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01 2008 |
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Miller School Receives $1.7 Million NIH Grant for Sickle Cell Research
Daniel Armstrong, Ph.D., associate chairman of pediatrics and director of the Mailman Center for Child Development and UM’s Sickle Cell Center at the Miller School, has just received a four-year, $1.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. The award is one of 11 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Basic and Translational Research Programs in Sickle Cell Disease (BTRP-SCD), which replaced the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center program. Dr. Armstrong will be the principal investigator of the BTRP-SCD, with key support from Ofelia Alvarez, M.D., Thomas Harrington, M.D., and Maria Goldman, Psy.D. | |
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UM Hospital CEO Hosts Monthly Celebrations in Honor of Employees
University of Miami Hospital employees gathered in the hospital’s seminar center, which was set up to honor everyone with a birthday in June. They were joined by UM Hospital CEO Anthony Degina, who kicked off the party with a short welcome. “Today is not just to wish you happy birthday, but also to thank you for all your hard work,” Degina said. Hosting the monthly birthday celebration is a great way to show appreciation for the staff on a more personal level. At the event, employees sat at tables which formed a giant U, a strategic design that encouraged conversation and camaraderie. One by one, they introduced themselves before enjoying a gourmet lunch. The monthly tradition is one Degina has implemented at every hospital where he has worked. He was especially excited about the June event, because not only is June his birthday month, but it also marked his two-year anniversary at UM Hospital. Before serving the cake, Degina invited an employee with the same birthday as his to join him in leading the customary singing of “Happy Birthday to You.” Degina's birthday luncheons have proven to be an effective way to boost morale. “This is a very good reward for employees,” says Alba Diaz, who has been with the hospital for eight years. “It’s nice to share time with colleagues in a social environment.” Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Dialing Changes UM would like to welcome all Bascom Palmer Eye Institute locations to the inter-campus five-digit dial plan. To call Bascom Palmer from the Coral Gables, RSMAS or medical campus, you only need to dial 7 and the last the four digits of the telephone number. This applies to all Bascom Palmer locations including Anne Bates Leach Eye Hospital, the Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Vision Research Building and satellite locations. Summer InfoEd Proposal Development Walk-in Sessions The Sponsored Programs education and training team is offering special summer InfoEd Proposal Development walk-in sessions in July and August. Trainers will be available to answer specific questions and demonstrate how InfoEd Proposal Development can facilitate your electronic submissions, explain the federal electronic proposal submission and provide tips for avoiding common errors. Sessions will be held on Mondays from 2 to 4 p.m. and Wednesdays from 9 to 11 a.m. at Dominion Tower, room 1007F. Please RSVP by calling 305-243-5092. For more information, please contact Sofia Aymerich at saymerich@med.miami.edu. Wellness Engagement Survey Maintaining your health is the most effective way to control health care costs and is essential to your well being. In an effort to become a healthier workplace, we continue to seek opportunities to engage faculty and staff. Please take a moment to participate in an anonymous online wellness engagement survey. Department of OB/GYN and Forum on Women’s Health Sponsor Research Scholars Summer Internships Pictured Above are physicians and students in the Summer Scholars Program. Back row, from left, Leo Twiggs, M.D., chairman of obstetrics and gynecology; Parker Redlien; Linda Daniels; Christopher Estes, M.D.; Nicholas Jeffrey; Crystal Higgs; and JoNell Potter, Ph.D. Front row, from left, Jennifer King; Allison LaBoon; Aliye Runyan; Todra Anderson, M.D.; and Victor Gonzalez-Quintero, M.D., M.P.H. The Miller School’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology welcomed students to its Women’s Health Research Scholars Program at a June 18 kick-off luncheon in the Clinical Research Building. The program is a six-week, paid summer internship for undergraduate and graduate students interested in the field of women’s health. Additionally, two students will assist Todra Anderson, M.D., assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology, with community outreach activities, and a scholar paired with department chair Leo B. Twiggs, M.D., will work on drafting a position paper advocating for mandatory human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination among young women. Cardiac Rehab Outpatient Program to Open We are pleased to announce today's opening of the UM/Jackson Cardiac Rehabilitation Outpatient Program. The program, located in Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Central Building, room 764, will provide monitored exercise and education in addition to other services. It will be supervised by Melissa Tracy, M.D., director of cardiac rehabilitation, and will include ACLS-certified physical therapists and ARNPs, who are trained in the care of cardiac patients. Individuals who have experienced a cardiac event during the last 12 months are eligible to participate. For more information, call 305-585-6990. Important Changes to Biomedical Ph.D. Programs The Miller School is moving to an “umbrella” policy for its biomedical Ph.D. programs. Programs in Biomedical Sciences (PIBS) will recruit and admit students for our Ph.D. programs in biochemistry and molecular biology, cancer biology, microbiology and immunology, molecular cell and developmental biology, molecular and cellular pharmacology, neuroscience, physiology and biophysics, and the soon-to-be-approved program in human genetics and genomics. Students in the program will experience a common, first-year curriculum (which will vary according to the students’ interests), perform laboratory rotations and take part in a new learning experience in which they will meet in small groups with faculty members. The students will formally enter their individual graduate programs and choose mentors at the end of the first year. New Calder Library Web Site Helps You Stay Current The Louis Calder Memorial Library's newly designed Web site, http://calder.med.miami.edu, includes many new features such as "Calder Portals," a good starting point and overview of important resources, "Featured E-Resource," which highlights important new electronic resources, like QUOSA, and "Faculty Publications," an up-to-date RSS feed of articles published by Miller School faculty. New Hospitality Suite Opens at Jackson Medical Towers Gesher Tzedaka–Bridge of Charity, a social support organization, is proud to announce the opening of a new kosher hospitality suite at Jackson Medical Towers West, room 105C. The suite was established as a tribute to the dedicated medical staff at UM/Jackson. Its mission is to provide overnight accommodations to the members of the Orthodox Jewish community when their loved ones are hospitalized. For more information about the charity and its kosher hospitality suite, please call Susana Shelton at 305-585-5720. Faculty Affairs has Moved The Office of Faculty Affairs has relocated to Park Plaza West Parking Garage, suite J. The locator code will remain D2-6. e-Update Schedule Change Please note that the University will be closed on Friday, July 4, for Independence Day. Due to the long weekend, the deadline for the July 8 issue of e-Update is tomorrow (Wednesday) by 5 p.m. Any requests received after 5 p.m. tomorrow will not be included in e-Update on July 8. New Interdisciplinary Award Program Dean Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., and Richard Bookman, Ph.D., executive dean for research and research training and vice provost for research, are pleased to announce the Interdisciplinary Research Development Initiative (IRDI), a new internal award program to develop interdisciplinary research at the Miller School. 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. Immerse Yourself, Learn Spanish Improve your Spanish in UM’s seven-day intensive Spanish program. This full-time program is for all levels of learners. Classes will meet daily, Saturday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. starting August 2. Open New Doors: Learn Mandarin Chinese The University’s Intensive Language Institute's basic Chinese for business and culture course will begin today (Tuesday). The six-week, evening course will focus on survival language skills in Chinese including communication, comprehension and cultural tips for successful interactions. UM employees are eligible for a 40 percent discount on course tuition. HIPAA Security Awareness Update: "Exercise Care When Transporting Medical and Other Sensitive Records" Occasionally, medical and other sensitive records must be transported from one location to another, such as when moving to a new office or closing a location. Records should never be left unattended, even temporarily. Questions about Compliance? UM Helplines Can Assist You
Any University of Miami employee reporting or deciding whether to report activity that may be in violation of a law, rule, or regulation is protected against retaliation by the Whistleblower Protection Statement. For more information, visit the Office of Compliance site. e-Update Submission Guidelines
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Pediatric Grand Rounds “Neonatal Diabetes"
July 1, 2008, 8 a.m., Mailman Center for Child Development, eighth-floor auditorium Please join us for Pediatric Grand Rounds today (Tuesday) from 8 to 9 a.m. in the Mailman Center for Child Development, eighth-floor auditorium. Janine E. Sanchez, M.D., assistant professor of clinical pediatrics, will present “Neonatal Diabetes.” For more information, please contact Javier Salazar at 305-585- 6042 or jsalazar@med.miami.edu. Lunch-and-Learn Session: "How to Maximize Your Flexible Spending Account Benefits" July 1, 2008, Noon, Dominion Parking Garage, suite 155 Flexible spending accounts are valuable benefits to you and your family as they can be used to pay for everyday expenses such as doctor's visits, prescription drugs, deductibles, day care and more. Learn how to get the most out of your flexible spending account by attending a lunch-and-learn session today (Tuesday) from noon to 1 p.m. at Dominion Parking Garage, suite 155. Topics will include approved health care and dependent care expenses, how to use your health care HumanaAccess debit card, flexible spending account deadlines, and how to file claims. UM/Sylvester Seminar: "Cervical Neoplasia Research at UAB Nutrition Sciences: Recent Findings, Ongoing Studies and Future Directions” July 2, 2008, Noon, Clinical Research Building, room 1179 You are invited to attend a special seminar tomorrow (Wednesday) from noon to 1 p.m. at the Clinical Research Building, room 1179. Guest speaker Chandrika Piyathilake, Ph.D., M.P.H., associate professor of nutrition sciences and director of the Division of Nutritional Biochemistry and Genomics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, will present “Cervical Neoplasia Research at UAB Nutrition Sciences: Recent Findings, Ongoing Studies and Future Directions.” UM/Sylvester Conversations About Cancer Seminar: “What Every Woman Needs to Know About Breast Imaging” July 2, 2008, 1 p.m., Best Western Deerfield Beach, 1050 East Newport Center Drive, Deerfield Beach UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach will present a Conversations About Cancer seminar by Monica Yepes, M.D., assistant professor of clinical radiology. Dr. Yepes will present "What Every Woman Needs to Know About Breast Imaging" tomorrow (Wednesday) from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Best Western Deerfield Beach. Weight Watchers at Work 12-Week Session July 2, 2008, Noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., Medical Wellness Center, room C The next Weight Watchers at Work 12-week session will begin tomorrow (Wednesday). The twelve weeks of sessions will be held Wednesdays at the Medical Wellness Center, room C, and participants have four sessions to choose from: noon to 1 p.m.; 1 to 2 p.m.; 2 to 3 p.m.; and 3 to 4 p.m. EAP Sponsored Seminar: "Property Tax Reform – How Does it Affect You?" July 2, 2008, 12:30 p.m., Dominion Parking Garage, suite 155 The Employee Assistance Program is pleased to offer "Property Tax Reform -- How Does it Affect You?" Join us tomorrow (Wednesday) from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Dominion Parking Garage, suite 155 as we discuss the newly approved Amendment One to Florida's constitution, which will bring fundamental changes to the state's property tax system. Topics of discussion will be the increased homestead exemption -- how to get it and how much you can save; portability -- who qualifies and how it will be calculated; the cap on non-homestead assessments -- when the new cap will become effective and who will benefit; and the tangible personal property tax exemption -- what it is and who can apply. Department of Pathology Grand Rounds: "Role of the Peripheral Benzodiazepine Receptor in Steroidogenesis and Apoptosis" July 3, 2008, Noon, Holtz Children's Hospital, room 2034 Join us this Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. at Holtz Children's Hospital, room 2034 for Pathology Grand Rounds. Moshe Gavish, Ph.D., professor of molecular pharmacology at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel, will present a seminar titled "Role of the Peripheral Benzodiazepine Receptor in Steroidogenesis and Apoptosis." Employee Assistance Program Seminar: "Understanding Your Credit Report and Building a Great Score" July 9, 2008, Noon, Dominion Parking Garage, suite 155 The Employee Assistance Program is pleased to offer a seminar that can help you manage your credit profile. At the end of the seminar, participants will have a better understanding of what appears on your credit report and for how long; what doesn't appear on your credit report; how to dispute erroneous information; what credit scores are and how they are used; five major factors that are used in credit scoring and how important each one is; and what you can do to raise your credit score. The seminar will be held on Wednesday, July 9, from noon to 1 p.m. in Dominion Parking Garage, suite 155. To register, go to www.miami.edu/ulearn. For help with registration, call the Professional Development and Training Office at 305-243-3090. UM/Sylvester Launches New Bilingual Leukemia, Lymphoma and Multiple Myeloma Support Group July 10, 2008, 5:30 p.m., UM/Sylvester, conference room 1301 UM/Sylvester is partnering with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to bring a bilingual support group to Miami for leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma patients and their caregivers. Facilitators of the group will be Marcier Escalon, M.D., assistant professor of clinical medicine; Denise Pereira, M.D., assistant professor of clinical medicine; and Rosa Caiseda, M.S.W. HMO2 Lunch-and-Learn Information Session July 11, 2008, Noon, Mailman Center for Child Development, eighth-floor auditorium Are you enrolled in the HMO2 plan, but unsure exactly how it works? Attend an HMO2 lunch-and-learn session on Friday, July 11, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Mailman Center for Child Development, eighth-floor auditorium. At the session, you will learn more about covered expenses such as office visits, UMatter preventive care benefits, how to use your flexible spending account, and how to track your medical expenses online at myHumana.com. UM/Sylvester Conversations About Cancer Seminar: "Brain Tumor Talks-Life After a Brain Tumor" July 12, 2008, Noon, Best Western Deerfield Beach Hotel, 1050 East Newport Center Drive, Deerfield Beach UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach will host a Conversations About Cancer seminar by guest speaker Cheri Surloff, Psy.D, Ph.D., from Memorial Regional Hospital. Dr. Surloff will present "Brain Tumor Talks-Life After Brain a Tumor" on Saturday, July 12, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Best Western Hotel in Deerfield Beach. Department of Microbiology and Immunology Dissertation Seminar and Defense July 15, 2008, Noon, Rosenstiel Medical Science Building, room 3109 The Department of Microbiology and Immunology will host Shannon Jacqueline Opiela for her Ph.D. dissertation seminar on Tuesday, July 15, at noon in the Rosenstiel Medical Science Building, room 3109. Shannon will be presenting "Neonatal Cell Responses are Highly Plastic" which will discuss how neonates generate robust T cell responses against alloantigens and functional capabilities of neonatal RTE are more diverse than adult RTE. For more information, please contact Karen Del Rio at kdelrio@med.miami.edu. Microbiology and Immunology Seminar: "Maternal Transmission of Asthma Risk" July 16, 2008, Noon, Rosenstiel Medical Science Building, room 3109 The Department of Microbiology and Immunology will present a seminar by Lester Kobzik, M.D., associate professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School and associate professor of environmental health at the Harvard School of Public Health, on Wednesday, July 16, at noon in the Rosenstiel Medical Science Building, room 3109. Dr. Kobzik is also the external examiner for Ph.D. candidate Shannon Jacqueline Opiela. Dr. Kobzik will present "Maternal Transmission of Asthma Risk." For more information, please contact Karen Del Rio at kdelrio@med.miami.edu. Sponsored Programs Roundtable Series: “InfoEd SPINplus Demonstration” July 17, 2008, Noon, Dominion Tower, room 1003 Are you looking for funding opportunities? Attend an interactive demonstration and learn how to use the SPIN and SMARTS tools to find funding opportunities. Lunch will be provided. Please register at http://Ulearn.miami.edu. For more information, please contact Sofia Aymerich at saymerich@med.miami.edu. | |
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The Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery is recruiting female subjects ages 35 to 70 who have loose upper arm skin due to aging. The purpose of this study is to find out how well a light-based, non-invasive device works on tightening skin of the upper arms. The study includes two treatment visits and one follow up visit over 12 weeks. One arm will be treated during the study and the treatment of the second arm will be offered as remuneration at the end of the study. Visits to the department are required approximately every four weeks. For more information, please send an e-mail to saggyarms@gmail.com. Physician-Patient Relationship Study El Centro, Center of Excellence for Hispanic Health Disparities Research, is recruiting participants for the following studies: •Preventing HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Hispanic Women •Treating Behavior Problems and Promoting Healthy Development in Hispanic Adolescents For more information on studies conducted by El Centro, contact Tania Lopez at 1-888-262-9481 or tlopez1@miami.edu. Mild to Moderate Rosacea 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 Jorge Mejia-Galvis, Ph.D., at 305-243-6573. Sleep Maintenance Insomnia 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 Urinary Tract Infection Antibiotic Treatment Study Pregnant Women Needed for Urinary Tract Infection Study Melasma Study Leslie Baumann, M.D., professor and director of the Cosmetic Medicine and Research Institute, 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 Cosmetic Medicine and Research Institute 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. 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. 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 family factors and autism study 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. |
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