The graduating class, the Miller School’s 53rd, marked a milestone. It included the first class of a dozen students to attend the regional campus – the Miller School of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University.

President Donna E. Shalala, who presided over the ceremony at BankUnited Center, told the graduates that “medicine is a private gesture with a public mission, and your personal triumphs will transcend the individual needs of those you serve to become part of a greater body dedicated to the healing and nurturing of humanity.”

She added: “Tonight is a very special night for each of you, but your success would not have been possible without the love and support of your family and friends.” With that, she asked graduates to turn toward friends and family and thank them.

This year, the Miller School also awarded two honorary degrees at the commencement ceremony, to Sue Miller, a humanitarian and philanthropist whose family made an extraordinary $100 million gift to the medical school; and to commencement speaker Dr. Thomas Pollard, the Sterling Professor of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, and chair of the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at Yale University. Pollard was also a mentor to Dean Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D.

In his address to the graduates, Dean Goldschmidt stressed that the new physicians were well trained in both health care implementation and patient care, but they will have to reach deep into themselves and use the humanistic qualities required of good doctors.

“During your four years with us, we have strived to provide you with the most advanced information on evidence-based medicine, the most novel, cutting-edge technologies,” said Dean Goldschmidt. “But above all, you will call on the qualities that come from your heart, those qualities that you were blessed with and that your parents, and then your teachers, have seeded and fostered over the years – humanistic qualities like compassion, altruism, generosity, commitment, concern and kindness.”

Pollard spoke to the graduates about the important questions posed by modern medicine and how they will deal with quickly changing medical fields such as genetics. T.J. McDonald, M.D., who spent 12 years in the U.S. Air Force and did tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq, was the student commencement speaker. He got a standing ovation after he delivered a poem that was both poignant and witty; it chronicled the four years of fun, friendships, fate and hard work he and classmates lived through during medical school.

After the ceremony, Elizabeth Morency, a newly-minted M.D., stood proudly with around two dozen family members and friends surrounding her.

“This is a culmination of four years of hard work and determination,” Morency said. “I feel blessed.”

Said her father, Yves Morency, a family physician from St. Petersburg: “Today I feel immense pride in what she has accomplished.”

But even in academia, where experts in a variety of disciplines work in close proximity, bringing the great minds together often requires behind-the-scenes work. That was the focus of a May 6 gathering of faculty members and leadership from the Miller School of Medicine and the College of Engineering who met for the first Collaborative Research Exchange Forum, or CREF, a meeting designed to promote dialogue among members of the two disciplines.

The event, coordinated by Richard Bookman, Ph.D., executive dean for research and research training and vice provost for research; Jennifer McCafferty-Cepero, Ph.D., assistant dean for research at the Miller School; and Helena Solo-Gabriele, Ph.D., associate dean for research at the College of Engineering, drew nearly 100 people to the Lois Pope LIFE Center seventh-floor auditorium to discuss the first joint topic, “Biomedical Imaging.”

Support for collaboration and future CREFs came from the highest levels. Miller School Dean Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., and James M. Tien, Ph.D., dean of the College of Engineering, delivered welcoming remarks to kick off the half-day program. For more on this story, click here.

Pictured Above: Dean Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D.; Jennifer McCafferty-Cepero, Ph.D.; James M. Tien, Ph.D.; and Richard Bookman, Ph.D., at the first Collaborative Research Exchange Forum (CREF).

Pictured Above: Joseph Rosenblatt, M.D., associate director of clinical and translational research at UM/Sylvester, with Michael B. Kastan, M.D., Ph.D., first Antero So Memorial Lecturer and Cancer Center Director of St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

For the Class of 2011:
Ronald Clark, Ph.D., Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy; Stephen Roper, Ph.D., Department of Physiology and Biophysics; and Robert Levy, Ph.D., Department of Microbiology and Immunology.

For the Class of 2010:
Warren Kupin, M.D., Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension; Matthias Salathe, M.D., Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care; and J. Don Temple, M.D., Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology.
 
For the Class of 2009:
Akram Tamer, M.D., Department of Pediatrics; Alex J. Mechaber, M.D., Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine; and Omart Robaina, M.D., Department of Family Medicine and Community Health.
 
For the Class of 2008:
Edgar Pierre, M.D., Department of Anesthesiology; Joseph Esterson, M.D., Department of Medicine; and Adam Golden, M.D., Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine.

“This was a special day for the Shops at Midtown Miami and Romero Britto because we were able to help brighten the day for a few wonderful children,” said Ryan.  “Britto’s artwork represents happiness and youthfulness and that is exactly what we had envisioned to help cheer up the children at Holtz.”
 
Steven E. Lipshultz, M.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the Miller School and chief-of-staff of Holtz Children’s Hospital, and Joseph Frassica, M.D., professor of clinical pediatrics, associate chair for clinical affairs of the Department of Pediatrics, and chief medical officer of Holtz Children’s Hospital, helped deliver the bags, which included “Get Well” cards from members of the Girl Scouts Council of Tropical Florida, GIRL POWER and the Boys and Girls Club of Miami-Dade.

The weekend before, the Shops at Midtown Miami hosted more than 650 children for a painting party in honor of the unveiling of three new Romero Britto sculptures. The group put their creative energy to good use by building the gift bags and writing the cards for the children at Holtz.

“This is one of the finest examples of the community taking care of each other and bringing hope to families and children dealing with serious illness,” said Dr. Lipshultz. “There is nothing more powerful than families caring about other families and children caring about other children. That’s what we have here.”

The gift bag delivery was followed by a tour of the fifth-floor Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Children’s Heart Center, which boasts 20 new patient suites and 10 more underway, in addition to a new cardiac catheterization lab, patient support areas and operating rooms. Every patient suite has natural light coming in, and there is a service “pod” for every three or four rooms, where physicians can monitor their patients, creating what Dr. Frassica calls a “family- and patient-focused, therapeutic environment.”

“This is the only place I know in the U.S. with such a contiguous, integrated design for taking care of children from when they arrive to when they leave,” says Dr. Lipshultz.

Community activist Tia Diaz-Balart, whose son Cristian is “graduate” of Holtz's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Children’s Heart Center in the Holtz Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and her colleagues organized the event. "I think the new PICU and Children’s Heart Center will set the standard across the country," said Diaz-Balart. “I want everyone to know about the quality of the services offered here and the level of commitment of these doctors and nurses. It’s not just a job for them; it’s their passion.”

Pictured Above: Lenor Ryan delivers a gift bag to Marcus, a patient at Holtz Children's Hospital.

All full-time UM faculty members are eligible for IRDI funds as long as at least one faculty member on each application holds a primary faculty appointment at the Miller School.

Please submit your proposals to Muriel Industrious at mindustrious@med.miami.edu no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, July 28. For complete program details and application instructions, please visit http://www.miami.edu/research. If you have questions, please contact Muriel Industrious at mindustrious@med.miami.edu or Jennifer McCafferty-Cepero, Ph.D, at jmccafferty@med.miami.edu.

Direct Relief International
www.directrelief.org
805-964-4767

World Vision
www.worldvision.org
Toll Free: 1-888-511-6548

Greater Miami Jewish Federation
www.jewishmiami.org
786-866-8465

At the workshop, you will learn how to use the InfoEd Proposal Development System to prepare and submit proposals electronically to the NIH. InfoEd streamlines the process, is Web-based and accessible almost anywhere by Mac and PC users without additional software.

Register through Ulearn at http://Ulearn.miami.edu. For more information, please contact Sofia Aymerich at saymerich@med.miami.edu.

For pricing and registration, please call 954-964-4040 or 1-800-321-3437.

Americans have the most affluent lifestyle in the world. We have access to the brightest and best physicians and providers, yet we are plagued with coronary heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Appropriate nutrition may be the missing link in disease prevention. Please join us for a seminar titled “The First Half of Life: Food is Medicine” by Karon Rzad, R.D., C.D.E., LD/N.

At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to recognize the link between nutrition and cancer, identify the benefits of balanced eating and build on basic information to make good health decisions.

This seminar is accredited for one contact hour. For more information, please contact Rachel Marino at rmarino@miami.edu.

For more information, contact Ledi Figueroa at lfigueroa@med.miami.edu or 305-243-6725.

Presentations will take place this Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Gordon Center for Research in Medical Education's Broad-Bussel Auditorium on the first floor of the Clinical Research Building. Speakers will address logistics and results of TB multi-drug resistance survey studies, TB social mobilization, sociocultural issues with HIV counseling, HIV health care delivery models and the evaluation of HIV program models. There will also be a special focus on Microscopic Observation for Detection and Susceptibility (MODS) in a lecture by David Moore, M.D., reader in infectious diseases and tropical medicine at the Imperial College London and visiting professor at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Peru.

The conference will continue this Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. also in the Broad-Bussel Auditorium at the Gordon Center, with an intense workshop on TB research in the Americas headed by Michael Lauzardo, M.D., principal investigator at the Southeastern National Tuberculosis Center at the University of Florida. The workshop will cover research methods, international collaborations, operational factors, social/cultural research and practice implications.

Physicians who attend both days of the conference can earn 13.25 continuing medical education credits. There is no registration fee. Seating is limited to 100 people. For more information or to obtain a registration form, please visit http://www.med.miami.edu/fogarty/x18.xml or contact Victoria Elf at velf@med.miami.edu or 305-243-3210.

For more information, please contact Elisa Arguelles at 305-585-1280 or earguelles@med.miami.edu.

Six training sessions are available. Participants only need to attend one session. Four of the sessions will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Clinical Research Building, seminar room 988 this Thursday, May 28, 29 and June 11.

Two additional sessions will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the Coral Gables campus at the Helen Donn Flipse Building, room 502 tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday, June 12. Lunch and snacks will be provided.
 
Please register at http://Ulearn.miami.edu. For more information, please contact Sofia Aymerich at saymerich@med.miami.edu.

Please register online at http://Ulearn.miami.edu. For more information, please contact Sofia Aymerich at saymerich@med.miami.edu.

Lunch will be provided; no RSVP is required. For further information, contact Diane Dames at ddames@med.miami.edu.

The conference has been planned around diseases with active research and clinical trials in regenerative medicine and stem cell biology. World experts in diabetes, cardiology, neurology, cancer and immunotherapy will present updates on current research and the clinical development of cellular therapies. There will also be various workshops and informational sessions that will review cutting-edge science.

All UM faculty, staff and students are eligible to attend at a discounted rate. Day rates are available to those who are unable to attend the full conference.

For information on pricing and to register, please call 604-874-4366 or send an e-mail to isct@celltherapysociety.org.

For more information, please contact Mitsuko Tanaka at 305-243-6694 or mtanaka@med.miami.edu.

Please register online at http://Ulearn.miami.edu. For more information, please contact Sofia Aymerich at saymerich@med.miami.edu.

A pre-screening reception will take place on the first-floor patio at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute on Wednesday, May 21, at 4 p.m. followed by the movie in Retter Auditorium from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. The reception will recommence on the patio upon the film’s conclusion. All physicians, medical students, faculty and staff involved in medical education are encouraged to view this important film.

For additional information please contact Shannon Sullivan at sosullivan@miami.edu.

For more information, contact Ledi Figueroa at lfigueroa@med.miami.edu or 305-243-6725.

Please RSVP to Rebecca Cardenas at 305-585 5640 or rcardenas@med.miami.edu no later than this Friday.

For more information, please contact Elisa Arguelles at 305-585-1280 or earguelles@med.miami.edu.

The purpose of the poster session is to showcase the department's research activities and provide an opportunity for the exchange of ideas. Miller School leadership, faculty, students and community mental health professionals who possess an interest in psychiatry and behavioral sciences are encouraged to attend. For more information, visit http://psychiatry.med.miami.edu/Events/Department-in-Action.aspx or e-mail Pamela Von Fuchs at pvonfuchs@med.miami.edu.

Jennifer Marks, M.D., is currently recruiting patients ages 18 or older, who are obese with impaired glucose tolerance and have hypertension, for participation in a study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an angiotensin receptor blocker for protection against endothelial dysfunction. Patients must be non-smokers who are otherwise in good health. Those who are interested should contact Dr. Jorge Mejia-Galvis at 305-243-6573.

Sleep Maintenance Insomnia
Robert Schwartz, M.D., is recruiting subjects who are 18 years or older and have trouble sleeping through the night. Subjects must have insomnia for at least one month and have clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning. Those interested should contact Linda Cenci or Luis Roque at 305-243-1247, lcenci@med.miami.edu or lroque@med.miami.edu. 

The Division of Geriatrics is recruiting men and women age 65 and older to take part in a study of vitamin D in the prevention of frailty. Participants are asked to come for six visits over six months for blood and urine tests. If you or someone you know are interested, please call Silvina Levis, M.D., at 305-243-4330.

Study to Compare the Methods of Collecting Urine Samples for the Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infections
The Institute for Women's Health is conducting a research study for the treatment of urinary tract infection (UTI), a very common problem in young, healthy women that afflicts approximately one-half of women by their late 50's. Urine specimens collected for the diagnosis of urinary tract infection are often contaminated with organisms and the major purpose of this study is to compare the methods (voided versus catheter) of collecting the urine samples for the diagnosis of UTI. If you are a female between the ages of 18 to 49, currently experiencing painful urination for less than seven days and frequent trips to the restroom, you may be able to take part in this study. To find out more, call Wisvline Labrousse, Ph.D., A.R.N.P., at 305-243-2576.

Urinary Tract Infection Antibiotic Treatment  Study
The Institute for Women's Health is conducting a research study for the treatment of urinary tract infection (UTI), a very common problem in young, healthy women that afflicts approximately one-half of women by their late 50's. The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy and tolerance of a three-day regimen of standard antibiotics currently used for the treatment of UTI. If you are female between the ages of 18 to 45, currently experiencing painful urination and frequent trips to the restroom, you may be able to take part in this study. To find out more, call Wisvline Labrousse, Ph.D., A.R.N.P., at 305-243-2576.

Pregnant Women Needed for Urinary Tract Infection Study
The Institute for Women's Health and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Miller School are seeking the participation of pregnant women at least 18 years of age and over to help in a clinical research study on urinary tract infection and its treatment during pregnancy. The study involves screening pregnant women in the early stages of pregnancy and following them at their regular scheduled visits until delivery. We will also determine the optimal duration of treatment of asymptomatic urinary tract infection in pregnancy. Research study visits will include completion of a questionnaire, health history, and collection of urine samples at scheduled visits until delivery. All study-related visits, lab work and medications will be free; participants will be compensated for the completed study visits. For more information, please call Wisvline Labrousse, Ph.D., A.R.N.P., at 305-243-2576

Melasma Study
Heather Woolery-Lloyd, M.D., of the Division of Cosmetic Dermatology is looking for female subjects between the ages of 18 and 50 who have melasma, brown spots on the face, to participate in a research study to determine whether an oral sunscreen is safe and effective in the treatment of melasma. If interested, please contact a member of the research staff at 305-531-5788 or cosmeticresearch@med.maimi.edu.

Keloid scars
Heather Woolery-Lloyd, M.D., of the Division of Cosmetic Dermatology, is looking for men and women between the ages of 18 and 65 who have keloid scars to participate in a clinical research study. The study will determine whether use of an investigational treatment known as Apligraf®, a product with an epidermis and dermis layer like skin, will reduce recurrence of keloids. The study duration is 52 weeks and requires up to 13 visits.  If interested, please contact a member of the research staff at 305-531-5788 or www.derm.net.

Leslie Baumann, M.D., professor and director of the UM Cosmetic Center, is recruiting for studies on photoaging, fine lines, wrinkles, crow's feet, sun damage, brown spots, uneven pigmentation, acne, keloids, scars and loose skin on the abdomen or upper arms. If you are interested in any of these studies, please call our research team at 305-531-5788 or visit the Web site at www.derm.net. Studies will take place at the University of Miami Cosmetic Center located in the Miami Heart Institute, 4701 N. Meridian Avenue, Nichol Building, Suite 7450, Miami Beach.

The Center for Liver Diseases is looking for volunteers with liver (hepatic) disease who are 18 years or older to test the safety of a new drug. For more information, please call Carlos Quintero at 305-243-2854.

The Center for Liver Diseases is also conducting a research study on patients with hepatitis C viral infection (HCV). Patients must be at least 18 years of age with resistance to prior treatment. Qualified patients will receive treatment without cost. If you or someone you know is interested in participating in this study, please call Carlos Quintero at 305-243-2854.

Carlos Hernandez-Cassis, M.D., and his group from the Diabetes Research Institute are currently recruiting patients 18 to 70 years of age with diabetic neuropathy for participation in research study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a new, phase II medication. Patients must be diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus, and taking medication to control symptoms. Those interested should contact George Mejia-Galvis, Ph.D., at 305-243-6573 or Gmejia2@med.miami.edu

The Islet Cell Transplant Center at the Diabetes Research Institute is recruiting subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus to participate in research studies that involve transplantation of islets, the insulin producing cells of the pancreas. For more information and eligibility criteria, call the department at 305-243-5321 or view the clinical trials section of the Web site www.diabetesresearch.org.

Carlos Hernandez-Cassis, M.D., from the Diabetes Research Institute, is currently recruiting patients 18 years of age and older with type II diabetes mellitus for participation in a research study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of inhaled insulin. Patients must be taking multiple oral medication daily for more than 2 months and be non-smokers. Those who are interested should contact George Mejia-Galvis at 305-243-6573 or Gmejia2@med.miami.edu.

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.  

The Division of 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.

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.

Jennifer 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.

 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).

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.

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.