Two physician leaders from the Cedars-Sinai Comprehensive Transplant Center have been honored by two prestigious national groups.
Tag: Cedars-Sinai
A First Look at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s
Inside the new, 23,000-square-foot Guerin Children’s, walls are painted in cheerful yellows, greens and blues. Artificial skylights are timed to brighten and darken as the sun rises and sets. Interactive-art installations feature whimsical characters, and a playroom and family lounge area contribute to the playful energy of the space.
A Lifetime of Heart Care Leads to Transplant
While many 21-year-olds celebrate their coming of age in bars and nightclubs, Andrew Solis is celebrating freedom by finally going home—equipped with a new heart and liver—after nearly eight months at Cedars-Sinai.
Cedars-Sinai Names David M. Wrigley as Chief Financial Officer
David M. Wrigley has been promoted to executive vice president and chief financial officer of Cedars-Sinai Health System, effective July 1.
Hormones Contribute to Sex Disparities in Bladder Cancer, Study Shows
Male sex hormones interfere with the body’s ability to fight bladder cancer, likely explaining why males experience higher cancer rates and more deadly disease, according to a new study co-led by a Cedars-Sinai Cancer investigator.
First-of-its-Kind Stem Cell and Gene Therapy Highlighted at Annual Stem Cell Meeting
Investigators from Cedars-Sinai will present the latest novel stem cell and regenerative medicine research at the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) Annual Meeting, which is being held in person and virtually June 15-19 in San Francisco.

Black, Hispanic Patients Less Likely to Get Lifesaving Liver Cancer Treatment
Racial and ethnic minorities diagnosed with advanced liver cancer have a lower chance of receiving immunotherapy, the most effective treatment for patients with the disease, according to a new study led by Cedars-Sinai Cancer investigators.

Path to Remission for a Brain Cancer That Is Usually Fatal
Recently, Michael Wulfe, who is 61 and lives in West Hollywood, was on the phone with his sister, Stephanie Wulfe, in Dallas. They talk at least once a day, but that day, something wasn’t right. “I was talking, and then I didn’t have the words,” Wulfe said. “My sister immediately said, ‘Call Cedars-Sinai!’”

National Leader in Cardiac Surgery Quality and Research Joins Cedars-Sinai
Michael Bowdish, MD, MS, a national leader in cardiac surgery and among a handful of cardiac surgeons continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health for a decade, has been appointed vice chair of the Department of Cardiac Surgery in the Smidt Heart Institute.
ASCO22: Lung Cancer Therapy Could Help Patients Live Longer
Results of a Phase II clinical trial led by Cedars-Sinai Cancer investigators indicate that an immunotherapy drug combination could extend the lives of those diagnosed with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, one of the most common forms of lung cancer. The research was presented today during the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago, with simultaneous publication in the peer-reviewed Journal of Clinical Oncology.
ENDO 2022 to Feature Cedars-Sinai Physicians and Scientists
Physicians and scientists from Cedars-Sinai will discuss the latest advances in treatment, care and research at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting (ENDO 2022) in Atlanta, June 11-14.

Study: Counting Cancerous Lymph Nodes Is Best Predictor
Patients newly diagnosed with cancer typically focus on one question, eclipsing all others: “What is my prognosis?”
Brain Cell Activity Plays Critical Role in CNS Disorder Outcomes
Investigators at Cedars-Sinai have comprehensively mapped molecular activity in the brain and spinal cord that is responsible for regulating the body’s response to central nervous system (CNS) disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s disease and spinal cord injuries.
SpaceX CRS-25 to Launch Stem Cells to Space on June 9
Cedars-Sinai and Space Tango are launching pilot-scale systems for the in-space production of stem cells to see if they can elevate the next generation of stem cell and gene therapies by harnessing the near-zero gravity conditions of spaceflight.
For Youngsters, Getting Ear Tubes No Longer Involves Surgery
Like a lot of young children, from the time she was a year old, Cassidy Clapp was plagued by one ear infection after another.
Cedars-Sinai Investigators ID Gene Critical to Human Immune Response
Cedars-Sinai investigators have identified a gene that plays an essential role in the innate human immune system. The gene, NLRP11, helps activate the inflammatory response that tells the body’s white blood cells to go on the attack against a foreign presence.
Cedars-Sinai Cancer Experts Present Breakthroughs at 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting
Experts from Cedars-Sinai Cancer, ranked among the top 10 in the nation for cancer care, will present novel research and clinical advances throughout the 2022 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), taking place in person and virtually June 3-7 in Chicago.
May Research Highlights
A Roundup of the Latest Medical Discoveries and Faculty News at Cedars-Sinai

MONKEYPOX MEDIA ADVISORY: Infectious Disease Specialists From Regional Special Pathogen Treatment Center Available to Discuss Monkeypox Causes and Treatments
Multiple cases of monkeypox have surfaced in Europe and the U.S. that do not appear to be linked to travel, causing concern among the medical community that this infectious disease is spreading through sexual contact or other close interactions.

New Combined Therapy Helps Extend Lives of Men With Prostate Cancer
Practice-changing research from Cedars-Sinai Cancer shows that a combination of androgen deprivation therapy—a commonly used hormone injection—plus pelvic lymph node radiation, kept nearly 90% of clinical trial patients’ prostate cancer at bay for five years. The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal The Lancet.
Leader in Diabetes Care and Technologies Joins Cedars-Sinai
Roma Gianchandani, MD, has joined Cedars-Sinai as the new medical director of Diabetes Quality and vice-chair of Quality and Innovation.
MEDIA ADVISORY: Cedars-Sinai Celebrates Pride Month
Cedars-Sinai is joining the cities of Los Angeles and West Hollywood in celebrating June as Pride Month, which honors the LGBTQ+ community.
Cedars-Sinai’s Dean, Shlomo Melmed, MB, ChB, Honored for Contributions to Endocrine Research
Shlomo Melmed, MB, ChB, a world-renowned leader in pituitary medicine, was named the inaugural recipient of the Transatlantic Alliance Award by the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE) and the Endocrine Society for his pioneering research in pituitary medicine and endocrine tumors.

Study: App More Accurate Than Patient Evaluation of Stool Samples
An innovative mobile phone application was found to be as good as expert gastroenterologists at characterizing stool specimens, according to a study by Cedars-Sinai. The artificial intelligence (AI) used in the smartphone app also outperformed reports by patients describing their stool specimens.
Cedars-Sinai Offers Program to Catch Older Adults Before They Fall
Falls and broken bones are common among older adults, but they’re not a natural part of aging. That’s why Cedars-Sinai geriatricians created a bone health and falls risk consultation program to catch at-risk people before they break a bone or help them avoid another fracture in the future.
Cedars-Sinai Experts to Present New Research and Discuss Advances in Care for Older Adults
Cedars-Sinai geriatrics experts will present their latest advances in research and care in person at the annual scientific meeting of the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) in Orlando May 12-14, sharing innovations to improve both the quality of patient care and quality of life for older adults.

Moms With Postpartum Depression Benefit From Improved Screening
Nurse education is the key to successfully screening women for postpartum depression, which affects some 15% of mothers, according to a new quality improvement (QI) study from Cedars-Sinai.

Supportive Care for Neurology Patients
In June of 2021, retired nurse Linda Leaming, 70, of LaVerne, was admitted to Cedars-Sinai after suffering a stroke. She was delirious and refusing to eat and drink, and her husband, Rich Leaming, struggled with decisions about her care. Neuropalliative specialist Jessica Besbris, MD, director of Neuropalliative Care and the Neurology Supportive Care Medicine Program at Cedars-Sinai, came to his aid.
April Research Highlights
This tipsheet highlights the latest medical discoveries and faculty news at Cedars-Sinai. Links to full news releases are included with each item.

Heart Experts Available to Discuss Approval of New Heart Drug
Today, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of mavacamten, a new drug shown to provide relief to obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients experiencing shortness of breath.

Cardiologists, Cardiothoracic Surgeons Available for Expert Commentary Ahead of Upcoming Conferences
Cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons from the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai are available to discuss the latest advances in research, clinical care, transcatheter procedures and cardiothoracic surgery throughout the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) Scientific Sessions 2022 and Heart Rhythm 2022.

AI May Detect Earliest Signs of Pancreatic Cancer
An artificial intelligence (AI) tool developed by Cedars-Sinai investigators accurately predicted who would develop pancreatic cancer based on what their CT scan images looked like years prior to being diagnosed with the disease. The findings, which may help prevent death through early detection of one of the most challenging cancers to treat, are published in the journal Cancer Biomarkers.
Smidt Heart Institute: Annual Report Highlights
The 2022 Annual Report from the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai is available now, detailing the latest research and medical achievements by the expert team ranked No. 1 for cardiology and cardiac surgery in California by U.S. News & World Report.
Cedars-Sinai Gifted $10M to Create Memory and Aging Program
Cedars-Sinai announced today a $10 million gift to establish the Bernard and Maxine Platzer Lynn Family Memory and Healthy Aging Program in the Department of Neurology. The program will broaden the scope of age-related care at Cedars-Sinai—with a focus on healthy aging, patient independence, care coordination, and brain health.
Transplant Patient Celebrates Two Birthdays in One Month
Last month, Lara Holmes celebrated two birthdays—her normal birthday, and the first birthday since she received the gift of a lifetime: a new pancreas and kidney.
Cedars-Sinai Tip Sheet: Mother’s Day Edition
Mother’s Day, our annual reminder to honor amazing moms everywhere, is next Sunday, May 9. Cedars-Sinai invites you to learn more about two mothers who went to heroic lengths to deliver their children, and another mother who is inspired by her heroic daughter.

Cedars-Sinai and USC to Jump-Start Young Scientists Seeking to Cure Cancer
Two internationally prominent cancer experts from Cedars-Sinai and USC will train a new generation of investigators to propel scientific advances in cancer through a novel grant from the U.S. Department of Defense.
A Patient Pioneer: Minimally Invasive Lung Transplantation
To anyone else, it’s just a walk around the block. But for Frank Coburn, 57, and his wife, it’s a miracle. A miracle that resulted from Coburn becoming the first Southern Californian—and possibly first in the U.S.—to receive a minimally invasive double lung transplant. The procedure was performed at the Smidt Heart Institute.
Why Skin Issues in Patients of Color are Neglected, Mistreated
With cosmetic procedures in high demand during the pandemic, Cedars-Sinai dermatologist Jasmine Obioha, MD, has seen an unfortunate side effect: botched treatments for patients of color.
Test to Predict Kidney Transplant Rejection Works for Children
n many ways 19-year-old, Brenna Kahlen is a typical teenager. She is living at home in Newport Beach, working and going to college. But unlike most of her peers, Brenna is a now a medical first.
Even During Pandemic, Volunteers Bring Comfort
The Ruth and Harry Roman Emergency Department at Cedars-Sinai sees more than 85,000 patients each year. Among the first to greet those patients and their loved ones–even during the coronavirus pandemic–are Cedars-Sinai’s blue-coated volunteers, who are honored this week during National Volunteer Appreciation Week.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Mark Pimentel, MD
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common gastrointestinal disorder, affecting 10-15% of the world’s population. Approximately two-thirds of those who suffer from IBS are women. The disease can have mild forms or cause severe debilitation as diarrhea alternates with constipation. Severe cramping and bloating also are common. Because chronic IBS is so debilitating, it often disrupts the daily lives of people with this disorder.
Forum Tackles Vaccine Hesitancy in the Black Community
Leading healthcare and faith leaders addressed key issues that are contributing to vaccine hesitancy in Black communities during a national online discussion this week, explaining that a lack of access to healthcare, concerns over vaccine safety, and religious beliefs are keeping many from getting COVID-19 vaccines.
Study: New Approach May Boost Prostate Cancer Immunotherapies
Researchers have discovered a new way to transform the tissues surrounding prostate tumors to help the body’s immune cells fight the cancer. The discovery, made in human and mouse cells and in laboratory mice, could lead to improvements in immunotherapy treatments for prostate cancer, the second most common cancer in men in the U.S.
A Heroic Reunion
At just 8 years old, Benjamin Gordon’s life was flipped upside down when his father, Greg, was diagnosed with an aggressive type of brain cancer.

Low-Back Pain Relieved by New Minimally Invasive Procedure
When Maria Reynoso developed low-back pain, she thought it was not serious and would quickly go away. She was an active gym member who had recently retired after 33 years as a second-grade schoolteacher and was always available to help her aging parents.

Cedars-Sinai Demo Day Goes Virtual
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented innovation on the part of healthcare providers everywhere who rose to meet the challenges of the past year.
And the next generation of healthcare innovations will be on display during the Cedars-Sinai Accelerator Demo Day, on Wednesday, April 7, from 3:30-5 p.m. Click here to register to attend the virtual event.

Cardiac Care During Pandemic Reveals Digital Shifts
New research from the Smidt Heart Institute shows that more patients—specifically those with medical risk factors or from underserved communities—opted into telehealth appointments for their cardiovascular care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

‘Heart in a Box’ Expands Transplant Opportunities
Dominic Emerson, MD, and Pedro Catarino, MD, both transplant surgeons with the Smidt Heart Institute, know how to be spontaneous. At any given moment, they can get the call that a donor heart or lungs are available, requiring them to quickly board a private aircraft to procure the vital organs.

#YearofCOVID: Retooling Research to Fight a Pandemic
Susan Cheng, MD, MPH, MMSc, recalls hearing the first reports of a mysterious illness in China early last year and thinking: “This is going to be important.”