For Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 2020 was a year unlike any other. The emergence of COVID-19 pandemic led to an unprecedented shift in education and research efforts, as well as a community-wide mobilization to mitigate the virus’ impact on vulnerable populations. Nonetheless, even in the face of unique and unexpected challenges, Feinberg scientists, educators, students, staff and administrators rose to the task. Scientists pushed the boundaries of scientific investigation, making critical discoveries in the search for knowledge to combat COVID-19, and medical educators ensured the continuation of Feinberg’s world-class education even in a radically altered learning environment.
From a record-breaking year of research funding to an outstanding record of research publications, 2020 showed the skill, talent, and resilience of the entire Feinberg community. See below for a selection of the honors, breakthroughs, and achievements by faculty, students and staff over the course of this unique year.
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Scientific Breakthroughs
Double Lung Transplants Save COVID-19 Patients
Double lung transplants, several of which have been performed by Northwestern Medicine surgeons in patients with irreversible lung damage from COVID-19-associated fibrotic lung damage helped save lives, according to a recent study published in Science Translational Medicine.
Unusual Epigenetic Regulator Could Impact Cancer
A newly discovered function of an epigenetic regulator, a methyltransferase called Trr, raises the possibility that this regulatory pathway could be used to slow the growth of cancer, according to a new study published in Genes and Development.
New Brain Tumor Imaging Detects Smaller Tumors Sooner
A new three-dimensional imaging technique has been developed that greatly improves the visibility of brain tumors in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The new technique, invented by a scientist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, will potentially enable earlier diagnosis of tumors when they are smaller and more treatable.
Study Provides Insights into the Development of Alzheimer’s
Northwestern Medicine investigators have discovered that the presence of a rare genetic mutation found in the ACE gene in patients with Alzheimer’s may provide further insight into the pathologic mechanisms that cause the disease, according to findings published in Science Translational Medicine.
Utilizing B-Cells to Promote Glioblastoma Immunity
Northwestern investigators have developed a novel vaccine that utilizes a specialized group of B-cells to promote anti-tumor immunity against glioblastoma. The vaccine is the first of its kind and may be an alternative to currently available immunotherapeutic approaches to treat the fatal brain cancer.
New Details on T-Cell Methylation
The DNA methylation landscape of regulatory T-cells is more complex than previously understood, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study. The findings could inform the development of regulatory T-cell (T-reg) therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases.
Protein Paves the Way for Early HIV Infection
Northwestern Medicine investigators have discovered that a specialized protein associated with the microtubules of a cell helps facilitate and regulate early stages of HIV infection, findings that findings could be used in developing future capsid-targeting drugs.
Biological Sex Affects Genes for Body Fat, Cancer, Birth Weight
Biological sex has a small but ubiquitous influence on gene expression — the amount of product created by a gene for cell function — in almost every type of human tissue, according to a new study published in Science.
New Therapy Targets Breast Cancer Metastases in Brain
A new combination therapy targeting breast cancer tumors in the brain dramatically decreased tumor size and increased survival in a study with mice, according to a Northwestern Medicine study published in Science Translational Medicine.
Exploring an Iron-based Alternative to Chemotherapy
Iron nanoparticles could be one day used to attack cancer cells, according to a recent Northwestern Medicine study.
AI-Enhanced Approach Offers New Hope for Earlier Autism Diagnoses
A Northwestern Medicine scientist and collaborators have used an AI-enhanced precision medicine approach to combine multiple views of human brain development as they seek to provide a roadmap for what causes subtypes of autism spectrum disorder.
Mitochondrial Metabolism Shows Promise as Target for Cancer Therapy
Northwestern Medicine investigators have discovered that the growth of cancerous tumors requires the activation of a specific biochemical process within the mitochondria of tumor cells, showing potential as a new target for cancer therapy.
Chemotherapy Drug Mitigates Allergic Response
A drug originally designed as cancer therapy virtually eliminated allergic reactions in moderate cases and significantly lessened the risk of death in severe cases, according to a new study in animal models.
Chimeric Toxin Slows Cancer Growth
A novel compound using diphtheria toxin to attack a signaling pathway implicated in as many as 50 percent of cancers slowed tumor growth, according to a recent study.
New Genetic Regulators Could Improve Cancer Immunotherapy
A genetic screen has revealed previously unknown regulators of Foxp3, a transcription factor that, when deactivated, may improve patient response to aggressive cancers.
First Trial Shows Benefit for Genomically Targeted Prostate Cancer Treatment
For the first time, advanced prostate cancer has been treated based on the genomic makeup of the cancer, delaying disease progression for patients with a treatment-resistant form of prostate cancer.
Uncovering the Cellular Mechanisms Behind Genetic Mutations in ALS
Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered that mutations in the largest genetic contributor to ALS leads to the dysfunction and eventual degeneration of certain specialized subtypes in the brain. The findings may lead to development of novel therapeutic interventions for the disease.
Decoding Hidden Brain Conversations to Advance Neuroprostheses
Scientists have discovered a set of neural “conversations” underlying individual neurons’ activity during learned movements, findings with implications for the development of neuroprostheses.
AI Model Improves Breast Cancer Detection
An AI model predicted breast cancer in mammograms more accurately than radiologists, reducing false positives and false negatives, according to a new study.
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Academic News
First-year Students Welcomed to Campus
When the 160 students of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine’s Class of 2024 stepped onto campus in August, they entered a new world of medical education.
Celebrating the MD Class of 2020
Feinberg celebrated the MD Class of 2020 at the school’s 161st commencement ceremony, which was held virtually this year through Zoom on May 18.
Transitioning to Virtual Medical Curriculum in Response to COVID-19
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the state of Illinois’ stay-at-home order, Feinberg transformed nearly its entire medical school curriculum to be delivered online. Online learning efforts include virtual simulation courses, telehealth visits, virtual standardized patient exams and online team-based active learning activities.
PA Students Join ECMH Program
This past fall, first-year students in the Physician Assistant (PA) Program were welcomed into the Education-Centered Medical Home (ECMH) program for the first time. Previously offered only to medical students, ECMH now provides medical students and PA students the opportunity to gain early team-based clinical experiences and exposure.
First Year Student Tackles Medical School and College Football
Tyler Gillikin lays claim to a title not many can: medical student-athlete. This fall, Gillikin began his first year of medical school while also playing long snapper for the Northwestern University Wildcats football team.
New Leadership in Medical Education
Diane B. Wayne, MD, has indicated that she would like to step down as vice-dean for medical education; Marianne Green, MD, will succeed her. Sandra Sanguino, MD, MPH, has been named senior associate dean for Medical Education, and Joshua Goldstein, MD, has been elevated to senior associate dean for graduate medical education.
Feinberg Academy of Medical Educators Appoints New Director
Mary McBride, MD, MEd, associate professor of Pediatrics and Medical Education, has been named director of the Feinberg Academy of Medical Educators (FAME), effective November 1.
Diversity and Inclusion Week Explores Representation in Medicine
In collaboration with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, student groups organized the medical school’s first Diversity and Inclusion Week, which explored the importance of diversity, inclusion and representation in medicine and society.
Celebrating Medical Education
“This year is unlike any that we’ve experienced as educators, clinicians and human beings, and the pivot to remote learning was extraordinary,” said Patricia Garcia, MD, MPH, ’91 GME, associate dean for Curriculum, at the tenth annual Medical Education Day.
Medical Students Organize Volunteers to Help Community
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine students have organized a volunteer effort among medical students and graduate students to help support health care workers, older community members at higher risk for COVID-19 and working parents during the pandemic.
Celebrating Feinberg’s 2020 Residency Match
Fourth-year students celebrated their residency matches and reflected on their time at Feinberg during an unconventional Match Day, the annual tradition in which all fourth-year students across the country learn at the same time where they will train as residents for the next three to seven years.
Medical Honor Society Welcomes 2020 Inductees
Northwestern’s Alpha Omega Alpha honor society chapter inducted 35 new members last week, including Feinberg students, residents, fellows, faculty and alumni.
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Honors and Campus News
Feinberg Ranks Among Top Medical Schools in the Nation
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine was recognized as one of the best research-oriented medical schools in the nation, rising one spot to rank 18th, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings, released today.
Distinguished Surgeon Named Chair of Surgery
Hasan B. Alam, MD, the Norman W. Thompson Professor of Surgery and section head for general surgery at the University of Michigan Medical Center, has been named the Loyal and Edith Davis Professor and chair of the Department of Surgery.
New Leadership in Medical Education
Diane B. Wayne, MD, has indicated that she would like to step down as vice-dean for medical education; Marianne Green, MD, will succeed her. Sandra Sanguino, MD, MPH, has been named senior associate dean for Medical Education, and Joshua Goldstein, MD, has been elevated to senior associate dean for graduate medical education.
Goldsmith Named Associate Dean for Student Affairs
Susan Goldsmith, MD, ’08 GME, has been named associate dean for student affairs, effective January 1, 2021. “In many ways, this is my dream job. I’ve never forgotten what it was like to be a medical student and the support I received from medical educators and administrators during those four years,” Goldsmith said.
Thomas Named President-Elect of Illinois State Medical Society
J. Regan Thomas, MD, ’79 GME, professor of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, has been named president-elect of the Illinois State Medical Society, the largest professional organization in the state representing more than 10,000 Illinois-based physicians.
Suresh Elected ABA President
Santhanam Suresh, MD, MBA, ’91 GME, was elected board president of the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA), the certifying body for anesthesiologists in the United States. “It is one of the greatest honors in my professional life to be able to spearhead such an extraordinary organization,” Suresh said.
Thompson Honored by National Medical Fellowships
Alexis Thompson, MD, MPH, section chief of Hematology in the Department of Pediatrics, received the Distinguished Alumni Award from National Medical Fellowships, a non-profit organization that provides scholarships and other support for underrepresented minority students in medicine and health professions.
Healy Receives Physician Assistant Lifetime Achievement Award
Kristine Healy, MPH, PA-C, assistant professor of Medical Education and associate director of Feinberg’s Physician Assistant program, has received the Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants’ Lifetime Achievement Award for her service and dedication to physician assistant advocacy, education and clinical practice.
Grobman Elected to National Academy of Medicine
William Grobman, MD, MBA, ’97 ’00 GME, vice chair for clinical operations and the Arthur Hale Curtis, MD, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine. NAM, one of three academies that make up the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, aims to improve health for all by advancing science, accelerating health equity and providing trusted and authoritative advice.
Rocklin Receives NIH New Innovator Award
Gabriel Rocklin, PhD, assistant professor of Pharmacology, has received the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, an early-career grant supporting unconventional research projects in the biomedical, behavioral or social sciences.
Medical School Research Funding Breaks Records in 2020
Feinberg principal investigators secured a record-breaking $643 million in research funding and awards during the 2019-2020 fiscal year, an impressive 20 percent increase over the previous year. Despite research challenges presented by a global pandemic, this figure includes more than $24 million in awards awarded to Feinberg investigators for COVID-19 related research.
Galter Librarian Named Illinois Academic Librarian of the Year
Molly Beestrum, MLIS, education and curriculum coordinator for the Galter Health Sciences Library and Learning Center, has been named Illinois Academic Librarian of the Year by the Illinois Library Association.
Green, Garcia Receive Top Honors from AAMC
Two Feinberg faculty members in the Department of Medical Education have been honored with awards for humanism in medicine and teaching from the Association of American Medical Colleges. (AAMC).
Abdulkadir Wins 2020 Tripartite Prize
Sarki Abdulkadir, MD, PhD, has been named the winner of the 2020 Tripartite Legacy Faculty Prize in Translational Science and Education for his work investigating the molecular pathways that drive prostate cancer.
Davis Named Chair of Pediatrics
Matthew Davis, MD, a pediatrician and internist with a focus on family health and community impact, has been named chair of the Department of Pediatrics. At the same time, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago has appointed Davis chair of the hospital’s department of medicine, as well as president and chief research officer for Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, and president of Pediatric Faculty Foundation, Inc.
Northwestern Hospitals Among the Best in Latest U.S. News Rankings
Four Northwestern Medicine hospitals have been recognized by U.S. News & World Report in its 2020-21 Best Hospitals rankings, with Northwestern Memorial Hospital named among the top 10 hospitals in the U.S.
New Assistant Deans Named in Medical Education
In recognition of their track record of excellence and achievement, three Feinberg faculty members have been promoted to the position of assistant dean of medical education.
Kneeling for Racial Justice
Hundreds of Northwestern Medicine leaders, physicians, trainees, students, administrators and healthcare workers knelt for 10 minutes outside of Prentice Women’s Hospital on Friday, June 5. The White Coats For Black Lives event was a solemn moment for the community to remember and honor George Floyd, to stand against racial injustice, and to express solidarity with those who suffer from racial discrimination.
Feinberg Launches Starzl Academy to Support Physician-Scientist Training
To help support and develop the next generation of physician-scientists, Feinberg has established the Thomas Starzl Academy, and named Elizabeth M. McNally, MD, PhD, its inaugural director.
Gift Names Epigenetics Institute at Feinberg
A new $15 million gift from University trustees and supporters Louis A. Simpson and Kimberly K. Querrey will establish the Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, boosting the school’s current efforts to study the effects of environment on the regulation of gene expression.
D’Aquila Named Director of NUCATS
Richard D’Aquila, MD, the Howard Taylor Ricketts, MD, Professor of Medicine, has been named director of the Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences (NUCATS) Institute, and senior associate dean for clinical and translational research.
New Center for Arrhythmia Research Launches
In the newly formed Center for Arrhythmia Research, teams of interdisciplinary clinicians and scientists will work together to discover both the underlying molecular causes of arrhythmias and new standards of care for their treatment.
Northwestern Scientists Awarded Top Honors for Achievement in Clinical Research
Northwestern University scientists received top honors from the Clinical Research Forum as part of its 2020 Top Ten Clinical Research Achievement Awards program, taking home the association’s highest honor and capturing more finalist nominations than any other institution.
People-Driven, Data Powered: Feinberg Launches New Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine has established a new Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, with the goal of augmenting human expertise with computational methods to advance the science of human health.
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COVID-19
Northwestern Medicine Physicians Begin to Receive COVID-19 Vaccines
Northwestern Medicine physicians have begun receiving their vaccines, an experience that for many was inspiring, sobering and hopeful. Read the reactions of a few Northwestern Medicine physicians upon receiving their COVID-19 vaccines.
Double Lung Transplants Save COVID-19 Patients
Double lung transplants, several of which have been performed by Northwestern Medicine surgeons in patients with irreversible lung damage from COVID-19-associated fibrotic lung damage helped save lives, according to a recent study published in Science Translational Medicine.
New Drug Connects Dots That Cause Clots in COVID-19 Patients
A gene mutation discovered in a small Amish community in Indiana has inspired the use of a new experimental drug for COVID-19 that reduces blood clotting, which is a primary driver of morbidity and organ damage in the disease.
Persevering Through Pandemic: Science During COVID-19
In late March, the world came to a virtual standstill. The COVID-19 pandemic forced leaders around the world to limit large gatherings and shutter schools and businesses. For Feinberg’s research enterprise, this was a serious disruption — but science kept moving forward.
Soulakis Discusses COVID-19 Contract Tracing Efforts with IDPH
Nicholas Soulakis, PhD, assistant professor of Preventive Medicine in the Divisions of Health and Biomedical Informatics and Epidemiology, discussed lessons learned from his experience leading COVID-19 contract tracing efforts for the Illinois Department of Public Health during a recent webinar.
New Strategy Could Boost Coronavirus Vaccine Effectiveness
Blocking a frontline response to infection by administering a low dose of an immunoglobulin type-I interferon (IFN) blocker alongside viral vaccines could increase the effectiveness of those vaccines, such as those against coronaviruses, according to a Northwestern Medicine study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.
Northwestern Takes on COVID-19 Antibody Testing
At Northwestern Medicine, various COVID-19 antibody testing efforts have been underway since the beginning of the pandemic.
Heart Disease, Racial Disparities and COVID-19
Northwestern Medicine cardiovascular experts discuss how racial disparities, including lower socioeconomic status and pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, can lead African-Americans to be at higher risk for contracting and dying from COVID-19.
Northwestern Scientists Transform Lab for COVID-19 Testing
A special COVID-19 testing team has been put in place at Northwestern, with the goal of at least quadrupling the number of tests processed at Northwestern Medicine hospitals — from about 90 per day to more than 350 per day — and in the process, greatly reducing test result turnaround times.
Seeking Answers: Clinician-Scientists Respond to COVID-19
Gary Noskin, MD, professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases and chief medical officer at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, answers questions about how Northwestern’s clinical research team is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A City-Wide Mobilization to Protect the Community
More than 110 faculty, staff, students, and trainees have come together to collaborate and work closely with Chicago hospitals and communities to forecast the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, predict the outcome of public health interventions and share resources for containing the disease.
Medical Students Organize Volunteers to Help Community
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine students have organized a volunteer effort among medical students and graduate students to help support health care workers, older community members at higher risk for COVID-19 and working parents during the pandemic.
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