with grants, honors
Researchers and clinicians in the School of Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive
Sciences (Yale Ob/Gyn) have recently received multiple grants and honors for
their work. Following is a compilation of some of their notable achievements
and research. — By Karen Peart
T H I S
Grant funds center for study of new therapies for endometriosis
Reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Hugh S. Taylor and his colleagues have received
a $7 million, five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
for a specialized cooperative Center in Reproductive Research at Yale and Vanderbilt
universities. Taylor is chief of reproductive endocrinology and infertility
in Yale Ob/Gyn.
One of 12 such centers across the country and one of two Centers of Excellence,
the Center for Endometrial Biology and Endometriosis will focus on many aspects
of endometriosis, which affects up to 15% of reproductive-age women. It consists
of endometrial tissue outside of the uterus and causes severe pain, and it
can affect fertility. There are currently many treatments in use, but none
are reliable cures.
Working with principal investigator Charles J. Lockwood, the Anita O’Keefe
Young Professor of Women’s Health and chair of Yale Ob/Gyn, Taylor and
Yale colleague Aydin Arici, as well as Antoni Duleba from the University of
California-Davis and Kevin Osteen from Vanderbilt University, will study new
therapies that use statins and an Icon molecule that activates an immune response,
which is being applied by Lockwood.
Taylor says bone marrow-derived stem cells can turn into endometrial cells,
which is why endometriosis can occur outside the abdominal cavity in the lung and in the brain.
In addition to the NIH grant, Taylor has been named clinical director of the
Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), the primary organization
of professionals dedicated to the practice of assisted reproductive technologies
in the United States.
Taylor has also received the 2008 President’s Achievement Award from
the Society for Gynecologic Investigation. The annual award is given to a junior
member of the society whose record in scientific investigation is outstanding
and assures a continued productive career in research.
Lockwood will present the award to Taylor during the presidential address and
awards ceremony of the annual meeting in March.
Connell honored for contributions to understanding pelvic organ prolapse
The American Urogynecologic Society awarded Dr. Kathleen A. Connell the 2007
AUGS Foundation Astellas Award. Connell is assistant professor and director
of research for the Yale Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Program.
Her work is titled “The Role of Hoxa11, a Developmental Gene, in the
Extracellular Matrix Remodeling in the Uterosacral Ligament.” Connell
is also a NIH Women’s Reproductive Health Scholar. She focuses her research
on elucidating the role of the genetic mechanisms that may predispose women
to pelvic organ prolapse.
Huang receives grants for research on Fragile X and other studies
Yingqun Huang, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology, has received
part of a $1.7 million Connecticut Department of Public Health grant for biomedical
research projects into tobacco-related illnesses. Huang and co-authors recently
identified a new regulatory target for the Fragile X mental retardation protein — laying
the groundwork for possible new treatments for Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the
leading inherited form of mental retardation in early human neural development.
Huang was also among the first group of researchers to be awarded grants from the State of Connecticut to promote stem cell research. Huang is using the
$200,000 grant to continue studying the FXS mutation.
Lupus Foundation awards grant to Abrahams
The Lupus Foundation of America Inc. (LFA) has awarded the LFA research grant
award to assistant professor Vikki Abrahams. Abrahams will receive $60,000
for one year. Her work is titled “Mechanisms of Antiphospholipid Syndrome
(APS).” APS is a disorder that causes blood clots in arteries and veins,
as well as pregnancy-related complications such as miscarriage, preterm delivery
or severe preeclampsia.
Abrahams’ major research interests include innate immune function during
pregnancy and mechanisms of pattern recognition by the placenta.
The LFA research grant is given in the memory of Mary Katherine “Kassie” Biglow,
a young mother who was diagnosed with lupus at age 10. In October 2004, just
one day before her 31st birthday, Kassie passed away from complications of
lupus, leaving a husband and a 10-month-old son.
Bercik is namedurogynecology chief
Dr. Richard S. Bercik, assistant professor, has been named chief of urogynecology
at Yale-New Haven Hospital and the School of Medicine. He is also director
of the hospital’s Women’s Center and the Yale Urogynecology and
Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Program.
Urogynecology, a fairly new ob/gyn subspecialty, has become more prevalent
over the past 20 years. Yale’s Center for Urogynecology and Reconstructive
Pelvic Surgery was created in 2002. It is the only urogynecology practice in
Connecticut whose physicians are also full-time faculty members of a medical
school. Yale Urogynecology specializes in evaluating and treating women with
various symptoms including incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, bladder inflammation
or sexual dysfunction resulting from these symptoms.
Bercik says that women with urological or gynecological problems are sometimes
reluctant to seek help because of embarrassment, or they assume the symptoms
are a normal part of aging.
The center’s urogynecologists, specially trained gynecologists, use state-of-the-art
diagnostic procedures to determine the cause of each patient’s condition
and the best course of treatment. Care plans may include non-surgical treatments
such as medication, physical therapy or acupuncture with nerve stimulation.
When surgery is necessary, there are many new minimally-invasive methods that
often do not require general anesthesia or an overnight hospital stay.
Schwartz elected member of Serbian academy
Yale gynecological oncologist Dr. Peter M. Schwartz has been elected a member
of honor of the Serbian Academy of Medical Sciences. Schwartz studies the early
detection of ovarian cancer by screening a population of women who have at
least one first-degree relative with ovarian cancer, thereby making them at
higher risk for the disease than the population at large. He is also studying
identifying tumor markers, which may be useful in early detection of ovarian
cancer.
Founded in 1976, the Serbian Medical Society’s Academy of Medical Science
encourages the development of scientific work through fundamental and applied
research in all areas of medicine and thus contributes to the development of
medical thought and improvement of healthcare.
Researchers develop new embryo-selection method
Dr. Emre Seli, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and Denny
Sakkas, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, have developed a
new method for embryo selection called metabolomics, which helps predict embryo
viability in a rapid, non-invasive, consistent and clinically applicable way.
The multi-center study was done in collaboration with Dave Burns from McGill
University and Molecular Biometrics Inc. It was published in a recent issue
of Fertility and Sterility. The team developed a non-invasive spectroscopic
method for prediction of the implantation potential of embryos in in vitro
fertilization. The technology will soon be available at the Yale Fertility
Center.
W E E K ' SS T O R I E S
Now anyone can ‘audit’ popular Yale courses via Internet
Two seniors receive prestigious Marshall Scholarships
Yalies win international debate competition in Chinese language
True-blue tales of holiday giving
Custodian brings brand-new bikes to needy youths
Athletes hope to light the smiles of city youngsters
Rededication ceremony held for Silliman College
Reconstruction of Bass Library celebrated
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE NEWS
Yale receives $12.4 million grant to oversee study . . .
Research to examine causes of heart attacks in young women
Project will assess impact of vaccine against virus . . .
Yale scientists discover biomarker linked to . . .
Work in Ob/Gyn is recognized with grants, honors
Two Divinity School professors earn special honors
Graduate students boost social skills in networking workshop
Research reveals that children tend to ‘over-imitate’ actions of adults
Yale bioengineers have developed a more effective method . . .
Postdoctoral fellow wins fellowships for cancer cell research
Exhibit of original menorahs celebrates the Festival of Light
Alumna intern discovers firsthand the positive impact of United Way
A ‘thank you’ from United Way
Social anthropologist will examine ‘Why Creationism Isn’t Science’
IN MEMORIAM
Dr. Barry Goldberg, devoted career to the safety of athletes
Dr. James Kenney, was the ‘doctor’s doctor’ to many
Dr. Nicholas Spinelli, was active in alumni affairs
Longtime professor Stanton Wheeler dies on Dec. 7
Memorial service for Eugene Waith
Stately affairs
Campus Notes
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