymerich@med.miami.edu.

In addition, UM Canterbury offers Camp Discovery on the Coral Gables Campus. Transportation is provided at no additional cost from the medical to the Gables campus. Camp Discovery is geared toward kindergarten and young elementary students. Two four-week sessions run from June 4 through July 27, including themes such as Animal Mania, Abracadabra, Lights, Camera Action, and Construction Production. Each week concludes with a theme-based show. Camp Discovery offers swimming lessons at the University Center Olympic pool under the supervision of Randy Abelman, coach of the men’s and women’s diving teams. Other activities include dance, volleyball and soccer, arts and crafts, music and more. Camp enrollment is available only to Canterbury families and members of the UM community. Visit our website at http://canterbury.miami.edu for more details and a camp application or e-mail pbochman@miami.edu for more information about our programs.

A representative from Fidelity Investments will be on the medical campus this Thursday and on June 27 to answer financial questions about its retirement plans. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-642-7131.

A representative from Lincoln Financial Group will visit the medical campus June 19 and July 17 to conduct individual counseling sessions. To schedule an appointment, contact Theresa Yong toll free at 866-772-4163 or e-mail tmyong@lnc.com.

All meetings will take place in the Human Resources Benefits Office, 901 NW 17th St., Suite D.

A request for grant applications is issued twice a year. Our next deadline is June 27. The criteria for pilot projects include originality, feasibility, scientific merit and the likelihood that the pilot project can be developed into an NIH-level grant. Pilot project applicants who have not received prior R01 or equivalent funding, or cancer control investigators, are eligible to apply. All applications must target Hispanic/Latino population.

For more information an application procedures, contact Chantell Torregrosa-Macias at 305-243-3981.

Also, new postage rates took effect last Monday, including a two-cent increase in the price of a first-class mail stamp to 41 cents. Post offices nationwide are now selling the new 41-cent stamps and also one and two-cent stamps for customers who still have a supply of 39-cent stamps.

Customers can also order stamps online at www.usps.com or by telephone at 1-800-STAMP-24. The new stamps are also available at automated postal centers and ATMs. The following is a list of some of the new rates and fees. First-Class Letter (1 oz.), 41¢; First-Class Letter (2 oz.), 58¢; Postcard, 26¢; Priority Mail (1 lb.), $4.60;
Priority Mail Flat-Rate Box, $8.95; Express Mail (1/2 lb), $16.25; Express Mail (1 lb), $19.50; Express Mail (2 lb), $21.40; Certified Mail, $2.65; Delivery Confirmation (Priority), 65¢; Delivery Confirmation (First Class Parcels), 75¢; Return Receipt (Original Signature), $2.15; Return Receipt (Electronic), 85¢; Money Orders (up to $500), $1.05.

The seminar is being conducted by Stephen Russell, Ph.D., of Grant Writers’ Seminars and Workshops. Dr. Russell has held grant support from the National Institutes of Health as a principal investigator since the early 1970’s, including individual, group, center, and training grants.

The Office of Research is subsidizing the cost of the workshop, but participants will be responsible for purchasing the text, “Grant Application Writer’s Workbook.” which is required for the course. Registration for the workshop is through NetLearning at https://netlearning.miami.edu. For the agenda or more information about the seminar, please visit http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,2425-1;53481-3,00.html. For questions, please contact saymerich@med.miami.edu.

The event will feature dishes prepared by South Florida’s top chefs, domestic and imported wines from 30 wineries, samplings from a seafood bar, a variety of beverages and desserts, and live music and entertainment.

For more information, call the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation at 800-321-3437 or 954-964-4040 or visit www.diabetesresearch.org. The Radisson Hotel Miami is located at 1601 Biscayne Boulevard.

The seminar will take place Thursday, June 21 and Friday, June 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science campus in the Science and Administration Building.

Parking is free outside the main gate. The registration deadline is June 8. Please register early as seating is limited and space will be filled on a first come, first served basis.

Interested students and postdocs should contact Krystle Cacci at kcacci@med.miami.edu no later than June 8.

 The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is recruiting patients for the following clinical studies:

• Cervical Dysplasia

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is testing experimental medications and therapies for the treatment of cervical dysplasia, a pre-cancerous condition that can lead to cancer if left untreated. Current treatments are surgical or invasive. This study is testing an investigational gene therapy to see if it safely and effectively treats HPV medicated cervical lesions as a result of dysplasia. If you are between 18 and 25 and have had an abnormal PAP test, you may be able to take part in this research study. Qualified participants will receive all study-related care and study therapy. To find out more, call Iliana Rivas at (305) 243-5832 or I.rivas@miami.edu.

• Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Do you experience heavy menstrual bleeding on two to five days of your regular menstrual period? Does heavy menstrual bleeding keep you from your normal social and work activities? If you answered yes to these questions, you may qualify for a research study of an investigational drug for heavy menstrual bleeding. This investigational drug is not a hormone. You must be a generally healthy woman between ages 18 and 49, have regular menstrual cycles with heavy bleeding, and not have any other bleeding disorder.

Qualified participants will receive the study drug and study-related procedures including physical exams, electrocardiograms, eye exams and laboratory tests at no cost. They will also receive compensation for time and travel. For more information, please contact Marisol Sloane at 305-243-1616.

• Hot Flashes

Are hot flashes making you miserable? You’re not alone. As many as 85% of postmenopausal women experience the discomfort of hot flashes -- sudden sensations of heat, often accompanied by sweating, racing pulse, and anxiety. If you’re suffering from hot flashes, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is conducting a clinical research trial studying a non-hormonal investigational drug to see if it may relieve hot flashes. If you are a postmenopausal woman experiencing bothersome hot flashes with sweating every day you may be eligible to participate. Qualified participants will receive at no charge study-related medical examinations, laboratory tests, electrocardiograms, investigational medication and compensation for travel costs to doctors’ visits. For more information, please contact Marisol Sloane at 305-243-1616.

Jay Skyler, M.D., and Jennifer Marks, M.D., from the Diabetes Research Institute, are currently recruiting patients 18 years of age and older with type 1 diabetes mellitus for participation in research studies to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of inhaled insulin. Patients must be taking multiple insulin injections daily, be non-smokers and in good health. Those who are interested should contact Rogelio Suarez at 305-243-6573 or rsuarez2@med.miami.edu.

Robert Kirsner, M.D., Ph.D., vice chairman of the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, is looking for people with foot ulcers as a complication of diabetes or venous insufficiency. Please contact Carol Kittles at 305-243-8485 for additional information on these studies.

Do you experience food cravings? The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the UM Miller School of Medicine is conducting a pilot study of food craving using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Interested volunteers can contact Karin Esposito, M.D., Ph.D., at 305-243-4710.

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is conducting a federally funded HIV behavioral intervention research study for women and their partners, the New Opportunities for Women 2 (NOW 2) Project. The project will address topics related to safer sex, sexual risk reduction, STDs and communication skills. The NOW 2 Project is currently recruiting English-speaking couples, in which one or both individuals must be HIV positive. Participants must be 18 years or older, willing to be tested for STDs, and answer personal questions in a confidential interview. Women and men who participate may each receive compensation of up to $360 for an entire year of participation (this includes attendance at all interviews, examinations and sessions). If interested, please contact Arnetta Phillips or Jackie Gomez, at 305-243-2103, or (aphillips@yahoo.com / jgomez4@med.miami.edu).

The Center for Liver Diseases is recruiting participants for the following studies:

• Patients with chronic liver disease
This studies the correlation between liver histology and elasticity measured in patients with chronic liver disease using a device known as Fibroscan. This is a painless, non-invasive test. Qualifying patient must have received a laparoscopic liver biopsy within the past two months or scheduled a laparoscopic liver biopsy within the next two months by their PCP at Cedars Medical Center-Miami. This is a one time visit. Liver cancer patients are excluded. Contact: Zvi Leibovici at 305-243-2330 or zleibovici@med.miami.edu.

• Determining the relation of an elevated HBV DNA in hepatitis B patients
This is a chart review on hepatitis B subjects to determine the relation of an elevated HBV DNA and normal liver function tests to the histological findings of the liver biopsy. The study requires the subject has a previous liver biopsy between 2003-2006. They must also see the research team to obtain a hepatitis B serology panel, liver function tests (ALT and AST), and HBV viral load. Subjects must be more than 18 years old, have a documented laboratory diagnosis of HBV infection of at least six months, treatment naïve patient, and a documented HBV DNA. For further information, contact Zvi Leibovici at 305-243-2330, or e-mail at zleibovici@med.miami.edu.

• Patients with cirrhosis of the liver as a result of hepatitis B 
This is a phase III b protocol comparing entecavir vs. adefovir in chronic hepatitis B subjects with evidence of hepatic decompensation. Subjects must have cirrhosis because of hepatitis B infection, never been treated for hepatitis B or treated with lamivudine (epivir) only, and do not have HIV, hepatitis C or D. For further information please call: 305)-243-6939, or e-mail the study  coordinator, Connie Higgins at: chiggins@med.miami.edu.

• Patients with hepatic encephalopathy
This study will compare Lactulose and Rifaximin to determine the benefit of either drug, or a combination of both. We will be enrolling patients with cirrhosis of the liver and a history of a previous hospitalization for hepatic encephalopathy. Patients will be followed for six months and a one-month post-treatment. Contact Macy Ho, CRC 305-243-4648 or e-mail Mho@med.miami.edu.

• Vaccine test in patients with chronic hepatitis C
The Center for Liver Diseases is conducting a phase I, double-blind, placebo controlled, dose escalation, multi-center trial of a therapeutic vaccine in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. Subject must be > 18, have no hypersensitivity to baker's yeast, non-cirrhotic, compensated liver disease, and must have received a liver biopsy within the past two years or be willing to have one performed. Subjects can be naïve to previous treatment, or a relapser or partial responder to an interferon-based treatment. Must meet other criteria as well. Contact Macy Ho at 305-243-4648 or mho@med.miami.edu.

Do you or does someone you know experience pain related to spinal cord injury? Eva Widerström-Noga, Ph.D., and her colleagues are conducting research into the nature and treatment of pain associated with spinal cord injury. Studies are enrolling now.  Eligible participants will be 18 to 70 years of age and at least two years post-injury.  If you are interested in enrolling, please call The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at 305-243-8132 for information.

The Department of Psychology is recruiting participants for the following studies:

• A schizophrenia family study 
Have you or one of your relatives been diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder? Are you in regular contact with this person? If so, you and your family may be eligible to participate in a free family-focused treatment research study. During the treatment, clinicians will provide factual information about schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. In addition, techniques to assist the family in coping with mental illness will be presented. Treatment is available in English and Spanish. If interested, please contact the Schizophrenia Family Project at 305-284-5455.

• A family factors and autism study
The aim of this project is to better understand families’ emotional reactions to autism spectrum disorders. We seek the participation of adults with high-functioning autism or Asperger’s and one of his or her parents. Participation will involve one hour-long telephone call. If you would like to help with this study or if you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Wasserman at 305-284-2307.

Researchers at the MRI Center need healthy subjects for a magnetic resonance imaging study. For more information, please visit http://midas.med.miami.edu/Research/MRStudies.htm.

Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are being recruited for a study of effects of sildenafil on exercise and breathlessness. Participants must have a firm clinical diagnosis of IPF, be 40 to 85 years of age, and not be on medication for IPF. Interested patients or physicians wishing to refer patients should call 305-575-3548, fax 305-575-3126, or e-mail rjackson2@med.miami.edu.

The Department of Psychology and the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control is conducting a quality of life research intervention with advanced prostate cancer patients. Participants should have Stage III or IV prostate cancer and have recently or currently been treated with hormone therapy. Eligible participants will take part in a ten-week cognitive behavioral stress and affect management program or a health promotions program. Three psychosocial/medical assessments are also required. If you are interested in this study or would like more information, please contact Frank Penedo, Ph.D., at 305-243-3329, or fpenedo@miami.edu.

Daniel Santisteban, Ph.D., of the Center for Family Studies in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, is currently conducting a research program that would provide adolescents and/or their family treatment for free. Participants must be 14 to 17 years old, have a parent or legal guardian willing to participate, meet DSM criteria for both substance abuse disorder and borderline personality disorder, and be willing to participate in four separate but paid evaluations. If interested, please contact Maite Mena, Psy., at 305-243-3658, or mmena@med.miami.edu for details. 

Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine is seeking patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) for phase III protocol that will assess the impact of pirfenidone on IPF. Subjects must be between 40 and 80, and have a confirmed diagnosis of IPF within 48 months of randomization. For more information please call: 305-243-3728, or e-mail Emmanuelle Simonet at esimonet@med.miami.edu.

The Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement is conducting research with family caregivers of dementia patients who speak English and are 50 years of age or older. If you are not a caregiver but are interested in participating, you may be able to help as well. Participants will receive basic training on how to use the Internet and will be asked to look for information about care-giving and dementia. If you are interested in being a part of this research study, please call 305-355-9200. You will be paid for your time and effort.

Jennifer B. Marks, M.D., is currently recruiting patients ages 18 through 40 with type 1 diabetes mellitus with a recent diagnosis for participation in a research study to test the safety and effectiveness of an investigational medication. Patients must be taking multiple insulin injections daily and in good health. Those who are interested should contact Rogelio Suarez at 305-243-6573 or rsuarez2@med.miami.edu.

The AIDS Clinical Research Unit, directed by Margaret Fischl, M.D., is recruiting participants for the following studies:

• An investigational polyclonal caprine IgG, HRG214, for HIV patients not responding to antiretroviral therapy. HRG214 contains antibodies that targets HIV infected CD4 cells and specific regions on HIV. Laboratory/animal studies suggest these antibodies are capable of killing or disabling HIV and preventing further infection.  Participants must have HIV RNA < 5000 copies/ml and CD4 cells < 200 cells/cmm. The study will evaluate 3 increasing dose of HRG214 in part I and compare HRG214 to optimized antiretroviral therapy in part II. HFG214 is given IV over about 30 minutes three times a week for up to 26 weeks. $100 provided each completed week of HRG214 treatment and $25 each completed week of observation

 • A phase II study of investigation use of recombination human keratinocyte growth factor (rHuKGF, palifermin) for patients with incomplete immune recovery on HAART.  rHuKGF may enhance thymus production of lymphocytes and increase CD4 cell counts. Participants must be 18 years and older, receiving antiretroviral therapy for at least 6 months with HIV RNA <200 and CD4 cell count <200 cells.  The study will evaluate 3 doses (20, 40 60 mcg/kg) of rHuKGF compared to placebo.  rHuKGF given IV bolus daily for 3 days. Follow up study visits at weeks 1,2,4,8 12 and 24 with thymus CT scans at entry and week 12.

 • A phase II of an investigational glycosylated recombinant human IL-7 (CYT017, a cytokine that aids T-cell development and improves T-cell survival). Participants must be 18 years of age, receiving HAART for at least 12 months and have an HIV-1 RNA level < 1,000 copies/ml and CD4 cell count of 101– 400 cells/ccm. The study will evaluate three increasing doses (10, 20, 30 Fg/kg) of IL-7 given by SQ injection once a week for 3 weeks. Up to $275 in food certificates provided.

For more information on studies conducted by the AIDS Clinical Research Unit, contact Juan at 305-243-3838 or Leslie at L.Thompson@miami.edu.

The SPARE Study (Soy Phytoestrogens As Replacement Estrogen) is currently recruiting women 45 to 60 years of age to study the role of soy phytoestrogens given in tablet form to prevent bone loss. Participants will be given a physical exam at study entry, an annual mammogram and bone density test, and will be asked to come for 10 study visits over a period of two years for blood tests and to complete questionnaires about diet, exercise, and well-being. Interested women should contact the SPARE Study Office at 305-243-4330 or via e-mail at aherrin@med.miami.edu.

The University of Miami Skin Research Group, directed by Brian Berman, M.D., Ph.D., is looking for people with rosacea, acne, atopic dermatitis (eczema), and keloids. Participants should be 18 or older for the acne and keloid studies and ages 2 to 17 for the atopic dermatitis studies. If interested, please contact the research staff at 305-243-5519 or visit our website at http://www.skininvestigation.com/.

Bruce Rubin, M.D., is currently performing a study on trigeminal neuralgia (TN) treatment with subcutaneous injections of BOTOX® to evaluate the effectiveness of treating facial pain associated with TN. Patients must have a diagnosis of TN for more than three months and be at least 18 years of age.
 
Dr. Rubin is also seeking patients for a research study on the treatment of tightness/spasticity in the wrist, fingers, and elbow caused by a stroke while evaluating the effect of BOTOX® on pulmonary functioning. Patients must be 18 years of age, have had a stroke six months ago or longer, have a pulmonary/breathing problem and cannot have used BOTOX® or any other botulinum toxin previously for any condition. Please contact Amy L. Kaye, ARNP, at 305-243-6223 for additional information on either of these studies.