Following a rapid increase in popularity of GLP-1 drugs for diabetes and weight loss, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, approximately one in eight U.S. adults now take these medications, which also provide cardiovascular benefits. However, when patients stop taking these drugs, they not only regain weight, but, according to a new study, they also incur […]
James Krings, MD, MSCI, Assistant Professor of Medicine, was recently published in Annals of Internal Medicine. The study, “A New Approach to Reliever Therapy in Asthma: Implications of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guideline”.
Researchers at WashU Medicine have identified a potent pathway that begins in the brain and leads to loss of all body fat without reducing food intake.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis show in a new study that GLP-1 medications may be effective at treating and preventing substance use disorders across all major addictive substances studied, suggesting these drugs target a common biological pathway underlying addiction.
Despite advances in the field of organ transplantation, long-term organ rejection that can become apparent a decade or more after a heart or lung transplant remains a common problem for patients. This chronic organ failure has long been attributed exclusively to the recipient’s immune system attacking the foreign organ over time.
White matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden is associated with cognitive decline, but its association with driving performance among older adults and the associations of modifiable risk factors remain unclear.
The Death to Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis (DOLF) project at Washington University in St. Louis recently celebrated 15 years of conducting clinical and translational research to test new treatments to support the elimination of two major neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), namely lymphatic filariasis (LF) and onchocerciasis (also known as river blindness).
Sina Jasim, MD, MPH, associate professor of medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Lipid Research at WashU Medicine, and Maria Papaleontiou, MD, associate professor of internal medicine in the Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes at the University of Michigan, have published a narrative review in Thyroid®, the official journal of the American Thyroid Association.
Renowned for excellence in patient care, research and education, WashU Medicine is also a publishing powerhouse, home to the No. 1-selling medical textbook in the world.
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 […]
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 […]
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.
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.
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 […]
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 […]
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.
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 […]
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.
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.
A new paper in JACC: Advances delves into the factors that may affect implementation of a polypill for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF)—assuming one proves safe and effective—and outlines strategies for an eventual rollout. This exercise “just reinforces the idea, in addition to previous data showing therapeutic inertia and reluctance to use other […]
Doxorubicin has been a mainstay in cancer treatment for more than 50 years. Sometimes called “red devil chemo,” it is potent and effective against many cancer types. But it comes with a major downside — increased risk of severe heart failure, even decades after successful cancer treatment.
Margo Girardi, MD, SFHM, and Gina LaRossa, MD, contributed to an abstract and article that were featured in the Society of Hospital Medicine’s Journal of Hospital Medicine. The article, titled “Putting SQuID on the menu: A subcutaneous insulin protocol for diabetic ketoacidosis,” demonstrates how using a subcutaneous insulin protocol on hospitalist units for low-to-moderate severity DKA […]
The World Health Organization (WHO) added cardiovascular polypills to its 2023 Model List of Essential Medicines, and research continues to show that these medications are effective at preventing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACD) among various other forms of cardiovascular disease. Yet experts say obstacles remain to the adoption of these medications in high-income developed nations.
A daughter looked to the app for help with her concerns. It proved to be a good idea, with caveats.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a novel way brown fat — an energy-burning form of fat — can rev the body’s metabolic engine, consuming cellular fuel and producing heat in a way that improves metabolic health. The study, in mice, reveals new avenues to exploit brown fat to […]
A new preprint by Kameron Bradley of the Jeffrey Millman Lab, titled “Divergent Cell-Type Specific Hypoxia Responses in Human Stem Cell–Derived and Primary Islets,” sheds light on how different types of insulin-producing cells respond to oxygen deprivation, which is a common challenge in cell transplantation therapies for type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Dr. Jeffrey Millman, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research at Washington University School of Medicine, has co-authored a landmark review article on the heterogeneity of type 1 diabetes (T1D), published simultaneously on July 30 in three leading journals: Diabetologia, Diabetes, and Diabetes Care.
A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association (JAMIA) showcases how modern AI methods are advancing clinical and translational research in Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Conducted by Levi Kaster, BS, Ethan Hillis, MS, Inez Y. Oh, PhD, Elizabeth C. Cordell, MD, Randi E. Foraker, PhD, MA, Albert M. Lai, PhD, Stephanie M. Morris, […]
Hepatitis C, a bloodborne virus that damages the liver, can cause cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure and death if left untreated. Despite the availability of highly effective treatments, the prevalence of hepatitis C infection remains high, particularly among women of childbearing age, who account for more than one-fifth of chronic hepatitis C infections globally. Within […]
Malnutrition is a leading cause of death in children under age 5, and nearly 150 million children globally under this age have stunted growth from lack of nutrition. Although an inadequate diet is a major contributor, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found over a decade ago that dysfunctional communities of gut […]
On August 4, The Washington Post published an article titled “She was fit and healthy. Why did she get diabetes?” featuring the expertise of Fumihiko Urano, MD, PhD. Dr. Urano is a Professor of Medicine and of Pathology and Immunology with WashU Medicine’s Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research, and Director of the Wolfram Syndrome International Registry and […]
When injured, cells have well-regulated responses to promote healing. These include a long-studied self-destruction process that cleans up dead and damaged cells as well as a more recently identified phenomenon that helps older cells revert to what appears to be a younger state to help grow back healthy tissue.
A new WashU Medicine study shows that acquired mutations in blood stem cells — whether arising from smoking, exposure to toxins or even normal aging — interact with mutations passed down by parents in important ways that influence a person’s lifetime risk of developing blood cancer. The knowledge could inform early detection and prevention.
WashU scientists are collaborating to unlock secrets of a millennia-old scourge. Efforts may lead to an increased understanding of and improved treatments for tuberculosis, which is once again on the rise.
Grant Challen, PhD, Professor, WashU Medicine Division of Oncology, teamed up with Luis F. Z. Batista, PhD, Associate Professor and Andrew L. Young, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, WashU Medicine Division of Hematology, on a new research publication “Non-canonical functions of DNMT3A in hematopoietic stem cells regulate telomerase activity and genome integrity”, published this month in […]
Researchers at WashU Medicine’s Center for Cardiovascular Research have discovered that specialized immune cells from the spleen play a critical role in healing the heart after a heart attack. The study, led by Sumanth Prabhu, MD, Division Chief and director of the Prabhu Lab, identifies a unique population of macrophages—immune cells that clean up cellular debris—that travel […]
Tristan McIntosh, PhD & Alison Antes, PhD authored a paper in Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics titled “Evaluating and Supporting Leadership, Management, and Mentoring: A Framework for Catalyzing Responsible Research and Healthy Research Environments”.
The itching, redness and swelling of an allergic reaction are caused by mast cells — the vigilant first responders of the immune system that spring into action with histamine-filled granules in response to a perceived threat.
Anne Mobley Butler, PhD, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at WashU Medicine, was senior author of a study published in JAMA Network Open about the incidence of serious perinatal outcomes when treated for a urinary tract infection (UTI) during pregnancy . Co-authors include Michael Durkin, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine in […]
Researchers at the WashU Medicine Sah Lab in the Center for Cardiovascular Research and their collaborators have published findings that provide a proof of concept for a novel drug class to treat myocardial infarction and stroke. Rajan Sah, MD, PhD, a professor of medicine in the cardiovascular division, worked with multiple teams that collaborated to observe and describe a […]
Most cancer genome studies have focused on mutations in the tumor itself and how such gene variants allow a tumor to grow unchecked. A new study, led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, takes a deep dive into inherited cancer mutations measured in a healthy blood sample and reports how […]
As the opioid epidemic has worsened in the United States, prevalence of hepatitis C has also increased. Hepatitis C is a bloodborne virus that damages the liver. It is mainly spread through sharing needles or other injection equipment and can also be passed from a mother to baby during pregnancy or childbirth. It can be […]
William H. McCoy IV, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Division of Dermatology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, recently published a manuscript in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology (JID).
Early this year, not long after President Donald Trump took office, his administration started terminating grants awarded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), disrupting studies and unmooring biomedical and public health research communities.
Researchers at the WashU Medicine Sah Lab in the Center for Cardiovascular Research and their collaborators have published findings that provide a proof of concept for a novel drug class to treat myocardial infarction and stroke. Rajan Sah, MD, PhD, a professor of medicine in the cardiovascular division, worked with multiple teams that collaborated to observe and describe a […]
Bryce E. Montané, MD, Assistant Professor and Brian F. Gage, MD,MSc, Professor of Medicine, WashU Medicine Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics, led an interdisciplinary team to review trials of ablation of atrial fibrillation. They found that compared with medical therapy, catheter ablation reduced the relative risk for ischemic stroke by 37%, for death by […]