Mar
31
2020
Coronavirus COVID-19 |
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons: Data Scientists Launch Program to Generate Real-World Evidence on COVID-19 Treatments
Data scientists from Columbia University and around the world are starting to use the world’s electronic health records and other clinical databases to find the best therapies and practices for treating patients with COVID-19. The Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics international community will host a COVID-19 virtual study-a-thon from March 26-29 to inform health care decision-making in response to the current global pandemic. Take a closer look.
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Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai: Patients With COVID-19 Have Distinct Markings in Their Lungs, new Study Finds
Patients in China with COVID-19 showed distinct patterns in their lungs that became more defined within a few of days of disease onset, according to two cardiothoracic radiologists at the Mount Sinai Health System, who were the first in the nation to examine the CT scans of Chinese patients with the coronavirus. The radiologists, Michael S. Chung, MD, and Adam Bernheim, MD, from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, say the distinct markings of these 121 patients offer objective evidence that could help doctors diagnose COVID-19 within minutes. Take a closer look.
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Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University: Hospital Jump Starts 3-D Printers For Manufacture Of Hospital PPE
As New York is battling COVID-19, the potential shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for hospital personnel and testing site staff has been thrust into the spotlight. Now, Stony Brook University’s iCREATE lab has stepped up to help, deploying its resources to manufacture face shields through the use of its 3-D printers. Take a closer look.
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Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons: ‘Stealth Transmission’ Fuels Fast Spread of Coronavirus Outbreak
Undetected cases, many of which were likely not severely symptomatic, were largely responsible for the rapid spread of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, according to new research by scientists at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. The findings based on a computer model of the outbreak are published online in the journal Science. Take a closer look.
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New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine: Brian Harper Addresses COVID-19 Concerns and Myths
Public health expert and Chief Medical Officer of New York Institute of Technology’s Academic Health Centers, Brian Harper, M.D., recently shared his expertise in Newsday’s coverage of COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus. In the articles, which appeared February 24 and March 4 (a subscription is required to view stories), Harper, who is a former Suffolk County Health Commissioner, addresses common COVID-19 concerns and misconceptions, including the following messages on remaining healthy, testing, and surgical masks. Take a closer look.
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Cancer |
Albert Einstein College of Medicine: Experimental Drug may Prevent Chemotherapy Drug From Damaging the Heart
The commonly used chemotherapy drug doxorubicin can damage heart muscle, in some cases leading to severe or lethal heart failure. A new study led by Albert Einstein College of Medicine researchers and involving zebrafish and mice suggests that the experimental drug BAI1 can prevent doxorubicin from damaging the heart without lessening its anti-cancer properties. The study was published online in the journal Nature Cancer. Take a closer look.
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Weill Cornell Medicine: Targeted Drug may Improve Chemotherapy Effectiveness in Pancreatic Cancer
The targeted drug palbociclib may boost the effectiveness of chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer if the two treatments are given in the right sequence, according to new preclinical research by Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian investigators. The study, published Feb. 27 in Cancer Cell, found that palbociclib may stop pancreatic cancer cells from repairing DNA damage caused by chemotherapy, and that damage is what causes the cancer cells to die. Take a closer look.
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Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai: Examining the Effects of Immunotherapy on Cancer
Using a collection of sophisticated single-cell technologies, scientists at the Mount Sinai Health System have launched an early-stage clinical trial that examines the effects of immunotherapy on hepatocellular carcinoma, non-small-cell lung cancer, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Four to six weeks before a tumor is resected, the researchers administer a neoadjuvant immunotherapy, cemiplimab, and study its effects. As soon as the tumor is removed, they continue to analyze the fresh tissue for a month or more to observe mechanisms of resistance and response. Take a closer look.
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Neurology |
Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University: Study Shows Low Carb Diet may Prevent, Reverse Age-Related Effects Within the Brain
A study using neuroimaging led by Stony Brook University professor and lead author Lilianne R. Mujica-Parodi, PhD, and published in PNAS, reveals that neurobiological changes associated with aging can be seen at a much younger age than would be expected, in the late 40s. However, the study also suggests that this process may be prevented or reversed based on dietary changes that involve minimizing the consumption of simple carbohydrates. Take a closer look.
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Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at University at Buffalo: People With MS are Living Longer. How Does Neurodegeneration in These Patients Change as They age?
Neurodegeneration results from a number of neurological conditions affecting older adults, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Treating such diseases is challenging enough, but in recent years, the increased longevity of patients with multiple sclerosis, which also causes neurodegeneration and brain atrophy, has highlighted the need to understand the differences among these neurological conditions. Take a closer look.
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Albany Medical College Researchers Discover Potential new Pathway to Treat Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Age-Related Dementias
Researchers at Albany Medical College have discovered that targeting a specific type of immune cell in the aged brain might help combat Alzheimer’s disease and other aging-related dementias. The study, published in the Feb. 5, 2020 issue of the Journal of Experimental Medicine, found that activating group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) improved the memory of aged mice. “Aging is the major risk factor for a variety of neurocognitive and neurodegenerative diseases,” said Qi Yang, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease at Albany Medical College and a co-senior author of the study. Take a closer look.
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SUNY Upstate Medical UniversityClinical Trial Seeks to Examine Whether Nicotine in Patch Form can Improve Long Term Memory
More than 8 million Americans are currently affected by Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a condition which affects memory or other thinking skills. Recent evidence shows that adults with MCI are at a higher risk for subsequently developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The Memory Improvement Through Nicotine Dosing (MIND) study currently being conducted by researchers at SUNY Upstate Medical University Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease is testing whether nicotine in patch form is effective in improving memory and functioning in adults diagnosed with MCI. Take a closer look.
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Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University: Early Treatment of Schizophrenia may not Slow Disease Progression
Stony Brook University-led study reveals that, despite the common view that early intervention in schizophrenia slows or stops mental decline, those who receive early intervention eventually experience the same declines as those whose treatment started later. The finding, published online in TheAmerican Journal of Psychiatry, suggests that studies of schizophrenia should take into account how long study participants have been symptomatic, otherwise treatments may appear more effective than they actually are. Take a closer look.
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Albert Einstein College of Medicine: Genetic Influences on Soccer Heading Injuries
Emerging evidence indicates that repeated heading by soccer players may cause long-term neurological damage. Two new studies of participants in the Einstein Soccer Study suggest that certain genes may be risk factors for microstructural brain changes and cognitive impairment associated with heading. In the first study, published online on December 11, 2019, in Frontiers in Neurology, the researchers examined 312 adult amateur soccer players enrolled in the Einstein Soccer Study. Take a closer look.
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Opioids |
NYU Grossman School of Medicine: Medication Treatments Led to 80 Percent Lower Risk of Fatal Overdose for Patients With Opioid Use Disorder
People with opioid use disorder (OUD) receiving treatment with opioid agonists (medications such as methadone or buprenorphine) had an 80 percent lower risk of dying from an opioid overdose compared with people in treatment without the use of medications. The new findings, published online February 25 in the journal Addiction, are a collaboration between researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the Maryland Department of Health, and multiple Maryland State agencies. Take a closer look.
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University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry Study: The Opioid Crisis may Be far Worse Than we Thought
New research appearing in the journal Addictionshows that the number of deaths attributed to opioid-related overdoses could be 28 percent higher than reported due to incomplete death records. This discrepancy is more pronounced in several states, including Alabama, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and Indiana, where the estimated number of deaths more than doubles – obscuring the scope of the opioid crisis and potentially affecting programs and funding intended to confront the epidemic. Take a closer look.
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Other Studies |
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at University at Buffalo: Novel Melatonin Receptor Molecules Make Possible Therapies That Adjust Biological Clocks to our Environments
Like breathing or blinking, behaviors regulated by our circadian rhythms, such as digestion and sleep-wake cycles, go unnoticed by most people. But when circadian rhythms malfunction, the result can be any one of a broad range of serious, chronic disorders, from insomnia and depression to obesity, diabetes and bipolar disorder. Take a closer look.
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NYU Grossman School of Medicine: Newfound Cell Defense System Features Toxin-Isolating ‘Sponges’
A decoy mechanism has been found in human and animal cells to protect them from potentially dangerous toxins released by foreign invaders, such as bacteria. Scientists at NYU Grossman School of Medicine have found that cells exposed to bacteria release tiny, protein-coated packages called exosomes, which act like decoys to bind to bacterial toxins, including those produced by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium that has become resistant to many antibiotics, or Corynebacterium diphtheriae, the bacterium responsible for highly contagious diphtheria. Take a closer look.
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University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry: Vitamin D Supplementation in Pregnancy Has no Effect on Reducing Asthma in Children
Maternal prenatal vitamin D supplementation has little effect on preventing asthma and recurrent wheeze in young children up to age six, according to a new study conducted by lead author Augusto A. Litonjua, M.D., M.P.H., professor at the University of Rochester Medical Center. The study, “Six-Year Follow-up of a Trial of Antenatal Vitamin D for Asthma Reduction,” was published in the New England Journal of Medicine and is a continuation of previous research – completed in 2016 – that suggested that prenatal vitamin D supplementation provided a protective effect on asthma in children up to age three. Take a closer look.
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Student Research |
New York Medical College Med Student’s Novel Research may Improve Ability to Predict Outcomes for Older Neurosurgery Patients
Having authored 18 peer-reviewed publications and having mentored as many as 15 junior medical students at a time, Matthew McIntyre, School of Medicine Class of 2020, is poised to become a rising star in the field of neurosurgical research. Take a closer look.
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SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University: Ryan Bender, 2020 “Full Year Research Scholarship” Recipient
Research is one of the cornerstones of medicine, and as such it remains a critical component to the academic programming and mission of Downstate’s College of Medicine. Since 2002, the Alumni Fund from the COM Alumni Associationhas annually awarded exceptional medical students the “Full Year Research Scholarship”-a scholarship in support of full-time medical research, which provides up to $36,000 for students to conduct their studies over one full academic year. Take a closer look.
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New York Medical College Student Study on Infant Wheezing in Honduras Provides new Insight
For their summer research fellowship, Elizabeth Sillcocks, left, and Jeanne Shi, New York Medical College (NYMC) School of Medicine (SOM) Class of 2022, chose a subject with which Ms. Sillcocks had a great deal of personal experience. In the year leading up to medical school, Ms. Sillcocks spent several months in rural Honduras doing an internship with a doctor who ran a hospital there. It was during her time there that she observed that there was a high volume of infants being treated for respiratory distress at Dyer Rural Hospital and also that her own asthma was worse. Take a closer look.
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Grants |
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons: Columbia University Researchers Awarded $2 Million to Identify Antiviral Drugs for new Coronavirus
Four research teams at Columbia University will share a $2.1 million grant to mount an aggressive effort to identify potential antiviral drugs and antibodies for use against the new coronavirus, 2019-nCoV. The funding was awarded by the Jack Ma Foundation, based in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China. As part of the project, the Columbia scientists will collaborate with academic researchers in China who are fighting to control the outbreak. Take a closer look.
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Weill Cornell Medicine Awarded $8.3 Million Grant for HPV Cancer Research
Weill Cornell Medicine, in collaboration with the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida and the Universidade de São Paulo in Brazil, has been awarded a five-year, $8.3 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to investigate ways to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Together, investigators at these three institutions comprise the “Multinational Partnership to Prevent HPV-Associated Cancer in People Living with HIV: Brazil, Mexico, Puerto Rico,” or PHAC-BMPR, which is part of the National Cancer Institute’s U.S.-Latin American-Caribbean Clinical Trials Network. Take a closer look.
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Albany Medical College Awarded $2.8 Million NIH Grant for Breast Cancer Research
Researchers at Albany Medical College have received a $2.8 million five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Cancer Institute to study the biology of breast cancer at a subcellular level. The researchers will focus on the membrane-bound compartments inside cells, called endosomes. They will seek to determine how early endosomes interact with mitochondria and how altering early endosomes affects cancer-related cellular processes, including cell proliferation, migration and invasiveness. Take a closer look.
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Other News |
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Governor Cuomo Announces 30-Day Amendment to FY 2021 Executive Budget to Establish SUNY Curing Alzheimer’s Health Consortium
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a 30-day amendment to the FY 2021 Executive Budget which will include legislation to establish the SUNY Curing Alzheimer’s Health Consortium within the State University of New York. The Consortium will work to identify genes that predict an increased risk for developing Alzheimer’s and collaborate with public and private research institutions on projects and studies to identify opportunities to develop new therapeutic treatment and cures for Alzheimer’s. The goal of the Consortium will be to map the genetics of 1 million people, suffering from or at-risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease, over 5 years. This new wealth of data will support researchers as they work towards developing new treatments and cures for the disease. Take a closer look.
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New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine: Why Insurers Should Cover Mental Health Care to Lower Costs
The nation’s suicide rate has jumped 33 percent since 1999, and suicide is now the second leading cause of death for Americans ages 10 to 24. In an op-ed published in Fortune, Liat Jarkon, D.O., assistant professor family medicine at NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine, argues that the rise in suicides is part of broader public health crisis-one that has been exacerbated by the insurance industry. Take a closer look.
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Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra Northwell: Well Said with Dr. Ira Nash
Expert Guide to Healthy Sleep
Are you tired of feeling tired? You’re not alone. In America, it is estimated that sleep-related problems affect 50 to 70 million people of all ages and socioeconomic classes and costs over 4 billion dollars a year in lost productivity. Some eye-opening statistics that doesn’t help anyone rest easy! So, what is keeping us from getting a good night’s sleep? How can we make sure that we all get the rest we need? Our latest installment of Well Said addresses these questions and more about sleep problems with expert guests. Take a closer look.
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Faculty News |
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University Appoints Dominica Native Dr. Montgomery Douglas as Chairperson of Family & Community Medicine
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University’s College of Medicine Dean F. Charles Brunicardi, M.D., FACS, today announced the appointment of Montgomery Douglas, M.D., as the Chairperson of the Family and Community Medicine Department, effective March 1. Recognizing the role and relationship of primary care and family medicine to community health, Dr. Douglas will also serve as Population Health Strategy and Innovation Chief for One Brooklyn Health System, the $1.4 billion “Vital Brooklyn” initiative launched by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in January 2018. Take a closer look.
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