From the Labs
Houston, Texas
Volume 8, Issue 6
August 2009

Briefs

Kline named chair of pediatrics, physician-in-chief at TCH

Mark Kline, M.D., internationally recognized leader in pediatric HIV/AIDS, has been named chair of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and physician-in-chief at Texas Children's Hospital.

A member of the BCM faculty and on staff at Texas Children's since 1990, Kline's appointment to succeed the late Ralph D. Feigin, M.D., was made by the boards of trustees of both institutions.

Rao receives osteosarcoma grant

Pulivarthi Rao, Ph.D, associate professor of pediatrics at BCM, has received a $50,000 one-year grant from the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative to explore the role of the gene CDC5L in the development of osteosarcoma, the most common bone cancer in children.

Rao and his research colleagues recently determined that CDC5L, a cell division cycle gene, plays a significant role in the genomic instability and cause of osteosarcoma.

The study aims to identify genes regulated by CDC5L, which will shed light on the way in which similar proteins regulate cell cycle progression and will provide vital insight into the molecular mechanisms of the development of malignancy.

Research collaborators include Xin-Yan Lu, M.D., Yi-Jue Zhao, M.D., and Debananda Pati, Ph.D., all of the department of pediatrics – hematology and oncology at BCM.

O'Malley receives Women in Endocrinology Mentor Award

Bert O'Malley, M.D., chair of molecular and cellular biology at BCM, has been awarded the Women in Endocrinology Mentor Award.

The award is given annually to a woman or man whose outstanding scientific achievements are coupled with a record of support for women in academics and mentoring women in scientific careers.

O'Malley, who received the National Medal of Science in 2008, is also associate director for basic science of the Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center at BCM.

Yudofsky first recipient of Alexander Award in Psychiatry

Stuart C. Yudofsky, M.D., chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at BCM, has been selected as the first recipient of the Joan and Stanford Alexander Annual Award in Psychiatry.

The award honors a mental health professional who has made shaping contributions in research, education and clinical or community service for people suffering from severe and persistent mental illness. The award consists of an annual prize and lecture of international scope.

Yudofsky's research and clinical practice focuses on psychopharmacology, the use of medicines to treat mental illness, and neuropsychiatry, the assessment and treatment of the psychiatric aspects of people with neurological illnesses.