Guest speaker Joe G.N. “Skip” Garcia, M.D. (left) visits with Interim Department of Medicine Chair Jan Patterson, M.D., F.A.C.P, and Robert Clark, M.D., assistant vice president for clinical research.
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University of Chicago physician-researcher Joe G.N. “Skip” Garcia, M.D., was the featured speaker at the Department of Medicine’s 10th Annual Research Day last spring. Dr. Garcia is the Lowell T. Coggeshall Professor of Medicine and chair of the department of medicine. Dr. Garcia’s presentation was “Lung Vascular Barrier Regulation: Sphingolipids and the Endothelial Cyto skeleton.”

Nine students also received honors for their research.

A key strength of the Health Science Center department of medicine’s research portfolio is its broad scope, encompassing basic cellular and molecular science, translational research, genetics, epidemiology, patient-oriented studies, health outcomes, evidence-based medicine and health policy. The day’s agenda underscored these features.

“The superb poster presentations were indicative of the vigor and excellence of our research enterprise,” said Jan Patterson, M.D., F.A.C.P., interim chair of the Department of Medicine, and professor of medicine and pathology. “Our junior faculty and trainees at multiple levels clearly took this opportunity to showcase the outstanding work they are doing.”

Winners at the Department of Medicine’s 10th Annual Research Day included (front row, left to right) Devish Pandya, Rucha Jani, Jose Camargo, Pranavi Sreeramoju and Falguni Das. (Second row) George Thompson III, Syed Imam and Ralf Harskamp. Sara Espinoza is not pictured.

The student research winners included:

Student/Resident Category
Ralf Harskamp, M.S., (Cardiology) ― “Neutralization of interleukin (IL)-18 or IL-18BP/FC Chimera Block IL-18-Mediated PI3K-IKK-NF-κB-Dependent Fibronectin Expression in Human Cardiac Fibroblasts.” Ralf Harskamp; Margreet van Ginkel; Seenu V. Reddy, M.D., M.B.A.; John H. Calhoon, M.D.; Clinton E. Baisden, M.D., F.A.C.S.; Bysani Chandrasekar, D.V.M., Ph.D.

Devesh M. Pandya, M.D., (Internal Medicine) ― “Cancer Survivorship: Perceptions Among Patients in the Acute Survival Phase (ASP).” Devesh M. Pandya, M.D.; Debra Hunt, M.D.; Lindsay Waite, M.S.; Carlos Cabrera, B.S.; and Anand Karnad, M.D.

Clinical Fellow Category
Rucha Jani, M.D., (Diabetes/Endocrine) ― “Decreased Glucose Clearance Contributes to the Rise in FPG in the Non-Diabetic Range.” Rucha Jani, M.D.; Muhammad Abdul-Ghani M.D., Ph.D.; Marjorie Molina, M.D.; and Ralph A. DeFronzo. M.D.

George R. Thompson III, M.D., (Infectious Diseases) ― “HIV as an Independent Risk Factor for the Development of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia.” George Thompson III, M.D.; Kartik Patel, M.D.; Diana Rynkiewicz, M.D.; Valerie A. Lawrence, M.D.; George Crawford, M.D.

Postdoctoral Category
Jose F. Camargo, M.D., (Infectious Diseases) ― “Combined Effects of CCR5/CCL3L1 Genotypes and T Cell Activation on Response to HAART During Chronic HIV Infection.” Jose F. Camargo, M..D.; Hemant Kulkarni, M.D.; Weijing He, M.D.; Lisa A. Beachy; Vincent Marconi; Brian Agan; Matthew Dolan; and Sunil K. Ahuja, M.D., M.Sc.

Falguni Das, Ph.D., (Nephrology) ― “Transforming Growth Factor-Β (Tgfβ) Uses TORC1 Complex for Protein Synthesis.” F. Das, Ph.D.; L. Mahimainathan, Ph.D.; B. S. Kasinath, M.D.; and G. Ghosh Choudhury, Ph.D.

Junior Faculty Category
Syed Z. Imam, M.D., Ph.D., (Infectious Diseases) ― “Novel Mechanis, M.D. for Parkinson’s Disease Progression: Implications For Therapy.” Syed Z. Imam, M.D., Ph.D.; and Robert A. Clark, M.D.

Pranavi Sreeramoju, M.D., M.P.H., (Infectious Diseases) ― “Epidemiology of Acute Hepatitis B at A Public Healthcare System.” Pranavi Sreeramoju, M.D., M.P.H.; Jose Cadena, M.D.; Kristin Fiebelkorn, M.D.

Health Services Research Award
Sara E. Espinoza, M.D., (Geriatrics/Gerontology) ― “Ethnic Disparities in Frailty.” Sara E. Espinoza, M.D.; Helen P. Hazuda, Ph.D.