The Galveston National Laboratory, in an ongoing series featuring leading experts in biosecurity policy, development and implementation, hosted “Biosecurity: A discussion with the FBI weapons of mass destruction directorate.” Edward H. You, supervisory special agent in the biological countermeasures unit of the directorate, spoke on the bureau’s efforts in creating activities and programs designed to identify, assess and respond to potential intentional biological threats and incidents.

 

Sharon Petronella Croisant, associate professor of epidemiology, Cornelis Elferink, professor of pharmacology and toxicology and director of the Sealy Center in Environmental Toxicology, and Shakeel Ansari, professor in the departments of biochemistry and molecular biology and pathology, gave an update on the “Gulf Coast Health Alliance: Health risks related to the Macondo spill.” 

 

The department of pharmacology and toxicology hosted Jacqueline McGinty, professor of neurosciences at the Medical University of South Carolina, who presented “BDNF infusion into prefrontal cortex suppresses cocaine-seeking.”

 

The Sealy Center for Molecular Medicine seminar series welcomed E. Aubrey Thompson, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, who spoke on “The genomic landscape of breast cancer.”

 

“Evolving understanding and treatment of patients with unknown cancer” was the topic of Dr.

Tony Greco, director of the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center.

 

“Transformation in medical education: A new model” was discussed by Dr. Michael A. Ainsworth, associate dean for educational affairs and director of clinical assessment and professional development, and Dr. Steven A. Lieberman, John P. McGovern distinguished chair in Oslerian medicine and vice dean for academic affairs in the School of Medicine.

 

“Searching for therapeutic targets to preserve function in older adults” was the topic of Dr. Elena Volpi, director of the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center.

 

“A case study of treatment refusal: What are the rights and duties of patients, families, and physicians?” was the topic for William Winslade, the James Wade Rockwell professor of philosophy in medicine at the Institute for the Medical Humanities and the department of preventive medicine and community health.

 

“PTSD: Established diagnosis?” was presented by Dr. Christopher R. Thomas, the Robert L. Stubblefield professor of child psychiatry at UTMB.