Billiar Lab News
March & April 2013
March & April 2013
Volume 18, Edition 1
Important Dates
Lab Updates
Lab Scheduler
When you sign up to use the
lab equipment thru the
scheduler on the lab website,
please remember to enter
your name and contact
information (phone number
OR email address). Please DO
NOT use “flow” “hypoxia”
etc. to block your time. We
need to know who is
scheduled to use the
equipment, in the event that
something should happen and
the equipment becomes
unavailable, we will not know
who to contact.
Institute for Regenerative

Medicine and W.H. Boyce
Simmons Lecture in Surgical
Professor and Chair,
Science and Department of
Department of Urology Wake
Surgery Research Day
Forest School of Medicine).
This year the featured speaker
is Dr. Anthony Atala, MD
(Director, Wake Forest
University Club Weds May
Medicine: Current Concepts
18 7:30am-2:00pm
in Pancreatic Cancer” will
begin precisely at 8am in the
Simmons Research
University Club’s Ballroom A.
Tu 8:00am & Th 8:30am
This is usually a very well
F-1275 PUH
attended lecture so please be

on time.
Posters can be viewed in both
Ballroom A and B starting at
7:30 am until after the buffet
luncheon.
Eleventh Annual Richard L.
Simmons Lecture in
Surgical Science and
Department of Surgery
Research Day
The Annual Simmons Lecture
in Surgical and Department of
Surgical Research Day is an
opportunity to catch up on the
research that is happening in
the department.
Ballrooms A & B
His lecture “Regenerative
The two sessions of oral
presentations are:




May 14 Ankur Shukla –
Tzeng
May 16 Hai Huang –
Tsung
May 23 Hessam H. Kashani
– Invited Speaker
May 28 Christopher
Washington – Tzeng
May 30 Philip Bauer
Billiar Lab Meeting
Th 12:15pm
Session 1 (9:30 am)


Joyce Lin, MD - “Toll Like
Receptor 4 (TLR4)
Regulates the Recruitment
of CD4+ T Cells in the
Newborn Intestine in the
Pathogenesis of Necrotizing
Enterocolitis”
Guanqiao Li - “NK Cell
HMGB1 Promotes DC
Maturation and Limits
Tumor Growth”
F-1275 PUH

May 3 Mandy Chen –
Geller
 May 9 Joanna Manson Billiar
 May 16 Shengyong Yang
- Wang
 May 30 Marcelo
Montenegro -Billiar
Dates continued on next
page
Important Dates
Continued


Danger Signals Meeting
Tuesday 2:00pm
F-1275 PUH



May 14
June 10
July 9
Session 2 (11:15am)
Journal Club

Th 12:15pm
F-1275 PUH


June 27
July 25
University Holiday
 May 27 Memorial Day


Dysfunction is Limited by
Inhaled Carbon Monoxide
or Nebulized Sodium
Nitrite as Adjuncts to
Standard Resuscitation”
Kent Zettel, MD - “DC Play
an Unexpected Role in
TLR4 Dependent
Inflammation and Organ
Damage Following
Hemorrhagic Shock with
Tissue Trauma”

Yousef El-Gohary MA, MD,
MRCS - “Direct Evidence
that Pancreatic Ducts are a
Source for New Beta Cells
During the Juvenile Period
and During Regeneration”
Daniel Escobar “Hemorrhagic ShockInduced Mitochondrial

Brian Boone, MD - “Phase
I/II Trial of Autophagy
Inhibition in Combination
with Neoadjuvant
Gemcitabine in High Risk
Pancreatic denocarcinoma:
Safety, Clinical Response,
and Correlative Studies”
Eileen Bauer, PhD “Chloroquine, a
Pharmacological Inhibitor
of Autophagy, Attenuates
Hypoxia-Induced
Pulmonary Hypertension”
Rami Namas, MD, MRCS “Circulating Biomarker
Networks Differentiate
Susceptibility to Infection
Following Trauma in
Humans”


Joshua Brown, MD - “Goal
Directed Resuscitation in
the Prehospital Setting: A
Propensity Adjusted
Analysis”
Kelly Benabou - “Role of
Toll-like Receptor (TLR)-2
Signaling in Promoting
Angiogenesis After
Ischemia”
52nd Annual Greek Food
Festival
Saint Nicholas Greek
Orthodox Cathedral’s annual
Greek Food Festival will be
held Sunday, May 12 through
Saturday May 18. Serving
hours are: Sunday – Noon to
8pm; Monday to Thursday –
11am to 9pm; and Friday and
Saturday – 11am to 10pm.
Live Bouzouki music and
Greek dancing will be held
every evening.
Take out service is available.
Visit their website at
www.stnickspgh.org for a fax
or email form. Fax orders will
be accepted on for lunches.
A Message from IACUC
Last August, the University
management
community was apprised that
conflicts of interest.
the
Public
Health
Service
(PHS) had revised regulations
related
to
conflict
of
interest.
In
response,
the
University
updated
procedures
for
information
its
soliciting
related
to
conflicts of interest, as well as
Information
updated
of
potential
questions in protocol forms
about
the
regulations
and
related University policies is
available on the Conflict of
Interest
Office
website: http://www.coi.pitt.e
du.
The IACUC has updated the
related
to
conflict
of
interest. In the future, when
completing
a
protocol
application
via
Animal
Research
Online (http://aro.pitt.edu),
investigators will be required
to answer one of two sets of
questions related to conflict of
questions similar to those
annual renewal, an IACUC
interest.
study
asked in the past will be
Office
described in the protocol is
provided. For existing studies
prompt
funded in part or in total by
that
using
investigator to open protocols
PHS agencies (e.g., National
the ARO system, the system
related to PHS-funded studies
Institutes of Health, Centers
will
via the modification process
for Disease Control, Food and
investigators to answer the
and
Drug
new
conflict
If
the
Administration),
questions
provided
reflect
new
the
the
will
mandates
required by PHS regulations
and
related
University
policies. If the study is not
funded
by
PHS
agencies,
are
modified
automatically
conflict
questions
prompt
of
when
interest
a
new
modification is submitted.
modified
system is
before
the
member
the
answer
will
principal
the
of
revised
interest
questions. Protocols that do
not indicate a PHS funding
If an approved protocol in
the ARO
staff
not
next
source will not need to be
updated at annual renewal,
although as noted above the
new
conflict
of
interest
Faculty Highlight- Eileen Bauer

Officially I am faculty here at Pitt with the title of research instructor. I am working in the laboratory of
Dr. Michael Bauer (yes, same last names …) and joined his lab right after his move from the BST3 back
into the BST1, which was about 3 years ago. Born in 1971 in Germany I found myself madly in love as a
teenager with an American from Santa Barbara (no, not my husband) and left Germany for him to be in
Southern California where I ended up graduating with a BS in Cell and Molecular Biology from UCLA. I
already was passionate about research as undergraduate and worked in a Drosophila lab, volunteered in
a breast cancer lab, and volunteered on the bone marrow transplant floor at UCLA’s hospital helping
nurses with things like washing patients, getting them papers or just trying to make their pains a little
bit more tolerable. While my husband to be was accepted into UCLA’s graduate program, I was not, and
ended up working there several years as lab technician. 3 kids later and in Pittsburgh PA I finally had
the chance to fulfill my dream when I was accepted into the graduate program of toxicology in Dr. Bruce
Pitt’s Dept. of EOH. I graduated in 2010.
I am interested in a proliferative disease of the lung called pulmonary hypertension (PH), which is
generally categorized as a cardiovascular disease leading to fatal right heart failure over time. However,
due to lack of success of current vasodilatory therapies to stop or cure the disease, I am convinced that
part of the key lies in our innate immune system and that is exactly what I am studying. My projects
focus on the role of TLR4 and thus HMGB1 in PH, platelets in PH, drugs like interferon alpha in PH and
its effect on the immune system, immunotherapies of interleukin-2 transferred from the cancer world to
my proliferative disease (with the help of Dr. Lotze), the role if natural killer cells in PH, complement in
PH, and the role of autophagy in PH. I have become increasingly more and more excited by lung cancer
research as well and recently proposed a clinical human trial using chloroquine as a neoadjuvant
autohopagy inhibitor in patients with resectable lung cancer (with the help of Drs. Lotze, Landreneau,
and Amaravadi). I am also involved in a project studying the effect of hypoxia in a K-ras lung cancer
model with Dr. Gregory and Dr. Shapiro. My head is filled with ideas, but I am in need of man power,
so if you are excited about these projects and like to volunteer, please contact us!
As for my life outside the lab - I do not have one. No, I am married and have 3 kids (2 boys, ages 10 and
14 and a girl, age 12) and 2 dogs (Border collie mix and a collie – Lassie dog) and we all live walking
distance from the university and the kids’ schools. Our kids have various interests ranging from sports
to music and so most of my free time involves making sure that everyone is at their appropriate practice
or game, that there is dinner on the table, and that we have clean clothes to wear. In addition to the daily
chores I have found one great counterbalance to my busy work schedule, which is running. I truly enjoy
long distance running and have completed 5 marathons so far since last summer. It creates a beautiful
challenge for me and presents a fight against myself in terms of how far I can push myself. It is a very
mental sport and it amazes me to experience what I think is my limit just to realize that it is not really
my body hitting the wall, but it is all in my head. And to learn to find this door in my mind that will
give me that extra drive to beat my time and push harder is a great challenge. My husband Mike is also
running with me, however, he is faster, and stronger and if you want to see us run through the city you
need to get up around 4-4:30 am since we do it very early so that it doesn’t affect the kids’ as much. My
goal: to run the marathon in Nepal at the base of Mount Everest and to experience hypoxia first hand.
questions must be completed
conflict of interest questions
system at any point, without
the first time the protocol is
in
waiting
modified. For protocols that
form. These questions must
required
have not yet been transitioned
be answered in order for the
renewal".
to
annual
system has many benefits that
the
electronic ARO
system (i.e.,
protocols
submitted prior to January,
2012
as
Microsoft
documents),
the
Word
IACUC
Office will include the revised
the
annual
renewal
renewal
to
be
processed.
As
a
to
complete
"three
a
year
The ARO
streamline the completion and
reminder,
any
investigator can transition an
older protocol submitted as a
Word document to the ARO
management
of
IACUC
protocols. Such submissions
will be subject to the standard
IACUC
review
process.
New IACUC Policy and Guidelines for
Animal Transport
The
transport
through
of
and
animals
edu/sop/restricted/Transport.
between
pdf .
University buildings is often
necessary
in
animal
research. It is important when
The related guidelines can be
downloaded from:

transporting animals that all
http://www.iacuc2.pitt.edu/so
applicable
p/restricted/TransportGuideli
laws
University
and
and
UPMC
that the welfare of both the
The Animal
animals and the public is
Guidelines include
protected. We must ensure
information to facilitate safe
that animals are appropriately
and secure animal transport.
housed and that visitors, staff
These guidelines also include
members,
an appendix listing all of the
hospital
Please welcome the
following new people
nes.pdf
regulations be followed, so
and
New Faces
Transport
specific
Asst (Billiar Lab)
Ana Maria Quintero Botero –
Visiting Scholar
(Zuckerbraun Lab)
accepted
exposed
being
routes; these routes may be
Nikki Buijs – Visiting
Many
copied and pasted into the
Scholar (Geller Lab)
individuals have allergies to
relevant section of an IACUC
particular animal species, and
protocol submission.
transported.
animals
their health can be seriously
impacted by exposure to those
species.
note
that
animals
cannot be removed from a
The Animal Transport Policy
be
downloaded
from: https://www.iacuc2.pitt.
transport is included in an
approved
IACUC
protocol.
Katheryn Vreeland – Fellow
(Zuckerbraun Lab)
housing facility unless this
Animal Transport Policy
and Guidelines
Accordingly, the IACUC has
developed and approved a
new policy and guidelines rel
ated to the transport of
animals from University of
Pittsburgh animal housing
facilities to IACUC-approved
research
sites
including
investigator laboratories.
can
Please
transport
Frances Goglio – Breeding
patients are not unnecessarily
to
animal
into our labs:
The Animal
Yao Liu – Visiting Scholar
(Tsung Lab)
Good Luck

Transport Policy requires that
We’d like to extend our best
the
wishes to Juan Wang from
primary
transport
caging/device,
secondary
containment procedures, and
transport
moving
route
an
used
animal
in
be
described in detail in the
protocol. All personnel must
adhere
to
the Animal
Transport policy, as well as
the information related to
the Fan lab who will be
leaving in May
animal transport provided in
Staff Highlight – Kathy DiGiacomo

I have been in the lab since 1999 and most days that seems like only
yesterday! I came to the University from a primary care/cardiology
office where I was the Office Manager. I am involved in many
aspects of our labs from sending numerous emails to grant
submissions to orders to working on our website. I enjoy working
with everyone in our large group and am always available if you
have questions.
the approved IACUC protocol
to
which
an
animal
is
assigned.
Deb has purchased two
rolling coolers that are to be
used by Montefiore
personnel for animal
transport that are in
compliance with these new
policies. They can be found
I am very proud to say that I am born and raised in Pittsburgh. I
in NW636. Please
have been married to my husband, Steve, for 32 years now and we
discontinue the use of the
are the proud parents of Kristin and Matthew. My husband and I
postal boxes as a transport
love to vacation in Myrtle Beach, SC. Often we try to get there at
mechanism
least once a year, if not twice! It is our favorite spot to visit (hoping
to re-locate there in a few years) and we have fond memories of
taking our children since they were little.
Almost three years ago, I received one of the best presents ever
when I became a grandmother. Aidan (or AJ as we call him) has
become the brightest spot on even the darkest day. Becoming AJ’s
“Gam-ma” has been a complete blessing! My favorite thing to do is
just spending time with my family!! I am also an avid Pittsburgh
sports fan, actually the whole family is (even AJ) - we even cheer
for the Pirates!!
DLAR
Reorganization
Update
Dr. David G. Schabdach,
Senior Executive Director,
and University Attending
Veterinarian
Colleagues,
A
reorganization
of
the
DLAR began shortly after
my arrival last July. The
purpose
of
the
reorganization is to create a
more
customer
focused,
responsive, and transparent
organization committed to
providing
animal
high
quality
husbandry
and
welfare, veterinary care, and
research support that meet
current
program
needs,
protect the health of our
animal
maintain
colonies,
and
productive
collaborations
Institutional
with
our
Animal
Care
close proximity to each other
In the upcoming months, the
in
DLAR
order
to
enhance
organization
chart
and Use Committee (IACUC)
communication,
and Research Conduct and
transparency,
Compliance Office (RCCO).
operations,
The
will
responsiveness to customers.
reorganization process, we
additional
Investigators and research
will
personnel are encouraged to
opportunities
to
formally implement, but I
work
additional
efficiencies,
wanted to update you on the
facility
and
increase productivity, and
progress
in
supervisor to address animal
ensure fiscal responsibility
transforming our operating
husbandry or welfare needs,
without adversely impacting
culture and environment.
veterinary care or animal
the quality of our program or
study
placing the health status of
entire
process
require
several
months
to
complete
and
made
A new model for operating
and managing DLAR animal
facilities recently went into
effect
that
operational
enhances
efficiency
streamlines
our
and
decision
making process to better
serve
the
facility
and
directly
with
the
veterinarian
support,
and
any
DLAR personnel issues. The
facility
veterinarian
supervisor
under
list
is
"Contact"
and
posted
on
DLAR
the
website
at http://www.dlar.pitt.edu.
revised and implemented. As
we
continue
with
actively
the
pursue
gain
the animal colonies at risk.
Please feel free to contact me
if you have any suggestions
or questions regarding the
DLAR reorganization. Please
contact the site veterinarian
Facilities are grouped into
or
community. Local leadership
sites
feedback
consisting
facility
operating model based on
operation and management
veterinarian and supervisor
the location, the nature of
of the vivarium utilized for
are
work
research, the primary species
your animal studies.
together and make decisions
housed, and the ability to
related to the operations and
share resources. Site leaders
management of the facility,
provide
animal health and welfare,
guidance
and customer support while
leadership on broader issues
maintaining consistency with
that
federal regulations, industry
facilities
standards, and institutional
decisions.
policies and procedures.
management
of
research
and job descriptions will be
the
empowered
to
Veterinarian and supervisor
offices are now located in
under
the
new
support
to
the
involve
or
and
facility
multiple
higher
DLAR
level
upper
remains
responsible for the highest
level of decisions involving
program issues.
supervisor
Regards,
Dave
with
any
concerning
the
Colony Status: As of May 2, 2013
Established Colonies
iNos KO
TrifLPS-2
CD14 KO
Myd88 KO* (experiencing
breeding difficulties – started
a backcrossing colony)
Myd88 WT* (experiencing
breeding difficulties – started
a backcrossing colony)
TLR9CpG1/CpG1
Jα281-/Colonies in Development
ATF3 KO
Caspase 11
Gt(Rosa)
HC TLR4 KO
TLR4 KO/RAGE KO
TLR4 flox
Lyz Cre TLR4 KO
TLR4 KO (global)
Adipose TLR4KO
Het TLR4KO/TLR4flox
HMGB1 flox
RAGE KO
HC HMGB1 KO
C3 KO
NFKB luc
TLR2 KO
NFKB WT
Caspase1KO*
Pf4creTLR4 KO
DC TLR4 KO
Pf4creHMGB1flox
TLR4 KO/TL9CpG1/CpG1
TLR4 KO x TLR2 KO
Nalp 3 KO*
AIM2 KO (small quantities)
Cathespin L KO (arrived as
+/-, will begin backcrossing)
Myd88 flox
Strains Available from Collaborators
CAV KO (Michael Bauer)
TSP-1 KO (A. Chen)
IFNabR KO (M. Bauer)
TSP-2 KO (A. Chen)
IRF-2 KO (David Geller)
CD36 KO (A. Chen)
eNos GCHtg (A. Chen)
hph-1 (A. Chen)
Cryopreserved Strains *at Jackons Labs unless otherwise noted
eNos tg
EGR1 KO
CD36 KO
IFNabR KO
TLR2 KO
TLR-9 (eggs, in house)
AIM2 KO
TLR-4 flox (under Hackam)
GDF-15
KO
(Yoram
Vodovotz)
TLR-4 KO (Taconic, under
Hackam)
HMGB1+/-
Stud Colonies
TLR4 KO x CD11c
TLR4 x Fab cre
TLR-4 KO x Pf4 cre
TLR4 KO x Albumin Cre
TLR4 KO x Lyz Cre
Myd88 flox x Lyz cre
HMGB1 flox x Albumin Cre
HMGB1 flox x Pf4 cre
Myd88 flox x Alb Cre
If you have any questions regarding the contents of this newsletter, contact Deb Williams
(williamsd8@upmc.edu)
If you have any questions regarding the contents of this newsletter, contact Deb Williams
(williamsd8@upmc.edu)
If you know of anything exciting or newsworthy
going on in the lab that you want to share with others email
Alicia Frank (franka@upmc.edu) with the information
If you know of anything exciting or newsworthy going on in the lab that you want to share with others email
Alicia Frank
(franka@upmc.edu)
with
the information
For more information,
please
visit the General and
Vascular
Surgery Labs website
(http://www.gensurgerylabs.pitt.edu/)
For more information, please visit the General and Vascular Surgery Labs website