Annual Report 2001 - the University of Massachusetts Medical School

Jean A. King, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry: Predicting Early Risk For Depression with Functional Magnetic
Resonance Imaging. Dr. King is using the sophisticated FMRI technology, which can measure the actual biochemical
status of cells, particularly their metabolic level and state of intercellular signaling, to develop a
database of brain images in a prospective study of the onset of depression. By linking the image database
with the subsequent onset of disease, it is hoped that early signposts will be identified that will be highly reliable
for anticipating depressive illness.
Kendall L. Knight, PhD, associate professor of biochemistry & molecular pharmacology: Defining the Role of
the Rad52 Protein in Maintaining the Functional Integrity of the Human Genome. The cells of the body have a
remarkable capacity for repairing damage to their DNA. Dr. Knight has been working on a component of
the DNA repair equipment of cells, a protein called Rad52 (HsRad52), to determine how this protein collaborates
with the rest of the DNA repair machinery, with the goal of developing a deeper understanding of
this crucial process.
James F. Paskavitz, MD, assistant professor of neurology: Functional MRI of Executive Cognitive Dysfunction in
Multiple Sclerosis. Dr. Paskavitz is applying the powerful method of FMRI to develop a database of patient
images, through which it will be possible to identify both the most prevalent sites of brain alterations associated
with MS, as well as the degree of patient-to-patient variation. The results of this project may offer the
managing physician a deeper base of information on the patient, as well as help the family understand
and cope with behavioral changes.
Thoru Pederson, PhD, professor of biochemistry & molecular pharmacology and the Vitold Arnett Professor
of Cell Biology: Hormone Regulation of a Gene Implicated in Human Aging and of Relevance to Stem Cell
Therapeutics.This research is aimed at finding better ways to control the production in cells of an enzyme
called telomerase, which builds and maintains special protective structures at the two ends of each chromosome
(DNA). The project is designed to test a novel idea for inducing cells to make higher levels of telomerase
in certain biological situations, potentially including stem cell therapeutics.
German A. Pihan, MD, assistant professor of pathology: Biology and Genetics of the Reed-Sternberg Cell in
Hodgkin’s Disease. Dr. Pihan’s research focuses on discovering the molecular basis of the genesis of the
Reed-Sternberg (RS) cell, the malignant cell in Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Using a combination of in vivo
microscopy and complementation cloning techniques, he is investigating the mechanism that determines
how these cells become multinucleated, which will ultimately lead to more effective and selective drugs
against the disease.
Lawrence D. Recht, MD, professor of neurology and surgery: A Feasibility Test of Stem Cell Therapies. As it
has been very difficult to compare the potential of stem cells to incorporate into tissues and repair defects,
Dr. Recht has developed a novel assay system in which such cells, harvested from various tissues and ages,
can be incorporated into blastocysts, early embryos that have not yet begun to differentiate.With this system,
he anticipates the ability to accurately assess these cell types for their potential use in clinical therapeutics.
Maria L. Zapp, PhD, assistant professor of molecular genetics & microbiology: Development of Novel Assay Systems
to Study HCV Replication. With an interest in cellular and viral gene expression, Dr. Zapp is investigating the
mechanism of hepatitis C virus replication. Despite the availability of HCV cDNAs, there is no efficient,
reproducible in vitro system for studying HCV replication. Dr. Zapp’s project is aimed at developing such a system.
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