UMass Chan Master’s of Science in Clinical Investigation 

Interested in pursuing further education in clinical research? The UMass Chan Medical School offers a broad range of clinical research educational opportunities. Led by Dr. Rob Goldberg, the MSCI (Master’s of Science in Clinical Investigation) program has launched many successful physician-investigators. It has recently been re-vamped to make it more flexible and accessible for clinicians.   

To learn more about the MSCI and other clinical research educational opportunities, please contact Dr. Goldberg. If you are interested in pursuing these opportunities, we will work with you and your Division Chief to tailor a program. Contact Dr. Kimberly Fisher to explore this further.

Carly Herbert's COVID-19 Rapid Testing Research Guides FDA

Carly Herbert, MD and PhD student at UMass Chan and the RADx Tech Clinical Studies Core Logistics Team, led by Nathaniel Hafer, PhD, Assistant Professor of Molecular Medicine, and Herbert’s mentor, Apurv Soni, MD, PhD’21, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Co-Chair of the Program in Digital Medicine, recently published research that contributed to the FDA's guidance on the use of rapid COVID-19 tests.

Kate Fitzgerald Among Awardees for 2022 BRIDGE Funding 

Kate Fitzgerald, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Vice Chair for Research, Chief of the Division of Innate Immunity, and Director of the Program in Innate Immunity has been awarded BRIDGE Funding by the UMass Chan BRIDGE Innovation and Business Development office, for two projects with commercialization potential. Dr. Fitzgerald was one of a dozen project finalists who presented to an external advisory board comprised of biomedical industry leaders, investors, and venture capitalists in June. Awardees were selected by the BRIDGE Innovation & Business Development New Ventures team and the external advisory board based on scientific merit, market opportunity, and commercial viability. 

Dr. Fitzgerald’s first project, “Development of inhibitors of ASC-dependent Inflammasomes for the treatment of inflammatory diseases”, is with collaborator Paul Thompson, PhD, Director of the Program in Chemical Biology in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology. Here, they seek to improve the potency and selectivity of inhibitors of ASC-dependent inflammasomes, which may provide greater therapeutic benefit to patients suffering from both rare and more common diseases including, Cryopyrinopathies, Familial Mediterranean Fever, Gout, Alzheimer's Disease, Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Cardiovascular Disease (CVD), and Chronic Kidney Disease.  

Her second, “Development of STING inhibitors for the treatment of inflammatory diseases” is a multi-PI project also developed with Dr. Thompson. Additionally, Fiachra Humphries, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Innate Immunity will be a contributor on this project. Here, they seek to improve the potency and selectivity of existing STING inhibitors, which may provide greater therapeutic benefit to patients suffering from inflammatory diseases such as Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome, STING-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy, COPA Syndrome, Lupus, macular degeneration, CVD, COPD, and IBD.  

Congratulations Dr. Fitzgerald! 

Stuart Levitz Awarded Funding for “A subunit Cryptococcus vaccine” 

Stuart Levitz, MD, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology has been awarded R01 funding to for his project, “A subunit Cryptococcus vaccine”. Cryptococcosis is the most common cause of culture-positive meningitis worldwide. Here, Dr. Levitz’s studies seek to address a major global health need for the development of cryptococcal vaccines, provide insights into the immunopathogenesis of cryptococcosis, and establish proofs of principle which may be applicable to other vaccine-preventable diseases. The goal of his project is to advance a preclinical candidate subunit vaccine to protect at-risk populations from cryptococcosis.  

Congratulations, Dr. Levitz! 

Webinar Panel Discussion Roe V. Wade Overturned: Impact and Implications on Reproductive Rights and Justice

The UMass Chan Medical School’s Diversity and Inclusion Office, in collaboration with the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and the UMass Memorial Health Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, will host a panel discussion featuring faculty and reproductive health practitioners providing their expert perspectives on school, state, and national implications of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that provided a constitutional protection for abortions.

The webinar will take place on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 12:00 noon. 

Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests Available

UMass Memorial Health would like to inform patients and caregivers about the opportunities to receive free at-home COVID-19 tests that will be mailed by the federal government. Learn more about how to receive yours at the link below.

Faculty Search: Longitudinal Preceptor in Medicine

The Third Year Clerkship in Medicine is seeking faculty for a Longitudinal Preceptor in Medicine. Descriptions of the position can be found below. If you have interest in a position or wish to nominate a colleague for consideration for the position, please submit a CV and a brief statement of interest to Ms. Sara Jacques. Please direct any specific questions about the role to Dr. Nancy Skehan.

The Longitudinal Preceptor in Medicine (LPM) is a faculty member who serves as mentor to a small cohort of students during their clerkship rotation. They are asked to do the following:

• Conduct at least ten 2-hour meetings per 15-week Care of Adult block with assigned LPM group, reviewing on-line modules, EKG interpretation, and case presentations
• Conduct a mid-clerkship review of each student’s performance
• Review student written histories and physicals and give timely feedback to students
• Conduct Physical Diagnosis rounds with students at least 3 of their 4 weeks on the inpatient service
• Precept OSCE
• Prepare grades for each student in assigned LPM group and attend Grading Committee meetings
• Provide academic support and mentoring to struggling students within the group