News

Scientists have shown they can predict which chronic pain patients will respond to a placebo pill based on brain anatomy and psychological characteristics.

The first simple blood test to identify your body’s precise internal time clock as compared to the external time has been developed by Northwestern Medicine scientists.

Feinberg has been awarded a prestigious O’Brien Kidney Center from The National Institutes of Health to expand research into the prevention and treatment of kidney diseases.

Northwestern Medicine scientists demonstrated the efficacy of novel treatments for heart failure and provided new insights into mechanisms of the disease, in three recent studies.

Molecular autopsies can reveal genetic risk factors in young people who unexpectedly die, but proper interpretation of the results can be challenging, according to a recent study.

EHR-based tools designed to help patients manage complex drug regimens failed to improve medication adherence or lower blood pressure among patients with hypertension, according to a Northwestern Medicine study.

Feinberg faculty members, scientists and students learned how to move their health information technologies toward commercialization at INVOForward, a mentorship program in biomedical entrepreneurship.

Ali Shilatifard, PhD, has been appointed editor of Science Advances, an open-access journal published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, which also publishes the journal Science.

A new Northwestern Medicine study has identified a trigger of some fibrotic diseases and an experimental compound to treat it.

Lee Lindquist, '00 MD, chief of Geriatrics, helps families start difficult conversations about aging with the website Plan Your Lifespan.

Sean Jenvay, a fourth-year medical student, plays an active role in the medical school community through his involvement in wellness and curriculum development.

The American Heart Association recently selected Northwestern Medicine as one of six centers to be part of a new, grant-funded national network dedicated to researching and understanding the causes of atrial fibrillation, the most common type of irregular heartbeat.

An existing drug significantly lowered the risk of metastasis or death when used in men with non-metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer and a rising PSA level, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Treating mice with isradipine, a calcium channel blocker, prevented formation of toxic compounds that can cause Parkinson’s disease symptoms, according to a recent Northwestern Medicine study.

The presence of certain antibodies in patients may suggest a higher risk of transplant rejection across multiple organ types, according to a study published in PLOS Medicine.

The presence of cancer cells in the bloodstream of patients with early-stage breast cancer may be predictive of benefit from radiotherapy after surgery, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study.

Feinberg faculty and fourth-year medical students gathered to recognize clinical and academic achievement at the sixth annual Honors Day, held May 19.

Northwestern faculty members have been chosen for induction into two prominent medical organizations: the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the Association of American Physicians.

Third-year medical student Ben Peipert co-founded Second Opinions, a student-run pro-bono consulting group, and brings his consulting skills to his research on quality of life in endocrine disorders.

The addition of a chemotherapy drug to adjuvant hormone therapy did not improve survival for patients with high-risk prostate cancer, according to a new study.

Immunosuppression among patients with HIV was associated with a significantly higher likelihood of heart arrhythmias, according to a new study.

Patients with advanced prostate cancer who received more intensive treatment experienced worse quality of life at three months, but better overall in the long-term, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study.

Infant and childhood food allergy, whose cause has long been a mystery, has now been linked to a mix of environmental and genetic factors that must coexist to trigger the allergy, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study.

Among patients with stage III colon cancer, regular nut consumption was associated with significantly lower rates of cancer recurrence and death, according to a new study.

At a workshop on March 27, the Medical Faculty Council honored 2018 Mentor of the Year awardees Mercedes Carnethon, PhD, and joint recipients Erin Hsu, PhD and Wellington Hsu, MD.

A recent trend of using hospital volume as a surrogate measure of cardiovascular care may not accurately represent quality, according to a recent study published in Circulation.

A new study has found that obese patients with metastatic melanoma live significantly longer than those with a normal body mass index — especially male patients treated with targeted or immune therapy.

A new, shorter drug regimen to treat certain types of Hepatitis C was found to be as effective as the current, longer treatment, according to the findings of a large multi-center trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Northwestern Medicine scientists usher in a new era of genetic research. 

Featuring Elizabeth McNally, MD, PhD

Cholesterol-lowering meds can reduce risk of heart disease.  Featuring:  Neil Stone, MD

Being obese or overweight may increase morbidity and mortality.

Featuring:  Sadiya Khan, MD

Diverse sexual trends called “sexual sorting” may be driving Chicago’s young adults to some of the highest sexually transmitted infection rates in the country.  Dr. Michael Angarone, assistant professor of Infectious Diseases at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and a physician at Northwestern’s STI clinic, said that Chicago has historically been on the higher end of STI rates in urban areas, and that it is both predictable and surprising that Chicago is still seeing such high rates.

A new study debunks the “obesity paradox,” a counterintuitive finding that people with cardiovascular disease live longer if they are overweight or obese.

Featuring:  Mark Ricciardi, MD

In her Today article from 1/6/18, Linda Carroll reports how it is impossible for the flu shot to give you the flu. If you feel sick after receiving the flu shot, your symptoms were not caused by the flu shot you just received; possible culprits include a virus or a cold, or a previous attack of the flu before you received the flu shot. 

Michael Ison, MD, and professor in Infectious Diseases at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine adds that most people receive the flu shot in the fall which is during the same time period that other viruses are often prevalent. People mistaking a virus or cold for the flu misplace blame on an innocent flu shot received.  Additionally, there are side effects from a flu shot, but these only include arm soreness, fatigue, or a headache, not full blown flu.  Last, flu shots take 2-3 weeks to become fully effective, so "if you were exposed to the flu shortly after being vaccinated your body didn't have enough time to marshal its forces against the virus..." Ison explains. 

There are no known reasons not to get a flu shot.  People with egg allergies have even been cleared to get one. 

A multidisciplinary global team including two Northwestern University professors has won a $15 million grant to improve the survival of newborns in Africa.

A genetic change in a “clock gene” produced significant changes in circadian rhythm, providing insight into how the complex system is regulated according to a study published in PNAS.

Tammika Glass received her new heart after a 172-day stay at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.  

Featuring:  Micah Eimer, MD

Featuring:  Allen Anderson, MD

Featuring:  Marla Mendelson, MD

John Varga, MD, John and Nancy Hughes Distinguished Professor of Rheumatology, director of the Northwestern Scleroderma Program and co-editor of the journal Arthritis and Rheumatology received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Scleroderma Foundation. The foundation, which has given this award to physicians only twice in its history, mentioned Varga’s more than a decade of service as chair of its Medical & Scientific Advisory Board and his role in creating the Early Career Investigator workshop and establishing the SCORE Grant program.

Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered mutations that cause improper drainage and a buildup of ocular pressure leading to glaucoma, suggesting a path towards future treatments.

A combination of three therapies was found to provide the greatest benefit to patients with metastatic breast cancer classified as HER2- and hormone receptor-positive, who aren't candidates for chemotherapy, according to a Northwestern Medicine clinical trial.

Obese, middle-age men and women who had bariatric surgery have half the death rate of those who had traditional medical treatment over a 10-year period.

A newly announced American Heart Association research center will be led by Mary McDermott, MD, and focus on calf muscle pathology in peripheral artery disease.

With the intensity of this year’s flu season, many are especially anxious to keep the virus at bay. In addition to the common directives about flu shots, regular hand washing, and sufficient sleep, doctors are also recommending dietary shifts to better prevent and treat the flu. For example, the increased consumption of probiotics and antioxidants support bacterial balance in the gut and prevent coughs and colds. Other foods, such as chicken noodle soup and products rich in zinc (e.g. salmon, chicken, and spinach), have been shown to reduce inflammation and curb the severity of flu symptoms.

Most importantly, medical experts stress the necessity of eating and drinking while sick, even if there is a loss of appetite. In the words of Michael Angarone, D.O., at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, “When we’re sick, we don’t want to eat and don’t want to drink, but you need to continue to eat and give your body the nutrients and energy you need for the immune system to function properly."

"'The signs and symptoms are usually abdominal cramps, nausea with or without vomiting, and diarrhea,' says John Pandolfino, M.D., chief of gastroenterology and hepatology at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. This includes feeling weak and fatigued, and could also include fever and chills. It's not always 'exotic' foods that cause food poisoning. Often, it's caused by your food handler, a contaminated kitchen, or a contaminated source, like the fields where your food was grown."

Scientists are one step closer to a stem cell treatment for muscular dystrophy after Northwestern Medicine investigators demonstrated improvements in muscle tissue differentiation in stem cells.

A device attached to a patient’s scalp that delivers a continuous dose of low-intensity electric fields improves survival and slows the growth of a deadly brain tumor, according to a new trial.

Entrepreneurship has been rapidly expanding at Feinberg. Through a range of initiatives, medical school leadership anticipates that the culture of innovation will only continue to grow in coming years.