Aggressive breast cancers may contribute to racial survival disparities
August 4, 2017 A higher proportion of aggressive breast cancer subtypes are seen in black women, according to a study led by Dr. Melissa Troester. The study findings help to explain a gap in mortality that exists between black and white women with breast cancer and could lead to improved treatment approaches.
Home test for HPV may be lifesaving for women who do not receive regular cervical cancer screenings
July 25, 2017 A new study, led by Dr. Jennifer Smith and published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases, finds a convenient at-home test for human papillomavirus (HPV) to be a promising tool for preventing cervical cancer in underscreened women in the United States.
Too few pre-teens receive recommended vaccinations, especially for HPV
July 24, 2017 A new study led by recent alumna Dr. Nadja Vielot finds that too few adolescents in the U.S. are obtaining recommended prophylactic vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV), a known and preventable cause of cervical and other cancers in females and males.
Clinical trials framework proposed to bring cancer treatments to sub-Saharan Africa
July 20, 2017 In a PLOS Medicine article, Dr. Satish Gopal outlines a framework to design studies and bring cancer therapies to sub-Saharan Africa in the absence of clinical trial data specific to the region’s population and health care infrastructure. Photo by Caitlin Kleiboer.
Symposium gathers research teams to address opioid addiction, overdose
June 30, 2017 Drug overdoses are among the few causes of death on the rise in the United States, and more than half of these deaths are attributed to opioids. At a recent symposium, Dr. Steve Marshall urged researchers from diverse backgrounds to work together to solve what many call the worst drug crisis in American history.
New drug holds potential to defeat coronaviruses
June 28, 2017 Scientists at the Gillings School have confirmed that an experimental antiviral treatment prevents the development of SARS coronavirus disease in mice. The drug, GS-5734, also inhibits MERS-CoV and multiple other coronaviruses (CoV), suggesting that the treatment may inhibit all CoV.
ACL reconstructions on the rise in US, particularly among teen girls
June 16, 2017 A new study has found that, in the United States, there has been a dramatic increase in the rate of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions among females 13-17 years old.
Study findings suggest some individuals are genetically more vulnerable to harm from air pollution
June 9, 2017 Findings from a study led by a doctoral student of epidemiology suggest that some individuals are genetically susceptible to experiencing especially negative effects from air pollution, even when pollution levels fall below current U.S. accepted standards.
Drug company payments associated with physicians’ prescribing choices for cancer drugs
June 2, 2017 Gillings School investigators found an association between physicians receiving payments from pharmaceutical companies for meals, talks and travel and those physicians prescribing the companies' drugs for two types of cancer. The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
New findings on genes, hypertension highlight importance of studying populations with African ancestry
May 17, 2017 A recent study identified three novel genomic regions related to hypertension susceptibility in individuals with African ancestry.
