Columbia University Department of Surgery

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2006 Blakemore Prize and Awards

The Columbia University Department of Surgery Blakemore Prizes/Awards for 2005-2006 were presented at a dinner for new and departing house staff, which took place on June 22, 2006 at the New York Athletic Club.

Drs. Pat Sylla and Steve Xydas shared the Blakemore Prize for the best body of research performed by a graduating senior resident.

Drs. Ryan Davies, Isaac George, and Mark Russo received the Blakemore Awards for outstanding research by general surgery house staff.

Research Start-Up Grants Awarded

On October 10, 2005, the Research Committee announced the recipients of 20 start-up grants. The results of many of these investigations will be revealed during the Residents' Research Competition in May 2006.

Investigator	Attending	Title
Dmitri Belov, MD	Yoshifumi Naka, MD, PhD	Vascular-derived multipotent progenitors participate in post-traumatic arterial remodeling
T. Alexander Quinn, MS	Henry M. Spotnitz, MD	Automated biventricular pacing and real-time analysis after cardiac surgery
Joey Christine Papa, MD	Jessica Kandel, MD	Vascular recovery during sustained anti-angiogenesis in hepatoblastoma
Timothy Martens, MD	Silviu Itescu, MBBS	Effect of dynamic biaxial loading on cardiac-specific gene expression in a mesenchymal progenitor cell line
Rashida Jefferson, MD	Darrell Yamashiro, MD	Alternative pathways rescue neuroblastoma tumor angiogenesis during VEGF blockade
David Sternberg, MD	Joshua Sonett, MD	Epithelial mesenchymal transitioning and metastatic potential in lung cancer
Anand K. Khakhar, MD	Lloyd E. Ratner, MD	BK nephropathy as a cause of renal insufficiency in recipients of extra-renal solid organ transplants
Teresa Kim, MD	Marc Bessler, MD	Effects of gastric restriction and duodenal exclusion in a non-obese animal model of type 2 diabetes
Alejandro Ruiz-Elizalde, MD	Marc Arkovitz, MD	Bone morphogenetic protein receptors (BMPRs) in murine congenital diaphragmatic hernia
Juliet Park, MD	Jeffrey Ascherman, MD	Wound healing in genetically Notch-deficient mice
Catherine S. Forster	Faisal H. Cheema, MD	Genetic determinants of heart transplant rejection
Brian Cohen, MD	Sarah Holland, MD	The use of a long-acting vascular endothelial growth factor analogue (VEGF-LA) to promote impaired wound healing in diabetic mice
Mark Russo, MD	Michael Argenziano, MD	Atrial fibrillation and pharmacological approaches that interfere with the loss of TASK-1 function
Kim Hong, MHSA	Jonathan M. Chen, MD	TEG based transfusion in heart transplantation and VAD implantation
Robert Gray, MD	Ralph S. Mosca, MD	Effects of acute volume overload on ventricular compliance and new technology developmen
Isaac George, MD	Mehmet C. Oz, MD	Myostatin expression in patients with heart failure and after mechanical unloading with a LVAD
George Comas, MD	Craig R. Smith, MD	Local delivery of amiodarone with tissue adherent hydrogel patch
Tianna Umann, PA	Allan Stewart, MD	Cardiothoracic surgery clinical trials registry

2005 Resident Research Competition

On May 25, 2005, the 14^th Annual Resident Research Competition was held in the Alumni Auditorium. Fourteen members of the Research Committee and Leadership group scored the presentations. There was a large turnout of residents, faculty, and students. The prize winners were:

Allan W Tulloch, B.A.
STRO-1 Positive Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Delivered in a Fibrin Scaffold Enhance Myocardial Neovascularization and Cardiogenesis after Acute Ischemia.
Jae-O Bae, M.D.
Upregulating PIGF and Follistatin Suppresses Activin Signaling and Rescues Neuroblastoma Angiogenesis during VEGF Blockade.
Joey C. Papa, M.D.
Vascular Recovery During Sustained Anti-Angiogenesis is Mediated by Microenvironmental Sequestration of VEGF.
Avraham Belizon M.D.
Surgical Trauma Induces Proteolysis of Insulin Like Growth Factor Binding Protein -3 (IGFBP-3) in Transgenic Mice, and is Associated with a Rapid Increase in Serum Levels of Matrix Metaloproteinase-9 (MMP-9).

A complete list of research presentations follows. To learn more about research by Department of Surgery residents, please visit the residency website.

T. Alexander Quinn, M.S.
Randomized Testing of LV Site and RV-LV Delay for Optimization of Biventricular Pacing
Jason Fisher, M.D.
Simulation Modeling of Mammalian Diaphragm Development
Dmitri Belov, M.D.
RAGE Stimulation Leads to the Effective Mobilization and Homing of Bone Marrow Progenitors to the Site of Vascular Injury
Olakunle Oluwole, M.D.
Permanent Acceptance of Cardiac and Skin Allografts Induced by Recipient Immunization with in Vivo AlloMHC Peptide-Primed Syngeneic T Cells Combined with Bone Marrow Transplantation
Michael Terry, B.A.
Blockade of RAGE with Retroviral and Lentiviral Gene Therapy Improves Wound Healing in Diabetic Mice over Time
George Berberian, M.D.
Left Ventricular Pacing Site Optimization during Biventricular Pacing Using a Multi-Electrode Patch
Joey C. Papa, M.D.
Vascular Recovery during Sustained Anti-Angiogenesis is Mediated By Microenvironmental Sequestration of VEGF
Allan W Tulloch, B.A.
STRO-1 Positive Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Delivered in a Fibrin Scaffold Enhance Myocardial Neovascularization and Cardiogenesis after Acute Ischemia
Avraham Belizon M.D.
Surgical Trauma Induces Proteolysis of Insulin Like Growth Factor Binding Protein -3 (IGFBP-3) In Transgenic Mice, and is Associated with a Rapid Increase in Serum Levels of Matrix Metaloproteinase-9 (MMP-9)
Nikalesh Ippagunta, M.D.
The Role of RAGE Signaling in Colorectal Liver Metastasis.
Jae-O Bae, M.D.
Upregulating PLGF and Follistatin Suppresses Activin Signaling and Rescues Neuroblastoma Angiogenesis during VEGF Blockade
Nicholas Dang, M.D.
In Situ Pericardial Fluid Restraint for the Limitation of Post-Myocardial Infarction Ventricular Dilation
Veli Topkara, M.D.
Downregulation of Prostacyclin Synthase in Atrial Fibrillation: A Potential Mechanism for Stroke
Giampaolo Greco, Ph.D.
Outcomes of Endovascular Treatment of Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Darian Matissen, B.A.
Establishing a Small Animal Model for the Vacuum-Assisted Closure Device: A Pilot Study
Isaac George, M.D.
HBOC-201 Preserves Regional Myocardial Function and Reduces Infarct Size In an Acute Ischemia Model
Cara A. Garofalo, M.D.
Ventricular Mechanics at Fontan Completion: Diastolic Properties Predict Short-Term Post-Operative Morbidity and Duration of Pleural Effusions

2005 Blakemore Prize and Awards

The $1,000 Blakemore Prize is awarded to the best body of research by a graduating resident (PGY-5) or Chief Resident during the overall training program. David Rabkin, MD received the 2005 Blakemore Prize for his investigation of cardiac function and heart failure. Dr. Rabkin was first author on 17 papers and coauthor on 11 during his residency, 1998-2005.

Three Blakemore Awards of $250 are presented for outstanding research by general surgery house staff during the current academic year. The recipients for 2004-2005 are:

Patricia Sylla, MD: microarrays, immune function, and laparoscopy
James Lee, MD: gene therapy and tissue engineering
Olakunle Oluwole, MD: transplant tolerance and dendritic cells

Residents Research Competition—2003

11 Residents Participate in Competition
Congratulations to 2003 winners

Winners of the 2003 Residents Research Competition are:

First:
Dr. Jason A. Frischer

Research Project	Wilms Tumor Resistance Project
Faculty Director	Jessica J. Kandel, MD

Second:
Dr. Olakunle Oluwole

Research Project	Induction of Acquired Transplant Tolerance
Faculty Director	Mark A. Hardy, MD

Third:
Dr. David G. Rabkin

Research Project	Biventricular Pacing in Acute Heart Failure
Faculty Director	Henry M. Spotnitz, MD

Fourth:
Dr. Alejandro Conejero

Research Project	Hard Palate Reconstruction/Tissue Engineering
Faculty Director	Arnold S. Breitbart, MD

In addition, the following residents presented their work:

Dr. Faisal H. Cheema

Research Project	Pressor Effect of Vasopressin in Late-Phase Hemorrhagic Shock
Faculty Director	Mehmet C. Oz, MD

Dr. Hector DePaz

Research Project	Use of Dendritic Cells in Cardiac Allografting
Faculty Director	Mark A. Hardy, MD

Dr. Larisse Lee

Research Project	Laser/Doppler Imaging of Vacular Reactivity for Diabetes
Faculty Director	Ann Marie Schmidt, MD

Dr. James Lee

Research Project	Use of PDGF Gene to Enhance Angiogenesis and Collagen Deposition
Faculty Director	Arnold S. Breitbart, MD

Dr. Juliet Park

Research Project	Colon Dysplasia and Carcinoma in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Faculty Director	Emina H. Huang, MD

Dr. Deon Vigilance

Research Project	Off-Pump Epicardial Atrial Bibrillation Surgery
Faculty Director	Michael Argenziano, MD

Dr. Kelley Wear

Research Project	Effect of Topical sRAGE on Granulation Tissue in Diabetic Wounds
Faculty Director	Arnold S. Breitbart, MD