As we enter the height of summer, I hope that all of you have made the time to enjoy the warm weather and get outdoors. I've been playing a lot of tennis, and although I see Steve Hammes at the club, we have yet to face off. We'd love to see what you all are up to for fun these days, so please share your photos and stories with the Levy Letter to be featured in an Off the Clock!

I'm pleased to share that we have selected an architect for our renovation project. As our department grows and evolves, we are updating some wings on the third floor to upgrade and modernize our research and office spaces. This kicks off a three-year project, with phase one focused on our research facilities.

We had our first design meeting with the architect in late July, and I'm excited for what's in store for our physical spaces. We'll share more with you as plans are solidified. We hope that our environment is a reflection of who we are and what we value.

Happy Summer.

Be well,
Ruth O'Regan, M.D.

Awards: Wilhelmina Sizer, NP, from the division of Gastroenterology, earned the Unsung Hero Award and a certificate scholarship from the Rochester Black Nurses Association for her work addressing disparities in colon cancer screening.

Grants: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has awarded multi-million dollar grants to researchers at our Clinical Cardiovascular Research Center (CCRC) and Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute (Aab CRI).

Valentina Kutyifa, M.D., Ph.D., from CCRC, granted $3,439,181 through June 2027 for her project “His-Bundle Corrective Pacing in Heart Failure.”

Zheng-Gen Jin, Ph.D., from Aab CRI, granted $2,257,444 through June 2026 for his project "SIRT6 and Vascular Endothelial Homeostasis.”

Chen Yan, Ph.D., from Aab CRI, granted $2,202,858 through June 2026 for her project "Role of Cyclic Nucleotide Signaling in Aortic Aneurysm.”

In the News: Paul Graman, M.D., from the division of Infectious Diseases, appeared on an episode of Connections with Evan Dawson, "Understanding the Monkeypox Virus."

Register for Community-Based Participatory Research Training

This free, seven-month program, which is sponsored by the UR CTSI and Center for Community Health & Prevention, educates University of Rochester researchers (faculty, trainees, and students) and community members (typically from community-based organizations) in community-engaged research. Register by August 17 to make a change in our community through research.

Office of Clinical Research is Making Strides

The UR CTSI's Office of Clinical Research is building out several service lines to help researchers take their clinical trials to the next level—from financial services to study feasibility to educational opportunities. Check out how the OCR might help you.