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News from KU Medical Center

KU Cancer Center Earns National Cancer Institute’s Comprehensive Status

The University of Kansas Cancer Center was designated as a Comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in July 2022. This is the highest level of recognition awarded by the NCI and is the gold standard for cancer centers. In addition to Comprehensive status, the KU Cancer Center was awarded a five-year, $13.8 million grant to support the center’s research programs, shared equipment and resources. It also received an outstanding rating by NCI reviewers.

“Comprehensive designation is a crucial milestone in our journey to conquer all cancers,” said Roy Jensen, M.D., director of the KU Cancer Center. “You might ask, ‘What does Comprehensive designation mean for people with cancer?’ As one of just 53 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the nation, it means patients will be cared for by the world’s leading cancer experts who have access to a robust portfolio of clinical trials.”

The University of Kansas Cancer Center has nearly 350 researchers and 150 disease-specific oncologists. They conduct all phases of cancer research, from laboratory studies to clinical trials to population- based studies that address environmental and behavioral factors that contribute to cancer.

Research operations at the KU Cancer Center have already contributed an estimated $2.5 billion in economic impact to the region since 2007 when the center began working toward NCI designation in earnest. It’s estimated that those numbers will only increase with the anticipated expansion that will accompany the KU Cancer Center achieving Comprehensive designation. University leaders note that the growth of the cancer center has contributed to additional advancements at the university.

The Stowers Institute for Medical Research and Children’s Mercy Kansas City are consortium partners with the KU Cancer Center, while The University of Kansas Health System is a clinical partner.

Researchers Study Wearables as Part of National Stroke Recovery Clinical Trial

A clinical trial at the University of Kansas Medical Center is testing whether a wearable device that stimulates the brain and spinal cord with electromagnetic energy might one day help decrease disability after a stroke. As part of the EMAGINE™ clinical trial, researchers are investigating if stimulating neurons in the brain while performing therapeutic exercise improves recovery after moderately severe ischemic stroke. KU Medical Center is one of 20 sites nationally participating in the randomized, double-blind study that pairs frequency- tuned electromagnetic field therapy with therapeutic exercise. Frequency-tuned electromagnetic field therapy delivers a low level of electromagnetic stimulation to the brain and spinal cord through a portable, wearable device that fits over the head and torso. The trial is studying the effectiveness of the device at reducing disability after stroke and helping stroke survivors recover function of their upper and lower body extremities. It is funded by BrainQ, a technology company that developed the device, which received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation.

Kansas Lend Program Awarded Grant to Help Educate People About Autism and Developmental Disabilities

Thanks to a $3 million grant, the Kansas Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) program will be able to continue its five-decade mission of training, research and leadership development. LEND is a program focused on improving the lives of individuals on the autism spectrum and those with developmental disabilities. The program, which is based at KU Medical Center, is one of 60 such programs nationwide. In 2021, Kansas LEND received a new five-year grant for more than $3.1 million from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau. The bureau is part of the federal Health Resources and Services Administration. A big part of the new grant focuses on educating people about autism and neurodevelopmental disabilities. Medical students, residents and fellows can sign up for a week-long rotation with Kansas LEND, work with a mentor on an autism-related research project or spend a clinical rotation getting additional training.

KU Alzheimer’s Researcher Wins International Prize for His Work With Mitochondria

Russell SwerdlowRussell Swerdlow, M.D., professor of neurology and director of the KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, was awarded the Oskar Fischer Prize for innovative Alzheimer’s disease research. The prize, aimed at expanding society’s understanding of the causes of Alzheimer’s disease, is the world’s largest of its kind, with $4 million awarded across three categories. As an Oskar Fischer Prize recipient, Swerdlow will receive $300,000. An expert in brain energy metabolism, Swerdlow’s research focuses on the Mitochondrial Cascade Hypothesis, which represents his effort to tie together a field of work that argues mitochondria play a critical role in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

KU Hospital Named the Best Hospital in Kansas City and Kansas by U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report announced its 2022-23 Best Hospitals rankings in July 2022, and for the 13th consecutive year, The University of Kansas Hospital was named the Best Hospital in Kansas City. It is also the Best Hospital in Kansas for the 11th time. The University of Kansas Hospital is also nationally ranked among the country’s top 50 hospitals in eight specialties (cancer; cardiology and heart surgery; diabetes and endocrinology; ear, nose and throat; geriatrics; neurology and neurosurgery; pulmonary and lung surgery; and urology). In addition, two specialties (gastroenterology and orthopedics) are ranked as high-performing, which places them among the nation’s top 10%. U.S. News reviewed data from 4,515 hospitals to create the 2022-2023 rankings. Only 164 hospitals in the country were recognized in one or more specialties. The rankings are based on an analysis of performance measures, including patient outcomes, nursing quality and the range of programs offered in any one specialty. They are also based on program reputation.

Kansas Center for Metabolism and Obesity Research is Launched

Many researchers from across the University of Kansas Medical Center have contributed significantly to the field of obesity research over the years. Now, there will be a center funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) at KU Medical Center specifically dedicated to that important work. Known as the Kansas Center for Metabolism and Obesity Research (KC-MORE) and supported by a $12 million five-year grant from the NIH, this new center will unify research efforts in human obesity and obesity-related disease. While numerous researchers will be involved, KC-MORE will be led by three principal investigators at KU Medical Center: Joseph E. Donnelly Jr., Ed.D., professor in the Division of Physical Activity and Weight Management; John P. Thyfault, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology and in the division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Genetics; and Steven Weinman, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and director of the University of Kansas Liver Center. KC-MORE is part of the NIH’s Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) program, which supports the establishment and development of innovative biomedical and behavioral research centers. KC-MORE’s long-term goal is to develop a critical mass of NIH-funded clinical, translational and basic researchers who will develop new approaches to preventing and treating obesity and its complications.

Social Support May Help Sleep Quality for Those With Multiple Sclerosis

A new study led by researchers from The University of Kansas and KU Medical Center shows that — for people with multiple sclerosis, who often deal with sleep difficulty — having social support was key to predicting sleep quality during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study, published in the journal Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, found that individuals who reported having social support routinely reported higher sleep quality. When adjusting for types of support, results showed that emotional/informational support, tangible support such as help with daily tasks, and positive social interaction support significantly predicted sleep quality. When controlling for age, education and disability status, sleep quality was predicted by tangible support and positive social interaction support, but not by affectionate or emotional/informational support only. The findings also show the importance of social support and maintenance of social connections for people with MS, especially during a pandemic. Poor sleep has long been linked to worse cognitive functioning and physical health. The results also examined anxiety and depression and found they were not predictors of sleep quality in context of social support and its role in sleep. From a medical and academic standpoint, the study also lends support to the importance of psychosocial constructs, such as everyday social interactions, and how they should be considered as part of holistic treatment for everyone.

KU School of Nursing Awarded Center of Excellence in Nursing Education Re-designation

The University of Kansas School of Nursing has been re-designated a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing for 2022-2027. KU School of Nursing is one of 16 nursing programs in the country to achieve this honor in 2022. The Center of Excellence in Nursing Education designation is intended for schools of nursing and health care organizations that have achieved a level of excellence in a specific area. KU School of Nursing was cited for creating environments that enhance student learning and professional development, a designation the school also received in 2017 and in 2013. KU School of Nursing was formally recognized at the NLN Education Summit in Las Vegas as part of a special honors convocation on September 30, 2022.

A Diet High in ‘good’ Fats May Help Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Nutritionists have long encouraged people to eat more unsaturated fats for better overall health. These fats, which come from foods such as plant oil, avocado, nuts, seeds and fish, have already been proven to help lower cholesterol and increase heart health. Anna Arthur, Ph.D., MPH, RDN, assistant professor in the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, has studied whether a diet heavy on these good fats can affect the chances of survival for patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer. Researchers assessed the food questionnaires and health surveys of 476 patients newly diagnosed with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. In this type of disease, cancer cells develop in the skin and mucous membranes of the head and neck, including the mouth and throat. The results, recently published in The Journal of Nutrition, showed better survival rates for patients who indicated they ate more of these fats before they were diagnosed with cancer than those who did not. For people who consumed more of a certain type of unsaturated fat — Omega-3, often found in fatty fish such as salmon or in nuts and seeds — the findings were even more positive.

Executive Dean of KU School of Medicine Elected to the National Academy of Medicine

Akinlolu Ojo

Akinlolu Ojo, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, executive dean at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). New members are elected by current members through a process that recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to the advancement of medical sciences, health care and public health. Election to the NAM is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service. Ojo was selected for his work identifying major racial disparities in kidney transplantation. He established a national donor assistance program that has supported more than 10,000 live organ donors. Ojo also established a continent-wide research consortium conducting clinical and translational research in more than 14,000 sub-Saharan African individuals. 

KU Medical Center Faculty Members Recognized With the Annual Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Awards

Four faculty members at KU Medical Center have been recognized with the annual KU Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award. The awards, which are selected by a committee of faculty and students, recognize faculty contributions to students and the university through outstanding teaching. The KU Medical Center awardees are: - Lore Nelson, M.D., clinical associate professor of pediatrics - Vanessa Williams, M.D., assistant professor of radiology - Lisa Trujillo, DHSc, RRT, clinical associate professor of respiratory care - Laurel Witt, M.D., M.Phil, associate professor of family medicine and community health.

KU School of Nursing Doctoral Student Wins Jonas Scholar Award

Karen Towne

Karen Towne, a Ph.D. student in the University of Kansas School of Nursing, was named one of only 75 U.S. students in the national Jonas Nurse Scholars program’s 2021-2023 cohort. The program supports advanced- degree nursing students starting a career in nursing research. Towne is already in the classroom as a clinical assistant professor of nursing at the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio. The Jonas Nurse Scholar program offers expert mentors to help scholars in their respective fields and provides financial assistance of $7,500 a year for two years ($15,000 in total). The funds are matched by KU School of Nursing. As a student in KU School of Nursing’s Ph.D. program, Towne is studying the effects of disaster-related stress and trauma on pregnancy. She is concentrating on low-income pregnant women living in rural areas. These women may be dealing with daily stressors that could affect the fetus’s growth and development.

KU Medical Center Receives $9 Million Federal Grant to Improve Children’s Behavioral Health in Southeast Kansas

The University of Kansas Medical Center has been awarded a nearly $9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The grant, administered through the Department of Pediatrics at KU School of Medicine, will fund KanAWARE, a multi-agency project formed to address escalating student behavioral health needs in the southeast Kansas corridor, which consists of 11 counties representing the state’s communities most at risk for poverty, violence, trauma, substance use and mental health concerns. KanAWARE, supported by the SAMHSA Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) funding opportunity, will combine the efforts of government agencies, schools, health care providers, social services and advocacy organizations to improve K-12 student mental health through evidence-based interventions. The principal investigator for KanAWARE is Eve-Lynn Nelson, Ph.D., a professor and child psychologist at KU School of Medicine.

Researchers Discover That People With Blood-related Cancers Have a Higher Chance of Covid Breakthrough Infections

Individuals with blood-related cancers are more likely to experience a COVID-19 infection even after being vaccinated, a University of Kansas Cancer Center study has found. Researchers of the study, published in the Journal of Hematology & Oncology, discovered that patients with blood-related cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, are 1.6 times more likely than other cancer patients to have breakthrough infections of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Additionally, researchers found that patients who were receiving anti-cancer therapy at the time they were vaccinated for COVID-19 were 2.7 times as likely to have breakthrough infections resulting in COVID-19, regardless of what type of cancer they were fighting. Anti-cancer therapies include chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation. Anthony Rooney, M.D., a fellow in the Department of Hematology and Oncology at KU Medical Center, under the mentorship of Qamar Khan, M.D., professor of medical oncology, said numerous studies have been done to find out how much more susceptible cancer patients are to SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections than the general population. What makes this study important is its findings regarding patients with blood-related cancers, also known as hematologic malignancies, which are defined by the cancer’s start in the blood or blood-producing tissues.

KU Undergraduate Nursing Ranked a Top-25 Public Program for Second Year in a Row

U.S. News and World Report has again ranked the University of Kansas School of Nursing in its top-25 best undergraduate nursing programs in the nation. The school remained 22nd among all public colleges and universities, and it rose from 31st to 29th of all schools in the Best Colleges Ranking for 2023. A field of 681 schools was judged in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) category. While U.S. News and World Report has provided college rankings annually since 1983, this is just its second year of ranking undergraduate nursing programs. Earlier this spring, graduate programs were ranked, and U.S. News and World Report ranked another KU School of Nursing program, the Nursing-Midwifery program, as No. 11 among public universities. KU School of Nursing has campuses in Salina, Kansas, and Kansas City, Kansas.


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