News

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Feinberg investigators are breaking down the mechanisms of aging and designing solutions to extend healthy living.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The DNA methylation landscape of regulatory T-cells is more complex than previously understood, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study.

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.

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.

A recent Northwestern Medicine study may improve the understanding of mitochondrial dysfunction and its impact on the development of neurological diseases.

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.

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.

Certain factors are associated with increased risk of death in critically ill COVID-19 patients, according to recent Northwestern Medicine studies.

When the 160 students of the Class of 2024 stepped onto campus in August, they entered a new world of medical education.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Genetic mutations in desmoplakin cause left ventricular cardiomyopathy, rather than right ventricular cardiomyopathy as previously believed, according to a recent study.

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.

Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered an alternate mechanism for aberrant gene splicing that contributes to T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia, according to a recent study.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Samuel Stupp, PhD, was awarded the 2020 Nanoscience Prize from the International Society for Nanoscale Science, Computation and Engineering.

A novel drug called luspatercept may reduce blood transfusion burden for patients with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Nanoparticles traveled to different organs in the body depending on the type of protein coating applied, according to a recent study.

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.

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.

Northwestern’s Alpha Omega Alpha honor society chapter inducted 35 new members last week, including Feinberg students, residents, fellows, faculty and alumni.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A new study has linked the consumption of red and processed meat with a higher risk of heart disease and death.

Using mathematical modeling and optical imaging they developed themselves, a Northwestern University research team has discovered how chromatin folds at the single-cell level.

Cara J. Gottardi, PhD, has been appointed director of the Walter S. and Lucienne Driskill Graduate Program in Life Sciences.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The tissue environment and chronic exercise can both influence gene expression in skeletal muscles, according to a study published in PLOS Biology.

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.