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At the Milestones in Microbiology ceremony, standing alongside the Department’s commemorative plaque and a NYS Assembly Proclamation, are, from left: Theresa Koehler, ASM President; Carol Carter, Eckard Wimmer, David Thanassi, Jorge Benach; and Lorraine Findlay, from the ASM Committee on the History of Microbiology and Archives. Photo by Constance Brukin Photography

ASM honors the Department for its decades of work against infectious diseases

The Department of Microbiology and Immunology in the Renaissance School of Medicine (RSOM) at Stony Brook University was named a “Milestones in Microbiology” site for its advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases globally. The designation by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) recognizes academic and research programs in which “major developments and pivotal discoveries occurred.”

The RSOM Department is only the 20th program nationally to receive this distinction, the third in New York State and second on Long Island. Faculty from the Department and University gathered at a Wang Center Ceremony at Stony Brook University on October 17 to commemorate the honor. They received a plaque from the ASM that commemorates the outstanding research and discoveries by the Department at large, since its inception at Stony Brook in 1972.

“The designation of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology as a Milestones in Microbiology Site is an honor and recognizes the impact the Department has made through its groundbreaking discoveries,” said David Thanassi, PhD, the Zhang Family Endowed Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. “This distinction not only reinforces the significant contributions of our former and current faculty, students and staff, but also raises the profile of the Department and University to the wider scientific community.”

“ASM is delighted to recognize Stony Brook University’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology as a ‘Milestones in Microbiology’ site for its significant contributions to the microbial sciences,” said Theresa Koehler, PhD, ASM President. “The university’s pioneering work investigating causative agents of human diseases have had far-reaching impacts in the sciences and society at large.” 

The Department was awarded the Milestones distinction for its broad research and many discoveries. Specifically, the ASM recognized the following accomplishments:

  • The landmark discovery by Founding Department Chair Joseph Kates, PhD, that viruses could package enzymes required for their replication, with the first demonstration of the vaccinia virus encapsulating the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase enzyme. This laid the groundwork for targeting viral polymerases as a widespread therapeutic strategy.

 

  • The discovery of Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, by Jorge Benach, PhD and colleagues, along with its isolation from patients and characterization of its environmental reservoir, paved the way for successful antibiotic therapies.

 

  • The first description of the de-novo chemical-biochemical synthesis of a virus (poliovirus) in the absence of a natural template by Dr. Eckard Wimmer and the co-discovery of the human receptor of polio virus. This marked the beginning of the total synthesis of microorganisms in the absence of natural templates, enabling new strategies in virus vaccine development.

 

“As a member of the faculty for several decades, it has been inspiring to witness the emergence of ideas and findings in which the outcomes have had such tremendous impact,” said Carol Carter, PhD, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. “Over the years, I have worked with incredible colleagues, students and supporting staff.”

Five decades impacting infectious disease discovery 

 In addition to the highlighted research of Drs. Kates, Wimmer and Benach, the Department during its five decades made other groundbreaking discoveries. These include pioneering work in molecular biology on the structure of DNA and regulatory mechanisms of RNA, foreshadowing research by others leading to the Nobel prize this year on the role of regulatory RNAs in eukaryotic cells.

The Department has contributed major findings related to tumor formation and cancer, and has long been a leader in research on pathogenic viruses, bacteria and fungi, revealing how these organisms cause infections and interact with our immune defenses. This research has yielded fundamental biological insights and provided a foundation for the development of therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of disease.

Some of the more recent work impacting the world of infectious diseases includes the role of how cancer-causing herpesviruses manipulate the host to establish life-long infections, advancing the understanding of Adenovirus replication, and unraveling the structure of bacterial appendages that enable kidney infections.

“Although the Milestones in Microbiology designation commemorates past accomplishments, it also sets the stage for future innovations and motivates the Department to keep pushing boundaries, pursue new questions, and lead the way in solving the challenges of tomorrow,”  said Peter Igarashi, MD, the Knapp Dean of the RSOM, who pointed out that the Department has had consistently strong funding success, including 17 grants totaling more than $8 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health in fiscal year 2024.

During the ceremony the department also received a Certificate of Recognition, a Proclamation by New York State Assemblyman Hon. Ed Flood. 

For more about the ASM Milestones Program and list of other awarded institutions nationally see this link.

The Department of Microbiology and Immunology is one of 25 departments within the RSOM. It is dedicated to advancing the knowledge of the fundamental causes, means of prevention and treatment of human diseases, and to educating the next generation of scientific investigators in infectious diseases and related fields. For more see this link.

 

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Joe Verghese, MBBS, MD, MS

Physician researcher and educator Dr. Joe Verghese joins the RSOM

Joe Verghese, MBBS, MD, MS, has been named Chair of the Department of Neurology at the Renaissance School of Medicine (RSOM) at Stony Brook University. Appointed by Peter Igarashi, MD, Knapp Dean of the RSOM, Dr. Verghese is a nationally recognized expert in the areas of gait and cognition in aging. His appointment began on October 14.

Dr. Verghese comes to the RSOM after more than two decades at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. Most recently, he served as Professor of Neurology & Medicine and was Einstein’s inaugural Chief of the Division of Cognitive & Motor Aging in the Department of Neurology. In addition to being the Murray D. Gross Memorial Faculty Scholar in Gerontology at Einstein and a former Chief of Geriatrics for Montefiore Medical Center’s Department of Medicine, he was also the Founding Director of the Montefiore Einstein Center for the Aging Brain, an interdisciplinary clinical dementia and cognitive assessment center named as a Center of Excellence in Alzheimer’s disease by the New York State Department of Health in 2016.

“Our aging society has a great need for medical experts who will advance preventive and treatment strategies for age-related illnesses, and the selection of Dr. Verghese as our new Neurology Chair ensures that this area of medicine will thrive within the Renaissance School of Medicine,” says Dr. Igarashi. “Dr. Verghese is a leading physician researcher, innovator and educator in neurology and specifically with cognitive aging issues.”

Dr. Verghese’s work has helped characterize non-cognitive features in prodromal stages of dementia, such as gait, and define Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome, a pre-dementia syndrome that provides an easy and clinically assessable way to identify older adults at high risk for dementia.

Much of Dr. Verghese’s career has centered on a  broad range of investigation involving issues around aging and dementia. Early on he studied the epidemiology of dementia, particularly around pre-dementia syndromes and risk factors. Then he moved toward research of gait disorders, frailty and falling, but also investigated cognitive processes and brain substrates by way of a number of methods such as epidemiological, biological, experimental, clinical translation, and interventional research approaches.

“By harnessing the expertise of our exceptional Neurology team at Stony Brook, I believe we can deepen our understanding of neurological disorders, train the next generation of neurologists, and significantly enhance treatment outcomes for our patients on Long Island and beyond,” says Dr. Verghese. “My primary goal as Chair is to cultivate a collaborative environment that not only fosters innovative research and comprehensive patient care but also prioritizes education. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Dr. Igarashi for this opportunity.”

Dr. Verghese graduated from St. John’s Medical College in Bangalore, India, and completed postgraduate training in Internal Medicine and Neurology in the United Kingdom. He completed a Neurology residency at Einstein in 1998, followed by a fellowship training there in Neurophysiology and in Aging & Dementia.

The author of more than 300 peer-reviewed articles, reviews, and chapters, Dr. Verghese has secured more than $200 million in research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He has continually received NIH funding for his research since 2002 and is currently the Principal Investigator on five active NIH grants.

Dr. Verghese is a member and Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, the American Geriatrics Society, the Gerontological Neurological Association, and the American Neurological Association. He has received numerous accolades during this career, including the Beeson Award from the National Institute on Aging, the Outstanding Scientific Achievement for Clinical Investigation Award from the American Geriatrics Society, and the Joseph T. Freeman Award from the Gerontological Society of America.

Having mentored more than 100 trainees and junior faculty over his time at Einstein, Dr. Verghese is the only faculty member to receive the Einstein Clinical Research Training Program’s Mentor of the Year Award twice.

 

Caption: Joe Verghese, MBBS, MD, MS

Credit: courtesy of Joe Verghese

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Stony Brook men's cross country team. Photo from Stony Brook Athletics
Four Seawolves Earn All-CAA Honors

ELON, N.C.- With a chance to make history, the Stony Brook men’s cross country team did not disappoint on Nov. 1, defending its crown en route to a 2024 CAA Championship victory and a third consecutive CAA title. Four All-CAA performers led the Seawolves to the championship win, with all four runners placing inside the top-15.

Henry Gartner was Stony Brook’s top individual performer, finishing in fourth after blazing through the 8K course in 24:44.50. Right behind him in fifth was Collin Gilstrap, who completed the course in 24:48.30. Steven Struk ran to an eighth-place finish with a time of 25:02.50. Michael Hawkes (14th) completed the course in 25:19.90 joining Gartner, Gilstrap, and Struk as All-CAA performers.
 
Ethan Green just missed out on an All-CAA distinction, finishing in 17th. Wrapping up the Seawolves slate of seven top-25 finishes were Thomas Burfeind (21st) and Nick Tardugno (23rd). John Fontanez (29th), Neel Chittur (32nd), Brian Liebowitz (41st), Paul Abeln (47th), and Finn Burke (61st) rounded out Stony Brook’s competitors at the 2024 CAA Championship.

FINAL MEN’S SCORES 

  1. Stony Brook, 48 points
  2. Northeastern, 49 points
  3. William & Mary, 54 points
  4. Monmouth, 110 points
  5. Elon, 127 points
  6. Hofstra, 167 points
  7. Charleston, 214 points
  8. Campbell, 248 points
  9. North Carolina A&T, 276 points
  10. UNC Wilmington, 286 points
  11. Hampton, 302 points


HIGHLIGHTS 

  • This year’s CAA Championship was the closest ever, as the Seawolves edged out Northeastern by a point.
  • With today’s win, Stony Brook completes the three-peat with its third consecutive CAA Championship.
  • For the second straight year, Gilstrap and Struk earned All-CAA honors.

“I’m just so proud of what this group of guys achieved today,” head coach Andy Ronan said. “During the season, we never spoke about the possibility of a three-peat; we just focused on challenging for another conference title, which is what we talk about every year in this program. It was clear before the race started that it was going to be a very tight race. So we told them to go earn it by competing every step of the way to the finish, and that is what they did.”

Championship season continues in two weeks at the 2024 NCAA Division I Northeast Regional Championships at Hopkinton Fairgrounds, New Hampshire.

For an inside look at the Seawolves cross country program, be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Shawn Heilbronn. Photos courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics

By Daniel Dunaief

In an exclusive interview the day before the homecoming game, Stony Brook Athletic Director Shawn Heilbron spoke about the department’s commitment to the community, the ongoing climb in grade point average among athletes and productive and expanding collaborations with other parts of the university.

“Homecoming is always such a fun time,” said Heilbron, who has been Athletic Director at Stony Brook for 10 years. “Our campus is buzzing with events and activities. It’s always a plus when our football team is bringing tremendous momentum, as we are this year.”

Indeed, the Seawolves trounced William & Mary 35-13 during homecoming, bringing the school’s rank in an AFC Coaches Poll to 20th — the highest it’s been since 2018. Ticket sales reached 7,599 for the game.

Heilbron appreciates the role sports plays in forming bonds between the university and the residents in the surrounding Long Island neighborhoods.

“Athletics is a great connector between the school and the community,” said Heilbron. 

As the department undergoes an exercise in branding and messaging, the Athletic Director suggested that the core of the program involves transforming young people’s lives through competition, academics and involvement in the community.

When he meets with prospective student-athletes, he tells them he wants them to feel that coming to Stony Brook is “the best decision I ever made in my life. It changes the trajectory of where I’m going.”

Winning helps shine a spotlight on the university, bringing goodwill and local pride to the area.

Heilbron, however, also believes that includes encouraging athletes to get involved with people in the area, whether that’s reading to students in elementary school, showing up at events in Suffolk County or going to the Children’s Hospital.

“Giving back to others is going to help you become a better person,” Heilbron said. “Our student athletes, our coaches, our staff, embrace that relationship with people.”

Teachers, club leaders, or area organizations who would like to tap into the university’s athletic program to provide inspiration or help with local efforts can do so through the school’s website, by connecting with Heilbron or with anyone on his leadership team, including Arnika Edwards, who oversees career and leadership development.

Edwards is a “fantastic leader in our department” who helps “organize so much of our community engagement,” Heilbron said. “We will help you get in touch with the right person.”

Wide range of sports

Heilbron encourages residents to attend any of the wide range of sporting events, where they can see a “group of young people who work so hard, give everything to represent Stony Brook, but also the community.”

Recently, the women’s soccer team played in front of a packed crowd of over 500 people for its final home game against Northeastern University. In a game Northeastern tied 2-2 in the 69th minute, Kerry Pearson scored the game-winner three minutes later, giving Stony Brook a crowd-pleasing 3-2 victory.

Heilbron said he urges fans to attend women’s basketball, which has also had recent success.

“We have a pretty strong fan base for men’s basketball,” Heilbron said. “I always say, ‘Come to a women’s game. Our women’s team has been really good.’ When they come, they are amazed at how much fun it is and how talented our women are.”

Word has also gotten out about the women’s lacrosse team, which is the strongest team at the school. “When you come and see the athleticism and the talent, it’s really remarkable,” Heilbron said.

Cross discipline opportunities

The athletic program has teamed up with several other departments throughout the university, including Health Science Professions, Renaissance School of Medicine and the School of Communication and Journalism. The school of journalism leads a broadcast that does the halftime show, and the athletic department is working on additional partnerships.

The school of health sciences is developing a lab that the university will build within the athletic facility that could help student athletes as well as those studying the field of health sciences.

“There’s so much in terms of technology now that’s being utilized with recovery and with injury prevention,” said Heilbron. “We’re excited to take the next step forward.”

Amid ongoing concerns about the emotional and psychological well-being of students, the athletic department has embedded two full-time mental health counselors in their building.

“The need for mental health services for young people nationally regardless of whether they are athletes or not has increased tremendously,” Heilbron said.

Heilbron is grateful that any stigma around seeking help for mental health challenges has decreased sufficiently that students feel more comfortable asking for help. “Student athletes are saying, ‘I want to utilize this, this is important to me,’” said Heilbron.

In addition to two busy, full-time mental health professionals, the department has a sports psychologist and refers students to other campus assistance, if needed. As of now, Heilbron feels the department is “meeting the student athletes where they are,” he said, “but if the time arises where we have to invest in a third [mental health professional], we’ll make that a priority.”

The athletic department also works to help students prepare for the balance between significant academic and athletic demands. Advisors urge students to build in time to eat, receive therapy for injuries, and work with tutors. “Our students know that if you come to Stony Brook, this is going to be a challenging education,” Heilbron said.

Student athlete grades have been improving since Heilbron arrived. A decade ago, the grade point average was 3.06. Last year, the GPA for student athletes climbed to 3.24. “It’s a testament to our student athletes, but also to our academic advisors,” said Heilbron.

Better facilities

As for the facilities, Stony Brook is looking for ways to improve them.

The university is raising money for a baseball/ softball complex and is looking to improve several locker rooms. “Locker rooms are always something we’re trying to enhance,” said Heilbron. “It’s where our student athletes spend most of their time.”

Stony Brook is completing a renovation of the women’s basketball locker room and is hoping to enhance the locker rooms of the football and lacrosse teams.

“We are constantly feeling a sense of urgency, not only for our recruits, but we want our current student athletes to feel that sense of excitement with new spaces,” said Heilbron

Shawn Heilbron’s speed round answers:

Favorite movie: Bull Durham

Favorite sport to watch: football

Favorite sport to play: baseball

Position in baseball: 1st base

If you had to coach a team, 

what would you coach: baseball

Mantra: I don’t have a mantra, but I tell people to “be positive.”

Hero in life: My dad

Hero in sports: Roger Staubach

Favorite sports team: Dallas Cowboys

Favorite moment in sports:
“Winning the 2016 America East Championship with our men’s basketball team” which allowed them to go to March Madness for the first time in the school’s history. Fans rushed the court. “That was the coolest moment.”

Most common coaching mistake: Overthinking a situation.

 

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Stony Brook Cancer Center and Stony Brook Orthopaedic Associates participated and supported the American Cancer Society’s largest breast cancer walk in the country, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer at Jones Beach State Park on October 20.

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Stony Brook Cancer Center is Suffolk County’s cancer care leader and a leader in education and research. The Breast Cancer Team cares for more than 450 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients each year.
Part of the successful team delivering the services from Stony Brook Medicine is Stony Brook Cancer Center’s Mobile Mammography Van. Since 2018, the custom-built, 40-foot state-of-the-art van has been on the road to offer free mammograms in Nassau and Suffolk communities. The van was at Jones Beach to draw attention to the need for screening to diagnose the disease early to help save lives. Stony Brook Cancer Center staff discussed the valuable resource to provide vital information and services related to breast cancer.
For more information about the Mobile Mammography Van, call 833-MY-MAMMO or visit cancer.stonybrookmedicine.edu.

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With the goal of bringing smiles to patients and families who are facing Halloween in the hospital, Stony Brook Medicine hosted Halloween events to make the holiday extra special. The March of Dimes made costumes for NICU patients at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. The Stony Brook Cancer Center held its first-ever Trick or Treat and Halloween extraBOOganza with a parade.

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Photo from Stony Brook Athletics

Stony Brook women’s soccer shutout the Drexel Dragons, 3-0, on Oct. 27 in Philadelphia to clinch a share of the CAA Regular Season Championship and earn the right to host the opening weekend of the CAA Women’s Soccer Championship. Linn Beck, Kerry Pearson and Reilly Rich all scored, while Nicolette Pasquarella made a season-high nine saves to earn her fourth clean sheet of the season.

Stony Brook broke a scoreless tie when Kerry Pearson netted her second goal in as many games in the final seconds of the first half. Similarly to the game-winning goal she scored against Northeastern, Pearson found a loose ball inside the box and snuck one past the keeper.

The Seawolves increased their lead to two goals when Rich scored in the opening minute of the second half. Gabby Daniels crossed in a ball that Rich redirected into the back of the net.

Stony Brook built a 3-0 lead on Linn Beck’s 81st-minute goal, her eighth of the season. Beck weaved through the defense and buried a shot past Drexel’s keeper.

“I’m happy for my team and my staff. Winning the regular season title is a great accomplishment,” head coach Tobias Bischof said. “Today was tough, Drexel is a well-coached team and we had to dig deep to get the win but that’s what my team has done all season long.”

“Congratulations to the girls. Let’s celebrate today and tomorrow we start preparing for the CAA Championship,” Bischof added.

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Photo from Stony Brook Athletics

The 24th ranked Seawolves used a big 220-yard output on the ground, including 144 yards from Roland Dempster, and two rushing touchdowns to pick up a 35-13 win against No. 15 William & Mary on homecoming at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium  on Oct. 26.

The Seawolves improved to 6-2 on the year and 3-1 in CAA play. It marked the first victory over a ranked team for Stony Brook since they defeated Delaware at Lavalle Stadium in 2021.

Tyler Knoop led Stony Brook’s passing attack with 240 yards through the air, tossing two touchdowns. Dempster paced the Seawolves rushers with 144 yards and two touchdowns in the contest, picking up 5.3 yards per carry. He also added 58 receiving yards. Shakhi Carson added 34 yards on the ground, averaging 4.9 yards per carry. Knoop’s most prolific target in the ballgame was Jayce Freeman, who caught three passes for 101 yards and one score.

A.J. Roberts showed out for the Stony Brook defense, recording 11 tackles, 0.5 TFL, a pick-six, and two pass breakups. Franco Milano added an interception and Deshawn Jones Jr. had one interception in the win. The Seawolves won the turnover battle in Saturday’s game, with Stony Brook turning those takeaways into 14 points.

Stony Brook’s defense held up against the run, limiting William & Mary to 120 yards on the ground. The Seawolves’ defense disrupted the William & Mary passing attack, pulling down four interceptions and breaking up four Tribe passes.

The team returns to the field on Nov. 2, hitting the road to take on Bryant. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. with coverage on FloFootball.

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Shawn Heilbron

TBR News Media’s reporter Daniel Dunaief spoke with Shawn Heilbron, athletic director at Stony Brook University the day before the 2024 Homecoming Game. In a wide ranging statement interview, Heilbronn discussed how student athlete GPA has improved to 3.24 from 3.06 a decade ago.

To listen to the interview click here.

 

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Sustainability Coordinator Erin Kluge and Transportation Demand Management Coordinator Greg Monaco at the Nobel Hall Wolf Ride Bike Share docking stations. Photo by John Griffin

Stony Brook University is being honored with a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly University award by the League of American Bicyclists in recognition of its achievements in promoting and enabling safe, accessible bicycling on campus, according to a press release on Oct. 29.

“Each year Stony Brook University continues to take steps towards improving sustainability including our campus accessibility by bike, and we are honored to receive this designation,” noted Tom Lanzilotta, assistant director of energy management & sustainability at Stony Brook. Mobility and Parking Services (MAPS), in partnership with the Office of Sustainability, is responsible for maintaining and tracking usage of the University’s Wolf Ride Bike Share Program, one of the main biking initiatives on campus. Since its inception in 2013, the program has continued to increase ridership each year, notably achieving 72,187 rides during the 2023-2024 academic year. In addition, the university provides ample bicycle racks, hosts a six-mile long Paul Simons Memorial Bike Path, and is home to the Freewheel Collective – a group helping refurbish bicycles for students.

“Since MAPS’ creation in 2022, our team has worked diligently to onboard varying modes of transportation, including micro-mobility. We want our community to have modern, sustainable options that make their lives easier and Wolf Ride is a big part of this,” said Kendra Violet, executive director for Mobility & Parking Services (MAPS). “I’m extremely proud of our team’s efforts. We’re all in on enabling Seawolves to ‘ride green,’ and building a future-focused and flexible mobility plan.”

The League of American Bicyclists is the premier grassroots advocacy organization encouraging better bicycling and protecting the rights of people who bike. Its Bicycle Friendly University (BFU) program includes 210 colleges and universities in 44 states and the District of Columbia, and is part of the League’s Bicycle Friendly America program, which also awards communities and businesses with certifications as part of its mission to make bicycling safe, comfortable and more accessible for all.

“When universities make biking easier, safer, and more accessible, they’re not just helping students get from point A to point B—they’re leading the charge in creating a more sustainable future,” said Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. “By prioritizing better biking, Bicycle Friendly Universities like Stony Brook University are empowering students and staff to make choices that benefit their health, their environment, and their communities.”

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