Are you ready for my close-up?

So, there’s talk of another video. Starring me, again. And I know what you’re asking yourself:

“How do they do all that medical research if everybody there is clearly blind?”

While my eyesight isn’t 20/20, I have to tell you, most of us at OMRF are, in fact, capable of seeing things. Why they want another movie with me in it, what with their working eyes and all, I cannot explain.

So I’m asking you all — did any of you watch the movie on my genome? Did anybody like it? And, here’s the big one, if you’d like to see another one, what should it be about? I’ve got a few ideas, but I’d be interested to hear what you have to say.

Saved by the Beaker: The New Class

OMRF is growing. And I’m not just talking about the part of OMRF that my belt is straining to fit around.

Dario Ramirez, Ph.D., started work here on March 1. On Sept. 1, he was joined by Drs. Courtney Griffin, Tim Griffin and Mike Kinter. Next month, we’ll get Drs. Courtney Gray-McGuire, Hong Chen and Jana Barlic.

That is seven new researchers who have started at OMRF this year, for those keeping score at home. To put that in perspective, when OMRF started hiring in 1950, we had three.

I’ve had a chance to talk to most of this new crew and I’m pretty excited. Granted, that happens when I talk to any of our other scientists, too. The reason: everybody here brings a love of science and discovery to the table and in such a widely diverse set of disciplines.

Dr. Tim Griffin told me about his research into the effects of obesity on arthritis and how he thinks the pressure on joints from weight has less to do with arthritis than inflammatory chemicals that come from the fat — like it’s a completely seperate organ!

His wife, Dr. Courtney Griffin, told me about her work on the vascular system and a relationship to cancer. She also let me know that her first visit to our fair state came during last year’s horrible ice storms. Thank goodness she looked beyond the frozen streets and power outages long enough to fall in love with our institution.

Dario is so excited for the arrival of Mike Kinter, who brings with his the expertise to further both of their research goals. And Courtney Gray-McGuire is just excited to be back where good Mexican food is readily available.

You’ll be hearing a lot from our new researchers, I have no doubt, and partly because I love writing about them. For a keyboard jockey like me, understanding the science can be difficult, but each of these scientists is so driven and passionate, they make it easy to comprehend.

Now is the late-summer of our discontent

Well, wouldn’t you know it? As soon as I promise to update the blog more often, I go and get sick. That’s not a great excuse for not writing more posts, but I’ll take it.

Besides, a little coughing and sneezing may not be pleasant, but at least I don’t have PNH. What? You’ve never heard of PNH? Well, let me tell you about it.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is no walk in the park, both because it’s incredibly painful and much more rare than walking in the park. The disease starts in the bone marrow, which makes red blood cells. The abnormal marrow makes more and more red blood cells that are susceptible to harm from a part of the immune system called the complement system.

Oh, sure, it sounds so nice, so…complimentary…but when the complement system hits those abnormal red blood cells, it bursts them like balloons. And, if you haven’t heard, blood plays a fairly important role in living, so PNH can be pretty bad.

Now I’m sure you’re reading this and saying to yourself, “Why is Greg talking about this? He doesn’t know anything about science. He’s just a keyboard jockey!”

Well, that’s true. But I have been interviewing some OMRF scientists past and present who found a treatment for PNH, as well as a few locals who praise the treatment (called Soliris) for saving their lives.

And if I’ve whetted your appetite for more, then be sure to check out the upcoming issue of Findings for the story.

In the meantime, I’m going to try not to gross out my office-mate with the sounds of my sneezing and coughing and nose-blowing. It’s not PNH, but it’s not much fun, either.