Carsten Schultz named a 2024 Allen Distinguished Investigator
Carsten Schultz, Ph.D., professor and chair of chemical physiology and biochemistry in the OHSU School of Medicine, has been named a 2024 Allen Distinguished Investigator. This prestigious award supports cutting-edge, early-stage research projects that promise to advance the fields of biology and medicine. The 2024 cohort includes 14 investigators and six projects.
Schultz and Alba Diz-Muñoz, Ph.D., from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, were awarded $1.5 million over three years for their research project exploring fundamental principles of membrane biophysics. Over 40% of the funds will support the Schultz lab at OHSU. The tools developed at OHSU will be broadly beneficial to numerous basic and translational investigations, from developmental to cancer biology.
In their project, Schultz and Diz-Muñoz will perfect a molecular toolkit to change the lipid composition of the cell membrane by light, putting control of the membrane’s biophysical properties into the hands of the researchers at EMBL in Heidelberg, Germany. They will use this technology to determine whether the cell membrane plays a stronger role in changes in cell shape, particularly cell division, than previously thought.
“In his relatively short time at OHSU, Carsten has recruited incredible talent and built a world-recognized program in chemical biology at OHSU,” said Mary Heinricher, Ph.D., professor of neurological surgery and senior associate dean of research in the OHSU School of Medicine. “I am so pleased to see his scientific accomplishments and vision recognized by the Allen Distinguished Investigators Award. This is an honor for Carsten, his department and OHSU.”
Schultz was appointed chair of chemical physiology and biochemistry in October 2016, and holds the Helen Jo Whitsell Dean’s Leadership Professorship. The Schultz group is interested in monitoring and manipulating intracellular signaling networks with a focus on alpha and beta cell biology, growth factor signaling and lung inflammation.
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Allison Empey chosen for highly competitive TRANSFORM program
Allison Empey, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics in the OHSU School of Medicine and director of the Wy’east post-baccalaureate pathway and Wy’east faculty for Indigenous health and wellness, was selected in a nationally competitive application process to participate in the 2025 TRANSFORM program.
TRANSFORM stands for Transforming Biomedical Research and Academic Faculty through Leadership Opportunities, Training and Mentorship.
The program aims to transform biomedical and academic institutions by improving the diversity of the biomedical research workforce. It does this by ensuring associate-level faculty from groups historically under-represented in science and medicine acquire the leadership skills and experiences needed to advance successfully into senior faculty and leadership positions at their academic institution and nationally.
Empey is a general pediatrician at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, and focuses on newborn care, Native American health and pathways into medicine and mentorship for underrepresented trainees in medicine. She is a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.
“I am so honored to be a part of this leadership program,” Empey said. “What excites me most is the opportunity to learn from and connect with my cohort of fellows — academic leaders from all over the country who share a passion for growing professionally and making a positive impact in our communities and institutions.”
TRANSFORM scholars are among the top in their fields. The program provides an interactive learning opportunity that helps scholars excel further. Scholars receive small-group executive coaching and peer-to-peer and individualized research mentoring. The program culminates in a partnered leadership project that addresses an institutional problem or opportunity. Empey is refining her project idea and will present it at the AAMC Mid-Career Minority Faculty Leadership Seminar in September 2025 in Washington, D.C.
TRANSFORM is funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. It is a partnership among five institutions: University of Pittsburgh (lead institution), OHSU, Association of American Medical Colleges, Meharry Medical College and Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
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Gary Nesbit earns Western Neuroradiological Society Gold Medal
Gary Nesbit, M.D., professor in the Dotter Department of Interventional Radiology in the OHSU School of Medicine, has been honored with the prestigious WNRS Gold Medal at this year’s Western Neuroradiological Society meeting.
The WNRS, dedicated to advancing education and research in neurosciences and neuroimaging, spans a vast region from Alaska to Texas, Michigan to Hawaii, and includes the four western prominences of Canada and Mexico.
Nesbit, a distinguished member of the WNRS since 1992, has made significant contributions in neuroradiology and the society. His exemplary service includes numerous committee roles and serving as president in 2004. In 2012, he received the WNRS Gabriel H. Wilson award for his pioneering work in the percutaneous treatment of orbital vascular malformations.
OHSU’s strong presence at this year’s meeting was highlighted by educational and scientific presentations from seven faculty members and eight mentees, ranging from pre-medical students to fellows.
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Joanne Noone secures workforce-ready grant for OHSU nursing
Joanne Noone, Ph.D., RN, CNE, ANEF, FAAN, director and a professor in the OHSU School of Nursing, earned a $732,620 grant from the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission for a project titled Recruitment and Retention of Nurse Educators to Advance Nursing Capacity and Health Equity, which will:
- Recruit and retain registered nurses from underrepresented communities, including communities of color and rural and frontier communities, to become nurse educators to advance nursing education capacity; and
- Evaluate the impact and support for educational certification as a retention strategy for nurse educators in Oregon.
The project will expand career pathways for registered nurses and help address the nursing shortage by working to help resolve the nursing faculty shortage.
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Ruchi Thanawala to serve 3 years on SAGES Ingenuity Board of Governors
Ruchi Thanawala, M.D., M.S., an assistant professor of surgery in the division of cardiothoracic surgery in the OHSU School of Medicine, has been appointed to serve a 3-year term on the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons’ board of governors. Thanawala was selected from two dozen applicants to receive one of two board positions.
SAGES is one of the biggest surgical societies in the U.S. and internationally. The board was established to invest in and accelerate innovation for SAGES by managing a fund and helping to strategically invest in developing technologies in surgical innovation and identify emerging tech.
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Caralyn Labriola receives American College of Veterinary Pathologists 2024 President’s Award
Caralyn Labriola, BVMS, Dipl. ACVP, research assistant professor at the OHSU Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, received the 2024 president’s award from the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.
She was honored for “having rendered exceptionally honorable volunteer service to the field of Veterinary Pathology” by contributing to the creation and implementation of the ACVP podcast. The podcast is available on Spotify, Apple and other similar platforms.
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Heather Holderness earns NAPCRG Outstanding Research Coordinator Award
Heather Holderness, M.P.H., a research associate in the OHSU Department of Family Medicine, has earned the North American Primary Care Research Group’s Outstanding Research Coordinator award. Recognized for making exceptional contributions to primary care research in a central support role, Holderness was nominated by OHSU’s Jen DeVoe, M.D., D.Phil., Nat Huguet, Ph.D., Steffani Bailey, Ph.D., and Rachel Gold, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Holderness was nominated because of her consistently outstanding organization, communication, and management of projects and teams, and contributions to the Family Medicine Research portfolio, the group said. Holderness was officially recognized at the NAPCRG’s 52nd Annual Meeting in November in Québec City, Canada.
NAPCRG is the world’s largest organization devoted to research in family medicine, primary care and related fields, including epidemiology, behavioral sciences, and health services research. NACPRG has bi-national governance (U.S.-Canada) and international research vision and outreach. NAPCRG’s Annual Meeting is the premier international forum for presenting new knowledge in primary care and advances in research methodology. NAPCRG is committed to a nurturing, informative and inspiring environment for all members.
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Cara Varley publishes research on treatment and mortality in complex pulmonary disease
Cara Varley, M.D., M.P.H., an assistant professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases in the OHSU School of Medicine, recently published research in the Oxford Academic Ioen Forum Infectious Diseases on drug treatment and mortality for mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease. The report is titled “The Long and Winding Road: Three-year Mortality Following Prescription of Multidrug Antibiotic Treatment for Mycobacterium avium complex Pulmonary Disease in United States Medicare Beneficiaries With Bronchiectasis.”
Varley’s research assesses 3-year mortality rates among Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older diagnosed with mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease, or MAC-PD, and treated with various antibiotic regimens. The analysis included 4,820 new MAC-PD therapy users from 2006 to 2014, revealing that 17.9% had died within 3 years of starting therapy. Those prescribed guideline-based therapy, known as GBT, from 2007 and 2020 had lower mortality rates than those on non-GBT regimens, with adjusted hazard ratios indicating a significant survival advantage. However, there was no notable difference in mortality between patients using three-drug versus two-drug regimens. The findings suggest that GBT may be more effective than non-GBT regimens, warranting further investigation.
“We care for a significant number of patients with pulmonary disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria in our Oregon Mycobacterial Clinic, which serves as a specialty referral center for multiple states,” Varley said. “This work provides further support for the use of guideline-based therapy in patients with Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease, reinforcing our practices and the important role our clinic has in assisting with the management of these complex infections.”
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Jen Prissel presents on OHSU RAPP initiative at conference
Jen Prissel, M.A., director of OHSU’s Research Administration Partner Pod, or RAPP, presented at the 2024 National Council of University Research Administrators Annual Meeting. She joined Huron Consulting Group and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles colleagues to discuss how institutions reimagined traditional research administration models. The presentation delved into the reasons for implementing this new model, its challenges and its benefits. It also explored strategies for successful rollout, stakeholder engagement and team growth.
Prissel highlighted the creation and evolution of OHSU’s RAPP initiative, which has provided pre- and post-award administration support for more than 40 cores, centers, institutes, health care, and central services across OHSU’s missions.
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Recognize team or individual achievements with OHSU Accolades
Every day, OHSU members do amazing things. We want to celebrate the significant achievements of OHSU members, units and programs, such as awards, grants, appointments, publications and public recognitions. We publish these announcements regularly on OHSU Now and OHSU News: Awards and Accomplishments to celebrate with all 27,000 of our members and our community. Nominate yourself, a colleague or any OHSU member using this Accolades Smartsheet form. Submissions will be edited for length and clarity.