News
Department Newsletter
Read past issues of Medicine Matters, our monthly Department of Medicine e-newsletter.
News and Announcements
Read the latest news from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine’s Department of Medicine. The links below take you to articles where you can learn more about our faculty’s latest achievements, awards and honors.
- 01.15.2021
Overall mortality for patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in the U.S. during the first half of 2020 was 18.4 percent, with more than half of all deaths occurring in Black and Hispanic patients, according to findings published in the journal Circulation.
- 01.11.2021
Northwestern Medicine investigators have shown how COVID-19 pneumonia is different from typical cases of pneumonia, spreading across the lungs like multiple wildfires and leaving tissue damage in its wake.
- 01.08.2021Chicago Magazine has named the following Northwestern Rheumatology Doctors as Top Doctors of 2021: Richard Pope, MD, Rowland Chang, MD, Christine Hsieh, MD, Arthur Mandelin, MD, Eric Ruderman, MD, and Rosalind Ramsey-Goldman, MD.
- 01.07.2021
A team led by Northwestern Medicine investigators has identified a novel molecular target that may improve the efficacy of current treatments for triple-negative breast cancer.
- 01.04.2021
Take a look back at a handful of groundbreaking research discoveries that marked one of, if not the most, unprecedented and transformative years for Feinberg.
- 12.28.2020
Listen to the year's most popular episodes of the Breakthroughs podcast, featuring Northwestern Medicine experts discussing COVID-19 research.
- 12.23.2020
At a recent virtual event, students, residents and faculty were inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society and recognized as exemplars of compassionate patient care who serve as role models, mentors and leaders in medicine.
- 12.21.2020
Northwestern Medicine physicians have begun receiving their vaccines, an experience that for many was inspiring, sobering and hopeful. Read the reactions of a few Northwestern Medicine physicians upon receiving their COVID-19 vaccines.
- 12.16.2020
First-year students in the Physician Assistant (PA) Program have joined the Education-Centered Medical Home (ECMH) program for the first time, gaining early team-based clinical experiences and exposure.
- 12.09.2020
A signaling molecule produced by the lymphatic vasculature could be used to promote cardiac repair after heart attack, according to a Northwestern Medicine study published in Nature.
- 12.08.2020
Double lung transplants performed by Northwestern Medicine surgeons in patients with irreversible lung damage from COVID-19 helped save lives, according to a recent study.
- 12.07.2020
Northwestern Medicine investigators have discovered that inserting dietary antioxidants into the mitochondria of cancer cells may inhibit overall tumor growth.
- 12.04.2020
A novel antibiotic drug showed similar treatment effectiveness compared to current therapies in patients with antibiotic resistant bacterial infections, according to two complementary clinical trials.
- 12.02.2020
In late March, the world came to a virtual standstill. The COVID-19 pandemic forced leaders around the world to limit large gatherings and shutter schools and businesses. For Feinberg’s research enterprise, this was a serious disruption — but science kept moving forward.
- 11.30.2020
The presence of inflammatory proteins was associated with comorbidity burden and deteriorating heart function in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, according to a Northwestern Medicine study.
- 11.23.2020
The Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences (NUCATS) Institute hosted the first virtual COVID-19 symposium, which gave the Northwestern research community an opportunity to learn about efforts to advance public health and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 11.19.2020
Feinberg investigators are breaking down the mechanisms of aging and designing solutions to extend healthy living.
- 11.17.2020
The 10th Annual Les Turner Symposium on ALS — the first held virtually — featured scientific presentations, updates on innovative clinical trials and a question-and-answer session for patients and caretakers.
- 11.16.2020
During a recent webinar, Elizabeth McNally, MD, PhD, the Elizabeth J. Ward Professor of Genetic Medicine and director of the Center for Genetic Medicine, discussed findings from the ongoing Screening for Coronavirus Antibodies in Neighborhoods (SCAN) study and what genetics can reveal about COVID-19.
- 11.16.2020
A cell-surface protein is essential for proper microcircuit function in the brain, according to a study published in Nature Communications.
- 11.04.2020
In the face of the greatest public health crisis in a century, Feinberg’s Institute for Public Health and Medicine (IPHAM) mobilized with leading-edge science, new grant programs for community partners and a series of informational webinars.
- 11.04.2020
A brief course of immunotherapy resulted in complete and near complete remission in nearly two-thirds of previously untreated patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma, according to a Northwestern Medicine trial.
- 10.23.2020
Nicholas Soulakis, PhD, assistant professor of Preventive Medicine in the Divisions of Health and Biomedical Informatics and Epidemiology, discussed lessons learned from his experience leading COVID-19 contract tracing efforts for the Illinois Department of Public Health during a recent webinar.
- 10.22.2020
Measuring acid reflux with a wireless electrode can help clinicians determine if patients can stop taking proton pump inhibitors, a medication commonly prescribed for gastroesophageal reflux disease.
- 10.21.2020
The impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients has been a stark reality for many cancer centers around the world. For the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, a combination of time and dedication to patient care and research has resulted in the development of robust COVID-19 testing protocols to ensure the safety and health of every patient, physician and staff member.
- 10.13.2020
- 10.12.2020
In collaboration with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, student groups organized the medical school’s first Diversity and Inclusion Week, which explored the importance of diversity, inclusion and representation in medicine and society.
- 10.12.2020
- 10.01.2020
The DNA methylation landscape of regulatory T-cells is more complex than previously understood, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study.
- 09.29.2020
Feinberg educators celebrated teaching and learning virtually at the tenth annual Medical Education Day.
- 09.25.2020
A new immunotherapy treatment for recurrent B-cell lymphoma was found to be safe in a trial of nearly 350 patients, according to a study published in The Lancet.
- 09.23.2020
Starting cholesterol-lowering treatment earlier may increase the its benefits, reducing heart attack and stroke over time, according to a Northwestern Medicine study.
- 09.21.2020
Men with advanced prostate cancer who were treated based on the genetic makeup of their cancer survived significantly longer than those treated with standard treatments, according to a new study.
- 09.16.2020
Inhibiting an epigenetic regulator called DOT1L could be a key to slowing treatment-resistant prostate cancer, according to a recent Northwestern Medicine study.
- 09.08.2020
A recent Northwestern Medicine study may improve the understanding of mitochondrial dysfunction and its impact on the development of neurological diseases.
- 09.04.2020
Several forms of hypertension are associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease events, even in young adults, according to a recent study.
- 09.03.2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Northwestern Medicine investigators share their expertise about the current state of the pandemic, strategies to help mitigate its impact and what the upcoming flu season may look like.
- 09.01.2020
Molly Beestrum, MLIS, education and curriculum coordinator for the Galter Health Sciences Library and Learning Center, has been named Illinois Academic Librarian of the Year by the Illinois Library Association.
- 08.20.2020
Targeting oxidative stress with a genetic therapy reduced atrial fibrillation in animal models of disease, making this a promising future treatment, according to a study published in Circulation.
- 08.18.2020
At Northwestern Medicine, various COVID-19 antibody testing efforts have been underway since the beginning of the pandemic.
- 08.18.2020
Certain factors are associated with increased risk of death in critically ill COVID-19 patients, according to recent Northwestern Medicine studies.
- 08.17.2020
A drug commonly used to reduce serum urate levels proved ineffective in slowing disease progression in patients with diabetic kidney disease, according to a recent study.
- 08.14.2020
When the 160 students of the Class of 2024 stepped onto campus in August, they entered a new world of medical education.
- 08.14.2020
A Northwestern Medicine study found that inducing inflammation in lung epithelial cells contributes to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- 08.13.2020
Deaths due to heart failure and hypertensive heart disease are increasing in the U.S. — particularly in Black women and men — despite medical and surgical advances in heart disease management, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study.
- 08.03.2020
Northwestern Medicine will launch an Older Americans Independence Center, joining a network of centers across the country that investigate ways to maintain or restore independence in older adults.
- 07.31.2020
Maya Jackson-Gibson, a fourth-year medical student, and Warren McGee, a fourth-year student in the Medical Scientist Training Program, reflect on their time on Feinberg's Task Force on Inclusion and Bias.
- 07.23.2020
Northwestern Medicine investigators have discovered that the growth of cancerous tumors requires the activation of a specific biochemical process within the mitochondria of tumor cells, showing potential as a new target for cancer therapy.
- 07.22.2020
In older adults with type 1 diabetes, continuous blood glucose monitoring was more effective in reducing hypoglycemia than standard blood glucose monitoring, according to recent findings published in JAMA.
- 07.20.2020
Patients with influenza at risk of complications recovered more quickly after early treatment with the drug baloxavir marboxil, according to a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
- 07.13.2020
Cancer patients with other comorbidities have a higher risk of dying from complications due to COVID-19, and should discuss the risks and benefits of continuing cancer treatment with their physician, according to a recent study.
- 07.10.2020
A novel drug called enzalutamide may extend overall survival for men with nonmetastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer, according to findings from clinical trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
- 07.07.2020
A drug originally designed as cancer therapy virtually eliminated allergic reactions in moderate cases and significantly lessened the risk of death in severe cases, according to a new study in animal models.
- 07.02.2020
The gene transcription machinery that controls circadian rhythms also regulates insulin release in the pancreas, according to a Northwestern Medicine study.
- 06.30.2020
In recognition of their track record of excellence and achievement, three Feinberg faculty members have been promoted to the position of assistant dean of medical education.
- 06.25.2020
Building equitable relationships with community leaders and framing research questions around residents’ priorities is the core principle of community-engaged research, and IPHAM, along with ARCC, have been leaders in the field.
- 06.24.2020
Genetic mutations in desmoplakin cause left ventricular cardiomyopathy, rather than right ventricular cardiomyopathy as previously believed, according to a recent study.
- 06.23.2020
Medical schools can help combat discrimination by creating safe spaces for underrepresented minority (URM) medical students, according to Quentin Youmans, ’15 MD, who founded the STRIVE program which connects URM medical students at Feinberg with URM resident mentors.
- 06.22.2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, recent editorials published by Feinberg faculty explore COVID-19 and its impact on medicine, including potential drug targets and the need for more clinical trials to maximizing trainee education.
- 06.18.2020
A novel method to map protein-protein interactions between viruses and their hosts more precisely than current methodologies may help improve the design of antiviral drugs and therapeutic strategies.
- 06.17.2020
Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered an alternate mechanism for aberrant gene splicing that contributes to T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia, according to a recent study.
- 06.09.2020
To help support and develop the next generation of physician-scientists, Feinberg has established the Thomas Starzl Academy, and named Elizabeth M. McNally, MD, PhD, its inaugural director.
- 06.05.2020
The persistence of SARS-Cov-2 may fundamentally alter the landscape of medical education and hospital training, according to a Northwestern Medicine editorial published in Science Advances.
- 06.01.2020
Mutations in the genes RAS and RAF allow cancer cells to create their own nucleotides, fueling cancer growth, according to a recent study published in Molecular Cell.
- 05.22.2020
According to several recent editorials published by Feinberg faculty, there are large and complex issues to grapple with, from COVID-19’s devastating impact on African-Americans to maintaining critical care standards in the face of an unprecedented pandemic.
- 05.20.2020
Supplementing lab animal diets with a chemical precursor of the molecule NAD+ countered certain age-related declines in circadian rhythm function, according to a recent study.
- 05.18.2020
Richard D’Aquila, MD, the Howard Taylor Ricketts, MD, Professor of Medicine, has been named director of the Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences (NUCATS) Institute, and senior associate dean for clinical and translational research.
- 05.15.2020
Coronary artery calcium levels may help clinicians better identify patients with a higher risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease who will benefit from taking aspirin to prevent a heart attack.
- 05.13.2020
A new Northwestern Medicine study found important differences in rare skin lymphomas stemming from their specific cell of origin and clinical presentations, according to findings published in Nature Communications.
- 05.11.2020
A new Northwestern Medicine study discovered a new and unexpected function for the transcriptional regulator MLL2/COMPASS.
- 05.08.2020
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the state of Illinois’ stay-at-home order, Feinberg transformed nearly its entire medical school curriculum to be delivered online. Online learning efforts include virtual simulation courses, telehealth visits, virtual standardized patient exams and online team-based active learning activities.
- 05.04.2020
In the newly formed Center for Arrhythmia Research, teams of interdisciplinary clinicians and scientists will work together to discover both the underlying molecular causes of arrhythmias and new standards of care for their treatment.
- 05.01.2020
Samuel Stupp, PhD, was awarded the 2020 Nanoscience Prize from the International Society for Nanoscale Science, Computation and Engineering.
- 04.30.2020
For the first time, advanced prostate cancer has been treated based on the genomic makeup of the cancer, delaying disease progression for patients with a treatment-resistant form of prostate cancer.
- 04.27.2020
A novel drug called luspatercept may reduce blood transfusion burden for patients with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder.
- 04.24.2020
A new study has found that genetic alterations in a rare form of leukemia physically change the architecture of DNA, fueling the replication and spread of cancer cells.
- 04.22.2020
There are variety of ways improve care delivery, interpret new information, and maintain clinical trials and experiments in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to recent editorials published by Feinberg faculty.
- 04.20.2020
Students are conducting telehealth visits and reaching out to patients at high risk of complications from COVID-19, part of the transition of the Education Centered Medical Home to virtual care.
- 04.20.2020
A specialized subset of rare immune cells called plasmacytoid dendritic cells may promote antitumor immunity, according to a Northwestern Medicine study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
- 04.17.2020
Adults with chronic cough and phlegm production are at risk for poor respiratory function, even if they don’t have more severe respiratory disorders, according to a new study.
- 04.15.2020
Northwestern University scientists received top honors from the Clinical Research Forum as part of its 2020 Top Ten Clinical Research Achievement Awards program, taking home the association’s highest honor and capturing more finalist nominations than any other institution.
- 04.13.2020
A team of investigators have uncovered the cellular mechanisms of a specialized group of white blood cells that help promote the development of inflammatory diseases, according to recent findings.
- 04.10.2020
A new Northwestern Medicine study has shed light on the complex phenomenon of liver zonation, showing that a protein known as Wnt is required for correct placement of tight junction and cell adhesion proteins within the liver.
- 04.08.2020
Northwestern Medicine investigators have uncovered a novel pathogenic mechanism used by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa to promote more severe infections.
- 04.07.2020
Nanoparticles traveled to different organs in the body depending on the type of protein coating applied, according to a recent study.
- 04.06.2020
A novel heart failure drug called sacubitril-valsartan reduced the risk of hospitalizations for heart failure and death from cardiovascular causes more in women than in men, according to a study published in Circulation.
- 03.30.2020
A special COVID-19 testing team has been put in place at Northwestern, with the goal of at least quadrupling the number of tests processed at Northwestern Medicine hospitals — from about 90 per day to more than 350 per day — and in the process, greatly reducing test result turnaround times.
- 03.27.2020
More than 110 faculty, staff, students, and trainees have come together to collaborate and work closely with Chicago hospitals and communities to forecast the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, predict the outcome of public health interventions and share resources for containing the disease.
- 03.27.2020
Gary Noskin, MD, professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases and chief medical officer at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, answers questions about how Northwestern’s clinical research team is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 03.26.2020
Risk of relapse for chronic myeloid leukemia patients may be reduced through drug combination after discontinuing initial therapy, according to a Northwestern Medicine study published in the journal Leukemia.
- 03.20.2020
Northwestern’s Alpha Omega Alpha honor society chapter inducted 35 new members last week, including Feinberg students, residents, fellows, faculty and alumni.
- 03.20.2020
Fourth-year students celebrated their residency matches and reflected on their time at Feinberg during an unconventional Match Day.
- 03.09.2020
A Northwestern Medicine study shows how simulation-based mastery learning helps train physicians to have difficult conversations with patients in a clear and compassionate way.
- 03.03.2020
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine has established a new Institute for Augmented Intelligence in Medicine, with the goal of augmenting human expertise with computational methods to advance the science of human health.
- 02.26.2020
A recent study has found that the gallbladder may play a crucial role in the transmission of a common infection found in hospital settings, according to findings published in Nature Communications.
- 02.21.2020
A new study has found that psychological influences may be an underappreciated contributor to swallowing disorders, and should be incorporated into evaluations of symptom severity.
- 02.17.2020
Northwestern Medicine has opened a new 10,000 square foot Clinical Research Hub to enhance the investigative scope and infrastructure for clinical research and to improving participant experiences.
- 02.14.2020
Drinking flavanol-rich cocoa three times a day improved walking distance in individuals with peripheral artery disease, reports a new Northwestern Medicine pilot study published in Circulation Research.
- 02.11.2020
Virginia Bishop, MD, MPH, assistant professor of Preventive Medicine in the Division of Public Health Practice, was a respected colleague, educator and advocate for diversity, inclusion and equity in healthcare and medical education.
- 02.10.2020
Norrina Allen, PhD, is the new director of the Center for Epidemiology and Population Health.
- 02.10.2020
- 02.06.2020
A new study published previously unknown details about the lineage of lymphatic endothelial cells associated with the heart.
- 02.03.2020
A new study has linked the consumption of red and processed meat with a higher risk of heart disease and death.
- 01.22.2020
Northwestern authors discuss a recent JAMA editorial highlighting the lack of funding for health disparities and to minority scientists and how health equity will suffer if not addressed.
- 01.16.2020
Using mathematical modeling and optical imaging they developed themselves, a Northwestern University research team has discovered how chromatin folds at the single-cell level.
- 01.09.2020
A new Northwestern University study has discovered that the packing of the three-dimensional genome structure, called chromatin, controls how cells respond to stress.
- 01.06.2020
Cara J. Gottardi, PhD, has been appointed director of the Walter S. and Lucienne Driskill Graduate Program in Life Sciences.
- 12.23.2019
These images illustrate the physical reality Northwestern scientists work within, striving to uncover the mysteries of biology, chemistry and medicine.
- 12.16.2019
A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that the percentage of Americans who received primary care — especially those who were male, younger, of minority backgrounds or who lived in the southern region of the United States — significantly decreased between 2002 and 2015.
- 12.13.2019
A cytoskeletal protein called vimentin helps prevent the nuclei of cells that must navigate through tight spaces in the body from rupturing, according to a recent study.
- 12.12.2019
A unified vision for health equity in Chicago was the focus of the second IPHAM Population Health Forum, where scientists and community partners presented and discussed their work in a variety of areas.
- 12.11.2019
Feinberg has had an exceptional year of scientific inquiry, ranging from examining the most basic systems that make our bodies tick to developing breakthrough therapies and treatment strategies.
- 12.11.2019
Feinberg’s new Institute for Global Health hosted its inaugural Global Health Day symposium, a day-long event that featured presentations from each of the institute’s constituent Centers, a poster session, several panels and keynote speakers.
- 12.04.2019
Lymphatic capillaries help regulate the niche microenvironment surrounding stem cells, which promote the regeneration of hair follicles after injury or damage, according to a study published in Science.
- 12.03.2019
A Northwestern Medicine study found that almost 30 percent of healthcare professionals and trainees from high-income countries have performed outside their scope of training while working or volunteering in low- and middle-income countries.
- 11.27.2019
Students in Feinberg’s Education Centered Medical Home program — a four-year, team based clerkship in underserved settings — experienced superior primary care training, according to a recent study.
- 11.26.2019
The tissue environment and chronic exercise can both influence gene expression in skeletal muscles, according to a study published in PLOS Biology.
- 11.18.2019
A study published in the Journal of Cell Biology showed that mitochondrial stress in neurons can cause an enzyme imbalance that contributes to neuronal dysfunction and death.
- 11.15.2019
Faculty, staff, students and trainees gathered for the ninth annual Les Turner Symposium on ALS and NeuroRepair, a one-day event highlighting the present and future of treating ALS.
- 11.14.2019
A new review has found that a combination of endocrine inhibitors and hormone therapy is more effective in prolonging progression-free survival for advanced breast cancer patients, as compared to chemotherapy.