A photo display at the state capitol building in Hartford in February paid tribute to scientific advances taking place at the School of Medicine.
Advancing Science to Improve Health Gallery 1
Nancy J. Brown, MD, Jean and David W. Wallace Dean of Medicine and C.N.H. Long Professor of Internal Medicine
Nancy Brown is the newly appointed dean of Yale School of Medicine. An internationally renowned investigator and clinician, she has defined the molecular mechanisms through which commonly prescribed blood pressure and diabetes drugs affect the risk of cardiovascular and kidney disease.
Nancy J. Brown, MD, Jean and David W. Wallace Dean of Medicine and C.N.H. Long Professor of Internal Medicine
“Discoveries in the laboratory are
transforming our understanding of human
diseases and our ability to diagnose, treat,
and prevent illness. At the same time,
discoveries in the clinic often disrupt our prior
understanding of disease and lead to new
strategies to improve health.”
Susan Baserga, MD, PhD, Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, of Genetics and of Therapeutic Radiology
Susan Baserga (center) and her
team used a protein-screening
approach to identify cellular
pathways that have unexpected
control over ribosome production.
Their work provides insights into
how ribosomes drive cancer and
links their production to certain
birth defects.
Credit: Robert A. Lisak
Susan Baserga, MD, PhD, Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, of Genetics and of Therapeutic Radiology
“Our work on the production of ribosomes—the protein builders in cells—and their impact on cell growth and cell division, allows us to make inroads in understanding and treating cancer and childhood diseases.”
Murat Günel, MD, Nixdorff-German Professor of Neurosurgery, Professor of Genetics and of Neuroscience; Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery
Murat Günel (right) treats
brain aneurysms and vascular
malformations. His research focuses
on gene discovery in disorders of the
nervous system and its blood vessels.
Credit: Robert A. Lisak
Murat Günel, MD, Nixdorff-German Professor of Neurosurgery, Professor of Genetics and of Neuroscience; Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery
“Delving into the genome has helped shed new light on neurovascular
and nervous system diseases that affect patients of all ages.”
Akiko Iwasaki, PhD, Waldemar Von Zedtwitz Professor of Immunobiology and Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator
Akiko Iwasaki (center) has made
seminal contributions to the
understanding of how recognition
of viral infections leads to the
immune response and how adaptive
immunity mediates protection
against subsequent viral exposures.
Akiko Iwasaki, PhD, Waldemar Von Zedtwitz Professor of Immunobiology and Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator
“Understanding the mechanisms of the immune defense against viruses is vital to helping us combat viral diseases ranging from the common cold to Zika.”
Haifan Lin, PhD, Eugene Higgins Professor of Cell Biology, Professor of Genetics and of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences; founding director, Yale Stem Cell Center
Haifan Lin (center) discovered a
class of genes called the Argonaute/
Piwi family, which is linked to human
fertility. He has researched their
potential role in the division of
cancer cells, gaining knowledge
that might lead to new treatments
for cancer.
Credit: Robert A. Lisak
Haifan Lin, PhD, Eugene Higgins Professor of Cell Biology, Professor of Genetics and of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences; founding director, Yale Stem Cell Center
“Conducting basic research to understand the fundamental biology of stem cells before developing therapies for specific diseases is a strategy that is paying off.”
The display provided an opportunity for Connecticut to highlight research at YSM whose impact has been broadly felt across the globe, advancing our understanding of some of the most complex issues in health and health care today. The display was located on the wall of the concourse between the capitol and the legislative office building. Representing a broad range of talent and scientific excellence, featured faculty include Susan Baserga, Anton Bennett, Murat Gunel, Akiko Iwasaki, David Hafler, Harlan Krumholz, Haifan Lin, Mark Saltzman, and Joan Steitz.
Advancing Science to Improve Health Gallery 2
Joan A. Steitz, PhD, Sterling Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator
Joan Steitz (left) is the recipient of
the 2018 Lasker~Koshland Special
Achievement Award in Medical
Science for her pioneering role
in expanding our understanding
of RNA biology and her lifelong
advocacy for inclusion of women
in the sciences.
Credit: Robert A. Lisak
Joan A. Steitz, PhD, Sterling Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator
“Unraveling the cellular machinery has
helped generate discoveries about biological
functions and disease that would have been
unimaginable in the past.”
David A. Hafler, MD, William S. and Lois Stiles Edgerly Professor of Neurology; Professor of Immunobiology; Chair of the Department of Neurology
David Hafler (left) is widely
recognized for identifying the
genes that cause multiple sclerosis
(MS), demonstrating that it is
an autoimmune disease, and
discovering that salt plays a role in
MS and other autoimmune diseases.
Credit: Robert A. Lisak
David A. Hafler, MD, William S. and Lois Stiles Edgerly Professor of Neurology; Professor of Immunobiology; Chair of the Department of Neurology
“Yale has led an effort that has identified the genes and underlying immunology that cause multiple sclerosis. These efforts led to remarkable treatments that have helped countless patients.”
Anton Bennett , PhD, Dorys McConnell Duberg Professor of Pharmacology; Professor of Comparative Medicine
Anton Bennett (right) is developing
a chemical drug design platform to
target specific signaling proteins
involved in such diseases as cancer,
diabetes, and fibrosis.
Credit: Robert A. Lisak
Anton Bennett , PhD, Dorys McConnell Duberg Professor of Pharmacology; Professor of Comparative Medicine
“Investigating the role of proteins in cellular physiology and disease has the potential
to develop novel treatments for such diseases as cancer, diabetes, neuromuscular disorders and cardiovascular conditions.”
Harlan Krumholz, MD, Harold H. Hines, Jr. Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) and Professor in the Institute for Social and Policy Studies, of Investigative Medicine and of Public Health (Health Policy)
Harlan Krumholz (right) directs
the Center for Outcomes Research
and Evaluation (CORE) at Yale New
Haven Hospital, one of the nation’s
first and most productive research
units dedicated to producing
innovations to improve patient
outcomes and promote better
population health.
Credit: Robert A. Lisak
Harlan Krumholz, MD, Harold H. Hines, Jr. Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) and Professor in the Institute for Social and Policy Studies, of Investigative Medicine and of Public Health (Health Policy)
“We’re focused on promoting an agile, data-driven health care system that continuously improves our ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease, reduces waste, elevates the patient experience, and achieves equity across a diverse and complex population.”
W. Mark Saltzman, PhD, Goizueta Foundation Professor of BiomedicalEngineering, and Professor of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine; Professor of Chemical Engineering, Yale University
Mark Saltzman (left) and colleagues
have developed technology using
biocompatible materials to deliver
drugs, proteins, and genes. They
have also developed new polymeric
materials that influence the growth
and assembly of tissues.
Credit: Robert A. Lisak
W. Mark Saltzman, PhD, Goizueta Foundation Professor of BiomedicalEngineering, and Professor of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine; Professor of Chemical Engineering, Yale University
“We’re using our expertise in engineering to create new materials, particularly (polymer) nanoparticles, that will lead to safer and more effective methods for delivery of drugs to treat cancer, inflammation, or genetic diseases.”