April/May 2009
volume 6, issue 2
Sudhanshu Raikwar
Assistant Research Scientist
Division of Allergy and Immunology
*Note: Sudhanshu recently returned from the American Transplant Congress 2009 meeting in Boston, where his work was recognized in the ATC's publication highlighting the event:
Where is your hometown?
I was born at the military hospital in Chhindwara (MP, India). Since my father was serving in Indian Air Force, we had to move every couple of years to different parts of India. I spent almost twenty years in Mumbai where I did my Veterinary Medicine course. Of course our ancestral house is in Nowgong (MP, India) where my grand father was awarded land prize for his gallantry during the World War II. This place is about 40 miles from the world famous Khajuraho temples built by the Chandela rulers from 950-1150 AD (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
When did you join the University of Iowa?
I joined the University of Iowa in February 2005 in the Department of Internal Medicine.
How or why did you choose the University of Iowa?
I have an academic and professional background in Veterinary Medicine (Bombay Veterinary College, Parel, India) and a PhD in Molecular Biology (National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India). Over the last several years my research has focused on developing viral vectors for cancer gene therapy. While I was doing my Masters in Veterinary Medicine at Indian Veterinary Research Institute (Izatnagar, Bareilly, India), I was really shocked to see my grandmother die of pancreatic cancer all of a sudden. It was indeed a turning point in my life and I decided that I would pursue research trying to find new forms of treatment for cancer. While working in the field of cancer gene therapy at the Indiana University School of Medicine (Indianapolis) I realized that at least some of the malignancies are a result of uncontrolled stem cell proliferation. I gradually became interested in stem cell biology and one day Dr. Kishore Pasumarthy, a colleague of mine from the IVRI days who was working at the Krannert Institute of Cardiology in Indianapolis showed me embryonic stem cell derived beating cardiomyocytes in a tissue culture dish. I became really very fascinated ever since about embryonic stem cells and their unlimited therapeutic potential to treat devastating diseases for which currently there is no effective cure. When I saw an advertisement from Dr. Nicholas Zavazava in the Science magazine inviting applicants to work in the field of embryonic stem cells, I simply couldn’t resist my temptation for applying. Eventually I got selected to pursue the cutting edge research in the field of embryonic stem cells and regenerative medicine.
What type of work do you do in the Department of Internal Medicine?
I am an assistant research scientist in the Department of Internal Medicine. The major focus of our research is to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying differentiation of embryonic stem cells into insulin producing cells for the treatment of type 1 diabetes.
What is your area of research? How/when did you become interested in it?
Currently there are more than 25 million diabetes patients in the United States alone and every year more than 1.6 million people aged 20 years or older are newly diagnosed with diabetes. If the present trend continues, diabetes will likely assume epidemic proportions in not too distant future. Diabetes and its complications cost an estimated $132 billion annually in terms of healthcare costs and lost productivity. These compelling reasons justify the need to develop novel strategies for the treatment of diabetes. The major focus of my research is to develop embryonic stem cell based regenerative therapy for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. Type I diabetes is a devastating disease to millions of patients worldwide who cannot be treated by pancreatic islet or cadaveric pancreas transplantation due to the limited supply of organs. More recently, human embryonic stem (hES) cells and inducible pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have emerged as a potential new and unlimited source of insulin producing cells (IPCs) due to their robust self renewal and multi lineage differentiation. However, before these pluripotent cells can be tapped into, we need to learn how to optimally coax them towards the pancreatic lineage. The current critical knowledge gap is a lack an understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the differentiation of ES cells into IPCs. Being able to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying ES cell differentiation will ultimately lead to an unlimited source and supply of the much needed insulin producing cells as a new source for the treatment of diabetes. Therefore, more systematic and mechanistic studies are required to allow full exploitation of hES cells and more recently developed iPS cells for developing regenerative therapy for diabetes.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I have been working for the past four years trying to develop an innovative stem cell based approach for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. I have tried to combine my research expertise in the fields of Veterinary Medicine, virology, gene therapy and molecular imaging to accomplish this challenging task. There have been unexpected challenges and several failures during the arduous course but finally, I believe that we have made a significant progress very recently. My mentor Dr. Zavazava has truly been the real source of inspiration and a role model in shaping my academic and research pursuits.
What do you find the most challenging?
Many a times the experiments don’t work as expected or produce results that are totally unexpected. Although I am very passionate about my research, sometimes failures do take a heavy toll and one has to start right from the very beginning. Besides on a personal front, since my parents and in-laws are in India, I personally find it difficult not being able to see them for long periods of time.
Describe your most rewarding or satisfying experience, your proudest moment, since you joined the Department of Internal Medicine.
I have been really blessed with several excellent opportunities and have been rewarded on multiple occasions. The first one was being a proud recipient of the NIH pilot grant from the UI Center for Gene Therapy in 2007. I was also awarded the Ruth L. Kirschstein T32 training grant which I could not pursue due to compelling reasons and circumstances beyond my control. This year has proven to be really exceptional. My research was chosen as the best one out of more than 2000 selected abstracts at the American Transplant Congress 2009 meeting in Boston. In fact I have been invited as the first plenary speaker of the meeting. My research work has also been selected for presentation at the ATC 2009 What’s Hot, What’s New in Basic Science. Earlier at the UI Research Week my research poster was selected for the UI Institute of Translational and Clinical Research Award. I think we have made a remarkable research finding where in the definitive endodermal cells derived from ES cells engineered to express an essential pancreatic transcription factor Pdx1, spontaneously undergo in vivo reprogramming and differentiation into IPCs following their transplantation in diabetic mice. This exciting research finding has been one of my most satisfying experiences in the last several years. In the past I have won the ISSCR travel award, Young Investigator Award at the World Transplant Congress 2006 and also at the American Transplant Congress 2007.
What kinds of professional opportunities or advantages does being a staff member at an academic medical center provide?
There are several opportunities and advantages of being a staff member at UI. Besides pursuing excellent scientific research, I have been able to successfully compete for various grants including Ruth L. Kirschstein training grant, University of Iowa Center for Gene Therapy Pilot Grant and am about to submit my first R01 grant. I have also had an opportunity to present my research at a number of national and international scientific meetings including the World Transplant Congress, International Society for Stem Cell Research, American Transplant Congress and Experimental Biology. University of Iowa has brilliant research scientists and it is a real pleasure to collaborate with them very easily. Besides, there are excellent core facilities including the gene transfer vector core, central microscopy research facility, DNA sequencing facility and proteomics core which provide excellent research support.
Is there a teacher, mentor or University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine faculty member who has helped shape your education?
I have been blessed to have Dr. Nicholas Zavazava as my mentor. I wish I would have found him early during my postdoctoral training. He has taught me not only how to do good science but also how to write excellent grants and manuscripts. He has supported me whole heartedly and I am really proud to be a senior member of his excellent research team.
Before working here, what was the most unusual or interesting job you've had?
Before joining the University of Iowa, I was a junior faculty member in the Department of Urology at Indiana University School of Medicine. I was involved in the development of anti-angiogenic gene therapy and molecular imaging of prostate cancer. In fact despite being a junior faculty, I was successful in obtaining my first pilot NIH grant from the newly established George M. O’Brien Center for Advanced Renal Microscopy to pursue real-time intravital imaging of prostate cancer dynamics following anti-angiogenic gene therapy.
What one piece of advice would you give to today's science students?
There is no substitute for hard work. In today’s competitive environment, being passionate about doing science is not enough. One has to strive hard to master the latest technologies in diverse fields and develop excellent grant writing and presentation skills. This is indeed an excellent time to pursue cutting edge research in the field of embryonic stem cells and regenerative medicine.
Do you participate in any community service/outreach projects?
Whenever I get a chance, I do make sincere efforts to participate and make the difference in any way I possibly can. As a family we regularly participate in the Iowa City Chinmaya Mission Bal Vihar meetings.
Are you married? Do you have kids? Pets? What do you enjoy doing with your family/friends?
Yes I am happily married to Nandita (an assistant scientist in the Nephrology Division) for the past eighteen years. We are proud parents of two very loving children: daughter Apoorva (a seventh grade student at North West Junior High School) and son Prateek (a third grade student at Ernest Horn Elementary School). As a family we enjoy taking long trips during vacation. We have driven to a number of exciting places including Niagara Falls, Florida Keys, Mount Rushmore, Washington DC, New Orleans just to name a few. I enjoy playing chess with my son everyday. All of us love gardening and music.
What are some of your outside interests?
I enjoy nature and wildlife photography using my Nikon digital SLR camera and a wide variety of lenses. I am learning to compose music on Yamaha Motif ES and Roland Fantom G8 music workstations.
If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
That’s a really tough question. In the world of my own imagination, I would like to see a world that is filled with immense happiness and peace where everyone is really disciplined, has an equal opportunity and freedom where there is no place for terrorism and war. The world, that we could really call a heaven and paradise on the planet earth.
Describe something that no one in the Department knows about you…
My three paternal generations have served in Indian defense services and have won several gallantry awards including the President’s Gallantry Award for their exceptional services during war and peace. I am one of the first one from my family to have pursued an academic career in Veterinary Medicine and Research.
February/March 2009
volume 6, issue 1
Cynthia Johannsen
Division Coordinator
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism
What is your hometown?
I was born, raised and graduated from Wilton (Jct.) Iowa
When did you join the University of Iowa?
I actually first started at the U of I in the fall of 1989 registering students for classes and then worked in Student Health and then for the Copy Centers. I worked for five years, then quit and pursued other interests. I came back briefly for six months as a clerk on the weekends, and then started back in March of 2001 full time again.
How or why did you choose the University of Iowa?
I like helping people and many of my family members are in the health field so it seemed like a good fit. It also has great benefits and flexible work schedules.
What type of work do you do in the Department of Internal Medicine?
I am an Office/Division Coordinator for the Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I am very lucky to work with a great group of folks that make coming to work very enjoyable and it's something new every day so it never gets boring.
What do you find the most challenging?
On days when the phone is ringing off the hook and everyone is wanting something NOW, it gets a bit challenging.
Describe your most rewarding or satisfying experience, your proudest moment, since you joined the Department of Internal Medicine.
I think one of my most satisfying moments since joining the Department of Internal Medicine was this year when I delivered several big bags of winter clothes to two local schools as part of our annual charity drive. When I delivered them, both women at the schools were so appreciative and couldn't thank me enough for our generosity and thoughtfulness. One of the ladies even hugged me. It made me feel very proud to be part of a group of folks that think of ways to help others.
Before working here, what was the most unusual or interesting job you've had?
I had several jobs before I started back at the U of I and also got my two year Associates Degree, but the most fun job(s) I have had were working at an art gallery/frame shop and working at a landscaping place.
Do you participate in any community service/outreach projects?
I don't currently participate in any community services yet, but have looked into volunteering at the Greyhound Rescue/Adoption center in Maysville, IA. These are all greyhounds that used to race and are now retired and waiting for adoption to a good home. I took my granddaughter to the shelter with me once and she loved it. She got to put the treats in the dog's cages when they were outside on their breaks and she petted them all when they came roaring back in from outside. It was a very rewarding and fun experience and I hope to start helping there on weekends in the next month or so.
Are you married? Do you have kids? Pets? What do you enjoy doing with your family/friends?
I am currently not married but I have two great kids. Justin is 35 and is an IT consultant, and Angela is 33 and is a professional photographer. She is also the mother of my three wonderful grandkids: Bray (15), Gabe (12) and Lilly (7). I have 2 cats – Louie and Sarah. I enjoy just hanging out with my family and friends and going to all my grandkids sporting, music and dance events.
What are some of your outside interests?
I like to garden, especially flower garden, I love photography and I assist as a second photographer at weddings with my daughter, which is always a blast, and I also help my brother with his sports photography business. I like to go to sporting events, auctions, love to walk, bike, sew, and horseback ride when I get time.
If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
I know this is probably a well-worn cliché but world peace would be nice… a place where no one goes hungry or is homeless and everyone is able to have medical care when needed. A place where there are no more wars and everyone lives harmoniously with each other, regardless of their differences.
Describe something that no one in the Department knows about you…
Let's see.. this one is a hard one.. I can whistle… I was Homecoming Queen my senior year in high school, I was on the Captain Ernie Show on TV when I was 9, I had rheumatic fever when I was 10 and was out of school for two months and almost had to repeat the 5th grade, I slept in a teepee at girl scout camp for a whole week when I was 11, I am the exact middle child in my family... I am 7 years younger than the oldest and 7 years older than the youngest in my family of two older brothers and a younger brother and sister.
