Postdoctoral research fellows receive new investigator awards from ISCTM |
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Postdoctoral research fellows from the Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences recently received separate New Investigator Awards from the International Society for CNS Clinical Trials and Methodology (ISCTM).
Ana Paula Costa, PhD, and Lais Bhering Martins, PhD, were accepted into the society, which includes a two-year mentorship, the ability to attend conferences, and a review on how they are conducting their respective studies.
ISCTM is an independent, multi disciplinary organization devoted to promoting advances in clinical research methods related to development and use of CNS therapeutics. The society looks at the methodology of how clinical trial are designed. Martins explained that ISCTM is more interested in how clinical research is being conducted to promote discussions and improve study designs.
In order to be considered for the ISCTM New Investigator Award, applicants need to submit a career statement, be recommended by a current member, and submit an abstract to be presented at the ISCTM annual meeting.
Martins submitted a clinical trial that aims to investigate the pathways underlying the potential antidepressant effect of a probiotic called Lactobacillus helveticus as an add-on strategy in the treatment of depression. This study involves two groups of patients with depression that are treated for eight weeks. One group is receiving one dose a day of the probiotic and another group is receiving the same amount of placebo. Both groups also receive antidepressant medications. Martins and her team are evaluating the effect of the probiotic treatment on gut microbiota composition and inflammatory biomarkers.
The methodological question addressed by Costa’s presentation is whether patients with bipolar disorder (BD) show circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA (ccf-mtDNA), abnormalities and its association with the severity of depressive symptoms in BD. Ccf-mtDNA levels reflect dysregulation homeostasis in place of cellular stress, apoptosis, or bioenergetic compromise. Recently, there has been increased investigation into ccf-mtDNA as a potential biomarker in psychiatric conditions, has been increasingly growing in interest, mainly in the context of mitochondrial dysfunction, Costa said.
Costa and Martins will be able to gain extensive experience by being a part of ISCTM. Both are excited to participate in the training and mentoring aspect in their specific projects as part of the program. Costa, in particular, is becoming more involved in methodological questions about potential biomarkers in psychiatric disorders. She says the benefits the program offers will be valuable to her.
“This kind of award that offers methodological training and mentorship is going to be great for my next project,” Costa said. “In our department, we work with clinical research. It would be great for me to learn all the different aspects that go along with and improve studies designs.”
In all, four or five early career investigators are chosen to join the society annually. Martins is excited to have been chosen.
“I feel honored,” Martins said. “At the end of the day, to be recognized for something you are doing is important for your career in general. This can provide us an opportunity to get to know other experts and open our minds to better understand different fields of research.”
Read more about ISCTM here.
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Faculty spotlight:
King joins telehealth team
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Matthew King, MD, is an assistant professor in the Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. He joined the faculty in July 2021 after completing his residency here at UTHealth Houston.
King is a Kentucky native who relocated to Houston when he was in high school. He attended Rice University for his undergraduate studies, majoring in kinesiology. King enrolled at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston in 2013. His interest in psychiatry came in his second year during the behavioral sciences didactic curriculum.
King had always shown interest in human behavior but had never considered a career in psychiatry until learning more about behavioral sciences in year two of medical school. By year three, King’s passion for psychiatry grew tremendously following his rotations at UTHealth Houston Harris County Psychiatric Center.
King’s training is in adult psychiatry with a clinical interest of inpatient psychiatric management, specifically in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Currently, he provides adult psychiatric services at the Rusk State Hospital to patients with severe mental illness, as part of the telemedicine program.
Treating the inpatient population allows King to work in a team setting, which he enjoys doing. Collaborating with many individuals – nurses, social workers, administrative staff, psychologists, and others – keeps everyone engaged when treating patients, King says.
King feels grateful for the opportunity to train and transition into faculty at UTHealth Houston. He says the familiarity of working with those who mentored him is a big plus as he becomes more comfortable with independent practice.
Assisting patients in recovering from their mental illness is something King takes great pride in.
“I love treating patients with severe mental illness who are at the worst of their struggles,” King said. “In those settings, when patients are able to show improvement or recovery, it’s all the more rewarding for me.”
In his spare time, King enjoys golfing and fishing, as well as cooking, spending time with family and friends, and walking his dog. He and his wife are also getting ready to welcome their first child into the world.
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Trio becomes board certified |
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Three assistant professors in the Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences - Gregory Hestla, MD; Brandi Karnes, MD; and Sarah Beasley, MD - were recently board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN).
APBN’s mission is to promote and assess the competence of psychiatrists and neurologists to provide high quality patient care. To become board certified, each took a formal test to demonstrate they had mastered areas in psychiatry to make them experts in the field, after completing medical school and an accredited residency.
By becoming APBN board certified, the trio will be allowed to supervise psychiatry residents, an aspect that is very important to all three. Hestla says they are all direct products of the psychiatry program, as many of their mentors and supervisors during residency training were board certified psychiatrists. It’s their way of advancing the next group of residents.
"It’s really exciting to watch trainees become more empowered and confident in treating patients with psychiatric conditions,” Karnes said. “At first, one might not be as confident, but as they gain more experience, their confidence grows and you can see it in their interaction with patients."
All three credit the McGovern Medical School program to preparing them to become certified.
"When going into the board exam I was feeling a bit anxious as the test is important to me as well as a significant financial commitment," Beasley said. "But when I completed the exam and reflected on it, I felt the education and supervision I received at our program prepared me well for the challenge."
Learn more about the ABPN here.
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De Quevedo is promoted to fellow in ACNP |
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Joao de Quevedo, MD, PhD, professor in the Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, was recently promoted to fellow status in the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP).
The ACNP is an international professional organization comprised of leading brain scientists. The college’s main functions include research and education. The college’s goals are to offer investigators opportunities for cross-disciplinary communication, and to promote the application of various neuroscientific disciplines to study all forms of mental illness and treatments.
Membership to the college is selected primarily on the originality of the scientist’s research contributions. The college has membership representation from many areas of study, including neuroscience, behavioral pharmacology, clinical psychopharmacology, epidemiology, genetics, molecular biology, psychiatry, psychology, and other fields.
With the diverse makeup in the college, expertise is offered in the science of psychiatric disorders from the standpoint of diagnostics and therapeutics. Members are seen as leaders in psychiatry and pharmacology.
Learn more about ACNP here.
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Dunn Center Building is set to open |
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Photo by Rogelio Castro/UTHealth |
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On Wednesday, Feb. 2 at 11 a.m., there will be an ribbon-cutting ceremony for the official opening of the Dunn Center Building at UTHealth Houston. While the ceremony is not open to the public, it will be livestreamed on UTHealth Houston social media platforms.
This behavioral health project is a collaboration between UTHealth Houston, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas Medical Center, and the John S. Dunn Foundation.
“With the depth and breadth of expertise, we are well positioned to lead behavioral health care in Houston and across the state,” said Jair Soares, MD, PhD, the Pat R. Rutherford, Jr. Chair in Psychiatry in the Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. “Our patient-centered programs are designed to break down barriers and provide a continuum of care to help individuals and their families overcome behavioral disorders.”
Read more about the Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center here.
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Helminiak and McCool are accepted in AOA |
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Amanda Helminiak, MD and Callie McCool |
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Amanda Helminiak, MD, assistant professor, and Callie McCool, MD, fourth-year child psychiatry fellow in the Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, were recently accepted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (AOA).
The AOA is a national medical honor society that recognizes medical professionals for their dedication to the profession and the art of healing. Membership is open to medical students, residents, fellows, faculty members, or any type of clinician. To be considered, a current AOA member must submit a nomination, then the nominee submits a CV and an explanation of the activities they're involved in.
More than 4,000 members are approved to join a chapter of AOA every year. Since its founding in 1902, nearly 200,000 members have joined the AOA.
Helminiak and McCool will now be able to assist in reviewing future members applications for acceptance. The McGovern Medical School chapter is looking to advance in many areas, such as inclusion, diversity, and equity.
Both are excited to be a part of AOA and hope to continue the high standards the society has set for itself.
“I was very honored to be nominated by Dr. Karnes,” McCool said. “It’s a pretty selective process, so I was grateful she thought of me because there’s a lot of great residents and fellows that are all deserving.”
“I was also very honored and humbled to know Dr. Findley thought of me,” Helminiak said. “Our department is large and for him to be the only faculty member selected from the department it was a big honor to be chosen.”
Learn more about the AOA here.
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Registration is now open! |
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The Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is proud to announce registration is open for the 2022 UTHealth Houston Psychiatry Update Conference, titled “Hot Topics: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,” on Saturday, April 9, 2022.
Speakers at the conference will share the latest information and research on various topics in child psychiatry, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism spectrum (ASD), mood and anxiety disorders, and a look at pediatric trauma research.
Karen Wagner, MD, PhD, from UTMB Health in Galveston will be one of the keynote speakers at the conference. Her lecture will look at pharmacological management of depression in children and adolescents. Watch a sneak preview of her talk below.
Click here for a full list of speakers and registration information.
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The following clinical trials are in operation, following all necessary safety guidelines. If you're interested, contact the appropriate study.
We are conducting a study to develop adaptive treatment interventions; that is, interventions that change based on how the participant is doing. Individuals seeking treatment for cocaine addiction may qualify to participate in this two-phase program.
Contact: 713-500-DRUG (3784)
This study aims to examine the safety and efficacy of allogenic mesenchymal stem cells as an adjunctive treatment of treatment-resistant bipolar depression. Patients will be assigned into a treatment or a placebo group.
Contact: 713-486-2627
This study assesses the safety and tolerability of Candesartan as an adjunctive treatment of bipolar depression. All patients will receive the study drug for four weeks and a placebo for four weeks. Neither the patients nor the study team will know if the patient received the study drug or the placebo first.
Contact: 713-486-2627
The UTHealth Houston Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders at the Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is collaborating with LivaNova, a global medical technology company, to start a new clinical trial – the “RECOVER study” – to help treat depression.
Contact: 713-486-2627
To see all open studies, visit our website.
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Brooke A Fina, Edward C Wright, Sheila A M Rauch, Sonya B Norman, Ron Acierno, Lisa-Ann J Cuccurullo, Katherine A Dondanville, John C Moring, Lily A Brown, Edna B Foa
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Andrea Taylor, PhD, talked to KPRC-TV Channel 2 about how to cope with depression after a COVID-19 diagnosis.
Taylor was also interviewed by Doug Pike for his Fifty+ show on KPRC Radio about how to start working on your mental health during the new year. Her interview starts at the 8:30 mark.
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Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth
713-486-2500
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