QUAD BULLETIN (QB) is distributed electronically every Monday and contains
news and announcements of interest to faculty, staff, and students located
around the HMS Quadrangle and at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine.
Events should be submitted no later than 5 pm the Wednesday preceding the
event.
|
SPOTLIGHT |
| |
Office for Sustainability: Harvard Sustainability
Pledge: My Pledge + Your Pledge = A Big Impact on Our Environment
www.green.harvard.edu/pledge
Time for the annual Harvard Sustainability Pledge is here, when we ask
the Harvard community to pledge to take steps to reduce our own personal impact
on the environment. This year, the focus is on encouraging individuals to take
personal responsibility for helping HMS meet the University-wide Greenhouse Gas
Reduction Goal (a 30 percent reduction below 2006 levels by 2016). Pledge at
www.green.harvard.edu/pledge. Be sure to participate in the inter-departmental
Sustainability Pledge competition. Enter your department in the “Your Ideas”
box in order to get the highest departmental participation.
Contact:
Claire Berezowitz
Longwood Sustainability Coordinator
Sustainability@hms.harvard.edu |
|
| |
Children’s Hospital Boston Program in Cellular and Molecular
Medicine: The Structure of the Ribosome: What was First: The Genetic Code
or Its Products?
Ada Yonath
Nov. 16, 11 am
HSDM, Research and Education Bldg., Aud., 1st Fl.
Ada Yonath, of the Weizmann Institute in Israel, received the 2009 Nobel
Prize in Chemistry.
Contact:
Tom Kirchhausen
kirchhausen@crystal.harvard.edu, 617-713-8888 |
|
| |
Center for the History of Medicine: Dr. Oliver
Wendell Holmes and the Spirit of Skepticism
Scott Podolsky, Charles Bryan, Peter Gibian, Michael Weinstein, John Haller Jr.,
Amalie Kass, Charles Rosenberg
Nov. 17, 1–5 pm; Reception, 5–6:30 pm
Countway Library
Talks include introductory remarks by Scott Podolsky, director of the Center
for the History of Medicine; “The Greatest Brahmin: Overview of a Life” by Charles
Bryan; “Doctor Holmes: The Life in Conversation” by Peter Gibian; “Oliver Wendell
Holmes’s Depth Psychology: A Reconstruction” by Michael Weinstein; “Oliver Wendell
Holmes and the Challenge of Homeopathy: A Reappraisal” by John Haller Jr.; “A
Private Pestilence: Holmes and Puerperal Fever” by Amalie Kass; and “OWH and
the Social Logic of Medical Therapeutics” by Charles Rosenberg. Please RSVP by
e-mail to arm@hms.harvard.edu with “Holmes”
in the subject line. In addition to this event will be the opening of an exhibit
of Holmes materials from the Center for the History of Medicine's collections.
Contact:
arm@hms.harvard.edu
top |
|
LECTURES/FORUMS |
| |
Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center: Annual Symposium: Progress
in Molecular Neurology: A Parkinson's Disease Perspective
Nov. 16, 8 am–5:15 pm
Joseph B. Martin Conference Center
All are welcome, but please register on our website if you are interested
because the event fills up quickly. Visit http://www.neurodiscovery.harvard.edu/symposium.html for
more information or to register.
Contact:
617-432-3370 |
| |
Neurobiology: Primary Cilia in Neural Stem Cells
and Cancer
Arturo Alvarez-Buylla
Neurosurgery Research, University of California, San Francisco
Nov. 16, 12:15–1:15 pm
Children’s Hospital Boston, Enders Aud.
Contact:
William Helmrath
william_helmrath@hms.harvard.edu,
617-432-1772 |
| |
CIMIT Forum: Clinical Impact of Renal Disease
Mario Rubin, Joseph Bonventre, Vishal Vaidya, Jeffrey Borenstein
Nov. 17, 4–6 pm
Massachusetts General Hospital, Richard B. Simches Research Center, Rm. 3110
Mario Rubin, Massachusetts General Hospital, will present “Acute Kidney Injury,”
moderated by Joseph Bonventre, Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Vishal Vaidya, BWH,
will present “Bench to Bedside Detection of Kidney Injury,”
moderated byJeffrey Borenstein, CIMIT. Read more about this
week’s forum at http://www.cimit.org/forum-current.html.
Exchange ideas and information pre- and post-forum online on the Forum Blog at http://www.cimit.typepad.com/.
There is no registration required to attend the weekly CIMIT Forum.
Contact:
DeAnna Grosbaum
dgrosbaum@partners.org |
| |
Genetics and Neurobiology Programs: Exploring the Relationship Between Genes and Social Behavior: Lessons from the
Honey Bee
Gene E. Robinson, University of Illinois
Nov. 18, 12–1 pm
NRB, Rm. 350
Contact:
T. Broderick
broderick@genetics.med.harvard.edu, 617-432-7667 |
| |
Pathology: Inhibition of T Cell Responses by Bacterial
Pathogens
Michael Starnbach
Nov. 18, 12:15 pm
Pechet Conf. Rm., HIM 138
Michael Starnbach is in the HMS Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics.
Contact:
Sandra Génere
Sandra_Genere@hms.harvard.edu, 617-432-2886 |
| |
Wyss Institute Seminar Series: The Importance of Neuromechanical
Limb Models in the Design of Leg Prostheses and Orthoses
Hugh Herr
Nov. 18, 3–4 pm
Northwest Lab Bldg., B-101, 52 Oxford Street, Cambridge
Videoconference at Wyss Institute, 4 Blackfan Circle, HIM Building, 10th Fl.
A long-standing goal in rehabilitation science is to apply neuromechanical
principles of human movement to the development of highly functional prostheses
and orthoses. Critical to this effort is the development of actuator technologies
that behave like muscle, device architectures that resemble the body’s own
musculoskeletal design, and control methodologies that exploit principles
of biological movement. In this lecture, Herr will discuss how agonist-antagonist
actuation, polyarticular limb architecture, and reflex behaviors can result
in quiet, stable, and economical legged mechanisms for walking and running.
Neuromechanical models are presented to examine the importance of limb morphology
and neural control on locomotory performance. These models are then used
to motivate design strategies for prosthetic and orthotic mechanisms.
Contact:
Jermaine Reid
Jermaine.reid@wyss.harvard.edu,
617-432-7895 |
| |
Forsyth Institute: The Sixth IABMR Annual Meeting: Knockdown
Strategies in Biomedicine: RNAi and Beyond
Tsute Chen, Philip Stashenko, Catherine Pachuk, Carl Novina, Anna Krichevsky,
Norbert Perrimon
Nov. 19, 9–6 pm
Forsyth Institute, M. Barbara Schulze Conference Center, 3rd Fl.
The symposium includes poster sessions, a vendor exhibition, and scientific
talks by Catherine Pachuk (“Delivery is in the Details”), Carl Novina (“Lost
in Translation: Mechanisms and Tumor Suppressive Activity of microRNAs”),
Anna Krichevsky (“MicroRNA in Gliomas: Small Regulators of a Big Problem”)
and Norbert Perrimon (“Genomewide RNAi Screens in Drosophila: A
Journey from pre-RNAi to RNAi Days”). For a complete schedule
and to register, visit www.iabmr.org. IABMR members and Forsyth Institute
empolyees are admitted free. For all others the fee is $20.
Contact:
Pamela Quattrocchi
pquattrocchi@forsyth.org, 617-892-8604 |
| |
Virology Student Talk: Understanding Mechanisms
of HIV-1 Macrophage Tropism
Megan Mefford
Nov. 19, 12:30 pm
Bldg. C, Cannon Rm.
Virology student Megan Mefford is advised by Dana Gabuzda.
Contact:
kathleen_mcdonald@hms.harvard.edu |
| |
Osher Research Center: Healing, Ritual and Placebo
Seminars: The emperor’s New Drugs: The Placebo Effect in Depression
Irving Kirsch
Nov. 19, 4 pm
Osher Research Center, Landmark Center, Suite 22A West
Contact:
Ted Kaptchuk
617-384-855 |
| |
BWH-BRI Center for Human Genetics: Lassa Fever, an
Ancient and Deadly Disease in West Africa
Pardis Sabeti, Eric Phelan
Nov. 19, 5–6 pm
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Shapiro Conf. Center, Shapiro Boardrm.
A light dinner will be served. CME credits are available. No RSVP required.
Contact:
Melissa Smith
mcsmith@partners.org 617-525-7102 |
| |
HST and MIT Enterprise Forum: Drawn to the Dark
Side: MDs and
Scientists Who Became Entrepreneurs
Nov. 19, 5–8 pm
TMEC, Rm. 209
Panel discussion, Q/A, networking reception with noted life sciences and
healthcare professionals turned successful entrepreneurs.
Contact:
Steven Locke
slocke@hms.harvard.edu |
| |
Forsyth Institute: Biofilm-associated Genes in
Clinical Isolates of Streptococcus mutans, and Establishment
of in vivo New Model for Oral Infection
Hidenobu Senpuku, DDS, Ph.D.
Nov. 20, 12–1 pm
The Forsyth Institute, Schulze Conf. Rm. #2
Streptococcus mutans is a pioneering organism that plays an important
role in biofilm formation and is a primary causative agent of dental caries.
In previous reports, the several associatedgenes with S.
mutans biofilm formation were found and their roles were investigated;
however, little is known about biofilm-associated genes in clinical isolates.
Hidenobu Senpuku, of the National Institue of Infectious Diseases in Japan,
will discuss his lab’s use of clinical isolates to to identify new genes for
biofilm formation.
Contact:
Pamela Quattrocchi
pquattrocchi@forsyth.org, 617-892-8604 |
| |
Forsyth Institute: Sjögren's Syndrome: Many Questions,
Few Answers
Seunghee Cha
Nov. 23, 12–1 pm
The Forsyth Institute, Schulze Conf. Rm. #2
Autoimmune Sjögren’s syndrome (SjS) targets the exocrine glands, such as
the salivary and lacrimal glands, affecting mostly females and leading to
severe secretory dysfunction and its complications. Seunghee Cha of the University
of Florida and colleages are seeking to understand SjS pathogenesis
and to develop SjS-specific diagnostics and therapeutics for SjS patients.
The focus of the presentation will include but is not limited to aberrant
microRNA expression and its potential implication in autoimmune SjS, the
uderlying mechanisms of secretory dysfunction in SjS, and receptor-mediated
siRNA delivery.
Contact:
Pamela Quattrocchi
pquattrocchi@forsyth.org, 617-892-8604 |
| |
Neurobiology: Studying and Modifying the Dynamics
of Neural Networks
Laurence Abbott
Nov. 23, 12:15–1:15pm
Children’s Hospital Boston, Enders Aud.
Laurence Abbott is the Bloor Professor of Theoretical Neuroscience at
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Contact:
William Helmrath
william_helmrath@hms.harvard.edu,
617-432-1772 |
| |
Forsyth Institute: Mechanism of Excision and Integration
of the Bacteroides Conjugative Transposon CTnDOTs and
Regulation of Excision and Transfer of the Bacteroides Conjugative
Transposon CTnDOT
Jeffrey Gardner
Nov. 24, 12–1 pm
The Forsyth Institute, Schulze Conf. Rm. #2
CTnDOT is a Bacteroides conjugative transposon that has facilitated
the spread of antibiotic resistance in the human gut in recent years. The
integrase (IntDOT) encoded by CTnDOT is a member of the tyrosine family of
recombinases. It is unusual in that it recombines sites that contain short
regions of non-identical base pairs. Jeffrey Gardner, University of Illinois,
will discuss the in vitro systems his lab has developed to study the integration
and excision reactions catalyzed by IntDOT. Abigail Salyers, also of the
University of Illinois, will discuss the complex regulatory cascade involved
in the excision and transfer of CTnDOT, with special emphasis on the last
steps of the cascade.
Contact:
Pamela Quattrocchi
pquattrocchi@forsyth.org, 617-892-8604 |
| |
Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology: The
DNA Damage Response: Lessons on How to Handle a Fork
Stephen J. Elledge
Nov. 30, 12:15–1:30 pm
Bldg. C, Cannon Rm.
Contact:
stephanie_biggs@hms.harvard.edu, 617-432-3347
top |
|
|
CLASSES |
| |
Research Information Technology Group: UNIX Scripting
Nov 17, 1–3 pm
Countway Library, Electronic Classrm.
Register online at http://ritg.med.harvard.edu/classes.html.
Contact:
Research Information Technology Group
ritg@hms.harvard.edu |
| |
Countway Brown Bag: UCSC Genome Browser
Nov. 23, 12:30–1:30
pm
Countway Library, Ballard Rm., 5th Fl.
The UCSC Genome Browser provides rapid, straightforward access to a vast store
of Genome-oriented material. Learn how to quickly locate gene information, gene
features, how to download sequence and track information and how to make use
of the Table Browser to retrieve data in bulk. We’ll also examine other UCSC
tools such as the Gene Sorter and VisiGene. Registration is not required.
Contact:
countway_reference@hms.harvard.edu,
617-432-2134
top |
|
|
HAPPENINGS |
| |
Longwood Toastmasters: Weekly Meetings
Nov. 16th, 6–7 pm
TMEC Bldg., Rm. 227
Whether you have stage fright or stage might, Toastmasters is a public
speaking club offering encouragement, feedback and commentary for every
level of speaker. Join us at our regular meeting this week to learn more.
If you can't make that, keep your eye on our website (http://longwoodtoastmasters.com)
for meeting times and locations. We meet on alternating Thursdays and Mondays
at 6 pm.
Contact:
Wui Ip
ipw.hms@gmail.com |
| |
Office of Work and Family: Managing Your Debt
Matthew Paradise
Nov. 16, 12–1:30 pm
Countway Library, Minot Rm., 5th Fl.
At this seminar you will learn how to better manage debt and understand
the credit process to become more focused and in control of your finances.
Matthew Paradise, community outreach coordinator at American Consumer Credit
Counseling, will discuss basic budgeting; credit reports, including the
importance of a positive credit file, understanding your credit report
and how to dispute credit reporting errors; and credit, including pre-approved
applications, how to improve your FICO score, the danger signals of pending
financial problems, rebuilding your credit history, and debt management
programs. Feel free to bring your lunch. Register by contacting Barbara_Wolf@hms.harvard.edu or
617 432-1615.
Contact:
Barbara_Wolf@hms.harvard.edu,
617 432-1615 |
| |
Office for Sustainability: Harvard University
Green Office Week
Claire Berezowitz
Nov. 17–20
Longwood Area Green Office Workshop
Nov. 20, 12:30–1:30 pm
TMEC, Rm. 109
Attend a workshop at HMS to learn more about the Green Office Certification program
on Nov. 20. All offices achieving certification between Nov. 17 and the end of
the year will receivelocal Taza chocolate and to be entered in a University-wide
raffle. For more information, visit www.green.harvard.edu/green-office.
Contact:
Claire Berezowitz, Longwood Sustainability Coordinator
Sustainability@hms.harvard.edu
|
| |
Community Servings: Pie in the Sky Fundraiser
Deadline: Nov. 18
www.pieinthesky.org
Community Servings provides free, nutritious, home-delivered meals to people
homebound with HIV/AIDS and other chronic and acute life-threatening illnesses.
Their clients, who live in the greater Boston area, are unable to shop or cook
for themselves. Community Servings has an annual fundraiser called Pie in the
Sky, a citywide bake sale for which local restaurants and bakeries bake gourmet
pies for Thanksgiving at $25 each. Pies come in many flavors including apple,
pecan, pumpkin, sweet potato or diabetic apple (less sugar). The proceeds from
each $25 pie go towards a week’s worth of hearty home-delivered meals to a
Community Servings’ client. Pies will be boxed and ready for pick-up on Wednesday,
November 25, at the designated pick-up location of your choosing in the Boston
area. Pies can’t be delivered to you. The pick-up locations are listed at http://www.servings.org/events/page.cfm?event=47&ec_id=90.
If you’d like to purchase a pie and help sick patients and their dependent
family members eat healthy, nutritious food, please visit https://www.servings.org/events/buyflow/cart.cfm?event=47&ec_id=86&landing and
mention Devan Darby’s name when prompted. For more information about Community
Servings, visit http://www.servings.org/index.cfm. To learn more about the
Pie in the Sky fundraiser, visit www.pieinthesky.org
Contact:
Devan Darby
Devan_Darby@hms.harvard.edu
top |
Please send QB submissions to the Office of Communications and External
Relations via
e-mail no later than 5 pm on the Wednesday
preceding the event. Please do not send submissions
as e-mail attachments. Event submissions should also be sent to the Focus
calendar. If you have
any further questions, please contact quad_bulletin@hms.harvard.edu.
Mr. Gage will demonstrate
the pros and cons of having railroad construction equipment penetrate
the frontal lobe. Food will be served, so please RSVP.
The Office of Communications and External Relations reserves the right
to edit submissions for length and clarity. QB does not publicize events
more than twice—one
week prior to the event and the week of the event. The QB e-mail distribution
list is maintained by the HMS postmaster. Please contact the postmaster
if you are not receiving QB via e-mail.