Last week, the North Miami Beach painter Susan Lazarus, now free of cancer, came to a special opening reception at UM/Sylvester where her works, Bright Future and second-place Life’s Blessing, were on display along with several other paintings done by people affected by colorectal cancer. The paintings are on display through September 19.

Attendees at the August 30 event included Shelley Goren, president and CEO of Gilda’s Club South Florida, Caio Max S. Rocha Lima, M.D., director of the Phase One Unit at UM/Sylvester and associate professor of clinical medicine at the Miller School and W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., F.A.C.S., director of UM/Sylvester.

Rocha Lima, an event speaker, said the exhibition is a powerful display of the sometimes unspoken resolve of people affected by cancer. "At times, in a clinical setting, I don’t have the opportunity to witness the emotional impact of the disease," he said. "This artwork is a powerful reminder about the importance of expression during the cancer treatment and healing process."

In July, Gilda's Club Worldwide announced the winners of the second annual “Snapshot of Survival," created as a means of helping those affected by colorectal cancer "to illustrate and visualize the emotions related to their cancer experience." This year, participants came from clubs in Fort Lauderdale, Buffalo and Seattle. Sue Sapperstein, of Pompano Beach, who was diagnosed in 1993, won third place for her work Evolution of Pain.

Lazarus’ appearance at the exhibition was a testament to her own resolve and to the advances in cancer treatment at institutions such as UM/Sylvester. Lazarus, 57, was diagnosed at age 48.

"We feel this is a very important event today to raise awareness about the impact of colorectal cancer," Goren said. "If everyone in the room could leave here today and tell five people, it would save many lives."

The pilot phase of iMedConsent will be implemented in the Division of Head and Neck Surgery, and subsequently rolled out to other departments.

If you need additional information on the system or its implementation, please contact Leah Bamford at lbamford@med.miami.edu or Ameena Shrestha at ashrestha@med.miami.edu. 

The early bird registration deadline is Sunday, Sept. 23.  Please make your hotel reservations by Monday, September 24, to qualify for the discounted group rate. To download a brochure or register online please visit www.cme.med.miami.edu or call the Division of Continuing Medical Education at 305-243-6716.

A lunch lecture series will be held in the near future, during which participants will learn about cultural sensitivities and different health topics within this population. More information on events can be found in future issues of e-Update.

To join this organization and learn how you can get involved, please contact Fernando Suarez at fsuarez@med.miami.edu or Rich Coia at recoia@med.miami.edu.

UM/Sylvester director W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., will talk about important updates surrounding the cancer center and the Miller School. The new administrator for UM specialty hospitals, Michael Gittelman, will also be speaking, along with Anne Smith, R.N., M.B.A., associate administrator for clinical and quality services and chief nursing officer, and Paul Hudgins, associate vice president for medical human resources.

Dr. Goodwin will discuss the core grant with the National Cancer Institute, the new Miami Health System branding campaign and the role of Cedars Medical Center. Attendees will have an opportunity to learn more about Mr. Gittelman, who will discuss facility updates in both Miami-Dade and Deerfield Beach. Performance improvement, quality of clinical services, staffing and patient safety topics will be discussed by Ms. Smith and Mr. Hudgins will talk about parking and benefit updates.

After the meeting, there will be an open question-and-answer session with the speakers.

The two training classes must be completed within 90 days from registration. If you fail to complete any trainings within that period your department will be charged $35. You must complete two computer-based learning modules in ULearn, Contact Hour Library Module I and Contact Hour Library Module II. In order to receive contact hours credit, you must self-report all trainings through ULearn by May 15, 2008.

Access to this library will be granted on a first come, first served basis. For more information, please contact Fredricka Williams at f.williams2@miami.edu or visit the ULearn website at http://ulearn.miami.edu/.

Organ Systems and Diagnosis will be offered the following Saturdays: Sept. 8, 15 and 29, Oct. 6, 13, 20 and 27, Nov. 3, 10 and 17, Dec. 1, 8 and 15. This course will be taught by Li-ping Chang, M.D. (PRC), L.Ac., along with Fu Di, M.D. (PRC), L.Ac., an assistant voluntary professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Miller School.

Scalp Acupuncture will be held Saturday, Jan. 5 and 12. The instructor for this course will be Fu Di, M.D. (PRC), L.Ac., assistant voluntary professor of  psychiatry and behavioral sciences.

Electro-Acupuncture will be offered Saturday, Jan. 26, and Saturday, Feb. 2, and will be taught by Li-ping Chang, M.D. (PRC), L.Ac.

Advanced Auricular Acupuncture will be held two Saturdays, Feb. 9 and 16. This course will be taught by the Auricular Certification Institute.

Fertility and Acupuncture will be held Saturday, Feb. 23, and Saturday March 1. The course will be instructed by Li-ping Chang, M.D. (PRC), L.Ac.

Meta-Energetics will be offered Saturday, March 8, with Janet Konefal, Ph.D., M.P.H., L.Ac., assistant dean for complementary and integrative medicine.

UM/Sylvester will consider applications in all cancer research areas from all faculty at the University of Miami.

The application deadline is Friday, Oct. 19. For guidelines and application forms please contact Cristina Llanos at 305-243-6292, by e-mail at  cllanos@med.miami.edu or you can stop by the Office of Research Administration in the Fox Building, Suite 403.

For more information, call 305-243-7108.

The goal of this workshop is to educate key personnel on fiscal and compliance issues of pre-award and post-award management. The workshop will cover the most recent information on the grant process to include finding funding opportunities and closing an account.

The workshop will also review the principal investigator's role and responsibility for administering sponsored projects, explain established policies and procedures and provide an overview of the central support services available to the investigator. 

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

For questions, please e-mail Sofia Aymerich at saymerich@med.miami.edu

Diana N. Pure, Ph.D., will present: "Beyond Hope: The Concept of Recovery and its Implications for Evidence-Based Service Delivery." After the lecture participants will be able to review the origins of misunderstanding and imprecision in respect to recovery as a model of care for people with serious mental illnesses, identify core components of a recovery orientation, and identify behavioral expressions of specific evidence-based practices most likely to promote the concept as defined in the National Consensus Statement of Mental Health Recovery.

This lecture is designed for psychiatrists, psychologists and other physicians. It is  accredited for one American Medical Association, Physicians Recognition Award, category one credit. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. One hour of continuing education credit will also be awarded to licensed clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors.

For more information, please contact Carmen Bou-Crick at 305-355-9073 or cbou@med.miami.edu.

Lunch will be provided.  For additional information and to RSVP, please call 305-243-4466 or contact wcastro@med.miami.edu.

Margaret Pericak-Vance, Ph.D., professor and director of the Miami Institute for Human Genomics, has invited Dr. Haines to present: "Making Progress in Complex Genetic Disease: Multiple Sclerosis and Macular Degeneration."

Please RSVP to mdetullio@med.miami.edu. Breakfast will be served.

Please register by calling the Medical Wellness Center at 305-243-7600.

This seminar will be held Wednesday, Sept. 12, from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., in the Medical Wellness Center, twelfth-floor classroom. 

The seminar will also be held on the Coral Gables campus Tuesday, Sept. 18, from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., in the Max Orovitz Building, room 139.

To register for either session, please go to http://ulearn.miami.edu or call the Professional Development and Training Office at 305-284-5110.

For information about the content, call the Employee Assistance Program at 305-284-6604.

The course will be held Thursday, Sept. 13, from 9 a.m. to noon in the Dominion Parking Garage, room 155. 

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

The course will also be held on the Coral Gables campus tomorrow from 9 a.m. to noon in the Max Orovitz Bulding, room 139.

Lunch will be served at noon followed by the lecture.

The two-day workshop will cover a wide array of  topics linked to stem cell research, including the role of stem cells in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), diabetes mellitus, spinal cord injury, retinal disorders, Parkinson’s disease, stroke and cardiac diseases.

The International Stem Cell Workshop is scheduled to take place in the Rosenstiel Medical Science Building, fifth-floor auditorium, on the medical campus.

Some of the 14 guest speakers slated to share their expertise at the workshop are Clive Svendsen, Ph.D., from the Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin at Madison; Jeffrey Rothstein, M.D., Ph.D, from Johns Hopkins University; and Letizia Mazzini, M.D., from Eastern Piedmont University of Novara, Italy.

Among those scheduled to make presentations from UM are Joshua Hare, M.D., director of the Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, and W. Dalton Dietrich, Ph.D., scientific director of the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis.

The International Stem Cell Workshop is receiving support from Lady Blanka Rosenstiel, who is the honorary consul of the Republic of Poland in Miami, and is affiliated with the Rosenstiel Foundation; Pat Riley, CEO of Clientele Cosmetics; The American Cellular Therapies Foundation, Dr. Maria Michejda, president; and the Miller School of Medicine.

Dr. Twiggs will discuss the biology of HPV infection in the lower genital tract, the etiology of cervical cancer and the concepts of prevention of cervical cancer. This lecture is eligible for one hour of continuing medical education and nursing continuing education unit credit. For more information, please contact Marie Corrales at 305-243-2576.

Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine is seeking patients with COPD for phase III protocol that will determine whether a once-a-day dose of an investigational medication, bronchodilator, will effectively improve breathing for 24 hours. You will be paid for your time and effort. For more information please call 305-243-2568 or e-mail Eliana Mendes at emendes@med.miami.edu.

Robert M. Jackson, M.D., from the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, is seeking idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients for an ongoing Phase II clinical trial of vasodilator therapy (sildenafil). The objectives will be to assess possible therapeutic benefits of a vasodilator, sildenafil, on exercise tolerance and dyspnea in IPF patients and to observe changes in post-exercise markers of oxidant stress. The investigators seek patients with mild to moderate IPF and who have been diagnosed clinically. The study is open to at least ten additional patients. For more information, please contact Robert M. Jackson, M.D. or IPF program coordinator Carol Ramos at 305-575-3548 or by e-mail at rjackson2@med.miami.edu. This trial is funded by the Veterans Administration Research Service and is open to non-veterans of both genders. More information can be found at http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00359736?order=2.

The Department of Psychology and the Division of Biobehavioral Oncology, Prevention, Epidemiology and Control at the Sylvester Comprehensive 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.

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.