Originally reported in The Forefront (9/7/2021) A study led by researchers at the University of Chicago and Indiana University has determined that a protein called elF5A is necessary for driving inflammation in macrophage cells in obesity. Blocking DHPS, the enzyme that modifies and activates elF5A, led to reduced inflammation and improved glucose control in mice. The study was published on September 7 in Cell Metabolism. DHPS is a conserved protein, meaning that it is found in many different animal species from bacteria to humans. It has mostly been studied in yeast and other cultured cells. While the lab of Raghu Mimira, … Read More

Originally reported in The Forefront, 7/25/2021    Artificial intelligence tools and deep learning models are a powerful tool in cancer treatment. They can be used to analyze digital images of tumor biopsy samples, helping physicians quickly classify the type of cancer, predict prognosis and guide a course of treatment for the patient. However, unless these algorithms are properly calibrated, they can sometimes make inaccurate or biased predictions. A new study led by researchers from the University of Chicago shows that deep learning models trained on large sets of cancer genetic and tissue histology data can easily identify the institution that … Read More

Daniel Catenacci,MD, associate professor of medicine ( Hematology/Oncology) has been named as the recipient of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) 2021 Cancer Clinical Investigator Team Leadership Award. Established in 2009, the award recognizes outstanding clinical investigators at NCI-designated cancer centers who participate extensively in NCI-funded clinical trials and whose leadership and activities promote a successful culture of collaborative clinical research. Dr. Catenacci is an adult gastrointestinal medical oncologist and director of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Program at the University of Chicago. He  also serves as the assistant director of translational research in the Comprehensive Cancer Center. In addition to his clinical … Read More

Uzma Siddiqui,MD , Professor of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, has been named as the Director of the Center for Endoscopic Research and Therapeutics (CERT). Dr. Siddiqui received her MD at the University of Miami, followed by internal medicine residency training at George Washington University and gastroenterology fellowship training at NYU. She then completed a one-year advanced endoscopy fellowship in the Section of Digestive Diseases at Yale University and stayed on faculty for almost 7 years until 2011 with multiple leadership roles including Associate Program Director for the GI fellowship and Director of the endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) program. … Read More

Dean Kenneth Polonsky recently announced the Biological Sciences Division 2021 Distinguished Faculty Awards.  The winners were carefully selected by the Faculty Advisory Committee, the Medical and Biological Sciences Alumni Association, and the Professional Environment Steering Committee, from a pool of exceptional nominees submitted by colleagues and trainees. Awardees from the Department of Medicine are: Distinguished Clinician: Junior Lauren Gleason, MD, MPH-Assistant Professor, Medicine, Section of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Senior Carol Semrad, MD-Professor, Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition  Distinguished Community Service and Advocacy Junior Elizabeth Tung, MD, MS-Assistant Professor, Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine Senior Katherine Thompson, … Read More

President Robert Zimmer has named Roberto M. Lang, MD as the A.J. Carlson Professor effective July 1, 2021. Dr. Lang currently serves as Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) and Radiology and Director of the Noninvasive Cardiac Imaging Laboratories and the Cardiac Imaging Center for the University of Chicago Medicine.   He is internationally known for his seminal work in the development of three dimensional transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, a non-invasive technique that is currently used world-wide to diagnose heart disease and guide structural heart disease in the catheterization lab. Dr. Lang’s contributions have had an enormous impact on the Department of Medicine’s … Read More

Yoav Gilad, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Vice Chair for Research and Chief of the Section of Genetic Medicine, has been appointed as Dean for Biomedical and Health Informatics in the Biological Science Division effective July 1, 2021.  The creation of this new position by Dean Kenneth Polonsky recognizes the essential contributions that data, information, and computer sciences make in the  understanding of biology, medicine and the enhanced delivery of health care services. The Dean for Biomedical and Health Informatics (BHI) will report to the Dean of the Biological Sciences Division and will focus primarily on the following three mission-critical areas: … Read More