New Jersey lands big fish as Ellner announces move
Researcher to head new pathogens center
Superstar TB researcher Jerrold J. Ellner, MD, is leaving Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland for the New Jersey Medical School in Newark.
The snagging of Ellner rounds out what’s shaping up to be an impressive gathering of TB researchers all under the same roof, since the New York City-based Public Health Research Institute, a high-tech sleuthing facility that types resistant strains of pathogens, is set to join the Newark crew within two years.
"The concentration of people doing TB work here will be monumental," says Lee Reichman, MD, MPH, director of the National TB Center at the school. "Clearly, the school and its parent university have decided that TB is a phenomenally important issue — and that they’re going to make it one of their seminal programs. I don’t know of any other university in the world that’s made such a commitment."
TB experts at both ends gave the match between New Jersey and the Case Western heavy-hitter their blessings, stressing that Ellner’s departure from Cleveland means good news for Newark but doesn’t portend that he will sever ties with colleagues in Ohio.
Ellner and the crew of TB experts in New Jersey plus whatever portion of his Cleveland colleagues follow him will "complement each other," says Reichman. Ellner "does basic research, and we do clinical care and clinical and epidemiological research, so it’ll be a great fit."
At Case Western, where Ellner has long directed the multimillion-dollar contract awarded to the National Institutes of Health’s TB Research Unit (TBRU), his job will be filled, at least for the int erim, by his longtime colleague Henry Boom, MD.
Ellner accepted his new post in August; he leaves this month for Newark. There he will wear two hats: first and foremost, he will direct the school’s newly created Center for Emerging Pathogens; second, he will chair the newly created department of basic and translational research at the National Tuberculosis Center.
Though the position at the new Center for Emerging Pathogens is what persuaded him to move, he’ll still devote plenty of time and energy to his longtime passion, he says. "What this arrangement will do, I think, is give us incredible depth and breadth in TB research. For me personally, it will also be a chance to extend my work to other diseases."
Exactly which pathogens (in addition to TB, of course) will form the focus of research at the new center has yet to be decided, he says. "There’s a long list under consideration. We’ll have to choose based on our institutional strengths. I have international collaborations, so if we can attract good basic scientists doing work on other pathogens, we could probably facilitate their research in developing countries."
At the National TB Center, Ellner will continue working, as he’s done over the past several years, to "translate" basic research to applications in humans and to attract industry interest that is needed.
Rolling up his sleeves in a Jersey clinic?
His presence at a TB model center known for its clinical research suggests he’ll also be rolling up his sleeves to do more clinically based work. "We’ve talked about lots of ways our two groups can collaborate," Reichman says. "His group will want to get licensed so they can treat patients at our model center. If we have trials, his group will be able to advise us; his statistician will help us design our stuff; when we give courses, his people will help teach."
Still being worked out is the exact relationship between TB model center and the Center for Emerging Pathogens — or, as the other name under consideration goes, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Pathogens. "The flowchart isn’t set in concrete yet," says Reichman. "All I know for sure is that we revere and respect Ellner, and I’m pretty sure he thinks a lot of us, too."
Back at Case Western, Boom (pronounced "Bome") reaffirms that Ellner’s parting is strictly amicable and that he expects to continue working with his longtime colleague on TBRU projects in Uganda and elsewhere. "Dr. Ellner’s physical departure from Case does not eliminate his involvement," says Boom. "He’ll continue to be critical to the work of the TBRU, especially the overseas trials. This isn’t a sayonara for a man who’ll just quietly wrap things up and then go off to pursue other interests. There will very much continue to be an active collaboration and interaction and, hopefully, a greater enrichment of what’s already a great TB research firm."
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