Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) scientists announce breakthroughs and innovations about every seven days. Approximately 1,500 scientists are working on basic and applied research projects. Here's a sampling of OHSU discoveries and innovations in health care.
CANCER
Development of a drug capable of treating and potentially curing chronic myelogenous leukemia and gastrointestinal stromal tumors without damaging healthy cells; discovery of the first naturally occurring protein to inhibit activity in an aggressive breast cancer gene; creation of a drug treatment that reduces pain and disease in patients with advanced prostate cancer; findings that contribute to national studies on pediatric cancers and on the best and newest treatments, including stem-cell transplants from umbilical cords; creation of ways to cross the blood-brain barrier to treat tumors with chemotherapy; findings showing that new fluoroscopy technology reduces occurrence of radiation-induced cancer in children; invention of a new nonsurgical procedure for treating uterine tumors; discovery of several genes implicated in cancer (see genetics, later in this section); discovery that high doses of the active form of vitamin D boost the effectiveness of chemotherapy in prostate cancer patients; finding that delayed use of hearing protectant drugs decreases hearing loss for patients receiving chemotherapy via blood-brain barrier disruption; finding that patients with eye cancer who choose radation therapy instead of eye removal have comparable five- and 10-year survival rates, allowing patients and physicians to make better-informed treatment decisions; finding that recurring chromosomal aberrations in some cancer cells contribute to their unstable nature and ability to resist anti-cancer drugs and therapies, which could lead to the development of "smarter drugs" capable of overwhelming this defense mechanism.
HEART DISEASE
Discovery of the role of embryonic heart development and its relationship to long-term cardiovascular health and adult heart disease, illuminating the importance of maternal nutrition during pregnancy; establishment of a computerized three-dimensional model of a developing heart; establishment of a link between the common herpes virus and cardiovascular disease; new findings revealing that women tend to develop cardiovascular disease 10 years later than men; discovery that strength training has cardiovascular benefits; discovery of a genetic link for dilated cardiomyopathy; identification of homocysteine as a risk factor for heart disease and establishing folic acid as the key to preventing that risk; invention of artificial venous valve that does not require surgery and provides an alternative to traditional supportive treatment, such as special stockings or boots.
INFECTIOUS DISEASE
New findings about infectious diseases, such as salmonella, HIV and cytomegalovirus, which may lead to vaccines against HIV and a form of bacterial meningitis, and development of strategies to prevent birth defects in transplant and AIDS patients; discovery of monkey version of human herpes virus provides model for investigation to learn how that virus causes Kaposis sarcoma in AIDS patients; discovery of one of the defense mechanisms bacteria and other disease-related cells use to resist drugs such as antibiotics, aiding the creation of "smarter drugs."
"For more information on infesctious diseses, please see our Stat Page"
Other breakthroughs and healthcare information, visit:
Association of American Medical Colleges |
