Congratulations to Dr. Antonio Gotto, dean of the Medical College and professor of medicine (cardiology), who has been elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the prestigious, 221-year-old honor society whose mission is "to cultivate every art and science which may tend to advance the interest, honour, dignity and happiness of a free, independent and virtuous people." Dr. Gotto and his associates were the first to achieve the complete synthesis of a significant plasma apolipoprotein (apoC-I), and also determined the complete cDNA and amino acid sequence of apoB-100, one of the largest proteins ever sequenced and a key protein in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Among Dr. Gotto's significant contributions since joining the Medical College in 1997 are his continuing insights into the benefits of the cholesterol-lowering statin drugs for cardiac primary prevention, and the potential predictive value of certain apolipoproteins that are major components of LDL and HDL. With his election to the AAAS, Dr. Gotto joins a select group of individuals who have made singular contributions to the arts and sciences, a group that includes Watson and Crick, David Baltimore, Edward Albee, Henry Kissinger, Saul Bellow, Yo Yo Ma, Norman Mailer and Mikhail Baryshnikov, among others.
Dr. John Daly, the Lewis Atterbury Stimson Professor and chairman, Department of Surgery, delivered the 25th J.D. Martin Oration on April 21 at Emory University on "Current Management of Patients with Hepatic Malignancies." The Martin Visiting Professorship was inaugurated at Emory in 1976 to honor Dr. John Martin, who was associated with the university for more than 70 years.
Two Weill Cornell investigators recently received grants from NARSAD (the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression). Dr. Anna Francesconi, research associate of cell biology in ophthalmology, earned NARSAD's Young Investigator award of $60,000 for her research in the regulation of glutamate receptors in the brain. Abnormalities of this neurotransmitter have been associated with psychotic symptoms, including those seen in schizophrenia. Dr. Virginia Pickel, professor of neurology and neuroscience, earned NARSAD's Distinguished Investigator award of $100,000 for research related to schizophrenia. She will study a region of the brain called the ventral palladium, aiming to establish the functional sites for the dopamine and NMDA receptors.
Dr. Mitchell Gaynor, clinical assistant professor of medicine and medical director of Weill Cornell's Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, was invited to participate in a meeting of leaders in integrative medicine and philanthropy held at the Miraval Spa and Center for Life in Balance in Catalina, Ariz., April 4–6. Dr. Gaynor made a presentation on the healing benefits of Tibetan bowls. Focusing on the theme "Consilience and Commitment: Advancing Integrative Medicine," the meeting was sponsored by the George Family Foundation. In addition, Dr. Gaynor presented a talk on "Integrative Medicine in the New Millennium" for SHARE (Self-Help for Women with Breast or Ovarian Cancer) on April 25. The talk was held at Lord & Taylor in Manhattan.
Dr. Gunnar Gouras, assistant professor of neurology and neuroscience, received the American Academy of Neurology Education and Research Foundation's 2001–2002 Young Investigator's Award in Alzheimer's Disease for "Studies on the Subcellular and Molecular Pathology of Alzheimer's Disease." The three-year award will provide research support totaling $150,000.
Dr. Dix Poppas, The Richard Rodgers Family Assistant Professor in Pediatric Urology, has won the New York Academy of Medicine's 2001–2003 Edwin Beer award to support his research project, "Use of Targeted Gene Deletion of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase in Renal Function in UUO." The two-year award will provide research support totaling $80,000.
Dr. Shahin Rafii, associate professor of medicine, has received a new four-year grant from the American Cancer Society for a research project on "Therapeutic Modulation of Tumor Angiogenesis with Anti-VEGFR2 Agents." The grant will provide funding totaling $800,000.
Dr. Arleen Rifkind, professor of pharmacology and associate professor of medicine, has received a five-year renewal of her grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences for her investigations on "Arachidonate Products in Dioxin and PCB Toxicity." The grant funding totals more than $2 million.
Dr. Kenneth Rosenberg, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry, was executive producer of the HBO documentary "Cancer: Evolution to Revolution," which has earned a prestigious Peabody Award for Broadcast Excellence.
April 30, 2001
