 |
|
|
The Department of Medicine's impact on medical research has
been achieved by those of our faculty who have played leading
roles in developing prominent NIH-sponsored basic, translational
and clinical multidisciplinary research programs. Many of
these programs have taken advantage of the diverse patients we are
able to serve, given the uniquely rich demographics of the
Los Angeles region. We are proud to be involved in the entire spectrum
of translation research, running the gamut from
applied basic science to clinical trials to the provision and staffing
of critical core facilities. Selected examples include:
Basic/Translational Science
- Liver Center (Kaplowitz NK)
- Will Rogers Institute Pulmonary Research Center (Crandall ED,
Borok Z)
- Melanoma Program (Weber J)/Gastrointestinal Oncology Program
(Lenz HJ)
- Diabetes Center (Buchanan TA)
- Lupus Center (Horwitz DA, Stohl W)
- Direct Microneurography Program (Campese VN)
- Cardiovascular Imaging Program (Pohost GM)
Large Scale Clinical Research
- General Clinical Research Center (Buchanan TA, Sattler FR)
- Atherosclerosis Research Unit (Hodis HN)
- AIDS Clinical Trials Group (Squires KE)/ Women's Interagency
HIV Study (Levine AM)
- Hepatitis Center (Lindsay KL)
- Sickle Cell Center (Johnson CS)
- Keck Diabetes Prevention Initiative (Peters AH)
BASIC/TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE
The NIH-sponsored Liver Center and core laboratories (Molecular
Biology, Cell Culture and Organelle), led by Neil K.
Kaplowitz, M.D., is one of only four in the nation. In addition
to basic and translational research programs in liver disease,
this Center provides a major institutional resource fostering multidisciplinary
and interdepartmental investigations.
The Will Rogers Institute Pulmonary Research Center, under the direction
of Edward D. Crandall, M.D., Ph.D. and Zea
Borok, M.D., continues to contribute significant advances in research
related to lung injury and pulmonary edema. Their investigational
focus involves studies on transport, growth and differentiation
of lung alveolar epithelial cells from the
cellular/molecular to organ levels.
Cancer Center projects such as the Immunotherapy Program, under
the direction of Jeffrey Weber, M.D., and the Colorectal
Center, under the direction of Heinz-Josef Lenz, M.D., investigate
the biochemical bases of gene expression, immunotherapy
and identification of immunomarkers. Recent research has led to
the identification of novel regulatory mechanisms and targets
for cancer therapy, suggesting new paradigms for cancer detection
and treatment.
The Diabetes Center is established to investigate the origin, prevention
and treatment of diabetes and associated conditions
(including obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and atherosclerosis).
Thomas A. Buchanan, M.D., Richard N. Bergman, Ph.D.,
Chair of the Department of Physiology, and Michael Goran from the
Department of Preventive Medicine, share leadership in
developing this important multidisciplinary research program.
Information gained by the Lupus Center from the laboratory bench
has served as the basis for development of prototype treatment
strategies hinting at successful treatment stratagems for a wide
variety of auto-immune diseases, as well as to less toxic
treatments for the prevention of organ transplant rejection and
for systemic lupus erythematosus.
The new Direct Microneurography Program studies how renal injuries
may activate afferent pathways which integrate with
hypothalamic nuclei involved in noradrenergic control of blood pressure.
Under the direction of Gerald M. Pohost, M.D., the developing Cardiovascular
Imaging Program explores new and innovative
uses of imaging technologies leading to accurate non-invasive testing
techniques.
LARGE SCALE CLINICAL TRIAL CENTERS
The General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) represents one of our
largest and most successful programs at the Keck School
of Medicine. Its primary purpose is to provide resources and support
for the conduct of clinical research. Under the leadership
of Director Thomas A. Buchanan, M.D., this program has two outstanding
satellite units at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and
City of Hope. Currently, it represents the largest and best-funded
GCRC program in the nation.
Under the leadership of Howard N. Hodis, M.D., the Atherosclerosis
Research Unit focuses on in vivo assessment of atherosclerosis
found in association with a variety of predisposing conditions,
including diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, hypertension
and renal disease. Using cutting-edge technology to assess changes
in major arterial vessels, this Unit is conducting studies
designed to assess the benefits of a wide variety of therapeutic
interventions for prevention and reversal of atherosclerosis.
Under the direction of Kathleen E. Squires, M.D., the adult AIDS
Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) is one of the nation's leading
centers in carrying out NIH-sponsored AIDS clinical trials in adult
populations, while the Women's Interagency HIV Study
(WIHS), under the direction of Alexandria M. Levine, M.D., studies
unique aspects of HIV infection in the female population.
The Hepatitis Center, under the direction of Karen L. Lindsay, M.D.,
is an NIH-funded program primarily designed to investigate
new therapeutic approaches for treatment of chronic hepatitis C.
In addition to this large clinical investigative program,
there are important basic science collaborations with the Department
of Microbiology and Immunology (Michael Lai) and the
Liver Center.
The Sickle Cell Center, directed by Cage S. Johnson, M.D., is a
well established NIH-funded program fostering interdepartmental
research concerning sickle cell anemia.
The Keck Diabetes Prevention Initiative, a joint project between
Anne Peters, M.D. and Francine Kaufman, M.D. (Childrens
Hospital Los Angeles), is designed to asses the epidemic of obesity
and diabetes in underserved Los Angeles communities, with
the objective of developing, and implementing sustainable interventions
to lower obesity and diabetes, that can be broadly
applied to other communities.
|
|
