John Wong, professor of medicine, received the Career Achievement Award from the Society for Medical Decision Making (SMDM). The Career Achievement Award recognizes distinguished senior investigators who have made significant seminal contributions to the field of medical decision making. It was presented at the SMDM’s 46th Annual Meeting held in Boston on October 27-30.
Amy Schlessman, assistant professor of rehabilitation sciences, chaired the publication of "School Emergency Management Planning for Students with Disabilities," now featured on several state education organizations websites. She presented on this topic at key conferences in October, including the American Speech and Hearing Association's School Safety Conference. Amy also delivered talks on hybrid learning and inclusion strategies at conferences in the Midwest and Wisconsin.
Jennifer Chow, associate professor of medicine, is the incoming Infectious Diseases Professional Community Representative to the Mechanical Circulatory Support Interdisciplinary Network Steering Committee for the ISHLT (International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation) Professional Community. She has also been elected to the Clinical Faculty Promotion and Appointment Committee (CLINPAC) for 2024-2027.
Jeffrey Griffiths, professor of public health and community medicine, has been appointed to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Federal Advisory Committee looking at the issue of Legionella in drinking water. Legionellosis is now the leading water-associated disease-causing outbreaks in the U.S. Learn more about Legionella in drinking water.
Study Challenges Assumptions About How Tuberculosis Bacteria Grow
The rod-shaped tuberculosis bacterium, which the World Health Organization has once again ranked as the top infectious disease killer globally, is the first single-celled organism ever observed to maintain a consistent growth rate throughout its life cycle. These findings, reported by TUSM researchers on November 15 in the journal Nature Microbiology, overturn core beliefs of bacterial cell biology and hint at why the deadly pathogen so readily outmaneuvers our immune system and antibiotics. Read more.
Teaching AI the Rules of the Brain
At Tufts University School of Medicine, physician-scientist Michael Halassa is exploring how AI could revolutionize the study of cognitive processing, mental illness, and psychiatric medicine. His lab examines how brain cells communicate during complex tasks, with the goal of developing brain-based models to predict treatment responses for conditions like schizophrenia. By training AI systems on neurological data, Halassa aims to model intricate brain disorders and inspire advanced AI architectures, unlocking innovative approaches to psychiatric care. Read more.
People with Schizophrenia Show Distinct Brain Activity When Faced with Conflicting Information
Researchers from TUSM and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine have identified a new diagnostic tool for schizophrenia by analyzing brain cell activity between the cerebral cortex and the thalamus. Their study, published on November 7 in Cell Reports Medicine, shows that people with schizophrenia display unique neural patterns when making decisions with conflicting information, highlighting a biological marker for inflexible thinking. This approach could help assess treatment effectiveness by monitoring changes in these neural patterns. Read more.
Small-Molecules Are More Cost Effective Than Biologics
New research led by James Chambers, professor of medicine, shows that the Inflation Reduction Act's favorable pricing timeline for biologic drugs over small-molecule drugs may be misguided, as small-molecule drugs often provide similar health benefits at a significantly better cost-effectiveness ratio. Read more.
How Health System Palliative Providers Can Leverage Data to Gain More Resources
During the COVID-19 pandemic, palliative care gained widespread recognition for its vital role in bridging communication between clinicians, patients, and families. Researchers led by Tamara Vesel, clinical associate professor of medicine, explored how perceptions of palliative care evolved among critical care physicians, hospital leaders, and spiritual care providers. Their study, published in the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, revealed that the pandemic increased understanding of palliative care’s scope and highlighted a need for more resources. Read more.
Investigating Xylazine’s Role in Severe Infections
Shikhar Shrestha, assistant professor of public health and community medicine, and Thomas Stopka, professor of public health and community medicine, have received an NIH R21 research grant to explore the association between xylazine exposure and severe skin and soft tissue infections among people who inject drugs. They aim to recruit 200 participants from Lowell, Massachusetts, to assess time-varying xylazine exposure and its impact on SSTI incidence over a three-month period. By combining quantitative and qualitative methods, they aim to clarify how xylazine contributes to skin and soft tissue infections and whether harm reduction measures can mitigate these risks. This research will provide critical insights into the evolving drug landscape and support the development of effective harm reduction strategies tailored to xylazine-related harms.
Addressing Xylazine Risks Through Community Engagement and Research
Xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer, is a concerning adulterant in the local drug supply, detected in roughly 30% of opioid samples submitted for testing in Massachusetts. Research by Shikhar Shrestha, Jennifer Pustz, and Thomas Stopka through the Syndromic Surveillance to Prevent Overdose in Lowell, Massachusetts Data to Action and Evaluation study, sought to understand the local risks, harms, and perceptions associated with xylazine use by engaging with community stakeholders and people who use drugs. Qualitative Interviews showed limited awareness of xylazine’s presence and impact. Findings from the survey (n=94) showed that approximately 50% of the respondents had heard of xylazine, and 65% were willing to use test strips when informed about its risks. These findings align with existing literature and highlight the need for targeted interventions, such as wound management and local testing infrastructure. Read more.
Trottier CA, Martino A, Short MI, Rodday AM, Strand AM, Kiernan MS, Vest AR, Snydman DR, Chow JK. Impact of type of mechanical circulatory support prior to transplant on post-orthotopic heart transplantation infections. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2024 Oct 9:S1053-2498(24)01880-1. doi: 10.1016/j.healun.2024.09.027. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39393616. Link here
Vo QT, Noubary F, Dionne B, Doron S, Koethe B, Briesacher BA. Facility-Level Antibiotic Prescribing Rates and the Use of Antibiotics Among Nursing Home Residents. Am J Infect Control. 2024 Oct 18:S0196-6553(24)00761-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2024.10.007. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39427927. Link here
Pan S, Gadrey JY, Sammons S, Lin NU, Tolaney SM, Tarantino P, Schlam I. Role of antibody drug conjugates in the treatment of patients with breast cancer brain metastases. Ther Adv Med Oncol. 2024 Nov 10;16:17588359241292266. doi: 10.1177/17588359241292266. PMID: 39529890; PMCID: PMC11552056.
Karamat M, Hussain B, Ahmed MM, Hamza M, Mir J, Alamri A, Shafiq A, Sattar Y, Khan MZ, Thyagaturu H, Gonuguntla K, Patel BD. Deciphering the cardioprotective effects of statins in anthracycline-related cardiac dysfunction: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Prev Cardiol. 2024 Sep 30;20:100874. doi: 10.1016/j.ajpc.2024.100874. PMID: 39524983; PMCID: PMC11543556.
Sebastiani P, Monti S, Lustgarten MS, Song Z, Ellis D, Tian Q, Schwaiger-Haber M, Stancliffe E, Leshchyk A, Short MI, Ardisson Korat AV, Gurinovich A, Karagiannis T, Li M, Lords HJ, Xiang Q, Marron MM, Bae H, Feitosa MF, Wojczynski MK, O'Connell JR, Montasser ME, Schupf N, Arbeev K, Yashin A, Schork N, Christensen K, Andersen SL, Ferrucci L, Rappaport N, Perls TT, Patti GJ. Metabolite signatures of chronological age, aging, survival, and longevity. Cell Rep. 2024 Nov 5;43(11):114913. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114913. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39504246.
Foong KS, Doron S, Fowle L, Cumming M, Leaf J, Bolstorff B, Brandeburg C, Chen Y, Wurcel A. Documented penicillin allergy and beta-lactam antibiotic use in Massachusetts long-term care facilities: opportunities for penicillin allergy delabeling. Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol. 2024 Oct 8;4(1):e166. doi: 10.1017/ash.2024.434. PMID: 39430796; PMCID: PMC11488468.
Penumarthy A, Zupanc SN, Paasche-Orlow MK, Volandes A, Lakin JR. Facilitated Advance Care Planning Interventions: A Narrative Review. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2024 Nov 3:10499091241298677. doi: 10.1177/10499091241298677. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39489614.
Tuttle M, Sarnak MJ. Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2024 Nov 1. doi: 10.2215/CJN.0000000610. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39482284.
Infeld M, Cyr JA, Sánchez-Quintana D, Madias C, Udelson JE, Lustgarten DL, Meyer M. Physiologic Pacing for the Prevention and Treatment of Heart Failure A State-of-the-Art Review. J Card Fail. 2024 Oct 15:S1071-9164(24)00419-6. doi: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2024.08.063. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39481799.
Synnott PG, Majda T, Lin PJ, Ollendorf DA, Zhu Y, Kowal S. Modeling the Population Equity of Alzheimer Disease Treatments in the US. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Oct 1;7(10):e2442353. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.42353. PMID: 39480421; PMCID: PMC11528311.
Chan CW, Westgard LK, Romasco A, Gado K, Doron S, Nadimpalli ML. Sociodemographic disparities in antibiotic-resistant outpatient urine cultures in a Boston hospital, 2015-2020: a cross-sectional analysis. Int J Equity Health. 2024 Oct 23;23(1):219. doi: 10.1186/s12939-024-02308-y. PMID: 39444033; PMCID: PMC11520160.
Vo QT, Noubary F, Dionne B, Doron S, Koethe B, Briesacher BA. Facility-Level Antibiotic Prescribing Rates and the Use of Antibiotics Among Nursing Home Residents. Am J Infect Control. 2024 Oct 18:S0196-6553(24)00761-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2024.10.007. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39427927.
Ladin K, Cuddeback J, Duru OK, Goel S, Harvey W, Park JG, Paulus JK, Sackey J, Sharp R, Steyerberg E, Ustun B, van Klaveren D, Weingart SN, Kent DM. Guidance for unbiased predictive information for healthcare decision-making and equity (GUIDE): considerations when race may be a prognostic factor. NPJ Digit Med. 2024 Oct 19;7(1):290. doi: 10.1038/s41746-024-01245-y. PMID: 39427028; PMCID: PMC11490638.
Kafie C, Mohamed MS, Zary M, Chilala CI, Bahukudumbi S, Gore G, Foster N, Fielding KL, Subbaraman R, Schwartzman K. Cost and cost-effectiveness of digital technologies for support of tuberculosis treatment adherence: a systematic review. BMJ Glob Health. 2024 Oct 30;9(10):e015654. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2024-015654. PMID: 39477335.
Fucaloro S, Bragg JT, Feldman MW, Krivicich L, Salzler MJ. Complication rates of bone marrow aspirate concentrate injections versus other injectable therapies for knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Orthop. 2024 Oct 11;62:36-42. doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2024.10.005. PMID: 39473874; PMCID: PMC11513496.
Bansal NR, Alharbi A, Rehman S, Assaly R. Impact of day of admission on patients admitted with complete heart block: Analyzing the weekend effect. Heart Lung. 2024 Oct 28;69:168-173. doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2024.10.007. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39471644.
Watanabe A, Miyamoto Y, Ueyama H, Gotanda H, Jentzer JC, Kapur NK, Jorde UP, Tsugawa Y, Kuno T. Impacts of Hospital Volume and Patient-Hospital Distances on Outcomes of Older Adults Receiving Percutaneous Microaxial Ventricular Assist Devices for Cardiogenic Shock. Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2024 Oct 29. doi: 10.1161/CIRCINTERVENTIONS.124.014738. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39470586.
Cherish Chinatown Challenge Kick-off Event
The Tufts Cherish Chinatown Challenge Kick-off event took place on November 14, bringing together students, faculty, and staff to support the vibrant Chinatown community. Participants learned about the initiative's goals to promote local businesses, celebrate cultural heritage, and strengthen ties between Tufts and its surrounding neighborhoods. The event marked the start of the month-long challenge to make a positive impact in Chinatown while fostering collaboration and mutual growth.
Faculty Recognition Event
On November 4, TUSM held its annual Faculty Recognition Event. The event featured the presentation of awards acknowledging outstanding contributions in teaching, lecturing, small group instruction, and precepting. Additionally, the ceremony paid tribute to faculty members who were appointed emeriti, received promotions, and achieved 25 years of dedicated service over the past year. For a comprehensive list of honorees, visit our website.
Tufts Neuroscience Symposium & William Shucart Lecture
The 13th Annual Tufts Neuroscience Symposium & William Shucart Lecture was held on November 7. The event featured talks by renowned speakers, including Sabine Kastner who delivered the keynote Shucart Lecture on the temporal dynamics of the primate attention network. Other highlights included presentations on reinforcement learning, neural coordination in memory-guided behavior, and predictive coding in language comprehension. Graduate students and postdocs also showcased their research in short talks. See more photos.
Inaugural Team Science Summit Connects Climate and Health Experts
On November 8, Tufts CTSI and the Office of the Vice Provost for Research sponsored the inaugural Team Science Summit. The day-long event featured presentations of ongoing and emerging work in multiple departments and centers at Tufts, Tufts Medicine, and a broad group of CTSI partner institutions, all in service of expanding the university’s response to the existential threat to environmental, animal, and human health posed by climate change. Learn more.
Common Book Speaker, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha
On November 13, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha captivated the audience at Tufts School of Medicine, sharing her inspiring journey as a physician, scientist, and activist who exposed the Flint water crisis. Drawing from her experiences leading recovery efforts in Flint, she emphasized the power of public health advocacy and community collaboration. The event concluded with a lively reception and book signing, giving attendees the opportunity to engage with Dr. Mona and continue the conversation.
Giving Thanks to TUSM Staff
On November 20, TUSM staff gathered in Room 114 for a festive holiday celebration hosted by Dean Boucher. The event was a wonderful opportunity to express gratitude for the hard work and dedication of the staff who make TUSM thrive. Attendees enjoyed a delicious lunch, lively conversations with colleagues, and the excitement of raffle prizes. The gathering provided a warm and cheerful kickoff to the holiday season, highlighting the appreciation and community spirit of TUSM. See more photos.
ELEVATE Engagement Session
Join the conversation on advancing inclusive excellence at Tufts by attending the ELEVATE Community Engagement Session on the Boston campus on Tuesday, December 3, at 4pm. Led by the Office of the Vice Provost for Institutional Inclusive Excellence (IIE), ELEVATE is a university-wide initiative aimed at aligning efforts in diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and access (DEIJA) to create a unified, impactful vision. This session offers a unique opportunity for faculty to share their perspectives, collaborate with colleagues and students, and contribute directly to shaping institutional goals. Learn more.
Useful Services for Clinical Research Teams at Tufts Medicine
Join Tufts CTSI online via Zoom on December 5 to explore resources for enhancing clinical research success. Discover interpreter services, recruitment support, and best practices for every research stage. Learn more and register here.
"Community Participation in Research" Dissemination Working Group
Join the CREST Coalition and D&I Core for a working group on the "Community Participation in Research" course. Up to 12 organizations will be selected for free consultation to develop a dissemination plan. Register by December 6. Register here.
Tufts CSDD's 52nd Annual Postgraduate Course in Clinical Pharmacology, Drug Development, and Regulation
Join the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development (CSDD) Postgraduate Course, the longest-running professional program in biopharma. Learn from industry, academia, and FDA experts in a highly engaging virtual format on January 30, February 6, 13, & 20, 2025 (Thursdays, 11am–3pm).
Mary Y. Lee, MD, J75, M83 Community Service Learning Faculty Mini-Grants
The Tisch College and Tufts School of Medicine CSL Program announces the Mary Y. Lee, MD, J75, M83 Faculty Mini-Grants. These grants encourage medical students and faculty to collaborate with nonprofits on community-driven projects promoting health and social justice. Faculty can apply for competitive grants to engage medical students in community-focused efforts. Depending on applications, the program may award one larger grant ($7,500–$10,000) or two smaller grants (around $5,000). For details on criteria, deadlines, and past recipients, visit this link.
