Yasmin Hurd, PhD: Asking the Questions No One Was Asking

Updated on Mar 9, 2023 | Featured, Research

Yasmin Hurd, PhD: Asking the Questions No One Was Asking

A couple of decades ago, most people familiar with cannabis called it marijuana—and had probably never heard of cannabidiol (also known as CBD), one of its components.

Today, many people have heard about CBD and its potential therapeutic uses thanks to the work of Yasmin Hurd, PhD, Ward-Coleman Chair of Translational Neuroscience and Director of the Addiction Institute of Mount Sinai, who pioneered research into the compound, cannabis more generally, and their various interactions with substance-use disorders.

“I believe I had been asking questions that no one was asking at the time,” said Dr. Hurd. Her work helped her get elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in May. She is also a member of the National Academy of Medicine.

Dr. Hurd’s research focuses on the neurobiology of drug addiction and various psychiatric disorders, spanning both basic science research and translational work in humans. Having evidence in both non-clinical and clinical settings has helped the research be applicable in guiding treatment and health policy, she said.

“Producing research that actually has impact to our society was important to me,” Dr. Hurd said. Through her work in studying molecular impacts of exposure to substances from prenatally to adulthood, including pioneering studies of the human brain, she discovered milestones about the developmental and transgenerational effects of exposure to cannabis, and also its therapeutic potential for treating other forms of addiction, such as with opioids.

“At the time no one knew what cannabidiol was, and today you can even see it being added to coffee in coffee shops,” she said with a laugh.

Dr. Hurd was elected to the National Academy of Sciences along with Helen Mayberg, MD, founding Director of the Nash Family Center for Advanced Circuit Therapeutics at Mount Sinai. Read more about Dr. Mayberg’s achievements here.

The Potential of a Limitless Environment

More than a decade ago, in the field of medicine, marijuana was still seen as having limited evidence for being a treatment for any condition and many thought that it was a benign drug without long-term impact on the brain. “My research into the developmental effects of cannabis as well as potential therapeutic aspects of cannabidiol made people take another look at cannabis and have shaped the questions people are asking today,” she said.

Being able to ask the questions that no one was asking requires the combination of the researcher’s driving instinct and institutional support. “I think Mount Sinai helped me to not only ask, but to answer those questions,” Dr. Hurd said.

“Physicians had always focused on treating the adult patient in front of them, but the thinking about what had brought them there in the first place was unaddressed,” she said. As she studied adults with substance-use disorders, she found many had drug exposures early in life, and sought to understand whether those early exposures were linked to psychiatric illnesses later on as adults.

Dr. Hurd recalled that when she joined Mount Sinai in 2006, she pitched ideas about advancing her preclinical work into humans to Dennis Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of Icahn Mount Sinai and President for Academic Affairs of the Mount Sinai Health System. She had begun to study how cannabidiol worked in animal models but had not yet investigated it in live human beings. “Dean Charney said, ‘You could absolutely do that here,’ and just knowing that was possible enabled me to run clinical trials.”

“Early in my career, I never thought that my research would evolve the way it has,” Dr. Hurd said. “Instead of being theoretical about translation, I actually got to study it in humans.”

“The whole thing about being in an environment where there are no limitations placed on you is that it becomes dependent on your drive, on the questions you want to ask,” Dr. Hurd said. “I remember going away from that meeting feeling happy, thinking, ‘Whoa, there are no limits. What do I really want to do now?’”

Even today, that is a question Dr. Hurd asks herself. A constant in her research is for her work to always reveal something relevant to the human condition. As she advanced her work in addiction, she has come to understand that addiction is more a disorder of epigenetics, in contrast to a disease of genetic inheritance.

“Our next phase, especially in medication development, is to see if we can leverage the knowledge about epigenetic dysregulation to develop targeted interventions to reverse addiction,” Dr. Hurd said.

Addressing the Future of Addiction Research

Epigenetic changes are reversible, and this gives rise to hope that addiction ultimately can be, too. “When I started in this field, there was the pervasive stigma of the common phrase ‘Once an addict, always an addict,’” she said. “After studying this for such a long time, I know it’s not true. The effects may be long-lasting, but they are not locked for perpetuity.”

The road ahead will be challenging. Some challenges are merely logistical, such as space issues for animal and clinical research. Others are more systemic. “Those problems I face today remain the same I had at the start of my career,” Dr. Hurd said. “Getting grant money is still challenging, especially for high-risk projects. Stigma still surrounds addiction, even within science.”

Addressing the stigma will help with securing funding. They’re linked, Dr. Hurd said. “But with good support, I believe I’ll get there.”

A closer look at Dr. Hurd’s work

Dr. Eric Nestler

Eric Nestler, MD, PhD, Nash Family Professor of Neuroscience, Director of The Friedman Brain Institute, Dean for Academic Affairs of Icahn Mount Sinai, and Chief Scientific Officer for the Mount Sinai Health System, discusses how Dr. Hurd’s work, which comes from asking basic questions, can translate into helping patients.

“Yasmin has always put a premium on mining the results of her work in rats to devise a new understanding for how substances affect humans and also to develop new treatments,” Dr. Nestler said.

Membership of the National Academy of Sciences—considered one of the highest honors for a scientist—comes through election by existing members only. Candidates’ entire bodies of work and contributions to the field are considered as part of the nomination process and their entries are voted on in April each year, with a maximum of 120 U.S. citizens and 30 non-citizens elected annually, according to NAS. There are currently approximately 2,400 U.S. members and 500 international members, of whom 190 have received Nobel prizes. Mount Sinai has six current faculty in the prestigious organization.

Her recent work on epigenetic changes that marijuana causes in the brain and that can be passed across subsequent generations has considerable importance to society, Dr. Nestler said. That paper on epigenetic changes, published in 2021 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, discussed how children from mothers who used cannabis during pregnancy showed higher anxiety, aggression, hyperactivity, and levels of the stress hormone cortisol, compared to children of non-cannabis users.

“As marijuana is increasingly legalized, many people think of marijuana as being extremely safe,” Dr. Nestler said. “Yasmin has shown clearly that it may not be so safe, especially in pregnant women.”

Dr. Hurd’s research on the intersection of cannabinoids and addiction has significant impact too, Dr. Nestler said. Notable publications include her paper, published 2017 in Trends in Neurosciences, that laid out animal model evidence of cannabidiol, a non-high-producing compound derived from cannabis, as a treatment for opioid addiction because it lowers the reward for opioid use.

“That led her to launch a clinical trial that is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse,” Dr. Nestler said, referring to the agency that’s part of the National Institutes of Health. “This is a major milestone for Dr. Hurd’s research program and for the field at large.”

Staying Informed on Mpox

Jun 6, 2022 | Featured, Global Health, Infectious Diseases, Your Health

Mpox—a rare disease caused by the monkeypox virus that results in fever and a blistery rash—has been in the news lately. Normally found in parts of Africa, an increasing number of mpox cases have been confirmed in Europe and the United States. In this Q&A, Bernard Camins, MD, Medical Director for Infection Prevention at the Mount Sinai Health System, says most people shouldn’t be too worried about mpox, but calls for a bit of vigilance by physicians and the public. “It’s good to just inform people, even though the likelihood of the average person living in New York being exposed to someone with mpox is low,” Dr. Camins says.

What is mpox?

The monkeypox virus is a virus that is in the same family as smallpox and cowpox. As you probably know, smallpox was eradicated years ago. But we do have to worry about mpox every now and then.

Should I be concerned about mpox?

Most of us should not really worry about getting exposed to or getting mpox. The current situation is that some people who have traveled to countries in Europe or Africa have been exposed to people with mpox, and potentially they could be at risk for also having mpox. These returning travelers have exposed other people within their social circles, so there are reports of people contracting mpox who have not left the United States. You should only worry about mpox if you know someone who has symptoms of mpox or who has been diagnosed with mpox.

Click here to read the latest travel advisory on mpox from the CDC

What are the symptoms of mpox?

The hallmark of mpox is a rash, but before the rash appears, people can have a fever and a feeling of malaise or tiredness. Another hallmark is “diffuse lymphadenopathy” or enlarged lymph nodes. So if you do have fever and enlarged lymph nodes, and you were exposed to someone suspected of having mpox or someone who has been diagnosed with mpox, then you need to seek medical care.

What should doctors do if they see a patient with mpox symptoms?

If a doctor suspects a patient has mpox, even before the rash appears, we instruct them to isolate the person in a private room. The medical team will then wear personal protective equipment that includes an N95 respirator, gowns, and gloves, and then they will do an extensive interview. We need to know the details of the patient’s interactions with people who may have mpox. One of the key things that decides if someone needs to be tested is whether they have an epidemiological link to someone with mpox—meaning that either they traveled abroad and were exposed to someone with mpox or that they are at high risk for having mpox. While mpox is not usually considered a sexually transmitted infection, the latest outbreak has been observed among sexual partners.

Why are we talking about mpox now?

While mpox is a viral infection that is rare, a large outbreak has occurred in the United States before, in 2003. Mpox is endemic in Africa, meaning it is normally found there, but because we have a lot of people traveling around the world, it is spreading in countries where it is not endemic.

You can get more information about mpox and the latest updates from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

New Center for Engineering and Precision Medicine Paves the Way for Two Fields to Work More Closely Together

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Featured, Research, School

Shirley Ann Jackson, PhD, President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Eric Nestler, MD, PhD, Director of The Friedman Brain Institute, and Andrew Kimball, president of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, sign a ceremonial agreement at the launch of the Center for Engineering and Precision Medicine.

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on May 12 announced the opening of the Center for Engineering and Precision Medicine (CEPM), forming a new venture to bridge engineering and biomedical science expertise between the two organizations.

The center, located at 619 West 54th Street in Manhattan, focuses on three research areas—neuroengineering, immunoengineering, and regenerative and reparative medicine. Its footprint includes spaces for wet and dry laboratories, as well as offices for faculty and researchers.

In addition to research, CEPM will develop a joint PhD in engineering and precision medicine, and ultimately master’s degrees and certificate programs. Enrollment could occur as early as the fall of 2023, said Jonathan Dordick, PhD, Institute Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Rensselaer and Co-Director of the Center.

The Center is the latest development borne from a partnership between Mount Sinai and Rensselaer—dating to 2013—that has secured more than $70 million in shared research funding. Milestone achievements have included an artificial pancreas system developed by the two institutions and a number of advances in improving treatment and health infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We identified that there was a need in New York City and the state for such a collaboration to be the foundation of a new path of innovation between engineering and precision medicine,” said Priti Balchandani, PhD, Professor of Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology, Neuroscience, and Psychiatry at Icahn Mount Sinai and Co-Director of the Center.

FAST FACTS

Project planned since: 2018
Footprint: 14,000 usable square feet
Faculty size: Mount Sinai and Rensselaer jointly hope to recruit 20 faculty members within five years for the center
Planned academic programs: PhD in Engineering and Precision Medicine jointly awarded by Mount Sinai and Rensselaer, master’s programs, and certificate programs in entrepreneurship and other areas relevant to advanced education at the interface of medicine and engineering.

The creation of the Center sets the stage for engineers to consider the needs of biomedical researchers to develop tools, systems, and infrastructure needed to address unanswered questions, Dr. Dordick said. “As a field, we’ve been asking how engineering can play a closer role at each stage of development in biomedical science from bench to bedside.”

Read a Q&A from the leaders of the new Center on how bridging engineering and precision medicine can benefit patients

The Center will also serve as a hub for industry partners and collaborators. Its “Development Labs” will be working with Mount Sinai Innovation Partners, the team focused on commercializing innovations from Mount Sinai Health System, on technology transfers with industry partners, as well as fostering the creation of startups, Dr. Balchandani said.

“This partnership with Rensselaer is truly a first where not only are two organizations coming together for research and academic excellence,” she noted, “it is also creating a partnership that will augment translational work in the city.”

Mount Sinai is also growing its presence in the area by building laboratory spaces in a facility on 11th Avenue, adjacent to the Center, for the Mount Sinai West campus.

“Ultimately, the goal is to develop new innovations that will benefit patients,” Dr. Dordick said. “The work at the Center cannot start soon enough.”

Voices From the Class of 2022 at Icahn Mount Sinai’s Commencement

May 25, 2022 | Featured, School

After two years of remote instruction and Zoom meetings, students graduating from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai celebrated their big day in person. The ceremony was held at Carnegie Hall on May 11, and the energy was palpable—masks could not hide the glee that shone through smiling eyes, and family and friends beamed with pride watching the graduates walk and be hooded by faculty and mentors.

Learn about what some graduates from the class of 2022 had to say about their commencement being in person, and what their journey had been like as a student at Mount Sinai and in New York City.

Ayan Hussein, PhD, Neuroscience

Next steps: Weill Cornell Medicine, postdoctoral fellow

“This is a monumental day for me and my family. The vibrant, robust scientific culture at Mount Sinai was influential in shaping and steering me through my research. Even though conducting research during the pandemic was challenging, it helped me cope and escape from the harshness of the pandemic.”

Nick Upright, PhD, Neuroscience

Next steps: deciding between four postdoctoral programs in Neuroscience

“It’s surreal having spent six years in a PhD program. There were definitely some lowlights, such as failed experiments and imposter syndrome. But there were just as many highlights. I’ve never had as much excitement defending my thesis, and I’ll always remember that—and the support my friends, faculty mentors, and family gave me at every step of the way. All the help I received throughout my PhD truly allowed me to become the best researcher I could be.”

Allison Kann, PhD, Biomedical Science

Next steps: Harvard University, postdoctoral fellow

“I’m so grateful to be done after six long years, and celebrating with friends and family is a really nice way to wrap things up. Seeing everybody here has reminded me how much we’ve relied on each other throughout our PhDs, and finishing the program during a pandemic has just increased that sense of community. I think we’ve all had to be much more resilient than we give ourselves credit for.”

Sayeeda Chowdhury, MD, MPH

Next steps: Institute for Family Health/Mount Sinai, residency in Family Medicine

“I feel a sense of relief and also gratefulness toward my family, friends and faculty. I lost my father to Covid, and I grew up in Queens, which had a huge battle with the pandemic. I’m grateful because I now have a clearer sense of my place and how I can play a bigger role in helping my community. This program has given me a clear purpose.”

Eziwoma Alibo, MD/PhD

Next steps: Mount Sinai, residency in Surgery

“I’m riding high, and while I’m excited, I know today could have been better for me. My parents couldn’t make it, they are in Nigeria and there were visa and COVID issues, but I have my sister and so many other friends and family here for me. I will say: an MD/PhD program is really hard! There were so many times I wondered if I could do it. But what was really special was the type of people who came to Mount Sinai. They were talented, caring, and we all helped each other through our low times. They were a family we created, and I’ll forever treasure them.”

Gabriela Frid, MD

Next steps: Columbia University, residency in OB-GYN

“Like others, a challenge I struggled with during medical school was imposter syndrome. When I got something wrong, I would wonder if it was because of my lack of ability. But my friends believed in me and supported me, as well as my OB-GYN adviser. New York City and Mount Sinai have been the best place for me to train and learn about who I am and want to be.”

Axel Epié, MD

Next steps: Mount Sinai, residency in Emergency Medicine

“I’m ecstatic. It’s been an amazing journey. While I expected to make sacrifices to be on this path, my colleagues helped me find a way to pursue a work-life balance that I did not think was possible. I thought to be in this field meant having to give up some of the things I had worked on outside of my work life, but thanks to the support of colleagues and friends, I’m sure this balance will no doubt help me become a better doctor.”

Evan Garden, MD

Next steps: Mount Sinai, residency in Urology

“The saying ‘It takes a village’ really applied here to my time at Mount Sinai. Studies were hard but my friends and family showed up for me in many ways. I will always remember how my mom and dad dropped off dinner and made sure I was fed when I got too busy, or how my family and friends checked in on me during the pandemic when we were isolated. It has also made me appreciate the importance of teamwork in medicine. I thought being a doctor was about an individual’s heroic effort, but I learned it was so much about being in a team, with different specialties coming together at all levels.”

Stephanie Jeong, MD

Next steps: Mount Sinai, residency in Internal Medicine

“There were so many great people I met at Mount Sinai and everyone really helped and supported each other here. For example, I remember during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of my classmates and I regularly checked in with each other, sent care packages to support each other, and kept each other accountable through board exam study sessions on Zoom. There are many hospitals where you can receive excellent medical training, but the program at Mount Sinai is unique among those, especially having played an essential role at the forefront of the pandemic in New York.”

Stephanie Hojsak, MD

Next steps: Mount Sinai, residency in Anesthesiology

“This had been a perfect end. My time in the school had been punctuated by indecision on my specialty. But with the help of my advisers, I feel confident in having found a place where I belong. Being in New York City during the pandemic was a jump start to my career and I was exposed to a level of training that was crucial not just clinically, but also for my empathy for patients.”

Why You Should Get a COVID-19 Booster Shot for Your Child Age 5 to 11

May 24, 2022 | Featured, Vaccines, Your Health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently recommended that children ages 5 through 11 receive a COVID-19 booster shot five months after completing the vaccine series.

In this Q&A, Kristin Oliver, MD, MHS, a pediatrician and preventive medicine physician at the Mount Sinai Health System, explains the benefits of the booster shot and urges parents to talk with their child’s health care provider if they have questions.

“We know information about COVID-19 and vaccination is constantly evolving,” says Dr. Oliver, who is also an Associate Professor of Pediatrics, and Environmental Medicine and Public Health, at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “Reach out to your child’s pediatrician if you have any questions. We are happy to talk with you.”

What are the benefits of getting a COVID-19 booster shot?

While two doses of COVID-19 vaccine continue to give good protection to children against severe disease and hospitalization from COVID-19, protection from infection decreases at around five months after completing the series. A booster dose may increase protection against infection, emergency department and urgent care visits, and severe disease.

What side effects can we expect?

Side effects after a booster dose are similar to side effects after the second dose, with pain at the injection site most common, followed by tiredness and headache.

Is there any data on how effective the booster shot is?

In the study of 5- to 11-year-olds, the booster dose increased levels of antibodies to COVID-19 to higher than they were after the first two doses. While there is not enough data from that study yet to see the effectiveness against infection in this age group, there is good data that a booster dose in older age groups provides increased protection against infection and severe disease. We expect to see this same increase in protection for children ages 5 to 11.

If my child had COVID-19, do they still need to get a booster?

A recent COVID-19 infection does provide some protection in the short term, but that protection also decreases over time. Depending on your child’s risk factors and potential exposures, for children with a recent COVID-19 infection you may want to consider waiting three months before getting a booster dose. Waiting this amount of time may result in a better antibody response. You can speak with your child’s doctor about this choice.

Is there anything else parents should know about the booster shot and staying safe from COVID-19?

The most important thing you can do is get the first two doses of the vaccine if you haven’t yet. Hospitalization with COVID-19 is twice as high for children who are unvaccinated compared to children who received two doses of the vaccine, even during the recent Omicron surge.

Nurses Week Is Celebrated Across the Health System

May 19, 2022 | Featured, Nursing, Stories of Excellence

Ernest J. Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN, President of the American Nurses Association, visits with nurses and nursing leadership at The Mount Sinai Hospital.

Nurses Week was enthusiastically celebrated all across the Mount Sinai Health System this month. It kicked off on Friday, May 6, with a heartfelt message of thanks from Beth Oliver, DNP, RN, Chief Nursing Executive, Mount Sinai Health System, and from that moment on, the festivities were nonstop.

On Monday, May 9, nursing leadership hosted an event featuring special guest, Ernest J. Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN, President of the American Nurses Association (ANA), the nation’s largest nursing organization. Dr. Grant spoke to the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in nursing, and touched on some of ANA’s key initiatives and advocacy efforts. Dr. Grant reminded the audience that nursing is the largest health profession and most trusted one, and underscored that it is nurses who spend the most time with patients. The event can be viewed here.

On Thursday, May 12, a webinar addressed the future of nursing, with specific focus on innovation and Mount Sinai Nursing’s pivotal role in health equity.

On-site events were numerous. From ice cream parties to red carpet dancing and award ceremonies, nurses were in the spotlight, being thanked for their commitment to safe and compassionate care, leadership, innovation, and teamwork. Event photos were posted on social media channels, websites, the Daily app, and digital sites. A celebratory video, “To the Nurses,” has been posted on the Health System’s social media channels, lobby monitors, and You Tube playlist.

Ernest J. Grant, PhD, delivered a keynote address.

Two of Mount Sinai’s nurses garnered national attention in a segment on Today, the NBC morning show. Inspired by the care she received from Karen Devries, RN, a nurse manager at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, as a teenage cancer patient, Sierra Flores, RN, decided to pursue a career in nursing. She joined that hospital this year but had not seen Karen because they work in different departments. Sierra and Karen were reunited on the show, after not being in touch for fifteen years.

Although most events took place during Nurses Week, the Health System also observed National Nurses Month through a partnership with iHeart Media. Shelli Sonstein, morning show host of iHeart Radio’s Q104.3 FM, interviewed some outstanding nurses from across the system to highlight how nurses are an integral part of the caregiving team. Their stories are featured on Mount Sinai’s Stories of Nursing Excellence web page, and the full interviews are posted on a dedicated iHeart Nursing Excellence site.

“At this moment, a nurse is at a bedside caring for a loved one. At a computer compiling research findings. At a community site bringing tests to those in need. In a classroom training tomorrow’s clinicians,” the site says. “With an intimate knowledge of each patient, unwavering dedication, and relentless devotion to the highest level of care, our nurses are an integral part of the caregiving team.”