Gitlin, who joined the UM Miller  School this summer as professor and vice chairman in the Department of Anesthesiology, shies away from praise.  But his non-stop efforts to ensure the survival of the anesthesiology residency program at Tulane University School of Medicine, where he worked for 16 years, were an example of sheer dedication to his residents and their education. This month, Gitlin, who is also a well-known expert in pain management, shares his post-hurricane experience in the article, "Coping with Disaster: Relocating a Residency Program," in Academic Medicine, the journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges.

The co-authored article details the difficult decisions made when the Tulane program, along with the majority of residents, moved many miles away to the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Taking a cue from some corporations' actions post-9/11, Gitlin sought counseling for some residents and helped some transfer to programs close to where they had family members, including one student to UM/Jackson.

Since the hurricane, Gitlin has lectured on the topic and considers the article a "blueprint" that academic institutions can refer to in the event of a major disaster. As chairman of anesthesiology, when the residency program director left right after the hurricane, Gitlin had to take charge.

Said Gitlin: "As an educator, there is a short-term problem in that there is a group of doctors for whom you have the responsibility to teach and to lead. At the same time, what do you do about the long-term responsibility you have to provide first-rate education and specialty training down the road? Do you have to make radical change for the short term or do you sacrifice the long term for near-term expediency? That's something that is very difficult, but I had to work it out."

At the Miller School, Gitlin will focus heavily on the Division of Pain Management Services in addition to his many other duties. David Lubarsky, M.D., M.B.A., Emanuel M. Papper Professor and Chair of Anesthesiology, says UM is a perfect fit for a physician of Gitlin's caliber.

"It is a rare treat for a chair to be able to recruit a vice chair with his maturity, vision, and capability who still has the energy and dedication to really make a difference," Lubarsky said. "Mel had a very successful program building initial tenure at Tulane - but it is the calm strength and tenacity he demonstrated in order to maintain his academic teaching department after Hurricane Katrina that really shows the true quality of this talented individual we have recruited."

For more information, call 305-243-6491 or e-mail gcrmence@med.miami.edu.

Congratulations to the four awardees for 2007: Gennaro D’Urso, Ph.D., from the Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, working on "Inhibition of DNA Replication Initiation: A New Chemotherapeutic Approach to Breast Cancer;" Mary Lou King, Ph.D., in the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, working on "Development of RNA aptamers against Nanos1, a catenin binding protein that promotes invasive behavior in breast cancer cell lines;" Jaime Merchan, M.D., a hematologist oncologist in the Department of Medicine, investigating "Redefining the Role of Plasminogen Activators & Inhibitors in Breast Cancer Progression;" and Keith Webster, Ph.D., from the Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, studying "Neoadjuvant Therapy Targeting Hypoxic Breast Tumors."

These developmental grants are intended to encourage and support promising new basic, translational and clinical research in breast cancer.

The following programs at the University of Miami will be held monthly or bi-monthly: Deep Brain Stimulation Support Group (for pre-op & post-op patients and family), Parkinson's Disease Support Group Meditation Class (for patients and family), and Parkinson's Disease Care Givers Support Group (bi-monthly).

These are just some of the programs planned for later this summer and fall. For more information and to register for meetings, please call George Dumenigo at 305-243-1865 or e-mail gdumenigo@med.miami.edu.

To read the complete update, please visit http://med.miami.edu/hipaa/public/x340.xml.

For additional questions related to this or any other HIPAA privacy or security related issues, please contact the Office of HIPAA Privacy & Security at hipaaprivacy@med.miami.edu.

Please join them today, and the first Tuesday of every month, in the Batchelor Children's Research Institute, second-floor conference room, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. For more information, please contact Sheila Findlay at 305-495-8273 or sfindlay@med.miami.edu.

A request for grant applications is issued twice a year, with the remaining application deadline of Wednesday, October 3. Our next draft proposal deadline is Saturday, September 15. The criteria for pilot projects include originality, feasibility, scientific merit and likelihood that the pilot project can be developed into a larger investigation. Pilot project applicants who have not received R01 or equivalent awards and are new investigators are eligible to apply. For more information on pilot project submission requirements and guidelines visit http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA07-501.html.

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

If you would like to schedule an appointment, please call Jeanne Constant at 305-243-5632 or Jennifer Bunyan at 305-243-4002.

For more information please call 305-326-6092.

Expert moderators will be Hooshang Bolooki, M.D., director of adult cardiac surgery, and Alan Heldman, M.D., clinical chief of cardiology, both of UM, and Martin Bilsker, M.D., director of the Echo/Doppler Laboratory, Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Dinner will be provided. For more information, please contact Dylan Steen at DSteen@med.miami.edu.

The event will be held in the Center on Aging offices in the Mental Health Hospital Center, 1695 NW 9th Avenue, room 3204, from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 15. Lunch will be provided and reservations are required. Please RSVP to spurcell@med.miami.edu or call 305-355-9081.

Epidemiological studies have consistently found that women suffer from a higher prevalence of major depression and anxiety disorders than men. As part of the new Science of the Mind Initiative of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, the goal of this course is to educate physicians and other health care providers and raise public awareness about the evolving field of women's mental health.

Speakers will include Jan-Ake Gustafsson, M.D., Ph.D., of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Gustafsson has been chairman of the Nobel Assembly, which awards the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. He also discovered the estrogen receptor beta and will speak on "Targeting Estrogen Receptor Beta Offers New Pharmaceutical Opportunities-Basic and Applied Aspects."

Tuition is $35 and the deadline to register is this Friday. For more information, please call 305-243-6612 or visit http://www.med.miami.edu/communications/documents/WMH%20Brochure%20SEC0716B.pdf.

Join us for the Grants.gov hands-on training on Tuesday, August 21, from 9 a.m. to noon in the Calder Medical Library, third-floor electronic classroom.

The Grants.gov computer lab training course is offered to provide practical instruction for NIH electronic submission of proposals through Grants.gov. Maria Valero-Martinez, manager of Sponsored Programs Education, will walk participants through the process as well as provide tips for avoiding common errors. Attendees will gain a better understanding of the requirements for electronic submission through Grants.gov. The emphasis will be on finding and using the correct application package, following grant application instructions and understanding the procedures for the internal routing of the proposal. Space is limited.

To register, please visit http://ulearn.miami.edu/.

For help with registration, please e-mail saymerich@med.miami.edu.

To register, please visit http://ULearn.miami.edu. For help with registration, please call the Professional Development and Training Office at 305-243-3090.

This seminar will also be held on the Coral Gables campus on Thursday, August 23, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Max Orovitz Building, room 139.

For more information, contact Sally Philips at the EAP at 305-284-6604.  To register for the CBL and then the seminar, visit http://ULearn.miami.edu.  For questions about registration, call the Professional Development and Training Office at 305-243-3090.

The course will be held on the Coral Gables campus on Thursday, August 9, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Max Orovitz Building, room 139.

Registration is required through Ulearn at http://ulearn.miami.edu/.

For questions, please contact saymerich@med.miami.edu.

Lunch will be served. To register, please call 305-243-5092 or send an e-mail to saymerich@med.miami.edu.

 The Department of Psychology and the Division of Biobehavioral Oncology, Prevention, Epidemiology and Control of the Sylvester Cancer Center are conducting an NIH-funded intervention study to examine the effects of stress management on health and quality of life in women recently diagnosed with breast cancer (stages 0-III). Participants must have recently had surgery for breast cancer, have not yet begun chemotherapy or radiation treatment, and have fluency in English. Eligible women will participate in weekly group sessions over a period of five weeks and be compensated for completing three assessments (questionnaire packet, saliva collection, and blood draw). If you are interested in participating or would like further information about this study, please contact the study coordinator, Janny Rodriguez, at 305-284-2220 or jannyr@miami.edu.

 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.

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.

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).

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.

Do you or 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.

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, paid evaluations. If interested, please contact Maite Mena, Psy.D., 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.

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.