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Research at TUSM

RESEARCH AT TUSM

News and Announcements

Donald Gill, PhD reports findings about STIM1 in October 1 Science

 

Donald Gill, PhDOctober 29, 2010.  On October 1, Science published an article authored by Donald Gill, PhD, Chair of Biochemistry, and faculty colleagues that documents an important finding about STIM1, a protein that Dr. Gill helped identify in 2005.

 

The research revealed that STIM1 provides a link between excitable and non-excitable cells in terms of calcium signaling.  By uncovering a signaling mechanism heretofore unknown, Dr. Gill and colleagues have opened the door to a new avenue of physiological action on which the international medical research community can now focus.

 

In addition to publishing the research, Science's editors featured the topic in its monthly editorial—further affirmation of the importance of the work and yet another coup.  To read the article, please click on the PubMed link below.

 

20929813. Wang Y, Deng X, Mancarella S, Hendron E, Eguchi S, Soboloff J, Tang XD, Gill DL, The calcium store sensor, STIM1, reciprocally controls Orai and CaV1.2 channels. Science 330:6000(105-9)2010 Oct 1

 

 

Persidsky receives prestigious MERIT Award from NIAAA

 

Yuri Persidsky, MD, PhDOctober 20, 2010.  Yuri Persidsky, MD, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Temple University School of Medicine, has received a prestigious MERIT Award from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

 

The Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) award is an honorific NIH grant award given to investigators who have demonstrated superior competence and outstanding productivity during their previous research endeavors and who are likely to continue to perform in an outstanding manner in the future.  Fewer than 5% of all NIH-funded investigators receive MERIT awards during their careers.  As only 30 MERIT awards can be active nationally at any given time, to be selected is a truly noteworthy achievement.

 

Through the MERIT Award, a principal investigator may receive up to ten years of research support in two five-year segments without the need to prepare a renewal application after give years of support.  Recipients do not apply for the MERIT Award.  Instead, they are nominated by the National Advisory Council and selected by the Directors of National Institutes of Health.

 

With the MERIT Award, Dr. Persidsky's research grant "CNS injury caused by HIV-1 and alcohol: Protective effects of CB2 activation" can be extended for an additional five-year period.

 

Internationally recognized for his work on molecular mechanisms of blood brain dysfunction in neuroinflammation, HIV-1 brain infection, and alcohol abuse, Dr. Persidsky has been a member of the Temple faculty since July 2008.

 

Steven Houser, PhD, Chair of the Department of Physiology and Director of the Cardiovascular Research Center at Temple University School of Medicine, was selected as a MERIT award recipient in 2009.  To have two MERIT awardees on the Temple faculty simultaneously is truly an exceptional achievement.

 

 

Hong Wang, MD, PhD named Assistant Dean for Research

 

Hong Wang, MD, PhDJuly 12, 2010.  Hong Wang, MD, PhD has been appointed to the position of Assistant Dean for Research at Temple University School of Medicine (TUSM) effective July 1, 2010.

 

Dr. Wang was awarded her MD degree from JiangXi Medical School in Nanchang, China, an MS degree in Immunology from Peking Union Medical College in Bejing and a PhD degree in Biochemistry from The University of Montreal, Canada. She currently holds the rank of tenured Professor in the Department of Pharmacology. Dr. Wang’s highly successful research program is focused on causes of vascular disease, with current studies aimed at identifying mechanisms through which high levels of homocysteine, a potential cellular toxin, cause cardiovascular disease and other serious pathological conditions.


In her new role, Dr. Wang will assist the Senior Associate Dean for Research in supporting the research enterprise of the School. In particular, she will work to identify and implement new funding sources at TUSM, she will coordinate nominations of TUSM faculty for various research awards and she will co-chair the newly established TUSM Grant Review Committee.