JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

Arvin George, MD, discusses his LUGPA talk on focal therapy, focusing on patient selection, outcomes, and future directions. He highlights the evolution of focal therapy adoption and his ongoing trials on water vapor thermal therapy and irreversible electroporation (IRE). George also anticipates emerging technologies like theranostics and improved imaging in focal therapy.

The Department of Family and Preventive Medicine's three applications were accepted into the Vice President's Clinical and Translational Research Scholars Program, set to begin in 2025. Dr. Teresa DeAtley will focus on tobacco cessation treatments for TB in South Africa, Dr. Tiffany Ho on gender-affirming care safety and efficacy, and Dr. Jennifer Mundt on behavioral sleep medicine interventions, aiming for NIH funding.

Eledon Pharmaceuticals' tegoprubart, an anti-CD40L antibody, shows promise in Type 1 diabetes treatment and organ transplantation, potentially offering a safer immunosuppressive alternative to traditional drugs like tacrolimus.

Cybin Inc. and MindMed Inc. plan to start phase 3 trials for psilocybin and LSD treatments in 2023, aiming for 2026 results. Despite recent setbacks, including FDA rejections and data issues, both companies remain optimistic, supported by FDA approvals and cautious analyst optimism.

Researchers release flagship dataset from AI-READI study on type 2 diabetes, revealing heterogeneity among patients and associations with environmental factors. The dataset, including environmental sensor data and health metrics, aims to be mined by AI for novel insights. Initial findings highlight the need for diverse, granular data to explore disease and health pathways.

Raman spectroscopy is a non-destructive, versatile tool for studying molecular structures, used in Baltimore for drug development, biological studies, and environmental science. It enhances research in pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and personalized medicine, and is integrated into education for future scientists. Baltimore's institutions, like Johns Hopkins University, lead in Raman spectrometer applications, with potential future use in nanomaterials and individualized medicine.

Dr. Selwyn M. Vickers received the 2024 Cato T. Laurencin Lifetime Research Award at the National Medical Association’s Annual Convention. The award, presented by Laurencin, recognizes Vickers' over 20 years of contributions to human health and cancer research, particularly in pancreatic and gastrointestinal cancers.

Researchers release flagship dataset from AI-READI study on type 2 diabetes, revealing heterogeneity among patients and associations with environmental factors. The dataset, including environmental sensors, survey responses, and biologic variables, aims to be mined by AI for insights on risks and preventive measures. The study, supported by NIH, includes diverse participants and aims to gather data from a more racially and ethnically diverse population.

Miami University researcher Andrew Jones uses bioreactors to produce psilocybin and other psychedelics, attracting attention and funding. Despite FDA setbacks like rejecting Lykos Therapeutics' MDMA application, interest in psychedelics for treating PTSD, depression, and addiction remains high. Jones' lab synthesizes compounds for consistency and safety, and he collaborates on research into psilocybin's neuroplastic and anti-inflammatory effects. Public acceptance of psychedelics is growing, with legal psilocybin therapy available in Oregon, and ongoing research worldwide.