Topics in Molecular Medicine is an MD/PhD course specifically designed to bring together biomedical research and clinical medicine in an integrated format. Students are given an introduction to various topics in biomedical research and are then allowed to critically evaluate selected published findings in the field. Students gain further experience by hosting a lecture from a leading scientist in the field of discussion. Each month is completed by discussion of the potential clinical impact of the basic science research findings.

Organizer:    Timothy McDonnel, M.D., Ph.D.
 
Student Host:    Mike Davis

 

 

Session 1 (Jan. 14.): Introduction

Readings:
• McDonnell TJ. Navone NM. Troncoso P. Pisters LL. Conti C. von Eschenbach AC. Brisbay S. Logothetis CJ., Expression of bcl-2 oncoprotein and p53 protein accumulation in bone marrow metastases of androgen independent prostate cancer, Journal of Urology, 157(2):569-74, 1997.
Session 2 (Jan. 21): Student Presentations

Student Presenters: Larry Anderson and Kuan Yu

Papers:

• Joukov V. Pajusola K. Kaipainen A. Chilov D. Lahtinen I. Kukk E. Saksela O. Kalkkinen N. Alitalo K.  A novel vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF-C, is a ligand for the Flt4 (VEGFR-3) and KDR (VEGFR-2) receptor tyrosine kinases EMBO Journal, 15(2):290-8, 1996.
• Joseph IBJK. Isaacs JT.  Potentiation of the antiangiogenic ability of linomide by androgen ablation involves down-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor in human androgen-responsive prostatic cancers, Cancer Research, 57:1054-7, 1997.
• Papandreou CN. Usmani B. Geng Y. Bogenrieder T. Freeman R. Wilk S. Finstad CL. Reuter VE. Powell CT. Scheinberg D. Magill C. Scher HI. Albino AP. Nanus DM.  Neutral endopeptidase 24.11 loss in metastatic human prostate cancer contributes to androgen-independent progression, Nature Medicine,4(1):50-7, 1998.
Session 3 (TUESDAY, Jan. 27, Noon Room MSB 2.135): Guest Speaker

  "Challenges for Therapy Development in Prostate Cancer"

        Dr. Christopher Logothetis
          Department of GU Oncology
        MD Anderson Cancer Center 

Session 4 (Jan. 28): Problem Solving Session

        A problem will be distributed and discussed at the session.
 

Organizer:    Staley Brod, M.D.
                       Department of Neurology
                       UT-Houston Medical School
Student Host:  Jennifer O'Brien

 

 

Session 1 (Feb. 4): Introduction

Readings:
• Weinstock-Guttman B, Ransohoff RM, Kinkel RP, Rudick RA.  The Interferons: Biological Effects, Mechanisms of Action, and Use in Multiple Sclerosis.  Annals of Neurology 37(1):7-15, 1995.
Session 2 (Feb. 11): Student Presentations

Student Presenters: Sandeep Agarwal & Mimi Cho

Papers:

• Butcher EC, Picker LJ. Lymphocyte Homing and Homeostasis.  Science 272:60-66, 1996.
• Petricoin III EF, Ito S, Williams BL, Audet S, Stancato LF, Gamero A, Clouse K, Grimley P, Weiss A, Beeler J, Finbloom DS, Shores EW, Abraham R, Larner AC.  Antiproliferative action of interferon-alpha requires components of T-cell-receptor signalling.  Nature 390:629-632, 1997.


Session 3 (THURSDAY, Feb. 19: 4:00PM MSB 7.037): Guest Speaker

Interferon-receptor interactions: a complex story unfolding.
 

Eleanor Fish Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Medical Genetics & Microbiology
University of Toronto
Readings:
• Uzé G, Lutfalla G, Mogensen KE.  alpha and beta Interferons and their receptor and their friends and relations. J Interferon and Cytokine Research, 15:3-26, 1995.
 
Session 4 (Feb. 25): Problem Solving Session.

Organizer:    Randy Johnson, Ph.D.
                       Departmenf Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
                       MD Anderson Cancer Center
Student Host:  Stacy Berry
Session 1 (Mar. 4): Introduction
Readings:
• Johnson RL, Tabin CJ.  Molecular Models for Vertebrate Limb Development. Cell, 90:979-990, 1997.
• Mundlos S, Olsen BR.  Heritable diseases of the skeleton. Part I: Molecular insights into skeletal development-transcription factors and signaling pathways.  FASEB J, 11:125-132, 1997.
• De Moerlooze L, Dickson C.  Skeletal disorders associataed with fibroblast growth factor receptor mutations.  Current Opinion in Genetics and Development, 7:378-385, 1997.

 
Session 2 (Mar. 18: 4:00 PM, MSB 2.103): Guest Speaker

Nail patella syndrome : 100 years from phenotype to genotype

            Dr. Ian McIntosh
            Center for Medical Genetics
            Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine        
       
Session 3 (Mar. 25): Student Presentations

Student Presenters: Roshni Kandyil & Suzanna Martin
Papers:

• Muragaki Y, Mundlos S, Upton J, Olsen BR.  Altered growth and branching patterns in synpolydactyly caused by mutations in HOXD13.  Science 272:548-551,1996.
• Riddle RD, Ensini M, Nelson C, Tsuchida T, Jessell TM, Tabin C.  Induction of the LIM Homeobox Gene LMX1 by WNT7a establishes dorsoventral pattern in the vertebrate limb.  Cell, 83:631-640, 1995.
• Deng C, Wynshaw-Boris A, Zhou F, Kuo A, Leder P.  Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 3 is a negative regulator of bone growth.  Cell, 84:911-921, 1996.
Session 4 (Apr. 1): Problem Solving Session

Organizer:    Frank Arnett, M.D. and Filemon K. Tan, M.D., Ph.D.
                        Department of Internal Medicine
                        Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunogenetics
Student Host:  Sandeep Agarwal
Session 1 (Apr. 8): Introduction
Readings:
• "Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma) : Clinical Aspects".  from  Arthritis and Allied Conditions,  13th edition.  William J. Koopman.  1997.  pgs. 1433-1463.
• "Pathogenesis of Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma)".  from  Arthritis and Allied Conditions,  13th edition.  William J. Koopman.  1997.  pgs. 1481-1489.
• Arnett FC, RF Howard, F Tan et al.  1996.  Increased prevalence of systemic sclerosis in a Native American Tribe in Oklahoma.  Arthritis and Rheumatism.  39(8):1362-1370, 1996.

 
Session 2 (Apr. 15): Student Presentations

Student Presenters: Tim King and Mimi Cho
Papers:

• Feder JN.  Gnirke A.  Thomas W.  Tsuchihashi Z.  Ruddy DA.  Basava A. Dormishian F.  Domingo R Jr.  Ellis MC.  Fullan A.  Hinton LM.  Jones NL.  Kimmel BE.  Kronmal GS.  Lauer P.  Lee VK.  Loeb DB.  Mapa FA.  McClelland E.  Meyer NC.  Mintier GA.  Moeller N.  Moore T.  Morikang E.  Prass CE. Quintana L. Starnes SM. Schatzman RC. Brunke KJ. Drayna DT. Risch NJ. Bacon BR. Wolff RK. A novel MHC class I-like gene is mutated in patients with hereditary hemochromatosis. Nature Genetics, 13:399-408, 1996.
• Houwen RH.  Baharloo S.  Blankenship K.  Raeymaekers P.  Juyn J. Sandkuijl LA.  Freimer NB.  Genome screening by searching for shared segments : mapping a gene for benign recurrnet intrahepatic cholestasis. Nature Genetics, 8:380-386, 1994.
Session 3 (Apr. 22): Guest Speaker

 Using Anthropolgical Methods to Investigate Disease Susceptibility : Choctaws and Scleroderma

            Morris Foster, Ph.D.
               Department of Anthropology
            University of Oklahoma
   

Session 4 (Apr. 29): Problem Solving Session