"Grey's Anatomy" is back for Season 17 after more than 15 years on air. During that decade and a half, the series has weathered all kinds of challenges, including real-life drama that resulted in some of its cast members leaving the show. Access Hollywood looks back on some of the most dramatic behind-the-scenes moments in "Grey's" history.
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'Grey's Anatomy': The Most Dramatic Behind-The-Scenes Moments - Yahoo Entertainment
Grey's Anatomy star Kim Raver has revealed more details about how her character Teddy Altman will handle testing times during season 17.
The long-running medical drama begins its new season in the US tonight (November 12) and it opens with Teddy and her fianc Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) in a bad place, after season 16 ended with Owen finding out that Teddy had cheated on him with Thomas Koracick (Greg Germann).
Not only do the couple have their serious relationship troubles to contend with, but season 17 also incorporates the real world issue of COVID-19 into the storylines, as the staff of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital treat sick patients.
Related: Grey's stars drop hints about season 17 romance
Raver has told Entertainment Weekly that things won't be easy for Teddy and Owen in the new season, saying that the show has done an excellent job of showing how "messy" and real the characters can be.
"We didn't mean to end right on Teddy just doing the worst thing possible," she said of the season 16 finale. "I think it's interesting that it's a woman going through this because there seems to be more forgiveness when it's a man. I know that the fans are very upset and I'm upset with Teddy.
"It's so true to Grey's Anatomy that people are messy. Everyone is so messy. And I think that that is really the beautiful thing of the show is that they have their shining moments and then they have their very ugly human moments."
Of course, Teddy and Owen also have to deal with what COVID-19 is throwing at them, but Raver explained that Teddy and Owen are actually "kind of prepared for this because of their army training", as both have served in the military.
Related: Ex-Grey's Anatomy star Jessica Capshaw says people don't realise she's left
"You have to put everything on hold during this pandemic and just get everyone kind of to safety, so to speak. So I think that that's exactly the path that we're following," she said.
"They have their huge, gaping wounds that Teddy caused. Then we have this pandemic and how are they facing it? And I think that that's also what's interesting about healthcare workers is that they put others first."
Raver added that the storyline between Teddy, Owen and Koracick is "amazing", saying that the trio will have to keep their priorities straight during extremely challenging times.
Grey's Anatomy returns on ABC in the US tonight (November 12). It will airs on Sky Witness in the UK with selected episodes also available on NOW TV.
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Grey's Anatomy star discusses how Teddy and Owen are coping in season 17 - digitalspy.com
Jaina Lee Ortiz has promised "dramatic" answers in the season four premiere of Station 19.
The Grey's Anatomy spin-off returns tomorrow (November 12), ahead of which the Andy Herrera actress told TV Line that something big is coming after that dramatic season three finale, which revealed Andy's mum Elena wasn't dead after all.
"Everyone wants answers," she teased. "You'll definitely get them in the premiere, I guarantee you.
Related: Station 19 boss gives first hints about season 4
"They may not be what you expect, but it'll definitely be something huge and dramatic and, obviously, very traumatic because [Elena being alive is] not the only... elephant in the room. COVID-19 is a huge part of the storyline."
Meanwhile, the new episodes will feature Robert Sullivan (Andy's husband) once again battling the challenges of his drug addiction, with actor Boris Kodjoe pledging that the couple are "not willing to walk away, no matter what's going on".
Kodjoe also went on to discuss the idea that Robert might actually be a 'father figure' replacement for Andy's late dad.
Related: Grey's Anatomy and Station 19 teaser for new seasons pays emotional tribute to essential workers
"From a psychological standpoint, that's very interesting, because I guess that happens a lot," he continued. "You're yearning for your father's love and by getting hitched really quickly to someone like Sullivan, you can sort of manage that better.
"We just have to figure out what that love is between them and why it's so strong and if it's real. I think they'll be facing a lot of challenges to find out if it's real."
Grey's Anatomy and Station 19 air on ABC in the US. They air on Sky Witness in the UK with selected episodes also available on NOW TV.
Digital Spy has launched its first-ever digital magazine with exclusive features, interviews, and videos. Access the latest edition with a 1-month free trial, only on Apple News+.
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Station 19 season 4 will be "huge and dramatic" - Digital Spy
Greys Anatomy alum Katherine Heigl was at the height of her career in 2007. Her performance as Izzie Stevens won her an Emmy award for best-supporting actress in a drama. She was also transitioning to the big screen as a romantic comedy lead. That year she starred in Judd Apatows Knocked Up alongside Seth Rogen. But after the films release, Heigl trashed the movie and essentially tanked her career overnight. Did she ever reach out to Apatow or Rogen and apologize?
In Vanity Fairs January 2008 cover story, Heigl infamously described Knocked Up as a little sexist. Heigl claimed that the film painted the women as shrews, as humorless and uptight. At the same time, she said the film painted the men as lovable, goofy, fun-loving guys.
It exaggerated the characters, and I had a hard time with it, on some days, Heigl explained. Im playing such a b**ch; why is she being such a killjoy? Why is this how youre portraying women? Ninety-eight percent of the time it was an amazing experience, but it was hard for me to love the movie.
In response, Apatow said that making the movie was like when you get drunk and spurt out your deepest feelings. But then the next day, you have drunk remorse about what you said. The director says that everyone in the cast felt very proud and a little embarrassed about what they revealed about themselves.
Apatow pointed out that the movie was never meant to be romantic. Instead, it was meant to be honest. He also noted that Heigl could not have been better because she went there.
The Vanity Fair article wasnt the only time shes slammed a project that she was a part of. When she was still on Greys Anatomy in 2008, she withdrew herself from Emmy contention and blamed the shows writers for giving her poor material.
According to The New York Times, Heigl said she didnt feel that she was given material that season that would warrant an Emmy nomination. In an effort to maintain the integrity of the academy organization, she says she withdrew her name from contention. A year and a half later, Greys Anatomy released Heigl from her contract early.
Shonda Rhimes later implied that Heigl was difficult to work with. When promoting the show Scandal, Rhymes said that she didnt put up with bullsh*t or nasty people because she doesnt have time for it.
There are no Heigls in this situation, Rhymes said of the Scandal cast.
RELATED: Greys Anatomy: Why the Cast and Crew Didnt Think Theyd Make It Past Season 1
In 2014 not long after Rhimes comments Heigl landed the lead role in the NBC drama State of Affairs. During the networks Television Critics Association summer press tour presentation, a reporter asked if it was true that she was difficult to work with.
According to People magazine, Heigl was a bit flustered when she heard the question. She said that she certainly didnt see herself as being difficult. She added that she would never intend to be difficult.
I think its important to everybody to conduct themselves professionally and respectfully and kindly, so if Ive ever disappointed somebody, it was never intentional, Heigl said.
In 2009, Apatow and Rogen sat down for a joint interview on The Howard Stern Show. They addressed Heigls comments about Knocked Up, and Apatow admitted they confused him.
We never had a fight, Apatow insisted. Seth always says it doesnt make any sense because she improvised half her s**t.
The director also revealed that Heigl has never reached out to apologize to him or Rogen. He said he expected her to call at some point and say, Sorry, I was tired. However, he says the call never came. Rogen went further and called Heigl a hypocrite, and pointed to her follow-up film The Ugly Truth.
Years later, Rogen said that he thoroughly enjoyed working with Heigl. He says when they were making the movie he thought he would make a dozen movies with her. Rogen was sad that she felt the movie hurt her career, and he wishes it hadnt happened.
In 2016, Katherine Heigl revealed that she had to go to therapy to deal with the stress from the fallout of the interview. She says she wishes she hadnt made the comments. Heigl also responded to Rogen and said that he handled things beautifully. She added that she felt nothing but love and respect for him.
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'Grey's Anatomy': Did Katherine Heigl Ever Reach Out to Judd Apatow or Seth Rogen After Trashing 'Knocked Up'? - Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Newswise Baltimore, MD, November 12, 2020 Robert C. Gallo, MD, the Homer & Martha Gudelsky Distinguished Professor in Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and Co-Founder & Director of the UMSOMs Institute of Human Virology (IHV), announced today that a team of leading scientists in human immunology, virology and stem cell biology, led by Lishan Su, PhD joined IHV on October 1 with academic appointments in the UMSOM Department of Pharmacology. As part of the Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative Fund (MEIF) to recruit top research faculty and a donation to IHV from the Charles Gordon Estate, Dr. Su has been named the Charles Gordon Smith Endowed Professor for HIV Research. Dr. Su will also head IHVs Division of Virology, Pathogenesis and Cancer.
The team will include a 12-person Laboratory of Viral Pathogenesis and Immunotherapy with two faculty appointments as well as major public and private sector research funding.
Dr. Gallo made the announcement in conjunction with University of Maryland School of Medicine Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA and Margaret M. McCarthy PhD, James & Carolyn Frenkil Deans Professor, Chair of the Department of Pharmacology.
Dr. Su is one of the most successful active basic researchers in America, said Dr. Gallo, who is also Co-Founder and Chairman of the International Scientific Leadership Board of the Global Virus Network. His research is groundbreaking, and we are so pleased to have him join IHV and lead our Division of Infectious Agents and Cancer, which under his sound leadership, will flourish.
Dr. McCarthy added:Dr. Sus continuing ground-breaking work in HIV and Hepatitis B will be a huge asset to the Department of Pharmacology. I look forward to working with him on advances that could open the door to new therapeutics.
Dr. Su was a faculty member in the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill since 1996. He received his BS degree in Microbiology from Shandong University, his PhD degree in Virology from Harvard University, and did his post-doctoral training in Stem Cell Biology & Immunology at Stanford University. He worked as a senior research scientist at SyStemix/Sandoz (Novartis), focusing on HIV-1 pathogenesis and stem cell-based gene therapy in humanized mice and in patients.
I am excited to continue and expand my research programs at the Institute of Human Virology (IHV), said Dr. Su. I have long been impressed by the Baltimore-DC area's research centers with great basic and clinical research programs. IHV, co-founded and directed by Dr. Robert Gallo, is one of the first research institutes in the U.S. to integrate basic science, population studies and clinical trials to understanding and treating human virus-induced diseases. The Department of Pharmacology, headed by Dr. Margaret McCarthy, in the University of Maryland School of Medicine, has been outstanding in developing novel therapeutics including breast cancer drugs. I look forward to working with my new colleagues at IHV and the Department of Pharmacology, and across the University of Maryland School of Medicine, to expand and translate my research programs to treating human inflammatory diseases including virus infection and cancer.
Dr. Su has extensive research experience in human immunology, virology and stem cell biology. Dr. Su made important contributions to several areas of human immunology and infectious diseases, particularly in studying human immuno-pathology of chronic virus infections. His lab at UNC-Chapel Hill published important findings in identifying novel virological and immunological mechanisms of HIV-1 pathogenesis. Furthermore, his lab established humanized mouse models with both human immune and human liver cells that support HCV or HBV infection, human immune responses and human liver fibrosis. In recent years, Dr. Sus group discovered, and focused on, the pDC-interferon axis in the immuno-pathogenesis and therapy of chronic HIV & HBV infections. The group also started investigation of the pDC-IFN axis in tumor microenvironments and in cancer immune therapy.
Im so pleased to welcome Dr. Su to our faculty. His work advances the mission of the School of Medicine, which is to provide important new knowledge in the area of immunology and chronic disease to discover new approaches for treatments, said Dean Reece, who is also University Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor. Dr. Sus stellar research capabilities will provide vital opportunities for collaboration across our Institutes and Departments.
About the Institute of Human Virology
Formed in 1996 as a partnership between the State of Maryland, the City of Baltimore, the University System of Maryland and the University of Maryland Medical System, IHV is an institute of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and is home to some of the most globally-recognized and world-renowned experts in all of virology. The IHV combines the disciplines of basic research, epidemiology and clinical research in a concerted effort to speed the discovery of diagnostics and therapeutics for a wide variety of chronic and deadly viral and immune disorders - most notably, HIV the virus that causes AIDS. For more information,www.ihv.organd follow us on Twitter @IHVmaryland.
About the University of Maryland School of Medicine
The University of Maryland School of Medicine was chartered in 1807 and is the first public medical school in the United States and continues today as an innovative leader in accelerating innovation and discovery in medicine. The School of Medicine is the founding school of the University of Maryland and is an integral part of the 11-campus University System of Maryland. Located on the University of Marylands Baltimore campus, the School of Medicine works closely with the University of Maryland Medical Center to provide a research-intensive, academic and clinically based education. With 43 academic departments, centers and institutes and a faculty of more than 3,000 physicians and research scientists plus more than $400 million in extramural funding, the School is regarded as one of the leading biomedical research institutions in the U.S. with top-tier faculty and programs in cancer, brain science, surgery and transplantation, trauma and emergency medicine, vaccine development and human genomics, among other centers of excellence. The School is not only concerned with the health of the citizens of Maryland and the nation, but also has a global vision, with research and treatment facilities in more than 30 countries around the world. For more information, visitwww.medschool.umaryland.edu.
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Leading Human Immunology and Infectious Disease Experts to Join UM School of Medicines Institute of Human Virology - Newswise
One of the striking things about COVID-19 is that children who have contracted the new coronavirus rarely develop the kinds of severe respiratory and other symptoms seen in adults.
In addition, most children who develop COVID-19 have mild or no symptoms.
This doesnt mean children are immune to the new coronavirus.
A small number of children with COVID-19 can develop a serious condition called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Scientists arent certain, though, why some children get very sick and others dont.
A new study published Nov. 5 in the journal Nature Immunology adds to our understanding of the differences between how children and adults respond to SARS-CoV-2.
Researchers from Columbia University and other institutions found that childrens immune response to SARS-CoV-2 is distinct from that of adults. This was true even in children who developed MISC-C.
Shane Crotty, PhD, a virologist at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology, said this finding wasnt a given.
Children definitely have a different disease outcome from adults, he said, but that could be for a lot of different reasons.
After analyzing blood samples taken from adults and children, researchers saw that children who had contracted the new coronavirus produced lower levels of neutralizing antibodies and fewer types of antibodies.
The immune system can produce many different antibodies specific to a virus. Neutralizing antibodies bind in a way that blocks infection.
The results of the study dont mean that childrens immune response was weaker, because that implies that more is better, said Dr. Ravi Jhaveri, associate division head of infectious disease and professor of pediatrics (infectious diseases) at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago.
The adult patients with the worst symptoms of ARDS [acute respiratory distress syndrome] had the highest levels of antibody, Jhaveri said, while children with varying levels of symptoms, mostly milder, had lower responses.
Even among adults, those with severe symptoms had higher levels of neutralizing antibodies compared to adults with mild symptoms.
Again, the higher levels of neutralizing antibodies didnt correlate with better disease outcomes.
People tend to oversimplify that neutralization is all we should care about, but this may not be the whole story, Jhaveri said. Sometimes the best antibodies are the ones that help the immune cells find and destroy a virus.
Researchers didnt look at this kind of immune activity.
Sean Diehl, PhD, an associate professor of microbiology and molecular genetics at the University of Vermont, said another interesting finding of the study is that the adults produced antibodies that bound to more parts of the virus.
Adults are targeting both the outer spike protein, as well as the nucleocapsid that binds to and protects the genome of the virus, he said. But kids are only making antibodies against the spike protein.
This could have implications for coronavirus testing. Some antibody tests, including those made by Abbott and Roche, look only for antibodies that bind to the nucleocapsid. These tests may miss children who currently have the new coronavirus or who had an infection in the past.
Diehl said adults may be producing more types of antibodies because they have a higher viral load than children. The researchers didnt measure how much virus people had in their body, so this connection isnt clear.
However, the fact that both children and adults produced neutralizing antibodies against the spike protein bodes well for COVID-19 vaccines, Diehl said.
Many vaccine candidates currently being studied target the spike protein. Preliminary data from some phase 3 trials suggest that these vaccines are effective in adults. This suggests they may also work in children, who havent been included in many of the ongoing trials.
In the new study, researchers analyzed antibodies from a single point in time from 79 participants in four groups:
The study was too small to show whether childrens antibody levels differed with age. The blood samples also came from one hospital in one region of the country, so the results may not apply to everyone.
Alessandro Sette, Dr. Biol.Sci., an immunologist at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology in California, said the results reinforce the idea that its not just antibodies that determine how sick someone gets from COVID-19, but many factors are involved.
We already know that people with other medical conditions, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, are more at risk for severe disease.
In addition, Diehl said that in certain adults with severe COVID-19, some of the damage is caused by an overreaction of the immune system rather than the virus itself.
In these people, the immune system is acting quite strongly and causing a lot of collateral damage, Diehl said.
Its not clear, though, why some children have more severe disease than others. The researchers offered several possible reasons.
The lower levels of neutralizing antibodies in children may predispose them to persistent infection in other parts of the body, leading to MISC-C.
Or the presence of non-neutralizing antibodies could lead to a condition known as antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE), which is known to occur in other viral infections.
More research in this area is needed.
While the new study looked at antibodies proteins that bind to the virus to prevent infection the immune system also has a cellular component.
This includes killer T cells that attack cells invaded by the virus, and helper T cells that help coordinate the immune response.
Some data show that adults who have a more benign outcome have good T-cell responses both helper and killer T cells and also antibody responses, Sette said.
A persons T-cell response may be a better indicator of how sick a person gets with COVID-19, according to Sette. In the new study, the researchers didnt measure peoples cellular immune response.
Jhaveri also sees a possible role for T cells in determining the severity of illness.
It may be that a childs cellular response is really strong and the antibodies have to do less work, Jhaveri said, and the opposite is true for adults.
Some researchers have proposed that T cells from people who have recovered from COVID-19 could be used to treat other people, similar to how convalescent plasma therapy is thought to work.
Although the new study shows a difference in antibody response between children and adults, Jhaveri said the data dont indicate whether children are more likely to transmit or contract the new coronavirus.
Crotty said results from other studies on this topic have been mixed.
Ive seen data that seem to indicate that kids get infected just as much [as adults] but dont get sick, he said. And Ive seen other data that indicate that kids dont get infected as much.
More research is needed to fully understand how childrens immune systems respond to the coronavirus, but this can be challenging simply because children with COVID-19 dont get as sick.
You dont have access to as many cases in children to study, Sette said, because many may go undetected.
That is one of the things that is very important about this study, he added. It is one of the first studies to really have a very careful, quantitative analysis of the antibody response in kids with and without MISC-C syndrome.
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Study Finds Kids Develop Different Antibodies When They Get COVID-19 - Healthline
Viruses such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C evade or disrupt the immune system to create persistent infections. These viruses remain a serious health threat, but researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine have discovered how an enzyme that regulates several cellular processes might be a key target to preventing viruses from disarming the human immune response.
There is very little research on how the sphingosine kinase 2 (SphK2) enzyme affects the immune responses to viral infections, said senior author Bumsuk Hahm, PhD, associate professor of surgery and molecular microbiology and immunology. We hypothesized that this enzyme suppresses the T cells that fight infections and allows viruses to persist.
Hahm and his team tested their hypothesis by infecting mice with the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, a common rodent-borne virus. Mice in the study that received an oral therapy that briefly inhibited the SphK2 enzyme experienced a robust immune response and an accelerated destruction of the virus.
SphK2 is shown to regulate immune cell responses during a viral infection, and inhibition of this enzyme is effective in clearing a persistent viral infection, Hahm said. We believe targeting SphK2 may provide a promising route for developing a drug to elicit protective immunity against viral infections that have a devastating impact on human health.
Another key finding from the study demonstrated that SphK2 plays a role in preventing the immune system from attacking the kidneys during an infection. Hahms team found SphK2 deficient mice died within two weeks of infection from kidney failure. All showed evidence of immune cell infiltration in the kidneys.
Hahms team also discovered SphK2 inhibition may also treat some types of cancer by promoting activation of the immune system. Other clinical trials are already exploring the idea that SphK2 inhibition can slow cancer cell growth by directly blocking cancer cell proliferation.
Our study suggests that SphK2 can be targeted for restoring T cell immunity to circumvent an immune suppressive environment, Hahm said. This finding may be applicable to cancer studies as well as other diseases caused by immune disruption.
In addition to Hahm, the study authors include current MU graduate students Caleb Studstill and Jennifer Wolf; Curtis Pritzl, PhD from the surgery and molecular microbiology and immunology departments; Ravi Nistala, MD, associate professor of clinical medicine; and Dae Young Kim, PhD, clinical associate professor of veterinary medicine.
ReferenceStudstill CJ, Pritzl CJ, Seo Y-J, et al. Sphingosine kinase 2 restricts T cell immunopathology but permits viral persistence. J Clin Invest. 2020;130(12). doi:10.1172/JCI125297
This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.
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Enzyme That Suppresses the Immune Response to Viral Infections Identified - Technology Networks
HEIDELBERG, Germany, November 09, 2020 / B3C newswire / German independent research institute BioMed X adds a further research program in the field of immunology to their existing collaboration with Janssen Research & Development, LLC, one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson: The new project will focus on the development of novel methodologies to systematically profile and dissect complex tissue microenvironments. The goal is to identify components that induce pro-resolution responses in tissue-resident innate immune cells to restore homeostasis in autoinflammatory diseases such as psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The collaboration was facilitated by Johnson & Johnson Innovation.
Christian Tidona, Founder and Managing Director of BioMed X Institute: We are excited to expand our collaboration with Janssen with a second research project in the field of autoimmune diseases. The new project offers a unique opportunity to develop novel therapeutic concepts and innovative approaches to tackle the most difficult-to-treat autoimmune diseases of our time.An emerging area of science is being focused on identifying strategies to treat patients with autoimmune diseases that not only block inflammation, but which promote pro-resolution responses in immune cells to restore homeostasis.
Recent research findings suggest that tissue factors released during cellular damage, stress or inflammation can trigger pro-resolution responses in innate immune cells without negatively impacting other cell types.
Further details about the call for application can be found on the website of the BioMed X Institute at http://www.bio.mx. Interested candidates are invited to apply at http://www.bio.mx/apply.
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BioMed X Institute Announces Expansion of their Strategic Collaboration with Janssen in Immunology Research - Microbioz India
Four University of Connecticut researchers were honored as leaders in their fields at the Connecticut Technology Councils 16th annual Women of Innovation awards gala.
The awards celebrate women who are leaders in STEM fields and whose work is paving the way for future breakthroughs. The awards honor students, researchers, entrepreneurs, business leaders, high school teachers, and engineers from across the state.
The committee reviewed more than 150 finalists nominated by peers, mentors, or coworkers. Of the 50 finalists across all categories, seven were from UConn and UConn Health.
Dr. Marja Hurley, professor of medicine and orthopedic surgery in the UConn School of Medicine and a past Connecticut Technology Council Women of Innovation winner, helped nominate many of UConns finalists as part of the UConn Health Group on Women in Medicine and Science (GWIMS).
UConn Health Group on Women in Medicine and Science is dedicated to promoting the outstanding achievement of Women in Science by nominating them for prestigious award, Hurley says. On behalf of GWIMS, I congratulate all of the finalists and winners of the 2020 Connecticut Technology Women of Innovation Awards.
These women are working and discovering at the top of their respective fields in the state.
I will continue enjoying the fund of scientific discovery and work hard to translate these discoveries to applications in practice, says Beiyan Zhou, associate professor in the Department of Immunology in the UConn School of Medicine and a winner in the Research Innovation & Leadership Category.
The awards recognize both scientific and technological advancement, as well as those who have contributed to their communities beyond their company or institution.
Being recognized for the Community Innovation & Leadership award humbles me and forces me to reflect on those who marched, fought, and lost their lives to pave the way for moments like this, Aundrya Montgomery, research assistant in the Department of Biomedical Science in the UConn School of Medicine and a winner in the Community Innovation & Leadership Category, says. While we have come so far, there is still much work to be done and I look forward to continuing the good fight with my fellow Women of Innovation. My heart is filled with pure gratitude and appreciation. This is truly an honor.
The winners honored at the event also help show young women entering these fields the kind of impact they can have.
Being in the company of dedicated, accomplished women is such an honor, says Maria Chrysochoou, associate professor and the head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and a winner in the Postsecondary Academic Innovation & Leadership Category. It is also an inspiration to pay it forward and support the next generation of talented young women.
UConn Winners:
Wanjiku Gatheru 20 (CAHNR), Collegiate Innovation & Leadership Category
Gatheru is an environmental justice advocate. She is UConns first Rhodes Scholar. During her time at UConn, she was a 2019 Truman Scholar and a 2019 Udall Scholar. Her research emphasizes the importance of centering people of colors experience and expertise in the environmental movement.
Maria Chrysochoou, Associate Professor and Department Head, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Postsecondary Academic Innovation & Leadership Category
Chrysochoou is dedicated to developing innovative strategies for brownfield redevelopment and educating students to do the same through the Connecticut Brownfields Initiative. She has published 65 papers and five book chapters. She is the first female department head in the UConn School of Engineering.
Beiyan Zhou, Associate Professor, Department of Immunology in the UConn School of Medicine, Research Innovation & Leadership Category
Zhou has made significant contributions to the study of diabetes, metabolism, and hematology. Her research group discovered immune cell function regulators and created fine-maps of complex immune cell actions in humans with critical implications for immunotherapy treatments. She has authored 38 articles and several book chapters.
Aundrya Montgomery, Research Assistant, Department of Biomedical Science in the UConn School of Medicine, Community Innovation & Leadership Category
Montgomery received her masters degree at UConn and is now researching pediatric esophageal tissue engineering techniques and identifying the prevalence of obesity and its comorbidities among transgender youth. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Urban League of Greater Hartford Young Professionals. Montgomery was a Young Innovative Investigator Program scholar at UConn Health.
UConn Finalists
Leila Daneshmandi, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Rebecca Andrews, Associate Professor of Medicine, School of Medicine
Katherine Coyner, Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine
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Four UConn Researchers Named Women of Innovation by CT Tech Council - UConn Today
CHARLOTTESVILLE (WINA) Infectious disease specialists and immunologists at the University of Virginia are very excited about news from Pfizer about a vaccine which in a preliminary report claims 90% effectiveness and no demonstrated safety concerns. Pfizer and BioNTech SE report in a press release their mRNA-based vaccine candidate has demonstrated evidence of efficacy against COVID-19 in an analysis done by an independent data monitoring firm. This is a preliminary report involving 94 confirmed COVID cases in a trial of more than 42,000 patients and enrollment is still being done. In addition, so far, no serious safety concerns have been observed.
Click here to read the entire release and report.
UVa immunologist Dr. William Petri calls this fabulous news.
He tells Charlottesville Right Now, Having a vaccine thats 90% effective, if this is borne out, will allow us to achieve herd immunity through vaccination. In comparison of like the measles vaccine is 90% effective, and is one of our very best vaccines. So theres never any reason to catch measles as long as the population is vaccinated.
He says people were expecting maybe 50% effectiveness which is what an influenza vaccine is in a given year, so this is better than what most people expected.
UVas ICU director and infectious disease specialist Dr. Taison Bell says Pfizer is looking for emergency authorization from the FDA, and he hopes that will be expedited. He anticipates that would be done by the end of the month with distribution beginning by the end of the year.
Pfizers release says they anticipate making 50-million doses doses in 2020, and up to 1.3-billion doses in 2021. Dr. Bell says we achieve herd immunity with about 60-to-70% of the population vaccinated which, if vaccination begins by the end of this year, would be achieved later next year.
Some have expressed concerns about taking a quickly-developed vaccine. Dr. Bell says hes been watching Operation Warp Speed very closely from the beginning.
It looks like where they saved time is more on the administrative and bureaucratic red tape, and not on the actual science in developing the actual trials themselves. So, I would be comfortable taking the vaccine based on what Ive seen so far.
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UVa infectious disease and immunology experts excited about Pfizer vaccine trial | NewsRadio WINA - WINA AM 1070