Nearly every human being goes through periods where they have trouble sleeping. As an adult with sleep issues, I know firsthand the important connection between sleep, science and medicine. Sleep is vital for our health and well-being, functioning as a crucial restorative process for the body and mind. It plays a critical role in immune function, heart health, metabolism, memory, learning and much more. In this issue of Kansas Medicine + Science, we take a closer look at the work KU Medical Center researchers and clinicians have been doing on the essential role sleep plays in our health — and the most effective ways to ensure more people get a good night’s sleep.

Elsewhere in this issue, we profile several of the growing number of non-traditional students who are enrolled at KU Medical Center and explore both the advantages and challenges they face.  We also take look at the increasing use of liquid biopsy, the use of bodily fluids such as blood, urine and saliva, rather than tissue samples obtained through needles or with a scalpel, to detect disease. And you can read about how KU Medical Center has become an international destination for research and treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, or TTP, a rare and potentially deadly blood disorder.

We hope you enjoy this issue of Kansas Medicine + Science. We always appreciate your feedback, so please drop us an email at kmands@kumc.edu. We look forward to hearing from you.

Steven W. Stites, M.D.
Executive Vice Chancellor
University of Kansas Medical Center