2014

UB’s news story about a novel drug delivery system — advanced by Jonathan F. Lovell, PhD, assistant professor of biomedical engineering — was named among the “Best of 2014” about National Science Foundation-funded research.

A study led by Xiaozhong Wen, PhD, assistant professor of pediatrics, found that higher self-regulatory behaviors in 2-year-olds — when combined with rules restricting unhealthy foods — are associated with healthier eating habits two years later.

In the latest round of state funding for economic-development projects in Western New York, the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus received $650,000 to build pedestrian bridges connecting the new University at Buffalo medical school, the Conventus office building and the UB Research Institute on Addictions.

New research from University at Buffalo scientists will help pharmacologists better understand how drugs work and how to make them more effective. “This research represents a significant advance in our understanding of how drugs activate receptors,” explains Anthony L. Auerbach, PhD, professor of physiology and biophysics.

Along with his colleagues, Frederick Sachs, PhD, distinguished professor of physiology and biophysics, reprogrammed somatic cells toward a stem-like state by manipulating mechanical forces. The group demonstrated a link between increased actin forces within cells and transition to a stem-like cell state.

As participants in the “White Coat Die-in," University at Buffalo medical students gathered to protest officer-involved killings of unarmed black men. This is a public health issue and something deeply connected to the mission of aspiring physicians, said second-year medical student Nina Paroff.

Researchers at the University at Buffalo are working to help determine whether or not chemotherapy will be successful in treating individual patients. Jennifer A. Surtees, PhD, associate professor of biochemistry, is studying the genetic pathways that make cancer cells susceptible or resistant to chemotherapies.

Only 12 percent of type 2 diabetics with chronic kidney disease are properly diagnosed, according to a new study published in PLOS Medicine. “We need clearer and simpler messages for both primary care clinicians and patients regarding the importance of screening for chronic kidney disease in people with diabetes,” says Chester H. Fox, MD, professor of family medicine.

The Buffalo region’s medical resources — including the University at Buffalo’s new medical school — are coming together on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. The downtown campus will improve care and research and help attract new talent.

University at Buffalo researchers — including Daniel Antonius, PhD, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry — say a lack of longitudinal studies on chronic traumatic encephalopathy hinders scientists’ ability to understand how the brain disease is linked to behavioral health symptoms.

A biomedical advancement under development at the University at Buffalo could make chemotherapy more efficient. “We are developing a novel endoscopic device that will improve our ability to detect and destroy cancer cells,” says Ulas Sunar, PhD, research assistant professor of biomedical engineering.

A pediatric oncology unit planned for the John R. Oishei Children's Hospital will provide patients with a new level of care. The program is a collaboration between the University at Buffalo, Kaleida Health and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Co-chair of the search for the new program director is Allan E. Kornberg, MD, MBA, clinical associate professor of pediatrics.

The University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences received 4,356 applications for admission in 2015, a 3.5 percent increase from 2014. “Building a brand-new, state-of-the-art medical school is certainly a positive,” said Charles M. Severin, MD, PhD, associate dean for medical education and admissions. He notes that the excitement created by the project is helping raise awareness about the quality of the medical school.

Bruce R. Troen, MD, professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, discusses his study of vitamin D and resveratrol, the shifting field of geriatrics and concerns that his patients and their families express to him. He aims to lead the effort toward helping Western New Yorkers grow older in healthy ways.

The National Institute for Health Research in England has announced the start of a clinical trial to test a potential treatment for Sjogren’s Syndrome (SS), and researchers at the University at Buffalo have received a U.S. patent for a new biomarker-based test that can diagnose SS in its early stages by detecting certain antibodies.

A University at Buffalo-led consortium of major medical players in Western New York is seeking access to a federal grant program that would signal its arrival in the upper echelon of medical research centers. “All the top medical schools and academic health centers in the country have a CTSA,” said Timothy F. Murphy, MD, senior associate dean for clinical and translational research.

Babies born to women who make more money are also more likely to get more nutrients from their diets according to a new study from researchers at the University at Buffalo, including lead author Xiaozhong Wen, PhD, assistant professor of pediatrics.

The University at Buffalo's new $375 million medical school will have a dramatic impact on its surroundings. It will affect transit, retail and housing from an influx of new faculty and medical students on the downtown medical campus.

L. Nelson Hopkins, MD, distinguished professor of neurosurgery and radiology, and Bianca Weinstock-Guttman, MD, professor of neurology, discuss the work of Lawrence D. Jacobs — a Buffalo neurologist who first theorized that he could use interferon to treat multiple sclerosis patients.

Sanjay Sethi, MD, professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, discusses the best predictors of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations.

Three years ago, Frederick Sachs, PhD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of physiology and biophysics, and his team discovered that a small peptide found in tarantula venom blocks the mechanically-sensing ion channel Piezo1. Now, lab experiments at Duke University found that the same GsMTx4 compound protects joint tissue from cell death following compressive injury.

A study led by Xiaozhong Wen, PhD, assistant professor of pediatrics, demonstrates how the dietary patterns of American babies reflect class inequalities.

John J. Leddy, MD, clinical professor of orthopaedics, says the increase in high-school age patients seeing doctors for concussions is a positive sign that people are becoming more aware of symptoms.

Xiuqian Mu, MD, PhD, assistant professor of ophthalmology and biochemistry, and his team have found that the gene-regulating proteins Onecut1 and Onecut2 play a significant role in the development of the vision system in mammals and perhaps other parts of the nervous system. The UB study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

According to a study led by Xiaozhong Wen, PhD, assistant professor of pediatrics, dietary patterns of 6- and 12-month-olds vary according to the racial, ethnic and educational backgrounds of their mothers.

According to a study led by Jeffrey M. Lackner, PsyD, professor of medicine, men with irritable bowel syndrome feel cold, detached and a need to dominate relationships.

UB ophthalmology resident Jiaxi Ding, MD, led research demonstrating the benefits of a new Smartphone-based app that allows doctors to see the back of a patient’s eye without necessarily using dilating drops.

Heavier crash test dummies are being designed to reflect a more realistic American body weight — a need identified in a study by Dietrich V. Jehle, MD, professor of emergency medicine.

John A. Sellick Jr., DO, associate professor of medicine, says the United States “has ways of treating” the Ebola virus as well as appropriate facilities and personal protective gear.

Construction of UB’s new state-of-the-art medical school, set to open in 2017, will soon progress to its next phase; a 280-foot tower crane will be on site in December.

Vijay S. Iyer MD, PhD, clinical associate professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, discusses the dangers of cold weather for people with heart disease. “In the cold weather, the same symptoms of a heart attack may occur in a lower level of activity,” he says. 

The University at Buffalo is building a new medical school in downtown Buffalo, which the university hopes will be an economic engine for Western New York. Michael E. Cain, MD, vice president for health sciences and dean, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, discusses the effect the new school will have on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

In an article about a hormone associated with dairy foods, Mark R. O'Brian, PhD, professor of biochemistry, says “the science around growth hormone supports that it is safe.”

Kenneth G. Langone, co-founder of Home Depot has shared his opinion that Buffalo’s medical corridor is an asset to the city. “I know a lot about health care in New York state,” he said. “The University at Buffalo medical center, medical school is first class.”

Anne B. Curtis, MD, Charles and Mary Bauer Professor and chair of medicine, says patients with coronary heart disease and heart failure should not overexert themselves while shoveling snow and using snowblowers. 

A stroke treatment used by a neurovascular surgeon in Florida has been proven to be effective. The physician has been investigating and using the treatment since the early 2000s, when he completed a fellowship at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

In response to a study suggesting that overtreating atrial fibrillation patients with out-of-range anticoagulation may increase the risk for dementia, Anne B. Curtis, MD, Charles and Mary Bauer Professor and chair of medicine says “it does make sense that the problem leading to dementia could be microbleeds.”

In an article about the overuse of antibiotics potentially becoming a global threat that creates risk for many medical procedures, Mark R. O'Brian, PhD, professor of biochemistry, discusses the use of antibiotics to control illness among farm animals living in close quarters.

Elad I. Levy, MD, professor and chair of neurosurgery, examines professional players during games to determine whether they have been harmed by hits to the head. Levy says that for Damon Janes — a high school student who died from football-related injuries — the cumulative effect of multiple hits over a short time interval was catastrophic.

James N. Jarvis, MD, clinical professor of pediatrics and chief of allergy, immunology and rheumatology, discusses the concept of epigenetics and how it applies to Native Americans. He explains that if the impact of experiences is in people's genes, there may be a connection between people's genetic makeup and the trauma experienced by their ancestors.

Timothy F. Murphy, MD, senior associate dean for clinical and translational research, says the facility housing the UB Clinical and Translational Science Institute will figure prominently in the latest attempt to secure a major federal Clinical and Translational Science Award.

Molecular biologist Mark R. O’Brian, PhD, professor and interim chair of biochemistry, cites “strong consensus in the scientific community that genetically modified organisms are safe.”

At the 2014 Association of American Medical Colleges conference, Gabriela K. Popescu, PhD, professor of biochemistry, discussed University at Buffalo junior faculty development. “Preserving science is preserving scientists and preserving future scientists is preserving junior faculty,” she said.

Steven Dubovsky, MD, professor and chair of psychiatry, says the hostages held by a Buffalo gunman may experience stress, anxiety and nightmares for a short time, but will likely not develop post-traumatic stress disorder.

Michael E. Cain, MD, vice president for health sciences and dean of the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, says UB is embracing interprofessional education as health care teams become a key factor in addressing unmet primary care needs in Western New York.

Jack P. Freer, MD, clinical professor of medicine in the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, says assisted suicide is ‘almost always a last resort,’ though in some cases, it may be the right thing to do.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) intervention programs based in methadone clinics may help clinicians encourage patients to make healthier choices, says Andrew H. Talal, MD, professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.

Steven Dubovsky, MD, professor and chair of psychiatry, says it’s not possible to scientifically predict who will become a mass shooter, but young people often leave clues that they are entertaining violent fantasies.

Infectious disease experts Alan J. Lesse, MD, and John Sellick Jr., DO, both associate professors of medicine, presented the lecture, “Ebola Virus Disease – NOW Everyone is Interested,” to a standing room-only crowd of more than 100 as well as a television audience at two hospitals.

The Dose Tracking System for interventional fluoroscopic procedures — developed by a UB team led by Daniel R. Bednarek, PhD, professor of radiology — has been recognized as the best new radiology software for 2014 by the medical imaging forum AuntMinnie.com. The award was granted to co-developer and licensee Toshiba America Medical Systems.

The bioactive protein interleukin-10 successfully treats chronic, precancerous intestinal inflammation, according to a UB animal study featured on the cover of Cancer Research and led by Allen Y. Chung, a student in the Medical Scientist Training (MD/PhD) Program.

UB’s new state-of-the-art medical school, set to open in 2017, will feature laboratory space that ranks among the most eco-friendly at universities throughout the world, according to Grad School Hub. UB ranked 11th out of 30 universities cited.

Teresa Quattrin, MD, UB Distinguished Professor and chair of pediatrics, says the John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital will help create beneficial synergy with other institutions on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, including the new UB medical school.

Kim Griswold, MD, associate professor of family medicine and psychiatry, works with asylum seekers to authenticate their experiences in her role as medical director of the Western New York Center for Survivors of Refugee Trauma and Torture.

Alan J. Lesse, MD, associate professor of medicine, says stronger emphasis should be placed on protocols related to the removal of gowns and equipment to prevent accidental Ebola contamination.

L. Nelson Hopkins, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of neurosurgery, joined top health care leaders to discuss the potential for greater collaboration among area hospital systems and the future of health care in Buffalo.

A University at Buffalo team of researchers has been awarded a federal grant to explore how environmental chemicals that disrupt neuroendocrine circadian functions and hormone release may raise the risk of diabetes and other disorders. Researchers in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology — Margarita L. Dubocovich, PhD, and Rajendram Rajnarayanan, PhD — are the principal investigators.

Research by David Dietz, PhD, assistant professor of pharmacology and toxicology, has the potential to identify novel therapies for treating addiction to cocaine and other psychostimulants, for which no effective drug therapy exists.

Not getting enough sleep can lead to several negative consequences, including a greater likelihood of impaired fasting glucose, a condition which precedes Type 2 diabetes, according to a UB study.

UB medical students engage in role playing exercises led by local cancer coaches to learn how to provide compassionate care to cancer patients.

Nancy Nielsen, MD, PhD, senior associate dean for health policy, says ambiguous wording in the Affordable Care Act will likely not affect subsidies for people who buy health insurance through the federally run exchange.

Geriatrics researchers at the University at Buffalo and across New York State have joined forces to investigate the connection between frailty and dementia. UB geriatrician Bruce Troen, MD, says that even as physicians see more frailty in aging patients, the definition of the condition itself has not been well established. 

A small number of hospitals and physicians’ practices are experimenting with robots in doctors’ rounds, a practice known as telerounding, and Peter L. Elkin, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Biomedical Informatics, comments on the technological advances behind this kind of support. 

Teresa Quattrin, MD, conducted a study showing that parents who want to help their preschooler shed excess pounds may want to team up with their child. “With supervised expert guidance in a primary care setting, it’s possible to help preschoolers gain weight at a healthier pace as they grow and at the same time also help parents lose, too,” she says.

The low-tech Lung Flute improves quality of life for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with chronic bronchitis, a new study led by Sanjay Sethi, MD, professor of medicine and chief of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine, confirms.

James J. Reidy, MD, clinical professor of ophthalmology, says green laser pointers — like the ones football fans used to try to distract players on the field — can cause permanent eye damage.

A firm spun off from the research led by Frederick Sachs, PhD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of physiology and biophysics, has sold the rights to a potential therapy for muscular dystrophy.

A study led by Jeffrey M. Lackner, PsyD, professor of medicine, found that patients’ fears about how irritable bowel symptoms will affect their quality of life may exceed the impact of gastrointestinal symptoms alone.

The University at Buffalo will receive a grant that helps further genomics and genetics education in high schools across Western New York. The program, lead by Stephen T. Koury, PhD, “will provide hundreds of high school students with the skills they need to pursue a career in life sciences,” says Michael E. Cain, MD, vice president for health sciences and dean, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. 

University at Buffalo researchers and colleagues studying a rare blistering disease have discovered new details of how autoantibodies destroy healthy cells in skin. Research by Animesh A. Sinha, MD, PhD, and Kristina Seiffert-Sinha, MD, could help scientists identify and develop treatments for a wide range of autoimmune diseases.

If passed, the Accelerating Biomedical Research Act may help advance cutting-edge projects at the University at Buffalo by boosting funding for the National Institutes of Health.

The head of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus — future home of UB’s new state-of-the-art medical school — is advising a Baton Rouge, La. group in the early planning stages of a similar venture.

University at Buffalo researchers — with Harvard colleagues — have discovered a region of the brain responsible for causing deep sleep. “We are at a truly transformative point in neuroscience … We can now answer fundamental questions of brain function, which have traditionally been beyond our reach,” says co-author Caroline E. Bass, PhD, assistant professor of pharmacology and toxicology.

Commenting on the patient with the Ebola virus who was sent home from the emergency room, Peter Winkelstein, MD, executive director of the UB Institute for Healthcare Informatics, says medical professionals “missed” an important piece of the patient’s history.

Corticosteroids — long prescribed for their anti-inflammatory effects — also have certain pro-inflammatory effects at high doses, according to a study led by Paresh Dandona, MD, PhD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism.

Richard D. Blondell, MD, professor of family medicine and vice chair for addiction medicine, has been named to the board of directors for Save the Michaels of the World, Inc., a Buffalo-based not-for-profit that fights opiate addiction.

In an article showing that the percentage of uninsured people in Erie County is one of the lowest in the state, University at Buffalo medical policy expert Nancy Nielsen, MD, PhD, senior associate dean for health policy, says small businesses are less likely to offer insurance to their employees.

UB endocrinology expert Paresh Dandona, MD, PhD, contributes his expertise in an article on the FDA advisory committees’ vote in favor of revising the current indication for testosterone replacement therapies.

UB researchers are enabling imaging for a groundbreaking view of the small intestine. “Conventional imaging methods show the organ and blockages, but this method lets you see how the small intestine operates in real time,” says Jonathan F. Lovell, PhD, assistant professor of biomedical engineering.

In an article about former NFL players who filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL, Richard D. Blondell, MD, professor of family medicine, discusses the ethics of prescribing controlled substances to NFL players.

Daniel J. Morelli, MD, of the Department of Family Medicine, discusses a randomized trial that found a low-carb diet was better than a low-fat diet in promoting weight loss and reducing cardiovascular risk factors.

Elad I. Levy, MD, chair of the University at Buffalo Department of Neurosurgery — as well as professor of neurosurgery and radiology —  will receive the Kaleida Health “Spirit Award” at the 2014 Kaleida Ball. 

Colleges should consider moving a part of their campus downtown in order to become an institutional anchor, according to an article by Stony Brook University’s chief deputy to the president. He says that in the case of the University at Buffalo's downtown campus — home of the new UB medical school — this is an effective tool in stabilizing the city's downtown.

The building housing the UB Clinical and Translational Science Institute on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus — home of the new UB medical school — has been named on a list of “50 Amazingly Beautiful University Hospitals in North America.”

Along with Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman managing partner Scott Friedman, Elad I. Levy, MD, chair of the University at Buffalo Department of Neurosurgery, co-authored a feature in MGMA Connections magazine titled: “Applying Positive Psychology to the Practice of Medicine.”

David L. Kaye, MD, professor of psychiatry, comments on a collaboration that enables university-based child and adolescent psychiatry divisions to support primary care physicians in addressing mental health problems.

A study led by John J. Leddy MD, clinical professor of orthopaedics, emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between concussions and neck injuries — conditions that cause similar symptoms but require different treatment.

In one example of the beneficial contributions of arachnids, Frederick Sachs, PhD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of physiology and biophysics, hopes to develop a therapy for muscular dystrophy from a compound in the venom of a South American spider.

Jonathan F. Lovell, PhD, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, and his team invented an imaging technique using ‘nanonaps’ that disperse in water and can be used to view peristalsis — muscle contractions that move food through the gastrointestinal tract.

UB’s new, state-of-the-art medical school is moving forward as LPCiminelli submitted the lowest bid — $225 million — for second-phase construction work including the building’s facade, roof and interior.

David L. Kaye, MD, professor of psychiatry, discusses the benefits that will ensue when five university-based divisions of child and adolescent psychiatry collaborate to educate primary care physicians on mental health care issues.

Richard D. Blondell, MD, professor of family medicine, says people who suffer from alcohol and drug addictions are at a greater risk for depression and suicide. He notes that genetics can leave some predisposed to addiction and may cause mood disorders.

Per mile traveled, distracted walking — including texting and walking — is more unsafe than distracted driving, warns Dietrich V. Jehle, MD, professor of emergency medicine. 

Steven L. Dubovsky, MD, professor and chair of psychiatry, was praised for his sound advice in the wake of Robin Williams’ death: “The best way to prevent someone from committing suicide is to ask about suicidal thoughts.”

In an article exploring the idea that hospital price reports may help patients become better consumers of health care, UB medical policy expert Nancy Nielsen, MD, PhD, senior associate dean for health policy, discusses an ophthalmologist who used an expensive drug to treat macular degeneration instead of using a cheaper, equally effective drug.

Multidisciplinary physician-scientist Bruce R. Troen, MD, professor of medicine and chief of geriatrics and palliative medicine, has been named a fellow of the American Geriatrics Society.

A University at Buffalo study by the Department of Family Medicine and colleagues found that uninsured smokers who used nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) patches in combination with NRT lozenges nearly doubled their quit rates when using the support of a quiltline.

The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus — home of the new University at Buffalo medical school — has grown from a region with several hospitals to a burgeoning corridor, transformed by major construction projects expected to reach more than 17,000 employees in the next few years.

In today’s highly competitive health insurance marketplace, it’s getting harder than ever to survive as a standalone, regional company. “For years, doctors and insurers were enemies,” comments UB medical policy expert Nancy Nielsen, MD, PhD, senior associate dean for health policy. “Those days are changing.”

A treatment developed by University at Buffalo researchers will help people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome. “Between 60 and 70 percent of people who go through our treatment seem to benefit. That compares very favorably with medications, dietary treatments, for which treatment is often times unsatisfactory,” says Jeffrey M. Lackner, PsyD, professor of medicine.

Medical trainees will soon find it hard to believe medicine was practiced without high-tech support such as telerounding, or the use of robots to check in on patients remotely, says Peter L. Elkin, MD, professor and chair of biomedical informatics.

A study in Pediatrics led by Teresa Quattrin, MD, UB Distinguished Professor and chair of pediatrics, demonstrates the effectiveness of weight control interventions that involve both preschool-aged overweight children and their parents.

The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus — the future home of UB’s new medical school — is attracting a significant amount of private spin-off development, including new housing, that promises to transform the city.

John A. Sellick Jr., DO, associate professor of medicine — who is in charge of infection control for the University at Buffalo medical school, the Buffalo VA Medica Center and the Kaleida Health system — discusses hospitals’ preparedness for handling patients with Ebola infections. 

Nancy Nielsen, MD, PhD, senior associate dean for health policy, says Buffalo’s emerging medical campus — which will include UB’s new medical school — presents an opportunity to transform the region into a world-class destination for health care.

In 2013, as both the number of aspiring physicians and available MD training slots reached record highs nationwide, UB admitted 3.5 percent of applicants to its medical school.

Infectious disease specialist John A. Sellick Jr., DO, associate professor of medicine, says local health care professionals have been alerted to consider the possibility of Ebola virus only in certain patients who have been to West Africa.

Not being able to ask patients about firearms would impair a physician’s important role as educator and counselor, says John R. Fudyma, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine and chief of general internal medicine.

Fraser J. Sim, PhD, assistant professor of pharmacology and toxicology, collaborated on research that generated induced pluripotent stem cells lines from skin samples of multiple sclerosis patients for the first time.

Matthew J. Phillips, MD, clinical assistant professor of orthopaedics, questions a malpractice verdict against a Buffalo orthorpedic surgeon and says it may limit access to care for millions in New York State.

Checking blood levels “would seem to be a small price to pay” to enhance safety, says Anne B. Curtis, MD, Charles and Mary Bauer Professor and chair of medicine, commenting on information that monitoring and adjusting doses of anticoagulants such as dabigatran can cut bleeding risk.

After a Buffalo doctor donated his body to UB’s Anatomical Gift Program, his friend was inspired by the lessons of generosity highlighted during a memorial service involving medical students.

According to a study by Andrew H. Talal, MD, professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, people who inject drugs want to be educated about hepatitis C virus infection. “That education is associated with willingness to be treated,” he says.

At a memorial service honoring donors to the University at Buffalo’s Anatomical Gift Program, UB medical students shared how anatomical gifts have informed and enhanced their medical education.

As medical director of the Western New York Center for Survivors of Refugee Trauma and Torture, Kim Griswold, MD, MPH, associate professor of family medicine and psychiatry, involves medical students in documenting the experiences of resettled refugees.

As the newly appointed vice president and chief medical officer at Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, Stephen J. Turkovich, MD, clinical assistant professor of pediatrics, will help lead initiatives designed to enhance the patient experience and quality of care.

James N. Jarvis, MD, clinical professor of pediatrics, is lead author on a study that demonstrates the possibility of using biomarkers in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis to predict the status of their disease at 12 months. 

Commenting on a study that links weight loss to a decrease in hot flashes, Vanessa M. Barnabei MD, PhD, chair and professor of obstetrics and gynecology, noted that a significant number of women experience hot flashes, which can affect quality of life.

John A. Sellick, Jr., DO, associate professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, says those traveling to certain locations outside of the U.S. should be careful of the water. “I tell our students who travel to these areas: ‘Do not put a drop of local water in your mouth,’” he comments. 

Sanjay Sethi, MD, professor of medicine and chief of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine, who has researched the lung flute, says this new treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease uses sound waves to help clear mucus.

Medical student and violinist Amanda Albrecht joined 40 doctors from around the world who performed a concert with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra to benefit the emerging John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital of Buffalo.

Fraser J. Sim, PhD, assistant professor of pharmacology and toxicology, and his team have identified SOX10 as the single transcription factor that initiates the critical myelination process in the brain.

“It is extremely important that policymakers disclose their financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry,” says Richard D. Blondell, MD, professor of family medicine and vice chair for addiction medicine.

Beyond certain types of contraception, the narrow Supreme Court ruling in the Hobby Lobby case does not affect other essential benefits required by the Affordable Care Act, emphasizes Nancy Nielsen, MD ’76, PhD, senior associate dean for health policy.

Steven J. Fliesler, PhD, Meyer H. Riwchun Endowed Chair Professor of ophthalmology, was elected to a five-year term on the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology’s board of trustees.

Michael G. Dwyer III, PhD, assistant professor of neurology, seeks to understand why multiple sclerosis patients experience pseudoatrophy — a rapid, short-term drop in brain volume following anti-inflammatory therapy that may not signify tissue loss.

Commenting on new American College of Physicians guidelines, Vanessa M. Barnabei MD, PhD, chair and professor of obstetrics and gynecology, says the pelvic exam is not a very sensitive exam for screening for abnormalities.

Empire Genomics, founded by Norma J. Nowak, PhD, professor of biochemistry, will receive $1 million in private investment funds to enhance services related to cancer disease management.

Dispelling the myths of opioid use, Richard Blondell, MD, professor of family medicine and director of the National Center for Physician Training in Addiction Medicine, says long-term use of prescription pain medications can be addictive, even when used to treat pain.

Mayor Byron W. Brown says additional appointees to the City of Buffalo’s Emergency Medical Services Board — including Sucharita Paul, MD, clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine — will help keep Rural/Metro ambulance company’s performance in check during a five-year contract between the city and the ambulance service.

According to findings by Paresh Dandona, MD, PhD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of endocrinology, Type 2 diabetic men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism had a significant 25 percent increase in insulin sensitivity after taking testosterone injections for six months.

Paresh Dandona, MD, PhD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of endocrinology, says the drug Dulaglutide has properties of reducing blood glucose concentrations, suppressing appetite and causing weight loss. “We’d like to see more data on whether this drug also causes blood pressure fall,” he says. 

Thomas J. Guttuso Jr., MD, associate professor of neurology and obstetrics and gynecology, will test the effectiveness of the anticonvulsant drug gabapentin in treating hyperemesis gravidarum, a rare but disabling condition of early pregnancy.

More than $4 million in grant money has been awarded to community-based health care services for older adults. Erie County Medical Center will collaborate with the University at Buffalo’s School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, providing peer advocates to help address unmet needs for primary care services in outpatient mental health settings.

About 17,000 people will work on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus by 2017, once construction is completed on several major projects — including the University at Buffalo’s new School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. 

Nancy Nielsen, MD, PhD, senior associate dean for health policy, provides insight about the long waits for health care that some veterans have experienced through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

D-Link — a support group founded and run by University at Buffalo medical students — has been helping adolescents and young adults deal with the complexities of Type 1 diabetes since 2006.

Manav Batra, MBBS, clinical assistant professor of medicine, says his research shows — for the first time — that men with type 2 diabetes and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism are more insulin resistant as compared to men who have normal testosterone.

Camp Hope — sponsored in part by the Department of Family Medicine within the University at Buffalo's School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences — addresses the special needs of grieving children who have lost loved ones.

Robert J. Smolinski, MD, clinical associate professor of orthopaedics, successfully operated on a 10-year-old Ghanaian boy through the Hope For Tomorrow Foundation, a volunteer group based in Williamsville, N.Y. 

Jeffrey R. Johnson, MD, associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, comments that “while there has been some research looking at cell phone communications, there is no known association between WiFi and any sort of congenital anomaly.”

A study led by Andrew H. Talal, MD, professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, is the first to trace in real-time how the drug telaprevir inhibits viral replication in the liver and how it clears hepatitis C virus from infected cells and plasma.

George Ventro, MD — a general surgery resident at the University at Buffalo — and Gregory Cherr, MD, associate professor of surgery and director of the UB general surgery residency program, discuss opportunities for residents to teach UB medical students, and they comment on the importance of excellence in teaching.

The University at Buffalo began accepting bids for the second phase of its new School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. The  $375 million medical school, which will exceed 500,000 square feet on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, will coincide with a marked increase in faculty and students.

Nancy Nielsen, MD, PhD, senior associate dean for health policy, provides insight about the lack of primary care physicians in Western New York. “The problem is serious, and it’s been serious for a while,” she says.

By encapsulating anti-cancer drugs in nanoballoons, Jonathan Lovell, PhD, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, is developing a new way to target cancer cells while avoiding unwanted side effects.

A new accelerated MBA program will allow medical residents to develop key business skills including leadership, finance and big-data analysis, says Philip L. Glick MD, MBA, professor of surgery and vice-chair for finance, who helped design the program.

According to Michael G. Dwyer III, PhD, assistant professor of neurology, reductions in brain volume often seen in patients with chronic relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis may be reduced by treatment with interferon beta-1a.

Kinga Szigeti, MD, PhD, assistant professor of neurology and director of the University at Buffalo Alzheimer‘s Disease and Memory Disorders Center, provides insight about dementia and Alzheimer's, and notes that “genetics is a very useful tool to crack this disease.” 

Elad I. Levy, MD, MBA, professor of neurosurgery and radiology, says a White House summit on sports concussions will elevate awareness about the seriousness of the injury. He also provides insight on helmet safety and the future of youth sports.

Gregory Roloff, a first-year student in the University at Buffalo's medical education program calls for the legal removal of all childhood vaccine exemptions. “They are irresponsible and incompatible with the noble field of medicine and the safety of our society,” he says.

University at Buffalo medical students and trainees have the opportunity to gain learning experiences in UB's Museum of Neuroanatomy, where they can examine preserved brain specimens. Christopher S. Cohan, PhD, curator of the museum and professor of pathology and anatomical sciences, provides insight about the human brain.

Land has been cleared and site preparation work is underway for the University at Buffalo’s $375 million new School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. The campus will bring about 7,000 new doctors, researchers and services to the city’s core.

Arie L. Weinstock, MD, of the Department of Neurology, provides insight about a genetic disease affecting cell growth in the nervous system. Neurofibromatosis can cause learning disabilities, disfigurement, blindness, headaches, seizures, hearing loss and “excruciating, disabling neuropathic pain,” he says.

Elad I. Levy, MD, professor of neurosurgery and radiology, has been named editor of the endovascular section for Neurosurgery, the official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

Robert Zivadinov, MD, PhD, professor of neurology, says that although multiple sclerosis has been considered an inflammatory demyelinating disease affecting the white matter of the central nervous system, recent studies have established that gray matter is also involved in different stages of the disease.

Teresa Quattrin, MD, University at Buffalo Distinguished Professor and chair of pediatrics — who is chief of the Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes — points out that youngsters with diabetes have a “head start” on the consequences of the disease.

To help meet unmet general health needs for those with serious mental illnesses, an interprofessional team from the University at Buffalo — including Kim Griswold, MD, MPH, associate professor of family medicine — is bringing primary care services directly to clients of a Buffalo psychiatric facility.

The severity of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms plays a surprisingly modest role in self-rated health, according to a study co-authored by Jeffrey M. Lackner, PsyD, associate professor of medicine.

Adnan Siddiqui, MD, PhD, and Renee M. Reynolds, MD — faculty members in the Department of Neurosurgery — volunteered their services to treat a Pakistani child who had a rare type of arteriovenous malformation.

A study led by Jun-Xu Li, MD, PhD, assistant professor of pharmacology and toxicology, shows that the newly developed RO5263397 compound severely blunts a host of cocaine addiction behaviors, including relapse behavior, in rats.

John R. Fudyma, MD, chief and clinical associate professor of general internal medicine, comments on hospitals' roles within communities in a news story about the struggles of facilities beset by fewer patients and rising costs.

Along with other University at Buffalo affiliates, Scott Nodzo, MD, a trainee in the Department of Orthopaedics residency program, is a partner in NanoAxis LLC, a firm that focuses on using nanomaterials for various biomedical applications related to drug delivery and point-of-care devices.

The Food and Drug Administration’s decision to approve the painkiller Zohydro ER has stirred opposition from many experts on addiction medicine, including Richard D. Blondell, MD, vice chair for addiction medicine and professor of family medicine, who discusses the dangers of the drug. 

John A. Sellick, Jr., DO, FACP, associate professor of medicine, was one of four doctors honored statewide by the American College of Physicians’ New York Chapter for outstanding commitment to excellence and service.

Caring for patients at Buffalo’s Jericho Road Community Health Center — a  UB Department of Family Medicine community partner — is more of a mission than a job, says David M. Holmes, MD, director of global health education. UB medical school alumnus Myron Glick, MD, clinical assistant professor of family medicine, founded and leads the center.

The UB Clinical and Translational Science Institute is hailed as a “one-of-a-kind facility” that brings academic research and vascular medical care into the same building and encourages creative problem-solving.

A letter supporting the labeling of genetically modified organisms cites writing by Mark R. O'Brian, PhD, professor of biochemistry, who pointed out that a study on crop rotation and appropriate use of legumes and manure can lead to a decrease in herbicides, fertilizer and freshwater contamination.

The University at Buffalo Clinical and Translational Science Institute, where innovative UB medical research is performed, is one of Western New York's LEED-certified buildings. LEED — Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design — is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices.

An article about the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus — home of the new University at Buffalo medical school — notes that UB has expensive facilities on the campus, and reports that the campus aims to be a world-class academic health center and eventual spin-off of private-sector jobs.

Christian Lobo, a second-year medical student in the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, says New York must encourage doctors to go into primary care, and reports that his UB medical education has “provided meaningful training and mentoring.”

Drugs called dopamine agonists help Parkinson’s patients gain more movement control, but they can have unwanted side effects on personality and lead to gambling addiction, explains Jian Feng, PhD, professor of physiology and biophysics.

Andrew Talal, MD, MPH, chief of gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition, says obeticholic acid, an investigational compound for primary biliary cirrhosis, “seems likely to change clinical practice” if approved, but its long-term effects are unknown.

Timothy F. Murphy, MD, who directs UB’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute, says ResearchMatch eases the recruitment process for UB researchers seeking volunteers for diverse studies.

Although a good understanding of context is important, the release of Medicare physician payment data aids transparency and is beneficial, according to Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, PhD, senior associate dean for health policy, and John R. Fudyma, MD, chief of general internal medicine.

Andrew Talal, MD, MPH, chief of gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition, says price will initially be a major factor in the clinical use of promising new ‘direct-acting’ agents targeting the hepatitis C virus.

A reader questions the safety of genetically modified foods, and agrees with an editorial by Mark O’Brian, PhD, professor of biochemistry, who advocates labeling these foods.

A development official says she hopes job creation, spurred in part by the University at Buffalo, will cause more Millennials to settle in the Buffalo area.

UB’s new Center for Medical Humanities reinforces the message of compassionate care advanced by physician-author Abraham Verghese, says Roseanne C. Berger, MD, associate professor of family medicine and senior associate dean for graduate medical education.

Mark R. O'Brian, PhD, professor of biochemistry, discusses genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and says there is a strong consensus in the scientific community that foods derived from GMOs are safe. According to O'Brian, many claims by the anti-GMO movement are unfounded.

State officials say they soon expect to begin purchasing equipment for the medical genomics research partnership that will link the University at Buffalo with a group of prominent hospitals, medical schools and research organizations. UB was chosen for the initiative based on its expertise in high-performance computing and its nationally recognized leadership in genomics and medical research.

Anne B. Curtis, MD, Charles and Mary Bauer Professor and chair of medicine, says the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus — future home of the University at Buffalo's new medical school — is attractive to students who are looking to decide where they are going to practice in the future. Ali A. El Solh, MD, MPH, professor of medicine and interim chief of staff at the VA Western New York Healthcare System, comments that tele-health is growing, especially in rural areas.

Nancy Nielsen, MD, PhD, senior associate dean for health policy, says programs taking shape on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus — the future home of the University at Buffalo's new medical school — are helping attract doctors. With the rejuvenation of downtown Buffalo, “we’re going to see very exciting things happening,” she says.

Anders P. Hakansson, PhD, assistant professor of microbiology and immunology, is studying a protein-lipid complex from human milk that can re-sensitize bacteria to existing antibiotics.

Along with other University at Buffalo physicians, Brian McGrath, MD, professor of orthopedics, says that a new ambulatory surgery center in Orchard Park, N.Y. will benefit the community in several ways, including extending the reach of the UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Richard D. Blondell, MD, professor of family medicine and director of the new National Center for Physician Training in Addiction Medicine, says there's a shortage of addiction specialists and notes that addiction is a growing problem, especially in the suburbs. 

Anne B. Curtis, MD, Charles and Mary Bauer Professor and chair of medicine, comments on MADIT-CRT — a study done on patients with mild heart failure — and talks about survival benefit for these patients.

Jian Feng, PhD, professor of physiology and biophysics, explains that drugs called dopamine agonists help Parkinson’s symptoms, but can have unwanted side effects on personality and can lead to gambling addictions in Parkinson’s patients.

LPCiminelli Construction Inc. has been awarded the initial, $52 million contract to build UB’s state-of-the-art medical school.

Cardiologist Anne B. Curtis, MD, Charles and Mary Bauer Professor and chair of medicine, says doctors should obtain a good health and family history and perform a physical on young patients before they participate in sports.

Albany Molecular Research Inc. will be up and running in a temporary space within the Jacobs Neurological Institute — home to the University at Buffalo’s Department of Neurology — on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, the future site of the new UB medical school.

Based in part on changes reflecting an improved learning environment, UB’s residency programs in surgery and pediatric surgery have been fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

Michael Kuettel, MD, PhD, professor and chair of radiation oncology and an international leader in his field, has won the American College of Radiation Oncology’s 2014 gold medal.

Commenting on a study in Neurosurgery, Adnan Siddiqui, MD, PhD, associate professor of neurosurgery, and Ning Lin, MD, endovascular surgery fellow, say early alerts and triage by emergency medical personnel in the field can help some acute stroke patients get CT scans sooner.

Adnan Siddiqui, MD, PhD, associate professor of neurosurgery, says the enhanced design of the Barricade Framing Coil will expand the types of aneurysms he can treat with the system.

UB will play a key leadership role in a new state initiative aimed at spurring genomic or personalized medicine, primarily through its Center for Computational Research and Institute for Healthcare Informatics.

Dietrich Jehle, MD, professor and vice chair of emergency medicine, found that obese drivers may be at a strikingly higher risk of dying in car crashes because they often don’t wear seat belts.

Along with his colleagues, Robert Zivadinov, MD, PhD, professor of neurology and director of UB’s Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, is calling for more investigation into how venous abnormalities in the neck might be involved in central nervous system disorders and aging.

LPCiminelli Construction Inc. is the lowest bidder on the first of three construction phases for the University at Buffalo’s new $375 million medical school on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

Along with his colleagues, Sanjay Sethi, MD, professor of medicine and chief of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine, has revealed that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease experience more respiratory symptoms when their lungs are colonized by bacteria, even without an acute exacerbation.

Nancy Nielsen, MD, PhD, senior associate dean for health policy, says effective accountable care organizations will address patient needs comprehensively by working with non-medical service providers, such as transportation or literacy agencies.

Cardiologist Vijay Iyer, MD, PhD, research assistant professor of medicine, discusses a life-enhancing technique he helped develop to replace heart valves without surgery.

ONY Inc., founded by pioneering neonatologist Edmund A. Egan II, MD, professor of pediatrics, will co-promote NeoProfen injections for Patent Ductus Arteriosus heart problems in infants.

Paresh Dandona, MD, PhD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism, cites growing evidence that suggests liraglutide, already used for Type 2 diabetes, may aid weight loss.

Jonathan F. Lovell, PhD, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, and his colleague are working to develop a new way to deliver chemotherapy to pancreatic tumors using light-sensitive nanoparticles.

An 80-foot tunnel will help provide coatless entry to buildings on the emerging Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, connecting UB’s state-of-the-art medical school to hospitals and medical office buildings.

Martin Brecher, MD, associate professor of pediatrics and chief of hematology and oncology, discusses the challenges and rewards of treating children with cancer.

Continuing budgetary constraints mean biomedical research is “just handicapped at this point,” says Timothy Murphy, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and senior associate dean for clinical and translational research.

A historic industrial building near the site of UB’s new state-of-the-art medical school and once co-owned by UB, will be transformed into hotels, apartments and shops.

In her study that tied for first place at UB’s 2014 Medical Student Research Forum, Sakina H. Sojar found that half of participating adolescents who used caffeine reported symptoms, such as sleep disturbances and stomach problems.

The seven-story Conventus building — a visible sign of construction progress on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus — will be connected to the University at Buffalo’s new School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and the John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital, which should be open by 2016.

Downtown buffalo will see significant changes as City Hall tries to better connect the neighborhoods surrounding the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, the future home of the University at Buffalo’s new medical school. 

Construction of UB’s state-of-the-art medical school, set for completion in 2016, will benefit from a $5 million donation from The John R. Oishei Foundation.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo plans to create a new genome network that will create jobs while fueling research and scientific breakthroughs. The University at Buffalo — including physician-scientists from the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences — will partner with researchers in Manhattan to accelerate recent advances in genomic medicine directly into clinical care.

Stanley A. Schwartz, MD, PhD, distinguished professor of medicine, comments on a plastic device that transfers vibrations to the airways in the lung. The device has helped emphysema patients, and it is now being tested in asthmatics. “When the lungs pick up this vibration, they amplify the vibration, and that’s what helps mobilize the sputum,” says Schwartz.

A treadmill test developed by UB researchers, including Barry S. Willer, PhD, professor of psychiatry, may allow some athletes who have suffered a concussion to safely return to play sooner than under current guidelines.

Mood disorder expert Steven L. Dubovsky, MD, professor and chair of psychiatry, says the dark days of winter may make people more susceptible to feeling helpless and overwhelmed.

Due in part to the UB medical school’s relocation downtown, the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus is preparing for an influx of students and employees. Partnership for the Public Good, a nonprofit organization, has a variety of efforts underway to maximize the campus’s growth and to ensure that the community benefits from it.

Practitioners and patients have begun to see holistic medicine and alternative therapies as a treatment for many conditions, and education and training at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences includes holistic health lectures and electives in areas such as spirituality in medicine and acupuncture.

Michael E. Cain, MD, vice president for health sciences and dean of the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and L. Nelson Hopkins, MD, professor and chair of neurosurgery, were named within the top 100 on a list of Western New York’s 250 most influential people.

UB is taking a leading role in shaping the future of health care in Buffalo and beyond through participation in a statewide genomic medicine collaborative and innovative biotechnology spin-off firms, among other projects.

An article about the health consequences of sugar cites research by Paresh Dandona, MD, PhD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine, which shows that excess sugar in the blood increases the production of free radicals.

Over more than a decade, groundbreaking research by Paresh Dandona, MD, PhD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine, has demonstrated that insulin is an anti-inflammatory hormone and may be cardioprotective.

Steven J. Fliesler, PhD, Meyer H. Riwchun Endowed Chair Professor of ophthalmology, has received the highest honor bestowed by the Association for Research in Vision Ophthalmology.

Steven L. Dubovsky, MD, professor and chair of psychiatry, talks about the link between the shift to deinstitutionalized mental health care and public safety.

Research findings by UB medical students, including the discovery of proteins that play a role in diseases, could lead to better health care in the future.

UB will play key roles in several initiatives advanced by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, including the New York Genomic Medicine Network and a new medical school in downtown Buffalo.

Timothy F. Murphy, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine, says the genetic secrets of the Haemophilus influenzae microbe could help ease chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a lung condition that affects hundreds of millions of people.

Timothy F. Murphy, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine, discusses his long-term research and gene sequencing of Haemophilus influenza, which can cause serious infection and complications in patients with lung disease.

L. Nelson Hopkins, MD, professor and chair of neurosurgery, is credited with advancing the interactive design concept of the research-health care complex that incorporates UB’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute.

Drucy S. Borowitz, MD, clinical professor of pediatrics, received a national award from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, in part for her key role in developing a breakthrough drug to treat a cystic fibrosis gene mutation.

Robert Zivadinov, MD, PhD, professor of neurology, has contributed to research that shows low Vitamin D levels in multiple sclerosis patients may signal a progression of the disease.

The medical center director at the VA Western New York Healthcare System says UB has helped the Buffalo VA Medical Center — a key training site for UB medical students, residents and fellows — springboard into discoveries with other medical health systems in Western New York.

Caroline E. Bass, PhD, assistant professor of pharmacology and toxicology, is first author on a study that successfully stopped rats from binge drinking behaviors by using light to stimulate specific neurons and release dopamine.

The owner of a subsidized housing development on the edge of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus — the future location of the new UB medical school — is proposing an ambitious, multi-phase expansion to serve the growing medical campus.

Anne B. Curtis, MD, Charles and Mary Bauer Professor and chair of the Department of Medicine, discusses her clinical trials in electrophysiology, her career achievements, memorable cases and the challenges she has faced. 

Jens U. Ponikau, MD, of the Department of Otolaryngology, discusses the cause behind the painful middle-ear pressure that travelers often experience while flying on airplanes.  

According to Dietrich V. Jehle, MD, professor of emergency medicine, video laryngoscopy will be the first line in airway management for emergency departments in 2014. Jehle also says he foresees continued improvements in bedside diagnostic tools, such as pocket-sized ultrasound systems.

Mark R. O'Brian, PhD, professor of biochemistry, asserts that curriculum should enable students to “integrate knowledge from disparate sources to solve problems, develop theories, tell stories, reconstruct events and reveal beauty.”

Leonard H. Epstein, PhD, SUNY Distinguished Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for his contributions to the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.

An article about Irish American communities of Buffalo notes that the University at Buffalo’s new medical school on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus will ultimately bring 17,000 people to the downtown area and help revitalize the city.

The Buffalo VA Medical Center is the first and only VA center in the Northeast to offer cochlear implant surgery. This additional surgical capacity will enhance training opportunities for UB medical students, fellows and residents.

The City of Buffalo is benefiting from more than $2.2 billion in construction, including the new UB medical school construction project, a $375 million endeavor on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. 

Michael R. Cummings, MD, assistant professor of clinical psychiatry and chief of Erie County Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Center of Excellence — a new $25 million behavioral health center — discusses UB's future involvement with the center.

Bruce J. Naughton, MD, associate professor of geriatrics and palliative care, has found that a variety of brain-training exercises help preserve brain function and improve memory as well as reasoning and processing speed.

Computer Task Group, which will add approximately 300 jobs for its part in the recently announced UB-New York Genome Center initiative, will make use of the supercomputers at UB’s Center for Computational Research, one of the UB medical school's associated research centers.

Susan S. Baker MD, PhD, of the Department of Pediatrics, comments on a study that raises questions and “adds a layer of complexity” to the process of identifying children with celiac disease.

Nancy Nielsen, MD, senior associate dean for health policy, explains some of the complex regional factors affecting Americans who become insured under the Affordable Care Act.

Ciminelli Real Estate Corporation will be adding a seventh floor to an office building on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus — home of the new UB medical school — after striking a deal with New York State to locate a biomedical research facility in the building.

By testing surfaces in day care centers, UB researchers led by Anders P. Hakansson, PhD, assistant professor of microbiology and immunology, have revealed that two infection-causing bacteria can survive well outside a human host.

Results of a small, randomized trial led by Robert Zivadinov, MD, PhD, professor of neurology, added to the controversy surrounding a multiple sclerosis treatment to correct chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency — among the top Canadian news topics in 2013.

The Regional Behavioral Health Center of Excellence at Erie County Medical Center, a collaboration between UB and and Kaleida Health, features expanded outpatient services.

Steven J. Fliesler, PhD, Meyer H. Riwchun Endowed Chair Professor of ophthalmology, has been named a 2014 Gold Fellow by the Association for Research in Vision Ophthalmology — an honor reserved for the top 1 percent of its nearly 13,000 members.

Lead investigator Robert Zivadinov, MD, PhD, professor of neurology, discusses the surprising findings of a pilot trial which showed a treatment to correct chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency did not benefit multiple sclerosis patients.

University at Buffalo biochemist Richard W. Browne, PhD, associate professor of biotechnical and clinical laboratory sciences, is a co-author on research revealing that higher levels of cholesterol reduce couples' chances of conceiving a healthy embryo.

LPCiminelli is doing the initial excavation and foundation work and will erect the framework for the new University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. The eight-story building is scheduled to open in late 2016; it will house 2,000 students and trainees, faculty and staff from UB.