- Email: [email protected]
Presentation of the Southern Society for Clinical Investigation 2002 Founders’ Medal to Dr. James B. Dale
Presentation of the Southern Society for Clinical Investigation 2002 Founders’ Medal to Dr. James B. Dale ANDREW H. KANG, MD
T
he Founder’s Medal is presented by the Southern Society for Clinical Investigation to a person who has made major contributions to our Society and who is a leader in academic medicine. The recipient of the 2002 Founders’ Medal is Jim Dale, who served as President of the SSCI in 1994/1995 and is Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Infectious Diseases Division of the University of Tennessee and Associate Chief of Staff for Education at the VA Medical Center. Jim was born in 1952 in Norris, Tennessee. This small, east Tennessee town was established as part of Roosevelt’s New Deal and, along with Norris Dam, marked the beginnings of the Tennessee Valley Authority. Jim and his two older sisters enjoyed growing up in a small town surrounded by protected wilderness that afforded ample opportunity for outdoor activities. Much of the family’s time together was spent boating, swimming, or fishing on nearby Norris Lake. Jim’s father and paternal grandfather were engineers who made important contributions to the Tennessee Valley Authority and the booming infrastructure of the Appalachian region. Although both had a profound influence on Jim’s life, neither could convince him that engineering was the profession of choice. Jim decided early on that he wanted to be a physician. During his high school years, he worked as an orderly in a small community hospital in the coal-mining region of upper east Tennessee. The two general internists that managed the 40-bed hospital were eager to serve as mentors and guidance counselors. Jim graduated from Norris High School near the top of his class of 83 students. He entered the University of Tennessee in Knoxville as a premedical student with the singular goal of becoming a general practitioner in a rural area of Tennessee. He thoroughly enjoyed every college science course and be-
From the Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Memphis, Tennessee. Andrew H. Kang, M.D., University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Department of Medicine, 956 Court Street, Room 334 Coleman Building, Memphis, TN 39163 (E-mail: [email protected]). THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF THE MEDICAL SCIENCES
came involved in several undergraduate research projects in cell biology and organic chemistry. Jim was elected as a member of Phi Beta Kappa and graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. degree in Zoology. Jim attended classes year-round at UT and consequently received his bachelor’s degree a full 9 months before the time he was to enroll in medical school. He answered an advertisement in the school newspaper for a research technician at the University of Tennessee Hospital and Research Center. He became part of a program project in hematology to study the mechanisms of cyclic neutropenia in Gray Collie dogs. The research group was under the direction of Robert Lange. Jim worked directly with T. J. Yang, a cellular immunologist, to develop mixed lymphocyte culture assays and dog leukocyteantigen typing systems to select donor-recipient pairs for marrow transplants between affected and normal dogs. The research environment was excellent, and for the first time, Jim was designing and conducting original experiments. He enjoyed the experience so much that he actually delayed his entry into medical school by 6 months. His first three publications were in the area of hematology. Jim entered The University of Tennessee Medical School in January 1975; during his junior year, he met the two people that most influenced his career, Gene Stollerman and Ed Beachey. Gene was the Chairman of the Department of Medicine, and took Jim under his wing as his teacher of clinical medicine. Jim’s desire to return to the research lab led to his first encounter with Ed Beachey, who would become his mentor and later a collaborator and good friend. Ed had been Gene Stollerman’s student at Northwestern Medical School. Gene recruited Ed Beachey and Alan Bisno as his first fellows in infectious diseases at the University of Tennessee. Jim became the newest member and the third generation of the academic lineage to study group A streptococcal biology at UT, Memphis. Jim left UT for an internship at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. He returned to Memphis to complete his internal medicine residency and fellowship in infectious diseases, with research lab experience in57
Presentation of the SSCI Founders Medal
terspersed throughout his training. After completing his fellowship, Jim was appointed to the faculty and successfully competed for a Research Associate Career Development Award from the VA. Under the tutelage of Ed Beachey, Jim’s research career flourished. In 1986, Jim received an independent Clinical Investigator Award from the VA. He and Ed worked together to unravel the structure and function of streptococcal M proteins, laying the foundation for the eventual development of multivalent vaccines that would prevent streptococcal infections. During the 8 years that Jim and Ed worked closely together, they coauthored 34 articles, all dealing with streptococcal biology and immunology. After the untimely death of Ed Beachey in 1989, Jim assumed leadership roles in the Division of Infectious Diseases and the research group. He had by that time also been appointed the Associate Chief of Staff for Education at the VAMC. Jim’s scientific accomplishments have focused on the molecular pathogenesis of group A streptococcal infections (Figure 1). He was the first to define the heterogeneity of human antibody responses to streptococcal M proteins.1 He later provided the first description of heart-cross-reactive epitopes in M proteins2 and then showed that protective epitopes could clearly be separated from autoimmune epitopes.3 Having established the basis for streptococcal vaccine design, he used new recombinant techniques to produce multivalent hybrid proteins to evoke protective antibodies in the absence of autoimmune responses.4 More recently, he discovered a new protective antigen of group A streptococci that affords broad protection against multiple serotypes of group A streptococci.5 Jim has successfully translated his basic laboratory studies into clinical applications. With a stream of patents and patent applications in hand, the Uni-
versity of Tennessee Research Corporation negotiated on Jim’s behalf a partnership with ID Biomedical Corporation, a small biotech company with a focus on vaccines. Jim’s research group is now involved in 2 phase I clinical trials to assess the safety and immunogenicity of vaccines designed to prevent group A streptococcal infections and acute rheumatic fever. The 26-valent vaccine (Figure 2), which will soon enter phase II studies in pre-school age children, is the most complex “designer” vaccine ever to enter clinical trials. Jim is the first to admit that his scientific accomplishments are only a continuation of the foundation laid years ago at the University of Tennessee to study the pathogenesis of streptococcal infections. Gene Stollerman started the program upon his arrival at UT in 1964. The NIH RO1 grant that has supported this work has been continuously funded for 37 years under the direction of 3 “generations” of principal investigators. Jim’s receipt of a Merit Award from the NIH last year could potentially mean 46 years of continuous funding of the same program at the same institution. He now directs a group of young investigators and works closely with several collaborators to train the next generation of scientists at UT and elsewhere. He is quick to give most of the credit for his research accomplishments to the many fellows and students that have spent time in his laboratory. Jim has trained more than 30 persons from all corners of the world. Many are now successful investigators who have established their own independent research programs. Jim’s academic honors are listed on the accompanying slide (Figure 3). As you can see, he has received recognition as a student, a teacher of clinical medicine, an investigator, and a leader in academic medicine. Jim made significant contributions to the SSCI as a member of the council and as president.
Figure 1. Selected scientific achievements.
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August 2002 Volume 324 Number 2
Kang
Figure 2. 26-Valent M protein-based vaccine.
Just prior to his election as the president of SSCI, he served on the council of the Southern Section of the AFMR and as the Chairman of that organization. Jim provided important links between the two organizations, particularly related to trainee travel support, membership, and meeting development. Before I close, I would like to say a few words about Jim’s personal life. Jim first met Debbie in the Medical ICU of the old City of Memphis Hospital, where Debbie was a nurse and Jim was a secondyear resident. They were married in 1982, and their son, Peter, was born in 1986. Peter is now in the ninth grade at Memphis University School. He and Jim are equally addicted to the game of golf, which they play together as often as possible. Debbie is a research nurse at the University of Tennessee, working with the hepatology group. Jim’s family is always his first concern and they are extremely supportive of his role in academics. The family spends a considerable amount of time together on their boat at nearby Pickwick Lake. Their stories of family vacations on the boat are complete with harrowing weather, high wind and waves, mechanical failures stranding them in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, and all of the attendant uncertainties about
returning to dry land. These tales also reveal the strongest of bonds among members of a family that step out of the usual comfort zone to experience adventures in life. In summary, this year, the Founder’s Award goes to an outstanding person who overcame the loss of the two pre-eminent mentors who influenced his research and moved the research to the threshold of fulfilling the fondest dreams all three shared. These studies have now led to the development of multivalent vaccines against group A streptococci that are currently in clinical trials. The eradication and prevention of group A streptococcal complications can be seen on the horizon as coming from these efforts. All the while, Dr. Dale has contributed to the activities of the Southern Society for Clinical Investigation as a leader while serving as a member and leader of the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Tennessee and also as a teacher, mentor, and friend to many who have been fortunate to spend time under his tutelage. I have known Jim nearly a quarter of a century: as a colleague, a friend, and his Chairman for 10 years. I am pleased and honored to have been asked to speak on his behalf.
Figure 3. Academic honors.
THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF THE MEDICAL SCIENCES
59
Presentation of the SSCI Founders Medal
References 1. Dale JB, Ofek I, Beachey EH. Heterogeneity of type-specific and cross-reactive antigenic determinants within a single M protein of group A streptococci. J Exp Med 1980;151:1026 –38. 2. Dale JB, Beachey EH. Protective antigenic determinant of streptococcal M protein shared with sarcolemmal membrane protein of human heart. J Exp Med 1982;156:1165–76.
3. Dale JB, Beachey EH. Localization of protective epitopes of the amino terminus of type 5 streptococcal M protein. J Exp Med 1986;163:1191–202. 4. Dale JB, Chiang EY, Lederer JW. Recombinant tetravalent group A streptococcal M protein vaccine. J Immunol 1993;151: 2188 –94. 5. Dale JB, Chiang EY, Liu S, et al. New protective antigen of group A streptococci. J Clin Invest 1999;103:1261– 8.
Past Recipients of the SSCI Founders Medal (1973) Eugene Stead
(1983) Jean D. Wilson
(1992) Daniel W. Foster
(1974) Tinsley Harrison
(1984) Henry McIntosh
(1993) James A. Pittman, Jr.
(1975) Donald W. Seldin
(1985) Edward W. Hook
(1994) Andrew H. Kang
(1976) George E. Burch
(1986) William J. Harrington
(1995) Suzanne Oparil
(1977) Grant W. Liddle
(1987) Peter O. Kohler
(1996) Neil A. Kurtzman
(1978) James B. Wynegaarden
(1988) Gerald S. Berenson
(1997) Harold J. Fallon
(1979) Arthur C. Guyton
(1989) Harper Hellums
(1998) Sanford B. Krantz
(1980) Rudolph H. Kampmeir
(1990) Jay Stein
(1999) Juha P. Kokko
(1981) Paul B. Beeson
(1991) Manuel Martinez-Maldonado
(2000) Martin H. Steinberg
(1982) John A. Oates
(2001) Donald M. Miller (2002) James B. Dale
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August 2002 Volume 324 Number 2
T
he Founder’s Medal is presented by the Southern Society for Clinical Investigation to a person who has made major contributions to our Society and who is a leader in academic medicine. The recipient of the 2002 Founders’ Medal is Jim Dale, who served as President of the SSCI in 1994/1995 and is Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Infectious Diseases Division of the University of Tennessee and Associate Chief of Staff for Education at the VA Medical Center. Jim was born in 1952 in Norris, Tennessee. This small, east Tennessee town was established as part of Roosevelt’s New Deal and, along with Norris Dam, marked the beginnings of the Tennessee Valley Authority. Jim and his two older sisters enjoyed growing up in a small town surrounded by protected wilderness that afforded ample opportunity for outdoor activities. Much of the family’s time together was spent boating, swimming, or fishing on nearby Norris Lake. Jim’s father and paternal grandfather were engineers who made important contributions to the Tennessee Valley Authority and the booming infrastructure of the Appalachian region. Although both had a profound influence on Jim’s life, neither could convince him that engineering was the profession of choice. Jim decided early on that he wanted to be a physician. During his high school years, he worked as an orderly in a small community hospital in the coal-mining region of upper east Tennessee. The two general internists that managed the 40-bed hospital were eager to serve as mentors and guidance counselors. Jim graduated from Norris High School near the top of his class of 83 students. He entered the University of Tennessee in Knoxville as a premedical student with the singular goal of becoming a general practitioner in a rural area of Tennessee. He thoroughly enjoyed every college science course and be-
From the Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Memphis, Tennessee. Andrew H. Kang, M.D., University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Department of Medicine, 956 Court Street, Room 334 Coleman Building, Memphis, TN 39163 (E-mail: [email protected]). THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF THE MEDICAL SCIENCES
came involved in several undergraduate research projects in cell biology and organic chemistry. Jim was elected as a member of Phi Beta Kappa and graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. degree in Zoology. Jim attended classes year-round at UT and consequently received his bachelor’s degree a full 9 months before the time he was to enroll in medical school. He answered an advertisement in the school newspaper for a research technician at the University of Tennessee Hospital and Research Center. He became part of a program project in hematology to study the mechanisms of cyclic neutropenia in Gray Collie dogs. The research group was under the direction of Robert Lange. Jim worked directly with T. J. Yang, a cellular immunologist, to develop mixed lymphocyte culture assays and dog leukocyteantigen typing systems to select donor-recipient pairs for marrow transplants between affected and normal dogs. The research environment was excellent, and for the first time, Jim was designing and conducting original experiments. He enjoyed the experience so much that he actually delayed his entry into medical school by 6 months. His first three publications were in the area of hematology. Jim entered The University of Tennessee Medical School in January 1975; during his junior year, he met the two people that most influenced his career, Gene Stollerman and Ed Beachey. Gene was the Chairman of the Department of Medicine, and took Jim under his wing as his teacher of clinical medicine. Jim’s desire to return to the research lab led to his first encounter with Ed Beachey, who would become his mentor and later a collaborator and good friend. Ed had been Gene Stollerman’s student at Northwestern Medical School. Gene recruited Ed Beachey and Alan Bisno as his first fellows in infectious diseases at the University of Tennessee. Jim became the newest member and the third generation of the academic lineage to study group A streptococcal biology at UT, Memphis. Jim left UT for an internship at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. He returned to Memphis to complete his internal medicine residency and fellowship in infectious diseases, with research lab experience in57
Presentation of the SSCI Founders Medal
terspersed throughout his training. After completing his fellowship, Jim was appointed to the faculty and successfully competed for a Research Associate Career Development Award from the VA. Under the tutelage of Ed Beachey, Jim’s research career flourished. In 1986, Jim received an independent Clinical Investigator Award from the VA. He and Ed worked together to unravel the structure and function of streptococcal M proteins, laying the foundation for the eventual development of multivalent vaccines that would prevent streptococcal infections. During the 8 years that Jim and Ed worked closely together, they coauthored 34 articles, all dealing with streptococcal biology and immunology. After the untimely death of Ed Beachey in 1989, Jim assumed leadership roles in the Division of Infectious Diseases and the research group. He had by that time also been appointed the Associate Chief of Staff for Education at the VAMC. Jim’s scientific accomplishments have focused on the molecular pathogenesis of group A streptococcal infections (Figure 1). He was the first to define the heterogeneity of human antibody responses to streptococcal M proteins.1 He later provided the first description of heart-cross-reactive epitopes in M proteins2 and then showed that protective epitopes could clearly be separated from autoimmune epitopes.3 Having established the basis for streptococcal vaccine design, he used new recombinant techniques to produce multivalent hybrid proteins to evoke protective antibodies in the absence of autoimmune responses.4 More recently, he discovered a new protective antigen of group A streptococci that affords broad protection against multiple serotypes of group A streptococci.5 Jim has successfully translated his basic laboratory studies into clinical applications. With a stream of patents and patent applications in hand, the Uni-
versity of Tennessee Research Corporation negotiated on Jim’s behalf a partnership with ID Biomedical Corporation, a small biotech company with a focus on vaccines. Jim’s research group is now involved in 2 phase I clinical trials to assess the safety and immunogenicity of vaccines designed to prevent group A streptococcal infections and acute rheumatic fever. The 26-valent vaccine (Figure 2), which will soon enter phase II studies in pre-school age children, is the most complex “designer” vaccine ever to enter clinical trials. Jim is the first to admit that his scientific accomplishments are only a continuation of the foundation laid years ago at the University of Tennessee to study the pathogenesis of streptococcal infections. Gene Stollerman started the program upon his arrival at UT in 1964. The NIH RO1 grant that has supported this work has been continuously funded for 37 years under the direction of 3 “generations” of principal investigators. Jim’s receipt of a Merit Award from the NIH last year could potentially mean 46 years of continuous funding of the same program at the same institution. He now directs a group of young investigators and works closely with several collaborators to train the next generation of scientists at UT and elsewhere. He is quick to give most of the credit for his research accomplishments to the many fellows and students that have spent time in his laboratory. Jim has trained more than 30 persons from all corners of the world. Many are now successful investigators who have established their own independent research programs. Jim’s academic honors are listed on the accompanying slide (Figure 3). As you can see, he has received recognition as a student, a teacher of clinical medicine, an investigator, and a leader in academic medicine. Jim made significant contributions to the SSCI as a member of the council and as president.
Figure 1. Selected scientific achievements.
58
August 2002 Volume 324 Number 2
Kang
Figure 2. 26-Valent M protein-based vaccine.
Just prior to his election as the president of SSCI, he served on the council of the Southern Section of the AFMR and as the Chairman of that organization. Jim provided important links between the two organizations, particularly related to trainee travel support, membership, and meeting development. Before I close, I would like to say a few words about Jim’s personal life. Jim first met Debbie in the Medical ICU of the old City of Memphis Hospital, where Debbie was a nurse and Jim was a secondyear resident. They were married in 1982, and their son, Peter, was born in 1986. Peter is now in the ninth grade at Memphis University School. He and Jim are equally addicted to the game of golf, which they play together as often as possible. Debbie is a research nurse at the University of Tennessee, working with the hepatology group. Jim’s family is always his first concern and they are extremely supportive of his role in academics. The family spends a considerable amount of time together on their boat at nearby Pickwick Lake. Their stories of family vacations on the boat are complete with harrowing weather, high wind and waves, mechanical failures stranding them in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, and all of the attendant uncertainties about
returning to dry land. These tales also reveal the strongest of bonds among members of a family that step out of the usual comfort zone to experience adventures in life. In summary, this year, the Founder’s Award goes to an outstanding person who overcame the loss of the two pre-eminent mentors who influenced his research and moved the research to the threshold of fulfilling the fondest dreams all three shared. These studies have now led to the development of multivalent vaccines against group A streptococci that are currently in clinical trials. The eradication and prevention of group A streptococcal complications can be seen on the horizon as coming from these efforts. All the while, Dr. Dale has contributed to the activities of the Southern Society for Clinical Investigation as a leader while serving as a member and leader of the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Tennessee and also as a teacher, mentor, and friend to many who have been fortunate to spend time under his tutelage. I have known Jim nearly a quarter of a century: as a colleague, a friend, and his Chairman for 10 years. I am pleased and honored to have been asked to speak on his behalf.
Figure 3. Academic honors.
THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF THE MEDICAL SCIENCES
59
Presentation of the SSCI Founders Medal
References 1. Dale JB, Ofek I, Beachey EH. Heterogeneity of type-specific and cross-reactive antigenic determinants within a single M protein of group A streptococci. J Exp Med 1980;151:1026 –38. 2. Dale JB, Beachey EH. Protective antigenic determinant of streptococcal M protein shared with sarcolemmal membrane protein of human heart. J Exp Med 1982;156:1165–76.
3. Dale JB, Beachey EH. Localization of protective epitopes of the amino terminus of type 5 streptococcal M protein. J Exp Med 1986;163:1191–202. 4. Dale JB, Chiang EY, Lederer JW. Recombinant tetravalent group A streptococcal M protein vaccine. J Immunol 1993;151: 2188 –94. 5. Dale JB, Chiang EY, Liu S, et al. New protective antigen of group A streptococci. J Clin Invest 1999;103:1261– 8.
Past Recipients of the SSCI Founders Medal (1973) Eugene Stead
(1983) Jean D. Wilson
(1992) Daniel W. Foster
(1974) Tinsley Harrison
(1984) Henry McIntosh
(1993) James A. Pittman, Jr.
(1975) Donald W. Seldin
(1985) Edward W. Hook
(1994) Andrew H. Kang
(1976) George E. Burch
(1986) William J. Harrington
(1995) Suzanne Oparil
(1977) Grant W. Liddle
(1987) Peter O. Kohler
(1996) Neil A. Kurtzman
(1978) James B. Wynegaarden
(1988) Gerald S. Berenson
(1997) Harold J. Fallon
(1979) Arthur C. Guyton
(1989) Harper Hellums
(1998) Sanford B. Krantz
(1980) Rudolph H. Kampmeir
(1990) Jay Stein
(1999) Juha P. Kokko
(1981) Paul B. Beeson
(1991) Manuel Martinez-Maldonado
(2000) Martin H. Steinberg
(1982) John A. Oates
(2001) Donald M. Miller (2002) James B. Dale
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August 2002 Volume 324 Number 2