Dr. Joseph Fins, chief of the Division of Medical Ethics and professor of medicine, professor of public health and professor of medicine in psychiatry, delivered a plenary address at the Seventh World Congress of Brain Injury of the International Brain Injury Association, in Lisbon, Portugal, on April 11. His address, entitled "From PVS to MCS: Fred Plum's Legacy to Neuroethics," paid tribute to Dr. Plum's work in neurology and his contributions to medical ethics. Dr. Plum, who was the longtime chairman of neurology at Weill Cornell and the Anne Parrish Titzell Professor, and currently university professor emeritus of neurology, was awarded, in absentia, the inaugural Jennett & Plum Award of the International Brain Injury Association. The award honoring Dr. Plum and the late Bryan Jennett, Scottish neurosurgeon and co-originator of the persistent vegetative state with Dr. Plum, was accepted by Dr. Fins on Dr. Plum's behalf in Lisbon on April 12.
The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded a $4.6 million grant to the Brain Trauma Foundation, led by Dr. Jamshid Ghajar, to develop battlefield-ready brain diagnosis device. Dr. Ghajar is a clinical professor of neurological surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College.
Dr. Charles Glatt, assistant professor in psychiatry, and Dr. Anjali Rajadhyaksha, assistant professor of neurology and neuroscience, are each recipients of a $100,000 grant for three years from The Hartwell Foundation for translational biomedical research aimed at helping children. The funding will help support Dr. Glatt's study of genetic factors and biological processes that contribute to depression, in order for early detection of at-risk children; and for Dr. Rajadhyaksha's research on the molecular and cellular mechanisms contributing to autism spectrum disorder, a childhood disease known to affect the development of the brain by disrupting neural connectivity and nerve signal transmission.
Dr. Wayne Tam, assistant professor of pathology and laboratory medicine, has been named the "Eminent Scientist of the Year 2008" in the field of cancer research and gene biology in the United States, from the International Research Promotion Council (IRPC). The award was made in the field of "Cancer Research and Gene Biology," based on Dr. Tam's work on microRNAs and tumor suppressor genes in the pathogenesis of lymphomas and leukemias. Dr. Tam is one of the pioneers in demonstrating the contribution of oncogenic microRNA in lymphoma development. In addition, he made the seminal discovery of the tumor suppressor role of PRDM1/Blimp-1 in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. The initial nomination was based on the article "Lack of A563G (I188V) Missense Mutation in RIZ/ PRDM2 in Human Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphomas," published in the journal Genes, Chromosomes and Cancer. This mutation was thought to play a role in human lymphomas. Dr. Tam's work clarified the role of this genetic alteration and suggests the presence of alternative genetic or epigenetic lesions in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. The selection for this award is done jointly by the World Scientists Forum and the Award Selection Committee of IRPC, constituted by reputed scientists, after careful assessment of the personal commitments, professional achievements and research excellence of a scientist in his/her area of research.
New Appointments
Dr. K.S. Clifford Chao, a pre-eminent expert in the use of image-guided targeted radiotherapy and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for the treatment of cancers, has been named director of the Combined Program in Radiation Oncology at Weill Cornell Medical College, Columbia University Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Chao comes to New York from the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where he was a professor and director of Image-Guided Therapy of Radiation Oncology. In his new position, he also assumes the roles of chief of the Division of Radiation Oncology at Weill Cornell (where Dr. Dattatreyudu Nori will serve as executive vice chief), and chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Chao will assume these roles on May 5, 2008.
Dr. Alfons Pomp has been named the Leon C. Hirsch Professor of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College and chief of Laparoscopy and Bariatric Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Dr. Pomp is currently leading innovative research into unique ways to maximize the safety and effectiveness of weight-loss surgery. He is currently one of six co-investigators for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Bariatric Surgery Clinical Research Consortium. He also serves on the steering committee and chairs the adjudication committee for LABS (Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery), a major research collaboration designed to provide a better understanding of the impact of weight-loss surgery on the health and well-being of patients with extreme obesity. The Leon C. Hirsch Professorship of Surgery was established in 1996 with funds from the United States Surgical Corporation to support the work of a practicing surgeon who is pursuing clinical and/or laboratory research in the field of laparoscopic surgery.
Dr. Sandip Kapur has been appointed chief of the Division of Transplantation Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Previously the acting head of the Division, Dr. Kapur is currently associate professor of surgery (transplantation) at Weill Cornell Medical College and director of Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Programs at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell.