NewsLink, Sept. 28, 2018
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Awards and Recognitions

Chumpitazi earns grant funding

Dr. Bruno Chumpitazi, associate professor of pediatrics and director of the Neurogastroenterology and Motility Program at Texas Children's Hospital, received a two-year grant from the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Foundation for his research project, "Advancing Nutritional Science for Children with Functional Dyspepsia."

Holder receives support for synaptopathy clinic

Dr. Jimmy Holder, professor of pediatrics at Baylor and investigator at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, accepted a $25,000 award from the Bridge the Gap – SYNGAP Education and Research Foundation in support of the primary synaptopathy clinic in the Bluebird Clinic of Neurology at Texas Children's Hospital. The clinic treats patients with neurological disorders due to mutations in genes critical for synapse function, which also is a focus of Holder's research.

O'Malley honored for research career

Dr. Bert O'Malley, chancellor who served as the longtime chair of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, will receive the 2018 Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize from Columbia University. He is being honored along with Pierre Chambon, Institute of Advanced Study at the Strasbourg University and Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire in France, and Ronald M. Evans, of the Salk Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, for their discoveries of how steroid hormones regulate the behavior of distant cells. The 2018 Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize Lectures will be held on Monday, Oct. 29, followed by an awards ceremony.

Sikora receives support for cancer research

Dr. Andrew Sikora, associate professor and vice chair for research in the Department of Otolaryngology, and Dr. Ananth Annapragada, professor and director of basic research in the Department of Radiology, received a grant from the National Cancer Institute and National Institute Of Dental and Craniofacial Research to enhance the effectiveness of radiotherapy alone and in combination with immunotherapy for oral cancer by targeting cancer-induced immunosuppressive cells. The goal of their work is to develop a novel nanoparticle-based treatment approach that can eventually translate to cancer clinical trials.

Events

Oct. 1: Memorial service for Dr. David Sugarbaker

The Baylor community is invited to a memorial service for Dr. David Sugarbaker, Monday, Oct. 1, 4 p.m., in the Denton A. Cooley Auditorium at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center. Sugarbaker, who was chief of thoracic surgery in the Department of Surgery and director of the Lung Institute and the Mesothelioma Treatment Center, died Aug. 29.

Oct. 1-2: Neuropsychiatry symposium

The Neuropsychiatry Symposium and Workshop is Oct. 1 – 2, Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor. Physicians, scientists, NIH leaders, pharmaceutical industry experts and others will work to identify and prioritize promising translational research on neuropsychiatric disorders, a leading cause of disability. Proceedings will be published in Science Translational Medicine. The event is free but registration required. Sponsored by the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor.

Oct. 1-5: Diversity Week

The College will celebrate National Diversity and Inclusion Week Oct. 1-5. Members of the Baylor community are invited to participate in the week's events. More details available.
-College-wide donation drive and service project: Donate snacks to be distributed to the homeless at locations around campus all week, then assemble into snack bags on Friday, Oct. 5, in Rayzor Lounge.
-Compassionate Conversation on health and other issues that impact the homeless, Oct. 4, noon, Cullen Auditorium.
-Interactive diversity board: Stop by Alkek Lobby or the E-Hallway to fill out a Post-it note describing what diversity and inclusion at BCM means to you, then place it on the diversity board.

Oct. 3: Advances in Sports Medicine

The College's advocacy group, the Partnership for Baylor College of Medicine, kicks off its annual educational series with "Advances in Sports Medicine: Staying at the Top of Your Game," featuring Dr. Mark Adickes, professor of orthopedic surgery and chief of the division of sports medicine, and Dr. Rosalyn Nguyen, assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, Oct. 3, 6 p.m., the Briar Club, 2603 Timmons Lane. Purchase tickets and register.

Oct. 5: Wear Astros shirts!

The Astros 2018 playoff run starts Friday, Oct. 5, in Houston vs. the Cleveland Indians. Members of the Baylor community are invited to show their support for our hometown team by wearing Astros shirts that day, based on dress codes within departments. Go Astros!

Cybersecurity information throughout October

Cybersecurity presentations will be held Oct. 9, 23 and 30 on topics such as phishing, information storage and much more, noon – 1 p.m. in Cullen Auditorium, presented by the Office of Information Technology and Office of Compliance and Audit Services. See more details.

Join upcoming walks to benefit community!

-BCM Wellness 5K, Oct. 13, Texas Medical Center, organized by Baylor students, includes kids and adult events. Register online.
-Walk to End Alzheimer's, Nov. 3, University of Houston. Join the Baylor Memory Walkers!
-Heart Walk, Nov. 3, Texas Medical Center. Join Baylor's Ace of Hearts!
-Alex's 5K Run/Walk and Kids' K, Nov. 3, MacGregor Park, supporting autism organizations in the community in memory of Alex Jamrich, son of Baylor faculty member Milan Jamrich. The family-friendly event includes a post-race party and lots of kids' activities. Find more information and register online.
-Get Your Rear in Gear, Nov. 17, Baylor College of Medicine Medical Center on the McNair Campus. Join the Baylor Booty Shakers!

College News

Celebrating women in medicine

September is the American Medical Association's Women in Medicine Month, showcasing the accomplishments of women physicians and highlighting advocacy related to women physicians and health issues impacting women patients. Read more about some of Baylor's women in medicine in this TMC News article, listen to interviews through the TMC Women's History Project and read even more topics on the Momentum blog.

Volunteers needed for school science fairs

Volunteers are needed to advise middle school students from Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan and Baylor College of Medicine Biotech Academy at Rusk in their school science fairs. Help students revise their research questions, develop their procedures and facilitate data interpretation during Saturday coaching sessions, 8 – 10 a.m., October through January. Sign up for one day or multiple days. Questions? Email Beatriz Perez-Sweeney or Katherine Harris.

Faculty opportunity: Admissions interviewing committee

Nominations are open for the Admissions Interviewing Subcommittee, which is charged with interviewing and evaluating applicants from varied backgrounds to ensure a diverse student body. Learn more or email Shannon Mendoza. Nominations due Oct. 1.

Faculty in the News

Read this week's Baylor news media mentions in Faculty in the News, and follow BCMHouston_News on Twitter to keep up with our experts in the media. Interested in science news? Read the latest in From the Labs.

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