Month: April 2016

Dr. Charis Eng, her connection with OSU

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Dr. Charis Eng joined The Ohio State University in 1999. She served as Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the Clinical Cancer Genetics Program in OSU. In 2001, Dr. Charis Eng was granted the Davis Professorship and selected as Co-Director of the Division of Human Genetics in the Department of Internal Medicine. In 2002, she became Professor and Division Director, and was granted as the Klotz Endowed Chair.

“Her work at OSU uses acid- and protein-based work to identify, characterize, and understand genes that cause susceptibility to inherited cancer syndromes and to determine how these genes can be used to develop new clinical applications. As a result of these studies, Dr. Eng was the first in the world to map and identify PTEN, the gene that codes for a tumor suppressor phosphotase on chromosome 10. This has proven to be a major factor in determining susceptibility for Cowden syndrome and other related diseases. She has conducted extensive research on characterizing PTEN, showing that it suppresses tumor growth.”

Bibliography:

  • “Staff Display.” Charis Eng, MD, PhD. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2016
  • “Biography – Charis Eng, MD (Ohio).” U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2016.

Dr. Charis Eng Accomplishments

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Over her distinguished career, Dr. Charis Eng has collected over 94 awards, combining for a total of $20 million dollars. In addition, she has received 70 research grants for her work. She has been published in over 400 journals, including The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA and Nature Genetics. From 1992 to 1995, Dr. Eng for Clinical Cancer Genetics at the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine and Royal Marsden Hospital in the UK. This opportunity made her one of the only two formally trained cancer geneticists in the US. After becoming Co-Director of Human Genetics in the Department of Internal Medicine at The Ohio State University, Eng became a Klotz Endowed Chair in Cancer Research from 2002-2005. She also received the Stephanie Speilman Award and Harry de Lozier Award in 2002. In 2005, she was selected to assemble the Genomic Medicine Institute at Cleveland Clinic. From there, she began her work in which she discovered the link between the PTEN gene and Cowden syndrome. The PTEN gene increases the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. She was awarded the American Thyroid Association Van Meter Award and the American Association for Cancer Research-Women in Cancer Research Distinguished Scientist award in 2005. In 2008, she became the Hardis Endowed Chair in Cancer Genomic Medicine. Dr. Eng was elected to the American Cancer Society for Clinical Research Professors, a select group of 15 clinical researchers. She was also selected to the Institute of Medicine in the US National Academy of Science in 2011, a group of only 65 members. She has been the editor for several journals including Journal of Medical Genetics (1998-2005), Cancer Research (2004-2009) and American Journal of Human Genetics (2007-2009). Other awards include the Exceptional Mentor Award by the American Medicine Women Association (2014) and Doris Duke Distinguished Clinical Scientist Award (2002). In 2014, Dr. Eng gave lectures in recognition of her two awards, the AACR-WICR Charlotte Friend Memorial Leader and James Ewing Memorial Keynote from Society of Surgical Oncology. She is a member of the American Society of Human Genetics, AACR, Endocrine Society and American College of Physicians. In addition to her research, Dr. Eng was selected to provide expertise on the 2003 Discovery Health Documentary “Curse of the Elephant Man” and the 2011 National Geographic special “Lincoln’s Secret Killer?”. However, even with the numerous awards received, Dr. Charis Eng considers something else her biggest accomplishment in her life. For Dr. Eng, her biggest accomplishment is the fact that genetics is actually being used now. It is not some far off dream but rather, plays a current role in everyday clinical care.

Dr. Charis Eng receiving her acceptance into the American Cancer Society for Clinical Research Election in 2009-one of the only 15 members

Dr. Charis Eng receiving her acceptance into the American Cancer Society for Clinical Research Election in 2009-one of the only 15 members

References

“Charis Eng, MD, PhD.” Cleveland Clinic. Cleveland Clinic. Web. 19 April 2016.

Townsend, Angela. “Cleveland Clinic’s Dr. Charis Eng.” The Plain Dealer. Cleveland.com. Web. 19 April 2016.

“Charis Eng MD.” National Library of Medicine. Local Legends. Web. 19 April 2016.

“Charis Eng, MD, PhD, FACP.” BCRF. BCRF. Web. 19 April 2016.

What is a Scarlet Plaque?

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The Scarlet Plaque (Project) is modeled after the “Blue Plaque” system in the United Kingdom, which recognizes by construction of a small plaque, the physical sites and or locations in which exceptional people lived and worked.  At The Ohio State University, the Scarlet Plaque is currently a “virtual plaque” that recognizes the sites where, and the people who made discoveries or contributions that:

1. were exceptional in their benefit to human welfare.

2. received tremendous public recognition in their or following their time.

3. were recognized as eminent or distinguished by their peers or successors.

4. were accomplished primarily at The Ohio State University.

It is recognized that the criteria above are all subjective and it is the goal of the project to avoid contributions or individuals that were (are) notorious, scandalous or even heinous. It is also the goal of the project to eventually employ an informed panel to make yearly decisions on inclusion and construction of a Scarlet Plaque for recognized contributions.