Sriram Machineni
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Dr. Machineni obtained his medical degree from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, followed by a residency in internal medicine at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He served as chief resident and primary care teaching physician at Buffalo General Hospital. He subsequently completed a clinical and research fellowship in obesity medicine and metabolism at Massachusetts General Hospital/ Harvard Medical School and stayed on as an instructor. Dr. Machineni studied energy balance and body fat regulation in animal models allowing the interpretation of clinical research findings and phenotypes in the context of physiology. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Dr. Machineni moved to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) to start a clinical obesity program for treatment, education, and pharmaceutical clinical obesity trials. During his term at UNC, he helped create an obesity primary care network in central North Carolina. He was recruited to Montefiore Medical Center to develop a new medical obesity program.</p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">The Fleischer Institute Medical Weight Center at Montefiore Einstein, founded by Dr. Machineni, is designed to support clinical, educational, and research endeavors in the field of obesity medicine. The program leverages individual variations in response to treatments and uses multiple modalities for weight reduction to treat the comorbidities of obesity and improve quality of life. Special programs are available for individuals who need to lose weight to quality for medical and surgical procedures. The Medical Weight Center works closely with the Montefiore bariatric surgery program to offer a broad spectrum of treatment modalities.</span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Dr. Machineni has clinical expertise in the m</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">ultidisciplinary management of obesity, anti-obesity medications, and post-bariatric medical complications, including nutritional deficiencies, hypoglycemia, weight regain, malabsorption, and diarrhea. He</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> is among a handful of physicians in the New York area with Castle Connolly Top Doctors designation in obesity medicine.</span></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"> </p>
<p>1: Garvey WT, Frias JP, Jastreboff AM, le Roux CW, Sattar N, Aizenberg D, Mao H,Zhang S, Ahmad NN, Bunck MC, Benabbad I, Zhang XM; <strong>SURMOUNT-2 investigators</strong>.Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity in people with type 2 diabetes (SURMOUNT-2): a double-blind, randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2023 Jun 26:S0140-6736(23)01200-X. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01200-X. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37385275.</p>
<p>2: Pagidipati NJ, Mulder H, Chiswell K, Lampron Z, Jones WS, <strong>Machineni S</strong>,Waitman LR, Mongraw-Chaffin M, Waterman F, Kumar N, Ramasamy A, Smolarz G,Peterson ED, O'Brien E. Evaluation of weight change and cardiometabolic risk factors in a real-world population of US adults with overweight or obesity. PrevMed. 2023 May;170:107496. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107496. Epub 2023 Mar 29.PMID: 36997096.</p>
<p>3: Ro SJ, Lackey AR, Aymes SE, McCauley JL, Davis TC, Wang R, Stanley W, Ratner SP, <strong>Machineni S</strong>, Fiscus LC. Impact of a Community-Based Weight Management Program in a North Carolina Health Care System. Fam Med. 2023 Mar;55(3):189-194.doi: 10.22454/FamMed.2023.603918. Epub 2023 Jan 31. PMID: 36888674.</p>
<p>4: Aronne LJ, Bramblette S, Ingelfinger JR, Jastreboff AM, <strong>Machineni S,</strong> Massie N, Rosen CJ. When Weight Impacts Health. N Engl J Med. 2023 Jan 12;388(2):e2. doi: 10.1056/NEJMp2215794. PMID: 36630621.</p>
<p>5: Aronne LJ, Bramblette S, Huett-Garcia A, Ingelfinger JR, Jastreboff AM, <strong>Machineni S</strong>, Massie N, Rosen CJ. Weight and Health - Pathophysiology and Therapies. N Engl J Med. 2022 Dec 15;387(24):e62. doi: 10.1056/NEJMp2214423. PMID: 36516089.</p>
<p>6: le Roux CW, Zhang S, Aronne LJ, Kushner RF, Chao AM, <strong>Machineni S</strong>, Dunn J, Chigutsa FB, Ahmad NN, Bunck MC. Tirzepatide for the treatment of obesity: Rationale and design of the SURMOUNT clinical development program. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2023 Jan;31(1):96-110. doi: 10.1002/oby.23612. Epub 2022 Dec 7. PMID: 36478180; PMCID: PMC10107501.</p>
<p>7: Bionic Pancreas Research Group; Russell SJ, Beck RW, Damiano ER, El-Khatib FH, Ruedy KJ, Balliro CA, Li Z, Calhoun P, Wadwa RP, Buckingham B, Zhou K,Daniels M, Raskin P, White PC, Lynch J, Pettus J, Hirsch IB, Goland R, Buse JB,Kruger D, Mauras N, Muir A, McGill JB, Cogen F, Weissberg-Benchell J, Sherwood JS, Castellanos LE, Hillard MA, Tuffaha M, Putman MS, Sands MY, Forlenza G, Slover R, Messer LH, Cobry E, Shah VN, Polsky S, Lal R, Ekhlaspour L, Hughes MS, Basina M, Hatipoglu B, Olansky L, Bhangoo A, Forghani N, Kashmiri H, Sutton F, Choudhary A, Penn J, Jafri R, Rayas M, Escaname E, Kerr C, Favela-Prezas R, Boeder S, Trikudanathan S, Williams KM, Leibel N, Kirkman MS, Bergamo K, Klein KR, Dostou JM, <strong>Machineni S</strong>, Young LA, Diner JC, Bhan A, Jones JK, Benson M, Bird K, Englert K, Permuy J, Cossen K, Felner E, Salam M, Silverstein JM, Adamson S, Cedeno A, Meighan S, Dauber A. Multicenter, Randomized Trial of a Bionic Pancreas in Type 1 Diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2022 Sep 29;387(13):1161-1172. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2205225. PMID: 36170500; PMCID: PMC10028490.</p>
<p>8: Perreault L, Davies M, Frias JP, Laursen PN, Lingvay I, <strong>Machineni S</strong>, Varbo A,Wilding JPH, Wallenstein SOR, le Roux CW. Changes in Glucose Metabolism andGlycemic Status With Once-Weekly Subcutaneous Semaglutide 2.4 mg AmongParticipants With Prediabetes in the STEP Program. Diabetes Care. 2022 Oct1;45(10):2396-2405. doi: 10.2337/dc21-1785. PMID: 35724304; PMCID: PMC9862484.</p>
<p>9: Jastreboff AM, Aronne LJ, Ahmad NN, Wharton S, Connery L, Alves B, Kiyosue A,Zhang S, Liu B, Bunck MC, Stefanski A; <strong>SURMOUNT-1 Investigators</strong>. TirzepatideOnce Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2022 Jul21;387(3):205-216. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2206038. Epub 2022 Jun 4. PMID: 35658024.</p>
<p>10: Klein KR, Freeman JLR, Dunn I, Dvergsten C, Kirkman MS, Buse JB, Valcarce C;<strong>SimpliciT1 research group</strong>. The SimpliciT1 Study: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase 1b/2 Adaptive Study of TTP399, a Hepatoselective Glucokinase Activator, for Adjunctive Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2021 Apr;44(4):960-968. doi:10.2337/dc20-2684. Epub 2021 Feb 23. PMID:33622669; PMCID: PMC7985421.</p>
<p>11: Melanie Davies, Louise Færch, Ole K Jeppesen, Arash Pakseresht, Sue D Pedersen, Leigh Perreault, Julio Rosenstock, Iichiro Shimomura, Adie Viljoen, Thomas A Wadden, Ildiko Lingvay; <strong>STEP 2 Study Group</strong>. Semaglutide 2·4 mg once a week in adults with overweight or obesity, and type 2 diabetes (STEP 2): a randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2021 Mar 13;397(10278):971-984. PMID: 33667417.</p>
<p>12: Rosman L, Armbruster T, Kyazimzade S, Tugaoen Z, Mazzella AJ, Deyo Z, Walker J, <strong>Machineni S,</strong> Gehi A. Effect of a virtual self-management intervention for atrial fibrillation during the outbreak of COVID-19. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2021 Mar;44(3):451-461. doi: 10.1111/pace.14188. Epub 2021 Feb 17. PMID: 33565642; PMCID: PMC8014277.</p>
<p>13: Wadden TA, Bailey TS, Billings LK, Davies M, Frias JP, Koroleva A, Lingvay I, O'Neil PM, Rubino DM, Skovgaard D, Wallenstein SOR, Garvey WT; <strong>STEP 3 Investigators.</strong> Effect of Subcutaneous Semaglutide vs Placebo as an Adjunct to Intensive Behavioral Therapy on Body Weight in Adults With Overweight or Obesity: The STEP 3 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2021 Feb 24. PMID: 33625476; PMCID: PMC7905697.</p>
<p>14: Jensen SM, Thompson RE, <strong>Machineni S,</strong> Overby DW, Farrell TM. Refractory Hypocalcemia Following Stomach Intestinal Pylorus-Sparing Bariatric Surgery and Thyroidectomy: Successful Management With Creation of a Proximal Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. Am Surg. 2021 Apr;87(4):576-580. doi: 10.1177/0003134820952427. Epub 2020 Oct 30. PMID: 33125276.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>15: Kushner RF, Batsis JA, Butsch WS, Davis N, Golden A, Halperin F, Kidambi S, <strong>Machineni S,</strong> Novick M, Port A, Rubino DM, Saunders KH, Shapiro Manning L, Soleymani T, Kahan S. Weight History in Clinical Practice: The State of the Science and Future Directions. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2020 Jan;28(1):9-17. doi: 10.1002/oby.22642. PMID: 31858735.</p>
<p>16: Kushner RF, Butsch WS, Kahan S, <strong>Machineni S,</strong> Cook S, Aronne LJ. Obesity Coverage on Medical Licensing Examinations in the United States. What Is Being Tested? Teach Learn Med. 2017 Apr-Jun;29(2):123-128. doi:10.1080/10401334.2016.1250641. Epub 2016 Dec 29. PMID: 28033472.</p>
<p>17: Carmody JS, Ahmad NN, <strong>Machineni S,</strong> Lajoie S, Kaplan LM. Weight Loss After RYGB Is Independent of and Complementary to Serotonin 2C Receptor Signaling in Male Mice. Endocrinology. 2015 Sep;156(9):3183-91. doi: 10.1210/en.2015-1226. Epub 2015 Jun 11. PMID: 26066076; PMCID: PMC4541621.</p>
<p>18: Liou AP, Paziuk M, Luevano JM Jr, <strong>Machineni S,</strong> Turnbaugh PJ, Kaplan LM. Conserved shifts in the gut microbiota due to gastric bypass reduce host weight and adiposity. Sci Transl Med. 2013 Mar 27;5(178):178ra41. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.3005687. PMID: 23536013; PMCID: PMC3652229.</p>
<p>19: Bose M, Teixeira J, Olivan B, Bawa B, Arias S, <strong>Machineni S,</strong> Pi-Sunyer FX, Scherer PE, Laferrère B. Weight loss and incretin responsiveness improve glucose control independently after gastric bypass surgery. J Diabetes. 2010 Mar;2(1):47-55. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-0407.2009.00064.x. PMID: 20676394; PMCID: PMC2910618.</p>
<p>20: Bose M, <strong>Machineni S,</strong> Oliván B, Teixeira J, McGinty JJ, Bawa B, Koshy N, Colarusso A, Laferrère B. Superior appetite hormone profile after equivalent weight loss by gastric bypass compared to gastric banding. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2010 Jun;18(6):1085-91. doi: 10.1038/oby.2009.473. Epub 2010 Jan 7.PMID: 20057364; PMCID: PMC2877144.</p>
David M. Loeb
<p>Dr. Loeb has an active translational research laboratory focused on understanding bone tumor metastasis. His laboratory developed a clinically relevant mouse model of sarcoma metastasis, and has used this model to perform preclinical testing of novel agents that can interfere with this process. More basic scientific studies in the lab involve exploring the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in Ewing sarcoma migration, invasion, and metastasis. Dr. Loeb is also studying the role of an enzyme called RNA helicase DDX3 in Ewing sarcoma biology, especially how this enzyme affects the repair of damaged DNA. More recently, the laboratory has developed an interest in targeting the metabolic reprogramming associated with metastasis as a way to prevent the outgrowth of distant metastases from disseminated tumor cells.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dr. Loeb is also actively involved in clinical research, including the development of radiopharmaceutical agents for the treatment of bone metastases and the development of a small molecule inhibitor of DDX3. He serves as the local PI for a clinical trial of reduced intensity haploidentical bone marrow transplantation for children with high risk solid tumors. Finally, as an offshoot of his laboratory work, Dr. Loeb is involved in the development of biomarkers of metastatic risk and of minimal residual disease in children, adolescents, and young adults with sarcomas.</p>
<p>Dr. Loeb is a leading pediatric oncologist and NIH-funded researcher. He has extensive expertise in sarcoma research and clinical care and is a bone marrow transplantation specialist. Dr. Loeb’s research spans the spectrum from basic and translational studies to clinical trials using novel therapies.</p>
<p>Dr. Loeb's PubMed bibliography can be found here: </p>
<p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/myncbi/1fiIspwqfwUE46/bibliography/5…;
<p>David Loeb, MD, PhD, is Chief, Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Cellular Therapy at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore and Professor, Pediatrics and Professor, Developmental and Molecular Biology at Montefiore Einstein. His clinical work focuses on tumors of connective tissue, such as bone and muscle. He also has expertise in the care of children with other solid tumors. As a member of the bone marrow transplantation team, Dr. Loeb also cares for patients with acute leukemias and has expertise in the application of immunotherapy to childhood cancer.</p><p>Dr. Loeb earned his Bachelor of Arts in biology in 1987 at Johns Hopkins University. In 1993, he received his Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and, in 1994, his Doctor of Medicine at Columbia University. In 1994, he also began an internship in Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, followed by a residency in 1995 and a fellowship in Pediatric Hematology Oncology at the same institution.</p><p>Dr. Loeb has an active translational research laboratory focused on understanding bone tumor metastasis. His laboratory developed a clinically relevant mouse model of sarcoma metastasis and has used this model to perform preclinical testing of novel agents that can interfere with this process. One area of focus is the metabolic differences between cancer cells and normal cells, and between metastases and the primary tumor, with the intention of targeting these differences therapeutically. More basic scientific studies in the lab involve exploring the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in Ewing sarcoma and osteosarcoma migration, invasion and metastasis. Dr. Loeb also studies the role of an enzyme called RNA helicase DDX3 in Ewing sarcoma biology, especially how this enzyme affects the repair of damaged DNA.</p><p>Dr. Loeb is also actively involved in clinical research, including the development of radiopharmaceutical agents for the treatment of bone metastases and the development of a small molecule inhibitor of DDX3. He has also directed a clinical trial of reduced intensity haploidentical bone marrow transplantation for children with high risk solid tumors. Stemming from his laboratory work, Dr. Loeb is involved in the development of biomarkers of metastatic risk and of minimal residual disease in children, adolescents and young adults with sarcomas. Dr. Loeb’s original research, based on his clinical and laboratory studies, has been published in multiple journals and books.</p><p>Dr. Loeb has been a recipient of many awards, including the Director’s Teaching Award in Clinical Science from Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center in 2006, 2010 and 2015, and The Justin Straus Chordoma Research Award in 2009.</p>
Beatrice Y. Wong
Daniel A. Weiser
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Childhood cancer research laboratory</strong></span></p>
<p>Our laboratory is focused on childhood cancer research with a goal of elucidating the underlying biology of the most aggressive malignancies. In such patients with typically incurable cancer, we are striving to identify new approaches to and types of treatment. We have multiple ongoing projects:</p>
<p><strong>+ Identification of biologic drivers of ultra-high-risk neuroblastoma</strong>. Neuroblastoma is one of the most common and deadly childhood cancers. Despite intensive research, there are limited therapeutic strategies for patients with <em>de novo </em>chemotherapy resistance that leads to particularly poor outcomes. We have been studying neuroblastoma since 2009 and are identifying additional biologic drivers of highly lethal tumors.</p>
<p>We compare tumor features from patients with early death from tumor progression compared to those with a maintained complete response. We assess unique histo-morphologic and proteomic features and computationally integrate these data with genomic and transcriptomic datasets to develop a combined predictor of primary refractory disease. Patients with this entity require non-standard and/or intensified treatment. Oncogenic drivers are being characterized in the lab which will facilitate strategies for novel pharmacologic intervention.</p>
<p><strong>+ Characterization of neuroblastoma development from neural crest cells</strong>. We are studying pathways and interactions that results in uncontrolled cell proliferation early in neuroblastoma development with an ultimate goal of identifying new targets and approaches for pharmacologic intervention.</p>
<p><strong>+ Evaluation of novel combinatorial targeted therapeutic approaches in neuroblastoma</strong>. With expected outcomes lagging behind those of more common childhood cancers, children with neuroblastoma require new approaches to treatment. Our lab works with multiple international clinical and research consortium groups to perform preclinical studies that substantiate human clinical trials. </p>
<p><strong>+ Detection of circulating tumor DNA in osteosarcoma</strong>. With no reliable non-invasive approach for disease monitoring during and after treatment, we are applying cutting edge next-generation sequencing approaches to identify solid tumors with a blood-based “liquid” biopsies. This will allow clinicians to assess tumor responsiveness to chemotherapy and predict likelihood of recurrence.</p>
<p><strong>+ Assessment of accelerated aging using miRNA-seq in survivors of childhood cancer</strong>. Chemotherapy has many untoward effects on healthy cells and leads to many signs of accelerated aging in children treated for cancer. Using a known microRNA “aging” signature discovered at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, we are studying what causes this phenotype in childhood cancer, with a goal of offering improved intervention to minimize long-term toxicity of treatment.</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Physician Summary</span></strong></p>
<p>Daniel A. Weiser, MD, is board-certified in pediatric hematology/oncology with clinical expertise in neuroblastoma and other tumors of the adrenal glands, kidneys, liver, and gonads. He is the medical director of the intra-abdominal solid tumor program at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore and brings together a highly specialized multi-disciplinary care team to provide comprehensive treatment for diverse pediatric malignancies. In addition, Dr. Weiser directs a childhood cancer research laboratory that focuses on the identification of new targeted agents for cancer therapy, especially in the treatment of rare and aggressive malignancies such as neuroblastoma. His research goals are to understand the role of certain genes in the risk, development, and treatment of cancer. The approaches taken and agents studied hold promise for improving management of all patients with solid tumors.</p>
<p>Dr. Weiser participates in the efforts of a number of professional organizations including the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Advances in Neuroblastoma Research Association (ANRA), National Pediatric Cancer Foundation (NPCF), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). He has received numerous awards including the Brigid Leventhal Special Merit Award from ASCO and the Conquer Cancer Foundation, and a prestigious K12 from the National Cancer Institute for the training of the next generation of physician-scientists in pediatric cancer. Dr. Weiser is actively involved in teaching and mentorship of trainees, and takes great pride in providing advanced and compassionate care to his patients and their families.</p>
<p><strong>Clinical Expertise</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Neuroblastoma (adrenal tumors)</li>
<li>Wilms tumor (renal tumors)</li>
<li>Hepatoblastoma (liver tumors)</li>
<li>Germ cell tumors (including testicular and ovarian tumors)</li>
<li>Thyroid and other rare tumors</li>
<li>Experimental therapeutics</li>
<li>Cancer genetics and biomarkers</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Board Certifications</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Pediatrics</li>
<li>Pediatric Hematology/Oncology</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Professional Education</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>M.D. – Stony Brook University, NY</li>
<li>Residency – Children’s Hospital of NY-Presbyterian, Columbia University, NY</li>
<li>Chief Residency – Children’s Hospital of NY-Presbyterian, Columbia University, NY</li>
<li>Fellowship – The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, PA</li>
</ul>
DR. Weiser's clinical focuses are neuroblastoma and adrenal tumors, Wilms tumor and other kidney (renal) tumors, hepatoblastoma, and other liver tumors, germ cell tumors (including testicular and ovarian tumors), Thyroid and other rare tumors, experimental therapeutics, and cancer genetics and biomarkers.
Dr. Weiser’s research goals are to understand the role of certain genes in the risk, development, and treatment of cancer. The approaches taken and agents studied hold promise in the treatment of all solid tumors. Dr. Weiser’s laboratory focuses on childhood cancer research with a goal of elucidating the underlying biology of the most aggressive malignancies. He has multiple ongoing projects, such as identification of biologic drivers of neuroblastoma at ultra-high risk for treatment failure, characterization of neuroblastoma development from neural crest cells, and evaluation of novel combinatorial targeted therapeutic approaches in neuroblastoma, among others.
<p>Daniel A. Weiser, MD, is a Medical Director of the Intra-abdominal Solid Tumor Program in the Pediatrics Hematology/Oncology department at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore. He is also Associate Professor in the Pediatrics and Genetics departments at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. His clinical focuses are neuroblastoma and adrenal tumors, Wilms tumor and other kidney (renal) tumors, hepatoblastoma and other liver tumors, germ cell tumors (including testicular and ovarian tumors), Thyroid and other rare tumors, experimental therapeutics, and cancer genetics and biomarkers. Dr. Weiser is actively involved in teaching and mentorship of trainees and takes great pride in his active participation in patient care.</p><p>Dr. Weiser received his Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology in 1995 at Haverford College, PA. In 2004, he received his Doctor of Medicine at Stony Brook University School of Medicine, NY. He is currently earning his Master of Science in Translational Research at the University of Pennsylvania. He began a residency in Pediatrics at the New York-Presbyterian, Columbia University in 2007. Dr. Weiser then completed a three-year fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. </p><p>Dr. Weiser’s research goals are to understand the role of certain genes in the risk, development, and treatment of cancer. The approaches taken and agents studied hold promise in the treatment of all solid tumors. Dr. Weiser’s laboratory focuses on childhood cancer research with a goal of elucidating the underlying biology of the most aggressive malignancies. He has multiple ongoing projects, such as identification of biologic drivers of neuroblastoma at ultra-high risk for treatment failure, characterization of neuroblastoma development from neural crest cells, and evaluation of novel combinatorial targeted therapeutic approaches in neuroblastoma, among others. His research has been published in many reviewed journals. </p><p>Dr. Weiser participates in the efforts of a number of professional organizations including the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). He has received many awards including the Brigid Leventhal Special Merit Award through ASCO, and he has been awarded a prestigious K12 from the NCI for the training of the next generation of physician-scientists in pediatric cancer.</p><p>He is board certified in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and General Pediatrics.</p>
Victoria Vapnyar
Yaron Tomer
<p>Dr. Yaron Tomer is the Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Chief Academic Officer at Montefiore Medicine.</p>
<p>He received his M.D. degree magna cum laude from the Sackler School of Medicine of Tel Aviv University and trained in Internal Medicine at Sheba Medical Center, Israel, and in Endocrinology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. Prior to joining Montefiore Einstein in March 2016, he was Chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Bone Disease at Mount Sinai.</p>
<p>Dr. Tomer has served on the editorial boards of <em>Endocrinology </em>and <em>The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism</em>, among others. He is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians. Dr. Tomer is the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the American Thyroid Association’s Sidney H. Ingbar Distinguished Lectureship Award, as well as its Van Meter Award.</p>
<h3>Research</h3>
<p>Dr. Tomer’s research program focuses on the immunogenetic, epigenetic, and environmental mechanisms underlying thyroid autoimmunity, and type 1 diabetes, and on targeting these mechanisms in order to develop novel therapies. His group made several discoveries including identifying new genes and mechanisms underlying the strong association between type 1 diabetes and autoimmune thyroiditis; demonstrating that CD40 and thyroglobulin are major susceptibility genes for thyroid autoimmunity; identifying a unique amino acid variant in the peptide binding pocket of HLA-DR that is key for the development of thyroid autoimmunity; dissecting the epigenetic mechanisms by which polymorphisms in the thyroglobulin and TSHR genes interact with environmental agents (e.g. viruses) to trigger thyroid autoimmunity; and identifying a novel small molecule that can block antigen presentation in autoimmune thyroiditis.</p>
<h3>Current Projects</h3>
<ol role="list">
<li><strong>Genetic and epigenetic studies in thyroid autoimmunity</strong><br />The Tomer lab mapped several susceptibility genes for autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) including CD40, thyroglobulin, and TSHR. Recent data suggest that variants in regulatory regions of some of these genes interact epigenetically with environmental factors (e.g., viral infections) to trigger disease. Current studies are using epigenomic screening, including whole genome methylation studies and ChiP-seq analyses to study these genetic-epigenetic interactions.</li>
<li><strong>Epigenetic studies in type 1 diabetes</strong><br />Similar studies are utilizing epigenomic screening to analyze epigenetic interactions between known type 1 diabetes susceptibility genes and interferon alpha, a key cytokine secreted during viral infections.</li>
<li><strong>Translational studies in autoimmune thyroiditis (AITD) and type 1 diabetes</strong><br />The Tomer lab discovered that the presence of arginine at position beta-74 of the peptide binding pocket of HLA-DR is critical for the development of AITD. This discovery led to a translational project aimed at blocking thyroid antigen presentation to T-cells by the arginine beta-74 HLA-DR peptide binding pocket as a potential therapy for AITD. Recently, the Tomer lab identified a small molecule, Cepharanthine, that can block antigen presentation and suppress AITD in mouse models. Similar studies are performed in type 1 diabetes where the aim is to block the HLA-DQ8 peptide binding pocket from presenting insulin peptides to T-cells as a novel strategy to treat autoimmune diabetes.</li>
<li><strong>Genetic and functional analyses of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome (APS) type 3</strong><br />The co-occurrence of type 1 diabetes and autoimmune thyroiditis in the same individual is considered a variant of the APS type 3 syndrome. The Tomer lab discovered several new susceptibility genes for APS3. The lab is now analyzing the mechanisms by which these genes predispose to disease.</li>
<li><strong>The role of viruses in triggering autoimmune thyroiditis and type 1 diabetes</strong><br />Certain infections, such as hepatitis C, are associated with autoimmune thyroiditis and diabetes. Current studies are aimed at dissecting the mechanisms by which interferon alpha, the primary cytokine secreted during viral infections, can trigger autoimmune thyroiditis and diabetes in genetically susceptible individuals.</li>
</ol>
2.Gene-environment interactions in AITD and T1D
3. Epigenetics of AITD and T1D
4. Environmental chemical triggers of T1D
<ol role="list">
<li>Menconi F, Monti MC, Greenberg DA, Oashi T, Osman R, Davies TF, Ban Y, Jacobson EM, Concepcion ES, Li CW, <span class="underline">Tomer Y</span>. Molecular amino acid signatures in the MHC class II peptide binding pocket predispose to autoimmune thyroiditis in humans and in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2008; 105: 14034-14039.</li>
<li>Jacobson EM, Yang H, Menconi F, Wang R, Osman R, Skrabanek L, Li CW, Fadlalla M, Gandhi A, Chaturvedi V, Smith EP, Schwemberger S, Osterburg A, Babcock GF, <span class="underline">Tomer Y</span>. Employing a recombinant HLA-DR3 expression system to dissect MHC II-thyroglobulin peptide dynamism: A genetic, biochemical, and reverse immunological perspective. J Biol Chem 2009; 284: 34231-34243.</li>
<li>Villano MJ, Huber AK, Greenberg DA, Golden BK, Concepcion E, <span class="underline">Tomer Y</span>. Autoimmune thyroiditis and diabetes: Dissecting the joint genetic susceptibility in a large cohort of multiplex families. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2009; 94: 1458-1466.</li>
<li>Menconi F, Osman R, Monti MC, Greenberg DA, Concepcion ES, <strong>Tomer Y</strong>. Shared molecular amino acid signature in the HLA-DR peptide binding pocket predisposes to both autoimmune diabetes and thyroiditis. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2010; 107: 16899-16903.</li>
<li>Menconi F, Huber A, Osman R, Concepcion E, Jacobson EM, Stefan M, David, CS, <span class="underline">Tomer Y</span>. Tg.2098 is a major human thyroglobulin T-cell epitope. J Autoimmun 2010; 35: 45-51.</li>
<li>Stefan M, Jacobson EM, Huber AK, Greenberg DA, Li CW, Skrabanek L, Concepcion E, Fadlalla M, Ho K, <span class="underline">Tomer Y</span>. Novel variant of thyroglobulin promoter triggers thyroid autoimmunity through an epigenetic interferon alpha-modulated mechanism. J Biol Chem 2011; 286: 31168-31179.</li>
<li>Huber AK, Finkelman FD, Li CW, Concepcion E, Smith E, Jacobson E, Latif R, Keddache M, Zhang W, <span class="underline">Tomer Y</span>. Genetically driven target tissue overexpression of CD40: A novel mechanism in autoimmune disease. J Immunol 2012; 189: 3043-3053.</li>
<li>Stefan M, Wei C, Lombardi A, Li CW, Concepcion ES, Inabnet WB 3rd, Owen R, Zhang W, <span class="underline">Tomer Y</span>. Genetic-epigenetic dysregulation of thymic TSH receptor gene expression triggers thyroid autoimmunity. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2014; 111: 12562-12567.</li>
<li><span class="underline">Tomer Y</span>, Dolan LM, Kahaly G, Divers J, D’Agostino Jr. RB, Imperatore G, Dabelea D, Marcovina S, Black MH, Pihoker C, Hasham A, Hammerstad SS, Greenberg DA, Lotay V, Zhang W, Monti MC, Matheis N. Genome wide identification of new genes and pathways in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and type 1 diabetes. J Autoimmun 2015; 60: 32-39.</li>
<li>Li CW, Menconi F, Osman R, Mezei M, Jacobson EM, Concepcion E, David CS, Kastrinsky DB, Ohlmeyer M, <strong>Tomer Y</strong>. Identifying a small molecule blocking antigen presentation in autoimmune thyroiditis. J Biol Chem 2016; 291: 4079-4090.</li>
<li>Li CW, Osman R, Menconi F, Concepcion ES, <span class="underline">Tomer Y</span>. Flexible peptide recognition by HLA-DR triggers specific autoimmune T-cell responses in autoimmune thyroiditis and diabetes. J Autoimmun 2017; 76: 1-9.</li>
<li>Faustino LC, Lombardi A, Madrigal-Matute J, Owen RP, Libutti SK, <span class="underline">Tomer Y</span>. Interferon alpha triggers autoimmune thyroid diseases via lysosomal-dependent degradation of thyroglobulin. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2018; 103: 3678-3687.</li>
<li>Stefan-Lifshitz, M, Karakose E, Cui L, Ettela A, Yi Z, Zhang W, <span class="underline">Tomer Y</span>. Epigenetic modulation of β-cells by interferon-α via PNPT1-miR26a-TET2 triggers autoimmune diabetes. JCI Insight 2019; 4: e126663.</li>
<li>Li CW, Osman R, Menconi F, Concepcion E, <span class="underline">Tomer Y</span>. Cepharanthine blocks TSH receptor peptide presentation by HLA-DR3: Therapeutic implications to Graves’ disease. J Autoimmun 2020; 108: 102402.</li>
<li>Lombardi, A, Concepcion E, Hou H, Arib H, Mezei M, Osman R, <span class="underline">Tomer Y</span>. Retro-inverso D-peptides as a novel targeted immunotherapy for type 1 diabetes. J Autoimmune 2020; 115: 102543.</li>
<li>Li CW, Sachidanandam R, Jayaprakash A, Yi Z, Zhang W, Stefan-Lifshitz M, Concepcion E, <span class="underline">Tomer Y</span>. Identification of new rare variants associated with familial autoimmune thyroid diseases by deep sequencing of linked loci. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021; 12: 691781.</li>
<li>Ye J, Stefan-Lifshitz M, <span class="underline">Tomer Y</span>. Genetic and environmental factors regulate the type 1 diabetes gene CTSH via differential DNA methylation. J Biol Chem 2021; 296: 100774.</li>
<li>Li CW, Osman R, Menconi F, Faustino LC, Kim K, Clarke OB, Hou H, <span class="underline">Tomer Y</span>. Cepharanthine blocks presentation of thyroid and islet peptides in a novel humanized autoimmune diabetes and thyroiditis mouse model. Front Immunol 2021; 12: 796552.</li>
</ol>
Alecia M. Thompson
Dr. Thompson-Branch's research has focused on the role of cytokines in bronchopulmonary dysplasia and use of ultrasound to diagnose necrotizing enterocolitis.
<p>With an emphasis on general pediatrics and neonatology, Dr. Thompson completed her residency at NYU Medical Center in 2007 and fellowship at Yale-New Haven Hospital in 2010. During her fellowship, Dr. Thompson also audited the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, with an interest in performing clinical research. Her research has focused on the role of cytokines in bronchopulmonary dysplasia and use of ultrasound to diagnose necrotizing enterocolitis. She plans to conduct research on the use of near-infrared spectroscopy to delineate central nervous system pathology in preterm infants and predict short-term neurologic outcomes.</p>
Jose M. Taveras
Vafa Tabatabaie
<p>Dr. Vafa Tabatabaie received her medical degree from Shahid Beheshti Medical University in Tehran, Iran. After several years of research on thyroid cancer in Toronto, Canada, she came to Montefiore in 2007, initially as a clinical observer and then as a researcher in the Division of Endocrinology under the direction of Drs. Norman Fleischer and Martin Surks. She graduated from the Internal Medicine Residency Program in 2011, during which her enthusiasm and teaching skills were recognized with the Award for Outstanding House Officer in Internal Medicine. She then completed her Endocrinology Fellowship in 2013 and joined the Einstein Montefiore Division of Endocrinology faculty later that year.</p>
<p>Dr. Tabatabaie is the Clinical Director for Division of Endocrinology. She is also the Director of Fracture Liaison Services, a multi-disciplinary team of Endocrinologist, Geriatricians and Orthopedic Surgeons focused on secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures. Dr Tabatabaie is one of the founding members of Transgender Interest Group at Montefiore/Einstein. Her clinical research interests include endocrine issues in the elderly, especially metabolic bone disease and osteoporosis, as well as thyroid cancer. She has contributed to the field of endocrinology by writing journal articles, presenting posters at national endocrine meetings, and mentoring medical students, residents and fellows. In recognition of her contributions to medical education, she was accepted into Leo M Davidoff Society in 2019. She also received Department of Medicine's Humanism Award in 2018.</p>
<p><strong>Thyroid Dysfunction in Lung Cancer Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs): Outcomes in a Multiethnic Urban Cohort</strong></p>
<p>Cancers, <span style="caret-color: #5b616b; color: #5b616b; font-family: BlinkMacSystemFont, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Fira Sans', 'Droid Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">2021 Mar 23;13(6):1464</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Are We Responding Effectively to Bone Mineral Density Loss and Fracture Risk in People with Epilepsy?</strong></p>
<p>Epilepsia Open, 2020 Apr 14;5(2): 240-247</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Changes in Bone Mineral Density During 5 Years of Adjuvant Treatment in Premenopausal Breast Cancer Patients</strong></p>
<p>Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 2020 Feb 19</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Treatment of Diabetic Ketoacidosis and The Weekend Effect at an Urban Tertiary-Care Center</strong></p>
<p>Endocrine Practice, <span style="caret-color: #5b616b; color: #5b616b; font-family: BlinkMacSystemFont, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Fira Sans', 'Droid Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">2020 Jun 2;26(6):634-641</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Thyroid Storm Presenting as Psychosis</strong></p>
<p>Journal of Investigative Medicine High Impact Case Reports, May 2018</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Medical Optimization of Lumbar Fusion in the Osteoporotic Patient</strong></p>
<p>Archives of Osteoporosis, 2018 March 14: 13 (1): 26</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Testosterone Treatment and Sexual Function in Older Men With Low Testosterone Levels</strong></p>
<p>Journal Of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2016 Aug; 101 (8): 3096-104</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Effects of Testosterone Treatment in Older Men</strong></p>
<p>New England Journal of Medicine, 2016 Feb 18: 374 (7): 611-24</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Recruitment and Screening for the Testosterone Trials</strong></p>
<p>The Journals of Gerontology, 2015 Sep, 70(9): 1105-11</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Association of Sex Hormones with Sexual Function, Vitality, and Physical Function of Symptomatic Older Men with Low Testosterone Levels at Baseline in the Testosterone Trials</strong></p>
<p>Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2015 Mar, 100(3):1146-55</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Exceptional Longevity is Associated with Decreased Reproduction</strong></p>
<p>Aging, 2011 Dec, 3(12):1202-5</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Influence of Age and Primary Tumor Size on the Risk for Residual/Recurrent Well-Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma</strong></p>
<p>Head and Neck, 2009 Jun; 31(6):782-8</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Post-Challenge Hyperglycemia in Older Adults is Associated with Increased Cardiovascular Risk Profile</strong></p>
<p>Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2009 May, 94(5):1595-601</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Prognostic Value of Postsurgical Stimulated Thyroglobulin Levels after Initial Radioactive Iodine Therapy in Well-Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma</strong></p>
<p>Head and Neck, 2008 Jun; 30(6):693-700</p>
<p>Dr. Vafa Tabatabaie received her medical degree from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran. After several years of research on thyroid cancer in Toronto, Canada, she came to Montefiore in 2007 as a researcher in the Division of Endocrinology under the direction of Drs. Norman Fleischer and Martin Surks. She graduated from the Internal Medicine Residency Program in 2011, during which her enthusiasm and teaching skills were recognized with the Award for Outstanding House Officer in Internal Medicine, and she completed the Endocrinology Fellowship Program in 2013. She joined the Einstein Montefiore Division of Endocrinology faculty later that year.</p><p>Dr. Tabatabaie is Director of the Fracture Liaison Service at Montefiore Medical Center. Her clinical research interests include endocrine issues in the elderly, especially metabolic bone disease and osteoporosis, as well as thyroid cancer.</p>