2008-2009 Neuro-Oncology Fellows

Incoming Fellows

• Christine Lu-Emerson, M.D.
  (Neurology – University of Washington, Seattle)
• Ryan Merrill, M.D.
  (Neurology – Mayo Clinic)
• Eric Uhlmann, M.D., Ph.D.
  (Neurology, University of Minnesota)

First Year (Clinical Rotations)

• Jorg Dietrich, M.D., Ph.D.
  (Neurology - Partners Neurology Residency Program)
  [recent publications]
• Jethro Hu, M.D.
  (Neurology – University of California, Los Angeles Program)

Second Year (Research)

• Kalem Quant, M.D.,
  (Neurology – Partners Neurology Program)
  Research Project: Identification of biomarkers in glioblastoma tissue
  Sponsor: Cathy Nutt, Ph.D.

Program Description

Clinical Training

The first year of the fellowship is devoted to an intensive exposure to clinical neuro-oncology. Each trainee gains extensive experience in the full spectrum of diseases and problems encountered in neuro-oncology. Three first year fellows rotate between the neuro-oncology services at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.  Two fellows at MGH rotate on the inpatient (hospital) and outpatient (clinic) departments at a given time; one fellow rotates on the combined inpatient/outpatient at DFCI. There is comprehensive training and experience in the administration of chemotherapy and management of chemotherapy complications.

The hospital rotation includes management of patients on the neuro-oncology service and neuro-oncology consultations requested by other services (oncology, medicine, neurology, neurosurgery). In 2000 there were approximately 400 admissions to the neuro-oncology service at MGH and 400 consultations. Fellows work closely each month with the attending neuro-oncologist assigned to the service and one of two neuro-oncology nurse practitioners who also rotate between the inpatient and outpatient services each month. All patients are admitted to the Raymond D. Adams (RDA) Neurology Service and are managed in collaboration with neurology residents and Harvard Medical School students.

The clinic rotation includes attending several neuro-oncology staff clinics each week and preparation of the weekly neuro-oncology clinical conference. The outpatient neuro-oncology nurse practitioner, senior neurology residents and Harvard Medical School students also participate in these clinics.

Research Training

Upon completion of the clinical year fellows embark on 1-2 years of additional research training. Both clinical and laboratory research tracks are possible as well as a translational track which combines both clinical and laboratory training. Fellows can receive formal training in clinical research methodology through the Program in Clinical Effectiveness at the Harvard School of Public Health. Each trainee selects a research mentor who is responsible for specific projects and the educational development of the trainee.

NCI Training Grant

The Neuro-Oncology Training Program at the Massachusetts General Hospital has a National Cancer Institute training grant (K12 award), "Clinical Research Training Program in Neuro-Oncology". This recent award will foster translational research training for neuro-oncology fellows at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Tracy Batchelor, M.D., Director of Neuromedical Oncology is the Director for this grant. Research mentors for the grant were chosen from the MGH, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health. All trainees will be admitted to the Program in Clinical Effectiveness at the Harvard School of Public Health and will spend two 7-week summer periods engaged in a full time curriculum in clinical research methodology. Trainees are encouraged to apply for admission to HSPH and may earn the Master of Science or Master of Public Health degree upon completion of the fellowship and degree requirements.

Applications

The Neuro-Oncology Training Program at the Massachusetts General Hospital welcomes applications from graduates of training programs in neurology, hematology/oncology, pediatric oncology, neurosurgery and radiation oncology. Two trainees are accepted each year with clinical rotations starting in July. Applicants are required to submit a letter of interest, curriculum vitae and three letters of recommendation to:

Scott R. Plotkin, M.D., Ph.D.
c/o Karen Shamma-Horak
Pappas Center for Neuro-Oncology
Massachusetts General Hospital
55 Fruit Street, Yawkey 9E
Boston, Massachusetts 02114

Telephone: 617-643-1737
Facsimile: 617-643-0798
E-Mail: kshammahorak@partners.org

Applicants should submit material between January 1 and April 30 in the year prior to starting the fellowship.

Interested individuals may elect a visiting rotation on our service in the year prior to applying for the fellowship. A minimum of three months is required to arrange for this rotation. Contact the above address for more information.

Selected Fellow Abstracts and Publications:

E. Quant, A. D. Norden, J. Drappatz, A. Ciampa, L. Doherty, D. LaFrankie, S. Kesari and P. Y. Wen, J. Role of a second chemotherapy in recurrent malignant glioma patients who progress on a bevacizumab-containing regimen, . Clin. Oncol, Vol 26, No 15S (May 20 Supplement), 2008: 2008

Sun PC, Uppaluri R, Schmidt AP, Pashia ME, Quant EC, Sunwoo JB, Gollin SM, Scholnick SB. Transcript map of the 8p23 putative tumor suppressor region. Genomics. 2001 Jul;75(1-3):17-25.

Dietrich J, Imitola J, Kesari S. Mechanisms of Disease: the role of stem cells in the biology and treatment of gliomas. Nat Clin Pract Oncol. 2008 Jul;5(7):393-404.

Schneider JP, Trantakis C, Rubach M, Schulz T, Dietrich J, Winkler D, Renner C, Schober R, Geiger K, Brosteanu O, Zimmer C, Kahn T. Intraoperative MRI to guide the resection of primary supratentorial glioblastoma multiforme--a quantitative radiological analysis. Neuroradiology. 2005 Jul;47(7):489-500.

Hau P, Fabel K, Baumgart U, Rümmele P, Grauer O, Bock A, Dietmaier C, Dietmaier W, Dietrich J, Dudel C, Hübner F, Jauch T, Drechsel E, Kleiter I, Wismeth C, Zellner A, Brawanski A, Steinbrecher A, Marienhagen J, Bogdahn U. Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin-efficacy in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma. Cancer. 2004 Mar 15;100(6):1199-207.

Noble M, Dietrich J. The complex identity of brain tumors: emerging concerns regarding origin, diversity and plasticity. Trends Neurosci. 2004 Mar;27(3):148-54.

Hau P, Baumgart U, Pfeifer K, Bock A, Jauch T, Dietrich J, Fabel K, Grauer O, Wismeth C, Klinkhammer-Schalke M, Allgäuer M, Schuierer G, Koch H, Schlaier J, Ulrich W, Brawanski A, Bogdahn U, Steinbrecher A. Salvage therapy in patients with glioblastoma: is there any benefit? Cancer. 2003 Dec 15;98(12):2678-86.