Student	School	Project
Brandon Backlund	University of Iowa	Correlation of von Hippel-Landau syndrome phentype and genotype in patients with complete and partial deletions of VHL gene
Niranjan Bhat	Vanderbilt University	Immunologic changes during therapy for HIV
Mary Campbell	Columbia University	Flavivirus vaccine development
Sudhen Desai	Albany Medical College	Endothelial receptors and gene transfer
Edward Garmey	Mount Sinai School of Medicine	The association of polymorphisms with the risk of infectious and inflammatory complications among pediatric cancer populations and their implication for therapy
Adriana Herrera	University of California, Los Angeles	X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (retroviral mediated gene transfer)
Joseph Hoxworth	Case Western Reserve University	The study of early synovitis using both structural and functional imaging
Jason Kessler	State University of New York, Brooklyn	Transaminitis in the blood donor population
Joshua Kouri	University of Michigan	Craniopharyngioma
Edward Lahey	Tufts University, School of Dental Medicine	Leukocyte adhesion deficiency
Kelly Lindhauer	Duke University	PET scanning and immunoscintography
Stacy Marcus	Duke University	Temperament and physical performance in children with osteogenesis imperfecta
Michael O'Connor	University of Washington	The application of laser capture microdissection to pituitary tumors.
Monita Poudyal	University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School	SIV vaccine development
Cillford Weiss	The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine	MRI evidence of vascular inflammation associated with atherosclerotic disease
Second Year Students
Eric Eskioglu	University of Kansas	Syringomelia
Uri Lopatin	University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark	Acquired Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (ALPS)

 

Clinical Research Training Program 1997-98 Fellows

Student	School	Project
Jill Anderson	University of Nebraska	Construction of retrovirus for gene therapy in interferon gamma receptor 1 and receptor 2 deficiencies
Amin Azzam	Medical College of Virginia	Pallister-Hall Syndrome: Combining psychiatry and genetics
Eric Brown	University of California, Los Angeles	Study of adhesion molecules in subject with acute and chronic stroke
Cliff Davis	University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dentistry	Oropharyngeal candidiasis in children with HIV
Eric Eskioglu	University of Kansas	Syringomyelia
Arthur Li	University of California, San Francisco	Dilated cardiomyopathy
Uri Lopatin	Unversity of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark	Acquired Lymphoproliferative Disease (ALPS)
David Robbins	Mount Sinai School of Medicine	Development of immunotoxins for lymphomas
Jonathan Samuels	Cornell University	Psoriatic arthritis

 

Clinical Research Training Program 1998-99 Fellows

Brandon Backlund School: University of Iowa Project: Correlation of von Hippel-Landau syndrome phentype and genotype in patients with complete and partial deletions of VHL gene Brandon Backlund with his mentor in the Operating Room "I think that one of the biggest strengths of this program is that it allows you to do a research project in any area of medicine that interests you – surgery, medicine, pediatrics, radiology…whatever – and provides the time upon arrival to survey the spectrum of possibilities and meet with a number of researchers who are doing work in that area. This allows you to choose from among several options the project that interests you the most, which may even be different from what you originally thought you wanted to do. Additionally, I have found that the program directors are very accessibl18.jpg e, and concerned with helping if any difficulties arise to assure that the experience is a valuable one."

 

Niranjan Bhat with patient Niranjan Bhat School: Vanderbilt University Project: Immunologic changes during therapy for HIV "When I first started out at the NIH, I wanted to join a student-friendly group that worked on a disease with challenging scientific issues and a large impact on society. I was fortunate enough to find these qualities in the HIV clinical research group of the Laboratory of Immunoregulation (LIR). Within the first few months of joining the LIR, I was able to play a significant role in writing two fascinating clinical protocols. Both projects study the immunologic and virologic effects of HIV therapy and deal with issues that are not only on the forefront of HIV research, but also have wider public interest. Frequent ward and clinic rounds have taught me about patient care issues in the research setting, while lectures and weekly journal clubs allow me to look at current topics through the critical eyes of top-notch scientists. I have no doubt that this year will have a lasting impact on my future as a physician-scientist."

 

Mary Campbell School: Columbia University Project: Flavivirus vaccine development <Photo currently not available> "Spending a year at the NIH has given me the opportunity to see how medicine and science intersect. In my daily work, I have been able to focus on basic science research without losing sight of the clinical problems we are trying to solve."

 

Sudhen Desai School: Albany Medical College Project: Endothelial receptors and gene transfer "I went to medical school to interact with people and engage in research. My research interests are directly related to my clinical interests, so why even consider a program where I had no opportunity to interact with patients? For any clinically-oriented researcher, there is no better institution. The NIH offers thousands of research opportunities to match anyone's clinical interests, from patient-oriented protocols to translational research. The most difficult decision was who to tell no."

 

Eric Eskioglu School: University of Kansas Project: Syringomelia "What an incredible 18 months this has been so far! Previously being an aerospace engineer and having done both engineering and basic sciences research, I wanted to put my efforts into clinical translational research in neurosurgery. Serendipitously, I came across this brand-new program at the NIH. When I started working here I did not know the first thing about clinical research. I was patiently nurtured and taught how to work with patients on clinical research. The most important aspect that I’ve gained out of this program is the skills and mindset of thinking as a clinical researcher. In the upcoming decades, I envision myself at the cutting edge of academic neurosurgery – one of the guys who will push the limits of neurosurgical research. In this program I am developing into the kind of researcher who understands the fantastic discoveries in the basic sciences research arena and one who will have the clinical foresight and expertise to take these discoveries and apply them directly to clinical use. I enthusiastically would recommend this wonderful program to any medical student who is interested in academic medicine, regardless of their prospective field."

 

Edward Garmey School: Mount Sinai School of Medicine Project: The association of polymorphisms with the risk of infectious and inflammatory complications among pediatric cancer populations and their implication for therapy Edward Garmey with Dr. Stephen Chanock    "The Clinical Research Training Program rewards individualism: find your area of interest and the sky's the limit as to what you can accomplish here. I think of the N.I.H. as a sort of medical-scientific Disneyland."

 

CRTP Fellow Adrianna Herrera with Dr. Harry Malech Adriana Herrera School: University of California, Los Angeles Project: X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (retroviral mediated gene transfer) "It is the ability to ask a question at a patient's bedside and to then search for an answer in the laboratory that makes the National Institutes of Health so special. Furthermore, it is the ability to allow medical students to take an active role in this duality as physicians and scientists that makes the Clinical Research Training Program so unique."

 

Joseph Hoxworth School: Case Western Reserve University Project: The study of early synovitis using both structural and functional imaging Joe Hoxworth with Dr. Hani El-Gabalawy "Initially, I was reluctant to apply to the program because it meant delaying graduation by a year. However, the NIH Clinical Research Training Program has exceeded my wildest expectations. We are receiving formalized training in an area that most research-conducting physicians have had to learn through trial-and-error."

 

Jason Kessler School: State University of New York, Brooklyn Project:  Transaminitis in the blood donor population Jason Kessler reviewing a chart with Dr. Christian Koch in the clinic. "Being a part of the NIH as a CRTP fellow has enabled me to witness firsthand why this may be the premier research institution in the world. I have heard and spoken with so many scientists, clinicians, and investigators who have literally defined their field of interest and who continue to expand and push the limits of our knowledge. This alone has been an inspiring experience which can unleash the potential of the imagination."

 

Joshua Kouri School:University of Michigan Project:Craniopharyngioma "In a typical academic center, the research aspect is often diluted by economic pressures and educational responsibilities. In stark contrast, CRTP students are plunged into an environment completely devoted to biomedical research. There are seemingly limitless numbers of scientific lectures, research methodology courses, seminars, conferences, and journal clubs to participate in. I believe these offerings, in combination with the truly outstanding individual research opportunities and mentor relationships afforded to medical students, make this an ideal program for the aspiring physician-scientist." CRTP Fellows Mike O'Connor and Joshua Kouri Michael O'Connor School: University of Washington Project: The application of laser capture microdissection to pituitary tumors. "The NIH Clinical Research Training Program represents an ideal opportunity to cultivate a medical student's scientific interests without departure from the clinical setting. For example, the observance of a surgical procedure in the morning is complemented by performing laboratory techniques in the afternoon of the same day. The continuum between laboratory bench and hospital bed is fully realized."

 

Edward Lahey School: Tufts University, School of Dental Medicine Project: Leukocyte adhesion deficiency Ed Lahey and Dr. Brian Kelsall "While superficially the Clinical Research Training Program can be viewed as a unique experience shared by a group of Fellows, at its heart the program is the sharing of a group of Fellows’ unique experiences. Its adaptability being its greatest strength, the CRTP allows the creation of an individualized program tailored to fit your needs and goals. As a dental student, I have capitalized on this strength by marrying my research interest in cellular immunology to oral medicine, while continuing to develop my clinical dental skills. With my laboratory research in the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and my clinical studies in the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, I hope to bridge the divide between internal and dental medicine and, in the process, become a stronger, more research-oriented clinician."

 

CRTP Fellow Kelly Lindauer with Dr. Ronald Neumann   Kelly Lindauer School: Duke University Project: PET scanning and immunoscintography "The Clinical Center at NIH sets the standards for patient-oriented research throughout the world and the CRTP program offers a unique opportunity for medical students to participate and gain experience in this crucial aspect of medicine. I think the chance to learn the fundamentals behind clinical research before graduation enhances an important area of my medical education. By focusing on the process by which new therapies and modes of diagnosis come to be accepted I have gained confidence in my ability to utilize the clinical knowledge that I have learned in medical school. In realizing now what the NIH has to offer, I would definitely consider the NIH for subspecialty training after residency."

 

Uri Lopatin School: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark Project: Acquired Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (ALPS)   CRTP Fellow Uri Lopatin with Dr. Stephen Straus "My two years with the Clinical Research Training Program has proved to be one of the most academically rewarding experiences in my life. The opportunity to work on both basic and clinical problems simultaneously—in my case studying how cytokine dysregulation contributes to the pathophysiology of the Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome—this early in my career, is both fantastic and formative. I am learning not merely what comprises good bench research, but also how it is integrated into cutting edge clinical work. I have no doubt that the experiences I have gained in learning the underpinnings of translational science will help me to be both a better scientist and, just as importantly, a better clinician. Above and beyond the science, the CRTP has introduced me to a community of peers and friends (both in the CRTP and HHMI) that I hope I will carry with me well into the future."

 

CRTP Fellow Stacy Marcus with patient Stacy Marcus School: Duke University Project: Temperament and physical performance in children with osteogenesis imperfecta "For me the CRTP has meant moving beyond the data-gathering role in research. This program has provided me with the time and resources to take a clinical project from the initial question through the background research, protocol development, data acquisition, and finally to the data analysis stage. By being at the NIH, I am also able to use this year to explore my interest in rehabilitation medicine more fully than would be possible at my medical school. Lastly, the NIH provides a never-ending stream of opportunities to learn from experts in both clinical and basic research."

 

Monita Poudyal School: University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School Project: SIV vaccine development "Taking a year out of medical school was the perfect decision for me; through the CRTP, I've had the privilege of working alongside the country's top HIV specialists to develop my own research protocol, recruit patients, perform examinations and strengthen my skills in the laboratory. This is an experience I'll carry with me into residency and career in academic medicine."

 

CRTP Fellow Cliff Weiss with Dr. Balaban and Dr. Arai Clifford Weiss School: The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Project: MRI evidence of vascular inflammation associated with atherosclerotic disease "By the time I had reached the middle of my third year of medical school, I had already made the decision to take a year off from the wards in order focus solely on research. Having recently begun my clinical training, however, I was wary of isolating myself from the clinical setting and of losing the clinical skills and knowledge that I had been working so hard to learn. I decided that I wanted to begin focusing on research that was directly applicable to patient care. While searching through the considerable list of available projects, grants, and formalized research programs, I found that the Clinical Research Training Program (CRTP) was unique in its dedication to clinical research. Not only did the program give me the opportunity to choose a clinical research project from the entire breadth and depth of the NIH's many institutes and laboratories, but it also provided a structured program designed to instruct me in – and expose me to – the many aspects of clinical research and of well-designed clinical trials. Since my arrival at the NIH I have not been disappointed. Between the Core Course in Clinical Research, the CRTP journal clubs, and the Monday night Formal Science Dinners, my education in clinical research is well on its way. The research is exciting and the range of projects (from genetic characterization of diseases to full-blown clinical trials) within just the group of CRTP fellows is astounding. The NIH is a fascinating place to do research of every variety and I can neither imagine a better place than the NIH – nor a better program than the Clinical Research Training Program – to learn about and to practice clinical research."

 

Clinical Research Training Program 1997-98 Fellows

Jill Anderson School: University of Nebraska Project: Construction of retrovirus for gene therapy in interferon gamma receptor 1 and receptor 2 deficiencies. Jill Anderson and Dr. Steve Holland "Beyond the obvious benefits of doing clinical research at one of the top research centers in the world, the Clinical Research Training Program (CRTP) brings together a diverse group of medical students from across the country. From group discussions on new scientific advances to enjoying the fun leisure activities in Washington DC, the experience during my year at NIH will rank among my highest." "Besides the lifelong friendships made, CRTP selects outstanding clinical scientists to serve as mentors for the program. These mentors provide a critical role in not only the year at NIH, but for career decisions in the future."

 

CRTP Fellow Amin Azzam with Dr. Don Rosenstein Amin Azzam School: Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University Project: Evaluating the neuropsychiatric aspects of Pallister-Hall Syndrome "The CRTP was an incredible opportunity to experience clinical research firsthand. Participating in the direct application of basic science which advances the care of human beings was an experience that truly revolutionized my concept of research, medical advances, and the future of medicine in this country. The NIH is a unique academic medical center, and I strongly encourage any medical student with an interest in research to consider applying to the CRTP."

 

CRTP Fellow Eric Brown with Dr. Thomas De Graba Eric Brown School: University of California, Los Angeles Project: Study of adhesion molecules in subject with acute and chronic stroke "The Clinical Research Training Program was an invaluable experience that taught me the detailed process of how basic research discoveries are translated into treatments for patients. The exposure to intramural research—and simply interacting with some of the world's best scientists—is something that every medical student should have the opportunity to do."

 

Cliff Davis School: University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dentistry Project: Oropharyngeal candidiasis in children with HIV "My time spent with CRTP was a priceless investment in my education as a caregiver. Clinical research reinforces the critical concept that we are caring for a whole person, not simply a disease. I also learned the nuts and bolts of designing and conducting patient-based research. During my year at NIH, I saw patients recieving experimental treatment for Sjogren's Syndrome, a debilitating autoimmune disorder. I also wrote a protocol for monitoring oral fungal infection in young HIV patients. Other projects included pilot experiments to treat a mouse model of Sjogren's Syndrome with gene therapy technology. I've come back to UCLA with a fresher, more mature perspective on my responsibilities as a professional. I'm graduating one year later than my former classmates, but I am graduating with a broader, more meaningful education."

 

Arthur Li School: University of California, San Francisco Project: Dilated cardiomyopathy   Arthur Li and Dr. Toren Finkel "I had an incredible experience immersing myself in the scientific cosmos of the NIH. Not only did I become passionately involved in my main project with Dr. Finkel, I also had the opportunity to learn from a large number of world-class senior clinical researchers involved with the CRTP. This program has solidified my ambitions to become an academic physician committed to clinical research."

 

David Robbins School: Mt. Sinai School of Medicine Project: Development of immunotoxins for lymphomas "The unparalleled resources offered by the NIH combine with an intensive mentoring opportunity from preeminent investigators in a program that is invaluable for those medical students seriously interested in academic medicine. I can think of no better way to freely explore the challenges and rewards that present themselves to aspiring physician-scientists."

 

Jonathan Samuels School: Cornell University Project: Psoriatic arthritis Jonathan Samuels with his mentor, Dr. Daniel Kastner "The CRTP year opened my eyes to the wide range of opportunities available for a career in clinical research. In working with the newly identified gene for familial Mediterranean fever, I started, completed, and published the first genotype-phenotype study of the disease in the U.S. In addition, I wrote a clinical protocol for a new treatment option for this disease."