A gene therapy developed by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center for a rare disease called giant axonal neuropathy (GAN) was well tolerated in pediatric patients and showed clear benefits, a new study reports. Findings from the phase one clinical trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, could offer hope for patients with this rare condition and a host of other neurological diseases.
Tag: Ut Southwestern
Nanoparticles developed at UTSW effectively fight tumors
A nanoparticle-based therapy developed by UT Southwestern Medical Center scientists stimulated an immune pathway that eradicated tumors in mouse models of various cancer types. Their findings, published in Science Immunology, offer a new way to potentially harness the power of the body’s immune system against cancer.
Nerve decompression shows promise for diabetic neuropathy patients
Surgical nerve decompression, used to treat conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and sciatica, could play a role in relieving the pain of diabetic neuropathy patients, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found.
Moncrief Cancer Institute debuts new Mobile Screening Clinic funded by Tarrant County
Moncrief Cancer Institute debuted its new Mobile Screening Clinic prior to the Tarrant County Commissioners Court meeting today. The $1 million, 36-foot cancer screening clinic was funded by Tarrant County through a three-year, $9 million grant awarded to Moncrief Cancer Institute in 2022. Part of the federal funding Tarrant County received through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the grant enabled Moncrief to expand its comprehensive cancer screening program to more underserved residents in Tarrant County.
UTSW team’s new AI method may lead to ‘automated scientists’
UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) method that writes its own algorithms and may one day operate as an “automated scientis” to extract the meaning behind complex datasets.
UT Southwestern study shows glucagon is key for kidney health
Glucagon, a hormone best known for promoting blood sugar production in the liver, also appears to play a key role in maintaining kidney health. When UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers removed receptors for this hormone from mouse kidneys, the animals developed symptoms akin to chronic kidney disease (CKD).
From segregation to inspiration, James Griffin, M.D., is making history at Parkland and UT Southwestern
To call the connection James D. Griffin, M.D., has with UT Southwestern and Parkland Memorial Hospital lifelong is no exaggeration. Dr. Griffin was born at Parkland in 1958, when the labor and delivery ward was still segregated. More than six decades later, his colleagues at that hospital elected him President of the medical staff – the first Black physician to earn the honor.
Age, sex, race among top risk factors for revision knee surgery
Patients who are younger than about 40, male, or Black are among those most at risk for revision surgery after having had a total knee replacement, according to researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center. The study, published in the Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, was the first to explore relationships among risk factors for revision after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
In Memoriam: Jonathan W. Uhr, M.D., renowned immunologist and longtime Chair of Microbiology
Jonathan W. Uhr, M.D., Professor Emeritus of Immunology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, who discovered how antibodies are made and developed a technique that led to the early detection of cancer cells, died Feb. 15. He was 96. Dr. Uhr was a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Two Texas transplant programs team up to save lives
Two hard-to-match transplant patients 250 miles apart are starting 2024 on a new path to healthy lives.
Gold nanoparticles reverse brain deficits in multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s
Results from phase two clinical trials at UT Southwestern Medical Center showed that a suspension of gold nanocrystals taken daily by patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) significantly reversed deficits of metabolites linked to energy activity in the brain and resulted in functional improvements.
UT Southwestern collaborates with Pfizer to develop improved RNA delivery technologies
UT Southwestern Medical Center is partnering with Pfizer Inc. to develop RNA-enhanced delivery technologies for genetic medicine therapies through the Dallas-based medical center’s Program in Genetic Drug Engineering.
AEDs often not used in cardiac arrest, even where they’re mandated
Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are underutilized during cardiac arrest episodes despite laws in some states requiring their availability in high-risk areas such as athletic facilities, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found.
UT Southwestern molecular geneticist wins Hill Prize from TAMEST
Russell DeBose-Boyd, Ph.D., Professor of Molecular Genetics at UT Southwestern Medical Center, has been awarded the Hill Prize in Biological Sciences from the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Technology (TAMEST) in recognition of his long-standing research into a key mechanism necessary for cholesterol control.
Device keeps brain alive, functioning separate from body
Researchers led by a team at UT Southwestern Medical Center have developed a device that can isolate blood flow to the brain, keeping the organ alive and functioning independent from the rest of the body for several hours.
Nerve block can reduce need for postsurgical opioids
A preoperative nerve block used in combination with other medications can reduce the need for opioids to manage pain following spinal surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers found. The findings, published in European Spine Journal, suggest a way to lessen the reliance on opioids to reduce postoperative pain and help patients become ambulatory sooner.
Traditional Chinese medicine reduces risk after heart attack
A traditional Chinese medicine whose name means “to open the network of the heart” reduced the risk of heart attacks, deaths, and other major cardiovascular complications for at least a year after a first heart attack, a study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers shows. The findings, published in JAMA, reveal the promise of this compound, one of the first traditional Chinese medicines tested in a large-scale, Western-style clinical trial.
Study reveals how estrogen exerts its anti-diabetic effects
The quintessential female sex hormone estrogen stimulates cells that line blood vessels to deliver insulin to muscles, lowering blood sugar and protecting against Type 2 diabetes, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report. The findings, published in Nature Communications, could eventually lead to new therapies for Type 2 diabetes, a disease that affects hundreds of millions of people around the globe and continues to grow more prevalent.
Readmissions more likely for wheelchair users after shoulder replacement
Wheelchair users are nearly three times more likely to experience hospital readmission following total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), according to UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers.
Catherine Spong, M.D., elected to the National Academy of Medicine
Catherine Spong, M.D., Chair and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) in recognition of her contributions to the field of maternal-fetal medicine, her leadership in women’s health research, and her dedication to advancing health care for mothers and babies.
UT Southwestern women’s groups earn national leadership award
UT Southwestern Medical Center has been recognized for its decades of commitment to developing female leaders in medicine and science and its far-reaching impact in supporting and advancing women’s careers.
UTSW researcher receives NIH Director’s New Innovator Award
Ravikanth Maddipati, M.D., Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and in Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern, has been awarded $1.5 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support research investigating positional heterogeneity in cancer, or how tumors in the same organ can behave differently based on where they form.
Two UT Southwestern researchers awarded HHMI Hanna H. Gray Fellowships
Two postdoctoral researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center are among 25 early-career scientists nationwide selected as Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Hanna H. Gray Fellows for 2023.
UT Southwestern biochemist Zhijian ‘James’ Chen to receive prestigious Horwitz Prize
Zhijian “James” Chen, Ph.D., Professor of Molecular Biology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, has been awarded the 2023 Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize in recognition of his groundbreaking work on innate immunity.
Iron supplements provided in prenatal visits improved outcomes
Giving free prenatal iron supplements to medically underserved pregnant patients rather than only recommending them significantly reduced anemia and postpartum blood transfusions, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health report in a study published in JAMA Network Open.
UTSW researchers identify driver of inflammatory bowel disease
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered an intracellular mechanism that converts protective intestinal cells into disease-driving pathogenic cells, a finding that could lead to improved treatments for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
UT Southwestern selects physician leader Jonathan Efron, M.D., to oversee Health System
Following an extensive national search, physician leader Jonathan Efron, M.D., has been selected as Executive Vice President for Health System Affairs to lead UT Southwestern Medical Center’s clinical operations – recently ranked among the elite Honor Roll of the nation’s top 20 hospitals.
Study tracks Texas youths being treated for depression
Nearly half of Texas youths being treated for depression or suicidal thoughts reported at least one suicide attempt, and 90% had experienced suicidal ideation, according to a study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers.
Intestinal bacteria release molecular ‘brake’ on weight gain
Bacteria that live in the intestines inhibit a molecule that limits the amount of fat absorbed, increasing weight gain in mice fed a high-sugar, high-fat diet, researchers from UT Southwestern Medical Center report. The findings, published in Science, could eventually lead to new ways to combat obesity, diabetes, and malnutrition – health problems that plague hundreds of millions worldwide.
Fish oil supplement claims often vague, not supported by data
Your daily dose of omega-3s may not be doing what you think it is. Most fish oil supplements on the market today have labels boasting health benefits that aren’t supported by clinical data, according to a study published in JAMA Cardiology by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Research shaped career of O’Donnell School of Public Health leader
Saad B. Omer, M.B.B.S., M.P.H., Ph.D., Founding Dean of the Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health at UT Southwestern Medical Center, discovered a passion for public health while he was a medical student in Pakistan.
Be cautious to avoid burns in extreme heat or when grilling
With triple-digit temperatures continuing across many parts of the country and the outdoor grilling season still in full swing, a UT Southwestern Medical Center physician who specializes in burn care wants to remind people to be careful around hot surfaces such as a grill or a playground slide.
New primary care model created to dispense nutrition advice
Expert advice on nutrition delivered to patients electronically saved physicians time, improved patient satisfaction, and was reimbursable by insurance, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report.
Cause of ‘brain freeze’ a bit of a mystery, but not to worry
You’re eating or drinking something frozen, like a snow cone, ice cream, or ice pops – probably a bit too eagerly – and you get one of those sudden-onset, painful headaches known as “brain freeze.” Man, does it hurt, but usually not for long, and it’s not harmful, according to an expert at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
UT Southwestern again ranked among best large employers by Forbes and Statista
For the third year in a row, UT Southwestern Medical Center is ranked among the nation’s best large employers on America’s Best Employers 2023 list compiled by Forbes and Statista, and is among this year’s top employers for new graduates, women, and employee diversity.
UTSW Q&A: Experts talk about opioid abuse, risks, treatment
Overdose deaths from opioids, including prescription painkillers and synthetics like fentanyl, continue to rise.
Study identifies characteristics specific to human brains
Researchers led by a team at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified cellular and molecular features of the brain that set modern humans apart from their closest primate relatives and ancient human ancestors. The findings, published in Nature, offer new insights into human brain evolution.
Obesity plays key role in children’s sleep apnea
Obesity and older age are significant predictors of the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Health found. The study is published in Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology.
UT Southwestern joins elite Honor Roll of nation’s top 20 hospitals
UT Southwestern Medical Center joined an elite Honor Roll of the nation’s top 20 hospitals recognized for delivering the highest standard of care in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals listings for 2023-24.
Research pinpoints inflammation source behind atherosclerosis
Scientists at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Medical Center Dallas have discovered in mice how high cholesterol causes blood vessels to become inflamed, a necessary prerequisite for atherosclerosis – the “hardening of the arteries” responsible for most heart attacks and strokes. The findings, published in Nature Communications, could lead to new interventions to protect against cardiovascular diseases (CVD), the leading cause of death globally.
Most pancreatic cancer patients don’t get lifesaving surgery
Only 22% of Texas patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer received standard-of-care surgery to remove their tumors, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center report in a new study. The findings, published in the Journal of Surgical Oncology, are a call to action to improve treatment in the Lone Star State for this deadly disease, the authors say.
Tips to protect your skin from the sun’s damaging rays
With the increase in outdoor activities during the summer, a UT Southwestern Medical Center cancer specialist reminds you to protect your skin from sun damage.
Less is best with caffeine, energy drinks during pregnancy
Millions of people drink coffee, soda, and/or tea daily, making caffeinated beverages the most commonly consumed stimulants in the world. Highly caffeinated energy drinks also have been a hugely popular pick-me-up for more than two decades, especially among younger adults and teens. But pregnant individuals should be careful regarding energy drinks and their overall intake of caffeine, according to an expert at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
College students help aging patients who are hospitalized
Valentina Harmjanz often tapped into music on her smartphone to connect with older patients she visited at William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital. The UT Southwestern medical student met with patients as part of the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP), a joint effort between UTSW and the Hobson Wildenthal Honors College at the University of Texas at Dallas.
Gene that regulates immune activity in the retina identified
UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have identified a gene called Lipe that appears to be pivotal to retinal health, with mutations spurring immune activation and retinal degeneration. This is important because the retina is responsible for detecting the light that is transformed into vision. The findings, published in Communications Biology, provide clues about the mechanisms behind a variety of disorders affecting the retina, including macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
Don’t put nutrition on the back burner for your summer menu
Whether you’re hosting summer backyard cookouts or escaping the heat with indoor gatherings, a nutrition expert at UT Southwestern Medical Center says there are lots of options for adding some nutrition to your plate.
Early diagnosis of pelvic floor disorders key for health
Pelvic floor disorders (PFDs), which occur when women’s pelvic floor muscles are weakened or injured, significantly affect quality of life and require surgery for hundreds of thousands in the U.S. each year. Now a study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers has found a noninvasive test that could identify women at risk for these conditions and improve treatment.
CRI’s Sean Morrison elected to European Molecular Biology Organization
Stem cell biologist Sean J. Morrison, Ph.D., Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and founding Director and Professor of the Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern (CRI), has been elected by his peers as an associate member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO).
UT Southwestern toxicologist offers tips to keep food safe during summer grilling season
The arrival of summer marks the return of a cherished activity: backyard grilling. A UT Southwestern Medical Center toxicologist offers some cautionary guidelines to help you and your guests avoid food poisoning.
Public-private consortium will fund three gene therapy clinical trials at UT Southwestern and Children’s Health
A consortium of government, industry, and nonprofit partners will fund gene therapy clinical trials for three different rare diseases at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Health, where scientists are working on gene therapies to treat neurodevelopmental disorders in children.