Research News
University of Kansas School of Medicine research is changing the world through exploration, discovery and continuous learning.
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December 6, 2024KU Medical Center evaluating smoking-cessation interventions for Black adults in a five-state studyFunded by a $10 million PCORI grant and in partnership with the University of Wisconsin, the researchers will study the effect of three smoking treatments on quit rates for Black adults.
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December 3, 2024Let’s talk, baby! Study hopes front-line doctors can get more parents conversing with their infantsKU Medical Center research project taps pediatricians to promote ‘language nutrition,’ with a goal of reaching more caregivers and reducing disparities in child development.
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November 20, 2024NIH-funded study to test the effects of first text-message support intervention for Latino caregivers of people with dementiaCuidaTEXT delivers daily text messages with tips and information on caring for someone with dementia, self-care, social support and other topics to assist caregivers.
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November 13, 2024Progress in brain cancer research brings hope on the horizonResearchers at KU Cancer Center are working to make strides in diagnosing and treating brain cancers.
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November 8, 2024JAMA Neurology editorial calls for interdisciplinary team-based care during new therapeutic era for dementiaNew models of collaborative care are needed to implement advances in dementia care, according to an article co-authored by the co-director of the KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.
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October 30, 2024New England Journal of Medicine study reveals genetic factors linked to chronic kidney diseaseThe study showed that having just one risk variant in a particular gene can significantly increase the risk of developing chronic kidney disease.
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October 22, 2024KU Cancer Center leads national trial testing vaccine for colon cancer in people with Lynch syndromePeople with Lynch syndrome, an inherited genetic disorder, have up to an 80% lifetime risk of developing colon cancer.
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October 16, 2024KU Medical Center scientists work to uncover biology behind cellular system that destroys damaged proteins and prevents diseaseOften referred to as the garbage disposals of the cell, proteasomes destroy and recycle misshapen and nonfunctional proteins.
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September 20, 2024A precision-medicine initiative sponsored by the National Cancer Institute aims to improve treatment for the most common form of leukemia in adultsThe University of Kansas Cancer Center is part of the myeloMATCH trial, a large, coordinated effort to improve patient outcomes through targeted treatments for people with acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome.
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September 12, 2024KU medical informatics researcher publishes study in JAMA Network Open showing CPAP therapy is associated with a reduced risk of death for people with sleep apneaStudy looking at Medicare claims data for nearly 900,000 people with obstructive sleep apnea also found that those who used CPAP machines were less likely to have major cardiovascular events.
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September 10, 2024KU School of Nursing researcher receives HRSA grant to improve maternal and neonatal health in rural KansasThe grant, which includes researchers from KU School of Nursing and KU School of Medicine, will fund the creation of a sustainable model of quality obstetrical services and care at a network of hospitals in three rural Kansas counties.
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September 6, 2024Legendary breast cancer researcher Carol Fabian reflects on the progress of research and its impact on survivorshipReuniting with a former patient and clinical trial participant, Fabian encouraged continued research and using new ways to locate clinical trials.
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August 14, 2024KU Medical Center welcomed head of NIH’s All of Us Research Program to celebrate launch of the Heartland ConsortiumPart of the National Institutes of Health, the All of Us Research Program is working to collect data from a million different people to drive new treatments and cures.
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August 8, 2024KU Cancer Center researchers announce study of high-dose intravenous vitamin C to treat muscle-invasive bladder cancerA $3.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense will fund this new study, which will take place at both KU Cancer Center and the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center.
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August 6, 2024Exercise and physical activity guidelines updated to reflect prevalence of weight-loss drugs and bariatric surgeryResearchers at KU Medical Center led the update released by the American College of Sports Medicine, one of the world’s leading organizations in the field of exercise science.
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August 1, 2024KU School of Medicine professor fights for changes to prevent medical gaslighting of womenMedical gaslighting, when a health care professional discounts a patient’s complaints, is a serious problem for women’s health.
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July 30, 2024Rural populations may experience uneven effects of Medicaid expansionStudy points to differences in how people of different races and ethnicities may benefit from Medicaid expansion
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July 26, 2024Sen. Moran announces $10 million in federal investments for The University of Kansas Cancer CenterFunds will benefit the KU Cancer Center’s new building
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July 17, 2024Study shows artificial intelligence can help physicians stay up to date on medical research by summarizing journal articlesResearch led by KU Medical Center found that ChatGPT produced accurate short summaries of journal abstracts that could help busy doctors quickly review academic literature.
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July 12, 2024Exploring the power of music to treat pain and diseaseKU Medical Center researcher combines her education in music and cognitive psychology to study how music affects the brain
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July 9, 2024White Ribbon Project works with outreach network of KU Cancer Center to increase lung cancer screenings in KansasThe Masonic Cancer Alliance community grant seeks to reduce stigma, promote screening in southeast Kansas
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July 2, 2024Preliminary drug trial results give hope to those with a common form of muscular dystrophyKU Medical Center is a site for the first trial of a drug specifically designed to go into muscle and target the molecular cause of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.
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June 28, 2024Blood test developed by KU researchers can detect early-stage lung cancerBiosensor technology can detect lung cancer in blood when it is still curable and could be used to screen large populations at risk for the disease.
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June 20, 2024KU Medical Center researcher focuses on eliminating food deserts across rural KansasNew grant-funded project to address food insecurity issues in six areas across the state
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June 14, 2024KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center part of global study deploying blood biomarker testing for dementia diagnosesBlood biomarkers have the potential to accelerate diagnoses for dementia and identify people most likely to benefit from the new drugs for Alzheimer’s disease.
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June 5, 2024Research shows rural children with type 1 diabetes less likely to use continuous glucose-monitoring devicesThese devices improve clinical outcomes, but study shows they are used much less in rural areas, where the burden of type 1 diabetes is high.
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May 16, 2024KU Medical Center researchers working to address lead exposure prevention in southeast KansasLead exposure rates are twice the national average for kids in Kansas, especially for those in rural areas, indicating the need for prevention and remediation.
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May 9, 2024Wichita Biomedical Campus, a partnership between the University of Kansas and Wichita State University, moves from plans to realityGroundbreaking ceremony for new joint facility emphasizes partnerships across the state
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May 8, 2024NIH renews COBRE grant for Kansas Institute for Precision MedicineThe $11.4 million grant will improve patient outcomes by supporting and training the next generation of physician-scientists in precision medicine.
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April 19, 2024Mental health conditions leading cause of maternal mortalityMore pregnant women and new mothers die in the United States than any high-income country in the world, but the leading cause is often left out of initiatives to combat that crisis.
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April 3, 2024ABATE study to test a vaccine for Alzheimer’s disease in people with Down syndromeKU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center is participating in the first clinical trial testing a drug intended to slow down or even prevent Alzheimer's in people with Down syndrome, who are at high risk for the disease.
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March 20, 2024Research seeks reasons behind shortage of Black sperm donorsKU Medical Center study aims to better understand attitudes and perceptions regarding sperm donation in the African American and Black community
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March 7, 2024Rare full-body weight-bearing CT scanner to advance researchKU Medical Center has the first CT scanner in North America that can scan the whole body while a person is standing, enabling researchers to see the effect of weight on joints and other tissues.
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February 23, 2024KU Medical Center’s 22nd annual K-INBRE symposium recognizes bioscience students from across Kansas and OklahomaAt an annual event to encourage careers in research, KU Medical Center celebrated the achievements of 18 undergraduate students from 10 universities.
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February 13, 2024Lottery winnings land at KU Medical Center to fund research for a rare genetic diseaseA new research grant awarded to the KU Medical Center will support investigation into a neurological condition and has its roots in a Powerball jackpot.
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February 8, 2024Cardiologist, faculty member and adventure photographer balances career and life with a hobby that’s taken him around the worldCharles Porter, M.D., started his medical career at the same time as his career in photography, and both provide plenty of adventure to this day.
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January 31, 2024KU Medical Center researcher co-leads development of 2024 Compendium of Physical ActivitiesA resource that will be used by smartwatches and studies all over the world was updated this year to include sections with data specific to older adults and to those who use wheelchairs.
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January 17, 2024Internet-based therapy can reduce depressive symptoms in people with multiple sclerosisA study co-authored by a KU Medical Center researcher and published in Lancet Digital Health found that an online platform for cognitive behavioral therapy improved the mental health of people with MS and depression.
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January 10, 2024New study aims to curb obesity in rural KansasThe iAmHealthy Parents First study is the first randomized controlled trial in the world designed to examine the effectiveness of an integrated obesity treatment program aimed at both adults and children.
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December 20, 2023In case you missed it: a look back at 2023Here are just some of KU Medical Center’s accomplishments and successes over the past year.
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December 18, 2023‘Geropalooza’ jump-starts geroscience research at KU Medical CenterThe inaugural geroscience symposium is part of KU Medical Center’s broader effort to foster research relevant to aging, age-related diseases, healthspan and longevity.
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December 8, 2023KU Medical Center researcher testing drug to improve concussion symptomsDrug tested in pilot study showed promising results in reducing common concussion symptoms
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December 1, 2023KU medical student publishes study on feline facial expressionsAs an undergraduate anthropology major at UCLA, Lauren Scott found that domestic cats have 276 unique facial expressions they use to communicate with each other.
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November 21, 2023Documentary offers empowered approach to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease“Why” is a documentary created by the KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center that puts forth a positive perspective on the lives of people living with cognitive decline and dementia.
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November 16, 2023NASA launch includes KU Medical Center research on the female reproductive systemKU Medical Center scientists have partnered with scientists from NASA Ames Research Center in the first-ever examination of long-term space exposure on female reproductive physiology.
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November 8, 2023People taking the new anti-obesity medications must make time for physical activity, say KU researchersPhysical activity is still important for the numerous holistic health benefits exercise provides, even for those losing weight on popular new drugs.
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October 27, 2023An $11.5 million grant from NIH launches Implementation Science for Equity Center at KU Medical CenterThe new center, funded as part of a prestigious program at the National Institutes of Health, will bridge the gap between research knowledge and clinical practice and reduce health inequities.
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October 17, 2023Researchers at KU Medical Center work to improve health and prevent chronic disease in Southwest KansasPopulation health researchers at KU receive a nearly $3.7 million federal award to address chronic diseases in Grant, Finney, Ford and Seward counties in Kansas.
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September 26, 2023Research at KU Medical Center experiences tremendous growthKU Medical Center has nearly doubled its federal research portfolio since 2017 and increased its clinical trial revenues by 45% since 2021.
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September 13, 2023KU Medical Center announces four-state Heartland Consortium as part of the All of Us Research Program to advance precision medicinePart of the National Institutes of Health, the All of Us Research Program is working to collect data from a million different people to drive new treatments and cures
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September 1, 2023Studying low risk for solid tumors in people with Down syndrome could lead to new treatments for bladder cancerKU researcher John Taylor, M.D., received a Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network Innovation Award to investigate the biological reasons that people with Down syndrome are less likely to develop bladder cancer.
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August 25, 2023Researchers at KU Medical Center work to discover treatments for people with a rare condition that leads to colon cancerRare genetic condition results in thousands of polyps and either near-certain colon cancer or a lifetime of screenings and surgery
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August 10, 2023Study shows cognitive benefit of counterpulsation device that increases blood flow to the brainExternal counterpulsation therapy, originally created to treat angina and heart failure, was shown by KU Medical Center researchers to improve cognitive function.
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July 21, 2023‘Every Minute Counts’ is the overarching message from researchers regarding physical activityKU Medical Center researcher is co-author of commentary on exercise and physical activity published in JAMA
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July 19, 2023Q&A with Diego Mazzotti, KU informatician and sleep researcherKU School of Medicine faculty member Diego Mazzotti, Ph.D., answered a few questions about his career path and how big data and informatics can influence sleep medicine.
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July 13, 2023KU School of Medicine resident publishes study in prestigious journal analyzing diversity rates in neurosurgery career pathKU residents and medical students published in journal Neurosurgery see room for improvement in rate of African-American medical school graduates accepted into neurosurgery residency programs, but also good results in retention.
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July 11, 2023Study looks to dietary changes to improve cognition in people with Alzheimer’s and dementiaScientists at the KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center are researching the potential of a ketogenic diet and a heart-healthy diet to improve brain health.
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June 29, 2023RECOVER study establishes working clinical definition of long COVIDKU Medical Center was a site in a study published in JAMA that identified a dozen symptoms and a scoring system to identify long COVID in adults.
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June 27, 2023KU Cancer Center receives historic $100 million gift from Sunderland Foundation to support new cancer research and care facilityThe KU Cancer Center will build a new facility designed to place research and treatment side by side.
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May 23, 2023KU researcher and faculty member is lead author on cancer equity commentary published in the Journal of the National Cancer InstituteCommentary seeks to set an agenda for national problem of cancer disparities in those who have been incarcerated.
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May 11, 2023KU medical school among nation’s best in latest U.S. News & World Report rankingsKU School of Medicine ranked 5th among all public medical schools in the country in the percentage of physicians practicing in rural areas and 9th among public institutions in producing primary care physicians.
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May 10, 2023KU Medical Center researcher among authors of study published in NEJM identifying a more effective way to care for opioid-exposed newbornsThe “Eat, Sleep, Console” care approach was more effective than standard of care to treat newborns exposed to opioids in the womb, according to a national clinical trial in which KU Medical Center participated.
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May 4, 2023Wichita research center finds new ways to involve rural Kansans in clinical trialsThe Center for Clinical Research, the investigative center of the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, is reaching out to rural residents via telehealth, telephone and mail service.
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May 2, 2023KU School of Medicine testing new drug to treat inherited form of kidney diseaseResearchers are conducting a clinical trial for a new drug that seeks to address the underlying cause of APOL1-mediated kidney disease rather than managing its symptoms.
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April 18, 2023Lenexa retiree goes above and beyond to support dementia research at KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research CenterRobert Deady has no scientific degree, but his dedication to the work of KU ADRC earns him the title (and award) of Citizen Scientist.
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April 13, 2023Super ‘cool’ electron microscope to accelerate discovery at KU Medical Center and throughout the regionThe new cryogenic electron microscope can reveal the structure of flash-frozen proteins and other biomolecules at nearly atomic resolution, enabling researchers to understand diseases and design drugs to fight them.
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April 6, 2023KU Medical Center researcher published in NEJM study showing large-core strokes can be treated with vacuum to retrieve clotKU Medical Center researcher published in NEJM study showing large-core strokes can be treated with vacuum to retrieve clot
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March 29, 2023Victory is sweet in Super Bowl challenge won by the KU Cancer CenterUnited in their fight against cancer, divided over who should be Super Bowl champions, prestigious cancer centers in Kansas City and Philadelphia enjoy friendly rivalry.
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March 16, 2023JAMA study finds that high-intensity interval training improves stroke patients’ mobility more than moderate aerobic exerciseKU researcher Sandra Billinger, Ph.D., was part of a multi-site study that may change how stroke rehabilitation is conducted.
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March 9, 2023Kansas-based undergraduate bioscience symposium returns to face-to-face presentations for 2023The annual K-INBRE Symposium gives promising students in Kansas and Oklahoma a chance to pursue research topics in the biosciences.
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March 2, 2023Text-messaging program provides free support for caregivers of people with dementiaAvailable in English and Spanish, CareTEXT was developed by the KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center to help caregivers of people with dementia take care of their loved one as well as themselves.
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February 21, 2023KU Cancer Center uses art to reach underserved communitiesNew mural is part of the KU Cancer Center’s campaign to encourage diverse participation in cancer clinical trials.
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February 2, 2023Five reasons to consider participating in a clinical trial for cancer treatmentClinical trials can benefit you, no matter what stage of cancer you have. Here, Tara Lin, M.D., professor of hematologic malignancies and cellular therapeutics at KU Medical Center and medical director of the Clinical Trials Office at The University of Kansas Cancer Center, explains five reasons to consider participating in the testing of a novel cancer treatment.
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January 26, 2023Q&A with Sharla Smith, maternal and fetal health researcherSharla Smith, Ph.D., MPH, answered a few questions about her work and the problem of health disparities for Black infants and mothers.
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January 24, 2023What to know about the keto diet from experts at KU Medical Center who study itThe ketogenic diet, or “keto” diet, can be a quick way to shed pounds. But it’s also a very strict diet. Learn about keto and how it’s being studied in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.
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January 19, 2023NIH grant helps KU provide obesity and metabolism research training for pre-doctoral graduate studentsObesity is a complex national epidemic. The grant is intended to produce trainees who can think broadly about the condition from the laboratory to the clinic.
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January 4, 2023KU Medical Center researchers testing home blood-pressure monitoring program to prevent age-related cognitive declineControlling hypertension is important to brain health as well as to cardiovascular health, but the condition often is not well managed. Researchers at KU Medical Center have designed a home-based hypertension program they hope will help.
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January 3, 2023Graduate student at KU School of Nursing works to improve health on multiple continentsMay Maloba, a doctoral student at the University of Kansas School of Nursing, brings her expertise in women’s health to Kenya, Cambodia and the United States.
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December 21, 2022Seeking the ‘new normal’: a look back at 2022See what shaped the University of Kansas Medical Center this year.
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December 8, 2022Female KU neurosurgeon operates in uncommon companyClinical assistant professor Jennifer Cheng, M.D., is one of about 550 female board-certified neurosurgeons in the nation.
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December 6, 202210,000 steps might really be the ‘magic pill’ everyone is seekingStudies in JAMA show that walking 10,000 steps can improve cardiovascular health and reduce risks of both dementia and cancer better than any pill or injection currently available.
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December 1, 2022Ivermectin shown ineffective in treating COVID-19, according to multi-site study including KU Medical CenterResults of the study of the antiparasitic medication, once a much-discussed potential treatment for COVID-19, were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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November 22, 2022NEJM article releases positive results of clinical trial investigating treatment for rare inflammatory disease, dermatomyositisMazen Dimachkie, M.D., was one of 36 researchers from Europe and North America to recruit participants for the first large-scale, randomized control study investigating intravenous immune globulin as a treatment for dermatomyositis.
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November 15, 2022KU Medical Center researcher is first author on COVID-19 vaccine safety study showing low rates of severe adverse eventsAn observational study led by Halinder Mangat, M.D., demonstrated that rates of severe adverse events after COVID-19 immunization are very low compared with the risks from COVID-19.
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November 10, 2022KU Medical Center researchers receive R01 grant from National Cancer Institute to increase targeted cancer treatments to rural cancer patientsTEAMSPORT will create a standardized approach to ordering genomic tests and adapt it for use in community cancer centers, where most cancer patients receive testing and treatment.
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November 1, 2022KU Cancer Center partners with nation’s top cancer organizations to call for increasing lung cancer screening nationwideNational call to action encourages use of low-dose CT to combat the leading cause of cancer in the United States
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October 26, 2022A $12 million grant from NIH launches KC-MORE, a research center to study obesity and obesity-related diseaseThe Kansas Center for Metabolism and Obesity Research seeks to become a national hub for obesity-related research and the training of junior research faculty.
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October 25, 2022KU Medical Center researchers receive grant to combat injury caused by exposure to radiationRadiation injury is a problematic side effect in cancer treatment, and radiation toxicity from radiological and nuclear devices has been a growing national concern since 9/11.
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October 20, 2022Federal grant supports LEND, a program based at KU Medical Center and focused on educating people about autism and developmental disabilitiesThanks to a $3 million grant, the Kansas Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities program continues its five-decade mission of training, research and leadership development.
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October 18, 2022Akinlolu Ojo, executive dean of KU School of Medicine, elected to the National Academy of MedicineFounded in 1970 as the Institute of Medicine, the prestigious National Academy of Medicine has approximately 2,200 members worldwide.
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October 13, 2022High school students discover career possibilities at health care event‘Discover KU’s Health Programs’ invited students from Kansas City, Kansas, who would be the first generation in their families to go to college.
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October 6, 2022KU Medical Center scientists identify mechanism for critical function of a damaged protein that causes most polycystic kidney diseaseTheir work will inform the design of drugs aiming to one day restore the function of that protein in order to prevent or treat the disease.
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October 4, 2022NIH grant helps KU answer the urgent need to develop the next generation of brain health researchersThe KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center received a prestigious five-year, $1.5 million grant to expand and strengthen its program to boost brain health researchers.
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September 29, 2022Early clinical trial results on a new Alzheimer’s drug may point to new treatmentsJeffrey Burns, co-director of the KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, says early results of studies on lecanemab are promising.
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August 11, 2022KU Cancer Center researchers discover that people with blood-related cancers have a higher chance of COVID breakthrough infectionsKU Cancer Center oncology experts teamed up with statistical experts to warn those with leukemia and lymphoma of their increased risk of getting COVID-19
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July 7, 2022The University of Kansas Cancer Center earns National Cancer Institute’s most prestigious status—ComprehensiveNCI recognition as a Comprehensive cancer center is the culmination of years of community effort and means that KU Cancer Center joins the top echelon of leading cancer experts.
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July 1, 2022KU Medical Center researchers create first personalized AI method to predict acute kidney injury in hospital patients, results published in JAMA Network OpenTheir algorithm could be implemented into hospitals’ electronic alert systems to help clinicians protect patients from kidney failure.
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May 9, 2022COVID-19 vaccine effective in people receiving cancer treatment, study findsAbout 95% of participants achieved a measurable immune response after vaccination, according to study led by a KU School of Medicine professor and published in JAMA Oncology.
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May 4, 2022Simon Craddock Lee chosen as chair of Department of Population HealthWhile engaged in many facets of population health research, Lee’s expertise lies in implementation science and health care delivery research in cancer prevention and control.
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May 2, 2022Study seeks to pinpoint perfect mix of physical activity for better aging and brain healthThe five-year, NIH-funded COMET clinical trial is the largest of its kind to compare aerobic, resistance training or a combination of both while looking at cognition in older adults.
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April 19, 2022Hoglund Biomedical Imaging Center upgrades scanning abilities with $1.5 million NIH grantEquipment upgrade provides cutting-edge resources to researchers across the region
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January 26, 2022KU Clinical Research Center celebrates decade of investigational scienceThe University of Kansas Clinical Research Center (KU CRC), a dedicated clinical trials facility with support from a Johnson County sales tax, celebrates it's 10 year anniversary.
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November 9, 2021New consortium for polycystic kidney disease research brings scientists togetherA symposium, held virtually Oct. 27-28, allowed scientists to learn about, and share, the latest research in PKD.
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July 8, 2021Professor pivots from Kenya to Kansas (and back again) to serve global health needs in pandemicThe work of Sarah Finocchario Kessler, Ph.D., MPH, supports the progressive efforts of Wyandotte County Health Department to address social needs of Covid-positive residents.
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April 29, 2021Massive negative impact of COVID-19 on cancer screenings quantified in KU Medical Center faculty study published in JAMA OncologyThe University of Kansas Cancer Center is calling for public attention to this issue to prevent cancer deaths.
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November 19, 2020KU Cancer Center researchers discover men fighting both cancer and COVID-19 at higher risk than womenMen with cancer and COVID-19 may be at significantly higher risk for severe symptoms and even death as compared to females fighting both, a University of Kansas Cancer Center research team has found after reviewing multiple studies.
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March 5, 2020Owens leading psychiatry department’s new clinical trial researchDennis Owens, MD, PhD, leading psychiatry department’s new clinical trial research