Category Archives: Immunology

Immunology

INmune Bio, Inc. Awarded $500000 Grant for Development of Novel Treatment to Reprogram Innate Immune System in People Living with ALS – BioSpace

Grant will fund proof-of-concept studies for XPro1595 therapy

LA JOLLA, Calif. , Feb. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- INmuneBio, Inc. (NASDAQ: INMB), an immunology company developing treatments that reprogram the patients innate immune system to fight disease, today announced that it has been awarded a $500,000 grant from The ALS Association. The grant will fund proof-of-concept studies for XPro1595, a novel therapy targeting innate immune dysfunction and chronic inflammation as a cause of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The endowment was awarded through the Associations The Lawrence and Isabel Barnett Drug Development Program and will be allocated over two years.

We are honored to receive this grant from The ALS Association, the pre-eminent organization supporting novel treatments for ALS, said R.J. Tesi, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of INmune Bio. As an immunology company, we focus on the role that innate immune dysfunction and neuroinflammation play in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS. This award supports our approach and moves the companys ALS program closer to the clinic.

While our knowledge of ALS has increased dramatically in the past few years, there are currently no disease modifying therapies, said CJ Barnum, Ph.D., Director of Neuroscience for INmune Bio. The innate immune system plays a central role in the development and progression of ALS. We believe precision targeting of the innate immune system by targetinginflammationwith XPro1595may be an effective treatment strategy inalleviating ALS. This award allows INmune Bio to take the first step to determine whether XPro1595 has therapeutic potential for ALS patients.

We believe INmune is on a path to unlocking some of the mystery around the immune system and how it responds to the kinds of inflammation that we know plays a role in ALS progression, said Kuldip Dave, Ph.D, vice president of research at The ALS Association. This grant will greatly accelerate proof of concept and advance our knowledge of immune dysfunction and neuroinflammation in people living with ALS.

About INmune Bio, Inc.INmune Bio, Inc. is a publicly traded (NASDAQ: INMB) clinical-stage biotechnology company developing therapies targeting the innate immune system in cancer. INmune Bio is developing two products platforms that reengineer the patients innate immune systems response to their disease - immune priming platform and DN-TNF platform. The immune priming platform is a Natural Killer (NK) cell therapeutic that primes the patients NK cells to attack residual disease the cause of cancer relapse. The DN-TNF platform includes programs in cancer, neurodegenerative disease and NASH. INB03 modifies the tumor microenvironment which often cause resistance to immunotherapy, such as anti-PD1 checkpoint inhibitors and trastuzumab. XPro1595 targets microglial activation, nerve cell death and synaptic dysfunction associated with neurodegenerative disease. LivNate modifies metabolic and immunologic pathology that contributes to the development and progression of NASH. To learn more, please visit http://www.inmunebio.com.

About The ALS AssociationThe ALS Association is the largest private funder of ALS research in the world. The Association funds global research collaborations, provides assistance for people with ALS and their families through its nationwide network of chapters and certified clinical care centers, and advocates for better public policies for people with ALS. The ALS Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while urgently searching for new treatments and a cure. For more information about The ALS Association, visit our website at http://www.alsa.org. For more information about The Lawrence and Isabel Barnett Drug Development Program, please visit: http://www.alsa.org/research/our-approach/call-for-abstracts/barnett-drug-development-request-for-proposals-081619.html

Forward-Looking Statements

There is no guarantee that any specific outcome will be achieved. Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on current expectations but are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of certain events and circumstances may differ materially from those described by the forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties. INBO3, LivNate, INKmune and XPro1595 are still in clinical trials and have not been approved and there cannot be any assurance that they will be approved or that any specific results will be achieved. The factors that could cause actual future results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to the Companys ability to produce more drug for clinical trials; the availability of substantial additional funding for the Company to continue its operations and to conduct research and development, clinical studies and future product commercialization; and, the Companys business, research, product development, regulatory approval, marketing and distribution plans and strategies. These and other factors are identified and described in more detail in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, the Companys Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and the Companys Current Reports on Form 8-K. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this release.

INmune Bio Contact: David Moss, CFO(858) 964-3720DMoss@INmuneBio.com

The ALS Association Contact:Brian Frederick,Ph.D. Executive Vice President, Communications(202) 464-8612bfrederick@alsa-national.org

Media Contact:David Schull(212) 845-4271David.Schull@russopartnersllc.com

Investor Contact:James CarbonaraHayden IR(646)-755-7412james@haydenir.com

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INmune Bio, Inc. Awarded $500000 Grant for Development of Novel Treatment to Reprogram Innate Immune System in People Living with ALS - BioSpace

Immunology

‘We’re responding to this threat’: University of Alberta works to help stop novel coronavirus – Edmonton Journal

The University of Albertas Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology says a drug once used in an Ebola outbreak could fight the novel coronavirus.

Remdesivir will be tested against the virus, known as 2019-nCoV, at the institute in Edmonton. Although there are regulatory hurdles related to getting samples of the coronavirus into the country, lab work has already begun, said Dr. Lorne Tyrrell, founding director of the Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology.

The prospects for developing an antivirus that can be used in patients is very good, and it may happen in the next few weeks and be readily available some compounds that are already on the market for their viruses that might work (against) this virus, said Tyrrell.

The institute is aiming to raise up to half a million dollars in funding, including rapid response grants from the Canadian Institute of Health Research, to go towards work on the novel coronavirus, Tyrrell said.

No one at the institute specializes in coronavirus at the moment. That is going to change very quickly, said Tom Hobman, professor of medical microbiology and immunology at the university, who noted that experts on coronaviruses have been recruited.

Since it can take years to get a brand new drug to market, researchers at the institute hope to find a drug thats already been developed to fight the virus.

Remdesivir, one of the drugs they will test, was used in the emergency treatment of patients with Ebola virus infection in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The drug has shown activity in animal models against the viral pathogens MERS and SARS, which are coronaviruses that are structurally similar to the novel coronavirus, and has been used on a small number of patients.

Since the outbreak of the new coronavirus, it was just logical to ask whether this drug will work against the new coronavirus. The good thing was that its been tested, with tons of pre-clinical data, as well as in very difficult clinical settings, said Matthias Gtte, chair of the department of medical microbiology and immunology.

We are interested, always, not in the entire virus, but in the little machines the enzymes that help the virus to propagate. As soon as you shut down the machine, you shut down the virus, and you have a drug, said Gtte. Now, the goal is to see if the mechanism works the same way against the novel coronavirus.

If youre trying to respond very quickly to an outbreak, you dont really have the luxury of time to develop something completely new, said Dave Evans, professor of medical microbiology and immunology.

The challenge with all drug development is making sure it works and is safe, so its a common approach to test drugs that are known to be safe on new viruses, said Evans.

Viruses change, and new viruses are always emerging, said Tyrrell.

Public health efforts to contain the novel coronavirus have been more challenging than in other outbreaks, including SARS, but the mortality rate is so far much lower, he said. There have been at least 40,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus worldwide, and 910 deaths, according to The World Health Organizations latest numbers.

(The institute) has been designed to look after major outbreaks in the world like this, and I just want you to know that were responding to this threat, said Tyrrell.

lijohnson@postmedia.com

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'We're responding to this threat': University of Alberta works to help stop novel coronavirus - Edmonton Journal

Immunology

Detection of Chromosomal and Plasmid-Mediated Quinolone Resistance Amo | IDR – Dove Medical Press

Noura E Esmaeel, 1 Marian A Gerges, 1 Thoraya A Hosny, 2 Ahmed R Ali, 3 Manar G Gebriel 1

1Medical Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt; 2Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt; 3Urology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

Correspondence: Marian A GergesMedical Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, 44519, EgyptTel +20 1003819530Email maromicro2006@yahoo.com

Introduction: Resistance to fluoroquinolones (FQ) in uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) has emerged as a growing problem. Chromosomal mutations and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) determinants have been implicated. Data concerning the prevalence of these determinants in UPEC in our hospital are quite limited.Purpose: To investigate the occurrence and genetic determinants of FQ resistance in UPEC isolated from urinary tract infection (UTI) cases in Zagazig University Hospitals.Patients and Methods: Following their isolation, the identification and susceptibility of UPEC isolates were performed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF MS). FQ resistance was detected by the disc diffusion method. Ciprofloxacin minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using E-test. Chromosomal mutations in the gyrA gene were detected using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), and for detection of PMQR, a couple of multiplex PCR reactions were used.Results: Among a total of 192 UPEC isolates, 46.9% (n=90) were FQ resistant. More than half of the isolates (57.8%) exhibited high-level ciprofloxacin resistance (MIC > 32 g/mL). Mutations in gyrA were detected in 76.7% of isolates, with 34.4% having mutations at more than one site. PMQR determinants were detected in 80.1% of UPEC isolates, with aac(6)-Ib-cr gene being the most frequent found in 61.1% of isolates.Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of both gyrA mutations and PMQR determinants among UPEC isolates in our hospital which contribute to high-level ciprofloxacin resistance, a finding that may require the revision of the antibiotics used for empirical treatment of UTI.

Keywords: gyrA mutations, qnr determinants, uropathogenic E. coli, ciprofloxacin resistance

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License.By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.

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Detection of Chromosomal and Plasmid-Mediated Quinolone Resistance Amo | IDR - Dove Medical Press

Immunology

Assistant/Associate, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology job with UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY | 195856 – Times Higher Education…

Job Description

The Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), UAE University, seeks candidates for a faculty position at the rank of Assistant/Associate Professor in Microbiology. We are particularly looking for an innovative investigator who has an established, or a clear potential to establish an independent research program in host-parasite interactions at the cellular and molecular level. Preference will be given to candidates with a strong background in computational and systems biology, genomics or bioinformatics. The College of Medicine operates an internationally recognized, integrated, problem/team-based learning curriculum and provides excellent research facilities. English is the language of instruction. Current research in the department focuses on cancer immunology, autoimmune diseases, antibiotic resistance, host-pathogen interactions, retroviral RNA packaging, dimerization and gene expression, EBV and its role in the pathogenesis of human diseases, and public health.

Minimum Qualification

The successful candidate must have a PhD or MD/PhD from an accredited institution.

Preferred Qualification

As above

Expected Skills/Rank/Experience

It is expected that the successful candidate will also have experience in teaching medical students, and postgraduate students. Importantly, candidates must demonstrate the potential to establish an independent and sustained research program in their area of expertise and be able to obtain peer-reviewed internal and external funding. International collaboration is encouraged.

Special Instructions to Applicant

Attach CV and publication list, names & contact information of 3 referees, and a cover letter describing research and teaching experience.

Division College of Medicine&Health Sciences

Department Microbiology - (CMHS)

Job Close Date open until filled

Job Category Academic - Faculty

Salary 28000-35000 UAE Dirhams per month, based on experience

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Assistant/Associate, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology job with UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY | 195856 - Times Higher Education...

Immunology

Quality Medical Management Services USA, LLC Signs Lease for Brand New, Expanded State-of-the-Art Space at Current 333 East Shore Rd Manhasset…

The new Manhasset office will now feature approximately 7,700 square feet of leading-edge technology and facilities.

Tarrytown, NY, Feb. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quality Medical Management Services USA, LLC, an affiliate of ENT and Allergy Associates, LLP, today announced that it has doubled down on its pledge to provide superior ENT, Allergy and Audiology healthcare services to the patients of Nassau County by signing a 10 year lease with East Shore Realty, LLC for a brand new, expansive clinical office at its current clinical office location at 333 East Shore Rd, Manhasset, NY, 11030.

This expansion allows ENTA physicians and other medical professionals to serve their patients needs with the increased benefit of 12 ENT exam rooms, 4 Allergy rooms, 3 audiology booths, a complete hearing aid dispensary, a full complement of allergy exam rooms for on-site testing and injections, and many other advantages. The Manhasset office will now feature approximately 7,700 square feet of leading-edge technology and facilities.

The expansion and renovations will be spearheaded by Nicole Monti-Spadaccini, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of QMMS USA. Ms. Monti currently oversees and directs the entire day to day operations for ENT and Allergy Associates, LLP.

This newly expanded and modernized location will complement the Practices other current Nassau County offices, in Garden City (990 Stewart Avenue, 6th floor, Suite 610, Garden City, NY, 11530) and Lake Success (3003 New Hyde Park Road, Suite 409, Lake Success, NY, 11042).

Philip Perlman, M.D., the senior ENTA partner in this office commented, Manhasset is an exciting place to live and work. Our neighborhood offers a dynamic environment that lends itself to young and old alike, singles and families wanting to take full advantage of the area. Our newly expanded office is now geared for further population growth and our patients deserve no less.

I have been practicing medicine in Nassau County for many years, added ENTA physician partner Mike Ditkoff, M.D. and I can tell you that we are extremely excited about what this new lease and facility upgrade will mean for patients in our communities.

Luke Donatelli, M.D, ENT physician in Manhasset commented, This expansion will offer extra comfort, extra convenience and truly state-of-the-art facilities. It further enhances our ability to provide what we already offer, which is the finest ear, nose, throat, allergy and audiology care possible. We are extremely pleased with this new lease.

Robert Glazer, EVP Chief Executive Officer of QMMS USA We are constantly looking for ways to improve the patient experience at our clinical locations. At our Manhasset office, we had the opportunity to upgrade and enhance without needing to move.Our expanded space provides additional exam rooms and procedure rooms as we look to recruit more high-quality otolaryngologists to this location. This is truly the best of all worlds. He continued With this expansion we are adding full time allergy, asthma and immunology services with the addition of Dr. Irum Noor to our clinical team. Dr. Noor will be supported by a team of well-educated and experienced nurses. In addition, we are subsequently expanding our audiology services, which combine the medical expertise of our ENT physicians and the diagnostic and rehabilitative skills of our licensed Doctors of Audiology to provide the most comprehensive care possible.

This expanded and improved facility is yet another example of ENTAs singular focus on both our patients healthcare, and the quality of their doctor visit experience, noted Robert Green, M.D., President of ENTA, Among other things, this new space means more comfort for everyone, and thats very important.

To learn more about ENTA, find a local office or book an appointment, download the ENT and Allergy Associates mobile app, visit http://www.entandallergy.com or call 1-855-ENTA-DOC.

About ENT and Allergy Associates LLP

ENT and Allergy Associates LLP (ENTA) has more than 220 physicians practicing in 46 office locations in Westchester, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, Rockland, Nassau and Suffolk counties, as well as New York City and northern/central New Jersey. The practice sees over 90,000 patients per month. Each ENTA clinical location provides access to a full complement of services, including General Adult and Pediatric ENT and Allergy, Voice and Swallowing, Advanced Sinus and Skull Base Surgery, Facial Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery, Disorders of the Inner Ear and Dizziness, Asthma, Clinical Immunology, Diagnostic Audiology, Hearing Aid dispensing, Sleep and CT Services. ENTA has clinical alliances with Mount Sinai Hospital, Montefiore Medical Center, Northwell Health, and a partnership with the American Cancer Society.

Story continues

To learn more about QMMS USA, LLC, visit http://www.qmmsusa.com

About QMMS USA, LLC: Backed by over 20 years of experience, Quality Medical Management Services USA (QMMS USA) offers healthcare consultancy services in the area of medical staff operations, practice management, ancillary service revenue enhancement, compliance, records management, and business applications. QMMS USA provides a seasoned team to offer leading edge healthcare business management. QMMS USA implements best practices throughout to ensure success.

Jason CampbellENT and Allergy Associates, LLP9149842531jcampbell@entandallergy.com

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Quality Medical Management Services USA, LLC Signs Lease for Brand New, Expanded State-of-the-Art Space at Current 333 East Shore Rd Manhasset...

Immunology

UHS board considers thesis reports – The News International

UHS board considers thesis reports

LAHORE:The 154th meeting of Advanced Studies and Research Board of the University of Health Sciences (UHS) was held here on Thursday with Gujranwala Medical College, Gujranwala, Principal Prof Dr Maroof Aziz Khan in the chair.

The board considered the thesis reports of Dr Mahwish Farzana, MD (radiology), Dr Ayman Nasieb, MS (cardiothoracic Surgery), Dr Matiur Rahman, MS (cardiac surgery) and Dr Salik Nazeer Qaisrani, MS (urology). The synopses of the following students were also considered for registration in various postgraduate courses: Dr Ghanwa Saeed, MPhil (immunology), Mahwish Asif, MPhil (microbiology), Faiqa Munir, MPhil (human genetics and molecular biology), Dr Syed Muhammad Saad Gardezi, MPhil (pharmacology), Dr Hafsa Faiz, MPhil (pharmacology), Dr Hammad Hassan, MPhil (science of dental materials), D. Huda Mehmood, MDS (prosthodontics), Dr Zoha Rahim, MD (gastroenterology), Dr Muhammad Asad Munir, MS (orthopaedics), Dr Mehreen Gul, MS (Obst. & Gynae.) and Dr Umair Rahim Khan, MS (plastic surgery).

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UHS board considers thesis reports - The News International

Immunology

Immunology and Allergy Clinical Reference Group job with NHS England | 98674 – The BMJ

Clinical Reference Group (CRG) Chair Appointments

CRGs provide specialty-specific clinical advice and leadership to support NHS Englands responsibility for directly commissioned services. CRGs lead the development of clinical commissioning policies, service specifications and quality dashboards; advise on service reviews; horizon scan, provide advice on new technologies; identify opportunities to reduce clinical variation and improve value.

Immunology and AllergyClinical Reference Group

Following successful promotion of the CRG Chair to the Clinical Lead for the Blood & Infection Programme of Care, the position of Chair for the Specialised Immunology & Allergy Clinical Reference Group is now vacant. This CRG covers specialised treatment of certain immunological and allergic conditions.

All CRG Chair positions will be remunerated at 1PA per week. Please contact england.specialisedcommissioning@nhs.net for more information on how to apply and an opportunity to discuss these roles further with James Palmer, Medical Director. The closing date for these posts will be Midnight 23rd February 2020

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Immunology and Allergy Clinical Reference Group job with NHS England | 98674 - The BMJ

Immunology

Kylie Jenner said her daughter Stormi is allergic to nuts, a year after the 2-year-old was hospitalized with an allergy – Business Insider

sourcePierre Suu/GC Images

A typical day of meals in the life of Kylie Jenner may include celery juice, bone broth, a tuna sandwich, or enchiladas.

But one food thats never on her households menu is nuts because her daughter, Stormi, is allergic to all of them, the 22-year-old Keeping Up With the Kardashians star and owner of Kylie Cosmetics said in a new video for Harpars Bazaar.

Stormi, who turned two last week, was hospitalized for a day last summer due to an allergy an ordeal that Jenner shared on Instagram at the time, without disclosing what exactly the allergy was.

God bless all the moms with sick babies, Jenner wrote on Instagram last summer after Stormi was treated and returned home safely. Im sending so much love and positive energy your way.

Allergies to tree nuts including almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, and walnuts -are among the eight most common food allergies, affecting up to 1% of the US population, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.

An allergy to peanuts, which arent tree nuts, is especially and increasingly common among kids, with the number of affected children tripling between 1997 and 2008, Business Insider previously reported. Today, the US Food and Drug Administration reports about 1 million American children are allergic.

About 30% of people allergic to peanuts are also allergic to tree nuts. It sounds like Stormi is one of them.

Nut allergies of any type can can range from mild to severe, with the most mild cases causing symptoms like a runny nose and the most serious cases resulting in anaphylaxis, which can constrict breathing and be fatal.

Other symptoms can include stomach cramping, indigestion, hives, swelling, and fainting.

The only sure-fire way for a person with a nut allergy to prevent a reaction is to avoid the allergen entirely, but even with strict avoidance, inadvertent exposures can and do occur, Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a statement last week.

Thats why the administrations announcement Sunday, that it had approved the first drug, Palforzia, to help treat peanut allergies, was a relief for many parents and medical professionals.

When used in conjunction with peanut avoidance, Palforzia provides an FDA-approved treatment option to help reduce the risk of these allergic reactions in children with peanut allergy, Marks continued.

There have also been recent advances in peanut allergy prevention in the past several years, with guidelines from the National Institutes of Health updated in 2017 to advise parents on how to introduce at-risk babies to the nuts early on. Previously, parents were simply advised to avoid nuts altogether.

The update was based on strong research finding that the introduction of peanut early in life significantly lowered the risk of developing peanut allergy by age five, Dr. Daniel Rotrosen, director of NIAIDs division of allergy, immunology and transplantation, said in a statement.

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Kylie Jenner said her daughter Stormi is allergic to nuts, a year after the 2-year-old was hospitalized with an allergy - Business Insider

Immunology

Dr. Chen Liu appointed the Brady Professor of Pathology – Yale News

Dr. Chen Liu

Dr. Chen Liu, recently named as the Anthony N. Brady Professor of Pathology, is an expert in viral hepatitis, liver cancer immunotherapy, graft-versus-host disease, and cancer epigenetics. His appointment will be effective March 1.

In November, Liu was named chair of the Department of Pathology at Yale School of Medicine and chief of pathology at Yale New Haven Hospital, also effective March 1. He is currently professor and chair of pathology, immunology, and laboratory medicine at New Jersey Medical School and at Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ) Medical School at Rutgers University, where he chairs the Center for Dermatology. He also is chief of service at University Hospital in Newark and RWJ University Hospital in New Brunswick and chief of the Division of Oncological Pathology at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

Lius research team has made significant contributions to the understanding of virus or alcohol-induced carcinogenesis, cancer biomarker discovery and novel therapies using small molecules and immunotherapy. His research work has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health and other agencies. He has published more than 240 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and holds five patents and pending applications. As a gastrointestinal and liver pathologist, he provides expert consultations for both adult and pediatric patients.

After obtaining his medical degree at Tong Liao Medical College at Inner Mongolia University of Nationality and completing his postgraduate training at Peking Union Medical College in China, Liu received his Ph.D. in pathology from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He completed his residency in anatomical and clinical pathology at Medical College of Pennsylvania, held an oncological pathology fellowship at M.D. Anderson Cancer Hospital, and had postdoctoral training at Scripps Clinic. Before his appointments at Rutgers in 2015, he was professor and vice chair of pathology, immunology, and laboratory medicine at the University of Florida, where he also held an endowed chair in gastrointestinal and liver research.

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Dr. Chen Liu appointed the Brady Professor of Pathology - Yale News

Immunology

Abu-Amer named J. Albert Key Professor – Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

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Professorship endows research into causes of inflammation and related skeletal problems

At the installation of Yousef Abu-Amer, PhD, as the J. Albert Key Professor are (from left) David H. Perlmutter, MD, executive vice chancellor for medical affairs, the George and Carol Bauer Dean of the School of Medicine and the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Distinguished Professor; Regis J. OKeefe, MD, PhD, the Fred C. Reynolds Professor and head of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery; Abu-Amer; and Chancellor Andrew D. Martin.

Yousef Abu-Amer, PhD, a leading expert in inflammatory joint disease and bone loss, has been named the inaugural Dr. J. Albert Key Professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

The new professorship was created through the philanthropic legacy of J. Albert Key, MD, who chaired the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery at Washington University from 1930 until his death in 1955. Another Washington University professorship named for Key, the J. Albert Key Distinguished Professorship in Orthopaedic Surgery, is held by spine specialist Keith H. Bridwell, MD.

Abu-Amer was installed by Chancellor Andrew D. Martin and David H. Perlmutter, MD, executive vice chancellor for medical affairs, the George and Carol Bauer Dean of the School of Medicine and the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Distinguished Professor.

Through Dr. Keys philanthropic legacy and the support of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, this professorship allows us to continue to advance research and education in orthopedics while honoring and paying tribute to an esteemed surgeon and leader who also relished his role as a teacher and mentor, Martin said.

Said Perlmutter: Dr. Keys work as a physician-scientist investigating the roots of arthritis, disorders of the hip joint and deterioration of bone laid the groundwork for what has become an outstanding orthopedics department at the School of Medicine, making progress in both clinical injury management and research into the causes of bone and joint disorders. I believe he would have been proud to support the very important research Dr. Abu-Amer has advanced in their shared field.

Estimates indicate more than 60 million Americans suffer from inflammatory joint diseases and that arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States. Abu-Amer studies some of the most devastating complications of inflammatory arthritis: joint erosion and excessive bone loss associated with advanced and late stages of the disease. He is interested in deciphering the molecular mechanisms at the interface of inflammation and skeletal tissue to help doctors pinpoint therapeutic interventions.

Yousef is a leader in the investigation of inflammation and its molecular signatures in immune cells, bone cells and cartilage cells, said Regis J. OKeefe, MD, PhD, the Fred C. Reynolds Professor and head of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. He is working to improve our understanding of bone and joint degeneration and to develop better preventive and therapeutic responses. His work is significantly advancing our understanding of the relationship between inflammatory molecular pathways and major events, such as joint failure, that can require extensive surgical interventions.

Abu-Amer is a fellow of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research and a former member of the organizations policy and publication committees. In 2002, he received the Kappa Delta Young Investigator Award from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. He is a standing member of the National Institutes of Healths (NIH) Skeletal Biology Structure and Regeneration Study Section and previously was a grant reviewer for NASA, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense and the Arthritis Foundation, and other funding agencies. He has had continuous funding from the NIH since 1999 and from Shriners Hospitals for Children since 2002.

Abu-Amer earned his bachelors and masters degrees and doctorate from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He completed his postdoctoral fellowship training in the Department of Pathology & Immunology at Washington University before joining the faculty in 1999. Abu-Amer also is a professor of cell biology & physiology, associate director of the Musculoskeletal Research Center and director of the Animal Models of Joint Injury and Disease Core at the School of Medicine.

Key graduated from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1918 and trained in surgery and orthopedics at Boston Childrens Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. In 1926, Washington University recruited him to become director of research at what was previously known as St. Louis Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children. In 1930, he became head of orthopedic surgery, and in 1945, he established the School of Medicines orthopedic surgery residency.

Several awards bear his name, including the Mid-America Orthopaedic Associations J. Albert Key Award for Resident Research and the J. Albert Key Prize for Excellence in Medical Writing. At Washington University, the J. Albert Key Memorial Orthopaedic Library was established in his honor, and in 1989, Asa C. Jones, MD, and his wife, Dorothy, created the J. Albert Key Distinguished Professorship in Orthopaedic Surgery. Asa C. Jones, an orthopedic surgeon and 1942 graduate of the School of Medicine, was mentored by Key.

Key co-authored six editions of the book Management of Fractures, Dislocations and Sprains, at one time the definitive text on orthopedic trauma. He also was named president of the American Orthopaedic Association in 1946 and of the Orthopaedic Research Society in 1955.

Washington University School of Medicines 1,500 faculty physicians also are the medical staff of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Childrens hospitals. The School of Medicine is a leader in medical research, teaching and patient care, ranking among the top 10 medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Childrens hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC HealthCare.

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Abu-Amer named J. Albert Key Professor - Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis