New England Journal of Medicine study reveals genetic factors linked to chronic kidney disease
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that having just one risk variant in a gene known as APOL1 can significantly increase the risk of developing chronic kidney disease. Akinlolu Ojo, M.D., Ph.D., executive dean of the University of Kansas School of Medicine and a researcher with the school’s Department of Population Health, collaborated with researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to complete the study, which revealed a significant genetic risk factor for chronic kidney disease in people from Ghana and Nigeria. More than one in seven U.S. adults have chronic kidney disease — an estimated 37 million Americans. African American, Hispanic American and Native American populations are more likely to develop the disease. And for those with diabetes or hypertension, there is a greater risk for developing kidney disease. Previous research established that genomic variants in APOL1 increase the risk of developing chronic kidney disease among African Americans. However, not much is known about how these genomic variants affect people from West African countries. The study found that nearly one-third of individuals in these two nations carry APOL1 variants that increase the risk of chronic kidney disease. While these APOL1 variants are seen most often in people of West African descent, other studies have found these variants in people from Europe, Asia and Central and South America.
A precision-medicine initiative aims to improve treatment for the most common form of leukemia in adults
Acute myeloid leukemia is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults. Unfortunately, the overall five-year survival rate for the disease is 30%. MyeloMATCH is looking to change that. A precision-medicine initiative sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, myeloMATCH (Myeloid Malignancies Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice) is an “umbrella trial,” a group of clinical substudies for people with acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome. Myelodysplastic syndrome is another blood cancer characterized by cytopenia — a reduction in the number of one or more types of blood cells — that sometimes progresses to acute myeloid leukemia. With more than 100 participating locations, including The University of Kansas Cancer Center, myeloMATCH is the largest coordinated effort in the United States to address these myeloid cancers. The multisite trial opened at KU Cancer Center and member institutions of the Masonic Cancer Alliance in 2024. MyeloMATCH is open to people ages 18 or over who are believed to have acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome.
KU Bachelor of Science in Nursing program ranks in top 5% in the United States
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at the University of Kansas School of Nursing ranks in the top 5% of such programs in the country, according to the “Best Colleges” rankings released today by U.S. News & World Report. KU School of Nursing’s BSN program ranked No. 26 of the 686 accredited baccalaureate nursing programs in the United States that were ranked by U.S. News, and it claimed the No. 19 spot among such programs at public institutions. In the rankings released last year, KU’s undergraduate nursing program took the No. 23 spot for all schools and was No. 17 for public institutions. The BSN program at KU School of Nursing also ranked as the No. 1 program in Kansas. The school has campuses in Salina, Kansas, and Kansas City, Kansas. The school also has partnership programs with eight community colleges across the state, through which students take on-campus courses at their local community college and online courses at KU School of Nursing to receive both an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and a BSN. The BSN rankings were based on the average of scores received from surveys of top faculty and administrators at nursing schools or departments that have bachelor’s-level accreditation by either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
KU Medical Center awarded $31 million to facilitate pediatric clinical trials
Medical Center has been awarded a five-year, $31 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to coordinate clinical trials for infants and children in rural and underserved areas. The grant is the largest five-year award in the history of KU Medical Center and one of the largest such awards ever received at the University of Kansas. In partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center, KU Medical Center will serve as the Data Coordinating and Operations Center for the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes Institutional Development Award (IDeA) States Pediatric Clinical Trials Network. The center will provide data coordination and biostatistics support, facilitate multi-site study design and results dissemination, help coordinate with local health systems and train researchers and clinicians to increase their capacity to conduct pediatric research. The NIH created the IDeA States Pediatric Clinical Trials Network in 2016 to provide access to clinical trials for rural or underserved children living in IDeA states. These states have historically low levels of research funding and limited access to vital clinical trials. The program was created to broaden the geographic distribution of NIH funding for biomedical and behavioral research. There are 18 clinical research sites in the IDeA States Pediatric Clinical Trials Network.
Preliminary drug trial results give hope to those with a common form of muscular dystrophy
An experimental drug designed to treat one of the most common forms of muscular dystrophy successfully reduced levels of a rogue protein that causes the disease, according to preliminary results of a multi-site clinical trial that includes the University of Kansas Medical Center. The early results in the Phase 1/2 FORTITUDE trial showed that the drug, dubbed del-brax by manufacturer Avidity Biosciences, decreased the expression of a gene called DUX4 that is usually unexpressed (inactive) in healthy people but makes toxic proteins in the muscle cells of people with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). After four months, del-brax, which is short for delpacibart braxlosiran, reduced levels of DUX4 in the trial participants by an average of more than 50% and levels of DUX4-related proteins by 25%. Jeffrey Statland, M.D., professor of neurology at KU Medical Center, is an investigator on the FORTITUDE trial. FSHD, which affects roughly 1 in 20,000 people, weakens and shrinks muscles in the face, shoulders, upper arms and lower legs. It also can also impair other muscles in the body. Currently there are no medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the disease, and FSHD is managed through different therapies.
KU Medical Center faculty member given AAMC leadership award
Kimberly Templeton, M.D., professor of orthopedic surgery and associate dean for continuing medical education, was the 2024 recipient of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Group on Women in Medicine and Science Leadership Award. The AAMC said recipients must have contributed to the advancement of women in medicine and science for 10 years or more of their career. That could include significant mentorship or sponsorship of women trainees and/or faculty; the development and evaluation of career development programs for women; policy or advocacy for gender equity including recruitment, retention and advancement of women; national or international leadership that advances women in medicine and science; and contributions to the body of knowledge, through research, publications, lectures to further the advancement of women in medicine and science. In announcing the award, the AAMC cited Templeton for a track record of academic leadership that demonstrated a career-long commitment to developing women leaders and the far-reaching impact of her efforts to support and advance women’s careers.
KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center collaborating on study of blood test for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease
The University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (KU ADRC) has entered into a collaboration with Brigham Young University (BYU) to conduct a validation study of a blood test for the early detection of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease. If successful, in addition to aiding in the early detection of Alzheimer’s, this test could assist in the monitoring of disease progression and contribute to the development of new diagnostic tools and treatments. The blood test, in development now at BYU, is designed to detect small fragments of DNA released into the bloodstream when brain cells — such as those neurons affected by Alzheimer’s disease — die. These small fragments, known as cell-free DNA, carry layers of important information, including DNA sequence and epigenetic markers such as methylation, a chemical modification that regulates gene activity. Cell-free DNA circulating in the bloodstream has emerged as a promising tool for early Alzheimer’s detection because of its ability to capture both general signs of neurodegeneration and disease-specific changes that can inform diagnostic testing.
Medical informatics researcher publishes study in JAMA showing CPAP therapy is associated with a reduced risk of death for people with sleep apnea
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, in which a machine delivers a constant flow of air through a mask during sleep, is the first line of treatment for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. Even though CPAP machines are effective in treating sleep apnea, randomized clinical trials have failed to demonstrate that they prevent cardiovascular problems. But an observational study, published in JAMA Network Open, found that CPAP usage was associated with a significant reduction in mortality and major cardiovascular events, including heart attack, heart failure and stroke in Medicare patients with obstructive sleep apnea. The study, led by Diego Mazzotti, Ph.D., assistant professor of medical informatics in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center, is the first such study focused on older adults across the central United States. It is also the largest study of its kind, with a sample size of nearly 900,000 people. The researchers conducted their study by looking at fee-for-service claims data from 2011 through 2020 for Medicare beneficiaries who lived in nine central states that are part of the Greater Plains Collaborative, a clinical research network. The researchers also found that among the people who started using CPAP, the highest utilizers — those who continued using their machines over the first year, as implied by their number of related Medicare claims — had the lowest risk of mortality and cardiovascular events compared with those who did not continue CPAP therapy. The study also indicated that the higher utilizers had a lower risk of major cardiovascular events, including heart attack, stroke and heart failure.
Kansas Nursing Workforce Center announces grant from the Kansas Board of Regents to launch the Kansas Nursing Pathways Project
The Kansas Nursing Workforce Center, based at the University of Kansas School of Nursing, has received a $1 million grant from the Kansas Board of Regents to engage in several projects designed to increase interest in nursing and boost applications to nursing schools throughout the state. The grant also will fund a comprehensive report analyzing the relationship between the nursing shortage in the state and its education programs, providing insight into best practices and barriers for increasing nursing school applications, enrollments and licensing pass rates. Enrollment in Kansas nursing education programs has steadily declined by 38% over the last 10 years. Additionally, a significant number of registered nurses and licensed practical nurses plan to retire in the next five years. Rural hospitals in the state are particularly vulnerable and could face closure. As part of this project, the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center plans to establish a foundation for a future unified application that would serve all institutions providing nursing education in the state. The Kansas Nursing Workforce Center also will build a web-based tool for individuals interested in nursing education. The web-based tool will then be disseminated to middle and high schools, colleges, universities, employers, agencies and associations to make it more clear how to become a nurse and what the options may be for careers in nursing. KU School of Nursing will continue to support and house the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center throughout this initiative. Previous projects conducted by the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center have included gathering and analyzing data to identify challenges to both nursing education and the nursing workforce in Kansas. The Kansas Nursing Workforce Center was established at KU School of Nursing in August 2023 and is one of 46 in the nation focused on solving the nursing shortage issue. It is focused on using data and collaboration to address the nursing workforce shortage throughout the state.
KU Cancer Center partnership gives veterans greater access to clinical trials
Veterans in the United States face numerous health care challenges, including limited access to early-phase cancer clinical trials, a critical component of advancing cancer treatment. In response to this need, The University of Kansas Cancer Center and the Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center (KCVA) have established a groundbreaking agreement designed to address this gap and expand access to clinical trials for veterans. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in improving care for a population that has historically been underserved for cancer research and treatment. Each year, about 50,000 new cancer cases are reported among veterans, who face higher risks due to unique factors, such as exposure to hazardous substances during service.
Despite this higher cancer incidence, veterans often face barriers to the latest cancer treatments. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) primarily offers later-phase clinical trials (Phase II and III), but access to early-phase trials, which test new therapies, has remained scarce. Early-phase trials are crucial for patients with advanced or difficult-to-treat cancers, offering innovative treatments that are not yet widely available. To bridge this gap, KU Cancer Center and KCVA have formalized an agreement aimed at providing veterans with greater access to early-phase clinical trials. In addition to providing financial and logistical support, the cancer center will serve as a subsite for these trials. Weijing Sun, M.D., director of medical oncology and associate director for clinical research at KU Medical Center, and Chao Huang, M.D., associate professor of medical oncology at KU Medical Center, helped spearhead the initiative alongside Baranda. With the help of new funding mechanisms, the collaboration has begun to build the infrastructure needed to expand trial access. The goal is to develop a template that can be replicated nationally, providing every veteran access to the same research opportunities as civilians.
KU School of Nursing researcher receives HRSA grant to improve maternal and neonatal health in rural Kansas
The University of Kansas Medical Center has been awarded a four-year, nearly $4 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to improve pregnancy and birth outcomes in rural Kansas. The grant is part of HRSA’s Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies program, which was created to increase access to quality maternal and obstetrics care in rural parts of the United States. Karen Weis, Ph.D., FAAN, professor of nursing at the University of Kansas School of Nursing-Salina and associate director of research for the Kansas Center for Rural Health, is the principal investigator on the grant. The grant will be used to pilot a sustainable model of quality obstetrical services and care at a network of three hospitals in counties in central and northwest Kansas that are part of the Sunflower Health Network: Mitchell County Hospital, Sheridan County Health Complex and Smith County Memorial Hospital and Rural Family Practice. Weis said that eventually, she hopes to expand the network to include more rural Kansas hospitals that provide obstetrical services. In the United States, a country that has among the highest maternal mortality and morbidity rates in the developed world, women in rural areas have a 9% greater chance of dying or suffering a severe health condition as a consequence of maternity compared with their urban counterparts, according to a study published in Health Affairs. Infant mortality rates are 6% higher in rural American counties compared with small and medium-sized cities, and 20% higher than those in large metropolitan areas.
KU Cancer Center breaks ground for new complex that promises to transform care and research in the region
The University of Kansas Cancer Center broke ground on the future site of a new complex today that will bring research and patient care into one complex for the first time in KU Cancer Center’s history. The new building realizes a long-time vision of KU Cancer Center’s leadership to bring together the entire cancer community — from physician-scientists to researchers to physicians and clinical staff — side by side in one complex. The new facility, which will be located on the 39th and Rainbow campus in Kansas City, will enable the whole patient experience — from nutrition and social workers to pathology and imaging, and everything in-between — to happen in one place. It also will give patients access to groundbreaking clinical trials and therapies developed on site. Physicians and researchers will be able to collaborate in real time on personalized treatment options and make them available to patients more quickly. In 2022, The University of Kansas Cancer Center was designated as a “Comprehensive” cancer center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). This is the highest level of recognition awarded by the NCI and is the gold standard for cancer centers. The complex is funded by multiple sources, including a $100 million lead gift from the Sunderland Foundation, the largest ever received by the University of Kansas and The University of Kansas Health System.
Report card shows few children are getting the recommended daily dose of activity
The Physical Activity Alliance, the nation’s largest national coalition dedicated to advancing regular participation in physical activity, has released the 2024 United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth. The overall physical activity grade for children and youth remained low at D-, the same grade it received in 2022 when the last report was issued. Bethany Forseth, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science and Athletic Training at KU School of Health Professions, led the fitness section of the report card. The grade was derived from National Survey of Children’s Health and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data that showed only 20% to 28% of 6- to 17-year-olds meet the 60 minutes of daily physical activity recommended by the U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. The proportion of children who meet the physical activity guidelines has decreased slightly since 2016, when these data were first available.
KU-led multicenter trial to address food insecurity and malnutrition in cancer patients
How well cancers respond to treatment depends not only on the type and severity of each malignancy, but also on the social and economic status of each patient. That status also can determine a patient’s access to good nutrition. Anthony Sung, M.D., director of the Center for Survivorship and Patient-Oriented Research at The University of Kansas Cancer Center and professor of hematologic malignancies and cellular therapeutics at KU Medical Center, is leading a multicenter trial, funded by a five-year, nearly $4 million grant awarded last fall by the National Institutes of Health, to tackle food insecurity in people with blood cancers who are receiving transplant or cellular therapy (TCT). Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Duke University and Stanford also are participating in the trial, known as NOURISH (Nutrition Outreach in Systems of Healthcare). The trial is co-led by Anna Arthur, Ph.D., MPH, assistant professor of dietetics and nutrition at KU School of Health Professions. NOURISH, which will begin enrolling participants in 2025, will provide bags of nutritious food directly to food-insecure TCT patients during their clinic visits. Participants in the study will be assessed before, during and after TCT treatment.