Dr. Owen Davis, associate professor of reproductive medicine and obstetrics and gynecology, has been named director of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. The society was founded in 1944 and has grown to include members throughout the United States and in more than 100 countries. It is the publisher of the peer-reviewed journal Fertility and Sterility. Dr. Davis also serves as associate director of the in vitro fertilization program at the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell. His current clinical and academic focus is assisted reproductive technology.
Dr. John Moore, professor of microbiology and immunology, has been named the 10th most cited researcher in biology over the past 10 years, according to a survey by Web site incites.com. The commentary and analysis on the Web site is designed to complement the publication, citation and citations-per-paper rankings, and other data, featured in "Essential Science Indicators," from Thomson Scientific. To see the full list, visit in-cites.com/top/2006/third06-mic.html.
Dr. Kutluk Oktay, associate professor of reproductive medicine and obstetrics and gynecology, is the recipient of the Champions of Hope award from Fertile Hope, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing reproductive information, support and hope to cancer patients whose medical treatments present the risk of infertility. The award, presented on Nov. 17 in New York City, honors Dr. Oktay's numerous and tireless efforts in infertility research and clinical care. In a letter to Dr. Oktay, Fertile Hope's founder and executive director Lindsay Nohr Beck wrote: "Through your tireless work around the globe—giving presentations, publishing your research, and speaking to the media—you are a true ambassador of awareness and education.… Thanks to you, cancer survivors are fulfilling their parenthood dreams!"
Dr. Stefano Rivella, assistant professor of genetic medicine in pediatrics, has been awarded a 2-year grant of $200,000 CHF (roughly $160,000 US) from the Roche Foundation for Anemia Research in Switzerland, for the study of genes responsible for the pleiotropic effects observed in ß-thalassemia. Dr. Rivella will serve as lead investigator of the study. Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder with no known cure. Current treatments include regular blood transfusions, iron chelation therapy, and bone marrow transplants.
Dr. Shirling Tsai, a research fellow in the Department of Surgery, is the recipient of the Society of University Surgeons' Ethicon-SUS Surgical Research Fellowship Award for 2006–2007. The $30,000 scholarship will support Dr. Tsai's study of the effect of TGF-beta on the development of abdominal aortic aneurysms. "She is an extraordinarily bright individual who is extremely talented," said Dr. K. Craig Kent, professor of surgery and chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell, adding, "There is little doubt in my mind that she will evolve into a highly successful surgeon scientist." Dr. Tsai will be presenting a progress report on her research to the SUS Executive Council at the February 2008 Academic Surgical Congress Meeting.
November 20, 2006
