University of Kansas Medical Center

In 2024, KU Medical Center strengthened partnerships, increased nursing workforce, and welcomed new leadership. Key research included precision medicine, muscular dystrophy drug trials, and Alzheimer's prevention. Historic milestones were celebrated, and efforts to improve health disparities continued. Construction began on the Wichita Biomedical Campus, and faculty and students engaged in global health initiatives. Academic programs were nationally recognized.

E. Madan led experiments, data analysis, and manuscript writing. A.M.P., V.V., A.K., and P.B. contributed to experiments, data analysis, and manuscript preparation. J.W. handled biostatistical analysis and data interpretation. T.B. and D.A. focused on microscopy, data interpretation, and figure preparation. P.C.M., G.B., M.D.B., I.D., H.K., and D.O. assisted with biostatistical analysis and data interpretation. A. Gogna and A.B. helped with figure preparation and live-cell videos. M.L.P., M.Y., D.Z., S.P., S.K., K.B., P.M., I.C., E.A.F., A.K.P., S.M., C.J.P., A.L., M.N., S.C., K.G., K.C.G., and K.S.S. contributed to pathology data collection and analysis. T.F.A., E.G., A. Gustafsson, G.L., L.N., E.Y., and R.S.-F. worked on 3D scaffold and organoid experiments. K.D.P.D. assisted with PDX experiments. N.M., M.J.P., K.J.-J., and S.H. focused on exosome biology experiments. Z.S. and W.L.R. worked on multiplexing experiments. M.B. and P.J. handled FISH experiments. H.O.R., F.A.T., and R.B. contributed to MR imaging data analysis. K.G.A., J.A., G.X., G.S., and S. Singh designed and produced mAbs. S.D., C.L.d.S., A.M.F., D.T., S.R.G., K.P., G.G., G.L.W.G.R., and H.W. edited the manuscript. A.M.H., A.R., and C.L. worked on mass spec analysis. A.S. and P.B.F. provided laboratory resources and collaboration. G.M.C., Y.L., A.L.O., L.L., and A.A.T. handled CRISPR-off experiments. A.S.P., U.M., R.D., A.K.G., K.S., and D. Chelmow contributed to ovarian cancer expertise. R.P., J.K., S.R., H.R., S. Sayeed, K.P.K., D. Connolly, K.P.N., M.O.I., M.P.K., C.M., M.A., A.L.-B., D.J., K.D.M., A. Tzankov, S.B., E.A.R., and R.C.M. assisted with pathology data collection. A. Tsung and D.S. fostered clinical collaborations. J.T. provided mouse tumor models and funding. A.P.S., R.W., K.J.W., and E. Moreno helped with manuscript writing and funding. R.G. designed the study, organized collaborations, and provided overall supervision and funding.

Wichita State University launches Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine and Assistive Technology to accelerate solutions for physical and cognitive disabilities, leveraging campus resources and partnerships with Ascension Via Christi, Heartspring, and the Dole VA Medical Center. IRMAT aims to develop new assistive technologies, including artificial limbs and exoskeletons, and increase participation in clinical trials, particularly benefiting rural Kansans. The institute will relocate to the Wichita Biomedical Campus by 2027.

Nipocalimab, a drug in development for myasthenia gravis, showed promise in treating primary Sjögren's syndrome, with significant improvement in ESSDAI scores compared to placebo at 15 mg/kg every 2 weeks. A phase III study is planned. The drug targets FcRn to reduce IgG levels, with no safety concerns reported in the trial.

Trimodality therapy (TMT) for muscle-invasive localized bladder cancer aims to standardize trial eligibility criteria and endpoints, proposing bladder intact event-free survival (BIEFS) as a primary endpoint. An expert panel recommends pragmatic eligibility criteria and emphasizes patient-reported quality of life assessments to advance bladder preservation and treatment.

Members of the US Pancreatic Disease Study Group include C. Mel Wilcox, Ji Young Bang, Akwi Asombang, Chloe Bennett, Yan Bi, Wojciech Blogowski, James Buxbaum, Wei-Shen Chin, Darwin Conwell, Gregory A. Coté, Timothy B. Gardner, Pramod Garg, Nalini Guda, Robert Hawes, Yasmin G. Hernandez-Barco, Emily Jonica, Prashant Kedia, Thomas Kowalski, Vivek Kumbhari, Linda Lee, Jorge Machicado, Desiree Morgan, Thiruvengadam Muniraj, Udayakumar Navaneethan, Veeral Oza, Swati Pawa, Rajesh Puri, Amit Rastogi, D. Nageshwar Reddy, Monica Saumoy, Mandeep Sawhney, Santhi Swaroop Vege, Rupjyoti Talukdar, Paul Tarnasky, Felix Tellez-Avila, Shyam Thakkar, Nikhil Thiruvengadam, Elaina Vivian, Irving Waxman, Field F. Willingham, Shyam Varadarajulu.

Study finds low CRS and ICANS incidence 2 weeks post-CAR T-cell therapy, suggesting FDA REMS mandates could be revised to a 2-week monitoring period, improving patient accessibility and reducing physical and financial burdens.

August 2024 saw significant data updates in CAR-T, mRNA, and GDT therapies for cancer, including a study recommending shorter monitoring after CAR T-cell therapy, BioNTech's mRNA therapy meeting primary endpoint in melanoma, long-term axi-cel data showing durable outcomes in lymphoma, Kiromic BioPharma's Deltacel generating favorable PFS data in NSCLC, and Orgenesis' CAR-T ORG-101 demonstrating efficacy and safety in ALL.

Over 20 major research centers at KU Medical Center drive biomedical research, leading to new treatments and cures benefiting Kansas and beyond.

Research Administration at KU Medical Center offers services like regulatory oversight, grant management, clinical trial administration, business and financial operations, health and safety, and training.