Young Investigator Research Articles

Application of Genomic Medicine in Africa: 14th Conference of the African Society of Human Genetics and the 2nd International Congress of the Moroccan Society of Genomics and Human Genetics, Rabat, Morocco 2022.

The 14th African Society of Human Genetics (AfSHG) Morocco Meeting and 2nd International Congress of the Moroccan Society of Genomics and Human Genetics (SM2GH), held in Rabat, Morocco, from December 12 through 17, 2022, brought together 298 attendees from 23 countries, organized by the AfSHG in collaboration with the SM2GH. The conference's overarching theme was "Applications of Genomics Medicine in Africa," covering a wide range of topics, including population genetics, genetics of infectious diseases, hereditary disorders, cancer genetics, and translational genetics. The conference aimed to address the lag in the field of genetics in Africa and highlight the potential for genetic research and personalized medicine on the continent. The goal was to improve the health of African populations and global communities while nurturing the careers of young African scientists in the field. Distinguished scientists from around the world shared their recent findings in genetics, immunogenetics, genomics, genome editing, immunotherapy, and ethics genomics. Precongress activities included a 2-day bioinformatics workshop, "NGS Analysis for Monogenic Disease in African Populations," and a Young Investigators Forum, providing opportunities for young African researchers to showcase their work. The vast genetic diversity of the African continent poses a significant challenge in investigating and characterizing public health issues at the genetic and functional levels. Training, research, and the development of expertise in genetics, immunology, genomics, and bioinformatics are vital for addressing these challenges and advancing genetics in Africa. The AfSHG is committed to leading efforts to enhance genetic research, coordinate training, and foster research collaborations on the continent.

Société de Biomécanique young investigator award 2022: Effects of applying functional electrical stimulation to ankle plantarflexor muscles on forward propulsion during walking in young healthy adults

The triceps surae muscle, composed of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, plays a major role in forward propulsion during walking. By generating positive ankle power during the push-off phase, these muscles produce the propulsive force required for forward progression. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that applying functional electrical stimulation (FES) to these muscles (soleus, gastrocnemius or the combination of the two) during the push-off phase would increase the ankle power generation and, consequently, enhance forward propulsion during walking in able-bodied adults. Fifteen young adults walked at their self-selected speed under four conditions: no stimulation, with bilateral stimulation of the soleus, gastrocnemius, and both muscles simultaneously. Muscles were stimulated just below the discomfort threshold during push-off, i.e., from heel-off to toe-off. FES significantly increased ankle power (+22 to 28 % depending on conditions), propulsive force (+15 to 18 %) and forward progression parameters such as walking speed (+14 to 20 %). Furthermore, walking speed was significantly higher (+5%) for combined soleus and gastrocnemius stimulation compared with gastrocnemius stimulation alone, with no further effect on other gait parameters. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that applying FES to the gastrocnemius and soleus, separately or simultaneously during the push-off phase, enhanced ankle power generation and, consequently, forward propulsion during walking in able-bodied adults. Combined stimulation of the soleus and gastrocnemius provided the greatest walking speed enhancement, without affecting other propulsion parameters. These findings could be useful for designing FES-based solutions for improving gait in healthy people with propulsion impairment, such as the elderly.

Localized colorectal cancer database integrating 4 randomized controlled trials; (JCOG2310A)

Although phase III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) represent the most robust statistical approach for answering clinical questions, they require massive expenditures in terms of time, labor, and funding. Ancillary and supplementary analyses using RCTs are sometimes conducted as alternative approaches to answering clinical questions, but the available integrated databases of RCTs are limited. In this background, the Colorectal Cancer Study Group (CCSG) of the Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG) established a database of ancillary studies integrating four phase III RCTs (JCOG0212, JCOG0404, JCOG0910 and JCOG1006) conducted by the CCSG to investigate specific clinicopathological factors in pStage II/III colorectal cancer (JCOG2310A). This database will be updated by adding another clinical trial data and accelerating several analyses that are clinically relevant in the management of localized colorectal cancer. This study describes the details of this database and planned and ongoing analyses as an initiative of JCOG cOlorectal Young investigators (JOY).

Elements of successful NIH grant applications

Is there a formula for a competitive NIH grant application? The Serenity Prayer may provide one: "Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the ability to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." But how to tell the difference? In this Perspective, we provide an inclusive roadmap—elements of NIH funding. Collectively, we have over 30 y of peer review experience as NIH Scientific Review Officers in addition to over 30 y of program experience as NIH Program Officers. This article distills our NIH experience. We use Euclid’s 13-book landmark, The Elements, as our template to humbly share what we learned. We have three specific aims: inform, guide, and motivate prospective applicants. We also address ways that support diversity and inclusion among applicants and young investigators in biomedical research. The elements we describe come from a wide range of sources. Some themes will be general. Some will be specific. All will be candid. The ultimate goal is a competitive application, serenity, and hopefully both.

BoHFAB. The impact of adjuvant zoledronate therapy on bone health in postmenopausal patients with early breast cancer: Young Investigator Award Winners and Outstanding Abstract Award Winners in Program Order

BoHFAB. The impact of adjuvant zoledronate therapy on bone health in postmenopausal patients with early breast cancer: Young Investigator Award Winners and Outstanding Abstract Award Winners in Program Order

"The 10th International MDM2 Workshop": Opening up new avenues for MDM2 and p53 research, the First International MDM2 Workshop in Asia.

The 10th International MDM2 Workshop was held at the National Cancer Center Research Institute (NCCRI) in Tokyo, Japan, from October 15 to 18, 2023. It attracted 166 participants from 12 countries. The meeting featured 52 talks and 41 poster presentations. In the first special session, six invited speakers gave educational and outstanding talks on breakthroughs in MDM2 research. Three keynote speakers presented emerging p53-independent functions of MDM2/MDM4, functional association of MDM2/p53 with cancer immunity, and drug discovery targeting the MDM2/MDM4-p53 pathway. Additionally, 19 invited speakers introduced their new findings. Twenty-one presenters, many of whom were young investigators, postdocs, and students, were selected from submitted abstracts and reported their exciting and unpublished results. For poster presenters, outstanding poster awards were given to the best presenters. There were many inspiring questions and discussions throughout the meeting. Social events like a welcome party, a workshop dinner, and an optional tour enabled further scientific interactions among the participants. The meeting successfully provided an exciting platform for scientific exchange. The experience gained from organizing this meeting will be handed over to the next organizers of the 11th International MDM2 Workshop.

Blinding reduces institutional prestige bias during initial review of applications for a young investigator award.

Organizations that fund research are keen to ensure that their grant selection processes are fair and equitable for all applicants. In 2020, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation introduced blinding to the first stage of the process used to review applications for Beckman Young Investigator (BYI) awards: applicants were instructed to blind the technical proposal in their initial Letter of Intent by omitting their name, gender, gender-identifying pronouns, and institutional information. Here we examine the impact of this change by comparing the data on gender and institutional prestige of the applicants in the first four years of the new policy (BYI award years 2021-2024) with data on the last four years of the old policy (2017-2020). We find that under the new policy, the distribution of applicants invited to submit a full application shifted from those affiliated with institutions regarded as more prestigious to those outside of this group, and that this trend continued through to the final program awards. We did not find evidence of a shift in the distribution of applicants with respect to gender.

In Remembrance of a prolific reproductive biologist, editor of Biology of Reproduction, and enthusiastic supporter of young investigators†.

In Remembrance of a prolific reproductive biologist, editor of Biology of Reproduction, and enthusiastic supporter of young investigators†.

Convenient access to a strained bicyclic enone: A concise and improved formal synthesis of ineleganolide

The norcembranoid and cembranoid diterpenoids represent an intriguing class of natural products isolated from marine sources. Their chemical synthesis has been a challenging and exciting field of research over the past two decades, owing largely to their structural complexity. We recently disclosed a total synthesis of a member of this class, ineleganolide, in a 23 step longest linear sequence. In search of a shorter, more efficient route, we have devised a new strategy for the synthesis of a key bicyclic enone. Disclosed herein is our improved synthesis of this strained intermediate, completing the formal synthesis of ineleganolide in only 14 steps, thereby shortening our previous synthesis by 9 steps.Dedicated to Prof. Thomas Maimone on his receipt of the Tetrahedron Young Investigator Award 2024.

Burnout and career satisfaction in young neuro-oncology investigators: Results of the Society for Neuro-Oncology Young Investigator Survey

Abstract Background Burnout is a syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a reduced sense of accomplishment, which commonly arises from chronic workplace stress in the medical field. Given the higher risk of burnout in younger age groups reported in some studies, the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) Young Investigator (YI) and Wellness Committees combined efforts to examine burnout in the SNO YI membership to better understand and address their needs. Methods We distributed an anonymous online survey to SNO members in 2019. Only those meeting the definition of a YI were asked to complete the survey. The survey consisted of questions about personal and professional characteristics as well as the validated Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) questionnaire. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariate analyses, and incorporation of previously defined burnout profiles. Results Data were analyzed for 173 participants who self-identified as YI. Measures of burnout showed that YI members scored higher on emotional exhaustion and depersonalization compared to normative population but similar to those in a prior SNO general membership survey. With respect to burnout profiles, 30% of YI respondents classified as overextended and 15% as burnout. Organizational challenges were the most common contributors to stress. Conclusions Similar to results from a previous survey completed by general SNO membership, the prevalence of burnout among neuro-oncology clinical and research YI is high, and is mainly characterized by overextension, warranting interventions at institutional and organizational levels.

Tackling hurdles in front of young clinical investigators in oncology – Results from an international survey

IntroductionCancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and coordinated research efforts are vital to improve global outcomes. Clinical or translational research is usually planned, coordinated and executed by clinical researchers. With this survey we aimed to identify the main hurdles in front of young clinical investigators in oncology. Methods and materialsAn anonymized survey was distributed using social media between April and November 2022. Target population were health-care professionals in the field of oncology – physicians, nurses and researchers. We divided participants according to working experience (<40 vs. >40 years of age) and country of practice (Europeans vs. non-Europeans). ResultsWe received 121 responses from participants practicing in 36 countries. Eighty-seven (72%) of the participants were under 40 years. Eighty-nine (74%) were from European countries and thirty-two (26%) were from non-European. Experienced and European professionals were more likely to be involved in all different aspects of clinical trials. The main source of funding – independently of geographic location – were industry grants. Investigators out of Europe have less participation in international grants. Over 50% of participants dedicate time for clinical research from their personal time and are not paid for it. Almost 50% of investigators don’t have access to an experienced mentor in their institution. ConclusionThe majority of respondents to our survey are active clinical researchers. Our data indicate that access to education and training as well as possibilities for appropriate networking, and specifically lack of mentorship, are key limiting factors in developing clinical research by healthcare professionals.

3 Young Investigator Awardee - Intermediate clinical endpoints in early-stage breast cancer: an analysis of individual patient data from the Gruppo Italiano Mammella (GIM) and Mammella Intergruppo trials (MIG)

3 Young Investigator Awardee - Intermediate clinical endpoints in early-stage breast cancer: an analysis of individual patient data from the Gruppo Italiano Mammella (GIM) and Mammella Intergruppo trials (MIG)

5 Young Investigator Awardee - Predictors of long-term adverse quality of life following breast cancer treatment – Insights from the REQUITE cohort study

5 Young Investigator Awardee - Predictors of long-term adverse quality of life following breast cancer treatment – Insights from the REQUITE cohort study

The Young Investigator Committee of the International Xenotransplantation Association-Perspective of advancements in the field in 2023.

The 2023 IXA conference, hosted in San Diego, CA, brimmed with excitement against the backdrop of recent innovations in both the pre-clinical and clinical realms with several first-in-human applications of xenotransplantation. The theme, "Pigs are flying," alluded to the adage that xenotransplantation would only become a clinical reality "when pigs fly," suggesting a day that might never come. The event witnessed significant attendance, with 600 participants-the highest in the history of an IXA-IPITA joint congress. Among the attendees were members of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and corporate sponsors deeply engaged in the field. We summarize the latest topics from the congress, ranging from the pros/cons of decedent models of xenotransplantation and genetic engineering of porcine heart valves, solid organs, and cells for clinical translation and their regulatory and ethical landscape.

The World Was Their Laboratory: How Two Pioneer Scientist-Administrators,James Watt and Zdenek Fejfar, Advanced Methods and International Collaboration in Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology During the Cold War.

In 1952, James Watt, a young U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) infectious disease epidemiologist, was appointed--amid wide surprise--director of the U.S. National Heart Institute (NHI) where he served until 1961. He skillfully advanced epidemiological research methods and study conduct nationally while also establishing epidemiology in the administrative heirarchy of the institute. Watt soon turned to development of an effective program in international cardiovascular disease (CVD) epidemiology under auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO) at the United Nations (UN) in Geneva. That effort resulted in the 1959 appointment of Zdenek Fejfar, a young Czech clinical investigator, as director of the WHO CVD Unit. The coming together of Watt and Fejfar, with a joint focus on improved methods and population comparisons, helped establish a vigorous international community of CVD epidemiology. Their collaboration and friendship remained active and close throughout their career assignments and thereafter, as documented in this story.

(2022-2023 ECS Toyota Young Investigator Fellowship) Enhanced Water Electrolysis Using Layered Coaxial Nanowire Electrodes

Novel electrocatalytic approaches are urgently needed to increase the energy efficiency and decrease the cost of hydrogen production by PEM water electrolyzers. Recently, we developed a novel catalytic platform, the layered coaxial nanowire electrode (LCANE), which enables PEM water electrolyzers with higher energy efficiency and reduced usage of precious metal catalysts. Electrolyzers based on the LCANE approach use a thin film of IrO2-decorated Pt that is intimately interfaced with an ionomer membrane in the form of vertically-aligned coaxial nanowires. Each nanowire consists of a Pt shell encapsulating an ionomer core, with the Pt shell further decorated by IrO2 clusters. The top region of each nanowire bends to form a layer of in-plane aligned Pt/IrO2 nanowires, providing excellent in-plane electronic conductivity. This unique catalyst/electrode geometry offers several key advantages. By localizing ionomer within the nanowire core, the exterior surface of the catalyst remains free from ionomer, eliminating thin-film transport barriers and preventing catalyst poisoning by ionomer adsorption. The vertically aligned sections of the nanowires provide non-tortuous transport of reactants and products, with abundant pore space for facile access of water and removal of oxygen. Close integration of catalyst and ionomer provides improved proton access and eliminates stranding of catalyst. By incorporating catalyst in the form of a thin film and replacing some of the Ir with Pt, lower Ir loading (as low as 0.1 mg/cm2) is achieved without sacrificing surface area or performance.AcknowledgmentThis work was supported by the ECS-Toyota Young Investigator Fellowship and by the Laboratory Directed Research and Development program at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

A Density Potential Functional Approach for Mesoscopic Metal-Solution Interfaces

Mesoscopic metal-solution interfaces (MSI) are found at nanostructured electrodes in myriad electrochemical devices. Resolving the local reaction environment for electrochemical reactions occurring in mesoscopic MSIs requires a constant-potential, computationally economic method that properly treat both quantum mechanical metal electrons and almost classical electrolyte components. We have been developing a density potential functional theory (DPFT) to meet these harsh requirements [1-4]. Our DPFT method combines an orbital-free density functional theory of quantum mechanical metal electrons, a statistical field theoretic description of classical electrolyte ions and solvent, and Morse potentials describing short-range interactions between the two parts that are parameterized using first-principles based computations. In this talk, I will introduce the theoretical framework, its relationship to other similar methods including the jellium model and implicit solvation model, its parameterization and benchmark with experimental and ab initio simulation data, and recent applications to understand solvent effects on potential of zero charge, mechanoelectrochemistry of MSIs, and supported nanoparticle catalysts. The emerging opportunities, future development needs, and important caveats of the DPFT method will be discussed. Reference Huang J, Zhang Y, Li M, Groß A, Sakong S. Comparing Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics and a Semiclassical Grand Canonical Scheme for the Electric Double Layer of the Pt (111)/Water Interface. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. 2023 Feb 27;14:2354-63.Huang J. Density-Potential Functional Theory of Electrochemical Double Layers: Calibration on the Ag (111)-KPF6 System and Parametric Analysis. Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation. 2023 Jan 18.Huang J, Chen S, Eikerling M. Grand-canonical model of electrochemical double layers from a hybrid density–potential functional. Journal of chemical theory and computation. 2021 Mar 31;17(4):2417-30.Huang J. Hybrid density-potential functional theory of electric double layers. Electrochimica Acta. 2021 Sep 1;389:138720. J.H. is supported by the Helmholtz Young Investigators Group Leader Program.

(High-Temperature Energy, Materials, & Processes Division J. B. Wagner, Jr. Young Investigator Award) Protonic Ceramic Electrochemical Cells for Power Generation, Hydrogen Production, and Chemicals Synthesis

Protonic ceramic electrochemical cells (PCECs) show great promise for power generation, renewable hydrogen production, and sustainable chemical synthesis. Our laboratory at Kansas State University has made significant progress in designing PCEC materials, fabricating PCEC devices, and characterizing PCECs for various applications. In this presentation, I will first introduce our novel PCEC materials and fabrication processes, which have enabled reduced operating temperatures, enhanced performance, and improved durability. Then, I will discuss the research and development of three primary applications of PCECs by our group: power generation in fuel cell mode, green hydrogen production in electrolysis mode, and the synthesis of high-value chemicals using abundant feedstocks.

Young Investigator's Award Finals

Young Investigator's Award Finals

Society News - Winter 2023

Winter 2023 Society News includes reports from the Board of Directors and Publications, Staff News, Division and Society officers, and the 2023-2024 Toyota young investigators.