THE A-T PROJECT / Research Team

More than ten years later, Bill has not only proven his initial analysis to be true, but he has led a team of researchers who have now pieced together most of the puzzle of how the A-T gene normally functions to prevent free radical damage.

Bill’s journey has been a long arduous one. Inspired by Patrick and a driving desire to learn answers to the larger questions of the aging phenomenon, Bill started his work on A-T at the age of 69. He celebrated his 80th birthday this summer with even stronger energy and determination to reach his goal. Bill’s work has been non-stop – reading scientific papers, designing and conducting experiments, writing papers, lecturing and leading a team that fortunately is willing to try to keep up with him to make a difference in the scientific world.

Bill and his wonderful wife Mary now live in North Carolina where he works at Cato Research Ltd. as a Clinical Research Physician studying drugs that will benefit both A-T and the aging population.

Bill and Mary stay connected to us through phone, fax, email and jet airplane so that he can help keep the research going at Science Park. We miss them terribly, and are always glad when they can pay another visit! Bill will never give up, never surrender!

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Dr. Shive’s Work Continues

Flora Pettit, Ph.D. and William Shive, Ph.D.

Many of us were shocked and saddened at the sudden and untimely death last year of a wonderful and brilliant man named William Shive. Dr. Shive, the founder and director of the Biochemical Institute at the University of Texas at Austin, was known worldwide for his many significant discoveries. He, along with assistant director Flora Pettit, Ph.D. and their staff, played a very important role in promoting the research that is now coming to fruition at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Science Park – Research Division in Smithville, Texas. Beyond that, Dr. Shive and Patrick had a bond that was special and unique for both.

Recently, we received the good news from Flora Pettit and Elaine Hrissikopoulos that an anonymous donor (we speculate a family member) has made a significant contribution enabling Dr. Shive’s research to continue into human maladies caused by genetic/nutritional deficiencies. If you would like to participate in the Institute’s research, which we presume will continue to be free of charge, contact us or call or write the Biochemical Institute, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712-1096, 512-471-3662.

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Jim Heffley Publishes Weekly Nutrition Advice Column

We are excited to report that our good friend and advisor, Jim Heffley, is now publishing a weekly column in The Austin Chronicle providing advice as only he can on various aspects of nutrition. Jim, who holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, has over thirty-five years experience as a nutrition counselor. He is also the editor of one of the country’s foremost scientific nutritional journals and has been a tremendous source of information and strength for our family. We applaud Jim for his many contributions and urge each of you to read his column every week in The Austin Chronicle. Once you start reading, you won’t want to miss it!

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Paul K. Y. Wong, Ph.D., a professor at UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, is the principal investigator who oversees all studies supported by The A-T Project. Dr. Wong has a long-standing interest in studying cancers and disorders of the immune and nervous systems. His current projects include studies on A-T mice to determine the function of the A-T gene product known as ATM.

William S. Lynn, M.D., who studied at Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania, taught biochemistry and clinical medicine as a professor at Duke University. Co-principal investigator of all A-T Project studies, Dr. Lynn began researching A-T after meeting Patrick in 1991. He was first author of an A-T publication in 1996 and co-author of the manuscript on ATM function recently published in the FASEB Journal. Drs. Lynn and Wong have recently edited a book on neuroimmunodegeneration, which was published by Springer Press.

Xiaughong Kuang, M.D., who has been working in Dr. Wong's laboratory since November 2000, received her M.D. degree from West China University of Medical Sciences. Trained in molecular biology and cell biology, Dr. Kuang has extensive experience in anticancer research with animals. Currently she is participating in the investigation of ATM control of cell fate via the cAMP cell signaling pathway.

Jinrong Liu, M.D. is currently a Ph.D. student in the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy. She has extensive experience in cell culture, molecular biology, drug metabolism and using animal models in pharmaceutical and pharmacological research. Her knowledge and experience will be valuable for The A-T Project research, especially in the therapeutic treatment of ATM deficient mice. She is currently participating in the study of ATM control of cell fate via the cAMP cell signaling pathway.

Na Liu, M.D., trained in neuropharmacology and has extensive experimental experience in primary neuron and astrocyte cultures, molecular biology and immunohistochemistry. She is currently culturing astrocytes from ATM deficient mice to study the mechanisms by which ATM controls the function of astrocytes, the neuron support cells.

Wenan Qiang, M.D., Ph.D., project investigator in Dr. Wong's laboratory, received his Ph.D. training at Peking Union Medical College and the University of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. He has extensive experimental experience in molecular biology, protein biochemistry, gene expression, enzyme function and regulation, flow cytometry, as well as neuroimmunopharmacology. Dr. Qiang shares first authorship with Mingshan Yan on the manuscript on ATM that was published in the FASEB Journal. Currently he is working on how ATM controls cell fate (differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis) via the cAMP cell signaling pathway. A paper based on this work is in preparation for publication.

Miugshan Yan, M.D., was an associate professor at the Cell Biology Center at Beijing Normal University before joining Dr. Wong's laboratory in 1999. He has extensive experience in immunology and cell biology and spent half a year in Germany investigating the role of interleukin-6 in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. He is the first author of the paper on ATM function published in the FASEB Journal. Currently he is continuing his work on the effects of ATM in controlling DNA turnover and cell fate via cellular redox activity in lymphocytes. He is also involved in genotyping ATM knockout mice.

P. H. Yuen, Ph.D. (not pictured), an associate professor in Carcinogenesis at UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, is a collaborator with Dr. Wong on studies related to A-T. Her current study with A-T concerns a serine kinase in cell signaling.