New research on weakened COVID-19 vaccine responses in people with obesity and diabetes is the featured study in the latest issue of , conducted by the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (JABSOM), accompanied by cover art from a post-doctoral fellow.

The study, led by JABSOM third year medical student Brent Fujimoto and PhD alumna Olivia Smith in Professor Axel Lehrer鈥檚 lab, examines how different COVID-19 vaccines perform in individuals with obesity and diabetes鈥攖wo conditions that increase vulnerability to the virus. Brien Haun, a postdoc fellow at Kapiʻolani CC, also contributed to the research and designed the cover art.

Funded by the Victoria S. and Bradley L. Geist Foundation via the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, the study tested vaccine responses in mice with obesity and Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Results showed that all three conditions weakened immune responses post-vaccination, particularly in diabetic mice. However, mRNA vaccines produced strong antibody responses in all cases. Additionally, an enhanced protein vaccine developed at JABSOM (adjuvanted subunit vaccine) helped boost antibody strength in obese and diabetic mice.

mRNA vaccines remain highly effective, but people with obesity or diabetes may need additional doses or tailored interventions to enhance immune protection.
—Brent Fujimoto

“This shows us that mRNA vaccines can still be good at blocking virus responses and the CoVaccine adjuvanted subunit vaccine (enhanced protein vaccine) helps strengthen the quality of antibodies in obese and diabetic mice, making them better at recognizing and attaching to the virus,” said Smith.

Fujimoto emphasized the real-world impact. “mRNA vaccines remain highly effective, but people with obesity or diabetes may need additional doses or tailored interventions to enhance immune protection.”

Haun鈥檚 cover art, inspired by Zen philosophy and the Roman god Janus (god of beginnings and endings, gates and doors), symbolizes the delicate balance between resilience and fragility in immune responses.

“I鈥檓 so proud that our collaborative efforts in the middle of the Pacific are not only advancing our understanding of the virus, but it鈥檚 also earned us a spot on the cover of COVID,” Lehrer said. “These are achievements we can all be proud of and it鈥檚 a testament to the power of teamwork in research.”

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Since HIV was linked to AIDS in 1983, researchers have struggled to develop a vaccine due to the virus’s rapid mutation, which makes it difficult to create an immune response that can prevent infection. Iain MacPherson, assistant professor at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (JABSOM), is tackling this problem with a promising new approach. He recently received a $410,813 grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop a vaccine targeting a stable part of the virus.

“Developing an HIV vaccine is one of the most difficult, complex problems in medicine,” MacPherson said. “We鈥檙e aiming to engineer an immunogen better capable of protecting people against diverse strains of HIV so we can help stem the spread of HIV.”

MacPherson explained that HIV鈥檚 rapid mutations make vaccine development tough. Researchers are focusing on a stable region of the virus鈥檚 spike protein to create broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) that can fight multiple strains of the virus.

“If an antibody can bind to that part of the HIV spike protein, it would block the interaction, neutralize the virus, and prevent it from being able to infect someone,” MacPherson said.

More effective vaccine design

MacPherson鈥檚 research focuses on accelerating the production of these bnAbs by targeting specific B-cells. The new vaccine design aims to direct the immune system to target specific B-cells that can produce a key antibody, helping them develop it more effectively.

Working with JABSOM Professor Axel Lehrer, MacPherson is using molecular engineering and AI tools to test the vaccine design on humanized mouse models. If successful, the approach could improve vaccines for other viruses like influenza and COVID-19.

A Hawaiʻi native, MacPherson began HIV vaccine research during his postdoctoral studies and joined 糖心视频 in 2017.

“There鈥檚 been a lot of amazing work done in HIV vaccine development and we鈥檙e hoping that we can contribute part of the solution to the HIV vaccine problem,” he said.

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With Hawaiʻi鈥檚 first confirmed cases of avian influenza (H5N1), it is important for residents to stay informed about the virus鈥檚 potential impact on both animal populations and human health. Although the immediate risk to humans is low, understanding the nature of the virus, its transmission, and how to take preventive measures remains crucial to ensuring public safety and minimizing its spread.

Axel Lehrer, a professor of tropical medicine and medical microbiology at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 , educates and trains the next generation of biomedical professionals and is project lead on the recombinant Filovirus vaccine project. He answers key questions on what to know about the ongoing avian influenza (H5N1) developments in Hawaiʻi.

Is the bird flu strain in Hawaiʻi a risk to humans?

While the virus poses a significant threat to birds, it has limited ability to transmit to humans or mammals, meaning the immediate health risk to people is low. Public health officials emphasize vigilance, but daily life remains largely unaffected.

How did the virus arrive in Hawaiʻi, and should the public be concerned?

The virus likely arrived via migratory birds from Asia or the mainland U.S., including Alaska. People are advised to avoid contact with sick or dead birds and report them to the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture. Those who attended the Mililani pet fair in November should not have symptoms at this point.

What should people do if they come into contact with sick or dead birds, and will bird flu affect life in Hawaiʻi long-term?

Anyone who handles sick or dead birds should monitor for flu symptoms and seek medical care if needed. As for long-term effects, the virus is not expected to drastically change daily life for most Hawaiʻi residents. While occasional outbreaks may occur, especially among migratory birds, normal precautions should suffice.

What preventive measures should people take, and is the virus mutating?

To reduce risk, avoid contact with sick or dead birds, wash hands thoroughly after any bird interaction, and monitor for symptoms. The virus remains in its wild type form and has not mutated to spread between humans, but scientists are closely monitoring it.

糖心视频 the Hawaiʻi Departrment of Health’s for more information.

For the second time, a faculty member from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM) has been recognized as an Immunization Champion. Professor Sandra Chang has been honored as Hawaiʻi鈥檚 2024 Immunization Champion by the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) for excellence in promoting immunization efforts in the community.

Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the annual award selects one winner from participating states, territories and the District of Columbia. Chang, chair of the , was selected from a competitive pool of health professionals and community advocates, and received the award during the 2024 Hawaiʻi Immunization Update Conference on September 4.

“It has been my honor to serve alongside my colleagues in the Hawaiʻi Immunization Coalition to increase vaccine confidence and uptake,” said Chang. “While much work remains to be done, we are all proud of the strides we have made to protect the health of our community.”

Chang joined JABSOM in 1986 as a research scientist specializing in malaria vaccine development. Over the years, she has become a leading voice in vaccine research and public health initiatives. One of her key contributions was co-founding the University Student Immunization Initiative, which focuses on improving vaccination rates among university students.

Dedication to public health

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she played a pivotal role as co-lead of the state鈥檚 medical working group for vaccination efforts, ensuring that healthcare providers had accurate information to guide vaccine policy decisions. She also served as co-chair of the vaccination education committee for the Vaccine Preventable Cancer Workgroup and led efforts to create a peer education program in partnership with local high schools to encourage vaccine acceptance.

Chang鈥檚 dedication to public health extends to her active involvement with the Hawaiʻi Immunization Coalition, where she has helped organize numerous educational initiatives aimed at increasing vaccine confidence across the state.

Lee Buenconsejo-Lum, JABSOM鈥檚 associate dean for academic affairs, was honored as an Immunization Champion in 2022.

Editor’s note: The federal government withdrew grant funding for this program in 2025.

Enrollment in the (MHRT) program at the (JABSOM) at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 has doubled since global travel restrictions were lifted, growing from six students in 2023 to 12 this past academic year. These 12 students presented their study abroad research at the program鈥檚 11th E Hoʻoulu Haumana on August 15.

Since 2014, this National Institutes of Health-funded program offers undergraduate, post-baccalaureate and graduate students from any discipline opportunities to engage in national or international mentored research projects in fields such as tropical medicine, infectious diseases and community research.

This year, students spent eight to nine weeks conducting research in locations such as Thailand, American Samoa, Guam, and Atlanta, Georgia, directly impacting the communities they served. The MHRT program spans one academic year and concludes with students presenting their research from these out-of-state experiences.

“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to participate in the MHRT program,” said Jena Funakoshi, who is concurrently pursuing her master’s and PhD in public health. “It has opened numerous doors for research and networking opportunities. My experience in American Samoa taught me invaluable lessons, allowed me to build relationships that will support me throughout my PhD program, and gave me the chance to learn from a new community and experience a beautiful culture.”

“The students are exposed to hot topics in their area, and sometimes, we’re seeing global concerns, like long COVID and Alzheimer’s dementia,” said Angela Sy, MHRT program director. MHRT also emphasizes the cultural aspects of these regions. “The hope is that this contextualizes life in the places where they’re working,” she added.

Many students advance to grad, med school

MHRT has a strong track record of students advancing to graduate school. About 25% go on to medical school, with many continuing at JABSOM. A large portion of those who don’t pursue medical school go on to earn their master’s or PhD.

Applications for the 12th year of MHRT begin in November. The program is open to students from any major, particularly those h.

“We don’t just look at academics; we seek qualities that will help students succeed in applying for future graduate or professional schools,” Sy said.

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A 2023 Hollywood film Nyad takes viewers on a journey alongside Diana Nyad in her five attempts at a historic 110-mile swim from Cuba to Florida. Annette Bening was nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of Nyad in the movie that also starred Jodie Foster. Nyad鈥檚 inspiring true story was made possible, in part, by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa research associate professor Angel Yanagihara.

Yanagihara, who is with the and John A. Burns School of Medicine , played a key role in developing topical technologies (for which she is sole inventor, US Patent #10,172,883) including a cream that prevents box jellyfish stings, a life threatening hurdle Nyad had to face to complete her record breaking swim.

Nyad contacted Yanagihara in March 2012 after she was severely stung by box jellies during her third attempt to complete the swim. She found Yanagihara鈥檚 name while searching the internet for people who had anything to do with box jellies.

“I received an email out of the blue with 40 detailed questions,” said Yanagihara. “I looked her up and saw that she had a TED talk and I listened to that and I was immediately smitten by this person and how much discipline she brought to her athleticism and her goal.”

Yanagihara鈥檚 own experience with a box jellyfish sting at Kaimana Beach in 1997 that required emergency care. That spurred her research after she discovered no one had studied the venom’s biochemistry. Nyad’s team sought Yanagihara’s expertise and wanted her to accompany Nyad on her next swim attempts.

“They insisted that they absolutely needed me to be on this swim in person,” Yanagihara said. “I realized if I didn’t go, she might very well die because of the lack of general understanding of this venom including the mistaken care that previous folks had given her by injecting her with epinephrine on her last attempt.”

Testing out the cream on herself

At the time, Yanagihara’s research had focused on developing treatments for combat divers and special forces personnel affected by jellyfish stings. However, Nyad sought a preventative solution. Yanagihara conducted various tests on the discharge mechanism of box jellyfish tentacles and found a working combination, which she then compounded into anhydrous lanolin used by long-distance ocean swimmers to prevent chapping.

“After exhaustive in vitro testing, I found a combination that did work,” Yanagihara said. “I went out swimming by myself with it on and then I laid a live box jellyfish on my own skin and it worked!”

Yanagihara’s contribution to Nyad鈥檚 swim emphasizes the role of research and collaboration in pushing the boundaries of human achievement.

“It’s very important to highlight that there are highly innovative approaches at the University of Hawaiʻi,” said Yanagihara. “This work was initially solely supported by the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation. I would like to see novel funding mechanisms at 糖心视频 to foster a more innovative ecosystem.”

Yanagihara鈥檚 character was also cast in the film Nyad and was portrayed by actress Jeena Li.

“While it was fun to be included in name, the Hollywood version of my role was almost unrecognizable. My actual research was not included. I was in the water as a free diver from dusk to dawn, the actress appears to only have been in the water once,” said Yanagihara on being played by Li in the film.

Growing up, Olivia Smith, a recent PhD graduate from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM) had always thought her future career would involve medicine. However, while pursuing her bachelor鈥檚 degree in neuroscience at the University of Vermont, she realized that she preferred her time at the lab bench and in the field, absorbed in the world of research.

“I thought to myself, ‘oh I really like this.’ I like finding out these intricate pathways and things that make up these evidence-based practices that we can use in the real world,” said Smith, who earned her degree in tropical medicine, medical microbiology and pharmacology at the .

Smith spent two years with the Peace Corps in Peru as a water, sanitation and hygiene educator, pursued a master鈥檚 of public health in epidemiology from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, then began her PhD program at JABSOM, just as the COVID-19 pandemic began to take its toll in the U.S.

“The pandemic was quite memorable but I鈥檓 really happy with the time I鈥檝e had here. Even though the pandemic definitely hindered it a little鈥攊t definitely directed my research and not in a bad way,” said Smith, who successfully defended her dissertation, “Assessing Vaccine Efficacy and Seroprevalence Using Multiplex Immunoassays: Development, Validation, and Applications in Diverse Populations,” in November.

Smith’s research involved three parts, including the development of a tool that detects antibody levels after given a vaccine. This can indicate how effective a vaccine is and how well it works in various groups of people, even those with different health conditions. After analyzing the response to COVID-19 vaccines using these MIAs, she found that comorbidities (diseases or medical conditions that are present simultaneously), such as obesity and diabetes, reduce vaccine efficacy.

Opening the doors for future research

Smith, who was mentored under Associate Professor Axel Lehrer, is hopeful that the results may open the door for future research that perhaps studies specifically-tailored vaccines for those with comorbidities.

“It鈥檚 not to say that people with obesity and diabetes shouldn鈥檛 get vaccinated, if anything it鈥檚 the exact opposite鈥攖hey should be vaccinated, 100%, because people with these comorbid conditions are more susceptible to severe disease,” Smith said.

With the knowledge gained at JABSOM, Smith is heading back home to Massachusetts with aspirations to do fieldwork in the realm of global public health. Her life experiences and her research have shown her how vaccines can be a great prevention method that can lead to her dream of achieving health equity for all.

“I鈥檓 a big advocate for health equity. I think health is a human right. Everyone deserves (good) health,” said Smith.

Read more on the .

An international fellowship recently sent University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 Albert To to Africa to research ways to help Liberia determine where insect-borne viruses are present. The (JABSOM) postdoctoral researcher received the 2022 from the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. To will conduct research through May in Liberia鈥檚 most rural and remote areas.

To鈥檚 study will provide a glimpse of the circulating insect-borne viruses in the country, which has scarcely been documented.

His research there will supplement the work started by JABSOM Principal Investigators Vivek R. Nerurkar, chair, and Axel Lehrer, associate professor in the . This is in collaboration with co-principal investigator, Peter Humphrey, at the University of Liberia (UL).

Building on existing research

Nerukar and Lehrer驶s existing project in Liberia looks at the epidemiology of Lassa virus and filoviruses, including Ebola, Marburg and Sudan ebolavirus, which recently swept through Uganda. To鈥檚 research will focus on the natural history of West Nile, Dengue, Usutu, Yellow Fever, Zika, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, Rift Valley Fever, O鈥檔yong nyong and Chikungunya viruses.

“The staff at the UL are collecting human and animal samples to check their blood to see if they have any antibodies,” To said. “What the antibodies do is kind of give them a clue about the viruses circulating in that area or have circulated in that area.”

To will conduct a type of surveillance known as “seroepidemiology.” Using blood samples, seroepidemiology is a tool that allows scientists to determine previous exposure to certain viruses.

Study results to aid Liberian health officials

To will inform Liberian health officials of the results, which will allow them to target their outreach about specific viruses more strategically and precisely.

“The Liberians are appreciative of our efforts because there鈥檚 not much of this type of research going on,” To said. “There鈥檚 few people in Liberia that can do this research. They are actively developing their infrastructure and communication networks, so it鈥檚 helpful that we鈥檒l be providing them with important information that they can use to come up with healthcare policies or even containment strategies.”

To鈥檚 Liberian trip will be another chapter in 糖心视频鈥檚 relationship with UL. Students from Liberia have enrolled at the JABSOM, and at the same time, the Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology continues to have a presence in the country on the West African coast.

With only one recipient selected each year, To said he is proud to put JABSOM on the map with this fellowship.

“The previous recipients of this award are from Stanford, MIT and Harvard. JABSOM is a smaller school, and tropical medicine is a small department, so it鈥檚 nice to show that we鈥檙e up there with those large, well-funded universities.”

An associate professor in the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (SOEST) was to the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine鈥檚 .

Rosie ʻAnolani Alegado, who is the first Indigenous person appointed to the Ocean Studies Board, hopes to bring consideration for the strengths and challenges in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific to this important forum.

“I am honored to serve on a board that has such a tremendous impact on our profession as ocean scientists and more broadly, the United States and the Pacific,” said Alegado. “I intend to introduce new voices, particularly those of Native practitioners, to provide expertise and advice on our marine ecosystems and habitats.”

Alegado is a faculty member with the , the , and Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education is also the director of the and the . She is also co-founder, business and finance director of the John A. Burns School of Medicine鈥檚 .

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine provide expert advice on some of the most pressing challenges facing the nation and world to spark progress for the benefit of society. The Ocean Studies Board explores the science, policies and infrastructure needed to understand, manage, and conserve coastal and marine environments and resources.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Alegado to the Ocean Studies Board and look forward to her contributions to our work,” said Susan Roberts, director of the Ocean Studies Board.

The board also serves as the U.S. Committee for the , funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation, Office of Naval Research and the National Academies Presidents鈥� Funds. The U.S. National Committee for the Ocean Decade will encourage participation and serve as a communication channel for the U.S. ocean science com颅munity throughout this international effort.

This appointment is an example of 糖心视频 Mānoa鈥檚 goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

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Hawaiʻi, a prime tourism destination, in combination with its largely multi-racial resident population, presents a unique opportunity to identify and chart the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 variants, the virus that causes the coronavirus disease. The National Institutes of Health has committed $779,792 for two years to the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM) toward advancing public impact research on the spread and continuing evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants in the state鈥檚 underserved communities.

We want to further understand why certain variants are so much more transmissible than others.
—Vivek R. Nerurkar

The study, “Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Hawaiʻi,” is part of the . It is based on the prediction that additional variants will be found in Hawaiʻi because of its high influx of recreational travelers from COVID-19 hotspots.

Vivek R. Nerurkar, professor and chair of JABSOM鈥檚 , leads a team of graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and bioinformaticians, including the INBRE Bioinformatics Core group, in sequencing and analyzing the genetic information of these variants circulating throughout the state.

“We want to further understand why certain variants are so much more transmissible than others,” said Nerurkar, who has spearheaded COVID-19 diagnostic testing among the underserved and vulnerable populations in the state.

• Related 糖心视频 News story: New 糖心视频 lab provides free rapid result COVID-19 testing to underserved, December 4, 2020

The project represents a collaboration with four Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments-certified laboratories in Honolulu that perform FDA Emergency Use Authorization COVID-19 diagnostic tests. In addition, the study is providing a unique opportunity for participation by undergraduates in the Hawaiʻi INBRE student research program.

Algorithm to predict mutations

The research group鈥檚 work preceding this grant was published in , the and in , where they present an algorithm developed to predict particular mutations that can lead to more transmissible COVID-19 variants.

“We developed this model hoping we can contribute to the new generation vaccines so that there is no delay in preparing the new vaccines when variants arrive,” Nerurkar said.

“The work by Dr. Nerurkar and his team will ensure that Hawaiʻi is out in front of any new variants of concern either entering the state or arising here on the islands, as part of a national effort to track and quickly respond to the entry and movement of coronavirus variants across the states,” said Principal Investigator and Director of the Hawaiʻi INBRE Robert Nichols.

This research is an example of 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM) have demonstrated the efficacy in monkeys of multiple vaccine candidates targeting three filoviruses causing life-threatening infections to humans: Ebola virus, Sudan virus and Marburg virus. The new findings were published in on August 18.

Associate Professor Axel Lehrer of the leads the JABSOM team, working in collaboration on this project with late-stage biopharmaceutical company , and with the local development partner, Hawaii Biotech, Inc. The team also reported another breakthrough in demonstrating successful thermostabilization in single vials of Filovirus vaccines in (available online since August 13).

“Filoviruses are endemic in areas of the world where the power supply can be uncertain, making a thermostable vaccine particularly valuable,” said Lehrer. “Our work to date has demonstrated not only the feasibility of rapid and efficient manufacturing, but also the applicability of thermostabilization of multiple antigens with the potential for a broadly applicable and easily distributed vaccine.”

Lehrer鈥檚 work has focused on creating shelf-stable vaccines that require no refrigeration or freezing, which is key to eradicating viruses in tropical countries, and allows equitable distribution of much needed vaccines to communities around the globe.

• Related 糖心视频 News story: Ebola vaccine developed by 糖心视频 can withstand high heat, February 22, 2019

According to Lehrer, once developed, such a vaccine may be able to rapidly address emerging outbreaks, such as the infection that appeared in Guinea recently. The collaborators believe that this technology may be an important contribution to National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci鈥檚 proposed idea to against the top 20 viral families that may also cause pandemics.

“Having such a platform available would likely enable broader and faster worldwide vaccination campaigns addressing future health emergencies. In addition, the ability to combine antigens in the formulation also enables generation of potentially broader protective vaccines,” Lehrer said.

COVID-19 vaccine update

Since March 2020, Lehrer has also been working with Soligenix on a promising thermostable COVID-19 vaccine. “While much progress has been made since the initial announcement of our collaborative research, we are actively working on further analysis if the neutralizing potential of the vaccine candidate against a number of virus variants,” he said. The vaccine is being developed using the same thermostable platform that was used for filovirus vaccines and has demonstrated promising results in mice and non-human primates.

presenting the team鈥檚 findings has been published in Frontiers in Immunology in October 2020. A further publication is currently undergoing peer review and is

like this focused on preventing and curing infectious and emerging diseases, including COVID-19 (Account fund: #129-7310-4, ).

This research is an example of 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

In Hawaiʻi, rat lungworm disease is responsible for many cases of debilitating illness every year sometimes resulting in death. The clinical subcommittee of the state鈥檚 Joint Task Force on Rat Lungworm Disease has recently revised the preliminary guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of rat lungworm disease. Led by Vernon Ansdell, an internist and associate professor at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM), the updated recommendations were published in the journal Parasitology.

• Related 糖心视频 News story: New preliminary rat lungworm treatment guidelines, August 31, 2018

Most people in Hawaiʻi are believed to become infected after eating green leafy vegetables contaminate d with slugs or snails infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis, a nematode worm. Cases of rat lungworm disease appear to be more severe in Hawaiʻi than in other parts of the world, possibly due to recently introduced semi-slugs that often contain large numbers of A cantonensis larvae.

Ansdell says the new guidelines emphasize both early diagnosis and early treatment using high dose corticosteroids to reduce inflammation in the central nervous system, and antiworm treatment with albendazole to kill worms at an early stage before they grow and cause significant damage. In addition, new, more sensitive tests of the cerebrospinal fluid and blood being developed by the National Institutes of Health may help with earlier diagnosis.

“Early diagnosis is very difficult because most cases present with vague, nonspecific symptoms, resulting in significant delays in treatment,” said Ansdell. “Current evidence suggests that early diagnosis and treatment could result in improved outcomes with long-term disabilities and deaths.”.

“We need detailed information on cases in Hawaiʻi as they arise,” Ansdell added. ”Collaborative international clinical research will help us to learn more about the diagnosis and treatment of this challenging disease.”

This work is an example of 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

The University of Hawaiʻi (TMCL) is ramping up operations to meet its mission of providing free, rapid result (24–48 hours) COVID-19 testing to those with limited access to healthcare and health insurance, as well as to first responders and health care workers on the frontlines of the pandemic. Opened in October 2020, TMCL is a certified lab at the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM) established through a City and County of Honolulu/糖心视频 partnership with funding from the federal CARES Act.

“Our goal is to make sure that we can provide such tests to our community as soon as possible, making diagnosis and detection faster,” said TMCL principal investigator Vivek Nerurkar, professor and chair of the JABSOM Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology.

TMCL is developing and leveraging partnerships with and community organizations to reach underserved populations that include Filipinos, Pacific Islanders and the houseless. As of early December, the lab is processing about 70 tests per day from walk-ins at the community health centers alone.

“We are providing focused testing in these communities and have been successful through our partnerships with trusted organizations who are critical in encouraging people to come out and get tested,” said Rosie Alegado, a 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 associate professor of oceanography who serves as the lab鈥檚 community liaison lead. “We are intent on continuing to build relationships with grassroots community organizations to get these services to people who need it.”

That includes on-location testing events in the communities where the underserved reside. At one recent event in November, about 60 P膩lolo Valley Homes residents were tested at the public housing complex in collaboration with the Waik墨k墨 Community Health Center, Pacific Islander Service and the Honolulu Bible Church. With the rapid test results and community groups in place, a family with a positive test result was provided immediate assistance including a Waik墨k墨 hotel room to quarantine and testing for extended family members and other close contacts. Health experts say the virus can spread quickly in these types of communities if not aggressively addressed.

“If we鈥檙e going to stamp out COVID-19 in areas and communities with disproportionate infection rates, a high level of face-to-face care has to be given,” said Alegado. “This requires a network of interfacing services.”

TMCL is also providing houseless individuals with free COVID-19 testing through JABSOM鈥檚 , where 糖心视频 medical students and faculty provide free health services to unsheltered populations. Planning is underway with the University Health Services 惭腻苍辞补 to provide up to 200 tests a week to 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 students, faculty and staff, and to dental hygiene and medical students so that they are able to return to clinical training.

“The COVID-19 testing is meeting an immediate need, which we are honored to be able to provide,” said Nerurkar. “This is just the beginning. The lab鈥檚 long term goal is to enhance Hawaiʻi鈥檚 capacity to track emerging pathogens and develop diagnostic tools to detect tropical diseases such as dengue, Zika and rat lungworm.”

for information on how to get a COVID-19 test and for upcoming community testing events.

The University of Hawaiʻi has begun operations at its new COVID-19 testing laboratory in partnership with the City and County of Honolulu that will expand testing capacity for vulnerable populations on Oʻahu.

The , based at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (JABSOM), will begin conducting COVID-19 tests by appointment only from its Kakaʻako clinic beginning Monday, October 19. TMCL will augment Oʻahu capacity to provide testing for homeless and uninsured individuals that face unique barriers to accessing testing for the virus that causes COVID-19.

• Related 糖心视频 News story: 糖心视频 lab to serve as hub for COVID-19 testing innovation, May 19, 2020

TMCL is also collaborating with seven Community Health Centers across Oʻahu to process tests for underserved, uninsured and front-line workers who may require multiple tests for safety at their workplace.

For an appointment, please call the University of Hawaiʻi Clinics at Kakaʻako at (808) 692-1310. For more information, . Per 糖心视频 guidelines, anyone coming onto the campus must wear a face cloth covering. In response to the COVID-19 health crisis, JABSOM is not open to the public and is a smoke-free campus. The COVID-19 test results can be expected between 24–48 hours and will be shared with the State Department of Health. Please note the TMCL is not a State-approved Safe Travels pre-flight testing site and will not perform pre-travel testing.

“This partnership with the John A. Burns School of Medicine and the City and County of Honolulu will provide testing to those who might otherwise not have access to it,” said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell. “This virus doesn鈥檛 discriminate, and as we continue to open up our economy, we need to keep testing to know where in our community the virus is hiding. The John A. Burns School of Medicine, the only lab associated with an institution of higher learning in Hawaiʻi, adds testing capacity in an extremely crucial time in this pandemic.”

The new lab is being supported with up to $3.9 million in CARES funds from the City and County of Honolulu. The partnership was structured in phases, with $1.2 million being made immediately available to stand up the lab in the first phase, and then pay for tests on an as-needed basis in phases 2 and 3.

Funding from the City and County of Honolulu served as foundational support to establish the lab and will support capacity at the lab to process up to 100,000 COVID-19 tests annually. The TMCL will also lead research efforts to develop innovative approaches for less invasive and more cost effective COVID-19 testing.

TMCL will operate out of JABSOM‘s Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology led by , professor and chair, who will work alongside a leadership team that reflects 糖心视频‘s extensive expertise in virology, bacteriology, parasitology and immunology. 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 associate professor of oceanography is the community liaison lead for the TMCL and has been instrumental in this collaborative effort.

“We are deeply grateful to Mayor Caldwell for supporting the startup of our new testing lab. This not only enables us to help ensure adequate testing across Oʻahu, but we will be able to explore innovations in testing for COVID-19 that can remove barriers to pervasive testing for all,” said 糖心视频 President David Lassner. “I especially want to credit Dr. Vivek Nerurkar and Dr. Rosie Alegado, whose dedication and perseverance has been remarkable in overcoming obstacles and hurdles that could never have been expected.”

TMCL will utilize nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT). The FDA-authorized NAAT tests for SARS-CoV-2 meet the Emergency Use Authorization statutory standard, and based on the current available data, are highly accurate.

Donate to the 糖心视频 Foundation .

Two researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM) have each been awarded a prestigious R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). R01 grants are among the most rigorously reviewed and most competitive, each bringing in at least $1 million in federal direct dollars, and another half million in indirect funding to 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补.

The JABSOM researchers are V. Andrew Stenger, associate director in the Department of Medicine, and Wei-Kung Wang, professor of tropical medicine and medical microbiology.

“Each new R01 is a reason for celebration at our university. Only the best of the best in the country get them. These faculty have competed against faculty at Johns Hopkins, Stanford, Harvard and other prestigious institutions,” Rachel Boulay, JABSOM associate director for research said. “These projects were judged to be in the top percentile of all applications. These JABSOM faculty have undeniably strong research programs and give Hawaiʻi and our university a reason to be very proud.”

JABSOM currently has 15 active R01 grants from NIH.

V. Andrew Stenger

Stenger received an R01 for his research on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). His research focuses on developing new methodology for MRI. He is writing new software that runs the scanner and creates the images, which could decrease the amount of time a patient is in the scanner and also provide new biomarkers for disease.

“My goal is to acquire the highest quality images in the shortest amount of time,” he said. “My new R01 is to develop a new method for simultaneously acquiring images with different types of contrast such as for iron and fat.”

Wei-Kung Wang

For the past 19 years, Wang has been conducting research with the focus of understanding the pathogenesis and antibody response following dengue virus infections and facilitating the development of vaccines and serodiagnosis.

Wang believes that a critical need exists for sensitive and specific serological tests to discriminate infections by pathogenic arthropod-borne viruses in geographic regions.

With his current R01 award, Wang鈥檚 laboratory proposes to employ these two antigens in multiplex formats in Bahia, a northeast state in Brazil.

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A vaccine candidate that shows promise in rapidly inducing immunity to the novel coronavirus in pre-clinical trials has been developed by a University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 researcher, in collaboration with a pharmaceutical company.

Axel Lehrer, an assistant professor at the , is leading a team of scientists in the Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, collaborating with New Jersey-based Soligenix, Inc. on the project.

The Lehrer Laboratory, Soligenix, and Hawaiʻi
-based Hawaii Biotech, Inc., have previously demonstrated the feasibility of developing a thermostable Ebola virus and multivalent filovirus vaccines and applied the same technology platform to rapidly develop a vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19, the infection caused by SARS-CoV-2.

• Related 糖心视频 News story: Ebola virus developed by 糖心视频 can withstand high heat, February 22, 2019

“Our work to date has demonstrated not only the feasibility of rapid and efficient manufacturing of the required vaccine antigens, but also the potential for a broadly applicable and easily distributed vaccine,” said Lehrer. “We are delighted with our earlier successes on development of filovirus and flavivirus vaccines with this platform.”

Their vaccine candidate successfully demonstrates the ability to rapidly stimulate a balanced antibody response, which includes potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralization and cell-mediated immunity, a measure necessary to clear a viral infection. In addition, the results generated by Lehrer and his team in a well-defined mouse model using a prototype virus antigen display a rapid onset of immunity with antibody responses detected as early as seven days after the first vaccination.

presenting the data has been submitted for peer review to npj Vaccines and is available as a preprint on bioRxiv.

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After a fulfilling career in research, medicine and university administration, Virginia Hinshaw is giving her white coat the hook. Hinshaw retired June 30 after 13 years with the .

Hinshaw served as chancellor from 2007 to 2012, and as chancellor emeritus and professor of tropical medicine, medical microbiology and pharmacology at the (JABSOM), for the past eight years.

Many know her as tireless, involved and interested. Words such as: can’t, don’t, won’t, are unfamiliar to her, and she has helped many medical students eliminate those words from their lives as well.

“I have worked in hospitals, institutes and universities. All have been fulfilling in different ways,” Hinshaw said. “I have been fortunate to have two careers鈥攊n science and in university administration鈥攂oth providing many opportunities to learn and to facilitate the success of others. I have enjoyed both my personal life and my professional life鈥攁s a mentor, I often tell folks that they are not mutually exclusive.”

At eight years old, Hinshaw was determined to be a microbiologist. She credits her parents who fully supported her in her pursuit. She also credits a professor who challenged and inspired her.

“My major professor Dr. Emilio Mora had great confidence in me, which helped me believe in myself. Also, as a woman in science, I was a minority, but so was Dr. Mora. I believe his positive approach to dealing with that challenge inspired and enabled me to deal with similar challenges,” she said.

There were two things in her career Hinshaw said that changed her. While working at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, she took a sabbatical at Harvard Medical School.

“That was a great experience and led to my returning to universities to continue my career,” she said.

As a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW), then UW Chancellor Donna Shalala—another of Hinshaw’s mentors—appointed her to the UW Athletic Board.

“I found that I really enjoyed the opportunity to work with the broader community and the chance to focus on addressing important campus issues,” she said. “That experience led me to enter university administration.”

for seniors was one of several ways Hinshaw and JABSOM fulfilled a community need for an often sidelined segment of society.

“Our theme ‘Seniors Rock,’ and strengthening our connections with the public鈥攂oth were my goals when I started the program,” Hinshaw said.

Typically, Hinshaw undertakes projects for five to seven years, and then, she is eager to learn something new.

“I have offered to teach, mentor and encourage philanthropy for the university, since I enjoy those and believe it is important to be purposeful,” Hinshaw added. “I will continue with boards on which I serve, and I am considering other ways to contribute to the community. There is so much that needs to be done.”

For more on Hinshaw, see the .

—By Paula Bender

The University of Hawaiʻi will help to expand COVID-19 testing capacity on Oʻahu as part of a new partnership with the City and County of Honolulu.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced the city will provide $3.9 million in funding from the federal government鈥檚 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and additional funding from the Rockefeller Foundation to support the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) .

Through this partnership the TMC Lab will collaborate with Community Health Centers across Oʻahu and provide capacity to perform up to 50,000 COVID-19 tests and 49,000 antibody tests through the end of 2020. Funding from the City and County of Honolulu will also support research efforts at the TMC Lab to develop innovative approaches for less invasive and more cost effective COVID-19 testing.

“We鈥檙e really excited about this opportunity to collaborate with the city and county, the mayor and his team to leverage our facilities and our faculty expertise,” 糖心视频 President David Lassner said. “This lab will also be a crucial component for our ability to open the University of Hawaiʻi for the fall.”

The lab will operate out of the 糖心视频 Mānoa (JABSOM鈥檚 Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology. Vivek Nerurkar, professor and chair of the Department of Tropical Medicine will lead the operation alongside a leadership team that reflects 糖心视频‘s extensive expertise in virology, bacteriology, parasitology, and immunology.

“糖心视频 is enthusiastic about providing this service to our local community,” associate professor of Oceanography and Hawaiʻi Sea Grant鈥檚 Director Rosie Alegado said. Alegado is the community liaison lead for the TMC Lab. “鈥淗补飞补颈ʻ颈 may see an increase of infections as restrictions relax. We believe it is important that 糖心视频 provides supplemental capacity in case there is a surge of cases. We want to be able to serve our islands as needed.”

The ability to conduct this testing could provide wider insight as to patterns and prevalence of COVID-19 exposure locally. The partnership can also bring JABSOM鈥檚 expertise in Native Hawaiian health to support culturally relevant care approaches and new avenues for addressing health disparities during the COVID-19 response.

Donate to the 糖心视频 Foundation .

As confirmed COVID-19 cases continue to rise, the need for a vaccine to prevent the spread of the flu-like virus grows. University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 scientist Axel Lehrer is among those helping in that global fight. He is working in collaboration with New Jersey-based biopharmaceutical company to develop potential coronavirus vaccines, including one for the novel COVID-19 disease.

“Our platform has a good chance because the vaccine we鈥檙e producing is something that鈥檚 thermostable, can be produced in mass quantities and can be shipped everywhere without the need for refrigeration,” said Lehrer, an assistant professor at the . “That鈥檚 a huge benefit in an outbreak scenario where you need to be able to quickly ship vaccines around the world.”

Lehrer and his team of about a dozen lab colleagues in the have previously demonstrated the feasibility of developing an Ebola virus vaccine. Using the same technology platform, they are hopeful their development for a COVID-19 vaccine will also prove to be successful.

• Support 糖心视频 COVID-19 research

In contrast to other coronavirus vaccines that use an RNA-based approach that is quicker to test in humans, the recombinant subunit vaccine Lehrer is developing takes a more conventional approach used for many proven vaccines currently on the market.

“We鈥檙e making antigen, the protein that will make you resistant to the virus. We make those antigens that will give a solid immune response. Our product will take between six to nine months to be ready for clinical trials, but the immune response you develop is much more potent (in comparison to RNA-based vaccines),” said Lehrer.

Lehrer believes the recombinant subunit vaccine is the right approach for COVID-19. “It can be used in any person, in immunocompromised people, in the elderly and in small children. The safety margin is very good and that鈥檚 why we believe it could be a major contribution to the field,” he said.

“It is rewarding to see ongoing work by JABSOM investigators and collaborators expanding on successful research on filovirus vaccines (protecting against viruses such as Ebola and Marburg virus) that may help us make unique life-saving contributions during this difficult time in healthcare,” said JABSOM Dean Jerris Hedges. “The prospect of a science lab in Hawaiʻi helping develop a vaccine amid the COVID-19 pandemic is a testament to the importance of local research in Hawaiʻi.”

The next stage in the development process for the vaccine is to conduct test trials in small animals, which will commence in the next few weeks.

Along with Soligenix, Lehrer and his team are also working with , a Hawaiʻi-based subunit vaccine developer.

A student from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (JABSOM) will earn his doctorate in tropical medicine this month as he works to help solve the mystery of why the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) “rebounds” when treatment is stopped or interrupted.

Brooks Mitchell, a Kamehameha Schools Kap膩lama graduate of Kamuela on Hawaiʻi Island, has poured himself into the research. “Understanding where HIV hides, and what cells are involved in its persistence, remains a topic of intense interest in the field and has become a current focus of my research,” Mitchell said. The study of viral reservoirs in HIV infection is motivated by the fact that the virus is not eradicated by current treatment, although it can be reduced to undetectable levels in the blood.

Mitchell, with other researchers at the Hawaiʻi Center for AIDS, is investigating which types of blood cells may harbor HIV despite optimal antiretroviral therapy. He uses a method that he developed during his PhD studies to assess different types of cells isolated from HIV-positive individuals who are on treatment.

“I determine the number of cells that are infected and produce HIV, as well as estimate the amount of HIV produced by each infected cell,” he said. Mitchell believes that greater understanding of these HIV reservoirs may inform targeted approaches in future curative treatments.

“The opportunity to work with healthcare providers and patients has been an important experience because it is a reminder that the research being conducted should be relevant to both the investigators and, more importantly, the people living with HIV.”

Mitchell developed an interest in infectious diseases and immunology as an undergraduate while majoring in microbiology and working in a clinical microbiology laboratory. Some of his professors and the technical director of the lab where he worked were affiliated with JABSOM鈥檚 . “After talking to some of the faculty, the tropical medicine department seemed like a great fit since its curriculum focused on areas of research that I wanted to further pursue during my graduate studies.”

Mitchell is expected to earn his PhD in tropical medicine in fall 2019. He previously earned a BS in microbiology and an MS in tropical medicine from 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补.

“After my PhD, I plan to continue on to receive medical training and become a physician-scientist,” added Mitchell.

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