Events

Preparing for Clinical Xenotransplantation: Ethical Considerations for Post-research Pig Organs The first xenotransplantation clinical trial has been approved after a handful of genetically edited pig hearts and kidneys have been implanted in living human patients through a “compassionate use” approval pathway. Some see xenotransplantation as a potentially sustainable source of organs that could eliminate the dire shortage. To achieve this promise, we need to know how best to support candidate decision-making, obtain informed consent, determine fair recipient eligibility criteria, and create long-term xenozoonoses monitoring strategies that respect privacy rights. But the momentum behind xenotransplantation should not prevent us from asking fundamental questions about the field and how it ought to be positioned in the future of organ failure treatment. What are the consequences of creating a new animal breeding industry for human medical treatment? How might the integration of xenotransplantation into standard of care exacerbate inequities in access to optimal organ failure treatment? Prof. Parent will address ethical questions about the post-research future of xenotransplantation, and consider what policy changes might be necessary to best promote patient well-being, animal welfare, and public health. REGISTER HERE

Join us at CUIMC for an engaging event packed with interactive mental health activities and workshops hosted by Columbia University and its affiliates.  Discover valuable services and resources designed to support mental health and well-being in our community.  Participate in one or more of the activities below! This event is open to all Columbia ID holders.  Registration is only required for workshops. Workshops - REGISTER HERE Acupuncture Food for Mood Tai Chi When to Get Help - CopeColumbia Finding Meaning at Work Activities & Resources Integrative Therapies Program  P.O.W.E.R & Creative Arts - Collaborative Nature Art Experience Therapy Dogs Institute of Human Nutrition ColumbiaDoctors Outreach  CUHR: Benefits & Employee Assistance Program (EAP)  Office of Work/Life CopeColumbia Student Health on Haven The mental health awareness event is a collaborator of CUIMC Events, CUIMC HR, CUIMC Office of Engagement, Retention, and Growth, Office of Work/Life, CUHR, POWER (Promoting Overall Well-Being, Engagement, and Resilience) in Pediatrics, CUIMC Office of Well-Being, and CUIMC leadership and schools. 

Title TBD Speaker TBD     Lecture 12:00-1:00 pm Join via Zoom: https://forms.gle/8LiztVWjDieN12jh8

Jing Fu, PhD Assistant Professor of Medical Sciences (in Medicine) Department of Medicine, Hematology & Oncology Program: Tumor Biology and Microenvironment (TBM) Title: Development of Novel Anti-AL Amyloidosis Immunotherapies Description: AL amyloidosis is a rare disease closely related to multiple myeloma and remains incurable. In this condition, clonal plasma cells produce excess misfolded light chains, which aggregate into insoluble fibrils that deposit in organs, leading to progressive damage and eventual death. Current anti-plasma cell therapies target the clonal plasma cells to halt the production of new amyloidogenic light chains; however, pre-existing fibrils are unaffected and continue to drive organ damage. Our group has been focusing on developing and optimizing amyloid fibril-targeting immunotherapies aimed at removing these deposits and ultimately achieving a cure. In this talk, I will present our novel approaches, including screening high-affinity amyloid-binding monoclonal antibodies, designing bispecific antibodies to engage phagocytic cells for efficient amyloid clearance, and developing amyloid-targeting chimeric antigen receptor phagocyte-based cell therapies. Stella Kang, MD, MSc Professor of Radiology Department of Radiology Program: Cancer Population Science (CPS) Title: Diagnostic Imaging: Integrating Unique Data for Patient and Cancer Risk Characterization Description: With the rapid growth of advanced imaging technologies, we capture diverse quantitative features that reflect tumor biology, tissue microenvironment, and patient-specific variation. Integrating these imaging biomarkers with clinical and molecular data opens new opportunities for improving cancer risk characterization and guiding personalized care. At the same time, the complexity and heterogeneity of multimodal data demand new strategies for interpretation. In this brief talk, I will discuss how simulation and health technology assessment methods can be used to assess imaging-derived features and their integration with other biomedical data to uncover mechanisms of disease progression and risk. I will highlight areas of interest in my group for clinician and policy makers' decision making and translation of imaging technology into actionable insights.  Join Zoom Meeting https://columbiacuimc.zoom.us/j/98062087107?pwd=ODN1TFwbtR23dO0Pk7Bq73td7fG91L.1 Meeting ID: 980 6208 7107 Passcode: 267022