The group that came up with the idea at the hands-on design session last Friday explained the vision isn’t to have an upscale boulevard running by the Miller School, but keeping the concept in mind on a smaller scale could help bring a mix of retail shops and restaurants, a cinema and other establishments to the Health District. In that vision, too, the pedestrian-unfriendly street is narrower and more "walkable," all part of an overall idea to make the area more appealing for workers, students, patients and residents.

Whether borrowing ideas from a famous Paris street, the verdant Coral Gables campus or shaded neighborhoods in Miami, more navigable paths were on everyone’s lists. "Our main idea was connectivity," said Yvette Rivero, assistant director of clinical research in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, as she addressed her colleagues and Health District neighbors who attended the high-energy hands-on session.

At the session, people were placed into small groups where they were given maps of the medical campus district and asked to discuss and list ideas for improvement. The spirited conversations resulted in ideas including: more housing of different price ranges, more pedestrian crosswalks, more retail shops including a fresh market, a dry cleaner, barber and beauty shops, and a mix of affordable and upscale restaurants.

Some groups suggested converting more ground-level office space into retail stores  some with sidewalk cafes, beautifying the parking structures, building a multi-bank ATM center, providing more green space with a respite area for children, and building a hotel.

The groups were facilitated by Victor Dover and other representatives from his firm, Dover, Kohl & Partners, that is leading the charrette, along with José Szapocznik, Ph.D., the Miller School's associate dean for community development.

If you missed the Sept. 14 hands-on session, you have a chance to drop in for refreshments and share your thoughts at the open house today and at the closing presentation Thursday, Sept. 20.

Charrette schedule:

Today, 5 to 7 p.m. Open house in the Clinical Research Building, sixth-floor studio

Tomorrow, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Open design studio in the Clinical Research Building, sixth-floor studio

Thursday, Sept. 20, 5 to 6:30 p.m. Charrette closing ceremony in the Clinical Research Building, Broad-Bussel Auditorium of the Gordon Center for Research in Medical Education

The Miller School of Medicine has been expanding rapidly to meet the needs of a growing number of patients who want the care of UM physicians.

New clinical offices recently opened in Miramar to house some of UM’s highly regarded otolaryngologists - members of the only ear, nose and throat (ENT) department in the southeastern United States to be ranked in the latest U.S. News & World Report's "America’s Best Hospitals" survey.

About 80 donors, friends and staff joined Dean Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., Thomas Balkany, M.D., chair of the Department of Otolaryngology, and executives from Memorial Healthcare System, in marking the official opening of new offices at the University of Miami Hospital and Clinics in Miramar. (Pictured: from left, Roy Casiano, M.D., F.A.C.S., professor and vice-chairman, Department of Otolaryngology; Julio Ripoll, the architect who designed the clinic; Dean Goldschmidt and Dr. Balkany)

Strategically located at the Miramar Medical Office Building next to Memorial Hospital Miramar, the 3,200-square-foot clinic will be able to serve even more patients. UM’s otolaryngology doctors have been in west Broward County for the past four years providing specialized services for patients facing unusual and serious ear, nose, throat and neck disorders.

At the opening reception on Sept. 6, Dean Goldschmidt congratulated otolaryngology leaders for their vision in meeting the health care needs of patients in other counties. "I am very proud of our ENT physicians and staff for all of their hard work to make this such a beautiful facility," he said, adding that the department is one of the nation’s leading ENT centers and is gaining more prominence each year. In the latest U.S. News  rankings, the Miller School’s ENT department was No. 17, up from No. 22 last year.

The new clinic was a result of hard work and support from multiple parties Balkany noted as he recognized a number of people, including leaders of Memorial Healthcare System. He also had nothing but praise for the Miller School’s otolaryngology department. "I would like to especially thank department leaders Dr. Roy Casiano and Cesar Ortiz, assistant chairman of administrative and financial affairs, for their dedication in making this clinic a reality," Balkany said.

Currently, physicians in the department see patients at the new clinic in Miramar in addition to locations in Miami, Kendall and Deerfield Beach. The Miramar offices are located at 1951 SW 172 Ave., Suite 305, and can be contacted for appointments and referrals at 305-243-3564.

For more information or to make an appointment, contact Peter Raposo at 305-243-6783 or visit the web site at http://calder.med.miami.edu/biomed/.

Some examples of sensitive data are: social security numbers, credit card numbers, patient information, clinical trial enrollee information, proprietary research data and financial data.

The Office of HIPAA Privacy and Security would like to remind you that documented permission is required from an appropriate University manager in order to copy or download sensitive information from University servers to a personal computer, laptop or personal digital assistant. For a complete list of guidelines, please visit http://www.med.miami.edu/hipaa/public/x349.xml.

If you have questions related to this or any other HIPAA privacy and security related issue, please contact the Office of HIPAA Privacy and Security at hipaaprivacy@med.miami.edu.

Applications will be accepted starting Nov. 15. For more information, please contact Dana Render at 305-284-5078 or drender@miami.edu.

For more information, please visit http://wellness.med.miami.edu/x71.xml.

The course consists of two blocks of six-week classes, and each will focus on survival language skills in Chinese including communication, comprehension and cultural tips for successful interactions.

Classes start Oct. 9. UM employees and their dependents may be eligible for a 40 percent discount on tuition. For more information and to register online, please visit http://www.educationmiami.com/courses/ILI-800.vsp, call the Intensive Language Institute at 305-284-4727 or e-mail the Institute at alc.cstudies@miami.edu.

This issue features the appointment of Mary Moore, Ph.D., as the new library director, and contains information about the recently created Margita Zakarija, M.D., Medical Library Fund for the purchase of resources related to thyroid research. The new electronic resources available at the University's libraries are also introduced.

Please visit http://cet/documents/UMCETNewsletter-Aug07.pdf to view or print the newsletter.

Meetings will be held on the first Thursday of every month in the National Parkinson Foundation, second-floor lobby, from 1 to 2 p.m.

Refreshments will be served and free parking is available behind the Foundation's building.

For more information and to register for meetings, please contact George Dumenigo, LCSW, at 305-243-1865, or by e-mail at gdumenigo@med.miami.edu.

Dr. Ehlers will present "Spine Trafficking Machinery and Genetic Control of Neural Activity in Mice." This seminar is being sponsored by the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, the Department of Biology and the neuroscience program.  For more information, please call 305-243-6691.

This presentation is geared toward physicians, nurses and other professionals interested in clinical or research aspects of plastic and reconstructive surgery.

The School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of two American Medical Association category 1 credits. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

For more information, please contact Teresa Shipman at 305-585-5285 or via e-mail at tshipman@med.miami.edu.

Sandy Blanco, director of research administration in Coral Gables, and Maria E. Valero-Martinez, manager of Sponsored Programs Education, in the Office of Research, will discuss how to avoid common mistakes and delays when preparing your Proposal Transmittal Form.

To register for the seminar, please visit http://Ulearn.miami.edu. For help with registration and questions, please send an e-mail to saymerich@med.miami.edu.

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.

The course will be presented by Eugene Fu, M.D., assistant professor of clinical anesthesiology at the Miller School, who will respond to questions raised by the audience after the lecture.

This course will be of interest to primary care physicians, internists, general and specialized surgeons and anesthesiologists.

The first day will begin with complimentary sailing and cocktails at Shake-A-Leg Miami. 

Please visit our website at http://www.pedibrain.org/conference/conference.asp for more information on this year’s conference.

The Department of Psychology and the UM/SCCC Division of Biobehavioral Oncology and Cancer Epidemiology are conducting an NCI-funded quality of life research study with patients recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Participants are eligible if they have been diagnosed with prostate cancer within 3 months and have not begun treatment. All participants will be followed for two years and will undergo psychosocial and medical assessments. Participants will be reimbursed up to $250 for their time and effort. If you or someone you know may be interested in more information about this study, please contact Natalie Escobio at 305-243-3329 or nescobio@med.miami.edu.  

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. 

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.