Program

Monday
April 8, 2024

Tuesday
April 9, 2024

Monday, April 8, 2024		Meeting Room
7:00 am – 5:00 pm	Registration and Coffee/Tea	King Arthur Foyer (third floor)
7:00 am – Noon	Setup posters for Monday, April 8th 5:00 pm session	Renaissance Ballroom (fifth floor)
8:00 am – 8:25 am	CSCTR Membership Meeting	Toledo Room (fifth floor)
8:30 am – 8:40 am	Welcome and Opening Remarks Jerry A. Krishnan, MD, PhD President, CSCTR Professor of Medicine and Public Health University of Illinois Chicago Anupam Kotwal, MBBS, MSc Chair, AFMR Midwestern Region Assistant Professor of Medicine University of Nebraska Medical Center	King Arthur Court (third floor)
8:45 am – 10:45 am	MWAFMR Career Development Workshop Moderator: Syed Bukhari, MD, MSc Secretary-Treasurer, AFMR Midwestern Region Vascular Medicine Fellow Cleveland Clinic Barley to Brains: Lessons Learned on My Path Toward Independence Sidharth Mahapatra, MD, PhD, FAAP President, AMFR Associate Professor of Pediatrics Children's Hospital & Medical Center / University of Nebraska Medical Center Grit and Grace: Thriving in Your Career Dr. Wu will review strategies for developing resilience in the face of life's curveballs, finding your voice, and growing into leadership opportunities. Joy Wu, MD, PhD, FASBMR Associate Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology) Chief, Division of Endocrinology, Gerontology and Metabolism Vice Chair, Basic and Translational Science, Department of Medicine Stanford University School of Medicine A PhD in Medicine Career Path: Challenges and Opportunities In this talk, Dr. Gerald will describe her career path as a PhD in a Department of Medicine. She will describe unique challenges and opportunities for PhDs in a clinical department. Lynn B. Gerald, PhD, MSPH Assistant Vice Chancellor for Population Health / Research Professor of Medicine University of Illinois Chicago	King Arthur Court (third floor)
10:45 am – 10:55 am	Coffee Break	Camelot Ballroom (third floor)
11:00 am – 12:00 pm	New Investigator Session Moderators: Anupam Kotwal, MBBS, MSc Chair, AFMR Midwestern Region Assistant Professor of Medicine University of Nebraska Medical Center Steven Dudek, MD Past President, CSCTR Professor of Medicine University Illinois at Chicago Presenters: Outstanding Young Investigator MiR-150 Deficiency in Macrophages Ameliorates Alcohol-Induced Hepatic Steatosis Through Thyroid Hormone Receptor β-Enriched EVs Transfer: Implications for ALD Therapy Our study dissects the role of miR150, a microRNA abundant in immune cells, in the pathogenesis of alcoholic hepatitis (AH). Mir150 levels were significantly reduced in both serum and liver samples from AH patients compared to healthy controls. Using a chronic plus binge alcohol feeding mouse model, we found that genetic deletion of miR150 attenuates ethanol-induced liver injury and steatosis. It was also associated with upregulation of fatty acid β-oxidation-associated proteins and increased expression of the miR150 target gene, thyroid hormone receptor β (THRB), in liver, white adipose tissue, and circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs). Deletion of miR150 in myeloid cells ameliorates ethanol-induced liver steatosis, highlighting the crucial role of macrophage-derived miR150 in controlling steatosis through the release of THRB-containing EVs. MiR150 and THRB could serve as potential therapeutic targets for ALD. Jing Ma, MD, PhD Indiana University School of Medicine 2023 Early Career Development Awardee Revising textbook understanding of primary cilia Primary cilia are vital sensory organelles on most cells of the body, including insulin-secreting beta cells. New imaging and functional studies from my laboratory show that islet primary cilia are structurally diverse, motile, and locally responsive to glucose. These findings implicate primary cilia as nutrient-sensing subcellular compartments linked to beta cell secretory function. Jing Hughes, MD, PhD Assistant Professor Washington University School of Medicine	King Arthur Court (third floor)
12:00 pm – 12:45 pm	Lunch	Camelot Ballroom (third floor)
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm	Department Chair Session Moderators: Suthat Liangpunsakul, MD, MPH Past President, CSCTR Professor of Medicine Indiana University School of Medicine David M. Aronoff, MD, FIDSA, FAAM John B. Hickam Professor of Medicine Chair, Department of Medicine Indiana University School of Medicine Junior Investigator Speakers: Precision Medicine Approaches to Optimize Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy Dr. Tyler will review completed, ongoing, and planned research towards advancing precision medicine for patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Tyler A. Shugg, PharmD, PhD Assistant Professor of Medicine Division of Clinical Pharmacology Department of Medicine Indiana University A Collaborative Approach to Developing an Intervention to Improve Curative Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment Accessibility for Black and Low Socioeconomic Communities Black patients and low socioeconomic status patients with chronic liver disease are significantly less likely than White patients to receive curative therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) even when presenting with early stage disease. Reasons for disparities are multifactorial, but may be related to failure to progress through the complex HCC care continuum to access curative therapies as a result of the unequal distribution of social and structural determinants of health. I will discuss a collaborative approach to engaging both patients and providers in the development of HCC-EduLink , an intervention designed to: a) improve patients’ HCC-related disease and treatment knowledge; b) screen patients for social needs and substance use and refer to social work for linkage to local services; and c) facilitate timely linkage to subspecialty HCC care. Lauren Nephew, MD, MA, MSCE Assistant Professor of Medicine Indiana University School of Medicine Regulation of UPRmt activation in the development of pulmonary vascular remodeling in PAH Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a severe and progressive disease with a high mortality rate of nearly 40% over 5 years. Death occurs as a result of increased pulmonary vascular resistance that eventually leads to right heart failure. Both pulmonary arterial smooth muscle and endothelial cells undergo changes in intracellular signaling that lead to a proliferative, apoptosis resistant phenotype that causes remodeling and occlusion of the pulmonary vasculature leading to increased resistance. We discovered that the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) promotes proliferation of vascular cells. I will discuss the role of the UPRmt in vascular remodeling. Angelia Lockett, PhD Assistant Professor of Medicine Division of Pulmonary, Sleep and Critical Care Division Department of Medicine Indiana University	King Arthur Court (third floor)
2:00 pm – 2:25 pm	Eclipse and Coffee Break	Camelot Ballroom (third floor)
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm	Cardiology/Pulmonary Lecture Moderator: David J. Kennedy, PhD President-Elect, CSCTR Associate Professor of Medicine University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences Speaker: From Pollution to Prevention: Unraveling the Environmental Roots of Cardiometabolic Diseases Dr. Rajagopalan will review recent developments linking environmental stressors with cardiometabolic diseases. Recent data suggests that a substantive proportion of cardiometabolic diseases have environmental origins. The mechanistic basis of these observations as well as potential policy and personal mitigation measures will also be discussed. Sanjay Rajagopalan, MD, MBA, FACC, FAHA Chief, Cardiovascular Medicine and Chief Academic and Scientific Officer University Hospitals, Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute Herman K. Hellerstein MD, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine Professor, Department of Internal Medicine and Biomedical Engineering Case Western Reserve University	King Arthur Court (third floor)
3:30 pm – 3:40 pm	Coffee Break	Camelot Ballroom (third floor)
3:45 pm – 4:45 pm	Annual Max Miller Lecture in Diabetes Research Moderators: Dawn Belt Davis, MD, PhD Past President, CSCTR Professor University of Wisconsin – Madison Terry G. Unterman, MD Past President, CSCTR Professor of Medicine, Physiology and Biophysics University of Illinois Chicago Speakers: Never a straight path Characteristics required to chart an academic career and how shifts in science and other unanticipated obstacles or opportunities may impact its course Jennifer Larsen, MD, FACP Louise and Morton Degen Professor in the Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism Chair, Internal Advisory Committee, Great Plains IDeA-CTR University of Nebraska Medical Center Unraveling the role of hepatocyte PPARgamma in MASLD and MASH Jose Cordoba-Chacon, PhD Assistant Professor University of Illinois Chicago	King Arthur Court (third floor)
3:45 pm – 4:45 pm	Inflammation, Immunity, and Transplant Moderators: James Lash, MD Chief, Division of Nephrology University of Illinois Chicago Ana Ricardo, MD, MPH Professor University of Illinois Chicago Speaker: Novel Biomarker and Therapies for Diabetic Kidney and Heart Complications Dr. Sharma will present data from multi-omic analysis from human samples to identify new insights related to mitochondrial dysfunction in diabetic complications. He will highlight a new biomarker for predicting kidney failure and all cause mortality in patients with diabetes. The novel urine metabolite biomarker (adenine) identifies patients at risk, even with normal levels of albuminuria and eGFR, and was critical to define new biochemical pathways that are targets for new therapies. Kumar Sharma, MD Vice Chair of Research and Director of Center for Precision Medicine UTHSCSA	Toledo Room (fifth floor)
5:00 pm – 5:15 pm	Opening Reception and Remarks (beverages and hors d'oeuvres served) Jerry A. Krishnan, MD, PhD President, CSCTR Professor of Medicine and Public Health University of Illinois Chicago Anupam Kotwal, MBBS, MSc Chair, AFMR Midwestern Region Assistant Professor of Medicine University of Nebraska Medical Center David J. Kennedy, PhD President-Elect, CSCTR Associate Professor of Medicine University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences	Renaissance Ballroom (fifth floor)
5:15 pm – 6:30 pm	Poster Presentations Poster Professors: Jennifer Alexander-Brett, MD, PhD, Bradley Britigan, MD, Syed Bukhari, MD, MSc, Dawn B. Davis, MD, PhD, John D. Dickinson, MD, PhD, Prabhatchandra Dube, PhD, Steven Dudek, MD, David Kennedy, PhD, Anupam Kotwal, MBBS, MSc, Jerry Krishnan, MD, PhD, Suthat Liangpunsakul, MD, MPH, Sidharth Mahapatra, MD, PhD, Ruchi Naik, MD, Rochelle Naylor, MD, Timothy B. Niewold, MD, Jeffrey Salomon, MD, Suman Setty, PhD, MBBS, Roy L. Silverstein, MD, Daulath Singh, MD, Abraham Thomas, MD, MPH, and Terry G. Unterman, MD
6:30 pm	Dinner (on your own)
Tuesday, April 9, 2024		Meeting Room
7:00 am – 3:30 pm	Registration	King Arthur Foyer (third floor)
7:00 am – Noon	Setup posters for Tuesday, April 9th, 1:45 pm session	Renaissance Ballroom (fifth floor)
7:30 am – 8:45 am	Mentor Breakfasts Clinical and Translational Research Staff and Investigators: All you need to know about navigating human subjects research policies Mentor: Syed Bukhari, MD, MSc Clinical and Translational Research Staff and Investigators: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Habits of research teams Mentor: Steven Dudek, MD How to learn from and land leadership positions on Regional and National committees Mentor: David J. Kennedy, PhD and Jennifer Alexander-Brett, MD, PhD Setting Priorities: Communication and negotiation Mentor: Lynn Gerald, PhD, MSPH Identifying mentors and maintaining good mentor/mentee relationships Mentor: Jeffrey Salomon, MD and Suthat Liangpunsakul, MD, MPH The balancing act for women in medicine and science Mentor: Dawn Belt Davis, MD, PhD From case reporter to clinical investigator: How to get started in science Mentors: Jerry A. Krishnan, MD, PhD and Anupam Kotwal, MBBS, MSc	Camelot Ballroom (third floor)
7:30 am – 8:45 am	Attendee Breakfast
9:00 am – 10:00 am	AFMR Keynote Presentation Moderator: Syed Bukhari, MD, MSc Secretary-Treasurer, AFMR Midwestern Region Vascular Medicine Fellow Cleveland Clinic Speaker: Reshaping the Future of Medical Care, Education and Research: The Pivotal Roles of Synthetic Data, Generative AI, and Auto-MLs Several known obstacles in accessing medical data are directly tied to strict but understandably required regulatory restrictions within this space. HIPAA in the US and GDPR in the EU are in place to protect such patient privacy concerns and help prevent the abuse of sensitive data. Although these regulations are necessary, they also make it difficult for innovators and researchers to acquire and use such data in a timely manner to progress their quality studies and healthcare research. Major advancements in machine learning have greatly moved forward the advent of synthetic data creation which will hopefully help overcome some of the aforementioned obstacles. The use of such data will not only dramatically expedite data access to the individual investigators but may markedly lower the entry barriers in healthcare research and innovation. Hooman H. Rashidi, MD Associate Dean of AI in Medicine University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine	King Arthur Court (third floor)
10:00 am – 10:10 am	Coffee Break	Camelot Ballroom (third floor)
10:15 am – 11:15 am	Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Session Moderators: Suthat Liangpunsakul, MD, MPH Past President, CSCTR Professor of Medicine Indiana University School of Medicine Lynn B. Gerald, PhD, MSPH Assistant Vice Chancellor for Population Health / Research Professor of Medicine University of Illinois Chicago Speaker: The Case for Diversity in Clinical and Translational Breast Cancer Research Failure to achieve equitable representation of marginalized racial and ethnic groups and other historically disenfranchised populations in clinical and translational research perpetuates and exacerbates disparities in health outcomes. On the other hand, increasing diversity and inclusion in biomedical research can reduce the unequal burden of disease in our society by building trust in the healthcare system; improving equitable access to breakthrough diagnostic and treatment approaches; and accelerating scientific knowledge on clinically significant differences in the accuracy of biomarkers and the efficacy of treatment for diseases that disproportionately affect marginalized communities. This presentation will examine racial disparity in breast cancer survival as a case study on the legacy of racism in biomedical research and the consequences of systematic exclusion of Black women from clinical and translational breast cancer research. Strategies to improve diversity and inclusion in biomedical research will also be presented. Kent Hoskins, MD Associate Chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology University of Illinois Chicago	King Arthur Court (third floor)
11:15 am – 11:30 am	Awards Trainee Abstract Awardees Gabriella D. Boehm Lucy S. Cohen David J. Doss Matthew W. Dugan Madeline Kelly Denise Kent, PhD, RN Nargis Shaheen, PhD Oral Abstract Awardees Ghandi Hassan, MD Ashley D. Kendall, PhD Jun Lu Sidharth Mahapatra, MD, PhD Chuanfen Ni, MSW Grace G. Ogungbile Wiramon Rungratanawanich, PhD K-Awardees Adrienne L. Johnson, PhD Nicole Welch, MD Outstanding Young Investigator Jing Ma, MD, PhD	King Arthur Court (third floor)
11:30 am – 12:30 pm	Lunch	Camelot Ballroom (third floor)
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm	CSCTR John B. Hickam Endowed Lecture The John B. Hickam Endowed Lectureship was established in 1981 to honor John Hickam, President of CSCR in 1970. At the time of his death in 1970, Dr. Hickam was Chair of Medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Hickam was internationally recognized in medical research, particularly in the areas of lung, heart and circulatory system diseases. Dr. Hickam was also responsible for the administration of research programs, which established the Indiana University School of Medicine as one of the nation’s primary centers for research in heart disease. Moderator: Steven Dudek, MD Past President, CSCTR Professor of Medicine University Illinois at Chicago Speaker: Environmental contributions to health disparities in obstructive airway disease Learners will understand the role of environmental factors in clinical outcomes in obstructive airway disease, how the environment can contribute to health disparities, and identify potential environmental modifications which may lead to improved respiratory outcomes. Nadia N. Hansel, MD, MPH Interim Director, Department of Medicine Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine	King Arthur Court (third floor)
1:30 pm – 1:40 pm	Coffee Break	Camelot Ballroom (third floor)
1:45 pm – 3:00 pm	Moderated Poster Discussions Implementation Science Moderator: Jerry A. Krishnan, MD, PhD Basic Science Moderator: David J. Kennedy, PhD Applied Science Moderator: Anupam Kotwal, MBBS, MSc Educational / Outcome Research Moderator: Jeffrey Salomon, MD High Impact Case Reports Moderators: Syed Bukhari, MD, MSc and Steven Dudek, MD	Renaissance Ballroom (fifth floor)
3:00 pm – 3:10 pm	Coffee Break	Camelot Ballroom (third floor)
3:15 pm – 4:40 pm	Translational Science Oral Session I: Implementation Science Moderators: Marc S. Atkins, PhD Director, Community Engagement and Collaboration, Center for Clinical Translational Science Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology University of Illinois Chicago Sara Becker, PhD Alice Hamilton Professor of Psychiatry Inaugural Director of the Center for Dissemination and Implementation Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Oral Presenters:	King Arthur Court (third floor)
3:15 pm	Implementing A Sexual And Reproductive Health Workshop For Latina Teens And Their Female Caregivers: Findings From Theater Testing And Piloting Kate Merrill, PhD University of Illinois Chicago
3:27 pm	Partnering With Community Opioid Treatment Programs To Co-Design Measurement-Based Care: A Mixed Methods Analysis Kelli Scott, PhD Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science
3:39 pm	The Influence Of Transportation Barriers On Minority Patients' Hospitalization Outcomes Jun Lu University of Illinois Chicago
3:51 pm	Formative Perceptions On A Structured Transfer Model For Inter-ICU Transfer - A Qualitative Analysis In A Large Health System Chuanfen Ni, MSW Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
4:03 pm	Healthcare Stakeholders' Perspectives On Centralizing Patient's Tobacco Treatment Adrienne Johnson, PhD University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention
4:15 pm	Community Grand Rounds: Utilizing A Community And University Partnership On Chicago's South Side Addressing Social Determinants Of Health As A Strategy To Improve Community Interest In Research Natalie Watson, MA University of Chicago
4:27 pm	Feasibility Of Implementing A 1-Month App-Based Meditation Program With Legal-Involved Youth On Probation Ashley Kendall, PhD University of Illinois Chicago
3:15 pm – 4:40 pm	Translational Science Oral Session II: Cardiac, Renal, Endocrine/Metabolism, Gastroenterology, and Health Outcomes Moderators: Suthat Liangpunsakul, MD, MPH Past President, CSCTR Professor of Medicine Indiana University School of Medicine Rochelle N. Naylor, MD Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine The University of Chicago Medicine Oral Presenters:	Toledo Room (fifth floor)
3:15 pm	Hypoxia-Induced Peroxisomal Stress Mediates Cytotoxicity Of APOL1 Variants Sethu Madhavan, MD The Ohio State University
3:27 pm	SIRT1 Downregulation-Mediated Protein Acetylation Contributes To Gut Leakiness And Endotoxemia In Thioacetamide-Induced Liver Fibrosis Through The Gut-Liver Axis And The Protection By Melatonin Wiramon Rungratanawanich, PhD National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), NIH
3:39 pm	Outcomes And Complications Of Heart Failure With Iron Deficiency Anemia: A Nationwide Analysis Eun Seo Kwak University of Toledo
3:51 pm	C-SRC Activates Cardiac Fibroblasts And Promotes Right Ventricular Fibrosis In Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Madeline Kelly University of Minnesota
4:03 pm	Multi-Omics Analyses Of Ethanol Responses Reveals Novel Regulatory Mechanisms Of Sarcopenia In Alcohol-Related Liver Disease Nicole Welch, MD Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
4:15 pm	Investigating Major Interaction Pattern And Signaling Pathway Of 20-Hete With NA/K-ATPASE (NKA) In Kidney Dhilhani Faleel, MSc University of Toledo
4:27 pm	Testing The Effects Of Stimulated Exercise On Cardiac Development In Drosophila Melanogaster Expressing COVID-19 Genes Gabriella Boehm Florida Atlantic University/Michigan State University
3:15 pm – 4:40 pm	Translational Science Oral Session III: Pulmonary/Critical Care, Hematology/Oncology, Rheumatology/Immunology and Neurology Moderators: Jennifer Alexander-Brett, MD, PhD Past Chair, AFMR Midwestern Region Assistant Professor of Medicine Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis John D. Dickinson, MD, PhD Associate Professor of Medicine University of Nebraska Medical Center Oral Presenters:	St. Clair (upper fifth floor)
3:15 pm	Lung Endothelial Cell Barrier Protection By Estrogen Is Associated With Increased Expression Of CLAUDIN-5 And SHINGOSINE KINASE-1 Yulia Epshtein University of Illinois Chicago
3:27 pm	A Transcriptome-Based Approach To Drug Repurposing For Aggressive Group 3 Medulloblastomas David Doss Creighton University
3:39 pm	Clinical Characteristics Of Sarcoidosis Patients With Elevated Serum Chitotriosidase Levels Ahmed Mahgoub University of Illinois Chicago
3:51 pm	Hemin- Induced Necrotic Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Dysfunction And Capillary Leak Is Regulated By Toll-Like Receptor 4 Grace Ogungbile University of Illinois Chicago
4:03 pm	Activator Protein Transcription Factors Regulate Human IL-33 Expression And Splicing From Non-Canonical Promoters In Chronic Airway Disease Ghandi Hassan, MD Washington University St. Louis
4:15 pm	Triggering Ferroptosis By Targeting ABCB7 Can Potentiate Cisplatin Action In Pediatric Group 3 Medulloblastomas Sidharth Mahapatra
4:27 pm	Epithelial-Derived Biomarkers In Chronic Lung Allograft Rejection Lucy Cohen Washington University School of Medicine
4:40 pm – 5:40 pm	Closing Reception (beverages and hors d'oeuvres served)	Camelot Ballroom (third floor)