Medical Research Work To Be Presented

Cooperstown, N.Y. – The Bassett Research Institute will present research work done by Bassett Healthcare Network resident physicians on April 28 in the Bassett Clinic lobby on River Street. This annual event celebrates the accomplishments of residents participating in Bassett’s E. Donnall Thomas Resident Research program. From 4 – 6 p.m. on April 28, resident physicians/scientists will display their research posters and be available to discuss their work.

Bassett Research Institute Director Dr. John May notes, “This is a great opportunity for the Bassett family and the public to learn about some of the remarkable work done by our residents. I encourage members of the community to join us for this celebration of resident physicians’ accomplishments.”

The resident research program is named in honor of former Bassett Chief of Medicine and Nobel Prize laureate, E. Donnall Thomas, M.D., who performed the world’s first human bone marrow transplant in Cooperstown in 1956. It is through this program that Bassett is able to offer its physicians in training financial support for their research endeavors, which are done with the oversight of a mentor from Bassett’s full-time professional staff. Over the years, Bassett residents have frequently had their work accepted to various national meetings.

The research these young physicians have worked on in the past year addresses a number of scientific questions. Several residents are investigating the biochemical basis of liver disease related to obesity. One study explores patient preferences regarding surgery for breast cancer. Other projects have investigated factors affecting the growth rates of tumors and treatments for fungal infections.

Research scientist Michael Greene, Ph.D., chair of the E. Donnall Thomas Program, says, “In previous years some of these research projects have received top awards at national competitions. So the quality of the work that will be on display is really quite high.”