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BMC appoints new heads of infectious diseases, reconstructive surgery
Boston Medical Center recently named MED Professor of Medicine Paul Skolnik chief of its infectious diseases section and MED Assistant Professor of Surgery and Otolaryngology Jeffrey Spiegel director of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Skolnik, who also directs BMC’s Center for HIV/AIDS Care and Research, currently researches cytokine and chemokine control of HIV-1 replication and innate immune responses during HIV infection, especially in the lung. Before coming to BU, he directed the HIV/AIDS program in the Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases at New England Medical Center.
Spiegel specializes in all aspects of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the face and neck and lectures throughout the country on facial cosmetic surgery. His areas of special interest include head and neck cancer surgery, microvascular surgery, and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, facial cosmetic surgery, and treatment of facial nerve disorders. He has published numerous articles and contributed many original papers and book chapters on head and neck oncology and facial plastic surgery and serves on many local and national committees.
Murphy to lead tularemia research
John R. Murphy, a MED professor of medicine and microbiology and a research professor of biochemistry, recently was named the principal investigator of Boston Medical Center’s tularemia research project. Funded through February 2008 by an approximately $6 million ongoing grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the project is aimed at developing a vaccine and tests for early diagnosis of tularemia, a viral condition also known as rabbit fever. The project was suspended in October after three lab workers became ill last year; it will resume, says Murphy, when it receives regulatory approval from University and government officials.
Murphy, also an ENG professor of biomedical engineering, has more than 30 years of lab experience working on the molecular basis of pathogenesis, including field research in India and Bangladesh, as well as extensive experience working with Biosafety Levels 3 and 4 containment. He worked at the National Institutes of Health complex at Fort Detrick, Md., where his groundbreaking experiments with diphtheria toxins led to the development of the cancer-fighting drug Ontak, which often is prescribed to leukemia and lymphoma patients.
“Dr. Murphy’s exemplary track record in designing scientific experiments and his insistence on fostering and implementing a culture of biosafety in laboratory settings highly recommended him for this position,” says Thomas J. Moore, acting provost of the Medical Campus. “We believe that Jack Murphy’s appointment will help BUMC maintain a position of leadership in this important research.”
Memorial ceremony to honor Hariri
Boston University will hold a memorial ceremony to remember Rafik B. al-Hariri (Hon.’86), the former prime minister of Lebanon and an honorary BU trustee, who was assassinated in a car bombing in Beirut last month, on Monday, March 14, at 4 p.m. at the SMG auditorium. A self-made billionaire who served as prime minister from 1992 to 1998 and from 2000 to 2003, Hariri is credited with rebuilding Lebanon and stabilizing its economy after a devastating civil war. Renowned for his philanthropy and commitment to education, Hariri gave the $10 million naming gift for the School of Management building. He was a BU trustee from 1990 to 2003. Seating at the ceremony is limited, so preregistration is required. Please RSVP to All-University Functions at 617-353-2238 or by e-mail at auf@bu.edu.
Science journalism students launch Webzine
Nine COM graduate students recently published the inaugural issue of Resonance, an online science magazine featuring profiles, opinion pieces, and stories about research trends. The project was part of a course in the final semester of the three-semester science and medical journalism program. A new issue of Resonance, at www.bu.edu/sjmag, will be published at the end of each fall semester.
Women’s Guild scholarship deadline aproaches
Women over 30 enrolled in a BU graduate program are eligible for the Boston University Women’s Guild 2005 Scholarships, which this year consist of three $1,500 awards as well as smaller prizes. Applications must be received by March 21.
The scholarships, which do not require U.S. citizenship or full-time enrollment, in the past have gone to women from age 30 to 58, in all BU graduate programs, and from countries including Japan, Russia, Israel, the Republic of Croatia, China, Nigeria, Iran, Peru, Germany, and Greece. The awards have helped pay for child care, support of parents and parents-in-law, and treatment of serious chronic conditions as well as tuition, production costs for thesis films, and travel and other research needs.
For applications and other information, call 617-353-2772, e-mail nbeyer@bu.edu, or visit http://www.bu.edu/womensguild/index.html.
11
March 2005
Boston University
Office of University Relations