Gary M. Brittenham, M.D, HP 568, Ext. 5-7005

Hematology: Our laboratory carries out basic and clinical research in disorders of iron metabolism and of the red blood cell. Overall, our efforts are directed toward a basic understanding of the pathophysiology of both iron deficiency and iron excess (overload) to improve their diagnosis, prevention and treatment.

For iron overload, research activities include (i) the development of new technologies for non-invasive magnetic detection and diagnosis of iron overload, using both superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) susceptometry and new high transition temperature (high Tc) superconductors, (ii) the use of magnetic resonance imaging methods for assessment of tissue iron that allow fractionation of the total storage iron into the component ferritin and hemosiderin iron, and (iii) the continued evaluation of new iron-chelating agents for the treatment of iron overload in patients with thalassemia, sickle cell disease and other disorders of iron metabolism. For iron deficiency, we are involved in efforts to use selective iron supplementation for the prevention of iron deficiency in infants, children and adolescents, in pregnant women, and in women who give blood. Together with investigators at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, we are evaluating the use of magnetic resonance imaging in studies of patients with cerebral malaria, examining the clinical role of hemoglobinopathies as genetic determinants of host resistance to malarial infection and examining the pathogenesis of malaria anemia.

Michael Bye, M.D., Acting Director, CH-7C, Ext. 5-6551

Pulmonary: The division has several areas of research interest. Dr. Lynne Quittell spearheads some clinical trials of new treatments for children with Cystic Fibrosis. Drs. Beverly Sheares and David Evans are working on several projects, alone and in conjunction with the School of Public Health. They are using New York City schools to optimize therapy of children with asthma in the inner city. Other studies include an evaluation of the efficacy of written plans in asthma and an assessment of self-management of asthma by adolescents. Robert Garofano, Ed.D., and the staff in the Exercise and Pulmonary Function laboratories are using those laboratories in the investigation of children with several disorders at risk for cardiopulmonary disease. These laboratories are under the medical directorship of Dr. Bye.

Mitchell S. Cairo, M.D., Director, Harkness Pavilion 506, Ext. 5-8316

Hematology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation: Dr. Cairo and co-investigators in the division of Pediatric Hematology & BMT offer a variety of educational and research experiences for student electives. Areas of interest and ongoing research include Sickle Cell Anemia, Thalassemia, Iron Biology and Overload, primary immunodeficencies, bone marrow failure syndrome, hemostesis/thrombosis, vascular anomalies, experimental hematopoiesis, stem cell biology, autologous stem cell transplantation, allogeneic stem cell transplantation, tumor immunology, genomics in hematological malignancies and developmental therapeutics. Electives can be arranged for either Pediatric Hematology, Pediatric BMT, combined Ped Hem/BMT or longer-focused research electives.

Wendy Chung, M.D., Ph.D., Russ Berrie Pavilion, 1150 St. Nicholas Ave., Tel. (212) 851-5313

For students with research experience in molecular biology and/or molecular genetics: Students will participate in human genetic studies designed to go from the bedside to the bench and back again. When possible students will take samples from patients in the clinic they have clinically evaluated, hypothesize what the underlying genetic defect in the patient might be and directly test that hypothesis by standard genetic techniques including linkage analysis, mutation screening, dideoxy sequencing and a variety of genotyping assays. Students will then see the patients again in the clinic and individualize the patient's medical care on the basis of the underlying genetic diagnosis and molecular mechanism of disease. Electives should span at least two consecutive months to allow sufficient time for the students to complete their analysis. Students should be responsible and able to work independently.

Richard Deckelbaum, M.D., Director, BH702N, Ext. 5-7082

Gastroenterology and Nutrition: Areas of research include:

1. the regulation of lipoprotein - cell receptor interactions,
2. role of omega-3 fatty acids in cellular lipid metabolism, gene expression, and development of atherosclerosis,
3. factors influencing the utilization of intravenous lipid emulsions for total parenteral nutrition in man, and
4. the impact of nutrition interventions on natural course of infections, and growth and development in children and adults.

Anne Gershon, M.D., BB 4-427, Director, Ext. 5-1556

Infectious Diseases: Dr. Gershon and her group (in collaboration with faculty in the Departments of Microbiology and Pathology/Cell Biology) are studying the molecular pathogenesis of varicella-zoster virus infection both in vitro and in vivo. Students can elect to participate in either basic or clinical research also on HIV infection in infants and children.

Allan Hordof, M.D., Robert Pass, MD; Leonardo Liberman, MD. CHC2-102, Ext. 5-8509

Cardiology: Dr. Hordof's clinical research centers around the evaluation of new antiarrhythmic agents in children using 24 hour electrocardiography and invasive electrophysiologic techniques. He is also involved in new determinants of intracardiac mapping in the cardiovascular laboratory prior to surgery for arrhythmia control and is starting radiofrequency ablation techniques in patients with supraventricular arrhythmias.

Matilde Irigoyen, M.D., Director, VC402, Ext. 5-6227

General Pediatrics: Research activities of the Division of General Pediatrics include use of web-based technology to improve childhood immunization practices; academic-community health partnerships; randomized trial of home visitation services for vulnerable immigrant families; risk factors for child abuse and neglect, mental health consequences of abuse and neglect and specificity of effects by type of abuse and intergenerational transmission of violence; mother-infant dyads with attachment theory; prevention of unintentional injuries for children in Washington Heights Inwood; obesity and risk factors for type II diabetes in adolescents; graduate medical education and primary care.

Rudolph L. Leibel, M.D., Berrie Pavilion, 1150 St. Nicholas Ave., Rm. 620, Ext. 1-5257

Molecular Genetics: Molecular physiology and molecular genetics of:

1. the regulation of body weight, and
2. type 2 diabetes. Studies are conducted in rodents and humans.

Depending upon experience and interest, students may participate in ongoing research projects intended to identify genes conveying susceptibility to obesity and/or type 2 diabetes. Particular emphasis on using mice to generate molecular hypotheses and testing them in humans. Recently, members of this group have initiated studies looking at the effects of maternal metabolic status on brain (hypothalamus) and islet development in progeny.

Martin A. Nash, M.D., Director, Robert Seigle, M.D., CHN 701, Ext. 5-5825

Nephrology: The division is studying: Changes in body composition in children with chronic renal failure receiving growth hormone. Also being studied is the relative effects of two forms of drug therapy in the progressive kidney disease of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Co-investigators in a longitudinal multi-center study of pediatric renal transplant recipients.

Sharon E. Oberfield, M.D., Director, PH 522, Ext. 5-6559

The Division of Pediatric Endocrinology is involved in a number of clinical investigations relating to growth and pubertal development. These include: The relationship between androgens and insulin resistance in premature pubarche, obesity and polycystic ovarian disease and infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes. The effect of growth hormone on growth in various clinical disorders. Long term endocrine effects of oncologic disease and its treatment. The relationship of body composition to age, sex, pubertal and ethnic status in normal children and in disease states. We also have begun studies in the assessment of the pathophysiology and treatment of childhood obesity. Students may participate in either basic or clinical research and will be mentored by a member of the endocrine division. The student may participate in the performance of procedures and ongoing data analysis.

Richard A. Polin, M.D., Director, Perinatal Medicine. CHC 115, Ext. 5-5827

The Division of Perinatal Medicine has several areas of research activity that include: The effect of hypoxia and ischemia on the developing fetus. The role of the immune system in the pathophysiology of hypoxic ischemic brain injury. The effect of hyperoxia and hypoxia on chronic lung disease in mice. Understanding the role that adhesive interactions play between circulating blood cells and vascular endothelium as it relates to bleeding, inflammation, and tumor metastasis. The effect of nutrition on neurological outcome in very low birth weight infant. Pharmacokinetics studies of nicotine and serotonin reuptake inhibitors in the fetus and newborn infants. Studies of the development of sleep states and neuroelectric activity in low birth weight infants. Neuro-intellectual follow-up of immature infants.

Charles L. Schleien, M.D., Director, BHN-10, Ext. 5-8458

Critical Care Medicine: The Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine has several areas of clinical and basic science research activities. These studies include new methods of brain resuscitation following head trauma or cardiac arrest, including brain cooling and new medications, neurologic monitoring of patients with complex congenital heart disease, nitric oxide use in cardiac and respiratory failure, new therapies of asthma, and neuropsychologic follow-up of patients with head trauma and surgery for heart disease.

Michael A. Weiner, M.D., Director, Pediatric Oncology, IP-7, Ext. 5-5808

Clinical Investigation: The Division participates in the Children's Cancer Group, a national consortium whose goal is to develop therapeutic protocols and research studies dedicated to improving the survival of children with cancer. To study the benefit/risk of complementary alternative therapies as an adjunct to traditional cancer treatments. To study and evaluate experimental therapeutics and novel treatment in children with relapsed/refractory cancer. To study the late effects of treatment on cancer survivorship in children and adolescents.

Laboratory Investigation: To study the use effects of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (VEG-F) as a therapeutic modality in children with Wilms' tumors, neuroblastoma, and other solid tumors. To study the molecular biology of leukemia in children. To study genetic and environmental factors that may predispose infants to develop retinoblastoma. To study new bench to beside therapies in patients with brain tumors.

Robert Winchester, M.D., BB4-448, Ext. 5-7226

Autoimmune and Molecular Diseases. Our work is focused on translational studies that seek to understand the genetic basis of susceptibility to autoimmune disease and the mechanisms responsible for triggering and mediating autoimmune injury. The ongoing research involves application of a variety of molecular biologic, genetic and genomic techniques to exploit the information in clinical biopsies and samples. One major area of research is delineating the heterogeneity in pathways of tissue injury in the glomerulonephritis of systemic lupus erythematosus using laser capture microdissection and microarray approaches on clinical renal biopsies. The goal is to identify subsets of lupus patients in whom nephritis proceeds through different mechanisms and that may be responsive to different therapies. A recent area of interest has been delineating the importance of immune mechanisms primarily involving T cells in mediating the events of calcific aortic stenosis. A third area of research in this unit is concerned with the role MHC genetics and T-cell repertoire have in influencing the development of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. These diseases appear to preferentially involve the activation of memory-effector T cell populations in sites of tissue injury that are characterized by the expression of receptors that recognize injured and inflamed tissues. These mechanistic studies are combined with parallel genetic studies that seek to identify susceptibility genes responsible for disease development.