Thursday, December 22, 2022
A Three-Dose Malaria Vaccine Shows Safety, Efficacy in West African Adults
A three-dose regimen of a whole-parasite vaccine against malaria – called Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite (PfSPZ) vaccine – demonstrated safety and efficacy when tested in adults living in Burkina Faso, West Africa, which has endemic malaria. That is the finding of a new study published Dec. 7 in Science Translational Medicine. Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD) led the work.
Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Dr. David Marcozzi, Chief Clinical Officer and Senior Vice President at the University of Maryland Medical Center, Appointed to the Additional Role of Associate Dean for UMMC Clinical Affairs at UM School of Medicine
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD, announced today that David E. Marcozzi, MD, MHS-CL, MHS-CL, FACEP, Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and Chief Clinical Officer/Senior Vice President at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), has been appointed to serve as the Associate Dean for UMMC Clinical Affairs at UMSOM, effective immediately. He will retain his UMMC position as Chief Clinical Officer and Senior Vice President while serving in this new capacity.
Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Dr. Thomas K. Chin Appointed New Division Head of Pediatric Cardiology at University of Maryland School of Medicine and Co-Director of Children's Heart Program at UM Children's Hospital
Steven J. Czinn, MD, the Drs. Rouben and Violet Jiji Endowed Professor and Chair of Pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, announced today that Thomas K. Chin, MD, has been appointed to serve as the new Division Head of Pediatric Cardiology in UMSOM’s Department of Pediatrics, and as Co-Director of the Children’s Heart Program at the University of Maryland Children’s Hospital (UMCH), effective January 2023.
Tuesday, December 20, 2022
COVID Vaccines Prevented 3 Million Deaths in the U.S., New Analysis Finds
In the two years since the first COVID-19 vaccines were given to patients in the U.S., the vaccines had the cumulative effect of preventing 18 million hospitalizations and 3 million deaths. That is based on a new modeling analysis conducted by a researcher at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and her colleagues. Results of the analysis were published by the Commonwealth Fund.
Friday, December 16, 2022
UM School of Medicine Surgeon-Scientist Named One of Nature’s 10 People Who Helped Shape the Science Stories of 2022
The world-renowned journal Nature, named Muhammad Mohiuddin, MD, DSc, Program and Scientific Director of the Cardiac Xenotransplantation Program at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), on its annual list of 10 people who helped shaped science in 2022. His pivotal work over the past three decades transplanting genetically-modified pig hearts into non-human primates led to the historic xenotransplant of a pig heart into a human patient this past January. The surgery was led by Bartley Griffith, MD, the Thomas E. and Alice Marie Hales Distinguished Professor of Transplant Surgery and Clinical Director of the Cardiac Xenotransplantation Program, who was also recognized by Nature for his ground-breaking efforts to move the field of transplantation into a new era.
Monday, December 12, 2022
University of Maryland School of Medicine Launches New Maryland Institute for Neuroscience Discovery (UM-MIND)
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD, has announced plans to launch a new neuroscience institute that will accelerate translational research of the brain by facilitating interaction between basic and clinical scientists and enhancing collaborative research across the UMSOM and University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) campus.
Monday, December 12, 2022
About 1 in 100 Heart Disease Deaths Linked to Extreme Hot and Cold Weather Days
Exposure to extremely hot or cold temperatures increases a heart disease patient’s risk of dying, according to a new study published today in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation. The global analysis of more than 32 million cardiovascular deaths over 40 years measured more deaths on days when temperatures were at their highest or lowest compared to more moderate climate days.
Monday, November 21, 2022
UM School of Medicine Empowers Faculty Members Through Recently Founded Academy for Career Development
Within a year of the launch of the Medical Education Leadership Academy (MELA) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), faculty members from across the School’s various divisions are expressing an overwhelmingly positive response to the Academy’s mission of creating an environment that fosters career development of a diverse community of nationally recognized leaders in medical education.
Monday, November 14, 2022
Unexpected Electrical Changes Seen in First Successful Transplant of Genetically-Modified Pig Heart
Ten months after transplanting the first genetically-modified pig heart into a human patient, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers continue to report on new findings from the landmark transplant. Their latest study demonstrates for the first time that unexpected electrical changes occurred in the pig heart transplanted into the patient David Bennett. The findings were presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) meeting this past weekend.
Monday, November 14, 2022
Brain Area Thought to Impart Consciousness, Behaves Instead Like an Internet Router
Tucked underneath the brain’s outer, wrinkly cortex is a deeply mysterious area, known as the claustrum. This region has long been known to exchange signals with much of the cortex, which is responsible for higher reasoning and complex thought. Because of the claustrum’s extensive connections, the legendary scientist Francis Crick, PhD, of DNA-discovery fame, first postulated in 2005 that the claustrum is the seat of consciousness. In other words, the region of the brain enabling awareness of the world and ourselves.
Thursday, November 10, 2022
University of Maryland Strategic Partnership Announces New Institute to Transform Medicine Using Big Data and Artificial Intelligence Technologies
The University of Maryland Strategic Partnership: MPowering the State (MPower) today announced a transformative partnership to establish the University of Maryland 3 - Institute for Health Computing (UM-3-IHC), which is being led by the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP), in collaboration with the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) and Montgomery County, Md. This new Institute will leverage recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and computing to create a premier learning health care system that evaluates both de-identified and secure digitized medical health data to diagnose, prevent and treat diseases in patients across the state of Maryland.
Wednesday, November 09, 2022
Lishan Su, PhD, Invested as the UMSOM Charles Gordon Smith Endowed Professor for HIV Research
With his 92-year-old mother watching via live stream from the city of Qingdao, China, and an in-person audience of friends and colleagues gathered in Westminster Hall, Lishan Su, PhD, an internationally prominent virologist and immunologist at the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s (UMSOM) Institute of Human Virology (IHV), was invested as the Charles Gordon Smith Endowed Professor for HIV Research. Dr. Su is a Professor in the Departments of Pharmacology and Microbiology & Immunology at UMSOM’s IHV, who also serves as the Director of the Division of Virology, Pathogenesis, and Cancer at the Institute.
Monday, November 07, 2022
UMSOM Class of 2025 Host Annual Auction in Support of Victims of Domestic Abuse & Trauma
The University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Class of 2025 Student Government has organized this year’s Annual Second-Year Medical Student Auction, a tradition that began 16 years ago.
Friday, November 04, 2022
How a SARS-CoV-2 Virus Protein Damages the Heart
Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s (UMSOM) Center for Precision Disease Modeling identified how a specific protein in SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, damages heart tissue. They then used a drug to reverse the toxic effects of that protein on the heart.
Wednesday, November 02, 2022
Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr. R. Frank Henn Appointed Interim Chair of the Department of Orthopaedics
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD, announced today that R. Frank Henn, III, MD, Professor of Orthopaedics, has been appointed to serve as the Interim Chair of UMSOM’s Department of Orthopaedics, effective December 1, 2022.
Tuesday, November 01, 2022
Youngest Girls Who Get Pregnant Have Highest Risk of Poor Outcomes, Study Finds
Pregnant teens in the U.S. have long been known to face increased health risks and pregnancy complications, but a new study for the first time finds that girls ages 13 or younger who get pregnant face even greater risks. These very young girls are significantly more likely to experience preterm birth, cesarean delivery, and admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) compared to older pregnant teens. Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine led the study, which was published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Tuesday, November 01, 2022
Three University of Maryland School of Medicine Faculty Members Honored by Baltimore Business Journal
Three University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) physician researchers were recognized when the Baltimore Business Journal announced its Leaders in Health Care and 40 Under 40 Award winners.
Monday, October 31, 2022
NCI Grants Awarded to IHV to Prevent Cancer and Improve Screening in Sub-Saharan Africa
Institute of Human Virology (IHV) researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) have received two five-year awards from the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute (NCI) for a total of $7.5 million. One award aims to reduce the incidence of lung cancer and other cancers associated with using tobacco in Botswana. The other is focusing on improving screening and treatment of anal precancer in Nigeria. Both grants will make use of existing HIV treatment and prevention infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries to reach people living with HIV who are most at risk for these particular types of cancers.
Monday, October 24, 2022
Significant Number of Seniors Rely on Failing Public Transit Systems to Get to Medical Appointments
About one in 10 seniors who live in cities reported that they use public transportation, and 20 percent of older transit users said they relied on trains and buses to get to their doctor appointments. Frailty and living in an area with broken sidewalks were both linked to a lower use of public transit, according to a new study led by University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers.
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
New Clinical Trial Will Test Remote Monitoring to Better Manage Inflammatory Bowel Disease
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers opened recruitment this month to assess whether a novel remote therapeutic monitoring system can help people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) adhere to their medication regimen, and ultimately improve their symptoms and prevent dangerous flare-ups. The study, called ASSIST, will recruit 123 participants for a randomized controlled trial that will involve IBD patients from the University of Maryland Medical Center and four other IBD centers.
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
University of Maryland SOP, SOM Awarded $1.1 Million Grant to Increase Diversity in Biomedical Workforce
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded a $1.1 million grant to the University of Maryland Schools of Pharmacy (UMSOP) and Medicine (UMSOM) to create a training program to enhance diversity in the biomedical workforce.
Tuesday, October 18, 2022
More than 140 University of Maryland Medical Center Physicians Recognized As “Top Doctors” In Baltimore Magazine 2022 Survey
More than 140 University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) physicians are recognized as "Top Doctors" in the November 2022 special issue of Baltimore magazine. The UMMC honorees, who are also on the faculty of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, are among the more than 250 physicians across the University of Maryland Medical System hospitals to be included on the annual list which spans 90 specialties and sub-specialties.
Thursday, October 13, 2022
Landmark Clinical Study Finds Aspirin as Effective as Commonly Used Blood Thinner to Prevent Life-Threatening Blood Clots and Death After Fracture Surgery
Patients who have surgery to repair bone fractures typically receive a type of injectable blood thinner, low-molecular-weight heparin, to prevent life-threatening blood clots, but a new clinical trial found that over-the-counter aspirin is just as effective. The findings, presented today at the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) annual meeting in Tampa, FL, could cause surgeons to change their practice and administer aspirin instead to these patients.
Thursday, October 13, 2022
Two Antiseptics Work Equally Well to Prevent Infections After Fracture Surgery
A randomized clinical trial involving more than 1,600 patients with open fractures found that two antiseptic solutions routinely used by surgeons prior to fracture surgery are equally effective for preventing post-surgical infections. Based on the results of this trial, the study leaders from the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and McMaster University concluded that orthopedic surgeons could select either of the two solutions -- aqueous 10% povidone-iodine or aqueous 4% chlorhexidine gluconate – for infection prevention.
Friday, October 07, 2022
Other SARS-CoV-2 Proteins are Important for Disease Severity, Aside from the Spike
University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers have identified how multiple genes of SARS-CoV-2 affect disease severity, which could lead to new ways in how we develop future vaccines or develop newer treatments. The genes control the immune system of the host, contributing to how fiercely the body responds to a COVID-19 infection.
Thursday, October 06, 2022
Dr. Jason Rose Appointed Associate Dean for Innovation and Physician Science Development
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD announced today that Jason Rose, MD, MBA, has been named Associate Dean for Innovation and Physician Science Development at UMSOM. He will also serve as the Director of Faculty Entrepreneurship. The new positions are part of Dean Gladwin’s goal of strengthening the school’s physician-scientist pipeline and advancing a major effort to foster biomedical start-up companies that are based in academia.
Thursday, September 08, 2022
How Memory of Personal Interactions Declines with Age
One of the most upsetting aspects of age-related memory decline is not being able to remember the face that accompanies the name of a person you just talked with hours earlier. While researchers don’t understand why this dysfunction occurs, a new study conducted at University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) has provided some important new clues. The study was published on September 8 in Aging Cell.
Wednesday, August 31, 2022
UM School of Medicine Researchers Find Blood Type Linked to Risk of Stroke Before Age 60
A person’s blood type may be linked to their risk of having an early stroke, according to a new meta-analysis led by University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers. Findings were published today in the journal Neurology. The meta-analysis included all available data from genetic studies focusing on ischemic strokes, which are caused by a blockage of blood flow to the brain, occurring in younger adults under age 60.
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Effects of Drugs in Mice can Depend on the Sex of the Human Experimenter
University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers demonstrated that a stress response in the brain is essential for ketamine’s antidepressant response in mice suggesting new ways to improve antidepressant therapy for patients who do not respond to the treatment.
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
$800K Donation Will Fund New Discoveries and Treatments for ALS
The University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) will receive an $800,000 donation to be used by the University of Maryland Brain and Tissue Bank to advance research into the treatment and cure of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
UM School of Medicine Study Finds a New Way to Optimize Treatment Success for Fecal Transplants
Fecal transplants have been successful in treating serious diarrheal infections but have often failed when tried with other diseases. Up until now, no one could predict why these treatments sometimes failed to help restore healthy bacteria in the colon. Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s (UMSOM) Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS) have discovered important clues that could lead more personalized approaches to optimize treatment success. They published their findings in Cell Reports Medicine online earlier this month.
Thursday, August 18, 2022
Senior Academic Leader and Internationally Recognized Scientist Christopher P. O'Donnell, PhD, Appointed Vice Dean for Research Development and Operations at UM School of Medicine
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD announced today that Christopher P. O’Donnell, PhD, Associate Vice Chancellor for Emerging Technologies in Health Sciences Education at the University of Pittsburgh, has been named Vice Dean for Research Development and Operations at the UMSOM, effective September 1, 2022. Dr. O’Donnell, who has led the integration of diverse digital technology learning initiatives across Pitt Health Sciences, joins Dean Gladwin as part of UMSOM’s senior leadership team. Dr. Gladwin began his tenure as Dean at UMSOM on August 1.
Friday, August 12, 2022
Off and Running: In First Week, Dean Gladwin is Already Making His Mark
Full Week of Events Signals His Values and Priorities for UMSOM and His Commitment to Taking on Our Greatest Global Health Challenges
Wednesday, August 10, 2022
University of Maryland School of Medicine Faculty Share $13 Million Funding Award to Study Fracture Prevention Strategies for Osteoporosis
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) faculty from the Department of Epidemiology & Public Health and the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science are co-recipients of a $13 million funding award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to compare interventions used to improve mobility and prevent future fractures in older adults recovering from a hip or leg fracture. The 5-year study is being conducted by researchers at UMSOM and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston in partnership with ProMedica, a large integrated healthcare network with skilled nursing facilities across the United States.
Tuesday, August 09, 2022
New Study Confirms Typhoid Vaccine Safety, Immune Response in Children
A new study, published in The Lancet Global Health, finds typhoid conjugate vaccine, Typbar TCV®, provides immunity for up to 3 years in children as young as 9 months old in Malawi. The research – conducted by the Blantyre Malaria Project, Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust, and researchers at the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) – found that the TCV vaccine is safe and well tolerated. Importantly, the vaccine can be given to 9-month-old infants at the same time as routine measles-rubella vaccinations without reducing the immune response to either vaccine.
Monday, August 08, 2022
New Study Finds Rapid Decline in Vaccine-Boosted Neutralizing Antibodies Against Omicron Subvariant BA.5
A study led in part by investigators at the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s (UMSOM) Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health found that although COVID-19 booster vaccinations in adults elicit high levels of neutralizing antibodies against the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, those antibody levels decrease substantially within three months. Kirsten E. Lyke, MD, Professor of Medicine at UMSOM and scientist at CVD, is Co-Chair and site Principal Investigator for the study, and Meagan Deming, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the UMSOM, also a scientist at CVD, is Vice-Chair of the study, which is a collaboration between investigators at the UMSOM’s CVD and the Institute of Human Virology (IHV).
Monday, August 08, 2022
26th Annual White Coat Ceremony Welcomes Class of 2026
On August 5, 2022, the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Class of 2026 donned their white coats for the first time, while faculty, family and friends were able to celebrate the great tradition of the White Coat Ceremony with them in person for the first time since 2019. It was a day of firsts, as new UMSOM Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD addressed the Class for his first White Coat Ceremony in his first week on the job as Dean.
Tuesday, August 02, 2022
Gene Mutations from Patients with Debilitating Seizure and Movement Disorder Created in Mice
Three genetic alterations associated with a rare seizure and a movement disorder primarily found in children were successfully mirrored in mice and their symptoms treated, in a new study from a University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researcher, Andrea Meredith, PhD, Professor of Physiology and her collaborators.
Friday, July 29, 2022
Children Who Lack Sleep May Experience Detrimental Impact on Brain and Cognitive Development That Persists Over Time, UM School of Medicine Study Finds
Elementary school-age children who get less than nine hours of sleep per night have significant differences in certain brain regions responsible for memory, intelligence, and well-being compared to those who get the recommended 9-12 hours of sleep per night, according to a new study led by University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers. Such differences correlated with greater mental health problems like depression, anxiety, and impulsive behaviors in those who lacked sleep. Inadequate sleep was also linked to cognitive difficulties with memory, problem solving and decision making. The findings were published today in the journal Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.
Friday, July 29, 2022
New Study Provides Insight for How Congenital Heart Defects Manifest
About one percent of the world population is born with a congenital heart defect, which affects about 40,000 U.S. births each year, but how these particular birth defects come about is largely unknown.
Friday, July 29, 2022
Why Breast-Fed Premature Infants Have A Healthier Gut Than Formula-Fed Ones
Human breastmilk has long been considered “liquid gold” among clinicians treating premature infants in a newborn intensive care unit (NICU). Breastmilk-fed “preemies” are healthier, on average, than those fed formula. Why is that true, however, has remained a mystery.
Thursday, July 28, 2022
Researchers Discover One of the Largest Known Bacteria-to-Animal Gene Transfer Inside a Fruit Fly
A fruit fly genome is not a just made up of fruit fly DNA – at least for one fruit fly species. New research from the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s (UMSOM) Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS) shows that one fruit fly species contains whole genomes of a kind of bacteria, making this finding the largest bacteria-to-animal transfer of genetic material ever discovered. The new research also sheds light on how this happens.
Tuesday, July 26, 2022
Longstanding Brain Scientist and Neurosurgeon, J. Marc Simard, MD, PhD, Named Interim Chair of UM School of Medicine’s Department of Physiology
University of Maryland School of Medicine Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, announced that leading Physician-Scientist and Neurosurgeon, J. Marc Simard, MD, PhD, the Dr. Bizhan Aarabi Professor in Neurotrauma, and Professor of Neurosurgery, Pathology, and Physiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, has been appointed to serve as Interim Chair of the Department of Physiology.
Monday, July 25, 2022
Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine Supports First-of-Its-Kind Conference to Evaluate the Public Health Magnitude of Long COVID And Define A Global Research Roadmap to Address the Crisis
The conference, hosted at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, reviewed the wealth of cohort data on long COVID, constructed a framework to characterize and define the conditions, and identified the most critical and urgent areas of research needed to better understand, diagnose, and treat this developing public health crisis.
Monday, July 25, 2022
University of Maryland School of Medicine Expert Co-led Novavax Trial that Led to FDA Emergency Use Authorization and CDC Recommendation
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week recommended a new COVID-19 protein-based vaccine as an option for primary vaccination of adults 18 years of age and older. The University of Maryland School of Medicine’s (UMSOM) Karen Kotloff, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health, co-led the multi-center PREVENT-19 clinical trial, which studied safety and efficacy of the Novavax vaccine in about 30,000 adult study participants.
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
University of Maryland School of Medicine Faculty Member Featured on NBC Nightly News Special Report on Gun Violence in America
A University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) faculty member was featured in a prestigious national news program over the weekend highlighting the lifesaving critical care medicine practiced at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). In an extended segment called “One Night in America” that comprised half of the evening newscast for NBC Nightly News and additional coverage on MSNBC, a reporter was embedded in the trauma center from Saturday evening, July 16, into Sunday morning to document emergency trauma cases caused by gun violence. Reporters were also embedded in three other major cities showing different perspectives including police response to shootings and community support from a local street pastor.
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
Nationally Renowned OB-GYN Physician-Scientist and Fetal Medicine Expert, Irina Burd, MD, PhD, Named New Chair of the UM School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, announced today that Irina Burd, MD, PhD, a nationally-and internationally-recognized physician-scientist and academic leader who is currently Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics, and the Founding Director of the Integrated Research Center for Fetal Medicine at Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM), will become the next Chair of the UMSOM’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, following a national search. She will begin in her new role, October 17, 2022.
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
Six-Country African Study Shows COVID-19 Can Be Dangerous in Pregnancy
A new study involving hospitalized women in six African countries from the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s (UMSOM) Institute of Human Virology (IHV) showed that pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, had double the risk of being admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and four-times the risk of dying in-hospital than pregnant women who did not have COVID-19.
Monday, July 18, 2022
New Genomic Research Shows Why Testing Malaria Vaccines in the Clinic is as Rigorous as Natural Exposure in the Field
Malaria is the deadliest mosquito-borne parasitic infection of humans. In 2021, after a century of research, the World Health Organization (WHO) approved the world’s first malaria vaccine. That vaccine reduces the incidence of malaria infections in young children aged 5-17 months by only 30 percent, meaning that it remains critical to continue developing and testing more effective vaccines.
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
UM School of Medicine to Expand Innovative Medical Education Spaces with Gift from Entrepreneurial Leader and Alumnus Maurice N. Reid, MD ’99
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, announced today that UMSOM will receive a new $1 million gift from Maurice N. Reid, MD ’99, CEO and Medical Director, ExpressCare Urgent Care Centers, bringing his total giving to nearly $2.2 million. Dr. Reid, who has been a longtime supporter the School’s initiatives, is a proud School of Medicine alumnus and member of the Dean’s Board of Visitors.
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
16th Annual Student Awards Ceremony Recognizes Top UMSOM Medical Graduates
On May 18, 2022, the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) held its 16th annual Student Awards Ceremony & Dinner at the Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards. Fourth-year medical students in the Class of 2022 were recognized for their superior academic performance and modeling extraordinary humanism, compassion, and integrity over their four-year tenure in medical school. The event also publicly recognized generous donors, many being alumni, faculty, and friends, whose financial support afforded students with the various scholarships.
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Saying Farewell to the UMSOM Class of 2022
After four years of hard work and perseverance, graduates of the Class of 2022 at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) gathered at the Hippodrome Theatre on May 19 to celebrate their official transition from medical students to physicians. This year’s ceremony was especially significant for two reasons: It was the first grand scale in-person graduation celebration since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the final commencement ceremony over which current UMSOM Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA would preside. The graduating class of 148 physicians, who earned medical degrees, along with others who earned combined MD/Masters and MD/PhD degrees, received their doctoral hoods in front of hundreds of family members, friends, and faculty.
Thursday, June 23, 2022
New Research Shows Mothers’ HIV Status, Breastfeeding, and the Infant Gut Microbiome Can Have Long-Term Impact on Infant Health
Babies born to women with HIV often have poorer health and under-developed growth in the early months of life than infants born to women without the infection — even if those babies don’t contract HIV during birth, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM)’s Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS) and Institute of Human Virology (IHV). The study also provides new insights into why these health issues often continue throughout the babies’ lives.
Wednesday, June 22, 2022
University of Maryland School of Medicine Faculty Scientists and Clinicians Publish Findings of World’s First Successful Transplant of Genetically Modified Pig Heart into Human Patient
Six months ago, University of Maryland School of Medicine surgeon-scientists successfully implanted a genetically modified pig heart into a 57 year-old patient with terminal heart disease in a first-of-its-kind surgery. It was considered an early success because the patient lived for two months with a strong functioning heart showing no obvious signs of rejection, according to a new paper published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Tuesday, June 21, 2022
University of Maryland Medicine Launches Precision Health Study to Create Biggest and Most Diverse Research Database in State
University of Maryland Medicine, the joint enterprise of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, the University of Maryland Medical Center, and University of Maryland Medical System, today launched a landmark initiative called My Healthy Maryland Precision Medicine Research. The project aims to enroll 250,000 Maryland residents over the next decade who reflect the diversity of the state and want to play a pivotal role in helping researchers understand how genes and lifestyle affect an individual’s health.
Thursday, June 16, 2022
Longtime UMSOM Information Technology Leader Sharon Bowser, MBA, Announces Retirement
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, announced today that Sharon A. Bowser, MBA, Associate Dean and Chief Information Officer, who has dedicated nearly 30 years of service and leadership to the UMSOM, will retire, effective August 1. To ensure a smooth transition in the UMSOM Office of Information Technology Services, Dean Reece announced that Scott Stefan, MBA, Assistant Dean and Deputy Chief Information Officer, will become the Acting Associate Dean and Chief Information Officer. Song Yu, PhD, the Executive Director of IT Projects, will become the Acting Assistant Dean and Deputy Chief Information Officer. Both appointments will be effective August 1.
Tuesday, May 31, 2022
Most Doctors Still Believe in Prescribing Unnecessary Antibiotics to Treat Asymptomatic Infections, UM School of Medicine Study Suggests
An estimated 70 percent of primary care physicians reported in a survey that they would still prescribe antibiotics to treat asymptomatic infections based solely on a positive urine specimen. This is despite long-held medical guidelines recommending against this practice, according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open, which was led by University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers.
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
NIH Awards Grant to Train Global Health Scientists in Low-and-Middle-Income Countries
Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) received a $5.5 million award from the National Institute of Health’s Fogarty International Center to help foster the next generation of global health scientists. The award entitled, “Integrated Network of Scholars in Global Health Research Training (INSIGHT)” will expand global health research across sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean by providing one-year mentored research training to U.S. and lower-middle income country scholars.
Friday, May 20, 2022
NIH Grant Awarded to Study HIV Drug-Resistant Genetic Mutations Across Africa
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM)’s Institute of Human Virology (IHV) researchers received funding from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) for $2.7 million to study genetic changes in two genes from the HIV-1 virus that may make it resistant to antiretroviral therapy. The study, named INSPIRE, will analyze genetic variation in types of HIV circulating in a handful of African countries that will help to better understand the implications of these mutations and will improve clinical management of patients.
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
UM School of Medicine Announces Dean Emeritus Dr. Donald E. Wilson as Recipient of American Heart Association’s 2022 Watkins-Saunders Award
Longtime champion for health equity and advocate for minority representation in medical academia, Donald E. Wilson, MD, MACP, AGAF, Dean Emeritus at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), will receive the 2022 Watkins-Saunders Award given by the American Heart Association (AHA) of Baltimore & Greater Maryland. Recipients must be an individual or organization who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to overcoming health and community disparities in the state of Maryland. Dean Wilson, who served as dean of UMSOM from 1991 until his retirement in 2006, will be honored on Thursday, May 19, 2022 at the AHA’s virtual Watkins-Saunders Award Ceremony.
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy to Deliver Graduation Address to the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s 213th Graduating Class
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, announced today that Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MBA, will deliver the keynote address for this year’s graduating class. The UMSOM graduation ceremony will take place at the Hippodrome Theatre on Thursday, May 19, 2022. Doors open at 12:00 pm, the procession begins at 1:30 pm, and the ceremony begins at 2:00 pm.
Friday, May 13, 2022
University Of Maryland Medical Center Celebrates Groundbreaking for Major Expansion of UM Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center
$219 Million Tower Will Transform the Face of the Medical Center's Downtown Campus and Advance Clinical Care and Research to Meet the Growing Needs of Cancer Patients Throughout Maryland and the Region
Wednesday, May 11, 2022
UM School of Medicine Researchers Participate in Big Ten Health Registry to Study Heart Inflammation in Athletes Recovering from COVID-19
Research Findings from the Registry Suggest Hidden Myocarditis Detected on Heart Scans of Some Athletes Who Had No Clinical Symptoms
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Longtime Academic and Clinical Affairs Leader, Department Chair, and Faculty Member, Tony Lehman, MD, Announces Retirement
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, announced today that Anthony Lehman, MD, MSPH, who served the UMSOM for more than 30 years as Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, Department Chair, and distinguished faculty member in the UMSOM Department of Psychiatry, will retire, effective June 30, 2022.
Friday, May 06, 2022
University of Maryland School of Medicine Helps Launch New Center to Accelerate Advancement of Virtual Reality into Patient Care
BALTIMORE, May 6, 2022 – The University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) is the joint recipient of $4.75 million in funding from the National Science Foundation to establish a new Center for Medical Innovations in Extended Reality. The Center, known as MIXR, will help accelerate the development of virtual reality, augmented reality, and other immersive media technologies – referred to as “extended reality”—for use in clinical trials and eventually widespread use in medical care.
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
UMSOM Names Noted Faculty-Scientists, Dr. Lisa Schocket and Dr. Osamah Saeedi, To Leadership Appointments in Department of Ophthalmology
UMSOM Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, announced today that two senior faculty members in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences have been named to leadership positions.
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Mark T. Gladwin, MD, to Lead University of Maryland School of Medicine
University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, has appointed leading heart, vascular, and lung physician-scientist Mark T. Gladwin, MD, as the new dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and Vice President for Medical Affairs. The selection was made following a rigorous national search and is effective August 1, 2022. Dr. Gladwin is the Jack D. Myers Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (UPSOM) and founder of the Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute.
Thursday, April 14, 2022
Worth the Wait
After years of hard work and steadfast perseverance, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) medical students gathered at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall on March 18, 2022 to take part in this year’s Match Day ceremony. In this annual ceremony, graduating medical students from around the country and at UMSOM discover where they will begin their careers as physicians. This year was especially significant because it was the first in-person celebration with families and friends since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The long-awaited day was worth the wait as students were finally able to reflect and celebrate their milestone accomplishment.
Wednesday, April 06, 2022
Medical Alumni Association Hosts Traditional and Historic Portrait Unveiling Ceremony; Dean Reece Joins Past UMSOM Deans
In a time-honored tradition that has taken place throughout the 212-year history of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, the official portrait of its 30th Dean, E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, was unveiled at a special ceremony held in Davidge Hall last week. The tradition dates back to the UMSOM's first Dean in 1807, Dr. John Beale Davidge (portrait shown above left). Since then, a portrait has been painted and unveiled for each Dean as they approach the end of their tenure. Dean Reece has announced that he will complete his 16-year tenure as Dean in June of this year (2022), and will return to the UMSOM faculty as Director of the new Center for Advanced Research Training & Innovation (CARTI), and continue his research as Co-Director of the Center for Birth Defects Research.
Tuesday, April 05, 2022
UM School Of Medicine Institute of Human Virology’s Robert Gallo Receives Distinguished Alumni Award by the University of Chicago Medical Association
Robert Gallo, MD, The Homer & Martha Gudelsky Distinguished Professor in Medicine, Co-Founder and Director of the Institute Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Co-Founder and Chair of the Scientific Leadership Board of the Global Virus Network, was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award by the University of Chicago Medical & Biological Sciences Alumni Association (UChicago MBSAA) for his lifetime achievements. Honorees will participate in a panel discussion on May 10 and will be presented the award on May 21 at the Hyde Parke campus.
Thursday, March 24, 2022
UM School of Medicine Leads Research to Assess Meningococcal Vaccine for Infants and Young Children in Africa
Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM)’s Center for Vaccine Development & Global Health (CVD) are leading a study to evaluate the use of a pentavalent – or five in one – meningococcal conjugate vaccine (NmCV-5) among infants and young children in the meningitis belt of sub-Saharan Africa. This is the final and pivotal study for World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification of this vaccine, which is the last stage to make the vaccine available for low- and middle-income countries.
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Dr. Alice S. Ryan Named Associate Director for Translational Science in the UM School of Medicine’s Center for Research on Aging
Jay S. Magaziner, PhD, MSHyg, Professor and Chair, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, and Director for the Center for Research on Aging at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), announced today that Alice S. Ryan, PhD, Professor of Medicine, has been appointed to serve as the Associate Director for Translational Science in the Center for Research on Aging, effective immediately.
Tuesday, March 22, 2022
Longtime Leader of UM School of Medicine Faculty Clinical Practices, William Tucker, Announces He Will Retire July 1; Led More Than Two Decades of Growth and Success
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, announced today that William Tucker, MBA, CPA, Associate Dean for Practice Plan Affairs at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), and Chief Corporate Officer for the UM Faculty Physicians, Inc. (FPI), will retire from his position on July 1. For the past 22 years, he led the organization to its highest levels of operational performance and excellence in patient care, while successfully expanding outpatient practice locations across the State of Maryland.
Tuesday, March 22, 2022
IT Executive Scott Stefan Appointed Assistant Dean and Deputy Chief Information Officer at University of Maryland School of Medicine
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Associate Dean and Chief Information Officer (CIO) Sharon Bowser, MB, along with UMSOM Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, announced today that Scott Stefan, MBA, an information technology executive and veteran of the UMSOM’s Office of Information Technology, has been appointed Assistant Dean and Deputy CIO, effective immediately.
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Two University of Maryland School of Medicine Women Faculty Leaders Featured in New Book
Dr. Kathleen Neuzil and Dr. Donna L. Parker are Two of 33 Women Included in Case Studies Featured in Lessons Learned: Stories from Women Physician Leaders
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
University of Maryland School of Medicine Announces New Integrated Model for UM Faculty Physicians, Inc. (FPI), Positions for Accelerated, Long-Term Business Growth and Success
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, has appointed new interim leadership for University of Maryland Faculty Physicians, Inc. (FPI), as part of a new FPI integrated model that has been designed for over a year.
Monday, March 14, 2022
Dancing Laboratory Rats Show How the Brain Learns, Perfects, then Unconsciously Performs a Skillful Movement
Learning a complex skilled movement like tying your shoes or playing an instrument takes practice. After repeating the same movements over and over, people often develop a formulaic way of performing the task, and may not even have to think about it anymore. Although we accomplish such repetitive tasks every day, little is known about how the brain learns, repeats, and perfects them.
Monday, March 14, 2022
UMSOM Transplant Surgeon Performs Maryland's First Robot-Assisted Living Donor Kidney Transplant
Innovative Surgery Performed at the University of Maryland Medical Center Promises Reduced Hospital Stay and New Options for Obese Patients
Wednesday, March 09, 2022
IN MEMORIAM: David Bennett, Sr.
David Bennett, the 57 year old patient with terminal heart disease who made history as the first person to receive a genetically modified pig’s heart, passed away yesterday on March 8. Mr. Bennett received the transplant on January 7 and lived for two months following the surgery. His condition began deteriorating several days ago. After it became clear that he would not recover, he was given compassionate palliative care. He was able to communicate with his family during his final hours.
Monday, March 07, 2022
Financial Strain Linked to Increased Risk of Death in Older Adults Recovering from Heart Attack, UM School of Medicine Study Finds
Older adults who report being under severe financial strain were substantially more likely to die within six months of having a heart attack compared to those with moderate or no financial strain, according to a new study led by University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers. Findings were published last week in the JAMA Internal Medicine and point to glaring disparities in medical outcomes due to financial circumstances.
Wednesday, March 02, 2022
Dr. Bennie Jeng Announces He Will Assume Chair of Department of Ophthalmology at Penn
Bennie H. Jeng, MD, Chair of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, announced today that he has accepted a position at the University of Pennsylvania and will be stepping down as Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at the UM School of Medicine, effective June 30, 2022.
Monday, February 28, 2022
UM School of Medicine Research Leads to Innovative Non-Invasive Treatment for Parkinson’s Disease at UM Medical Center
– A non-invasive ultrasound treatment for Parkinson’s disease that was tested in a pivotal trial led by University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers is now broadly available at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). The device, called Exablate Neuro, was approved in November by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat advanced Parkinson’s disease on one side of the brain.
Wednesday, February 16, 2022
Study Shows New Drug Combination More Effective Against SARS-CoV-2
Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine have identified a powerful combination of antivirals to treat COVID-19. The researchers showed that combining the experimental drug brequinar with either of the two drugs already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for emergency use, remdesivir or molnupiravir, inhibited growth of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in human lung cells and in mice. Their findings suggest that these drugs are more potent when used in combination than individually.
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
UM School of Medicine Awarded $1.87 Million Grant to Increase Diversity in Genetic Counseling Programs
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) faculty members in the Master’s in Genetic Counseling (MGC) Training Program have been awarded a $1.87 million grant from the Warren Alpert Foundation (WAF) to recruit and retain genetic counseling students from diverse backgrounds, both at the level of incoming students and as practicing genetic counselors.
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Multi-Country African Research Reports High Rates of COVID-19-Related Deaths Among Hospitalized Children and Adolescents
African children and adolescents hospitalized with COVID-19 experience much higher mortality rates than Europeans or North Americans of the same age, according to a recently published study conducted by researchers from the Institute of Human Virology (IHV) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN). Both organizations are members of the Global Virus Network (GVN).
Monday, February 14, 2022
UM School of Medicine Launches Major New Center Focused on Advanced Research Training and Innovation
University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) President Bruce Jarrell, MD, announced today the official launch of an innovative new University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Center that will focus on inspiring, growing and developing the next generation of clinician-scientists and biomedical research-scientists who will advance high-impact research and discovery.
Wednesday, February 02, 2022
ADHD Medicine May Treat Symptoms of Genetic Movement Disorder in Children, University of Maryland School of Medicine Study Finds
Using a common attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication appears to help manage the symptoms of a rare and currently difficult to treat genetic movement disorder primarily found in children, according to a new study from a University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researcher Andrea Meredith, PhD, and her collaborators.
Tuesday, February 01, 2022
Study: Losing Excess Weight in Adulthood Reduces Risk of Developing Polyps that can Lead to Colorectal Cancer
Weight loss for adults, particularly those who are overweight or obese, may reduce their risk of developing a type of polyp that can lead to colorectal cancer, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM). Findings were published today in the journal JNCI Cancer Spectrum.
Monday, January 31, 2022
New Technique Consistently Works to Open Blood-Brain Barrier, Paving Way for Pre-Clinical Studies of Neurologic Drugs
University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers developed a technique in laboratory animals to consistently and reproducibly open the blood-brain barrier. This barrier serves as a barricade securing the brain from the external world blocking out certain environmental toxins, but also prevents drug therapies from reaching their intended targets. The new technique is based on a routine procedure for removing clots from the brain’s arteries in patients. This advancement was conducted by Piotr Walczak, MD, PhD, Professor of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and Miroslaw Janowski, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Thursday, January 27, 2022
16th Annual Medical Student Auction Supports Fight Against Food Insecurity
In keeping with tradition since 2006, the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Class of 2024 Student Government has organized this year’s Annual Second-Year Medical Student Auction. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Bmore Community Food, an organization committed to serving the vulnerable and marginalized population in Baltimore City who are experiencing food insecurity. The remaining funds will support the Class of 2024 medical student activities.
Thursday, January 27, 2022
Microbiome of Mother’s Vagina May Affect Infant Mortality Risk and Baby’s Development
A new study in mice from University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers showed that an unhealthy vaginal microbiome in pregnant mothers in combination with an unhealthy diet contributed to increased pup deaths and altered development in the surviving babies.
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Trial Co-led by University of Maryland School of Medicine Scientist Confirms Safety of “Mix-and-Match” COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dosing
A University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD), expert is co-leading an ongoing study that was pivotal in recommending adults and teens receive booster COVID-19 shots of their choosing starting in fall 2021. The preliminary clinical trial results, reported today in The New England Journal of Medicine, found that is safe and effective to receive boosters that are the same or a different one from the person’s primary vaccine(s).
Monday, January 24, 2022
UM School of Medicine Surgery Professor Jonathan Bromberg, MD, PhD, Receives Prestigious NIH Award for Research on Immune System Regulation
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA announced today that Jonathan Bromberg, MD, PhD, Professor of Surgery and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Surgery, has received a prestigious aw ard from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for his research into how the immune system regulates itself in the area of transplantation. The $2.3 million grant will enable him to learn more about how the immune system’s gatekeepers, called regulatory T cells, work to suppress the body’s immune response.
Wednesday, January 19, 2022
World-Renowned University of Maryland School of Medicine Trauma Surgeon and Physician-Scientist Celebrates 25th Anniversary
As the Honorable Francis X. Kelly Distinguished Professor of Trauma Surgery and Director of the Program in Trauma at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and Physician-in-Chief of the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), Thomas M. Scalea, MD, FACS, MCCM, has pioneered advances to trauma care for patients in the United States and around the world. He has cared for tens of thousands of Marylanders critically injured in motor vehicle collisions, falls and violent attacks, traveled to China and Haiti to render assistance to earthquake victims, helped train thousands of U.S. Air Force personnel and worked alongside military physicians in war-torn Afghanistan. He has steered Maryland’s highest-level trauma center through two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Monday, January 10, 2022
University of Maryland School of Medicine Faculty Scientists and Clinicians Perform Historic First Successful Transplant of Porcine Heart into Adult Human with End-Stage Heart Disease
In a first-of-its-kind surgery, a 57-year-old patient with terminal heart disease received a successful transplant of a genetically-modified pig heart and is still doing well three days later. It was the only currently available option for the patient. The historic surgery was conducted by University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) faculty at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), together known as the University of Maryland Medicine.