Four College of Medicine faculty members received three seed grants as part of the OneFlorida Clinical Research Consortium in partnership with UF’s Clinical Translational Science Institute:

• Branko Stefanovic, biomedical sciences professor, received a seed grant for suppression of fibrosis of keloid fibroblasts and validation of a novel antifibrotic compound and analysis of prognostic markers.
• Lloyd N. Werk, clerkship faculty with the Orlando Regional Campus, received a seed grant for assessing risk progression of T2DM/NASH in obese pediatric patients.
• Yi Zhou and Hengli Tang, biomedical sciences professors, received a seed grant to test anti-Zika therapeutic candidates in human brain organoid and animal models.

The college's seed grant program is supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health. Awards are intended to support faculty members whose research aims specifically at collecting preliminary data involving the college's Clinical Research Network. 

Biomedical Sciences Assistant Professor Yuan Wang received $12,695 from the Northwestern University Knowles Foundation to study the "Structure and Function of Low Frequency Neurons in the Avian Cochlear Nucleus." These are auditory neurons located in the brainstem.

"My research interests are brain development and regulation," reads Wang's faculty profile. "We are particularly interested in roles of the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) in developing auditory circuits for sound localization and scene analyses. Loss of FMRP results in abnormal neurons in the brain and the fragile X syndrome, the leading known genetic cause of autism. We apply genetic, molecular, and cellular approaches to investigate neuronal structure and function in normal and abnormal brains."

The Transformation Through Teaching program honors faculty members across the university for their transformative influence on the lives of their students inside and outside of the classroom. This year, Michael Nair-Collins, assistant professor of behavioral science and social medicine, was selected by Samantha Mahon for helping to spark her passion for bioethics. 

“Not only has Dr. Nair-Collins’ mentorship made me realize my passion for bioethics," said the first-year student, "he has also helped me grow as an individual. Dr. Nair-Collins makes me want to be a better person, a better student and a better future physician. He embodies bioethics in every way, looking out for others, especially those who don’t have a voice; minimizing harm, which is as simple to him as being kind; being open-minded to others, so he can truly listen to every perspective.”

Honorees are nominated by their students for their dedication to helping students find their authentic selves and pursue their dreams.

Mahsheed Khajavi, assistant professor of clinical medicine, was also nominated by Alexandra Lackey for going out of her way to help motivate and teach students.

“It’s easy to forget that our purpose in medical school is to dedicate ourselves to the service of others," said Lackey, a second-year student, "but Dr. Khajavi always brings our focus back to eventually being able to touch others’ lives. She gets to know her students on a personal level, and always generously spends extra time to make sure we are doing okay both academically and personally. FSU COM is all about treating patients using a biopsychosocial model, and Dr. Khajavi treats us with the love and compassion we hope to be able to give our future patients.”

Read the full story.

Professor Marshall Kapp, J.D., M.P.H., recently published a chapter entitled, "Legal Aspects of Oncology Care for Dying Patients," in the book Dying and Death in Oncology.

The FSU Council on Research and Creativity notified Drs. Angelina Sutin, Michelle Arbeitman, Antonia Nemec and Yanchang Wang that they received $13,000, one-year research awards:

• Michelle Arbeitman, associate professor of biomedical sciences, will study "Genomic Analysis of the Mammalian Maternal Brain."
• Biomedical Sciences researcher Antonia Nemec will study "DNA Repair Gene Mutations as Biomarkers for Breast Cancer."
• Angelina Sutin, assistant professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, will study "Parent Perception and Child Weight Gain: Identifying Potential Mechanisms."
• Yanchang Wang, associate professor of biomedical sciences, will study "Identification of Cdc48-involved Pathways that Promote the Degradation of Misfolded Proteins."

Branko Stefanovic, professor in Biomedical Sciences, received $50,000 from the FSU Council on Research and Creativity to fund his project "High Content Imaging Multi-mode Reader" for one year. 

Charlotte Edwards Maguire Professor Ken Brummel-Smith contributed to a report conducted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, Forum on Aging, Disability and Independence. The report is Strengthening the Workforce to Support Community Living and Participation for Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities: Proceedings of a Workshop.

Research conducted by students Wyndham Bonett (Class of 2019) and Katherine Perdomo (Class of 2019) will be published in Florida Public Health Review in mid-January. The students worked under the mentorship of Professor Marshall Kapp and studied "Prescribing Medications for Chronic Pain Management: The State of Education in Florida Medical Schools." Geriatrics staff member Suzanne Baker and Dean John Fogarty also contributed to this research.

Biomedical Sciences Professor and Trefoil Therapeutics Co-Founder Michael Blaber will collaborate with the NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) to continue developing a treatment for Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD). FECD can lead to severe vision loss, and there is currently no FDA-approved therapy. Trefoil Therapeutics will participate in the NCATS Therapeutics for Rare and Neglected Diseases program to significantly accelerate the development of the drug.

Professor Marshall Kapp published the chapter "Legal Issues" in the 7th edition of Hazzard's Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology from page 441 to 449.