Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have determined how Eastern equine encephalitis virus attaches to a receptor it uses to enter and infect cells. The whole virus is shown on the left and a magnified view of the viral structural proteins on the right. The findings laid the groundwork for a […]
Category: News
Announcement of Maritz Lung Center Director
It is my pleasure to announce that Dr. Tonya Russell has accepted the position of Medical Director of the Maritz Lung Center effective January 1, 2024. Dr. Russell is Professor of Medicine, Co-Director of the Interstitial Lung Disease Clinic, Co-Director of the Lymphangioleiomyomatosis Clinic, and Co-Chair of the Clinical Care Committee within the Division of […]
November 2023 Kudos and Awards
Thank you, residents and interns, for all you do for one another and for your patients. Though often under-appreciated, your work does not go unnoticed. Help us highlight the kindness, clinical judgement, resourcefulness, and work ethic.Nominate a resident/intern for Housestaff of the month or just share something good. November 2023 Inpatient Resident of the MonthShannon Coombs Shannon […]
October 2023 Kudos and Awards
Thank you, residents and interns, for all you do for one another and for your patients. Though often under-appreciated, your work does not go unnoticed. Help us highlight the kindness, clinical judgement, resourcefulness, and work ethic.Nominate a resident/intern for Housestaff of the month or just share something good. October 2023 Inpatient Resident of the MonthEric Mittauer In […]
Three receive grant for NK cell-based therapy trial for kids with AML (Links to an external site)
Todd A. Fehniger, MD, PhD, a professor of medicine, and co-principal investigators Jeffrey J. Bednarski, MD, PhD, an associate professor of pediatrics, and Thomas Pfeiffer, MD, an assistant professor of pediatrics, all at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, have received a total of $1.4 million from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the […]
Announcement of next Medical Director, Lung Transplant Program
We are very pleased to announce that Dr. Chad Witt has accepted the position of Medical Director of the Lung Transplant Program at Washington University in St. Louis, succeeding Dr. Ramsey Hachem starting April 1, 2024. Dr. Chad Witt received his MD from the University of Texas Southwestern and completed his internship and residency training […]
Announcement – Medical Multispecialty Center / Infusion Center Directors
It is our pleasure to announce Medical Directors who will serve our 4 outpatient Medical Multispecialty Centers with associated Infusion Centers. They will work within the framework of the Ambulatory Operations Executive Council (A-OEC) of the Department of Medicine (DOM) to serve as a physician liaison for the clinical operations at the MMCs. Alongside the […]
Fehniger receives grant for trial of immunotherapy against melanoma (Links to an external site)
Todd A. Fehniger, MD, PhD, a professor of medicine, and colleagues Alice Y. Zhou, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of medicine, Ryan C. Fields, MD, the Kim and Tim Eberlein Distinguished Professor, and George Ansstas, MD, an associate professor of medicine, all at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, have received $1.5 million from […]
Siteman Investment Program awards $1.5 million in cancer research grants (Links to an external site)
Research focused on blood, brain, breast and colon cancers; improving awareness of the link between alcohol use and cancer risk; and clinical trials for high-risk prostate cancer and high-grade neuroendocrine neoplasms are among the projects that will benefit from $1.5 million in new grants announced by Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of […]
Washington University and Deerfield Management launch VeritaScience to drive drug discovery (Links to an external site)
Washington University and health-care investment firm Deerfield Management announced the launch of VeritaScience, a collaboration designed to advance the discovery, development and commercialization of promising candidates that could benefit human health.
Inaugural WashU Nephrology Summer Intern Research “SOAR” Program Accepting Applications (Links to an external site)
The newly-established Washington University Kidney O’Brien Center for Chronic Kidney Disease Research is proud to announce it is accepting applications for its immersive summer research program for undergraduate students interested in pursuing nephrology research.
WashU Kidney O’Brien Center Takes CKD Research to the Next Level through Team Science (Links to an external site)
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a highly under-recognized disease that affects almost 15% of the US population and carries significant morbidity and mortality. Although important scientific advances promise to accelerate CKD research, many are not accessible to the kidney research community due to limited expertise and/or the need for expensive equipment.
Awardees announced for Needleman innovation, commercialization program (Links to an external site)
Three Washington University researchers developing promising therapeutics for cancer and heart disease have been named the inaugural awardees of an innovative, new program that provides critical funding to help move research toward early-stage clinical trials and commercialization. The awardees — Carl DeSelm, MD, PhD, John F. DiPersio, MD, PhD, and Kory Lavine, MD, PhD — will receive financial support […]
Programming and Events for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Commemoration (Links to an external site)
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 15, 2024) serves as a reminder to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by engaging in acts of service and promoting inclusivity within our communities. It is an opportunity for individuals and organizations to come together, reflect on the progress made, and strive for a more […]
‘Long flu’ has emerged as a consequence similar to long COVID (Links to an external site)
Study shows patients hospitalized for flu or COVID-19 face increased risk of long-term health problems, death Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, extensive research has emerged detailing the virus’s ability to attack multiple organ systems, potentially resulting in a set of enduring and often disabling health problems known as long COVID. Now, new research from Washington […]
Noninvasive technique helps visualize inflammatory cells in human heart (Links to an external site)
A study in Nature Cardiovascular Research by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis explores a new, noninvasive imaging technique that helps scientists visualize immune cells in the human heart.
Change The World (Links to an external site)
A deepened investment Understanding the brain is key to addressing devastating neurological and psychiatric diseases that affect mankind. This issue of Outlook magazine examines how WashU Medicine — already one of the world’s premier institutions in neuroscience research — is accelerating progress in this area.
Nominate a Colleague for the Drum Major Awards! (Links to an external site)
The Drum Major Awards will recognize individuals at WashU School of Medicine who embody what it means to be an upstander. Awardees should be those who speak up or act in support of an individual or cause, particularly someone who intervenes on behalf of a person being bullied or attacked. Upstanders are people who speak and […]
The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital Honors Dr. Vicky Fraser with 2023 President’s Achievement Award (Links to an external site)
On Dec. 7, 2023, The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital presented Vicky Fraser, MD, the Adolphus Busch Professor of Medicine and the chair of the John T. Milliken Department of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine, with its 2023 President’s Achievement Award.
Early career considerations for gastroenterologists interested in diversity, equity, and inclusion roles (Links to an external site)
The increasing recognition of institutional and interpersonal racism and its harmful impact on patients and patient outcomes, physician and trainee working environment, and well-being has spurred the development of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Kwon, Newland named to antibiotic resistance advisory council (Links to an external site)
Will advise leadership in office of secretary of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Jennie H. Kwon, DO, an associate professor of medicine in infectious diseases, and Jason G. Newland, MD, a professor of pediatrics, both at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, have been selected to serve on the Presidential Advisory Council […]
Happy Kwanzaa (Links to an external site)
Kwanzaa is a secular festival observed from December 26th through January 1st as part of a celebration of African American cultural heritage and traditional values. Historical background and significance of Kwanzaa The word Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase, “matunda ya kwanza” or first fruits, referring to First fruits or Harvest festivals that are found […]
Merry Christmas
December 25th is celebrated as both a religious holiday and a global cultural and commercial event. Around the world, people have observed this holiday through a variety of traditions and practices that are both religious and secular. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose […]
There’s ‘long flu,’ too: Influenza can lead to long-lasting symptoms, study finds (Links to an external site)
Patients who were hospitalized with the flu were at an increased risk for lingering lung problems, among other health issues, 18 months after their illness.
Kwon receives CDC grant to study viral transmission within households (Links to an external site)
Jennie H. Kwon, DO, an associate professor of medicine and chief of the section of Healthcare Epidemiology & Antimicrobial Stewardship at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has been awarded a $3.6 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to lead a multisite clinical study.
Humphreys receives $4.5 million NIH grant for kidney disease research (Links to an external site)
Benjamin Humphreys, MD, PhD, the Joseph Friedman Professor of Renal Diseases in Medicine and director of the Division of Nephrology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has received a five-year $4.5 million grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Ciorba receives grant to evaluate treatment for colorectal cancer (Links to an external site)
Matthew A. Ciorba, MD, a professor of medicine and director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has received a $2.8 million award from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to evaluate a new treatment in combination with routine radiation and chemotherapy in patients […]
Improving heart health to save lives during, after pregnancy aim of programs (Links to an external site)
Community-based approaches in St. Louis and Nigeria supported with NIH grants The United States and Nigeria may be an ocean apart, but each has distressingly high rates of infant and maternal death in the year following childbirth. In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated the U.S. maternal mortality rate to be […]
Brown, Urano and colleagues publish an article on a potential treatment for human, preclinical Wolfram syndrome cases (Links to an external site)
On March 30, Cris Brown, BA and Fumihiko Urano, MD, PhD of Urano Lab, alongside colleagues from Belgique, Belgium and Italy, had their article titled “GLP-1R agonists demonstrate potential to treat Wolfram syndrome in human preclinical models,” published in Diabetologia.
Happy Hanukkah (Links to an external site)
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival. The central theme of Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the second century B.C. and the miracle of the oil. Hanukkah holds great cultural and religious significance for Jewish communities around the world, and the celebration of this festival is a time for reflection, […]
Grateful patient, spouse wife pledge support for immunotherapy research (Links to an external site)
In 2016 while receiving treatment for bladder cancer at Siteman Cancer Center, Kerry Preete frequently engaged in conversations with his Washington University medical oncologist, Russell Pachynski, MD. Preete came to admire Pachynski not only as an attending physician but also as a dedicated cancer researcher.
Treating Ventricular Tachycardia (Links to an external site)
Every day, nearly 1,000 Americans die from sudden cardiac arrest, a catastrophic event in which the heart suddenly stops functioning. The most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest is a sustained, super-fast heart rhythm called ventricular tachycardia, commonly called V-tach. Among heart specialists, this condition is known as VT.
Innovative Cancer Treatment May Sometimes Cause Cancer, F.D.A. Says (Links to an external site)
A lifesaving cancer treatment may itself cause cancers, the Food and Drug Administration reported on Tuesday. The treatment, called CAR-T, was first approved in November 2017 for life-threatening blood cancers. But, the F.D.A. said, it had received 19 reports of new blood cancers in patients who received the treatment.
Kulkarni recognized for research into complement system (Links to an external site)
Pulmonologist receives Svar Complement Excellence Award Hrishikesh S. Kulkarni, MD, an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has received the 2023 Svar Complement Excellence Award from the International Complement Society and Svar, a life sciences company based in Sweden.
Department of Medicine 2024 Fellowship Matches
Please join us in congratulating this year’s residents, current chief residents, former graduates, and our divisions on another successful fellowship match! Our Internal Medicine residents successfully matched: Department of Medicine Fellowship Match Results by Division Allergy & Immunology Cardiovascular Critical Care Medicine Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Gastroenterology Hematology/Oncology Nephrology Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine Advanced Heart […]
New Director of the Forum for Women in Medicine (FWIM)
I am pleased to announce that Namrata Patel, MD, has accepted the role of Director of the Forum for Women in Medicine (FWIM). Dr. Patel is an assistant professor of medicine and pediatrics in the Divisions of General Medicine and Hospitalist Medicine, respectively. Dr. Patel received her Bachelors of Science in Biology from Emory University. […]
Radiation therapy may be potential heart failure treatment (Links to an external site)
Radiotherapy may improve heart function by reducing inflammatory immune cells Cardiologists and radiation oncologists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis pioneered the use of radiation therapy — a strategy typically used against cancer — to treat patients with a life-threatening abnormal heart rhythm called ventricular tachycardia.
Researchers identify way to block alphavirus infection (Links to an external site)
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found an innovative way to block infection by a variety of alphaviruses, a group of mosquito-borne viruses that can cause joint and brain infections in people. The study, led by Michael S. Diamond, MD, PhD, the Herbert S. Gasser Professor of Medicine, and Daved […]
CareSTL Health Celebrates 54th Anniversary Gala
CareSTL recently celebrated their 54th Anniversary Gala held Thursday, November 16th at the Redbird Club at Busch Stadium, CareSTL Health is a community-based healthcare system that provides healthcare services to underserved, underinsured, and uninsured populations. They help to shape healthy lifestyles in our community. Their mission is to improve health outcomes in our community by […]
New robot gives Lincoln County man second chance at life cancer-free (Links to an external site)
Scott Carter, 64 of Lincoln County is one of an estimated 28.3 million people who smoke cigarettes. Now he’s kicking the habit cold turkey after a new discovery. Only First Alert 4 is getting a look at the new robotic at Barnes-Jewish Hospital which found Carter’s cancer was growing.
Long-COVID clinic expanding reach to vulnerable metro, rural communities (Links to an external site)
Grant, partnership with community organizations expected to boost access to care to medically underserved In 2020, overwhelmed hospitals and excessive fatalities defined a world grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. Simultaneously, a new challenge emerged: A growing population struggled to recover fully from COVID-19.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in the United States, Canada, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil and the Philippines. It is also observed in the Dutch town of Leiden and the Australian territory of Norfolk Island. The fourth Thursday of November is Thanksgiving Day, a national holiday […]
DOLF Co-Founder and Director Dr. Gary Weil receives the prestigious Kyelem Prize
We are pleased to share the news that DOLF Director, Gary Weil received the 2023 Kyelem Prize at the annual Coalition for Operational Research on Neglected Tropical Diseases (COR-NTD). Described by some as the “Oscar” of neglected tropical disease (NTD) research, this prize recognizes people in the field who have been particularly effective in bringing […]
New Assay Could Revolutionize Detection and Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia
More accurate detection of a specific molecular marker in leukemic cells will help assess measurable residual disease and guide treatment decisions, improving patient outcomes, report investigators in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics Grant A. Challen, PhD, Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, lead investigator, has been published […]
Career Catalyst Grants from Susan G. Komen® Accelerate Breast Cancer Research (Links to an external site)
Two Washington University breast cancer researchers at Siteman Cancer Center have received national Career Catalyst Research Grants from Susan G. Komen® to accelerate their discoveries. Siteman is based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The researchers are among 49 scientists in this round of funding receiving a total of $19.3 million […]
Dr. Zainab Mahmoud to Receive the 2023 Dr. Nanette K. Wenger Research Goes Red® Award (Links to an external site)
American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2023 The American Heart Association will present the 2023 Dr. Nanette K. Wenger Research Goes Red® Award to Zainab Mahmoud, M.D., M.Sc., of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. This award will be presented during the opening session of the Association’s Scientific Sessions 2023 on Saturday, Nov. 11. The meeting, to […]
Ying Maggie Chen Lab and Collaborators Uncover Biotherapeutic Properties of MANF Protein (Links to an external site)
In their newly-published article in Nature Communications, a multi-center group led by Ying Maggie Chen, MD, PhD, WashU Division of Nephrology, describes previously unknown mechanisms of action of mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) and its therapeutic function, with regards to kidney disease. MANF is a secreted endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein that possesses cytoprotective properties.
Happy Diwali (Links to an external site)
Diwali is one of the most significant and widely celebrated festivals in India and among Hindu communities around the world.
Epigenome’s role in cancer revealed in new study (Links to an external site)
Epigenetics of cancer critical in understanding tumor initiation, growth and spreading For decades, scientists have been sequencing the DNA of many cancer types, identifying errors in the genetic code to help understand the formation of tumors, how they grow and what leads to their spreading. But sometimes cancer is driven by subtle changes in the […]
Six Department of Medicine Physicians Receive Knowlton Incentive for Excellence Award
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Barnes-Jewish Hospital recognized six Department of Medicine internal medicine residents and fellows with the 2023 Knowlton Incentive for Excellence Award. This award recognizes and fosters a new generation of compassionate, skilled physicians who show extraordinary care for the patient. The physicians were celebrated during the 39th […]