Rowan Researchers Develop Blood Test that Detects Early Alzheimer's Disease

A research team, led by Dr. Robert Nagele, professor, Geriatrics and Gerontology, New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging (NJISA), has announced the development of a blood test that leverages the body's immune response system to detect an early stage of Alzheimer's disease - referred to as the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) stage - with unparalleled accuracy. In a "proof of concept" study involving 236 subjects, the test demonstrated an overall accuracy, sensitivity and specificity rate of 100 percent in identifying subjects whose MCI was actually caused by an early stage of Alzheimer's disease.   
                                                                     
The researchers presented their results in an article published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring that also reported the test's ability to accurately "stage the disease," meaning it can distinguish early-stage Alzheimer's at MCI from later, more advanced stages. The test was also disease-specific. It readily distinguished early Alzheimer's at the MCI stage from other diseases including Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and early stage breast cancer.
 
For the study, the Rowan University researchers analyzed blood samples from 236 subjects, including 50 MCI subjects with low levels of amyloid-beta 42 peptide in their cerebrospinal fluid. The latter is a reliable indicator of ongoing Alzheimer's pathology in the brain and predicts a likely rapid progression to Alzheimer's.
 
Employing human protein microarrays, each containing 9,486 unique human proteins that are used as bait to attract blood-borne autoantibodies, the researchers identified the top 50 autoantibody biomarkers capable of detecting ongoing early-stage Alzheimer's pathology in patients with MCI. In multiple tests, the 50 biomarkers were 100 percent accurate in distinguishing patients with MCI due to Alzheimer's from healthy age- and gender-matched controls. Further testing of the selected MCI biomarker panel demonstrated similar high overall accuracy rates in differentiating patients with early Alzheimer's at the MCI stage from those with more advance, mild-moderate Alzheimer's (98.7 percent), early-stage Parkinson's disease (98.0 percent), multiple sclerosis (100 percent) and breast cancer (100 percent).   
 
In their report, the researchers acknowledge that the utility of their MCI biomarker panel as a blood test for early detection of Alzheimer's disease will hinge on a successful larger replication study using an independent patient cohort. However, they also point out that, because this blood-based diagnostic strategy is dependent on the presence of Alzheimer's pathology, which can be underway many years before symptoms emerge, this approach could open the door to even earlier pre-symptomatic detection of Alzheimer's disease.
 
According to the authors, early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and the ability to stage the disease through a simple blood test would offer many potential benefits. Patients could possibly delay disease progression through lifestyle adjustments, begin treatment sooner and plan future medical care. Clinicians would have a way to measure the effectiveness of therapeutic intervention and clinical trials could enroll patients who were truly at the earliest stage of their disease.
 
This research was supported, in part, by the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation and the Michael J. Fox Foundation. 

Interns Celebrate Graduation
The interns in the RowanSOM/Kennedy/Lourdes post-graduate year (PGY) 1 program celebrated during a graduation ceremony co-hosted by the two hospitals and held at the Mansion on Main Street in Voorhees, NJ on June 6, 2016. Terry Brown, Director of Graduate Medical Education (GME) at RowanSOM officiated over the ceremony celebrating the 60 graduating interns.

 
Several awards were presented during the ceremony. Dr. E. Frederick Ashong, Director of GME at Lourdes Health System, honored Dr. Vishal Phakey with the RowanSOM OPTI Humanism Award, for his ability to foster relationships with patients, their families and other caregivers while demonstrating compassion, altruism, respect, empathy and service. Lora Donia, Manager of Postdoctoral Trianing, RowanSOM, presented Dr. Todd Hayano with the GME Service Award. Martin O'Connor, Clinical Education Coordinator, RowanSOM, presented the Teaching Intern Award to Dr. Rahul Sharma. Dr. Christopher Barone, Vice President of Medical Affairs/Graduate Medical Education, Kennedy Health, presented the Intern of the Year Award to Dr. Harsh Patel. Teaching Attending of the Year Awards went to four attending physicians recognized for their educational expertise: Dr. Terrie Ginsberg, Kennedy Health - Stratford Division; Dr. Aaron Crookshank, Kennedy Health - Cherry Hill Division; Dr. Nicole Thompson, Kennedy Health - Washington Twp. Division; and Dr. Kenneth Leese, Lourdes Health System - Camden.
 
Individual departments also held events for their graduating residents and fellows throughout the month of June.

Dr. Pamela Basehore Chairs AACOM Steering Committee, Releases New Osteopathic Considerations for Core EPAs

The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) recently released a landmark publication, Osteopathic Considerations for Core Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) for Entering Residency, prepared in conjunction with U.S. colleges of osteopathic medicine. The publication serves as a tool to guide the implementation of EPAs in osteopathic medical education, and is designed to integrate skills and practices essential to entering residency. Dr. Pamela Basehore, associate professor of Geriatrics and Gerontology and assistant dean for Assessment, chaired the AACOM EPA steering committee, working with other osteopathic school liaisons and the AACOM Board of Deans, among others. AACOM encourages the use of the publication as a standard framework to facilitate best practices in curriculum, faculty development, entrustment and assessment. A free digital version of the publication is available on the professional development section of AACOM's website.

SOM Faculty Member Elected President of State Board of Medical Examiners

Dr. George Scott, associate professor of Family Medicine and assistant dean for Clinical Education, has been elected President of the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners. Dr. Scott has served on the State Board since 2005, and has held every office within the organization, including a previous turn as President from 2012 to 2014.
 
The New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners is accountable for protecting the health and safety of the state's residents. The Board determines qualifications for and issues licenses to physicians, podiatrists and other health care professionals. Additionally, the Board establishes standards for practice and disciplines licensees who do not adhere to requirements.


NJHF Honors Faculty for Excellence in Teaching, Research

The New Jersey Health Foundation (NJHF) recently honored two SOM faculty members with awards for teaching and research.
Dr. Terrie Ginsberg, associate professor, Geriatrics and Gerontology, received an Excellence in Teaching Award, for the positive impact she makes in the classroom. Dr. Randy Strich, professor, Molecular Biology, received  the Excellence in Research Award for his accomplishments this past acade mic year.

Eric Goldwaser Receives AOF Award, Places First in ADS Poster Competition 

The American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF) named Eric Goldwaser, OMS III, this year's Burnett Osteopathic Student Researcher Award winner. The Burnett Osteopathic Student Researcher Award recognizes an osteopathic medical student for his or her true dedication to osteopathic-oriented research. Eric, whose specific research interest is neurodegenerative, neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric disorders and diseases, is already a published author, receiving numerous awards and accolades for his work and presentations.  He is pursuing a DO/PhD dual degree, allowing him to gain this research experience while completing his DO credential.
 
Eric, along with George Godsey, a PhD candidate at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS), recently placed first in the poster competition at the American Delirium Society's 6th Annual Meeting in Nashville, TN. Their poster, "General Anesthesia Increases Blood-Bran Barrier Permeability: A Potential Link to Postoperative Delirium, Cognitive Decline and Dementia" is a continuation of the blood-brain barrier/inhaled anesthetic rate study they published last year. 

Network of Support Services Available to SOM Community 

SOM's Department of Student Affairs and Alumni Engagement has established a network of mindfulness and mental health resources and programs that are available to support students and families. These agencies are recommended to any SOM community member who would like some help, or knows someone in need.
 
CRISIS HOTLINES
Crisis Center Hotline/Twin Oaks : 856-428-4357
Kennedy Hospital - Cherry Hill and Stratford
   Off-Campus: Call 911 or go to Kennedy Hospital-Stratford or Cherry Hill ER
   On-Campus: Call Rowan Public Safety Police Emergency Line 856-256-4911
 
COUNSELING & GUIDANCE
Dr. Boyd:  856-566-6031
Dr. Lambert : 856-566-6972
 
Student Wellness Program: 856-770-5750
Free short-term counseling for SOM students
 
RowanSOM Department of Psychiatry: 856-482-9000
 
South Jersey Behavioral Health: 856-361-2710
 
SOM RESOURCES
SOM Support Network
Mental health, spouse, significant other, peer, social support
Student Affairs & Alumni Engagement
856-566-6482
 
Center for Teaching and Learning
Academic Affairs
856-566-6076
 
RowanSOM Tutoring & Mentoring Program
Student Affairs & Alumni Engagement
   Tutoring: 856-566-6482
   Mentoring: 856-566-6743
 
FREE COMMUNITY SERVICES
Social Services:  
   Behavioral & mental health
   Educational support
   Familial support
   Life skills
Center for Family Services: 8 77-922-2377
Clementon Family Success Center : 856-309-1019
Robins' Nest Inc. (Glassboro): 856-881-8689
Glassboro Family Success Center : 856-347-4338



Upcoming Events
 
White Coat Ceremony
Sunday, July 31
10:00 am
Pfleeger Theater, Glassboro Campus
 
Orientation Week Programs
Monday, August 1 to Saturday, August 6
Stratford Campus
 
19th Annual Golf Classic
Saturday, October 1
Riverwinds Golf Club & Restaurant, West Deptford, NJ
11:00 am: Barbeque lunch
12:30 pm: Shotgun Start