Billions of dollars are invested each year in scientific research, yet too often the benefits stop at journal publications rather than reaching patients, communities or policymakers.
Closing the research-practice gap (Links to an external site)
All the subheading categories
Billions of dollars are invested each year in scientific research, yet too often the benefits stop at journal publications rather than reaching patients, communities or policymakers.
Max Petersen, MD, PhD, assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Lipid Research at WashU Medicine, is the lead author of a new research article published in the Journal of Lipid Research, titled “Influence of obesity and insulin resistance with hepatic steatosis on the human plasma lipidome.”
In the U.S., one in eight women will get breast cancer in their lifetime, and about half of them will have mastectomies. Many of those women opt to have their breasts surgically reconstructed, most commonly with implants, but a relatively high percentage develop infections after implant surgery, requiring intravenous antibiotics and often removal of the […]
Since it was first detected in the U.S. in 2014, H5N1 avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has jumped from wild birds to farm animals and then to people, causing more than 70 human cases in the U.S. since 2022, including two fatalities. The virus continues to circulate among animals, giving it the opportunity […]
Dr. Melissa Kaltenbach joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology as an Assistant Professor as of January 2026. Dr. Kaltenbach received her MD from SUNY Upstate Medical University and completed her clinical training in internal medicine, gastroenterology, and transplant hepatology from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She also received her […]
Scientists have designed an immunotherapy that reduces plaque in the arteries of mice, presenting a possible new treatment strategy against heart disease. The antibody-based therapy could complement traditional methods of managing coronary artery disease that focus on lowering cholesterol through diet or medications such as statins, according to the findings of a new study led […]
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 skills, and work ethic: submit here. Residents of the Month Dr. Alex Taylor: “During her time she consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, clinical excellence, and unwavering ownership of […]
The WashU Medicine Clinical Research Training Center (CRTC) is thrilled to share that Alison Antes, PhD has been appointed as the Director of the Master of Science in Clinical Investigation (MSCI) Degree Program.
The human gut is home to trillions of beneficial microbes that play a crucial role in health. Disruptions in this delicate community of bacteria and viruses — called the gut microbiome — have been linked to obesity, asthma and cancer, among other illnesses.
When Marcy Lagarde, 42, of Raymore, Missouri, felt sudden excruciating pain in her left arm and had trouble lying down she knew something wasn’t right. Marcy has Marfan syndrome, a genetic condition that weakens the body’s connective tissue.
At 82 years old, Lois Miles was one of the first patients at Barnes-Jewish Hospital to receive a transcatheter tricuspid valve implant, a groundbreaking procedure performed in 2024. It’s one more way the hospital and its academic physician partner, WashU Medicine, are helping patients with valve disease.
An in-home mammalian meat reintroduction protocol was feasible and safe among patients with alpha-gal syndrome who had declining alpha-gal IgE titers and avoided red meat, according to study results.
Moe Mahjoub, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine (Division of Nephrology) and the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, has received two newly awarded R01 grants from the NIH, totaling $6.1 million over four years.
Siyan “Stewart” Cao, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, WashU Medicine Division of Gastroenterology, recently was awarded the The American Society of Clinical Investigation 2026 Young Physician-Scientist Award. The American Society for Clinical Investigation seeks to support the scientific efforts, educational needs, and clinical aspirations of physician-scientists to improve the health of all people. The ASCI Council Young […]
On November 14, 2025, Nigar Kirmani, MD, professor of medicine, was honored at the Semi-Annual General Staff Meeting and presented with the BJH Medical Staff Association Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognizes physicians at Barnes-Jewish Hospital with over 25 years of distinguished service, honoring their exceptional contributions, leadership, teaching, and patient care.
Colleagues, it is my pleasure to announce that Dr. Leslie Stuart Gewin has been named the Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Professor of Renal Diseases in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Gewin is an outstanding physician scientist, clinician and educator who is nationally recognized for her many contributions in academic Nephrology. Dr. Gewin earned her […]
The Missouri Historical Society is encouraging St. Louis residents to explore pivotal moments in the city’s past through its “I Am St. Louis” campaign. One of the stories highlighted is the legacy of the city’s influential Homer G. Phillips Hospital.
Second-year WashU Nephrology fellow, Maheen Khan, MBBS, MD, was one of six resident physicians and fellows honored with the Knowlton Incentive for Excellence Awards at The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital’s 41st award presentation on November 24, 2025.
A giant in the field of biomedical research, Stuart Arthur Kornfeld, MD (Figure 1), passed away in St. Louis on Sunday, August 17, 2025, following complications from Parkinson’s disease. Stuart was the David C. and Betty Farrell Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM). His leadership roles at WUSM, where […]
A new study maps the immune cell landscape of bone marrow in patients with multiple myeloma, a rare cancer that develops in the plasma cells of the bone marrow and has no cure. This large immune cell atlas, which includes robust patient outcome data, provides unparalleled new insights into how the immune system interacts with […]
Colleagues, it is my great pleasure to announce the appointment of Dr. Matthew A. Ciorba as the William B. Kountz Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology at WashU Medicine. The Kountz Chair was previously held by Dr. Gus Schoenfeld, Dr. David Alpers and most recently Dr. Deborah Rubin, all exceptional physician scientists. Dr. Ciorba will continue this […]
Startup companies built on Washington University in St. Louis discoveries attracted a record $1.7 billion in private-sector investment over the past year, accelerating the commercialization of WashU innovations into life-changing diagnostics, therapeutics and medical devices. Among those innovations are a blood test to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease; immunotherapies to treat aggressive blood cancers; and an AI-based […]
Dr. Christina Kearse joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Palliative Medicine as an Instructor as of January 2026. Dr. Kearse obtained her medical degree in 2019 from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). She then completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at MUSC. Prior to completing her fellowship in […]
In honor of World Diabetes Day, the Diabetes Research Center of the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research hosted the 2025 Diabetes Day Symposium. The event took place on Thursday, November 6, at WashU Medicine’s Eric P. Newman Education Center. The symposium brought together scientists, trainees, and clinicians to showcase research, foster collaboration, and raise awareness of cutting-edge advances in diabetes research.
WashU Nephrology proudly recognizes Gonzalo Matzumura, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Director of Acute Dialysis Services at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, for his role as co-author and investigator in the landmark LIBERATE‑D (Liberation from Acute Dialysis) trial, published in JAMA on November 7, 2025.
When Sam Nussbaum was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in his 70s, it was no surprise to his family that he chose WashU Medicine for his care. After all, Nussbaum had spent a significant portion of his distinguished career as a physician-scientist and health-care executive at the medical school and BJC HealthCare. And during that time, […]
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have uncovered why some patients with a rare genetic disorder called primary ciliary dyskinesia have worse lung problems than others with the same disorder. The discovery, published in Science Translational Medicine, suggests that gene therapy to restore a missing protein complex could help treat the […]
Won Ro Lee, MD, PhD, and Kyung Ja Shin Lee, MD, consider themselves fortunate people, despite having grown up in challenging circumstances. Kyung Ja escaped North Korea as a young child; both she and Won Ro grew up in poverty and lived through the Korean War. Their futures could have been significantly different had they […]
The David and Deborah Winston Fellows in Diabetes Research was established in 2012 through a generous gift from David and Deborah Winston. Awarded annually by the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research, it supports graduate students engaged in diabetes and diabetes-related research who reside within laboratories of Diabetes Research Center members.
Sina Jasim, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of Endocrine Neoplasia Services in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research at WashU Medicine, has been honored with the 2025 Early Career Award from the Barnes-Jewish Hospital (BJH) Medical Staff Association.
When Ashley Brooks, RN, BSN, was born, the first hint her parents received that something was out of the ordinary was that nurses didn’t bring their infant daughter from the nursery to their room when it was time to eat. She had been taken to the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.
Dr. Erica L. Scheller, DDS, PhD, is a recipient of this year’s Transcend Initiative Grant – a grant that is given to WashU Faculty for their collaborative efforts across WashU schools.
Parakkal Deepak, MBBS, MS, an associate professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology, and David H. Ballard, MD, an assistant professor of radiology at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, both of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and Satish Viswanath, PhD, an associate professor in pediatrics and in biomedical engineering at Emory […]
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified central routes that two deadly viruses take to invade human cells and have designed decoy molecules that block the infections.
Falk Catalyst Awards support pioneering stem-cell discovery and neuromodulation approaches to improve patient lives. WashU Medicine is proud to celebrate two distinguished faculty members — Jeffrey R. Millman, PhD, and Jin-Moo Lee, MD, PhD — as recipients of the Dr. Ralph & Marian Falk Medical Research Trust Catalyst Award. This competitive award supports bold, early-stage […]
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 skills, and work ethic: submit here. Residents of the Month Dr. Nick Griffith: “I am a nurse coordinator who works with him in the Resident Clinic. I am nominating […]
On Thursday, November 20, 2025, Chief of the Divisions of General Medicine, Geriatrics and Hospital Medicine, Dr. Molly McNairy, conducted a keynote address in the Connor Auditorium of the Farrell Learning and Teaching Center. When Molly McNairy, MD, MSc, joined WashU Medicine, she took on the unique challenge of re-imaging the structure of general medicine, […]
The Department of Medicine is proud to announce that we have 77 matched fellows. These physicians bring talent, curiosity and drive to their program built on teamwork and discovery. Please view the list below for more information about each. Fellowships Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant Cardiology Cardiovascular Disease Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Interventional Cardiology Structural Heart […]
Dr. Alaina Kessler joins the Department of Medicine in the Division of Oncology as an Assistant Professor in June 2025. Dr. Kessler is a board-certified medical oncologist with a focus on breast cancer. She received her medical degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine as well as a Master of Public Health from […]
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 skills, and work ethic: submit here. Residents of the Month Dr. Jessica Liebiech: “She is an intern is currently performing at the level of a 3rd year […]
Dr. Akhil Sood joined the Department of Medicine in the Division of Rheumatology as an Assistant Professor in August 2025. Dr. Sood clinical and research interests focus on systemic lupus erythematosus, with an emphasis on understanding patterns of care and developing strategies to improve the quality of care and patient outcomes. During his fellowship in […]
Makenna Dixon remembers all the appointments during her childhood. Her mother suffered from autoimmune diseases that required countless trips to physical therapy. As her health conditions worsened, Dixon’s mom could no longer work a full-time job, and the lack of insurance through an employer made therapy one financial challenge among many.
The number of Hepatitis C infections in pregnancy increased tenfold from 2000 to 2019. Legislative solutions helped paved the way for a new ‘meds to beds’ program at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis that’s bringing better access to a cure
The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital is pleased to announce it has raised $2 million to establish PREVENT, a multidisciplinary program at WashU Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital focused on prevention and early detection of stomach and pancreatic cancers.
Sumanth Prabu, MD, Lewin Distinguished Professor of Cardiovascular Diseases and Chief of the WashU Cardiovascular Division, co-authored the 2025 scientific statement published by the American College of Cardiology on the role of inflammation in cardiovascular disease. The new statement reviews residual inflammatory risk, screening & management, and new anti-inflammatory strategies.
Julie M. Silverstein, MD, Professor of Medicine and Neurological Surgery, and Medical Director of the Pituitary Center in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Lipid Research at WashU Medicine, is co-author of a study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Zainab Mahmoud, M.D., M.Sc., an assistant professor of medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and Zhao Zhang, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, will receive the inaugural Jack Sarver Prize in Clinical Science and Jack Sarver Prize in Basic Science, respectively, at […]
Dr. Cameron Parker joined the Department of Medicine in the Division of Hospital Medicine as an Instructor in November 2025. He was born and spent his early years in Oklahoma before moving to and growing up in Northeast Alabama, where he developed an understanding of healthcare disparities. He attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham, […]
Dr. Lucas Gu joins the Department of Medicine joined the Department of Medicine in the Division of Hospital Medicine as an Instructor as of October 2025. Dr. Gu is from Madison, Wisconsin. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from University of Wisconsin Madison in 2011. During his undergraduate training, he was awarded […]
Dr. Samuel Urrutia joins the Department of Medicine joined the Department of Medicine in the Division of Oncology as an Assistant Professor as of September 2024. Dr. Urrutia is an assistant professor and clinical investigator in the Division of Oncology at Washington University. He completed his training at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer […]