The International Biomedical Research Alliance congratulates the Class of 2019 NIH-Cambridge M.D./Ph.D. Scholar Dr. Mario Shammas on being named the 2023 recipient of the Gregory Paul Lenardo Basic Science Award for Discoveries in Cellular and Molecular Biology, endowed by NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program Co-Founder, Dr. Michael Lenardo, in loving memory of his brother, Gregory Paul Lenardo. This award recognizes discoveries of fundamental cellular, molecular, or genetic processes using model systems that advance scientific understanding of biological processes in higher organisms. This award was presented by NIH OxCam Executive Committee member, Dr. Trevor Archer. Dr. Shammas was jointly mentored by Professor Patrick Chinnery at the University of Cambridge and Dr. Derek Narendra at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Mario is being honored with this award as a result of his published work that exemplifies using model systems to uncover fundamental biological processes in higher organisms. Mario characterized a family with myopathy caused by a dominant p.G58R mutation in the mitochondrial protein CHCHD10. Autosomal dominant isolated mitochondrial myopathy (IMMD) is characterized by the onset of proximal lower limb weakness and exercise intolerance in the first decade of life, progressing later to a generalized myopathy. In addition, it can also lead to the development of severe fatal cardiomyopathy.
To understand the disease etiology, he developed a knockin mouse model and found that mutant CHCHD10 aggregated in affected tissues, applying a toxic protein stress to the inner mitochondrial membrane. Unexpectedly, the survival of CHCHD10-KI mice depended on a protective stress response mediated by the mitochondrial metalloendopeptidase OMA1. The results demonstrated that OMA1 was critical for neonatal survival in the setting of inner mitochondrial membrane stress, coordinating local and global stress responses to reshape the mitochondrial network and proteome.
“I am deeply appreciative to receive this award from the International Biomedical Research Alliance and the NIH OxCam Program, and I am thankful to Dr. Lenardo for endowing it. In large part it is a reflection of the remarkable mentorship and unwavering guidance I received over the past four years from my two mentors, Dr. Derek Narendra and Prof. Patrick Chinnery; I will forever be grateful for their steadfast support and for everything they have taught me. Previous in vivo research had suggested that the OMA1 stress response is maladaptive in certain conditions, and since there were no studies showing it to be helpful, it was not known whether the OMA1 response is ever beneficial. This did not sit well with me, as I believe that every biological function has to serve a purpose. Indeed, we were pleasantly surprised to find that the OMA1 stress response was necessary for the survival of our CHCHD10 G58R mouse model, as it mitigated the severity of the cardiomyopathy neonatally. I hope that my research will open up avenues for exploring how we can manipulate mitochondrial stress responses to treat or prevent myopathic and neurodegenerative diseases.”
Mario successfully defended his thesis in May and is now back at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, where he is finishing up his clinical years. Afterward, he will apply to residency programs in neurology.
The Colloquium Planning Committee (Committee) selected this year’s theme for the 2023 NIH Global Doctoral Partnerships Annual Research Colloquium as Science for All: Integrity, Transparency, Accessibility. The NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars wanted this theme to reflect on the importance of inclusion across all scientific disciplines and provide a supportive, welcoming environment for all trainees. Led by Chair Rachel Smith and Vice Chair Jude Tunyi, the Committee consisted of exceptional student members Theressa Ewa, Abigail Giles, Poorva Jain, Jasmine Mack, Mathieu Perez, Linh Pham, Mitchell Sun who dedicated their time to organize this year’s Colloquium at Homerton College, University of Cambridge.
Kicking off the Colloquium, the Committee invited Drs. Andreas Danhorn, Andrew Harper, and Coralie Viollet from AstraZeneca, Dr. Richard Siegel from Novartis, and Dr. Stella Hurtley from Science to lead an industry networking event which was moderated by Scholars Abigail Giles and John Hancock.
The Committee invited Dr. Magdalena Skipper, the editor-in-chief of Nature and Chief Editorial Advisor for the Nature portfolio as the Keynote Speaker whose talk was titled, “Science by All & for All: How a Science Publisher Can Support Social Justice & Equitable Development.” Dr. Skipper expressed that science by all is vital to science for all. She encouraged the attendees to champion open and transparent research, be collaborative, especially with the public, and both encourage and support diverse voices. Special Topics speaker, Dr. Elisabeth Bik, Science Integrity Consultant, Harbers Bik LLC, John Maddox Prize Recipient, and Scientific and Editorial Director, uBioMe discussed “Double Trouble: Inappropriate Image Duplications in Biomedical Publications.” Dr. Bik shared the three types of duplications that occur in science publications and called upon the audience to see if they could spot the duplications through an interactive lecture.
TheJustice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion speakers included Drs. Kerry McInerney and Rachel Bervell. Dr. Bervell, Partners in Health, Bias in Medicine challenged thought processes surrounding maternal deaths, especially black women, in her talk “Confronting a Diagnostic Dilemma: Exploring the Basis of Bias in Medicine.” Dr. Bervell further discussed the role of bias in these disparities and the ways we define racism in medicine. Dr. Kerry McInerney, University of Cambridge, Bias in Research posed three key questions during her lecture which included What is bias? How do we think about AI’s harms? And who makes AI and why does that matter?
The 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, Dr. Justin Lathia, was invited to reflect on his experiences as an NIH OxCam Scholar and highlight his career path leading to his current position as Professor and Vice Chair, Cleveland Clinic and Co-Leader, Molecular Oncology Program, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. His goal is to build and lead a cutting-edge brain tumor program that helps improve the lives of patients worldwide based on research produced by the next generation of cancer researchers. Following his talk, he served on the NIH OxCam Alumni Panel alongside Drs. Adam Knight, Founder and Chief Business Officer, Neuron23, Arianne Richard, Tenure Track Investigator at Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK, and Jessica van Loben Sels, Laboratory Specialist, US Virgin Islands Department of Health.
Throughout the Colloquium the Class of 2020 gave Oral Presentations, the Class of 2021 presented Posters, and the Class of 2022 participated in a 3-minute Thesis Competition. Congratulations to NIH-Marshall Scholar Emily Steffke for the best Oral Presentation, Hannah Duffy for the Best Poster Presentation, and Mitchell Sun for the best 3-minute Thesis. Further Congratulation to the team consisting of Ayden Case,Poorva Jain, Tung Nguyen, Grace Perry, Alaina Shreves, and Alia Welsh led by Dr. Elodie Ghedin (ExComm Lead), Dr. Kathy Zoon (Alliance Lead) and Hallie Gaitsch (Student Lead) for being named the 3-minute Thesis Team winners.
Scholars, mentors, leadership, as well as Alliance Board Directors, were invited to attend the Gala Reception. Professor Clare Bryant, the Cambridge Director of the NIH OxCam Program, opened the elegant dinner reception with a warm welcome to attendees and invited outgoing NIH OxCam Program Scientific Director Dr. Alan Sher to give the Welcome Address and to reflect upon his career path, sharing wisdom and advice with the audience. Following Dr. Sher’s speech, Committee Chair and Vice-Chair Ray Smith and Jude Tunyi moderated the much-anticipated annual Science Recognition Awards Ceremony. Congratulations to Scholars Will Snyder, Ray Smith, and Jude Tunyi for being named the first, second, and third-place winners of the 2023 Photo Contest Winners for their “My Cool Science” submissions.
Details on the winners can be found in separate articles on the Alliance website.
Before I share my experience attending the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) National Conference, I wanted to introduce myself. My name is Jenny Hsin and I am a Class of 2020 Scholar in the NIH Oxford-Cambridge (OxCam) Scholars Program. I completed my undergraduate studies at Caltech with a B.S. in Biology in 2018. During my time at Caltech, I performed undergraduate research in the lab of Dr. Marianne Bronner studying neural crest development in chicken embryos. After graduating, I decided to accept a post-bac position at the NIH in the newly started lab of Dr. Laura Kerosuo, a Stadtman Tenure Track Investigator in the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), who had been my postdoc mentor at Caltech. I grew to love doing research at the NIH during my time as a post-bac and jumped at the opportunity to be part of the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program. I applied as a Track 1 MD-PhD Scholar and was fortunate to be admitted as an NIH-Cambridge Scholar in partnership with the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP).
Dr. Laura Kerosuo and Jenny Hsin
Being part of programs like the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program can be an amazing experience because all of the Scholars are so passionate about science and medicine. It feels comforting to be surrounded by a community of people who are equally as motivated and excited about science. Yet, science is not the only part of our identities. Recognizing, welcoming, and embracing diverse experiences in the Scholars Program is as important as supporting academic and scientific achievements.
I was born and raised in the Greater Los Angeles Area, which has the largest Taiwanese community in the United States. I grew up speaking Mandarin at home, going to Chinese after-school programs, and eating at hole-in-the-wall restaurants run by Taiwanese immigrants. In California, I always felt I had a connection to a Taiwanese-American community. However, when I moved to medical school in Alabama, there were stark differences. As much as I enjoyed experiencing the slow pace of life in the South and learning about Southern charm, in Alabama the Asian population is less than 2%. I also moved during the peak of the COVID pandemic, at a time when anti-Asian hate was on the rise throughout the country. Tragically, the Atlanta spa shootings happened in my first year of medical school. Personally, I also experienced microaggressions from patients – such as statements like “When are you going back to China?” These experiences contributed heavily to my involvement in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine chapter of the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association, which provided me with a community and helped with some of the adjustments to living in the South.
After transitioning back to the NIH for my PhD training, I still wanted to maintain connections to APAMSA so I applied for a Travel Award sponsored by the International Biomedical Research Alliance (IBRA) to attend the 2023 National Conference in Portland, Oregon in March of 2023. In attending the conference in Portland, Oregon this year, I was able to discuss with other medical students about our experiences as Asian-American students in the clinic; learn about health disparities affecting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities; and also talk about different areas of research. Serendipitously, I also met and connected with Dr. Lindy Zhang, who is currently a clinical and research fellow in the Johns Hopkins/NIH Pediatric Hematology/Oncology program. I ended up inviting Dr. Zhang to give one of our monthly IBRA Clinical Case Conferences and speak on an NIH OxCam AANHPI Heritage Month panel along with other NIH investigators, which was featured in an IBRA news article in May. Having the opportunity to maintain connections with my peers, bond over shared experiences and culture, and create new connections to bring back to the NIH was an incredibly rewarding part of attending the APAMSA national conference. Thank you to IBRA for supporting my Travel Award to attend the APAMSA National Conference and for providing me with opportunities that not only enhance my training as a Scholar but also as a future physician-scientist.
This spring, the International Biomedical Research Alliance sponsored a Career Development and Exploration Initiative for the NIH Oxford-Cambridge (OxCam) Scholars based at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford In the United Kingdom to the Novartis Campus in Basel, Switzerland. Dr. Richard Siegel, the Global Head, Translational Medicine, Immunology at the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR) hosted the Scholars and introduced them to NIBR’s research mission. Dr. Siegel co-founded and directed the NIH MD/PhD Partnership Training Program prior to his move to Novartis.
After the welcome and introductions to NIBR, the Scholars embarked on a tour of the Novartis Pavillion’s “Wonders of Medicine” which includes four multimedia exhibition areas that explore life, disease, the history of medicine, and the future of healthcare.
Presentations followed the interactive tour and Scholars listened to Drug Discovery and Translational medicine talks. Drs. Ina Kramer, Elisabetta Traggiai, Frank Kolbinger, Alain Marti, Christoph Kalis, and Christoph Burkhart shared insight on various topics from tissue regeneration to protein engineering to antibody development. Afterward, Dr. Olivier Leupin discussed the Novartis Post-Doc Program and provided an overview of career tracks at Novartis.
Over lunch, the Scholars introduced themselves to a range of Novartis scientists including Post-Doc Researchers and Lab Heads. This round table discussion included short presentations on Scholars’ research projects and their ideas for career paths, which concluded with further discussion and Q&A. This discussion continued with a “Meet the Scholars” coffee break and networking session. “It was a fantastic opportunity to learn about physician-scientist careers in industry and network with scientists who are truly changing the face of medicine,” stated NIH-Cambridge MD/PhD Scholar Katherine Masih. The final talk provided an overview of low-molecular weight (LMW) Drug Development and Dr. Robert Pulz presented “From Target to Drug – the magic of medicinal chemistry in drug discovery’ Focus on BTK inhibitors.”
After the networking and educational lectures, the Scholars were invited to visit the High Throughput Screening Facility and they had a lab tour that explored a range from biotherapeutic identification to cell line development. Concluding the Career Development and Exploration Initiative to Novartis Campus, the Scholars had a dinner and networking event with Novartis scientists. A special thank you was extended to Dr. Richard Siegel and Robin Wamister for organizing this visit to learn about industry in Europe.
“The International Biomedical Research Alliance is one of the best parts of NIH OxCam Program,” remarked NIH-Cambridge MD/PhD Scholar John Hancock. “They provide opportunities for experiences that are not characteristic of traditional PhD or MD/PhD programs. I am very grateful for the comprehensive education that I am receiving all because of the support of program leadership.”
The International Biomedical Research Alliance is committed to providing Career Development and Exploration Initiatives to Scholars in the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program. These initiatives aim to ignite Scholar thinking around career opportunities where they can play a key role in the future of biomedical research enterprise. Please reach out to our Director of Communication, Education, and Professional Development, Alexandra Ambrico, at aja@biomedalliance.org if you would like to be involved in hosting future exposure visits.
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) Month arose in the 1970s from former congressional staffer Jeanie Jew who approached Rep. Frank Horton about designating a month to recognize Asian Pacific Americans. In the early 1990s, President Bush proclaimed May to be the official Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month and May was chosen to commemorate the migration of the first Japanese immigrants in the mid-1800s and the completion of the transcontinental railroad by over 20,000 Asian immigrants.
NIH Oxford-Cambridge (OxCam) Scholars Jenny Hsin and Olive Jung collaborated with Student Programming Vice Chair Theressa Ewa to create the first AANHPI Heritage Month event for the NIH OxCam Scholars. To kick off the event, Jenny Hsin, who organizes the monthly IBRA Clinical Case Conferences, invited Dr. Lindy Zhang, Clinical and Research Fellow, Johns Hopkins/NIH Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Program to present her research on Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor (MPNST) associated with the disorder Neurofibromatosis Type I (NF1).
Dr. Zhang first went through a thorough case presentation of NF1, explaining the criteria for clinical diagnoses and the progression of the disease. She then went on to explain that MPNST is an aggressive tumor that commonly arises in patients with NF1 and her research focuses on finding ways to treat MPNST. Specifically, Dr. Zhang works on identifying small molecule inhibitors to target the RAS signaling pathway involved with the growth of MPNST.
Following Dr. Zhang’s talk, Jenny invited four speakers to highlight the range of diverse experiences of AANHPI scientists at the NIH:
Lindy Zhang, MDis currently a clinical and research fellow in the Johns Hopkins/NIH Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Program.
T. Jake Liang, MDis the NIH Distinguished Investigator, Chief: Liver Diseases Branch, Section Chief: Liver Diseases Virology Section, Liver Diseases Branch, Section Chief: Clinical Research Section, Liver Diseases Branch.
Avindra Nath, MD is a Senior Investigator in the Section of Infections of the Nervous System at NINDS and Clinical Director of NINDS, NIH.
The NIH’s theme for this year’s AANHPI Heritage Month is “Reclaiming My Identity.” To this effect, the speakers talked about their experiences with learning to embrace their identities. Dr. Thein, who has lived in Malaysia, the UK, and the US, wisely commented, “Blossom where you are planted.” Meanwhile, Dr. Liang encouraged us to take pride in our heritage and learn to speak up. To Dr. Liang, “silence is not an option.” Despite whatever differences we might have – appearances, culture, or language – we still belong.
Our speakers also discussed the importance of mentorship and helping to support the next generation of scientists. Dr. Zhang explained to us that there is a bamboo ceiling in academic medicine. The barriers to Asian Americans finding leadership positions in academia often revolve around lack of access to mentorship. Consequently, Dr. Nath talked about different types of mentorship. While we all may have mentors and advisors, we should also seek out advocates – people who are willing to help you advance your career by putting you forward for opportunities.
Jenny remarked, “In recent years, DEI efforts revolving around AANHPI communities have grown and we’re learning that the ‘model minority’ is a myth that is more harmful than helpful. We’re finding our voices and I wanted to celebrate that by inviting speakers with rich experiences and backgrounds to talk to us about the importance of AANHPI heritage. I’m proud to see our OxCam community come together to support these efforts. It was amazing to have such inspiring speakers for our first AANHPI Heritage Month event. The diverse experiences and perspectives of our panelists have encouraged me to continue what I’m doing and make a space where I feel that I belong in science and medicine.”
The International Biomedical Research Alliance is proud to sponsor events aimed at creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community and training experience for Scholars in the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program. Please reach out to our Director of Communication, Education, and Professional Development, Alexandra Ambrico, at aja@biomedalliance.org if you would like to be involved in hosting and/or supporting future events.
Each February in the United States and each October in the United Kingdom, we celebrate Black History Month. This year’s theme in the United States was “Black Resistance” and in the United Kingdom “Time for Change: Action Not Words.” These campaigns acknowledge the past and the present in service to a brighter future. We are reminded that Black history comprises so much more than a past rooted in enslavement, segregation, and discrimination. The past is an immutable part of history that should be embraced, recognized, and commemorated for its role in shaping our nations.
Jasmine Mack, the Chair of the NIH-Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Student Programming Committee, and Theressa Ewa, the Vice Chair, aimed to organize events focused on Black scientists, physician-scientists, and biomedical trainees at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the University of Cambridge to honor Black History Month.
To recognize Black NIH leadership, they invited three eminent presenters to discuss their journeys, challenges, and tips for flourishing in environments that historically excluded minoritized scientists and physician-scientists. The purpose of this gathering was to foster community by providing opportunities to listen and reflect on shared experiences from our fellow Black scientists and physician-scientists in the NIH community. The invited speakers were as follows:
Dr. Sean Agbor-Enoh (NHLBI/NIH) is a Lasker Clinical Research Tenure Track Investigator, NIH Distinguished Fellow, and Laboratory Chief of the Laboratory of Applied Precision Omics at NHLBI. He is also an Associate Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Agbor-Enoh’s research focuses on the use of cell-free DNA and other genomic approaches in lung transplantation. He is the lead investigator of multiple studies, including Genomic Research Alliance for Transplantation (GRAfT), a consortium of NHLBI and thoracic transplant centers.
Dr. Sadhana Jackson (NINDS/NIH) is a board-certified pediatrician and pediatric hematologist/oncologist with clinical expertise and research efforts related to the blood-brain barrier and malignant glioma. Her clinical practice focuses on drug delivery of systemic agents for pediatric malignant brain tumor patients. As a tenure-track Investigator in NINDS and NCI, Dr. Jackson ties her clinical practice to her research efforts focused on understanding the heterogeneous permeability of the blood-brain barrier amongst malignant gliomas.
Dr. Sam Mbulaiteye (NCI-DCEG/NIH) is a senior investigator and an active member of the NIH and NCI community and has served on various search and technical committees.Dr. Mbulaiteye conducts research to understand the etiology of Burkitt lymphoma (BL), a cancer that occurs worldwide but has its highest incidence recorded in populations of sub-Saharan Africa. He is a member of the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), the Darwin College Society, the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust, and the World Federation of Scientists. He is currently a member of DCEG Genotyping Review Committee. He is also the Cambridge Dean for OxCam class of 2022!
“For this year’s Black History Month, it was important to me that we celebrated and recognized accomplished Black scientists and colleagues at the NIH. Jasmine and I wanted to create an atmosphere where attendees and speakers can have a moment to hear from one another, so we decided to have a dinner-styled seminar. For the scholars, who were NIH post-baccalaureate, pre-doctoral, and post-doctoral fellows, we cherished the opportunity to hear the experiences and wisdom of Drs. Agbor-Enoh, Jackson, and Mbulaiteye. As a first-year NIH OxCam Ph.D. student, I am excited to lead an event that will now become a tradition in the NIH OxCam community, ” noted Theressa.
The U.K. event was held in collaboration with the Cambridge University Afro-American Society (AFRAM) at Clare Hall, University of Cambridge. The keynote speaker was NIH Oxford-Cambridge Alumni and CEO and Co-founder of Start Codon, Dr. Jason Mellad.
Dr. Jason Mellad is a scientist entrepreneur who is passionate about translating innovative technologies into better patient outcomes. As CEO and co-founder of Start Codon, a Cambridge-based accelerator, he aims to identify and recruit the most disruptive healthcare start-ups worldwide, seed-fund them, and leverage the exceptional resources of the Cambridge Cluster to de-risk and drive their success.
“As the Student Programming Chair for NIH OxCam and the President of AFRAM, I wanted to organize a collaborative event that centered the stories of Black scholars in predominantly white institutions, which was the theme for both the NIH and Cambridge events. At Cambridge, in an intimate setting of 10 attendees, we engaged in a raw, honest discussion of experiences. Students and fellows who attended the event gained knowledge about the value of owning their power, being unapologetic and genuine, and not letting fear of failure hold them back. Future programming will likely feature other scholars and scientists who are open about overcoming personal obstacles and staying motivated in their various professions, which I hope will encourage aspiring scientists from minoritized groups,” remarked Jasmine.
The International Biomedical Research Alliance is proud to sponsor events aimed at creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community and training experience for Scholars in the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program. Please reach out to our Director of Communication, Education, and Professional Development, Alexandra Ambrico, at aja@biomedalliance.org if you would like to be involved in hosting and/or supporting future events.
