ETSU researcher co-authors a multi-institutional publication focusing on the systemic response of tissue resident macrophages to myocardial infarction, stroke, and sepsis
Sepsis, heart attack, and stroke elicit systemic inflammation that impacts virtually
every organ system. In a recent paper published in the journal Immunity, a multi-institutional group of investigators examined changes in macrophage number,
origin, and gene expression in the heart, brain, liver, kidney, and lung of mice with
myocardial infarction, stroke, or sepsis.
The study was led by Dr. Matthias Nahrendorf, Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts
General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Researchers from Harvard, University
of Pittsburgh, UC San Diego, University Hospital Wuerzburg (Germany), and East Tennessee
State University were involved in the study. The researchers found that macrophages
which reside in the same organ responded similarly to different types of injuries
by modulating expression of tissue-specific genes. The authors concluded that “local
injury activates macrophages in remote organs and that targeting of macrophages could
improve resilience against systemic complications following myocardial infarction,
stroke or sepsis.”
Dr. David Williams, Carroll H. Long Professor of Surgery and co-Director of the
Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease, and Immunity was a co-author on the paper.
Publication Authors: Freidrich Felix Hoyer, Kamila Naxerova, Maximillian J, Schloss,
Maarten Hulsmans, Anil V. Nair, Partha Dutta, David M. Calcagno, Fanny Herisson, Atsushi
Anzai, Yuan Sun, Gregory Wojkiewicz, David Rohde, Vanessa Frodermann, Katrien Vandoome,
Gabriel Courties, Yoshiko Iwamoto, Christopher S. Garris, David L. Williams, Sylvie
Breton, Dennis Brown, Michael Whalen, Peter Libby, Mikael J. Pittet, Kevin R. King,
Ralph Weissleder, Flip K. Swirski, and Matthias Nahrendorf. Tissue-specific macrophage responses to
remote injury impact the outcome of subsequent local immune challenge. Immunity 51(5):899-914.e7.
doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2019.10.010, 2019.
Quillen College of Medicine Medical Student Summer Research Program takes a collaborative approach to adapting to COVID-19
When CIIDI member Dr. Aaron Polichnowski (pictured below with student presenters
in 2019) began planning the 2020 Medical Student Summer Research program late last
year, the world was just beginning to hear the first stirrings of the virus that would
come to be known as COVID-19. Little did he know that by the time the 2020 program
began that circumstances would necessitate a move to online research and remote mentorship.
The six-week program, which is conducted from early May until late June, has
become an integral part of the training of many Quillen College of Medicine medical
students, with the program experiencing two-fold growth over the past three years.
The major goal of the research program is to provide opportunities and support for
medical students to participate in research. Providing a research environment for
medical students that fosters intellectual curiosity and the application of critical
thinking skills is a major requirement of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education
(LCME); the summer research program is one of the best opportunities for medical students
to engage in research during their time at Quillen.
The research environment at ETSU Quillen College of Medicine is well-suited in
this regard as it is comprised of numerous investigators whose research programs span
from traditional basic science research to clinical research, as well as community-based
research. Polichnowski states, “I think the recent growth and success of this program
reflects the dedication of investigators and administration at Quillen College of
Medicine to provide a high-quality research experience for medical students.”
Initially, when it became clear that the COVID-19 pandemic would impact ETSU
and prevent students from being on campus, the research program was cancelled. Soon
after that announcement, Polichnowski says the M1 class president contacted him asking
if he could help transition the program to an online/remote format. The major concerns
of the students were that many were depending on the stipend which participating students
receive for financial support over the summer, and that the students understand the
importance of gaining research experience and intellectual and experiential training
while in medical school. Given the competition of residency programs, experience
in research while in medical school is viewed as an important component in the application
process.
Typically, students are paired with mentors who work closely with them throughout
the summer; however, when it became clear that the COVID-19 pandemic would likely
prevent students from working in labs as well as directly communicating or meeting
with investigators during the summer, Polichnowski developed a plan to transition
the research program to an online format. He describes the changes: “Although students
will receive little hands-on research experience this summer, we still have the opportunity
to provide students with an intellectually stimulating research experience remotely.
The activities students will be involved in this summer are literature reviews, journal
clubs, learning about research techniques and methods via online resources, analyzing
data, writing manuscripts, writing research protocols to be submitted to the IRB or
IACUC, or other aspects of planning, conducting, and analyzing research. In all cases,
students will directly communicate with their mentors via Zoom, email, or other remote
avenues. My hope is that students will get some hands-on experience in research in
the relatively near future when the COVID-19 situation improves.”
The program provides a culminating experience in August or September where students
present their findings in a research symposium. Polichnowski says, “I am still hopeful
students will have the opportunity to participate in poster presentations. Given that
social distancing guidelines will likely still be in place in the fall, I anticipate
that the poster symposium will be conducted in an online fashion. This is something
that I will be partnering with faculty mentors and students to finalize details.”
The reformatting of the summer research program illustrates how stakeholders
can collaborate to promote training for students. Motivated student leaders, dedicated
College of Medicine leadership, engaged mentors, and a committed faculty director
have worked together to ensure that the research program moved ahead despite the pandemic.
Polichnowski says, “I cannot speak highly enough of the support and dedication of
all faculty members across all departments who have ensured the program continues
this summer. The program could not take place without the support of Quillen College
of Medicine leadership. As each student receives a stipend for the summer, without
the financial support of Dean Block and the Chairs of the eight College of Medicine
departments, this program would not be possible. In addition, all faculty members
have been tremendously supportive of the idea to continue this program in an online/remote
format. They quickly adapted their projects that originally involved a lot of hands-on
experience for students to projects that still require significant intellectual input
from students.”
For more information about this program, contact Dr. Aaron Polichnowski, Assistant
Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, at polichnowski@etsu.edu.
Dr. Megan Quinn is Named an East Tennessee State University Presidential Fellow by Dr. Brian Noland
University Relations recently announced that East Tennessee State University
President Dr. Brian Noland has named Dr. Nicholas Hagemeier, Dr. Jodi Polaha, and
Dr. Megan Quinn as Presidential Fellows for the fall 2020 semester.
As Fellows, the three faculty members will develop and execute a project that
is aligned with one of ETSU's major initiatives in teaching, learning, and service.
The Fellows will work closely with President Noland, his leadership team, and ETSU
Center for Teaching Excellence staff.
The Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease, and Immunity would
like to recognize CIIDI member Dr. Megan Quinn. She serves as Associate Professor
of Epidemiology in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology in the College
of Public Health. She teaches courses in infectious disease epidemiology, field epidemiology
and global health. She earned her B.A. in psychology from Wesleyan College, a M.Sc.
in public health research from University of Edinburgh College of Medicine and Veterinary
Medicine, and a Dr.PH in epidemiology from ETSU.
She has taught at ETSU since 2012. In 2016, she earned the ETSU Distinguished
Faculty Award in Service. Her research is primarily focused on adverse childhood experiences
(ACEs) and their role in health risk behaviors and outcomes.
Dr. Quinn’s project will focus on understanding the current campus climate as
it relates to ACEs-informed practices and work to identify opportunities to promote
ACEs awareness.
The CIIDI congratulates Dr. Quinn on being named a Presidential Fellow.
