Thursday, September 14, 2023
UMSOM Researchers Identify Important New Signaling Molecule Involved in Vascular Health
In the 25 years since the Nobel Prize was awarded for discovering the role that nitric oxide (NO) plays in the cardiovascular system, researchers have been racing to learn more about how this mysterious signaling molecule works to repair blood vessels damaged by a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular event. University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers and their Wake Forest University (WFU) colleagues today announced an important missing piece of the puzzle.
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Internationally Renowned Dermatologist and Physician Scientist Shawn Kwatra, MD, Named New Chair of Dermatology at the UM School of Medicine and Chief of Service of Dermatology at UM Medical Center
Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD, announced today that Shawn Kwatra, MD will become the next Chair of the UMSOM’s Department of Dermatology and Chief of Service of Dermatology at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC)
Monday, August 07, 2023
AI Transformation of Medicine: Why Doctors Are Not Prepared
As artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT find their way into everyday use, physicians will start to see these tools incorporated into their clinical practice to help them make important decisions on diagnosis and treatment of common medical conditions. These tools, called clinical decision support (CDS) algorithms, can be enormously helpful in helping guide health care providers in determining, for example, which antibiotics to prescribe or whether to recommend a risky heart surgery.
Monday, July 24, 2023
Structure of Opioid Receptors May Reveal How to Better Design Pain Relievers, Addiction Therapies
Opioids remain the most potent and effective pain relievers in medicine, but they’re also among the most addictive drugs that can halt a person’s ability to breathe during an overdose — which can be deadly. Researchers have been racing to develop safer pain reliever drugs that target a specific opioid receptor, called the kappa opioid receptor, that is only found in the central nervous system and not elsewhere in the body, like other opioid receptors. Previous research suggests that such drugs may not lead to addiction or death due to overdose, but the currently known drugs that target these kappa opioid receptors have their own set of unacceptable side effects, including depression and psychosis.
Wednesday, July 19, 2023
New Innovation in CAR T-Cells Paves Way for Less Toxic Therapy Against Multiple Myeloma
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers engineered a new type of CAR T-cell therapy that, in preclinical studies, selectively attacked cancer cells while sparing healthy cells, potentially reducing the likelihood of toxic side effects from this innovative cancer treatment. The cells were designed specifically to attack multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells found in the body’s bone marrow.
Monday, July 17, 2023
Researchers from the Institute of Human Virology Discover that a Bacterial Protein Causes Genomic Instability and Contributes to Reduced Fertility, and Birth Defects
A team of researchers from the University of Maryland School of Maryland’s (UMSOM) Institute of Human Virology (IHV), a Center of Excellence of the Global Virus Network (GVN), published new findings that emphasize the crucial role of the urinary and genital tract microbiota in adverse pregnancy outcomes and genomic instability that originate in the womb during fetal development.
Friday, June 30, 2023
Lessons Learned from World’s First Successful Transplant of Genetically-Modified Pig Heart into Human Patient
A new study published today in the Lancet has revealed the most extensive analysis to date on what led to the eventual heart failure in the world's first successful transplant of a genetically-modified pig heart into a human patient. This groundbreaking procedure was conducted by University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) physician-scientists back in January 2022 and marked an important milestone for medical science.
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Dr. Wonder Puryear Drake Appointed to the Role of Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Director of New Center of Excellence at UM School of Medicine
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD, announced today that Wonder Puryear Drake, MD has been named Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Director of the Sarcoidosis Program at UMSOM, and faculty member in the Department of Medicine.
Thursday, June 22, 2023
Mpox Vaccine Trial for Adolescents, Children Begins at UM School of Medicine
A 2022 outbreak of mpox (formerly monkeypox) sickened more than 30,000 people and caused 38 deaths in the United States. It highlighted the lack of an approved vaccine for those under 18 years old. To address this pressing need, faculty-scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) recently launched a phase 2 safety trial to test a vaccine in adolescents ages 12 to 17.
Monday, June 19, 2023
University of Maryland, Baltimore Leadership Helps IHV-Nigeria Launch State-of-the-Art Campus in Public Healthcare, Treatment Training, and Research in Nigeria
The Institute of Human Virology-Nigeria (IHV-Nigeria), an affiliate of the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s (UMSOM) Institute of Human Virology (IHV), recently announced the launch of its state-of-the-art multi-campus of excellence in public healthcare, treatment training, and research to bring quality health services within the reach of millions of Nigerians.
Tuesday, June 06, 2023
Hospital Infection Control Experts Question Validity of Public Reporting Metrics, New Study Finds
Infections spread in hospitals and other healthcare settings cause over 680,000 infections and 72,000 patient deaths in the U.S. every year. Surveillance and reporting of these infections to government entities has become a key part of hospital infection control programs, yet infection control experts question the effectiveness of these measures at protecting public health. That is the finding of a new survey led by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Results were published last week in the journal JAMA Network Open.
Friday, June 02, 2023
Multiple Sclerosis More Prevalent in Black Americans Than Previously Thought
Multiple sclerosis has traditionally been considered a condition that predominantly affects white people of European ancestry. However, a new analysis conducted by a North American team led by University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers suggests that the debilitating neurological condition is more prevalent in Black Americans than once thought. It is also far more prevalent in Northern regions of the country including New England, the Dakotas, and the Pacific Northwest.
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
University of Maryland School of Medicine Receives One of the Largest Gifts in its History to Establish Kahlert Institute for Addiction Medicine
With an urgent mission to address the alarming rise in drug overdose deaths, the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) has announced plans to open the new Kahlert Institute for Addiction Medicine. It will be funded with a $10 million gift from the Maryland-based Kahlert Foundation with an additional $10 million provided by the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and $5 million from UMSOM to renovate research facilities on campus. UMSOM has committed to raise an additional $5 million in philanthropic donations for the Kahlert Institute.
Thursday, May 25, 2023
Longtime Anesthesiology Department Chair and Academic Leader Peter Rock, MD, MBA to Step Down as Chair, Will Return to Faculty
Peter Rock, MD, the Dr. Martin Helrich Professor and Chair of Anesthesiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), announced today that he will be stepping down from his longtime administrative role as Department Chair this summer to return to full-time faculty status.
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
New Study Highlights Dangers of Cumulative Exposure to Cardiovascular Risks and Need for Earlier Primary Prevention Strategies
With heart disease the most common cause of death worldwide, researchers have attempted to quantify how cumulative exposure to multiple risk factors, like high blood pressure, obesity, and elevated cholesterol, affect an individual’s risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Using sophisticated modeling techniques, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers have developed a new tool that can predict the risk of heart disease in those over 40 based on their total exposure, through the years, to heart disease risk factors.
Monday, May 15, 2023
Leading Healthcare Executive Rachel Hoover, MS, MBA, Named Executive Vice President at UM Faculty Physicians, Inc.
William F. Regine, MD, President of University of Maryland Faculty Physicians, Inc. (FPI), along with University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD announced today that Rachel L. Hoover, MS, MBA, will serve as the new FPI Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer (EVP/CAO), effective May 1.
Wednesday, May 10, 2023
Research Identifies New Cause of Heart Failure Condition in Children
In an effort to determine the cause behind a rare condition that causes heart failure in children, University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers have identified new gene mutations responsible for the disorder in an infant patient. They were then able to learn how the mutation works and used a drug to reverse its effects in heart muscle cells derived from stem cells from the patient.
Monday, May 08, 2023
Patients with Advanced Prostate Cancer May Benefit from Focused Radiation Therapy that Targets Metastases
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) faculty recently launched a new clinical trial to test a targeted form of highly-focused radiation therapy in patients with advanced prostate cancer that has spread to distant sites in the body. The study aims to determine whether the innovative approach – which uses highly-focused radiation beams to carefully target small metastases – can extend survival in these patients.
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Wednesday, May 03, 2023
University of Maryland School of Medicine Genomic Scientist Claire M. Fraser Elected to the National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has announced that Claire M. Fraser, PhD, the Dean E. Albert Reece Endowed Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), and the Founding Director of the Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS), has been elected as a new member of the prestigious academy. Dr. Fraser is one of 120 U.S. and 23 international new members elected on May 2, 2023 to the NAS, bringing its total U.S. membership to 2,565 members.
Tuesday, May 02, 2023
AI in Medical Imaging Could Magnify Health Inequities, Study Finds
Artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the medical field has the possibility to automate diagnoses, decrease physician workload, and even to bring specialized healthcare to people in rural areas or developing countries. However, with possibility comes potential pitfalls.
Monday, May 01, 2023
Leading Physician-Scientist Dr. Bradley A. Maron Appointed Senior Associate Dean for Precision Medicine at UMSOM and Co-Director of new University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing (UM-IHC)
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD, announced today that Bradley A. Maron, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at Brigham & Women’s Hospital (BWH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS), and Co-Director of the Pulmonary Vascular Disease Center at the VA Boston Healthcare System, has been appointed Co-Director of the UMB’s new Institute for Health Computing (UM-IHC), Director of Scientific Operations for the UM-IHC at UMSOM, as well as Senior Associate Dean for Precision Medicine at the UMSOM, effective May 1, 2023.
Friday, April 28, 2023
University of Maryland School of Medicine Celebrates Largest National Residency Match in History
The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) has reported that the national 2023 Main Residency Match was the largest in NRMP’s 70-year history, with an increase of 481 more registrants as compared to 2022. A total of 40,375 certified positions were offered. Of the 37,425 PGY-1 positions offered, which includes preliminary and transitional year positions, 34,822 positions were filled for a rate of 93%.
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Long COVID Sufferers with Cognitive Complaints and Mental Health Issues Have Changes in Brain Function, New Study Suggests
Those who experience brain fog, memory issues or other neuropsychiatric symptoms for months after a COVID-19 diagnosis were found to have abnormal brain activity during memory tests on functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), according to a new study led by University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers.
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Dr. Esa Matius Davis Named Inaugural Associate Vice President for Community Health at the University of Maryland, Baltimore and Senior Associate Dean for Population Health and Community Medicine at UMSOM
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD, announced today that Esa Matius Davis, MD, MPH, FAAFP, a nationally recognized leader in family and community medicine and population health, has been appointed as the inaugural Associate Vice President (AVP) for Community Health at the University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB) and Senior Associate Dean for Population and Community Medicine at UMSOM, effective July 1, 2023.
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Immune System Sculpts Rat Brains During Development
Researchers have established that biological sex plays a role in determining an individual’s risk of brain disorders. For example, boys are more likely to be diagnosed with behavioral conditions like autism or attention deficit disorder, whereas women are more likely to suffer from anxiety disorders, depression, or migraines. However, experts do not fully understand how sex contributes to brain development, particularly in the context of these diseases. They think, in part, it may have something to do with the differing sizes of certain brain regions.
Monday, April 24, 2023
UMSOM Rising Third-Year Medical Students Celebrate Annual Student Clinician Ceremony
The University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) recently hosted the Student Clinician Ceremony & Family Celebration to help prepare rising third-year medical students for their clinical rotations. The event took place at the Lyric Baltimore on April 21, 2023. During their rotation year, students begin seeing patients alongside doctors and residents as they gain experience in primary care and medical specialties.
Friday, April 21, 2023
In Memoriam: Rao P. Gullapalli, PhD, MBA
The University of Maryland School of Medicine community is mourning the loss of one of its longtime senior faculty members, Rao P. Gullapalli, PhD, MBA, who was Professor of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Associate Vice Chair for Research in the Department and Director of the Core for Translational Research in Imaging (C-TRIM) and Director of the Center for Metabolic Imaging and Therapeutics (CMIT). He also held several leadership roles in cancer imaging at the UM Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Thursday, April 20, 2023
Researchers Discover Unique Genetic Signature for Mood Disorders in the Old Order Amish
Understanding the root causes of depression, bipolar disorder, and other mental illnesses could lead to new treatments for the 300 million people worldwide who suffer from such conditions.
Thursday, April 13, 2023
Taking a Placebo Improves Adherence to Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder, Study Finds
Substance use disorder affects 20 million Americans, and more than 100,000 people died from a drug overdose in 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While the medication methadone has the strongest evidence-based effectiveness to prevent relapse, about half of patients drop out of their treatment within one year of initiation. The solution could lie in taking a simple “sugar pill” or placebo along with the methadone, according to a randomized clinical trial led by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Wednesday, April 05, 2023
UM School of Medicine Researchers Chart Path Forward on Developing mRNA Vaccines for Infections Beyond COVID-19
After helping to develop and test new mRNA technologies for COVID-19 vaccines, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers and scientists are turning their attention to utilizing this innovative technology to ward off other infectious diseases like malaria and influenza. Last month, UMSOM faculty in the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD) launched a new clinical trial to investigate the use of mRNA technologies to create a vaccine against malaria. CVD Director Kathleen M. Neuzil, MD, MPH, FIDSA also provided commentary in the nation’s leading medical journal on the feasibility of using mRNA to develop a universal influenza vaccine that could eliminate the need for seasonal shots.
Wednesday, April 05, 2023
Understanding E. Coli Strains That Do Not Cause Diarrhea Could Lead to New Treatments
News reports featuring E. coli often tell terrifying stories of intestinal illness and diarrhea or deadly outbreaks from contaminated food. There are, however, many different strains of the bacteria E. coli, or Escherichia coli, and not all are bad.
Tuesday, April 04, 2023
UM School of Medicine Study Finds ChatGPT Helpful for Breast Cancer Screening Advice, With Certain Caveats
As more consumers turn to the newly available ChatGPT for health advice, researchers are eager to see whether the information provided by the artificial intelligence chatbot is reliable and accurate. A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) indicates that the answers generated provide correct information the vast majority of the time; sometimes, though, the information is inaccurate or even fictitious.
Friday, March 31, 2023
Traumatic Brain Injury Interferes with Immune System Cells’ Recycling Process in Brain Cells
Each year about 1.5 million people in the U.S. survive a traumatic brain injury due to a fall, car accident, or a sports injury, which can cause immediate and long-term disability.
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Two-Time Lasker Awardee and Internationally Acclaimed Virologist, Robert C. Gallo, MD, To Step Down as Director of UM School of Medicine’s Institute of Human Virology (IHV)
Robert C. Gallo, MD, one of the world’s leading virologists and cancer researchers, announced he has stepped down from his position as Director of the Institute of Human Virology (IHV) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), effective March 24.
Thursday, March 09, 2023
Leading Physician-Scientist Dr. William F. Regine Named Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at UM School of Medicine and President of UM Faculty Physicians, Inc.
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD announced today that William F. Regine, MD, FACR, FASTRO, FACRO has been appointed to the executive role of Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (SOM), effective immediately.
Wednesday, March 01, 2023
Internationally-Renowned Scientist Claire Fraser, PhD, To Step Down as Director of the University of Maryland School of Medicine's Institute for Genome Sciences
Claire Fraser, PhD, a pioneer and global leader in genomic research, has announced that she will step down from her position as Director of the Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS) in the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM). She will now continue as the Dean E. Albert Reece Endowed Professor and Professor of Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology at UMSOM and scientist at IGS until she retires in 2024.
Thursday, February 23, 2023
Baltimore PKD Research and Clinical Core Center Receives Prestigious ‘Center of Excellence’ Designation from PKD Foundation
The PKD Foundation recently recognized the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s (UMSOM) clinical center that treats polycystic kidney disease (PKD)with a highly prestigious “Center of Excellence” designation. The designation recognizes the center as a leader in providing multidisciplinary, comprehensive clinical services for families affected by autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), a hereditary condition. It is one of just 28 clinical centers in the U.S.to receive this recognition.
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Parkinson’s Disease Patients Experience Significant Reduction in Symptoms with Non-Surgical Focused Ultrasound Treatment
Patients with Parkinson’s disease achieved a significant improvement in their tremors, mobility, and other physical symptoms after having a minimally invasive procedure involving focused ultrasound, according to a new study today published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
The Molecular Mechanism Behind Abdominal Aneurysms
When the artery that supplies the stomach and the liver forms a bulge that ruptures, this medical emergency results in the deaths of 50 percent of patients before they reach the hospital. This “silent killer” condition, known as abdominal aortic aneurysm , led to the death of Albert Einstein — and is responsible for nearly 5,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. Now researchers have found new clues that eventually could lead to earlier detection methods to save lives in the future.
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
University of Maryland School of Medicine Professor Appointed Chief of New Branch at NIH
Ronna Hertzano, MD, PhD, Professor of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) has been appointed as Chief of the newly established Neurotology Branch in The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD).
Friday, February 17, 2023
Neuroscience Tool’s Structure May Lead to Next Gen Versions
In order to more fully understand how diseases arise in the brain, scientists must unravel the intricate way neurons relay messages (either chemical or electrical) along a complex web of nerve cells. One way is by using a tool called DREADDs, which stands for Designer Receptors Activated by Designer Drugs. When introduced to a nerve cell or neuron, DREADDs acts like a specialized lock that only works when a key — in the form of a synthetic designer drug — fits into that lock. DREADDs can enable researchers to turn specific cell functions on or off to examine groups of neurons in circuits more precisely.
Tuesday, February 07, 2023
HIV Treatment and Prevention in Zambian Prisons May be Model for Prisons Worldwide
A recent study performed in Zambia by University of Maryland School of Medicine’s (UMSOM) Institute of Human Virology researchers found that high uptake of HIV preventative medicine, known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), is possible in prison populations with adequate resources and support from the criminal justice health system.
Wednesday, February 01, 2023
IN MEMORIAM: Mark J. Cowan, MD
The School of Medicine Community mourns the loss of one of our faculty members, Mark J. Cowan, MD, who passed away yesterday following a brief illness. Dr. Cowan was an outstanding pulmonologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine. He is survived by his wife, Lauren Strong Cowan.
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Artificial Blood Product One Step Closer to Reality With $46 Million in Federal Funding
A University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) physician-scientist will head a new federally-funded research program to develop and test a whole blood product, storable at room temperature, that can be used to transfuse wounded soldiers in the field within 30 minutes of injury, potentially saving thousands of lives. UMSOM will manage the $46.4 million four-year research project administered by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in collaboration the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP) and more than a dozen universities and biotech companies.
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Small Study Shows Promise for Antimalarial Monoclonal Antibody to Prevent Malaria
A monoclonal antibody treatment was found to be safe, well tolerated, and effective in protecting against malaria in a small group of healthy volunteers who were exposed to malaria in a challenge study, according to new research published in by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM).
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Special Vascular Cells Adjust Blood Flow in Brain Capillaries Based on Local Energy Needs
When we smell hot dogs, it may trigger memories of backyard barbeques or attending baseball games during childhood. During this process, the areas of the brain that control smell and long-term memory are rapidly firing off impulses. To fuel these signals from neurons, the active brain regions need oxygen and energy in the form of blood sugar glucose, which is quickly delivered through blood vessels.
Monday, January 23, 2023
In Memoriam: Bernard A. Carpenter, Jr.
Bernard A. Carpenter, Jr. (Bernie) passed away after a long illness on January 17th while at Ginger Cove in Annapolis.
Monday, January 23, 2023
New Recommendations Aim to Help Prevent Future Lung Injuries from Vaping
Nearly four years ago, federal health officials reported on a frightening new epidemic linked to e-cigarette use that caused a life-threatening and potentially irreversible lung condition. The condition – called e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) – was primarily linked to the inclusion of vitamin E acetate (VEA) in e-liquids used in vape cartridges. It was mainly found in marijuana vape products that were unregulated.
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Aspirin as Effective as Blood Thinner Injections to Prevent Deadly Complications in Patients Hospitalized with Bone Fractures
Patients hospitalized with fractures typically receive an injectable blood thinner, low-molecular-weight heparin, to prevent life-threatening blood clots. A new clinical trial, however, found that inexpensive over-the-counter aspirin is just as effective. The findings, published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, may lead surgeons to change their practice and administer aspirin to these patients.
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
University of Maryland Medicine Philanthropy Appoints Heather S. Culp, JD, as new Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer
The University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) have jointly announced today that senior advancement leader Heather S. Culp, JD, has been named as the new Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy
Friday, January 06, 2023
UM School of Medicine Scientists Create First Extensive Brain Cell Data Repository
Neuroscience researchers now have access to 50 million brain cells to better understand how the brain develops and functions or changes with disease or trauma. Last month, scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s (UMSOM) Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS) unveiled a “one-stop shop” for brain cell data called the Neuroscience Multi-Omic Archive (NeMO Archive). This archive is now available to neuroscience researchers to transform their understanding of the complex workings of the brain.