ucla pathology and laboratory medicinepathology.ucla.edu/workfiles/news/department-newslett… ·...
TRANSCRIPT
UCLA Pathology and Laboratory Medicine—Winter Edition February 2014 | Page 1
UCLA Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Website
Annual Holiday Party
Happy 2014! The Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine continues its wonderful Holiday
Party tradition. Below are highlights of the celebration. Click here for more photos AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
2
ASSISTANTS AND SCHOLARSHIP
3
NEW EMPLOYEES 4
HOLIDAY EVENT 5
PUBLICATIONS 6
IMED SERIES 7
DEPARTMENT NEWS 8
Inside this issue:
Winter Newsletter—February 2014
U C L A P A T H O L O G Y A N D L A B O R A T O R Y M E D I C I N E
Q U A R T E R L Y N E W S L E T T E R
Our website is getting lots of attention! During January, we had:
● 10,935 visits to the website ● 8,121 unique visitors
● 30,736 page views ● from 121 countries
This is a 12% increase in unique visitor traffic compared to just six
months earlier – and we expect growth to be even stronger this
year. This means greater opportunity for your labs, news and ef-
forts to get noticed.
If you would like information about traffic on your area’s webpag-
es, we can provide you with detailed tracking information. This
can be very helpful to track interest in a new service, advertise-
ment, or to knowing traffic trends to your pages.
The website is a great resource for easy access to the information
you need. We encourage you to become familiar with the ―For
Faculty and Staff‖ section on the front page. Here, you’ll find fre-
quently used information about the business office, contracts and
grants, purchasing, reimbursements, travel, conference rooms,
forms portal and more.
Consider making http://pathology.ucla.edu your homepage. The
front page of the website has been designed to give quick access to
many commonly used sites, including the Faculty and Staff pages,
division pages, as well as through the ―Quick Links‖ on the top
left side where you can find one-click access to the ―Mednet‖
page, Path IT Service Now, our intranet pages, emergency and
safety information, manuals, and more.
The website is also an important resource of information for visi-
tors from outside the department, as well as an opportunity to
highlight and promote your programs. You can help us make the
website better and attract more attention by:
Let us add your lab (or similar) pages. Contact us for infor-
mation.
Don’t be shy about sending us your (or your colleagues) big
news; e.g. awards, accolades, grants awarded, or publications
released. Your good news is good news for us too! We will be
happy to post your upcoming department-related seminars
and events.
Add http://pathology.ucla.edu (or your specific Path and Lab
landing page) to your email signature line and business cards.
This helps increase traffic to the website which means in-
creased attention to your efforts.
Email us with your requests or news, and don’t forget…
Path and Lab is now on Facebook—please ―Like‖ us!
UCLA Pathology and Laboratory Medicine—Winter Edition February 2014 | Page 2
Awards and Recognitions
Drs. Jianyu Rao, Kimberly Mislick, Marie
Sohsman and Yong Ying are among the authors
of a groundbreaking study laying the ground-
work for broader validation of label-free quanti-
tative biophysical markers for clinical diagnoses
for cancer and inflammation. This could help to
reduce laboratory workload and improve clini-
cal decision making. Read More
Dr. Dennis Goldfinger was recently chosen by
the American Society for Apheresis to receive
the annual Francis S. Morrison Memorial Lec-
ture Award. The award recognizes individuals
who have made major contributions to the field
of apheresis medicine and apheresis profession-
als who have made a lasting difference in the
field at the national level.
Dr. Oliver Hankison has been elected a Fellow
of the American Association for the Advance-
ment of science (―AAAs‖) for his scientifically
distinguished efforts to advance science or its
applications. His election was announced in the
Nov. 29 Science journal.
The UCLA Kidney Exchange Program cele-
brated its 100th transplant on Dec. 2. Congratu-
lations to UCLA Immunogenetics, Renal Pa-
thology and all who made this important mile-
stone a reality. Read More
Dr. Stan Nelson was quoted in an article by Al-
Jazeera America, about personalized medicine
discussing UCLA’s Exome Sequencing pro-
gram, which enables parents to obtain a clear
diagnosis and effective treatment for children
with rare genetic disorders.
Drs. Samuel Strom, Hane Lee, Kingshuk Das,
Eric Vilain, Stanley Nelson, Wayne Grody and
Joshua Deignan have successfully demonstrat-
ed a way to alleviate significant labor and cost
burdens to clinical laboratories wishing to use
next-generation sequencing technology by re-
ducing the amount of required Sanger-based
confirmation without sacrificing test quality.
Genetics in Medicine
Drs. Samuel Strom and Hane Lee are co-
authors on a recently published paper in Hu-
man Molecular Genetics establishing HDAC8
as an important gene for patients with clinical
features of Cornelia de Lange Syndrome. A
mutation and phenotype discovered through
Clinical Exome Sequencing performed at
UCLA helped define the spectrum of condi-
tions. Read More
Dr. Michael Teitell has been appointed Associate
Director for Clinical Integration of the UCLA-
Caltech Medical Scientist Training Program
(MSTP). More Info
He has also been appointed UCLA’s next Faculty
Athletic Representative (FAR) effective July 1,
2014. The FAR provides a faculty voice and per-
spective in the administration and oversight of
the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Dr. Siavash Kurdistani has been appointed Co-
Director of the UCLA-Caltech Medical Scien-
tist Training Program (MSTP), having previ-
ously served as an Associate Director.
More Info
Dr. Wayne Grody explored the difference be-
tween Hollywood fact and fiction, and dis-
cussed his film and TV advisory experiences in
the Smithsonian’s Genomics, Hollywood Style
program, webcast on January 29.
The Voice of Russia explores what makes Dr.
Grody ―Hollywood’s go-to scientist.‖
A Promise Fulfilled—UCLA’s Clinical Ge-
nomics Center’s exome sequencing program is
featured in the Winter 2014 edition of U Maga-
zine. More Info
Dr. Alistair Cochran is a senior author of an
important study showing that lymphatic map-
ping and sentinel node biopsy, with immediate
complete lymph node dissection if the sentinel
nodes contains metastases, significantly pro-
longs disease-free survival for patients with in-
termediate and thick melanomas, and prolongs
distant disease free survival and reduces death
from melanoma for patients with intermediate
thickness primary melanomas. | Abstract
Rita Effros, Ph.D., discusses the challenge of
meeting the needs of an aging Baby Boomer
generation in The Silver Tsunami, in the Winter
2014 U Magazine | More Info
UCLA Pathology and Laboratory Medicine—Winter Edition February 2014 | Page 3
Congratulations Alisa!
Our very first recipient of the Loni Calhoun CLS Educational Scholarship and
Conference Stipend Award
UCLA Blood Bank has established an award to honor Ms. Loni Calhoun for her commitment
to the field of Transfusion Medicine.
Ms. Calhoun is a passionate immunohematologist and consummate teacher who is always
willing to share her knowledge. She recently retired from UCLA after 27 years in the blood
bank as a Transfusion Medicine Education Coordinator and Technical Specialist, then another
6 years as a per diem blood bank CLS.
The purpose of this award is to encourage our staff to become active in the Transfusion Medi-
cine community by attending educational meetings and participating in our state blood bank
society. Each year, the award recipient will receive a 1-year membership to the California Blood Bank Society (CBBS) including ―sponsorship‖
by senior members, registration for one regional seminar and registration plus a $750 travel stipend to attend the CBBS annual meeting.
Our first awardee is Ms. Alisa Wood. Alisa started her career in the blood bank as a hospital laboratory technician in 2003 and pursued her CLS
degree in 2008. With her passion for transfusion service, she returned to the blood bank after working 5 years as a generalist at the Santa Monica
Hospital. Alisa has a thirst for knowledge – she is always inquiring about patients, asking questions about Immunohematology, and attending
seminars. She also shows initiative in the blood bank by taking an active role in quality-driven projects.
We are very happy to present this award to Ms. Wood.
Department News
Jeanette Racho is the Administrative Support
to Dr. Fernando Palma-Diaz and in charge of
slide filing room and special
projects.
Hui-Ling Wang goes by Ling and is
the Administrative Support and As-
sistant to Doctors: Jian Yu Rao,
Sunita Bhuta, Sharon Hirschowitz,
Peggy Sullivan, and David Lu.
Tami Langevin is the Administra-
tive Support to Doctors: David
Dawson, Samuel French, Charles
Lassman, Bita Naini, and Hanlin
Wang.
Gayana Kisiyan is the Administrative Sup-
port for Jonathan Said, M.D., Chief of Ana-
tomic Pathology.
Leslie Chew is the Administrative Support for
Doctors Michael C. Fishbein, W. Dean Wal-
lace, and Haodong Xu. She also assists the
autopsy services.
Bill Schram is the Administrative Support for
Doctors: Scott Nelson, Nicole Dawson, and
Steven Hart.
Tina Thomas is Administrative Sup-
port to Doctors: Harry Vinters, Mau-
rice Anthony Verity (Emeritus), Wil-
liam H. Yong, and Negar Khanlou.
Assistants to Faculty Members
Veronica Mani is the Administrative Support
to Doctors: Sophia Apple, Jiaoti Huang, Neda
Moatamed, and Susan Kerkoutian.
Carmen Jones (Interim) is the Administrative
Support to Doctors: Sarah Dry, Anthony
Butch, Kathleen Kelly, Thomas Drake, and
Lu Song.
Michael Richards (Interim) is the Adminis-
trative Support for Doctors; Linda Baum,
Kingshuk Das, Wayne Grody, Dennis Gold-
finger, Samuel Strom, Joshua Deignan and
Alyssa Ziman.
Nykole Cole is the Administrative Support for
Doctors Nagesh Rao, Fabiola Quintero-
Rivera, Carlos A. Tirado, and Sibel Kantarci.
Roya Hariri is the Administrative Support to
Doctors: Dinesh Rao, Sheeja Pullarkat, So-
phie Song, and Stephen Lee.
Vanessa Lira is the Administrative
Support to Scott Binder, M.D..
Senior Vice Chair/Director, Pathol-
ogy Clinical Services Chief,
Dermatopathology.
She is also the Administrative Support to
Doctors: Raymond Barnhill, Alistair Cochran,
Peter Sarantopoulos, Chandra Smart, Sharona
Yashar and Dana Haydel.
Jill Narciso is a Sr. Admin. Analyst
and is the assistant to Elaine Reed,
Ph.D,. Vice Chair for Research Ser-
vices, Director, UCLA Immunogenet-
ics Center.
Brenda Mueller is assistant to Gay Crooks,
MBBS, Professor, Rebecca Smith Chair in A-
T Research.
Sheri Klein is assistant to Elena Stark, M.D.,
Ph.D., Vice Chair for Medical and Dental
Education; Director, Integrative Anatomy;
Thread Chair, Anatomy and Histopathology,
School of Medicine.
Evelina Ter-Avetisyan is assistant to Peter
Tontonoz, M.D., Ph.D.
UCLA Pathology and Laboratory Medicine—Winter Edition February 2014 | Page 4
Benedick Aguas - CLS, Core Lab
Andrea M. Alvarez - SRA I, Immunogenetics
Emily Rader - Admin Specialist, Support Services
Thomas Truong - CLS, Blood Bank
Jessica Victorio - HLT II, Support Services
Jesus Villanueva, Jr. - HLT, Immunogenetics
Doris (He) Xu - HLT II, Cytology
Leticia Alvarez - CPT I, Support Services
Marlene Diosomito - CLS, Flow Cytometry
Debreguenet Fikru - CPT, Support Services
Shelly Rajput -Admin. Spec., Float Pool, Blood & Platelet Center
Maria Rayas-Rivera - Admin. Spec., Float Pool, Report Office
Alice Seidman - Hospital Medical Transcriber, Report Office
David Avalos - Health Info. Coder II
Laura Bedolla - HLT II, Outreach
Norma Meneses - CLS Sup., SMH
Alicia Middleton - HLT, Brentwood
Amanda Patrick - Admin. Spec., Path. Business Office
Philippe Quitevis - CLS, Blood Bank
Manmohan Sagoo - Health Info. Coder
Jackelyn Shinn - Sr. Admin. Analyst, Path Business Office
Nevine Wahba - Admin. Spec., Clinical Lab Report Office
Welcome New Employees
Steven King - MLT, Santa Monica Hospital
Raquel R. Sulat - CLS , Cytogenetics
Jennifer Yi - HTL I, Neuropathology
January 2014
December 2013 November 21, 2013
November 15, 2013 New members of the UIC team
Prabitha Natarajan—Postdoc Jesus Villanueva—HLT
Shontell Taylor—HLT
February 2014
Eric Basanes – CLS, Brentwood Annex
Vladimyria Caringal – CLS, Brentwood Annex
Ciara Stewart – CLS, BURL
Kerry Doughty – CLS Registry, Brentwood Annex
Alexander Funk – CLS, RRH Core Lab
Yan Li – CLA, Molecular Pathology
Caroline McNeal – CLS Registry, Brentwood Annex
Allison Nomura – Sr. CLS Specialist, Brentwood Annex
Diana Peraza – CPT I, SMH
Luke Sesco – Brentwood Annex
Xinhe Wei – CPT, RRH Core Lab
UCLA Pathology and Laboratory Medicine—Winter Edition February 2014 | Page 5
Holiday Events
Holiday Cheer! The Department of Pathology & Lab Medicine hosted
various inter-department holiday lunches to show appreciation for all
the hard work faculty and staff have provided throughout the year.
Pathology’s Got Heart - February
The ―Heart‖ of the Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine was on full display during the Countdown to Valentine’s Day
posted on the website and Facebook page. If you have slides or photos of interest to share (not just hearts!), please email them.
Small liver slide submitted by Dr.
Charles Lassman
Photographer Don-ny Dumani,
Submitted by Jef-
frey Petersen
GI slide Submitted
by Dr. Sarah Dry
Slide submitted by Dr. Michael Teitell
(by way of Steve
Peckman of the Broad Research and
stem Cell Center)
Genitourinary slide submitted by Dr.
Jiaoti Huang
Heart vessel slide
submitted by Dr.
Charles Lassman
Holiday Lunch Parties - December
Pathology’s Men of Movember - November
Left to Right: Philip Scumpia (Fellow, Dermatopathology), Serge Alexanian (Fellow, Dermatopathology), Matthew
DeNicola (Fellow, Hematopathology)
Movember, an annual worldwide event which sees gentlemen nurture fledgling
moustaches in an attempt to raise awareness of men’s health issues, has come to
UCLA Pathology!
While naysayers abounded, our inaugural year saw a jaw dropping THREE (3!)
volunteers take on the challenge. This tenacious trio braved the arched eyebrows
and stupefied stares of curious and/or horrified onlookers alike, showing us all the
true face of courage – or at the very least, blind single mindedness.
So next November when you see legions of (now inspired) pathologists and staff
roaming the halls of our great institution with a half baked attempt at a man-stache,
cut them some slack, give them a hug, and remember – it’s for a good cause people.
-Serge Alexanian
UCLA Pathology and Laboratory Medicine—Winter Edition February 2014 | Page 6
One of the goals of the Pathology Research Alumni Committee is to highlight publications from our current and
recently former graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and residents in the departmental newsletter. If anyone
has additional publications (newly published, first-author only) that should be highlighted, please contact Doug
Smoot ([email protected]).
-- Joshua Deignan, PhD, FACMG
Assistant Professor, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Chair, Pathology
Research Alumni Committee
PATHOLOGY RESEARCH ALUMNI COMMITTEE & PUBLICATIONS
PUBLICATIONS:
November 2013 – February 2014
GSRs:
Maomeng Tong – GSR (Jonathan Braun lab)
A modular organization of the human intestinal mucosal microbiota
and its association with inflammatory bowel disease.
Tong M, Li X, Wegener Parfrey L, Roth B, Ippoliti A, Wei B,
Borneman J, McGovern DP, Frank DN, Li E, Horvath S, Knight R,
Braun J.
PLoS One. 2013 Nov 19;8(11):e80702. doi: 10.1371/
journal.pone.0080702. eCollection 2013.
Parissa Solaimani – recent GSR (Oliver Hankinson lab)
Genome-wide RNAi high-throughput screen identifies proteins nec-
essary for the AHR-dependent induction of CYP1A1 by 2,3,7,8-
tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.
Solaimani P, Damoiseaux R, Hankinson O.
Toxicol Sci. 2013 Nov;136(1):107-19. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kft191.
Epub 2013 Aug 31.
Xin Rong – CMP Student (Peter Tontonoz lab)
LXRs regulate ER stress and inflammation through dynamic modu-
lation of membrane phospholipid composition.
Rong X, Albert CJ, Hong C, Duerr MA, Chamberlain BT, Tarling
EJ, Ito A, Gao J, Wang B, Edwards PA, Jung ME, Ford DA, Tonto-
noz P.
Cell Metab. 2013 Nov 5;18(5):685-97. doi: 10.1016/
j.cmet.2013.10.002.
Airie Kim – CMP Graduate (Tomas Ganz lab)
A mouse model of anemia of inflammation: complex pathogenesis
with partial dependence on hepcidin.
Kim A, Fung E, Parikh SG, Valore EV, Gabayan V, Nemeth E,
Ganz T.
Blood. 2013 Dec 19. [Epub ahead of print]
Jeanette Grant – CMP Graduate (Steven Dubinett lab)
A Novel Molecular Pathway for Snail-Dependent, SPARC-
Mediated Invasion in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Pathogenesis.
Grant JL, Fishbein MC, Hong LS, Krysan K, Minna JD, Shay JW,
Walser TC, Dubinett SM.
Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2014 Jan;7(1):150-60. doi: 10.1158/1940-
6207.CAPR-13-0263. Epub 2013 Nov 19.
Cell Metab. 2013 Jul 2;18(1):106-17. doi: 10.1016/
j.cmet.2013.04.021.
Post Docs:
Yoko Kidani - postdoc (Steven Bensinger lab)
Lipids rule: resetting lipid metabolism restores T cell function in
systemic lupus erythematosus.
Kidani Y, Bensinger SJ.J Clin Invest. 2014 Feb 3;124(2):482-5. doi:
10.1172/JCI74141. Epub 2014 Jan 27.
Nicole Valenzuela- current postdoc (Elaine Reed lab)
Antibodies in transplantation: the effects of HLA and non-HLA
antibody binding and mechanisms of injury.
Valenzuela NM, Reed EF.
Methods Mol Biol. 2013;1034:41-70. doi: 10.1007/978-1-62703-
493-7_2.
Nicole Valenzuela - currentpostdoc (Elaine Reed lab)
Antibody-mediated graft injury: complement-dependent and com-
plement-independent mechanisms.
Valenzuela NM, McNamara JT, Reed EF.
Curr Opin Organ Transplant. 2014 Feb;19(1):33-40. doi: 10.1097/
MOT.0000000000000040.
Residents/Fellows:
Aaron W. James - Resident
Review of signaling pathways governing MSC osteogenic and adi-
pogenic differentiation.
Scientifica. Dec 12 2013, Epub ahead of print. Invited Spotlight
Article.
Aaron W. James - Resident
Abnormal karyotypes in osteochondroma: Case series and literature
review.
James AW, Tirado CA, Levine B, Dry SM.
J Orthop, Dec 2013, In press.
Aaron W. James- Resident
Clavicular and meningeal alveolar soft part sarcoma: An unusual
case and literature review.
James, AW, Chang L, Levine B, Dry SM.;
J Orthop, Dec 2013, In press.
Albert Su – current Resident
Malignant melanoma with neural differentiation: an exceptional
case report and brief review of the pertinent literature.
Su A, Dry SM, Binder SW, Said J, Shintaku P, Sarantopoulos GP.
Am J Dermatopathol. 2014 Jan;36(1):e5-9. doi: 10.1097/
DAD.0b013e31828cf90a.
Annie Wu – current Resident
Bifid cardiac apex in a 25-year-old male with sudden cardiac death.
Wu A, Kay D, Fishbein MC.
Cardiovasc Pathol. 2014 Jan-Feb;23(1):59-60. doi: 10.1016/
j.carpath.2013.06.003. Epub 2013 Aug 6.
UCLA Pathology and Laboratory Medicine—Winter Edition February 2014 | Page 7
Upcoming IMED Seminars
Date Photo Speaker Subject Location
Feb. 26th @
12pm
Craig Venter, Ph.D. Life at the Speed of Light NRB Auditorium
March 5th @
12pm
Thomas Sudhof, M.D. Towards a Molecular Understanding of
Synapse Formation, Autism, and Schiz-
ophrenia: Neurexins and Company
NRB Auditorium
March 6th @
12pm
Steve Rosenberg, M.D.,
Ph.D
The Curative Potential of T Cell Immu-
notherapy for Cancer
NRB Auditorium
March 19th @
12pm
Joan Steitz Ph.D. Noncoding RNAs: With a Viral Twist NRB Auditorium
March 26th @
12pm
George Church, Ph.D. TBA NRB Auditorium
April 2nd @
12pm
Jeanie Buss TBA NRB Auditorium
April 4th @
12pm
Robert Roeder, Ph.D. TBA NRB Auditorium
April 9th @
12pm
Doug Melton, Ph.D TBA NRB Auditorium
April 23rd @
12pm
Margaret Hamburg, M.D. TBA NRB Auditorium
April 23rd @
12pm
James Spudich, Ph.D. TBA NRB Auditorium
May 28th @
12pm
David Kessler, M.D. The End of Overeating NRB Auditorium
UCLA Pathology and Laboratory Medicine—Winter Edition February 2014 | Page 8
UCLA Blood & Platelet Center
The UCLA Blood & Platelet Center is very proud to have been
featured on the front page of the Daily Bruin! More Info.
Remember to donate blood at either our Gayley or Ackerman
locations! Our patients are depending upon you!
Make an appointment today: CLICK HERE
Contact - (310) 825-0888
Email - [email protected]
Department News
Visit UCLA Clinical Genomics at ACMG
March 25-29 | More info
UCLA Immunogenetics—Cell Exchange
Lead SRA Arlene Locke presented data from a pilot study at the 39th Annual meeting of the American Society for
Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics in Chicago, IL, on November 17-21, 2013. The pilot study was initiated
in August, 2012 by the International Cell Exchange Program at the UCLA Immunogenetics Center, a program
which provides laboratories around the world with a means to validate their typing methods and reagents. The goal
of the pilot study was to develop a PT survey to correlate antibody testing and virtual crossmatch prediction
through the comparison of MFI data with flow crossmatch outcomes among centers. Analysis of the data led to the
conclusion that the incorporation of solid phase assays into proficiency testing surveys based on flow cytometric
crossmatch tests should be considered.
The International Cell Exchange celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and will soon feature the Flow Crossmatch Exchange,
which will test two cells with known types against four unknown sera, with the purpose of comparing MFI data with crossmatch
outcome. The exchange will be shipped three times per year, with the first shipment scheduled for April 9, 2014. Single antigen and
flow crossmatch results will be reported online via the Cell Exchange Program website. | More Info
Today our Patients at UCLA Need:
Visit UCLA Pathology Outreach at USCAP
March 1 –7 | More Info
Annual Meetings
Newsletter Committee: Arnold Scheer, Daisy Castro, Khanh Andrews, Karyn Greenstone,
Bushra Yasin
Send us your suggestions for future newsletters at : Email [email protected]