From the Labs
Houston, Texas
Volume 7, Issue 7
September 2008

Briefs

Chiu, Eissa win NIH grant for cystic fibrosis research

N. Tony Eissa, M.D., professor in the departments of medicine – pulmonary and immunology and molecular cell biology and the Nancy Chang Ph.D. Chair for the Biology of Inflammation Center, and Wah Chiu, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and director of the National Center for Macromolecular Imaging, have been awarded a $700,000 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to find ways to use nanotechnology to fight cystic fibrosis.

The award is a project of the NIH Roadmap initiative. These initiatives group together clinical and research experts across the country and fund highly collaborative approaches to solving biomedical problems. The researchers will focus on how to correct the misfolded protein responsible for causing cystic fibrosis.

Lewis honored by Lowe Syndrome Association

Richard Lewis, M.D., professor of ophthalmology, was the co-recipient of the Lowe Syndrome Association inaugural Legacy Award. Joining Lewis in receiving this award was Robert Nussbaum, M.D., chief of medical genetics at the University of California at San Francisco.

The LSA was founded in 1983 by parents of children affected with Lowe Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that causes physical and mental handicaps and medical problems in boys. Lewis and Nussbaum were selected based on their collaboration in the 1980s to identify the Lowe Syndrome gene. They pinpointed the location of the gene in 1992 and, a few years later, the specific enzyme that the gene controls was identified. These discoveries led to the development of a biochemical diagnostic test for Lowe Syndrome, a prenatal diagnostic test and testing by genetic analysis.

Elliott recognized by Texas Academy of Family Physicians

Tricia C. Elliott, M.D., clinical assistant professor of family medicine and director of the residency training program at Kelsey Seybold, was awarded the Exemplary Teaching Award from the Texas Academy of Family Physicians during its Session and Scientific Assembly this month. This award honors individuals with outstanding teaching skills and those who have developed and implemented innovative teaching models. Elliott was selected as a result of her efforts to improve and shape the community medical experience. In addition to directing this program, she also coordinates and advises international medical missions, which take residents to Matamoros, Mexico, where they care for the underserved.

Grant awarded to study cardiovascular malformations in children

A $2 million grant has been awarded to Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital to perform the first genome wide association study for hypoplastic left heart syndrome and other related cardiovascular malformations.

The grant was awarded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in June 2008, and will be dispersed over a four year period. John Belmont, M.D., Ph.D., professor of molecular and human genetics and pediatrics, is principal investigator for the BCM/Texas Children's study.

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a severe cardiovascular malformation in which the left side of the heart is underdeveloped. About 1,000 infants are born with the disorder each year. More than 3,000 children are born each year with related cardiovascular malformations.