May

Robert Sandler becomes president of American Gastroenterological Association Institute

Dr. Robert S. Sandler, chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in UNC’s School of Medicine, begins a one-year term on May 19 as president of the American Gastroenterological Association Institute.

Radiofrequency ablation is effective treatment for dysplasia in Barrett’s esophagus

Interim results from a nationwide clinical trial led by a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researcher suggest that radiofrequency ablation is an effective treatment for dysplasia in people with Barrett’s esophagus, a condition that can lead to deadly gastrointestinal cancer.

New federally funded health initiative to speed benefits of science to North Carolinians

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has received a $61 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant that will help speed up how scientific discoveries directly benefit patients in communities across North Carolina.

Clumps of red and white blood cells may contribute to sickle cell disease

It’s long been known that patients with sickle cell disease have malformed, “sickle-shaped” red blood cells – which are normally disc-shaped – that can cause sudden painful episodes when they block small blood vessels. Now, researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine have shown that blood from sickle cell patients also contains clumps, or aggregates, of red and white blood cells that may contribute to the blockages.

U.S. News & World Report ranks North Carolina Children's Hospital in nation’s top 10 for children with respiratory disorders

U.S. News and World Report has recognized North Carolina Children's Hospital as seventh in the nation among the Top 30 children's hospitals caring for children with respiratory disorders. The ranking will appear in the magazine's 2008 edition of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals, published online at www.usnews.com/pediatrics and available on newsstands Monday, June 2.

UNC wins grant to train HIV doctors in Africa

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has been awarded a training fellowship from the Gilead Foundation to provide doctors from the African nation of Malawi with postdoctoral training in internal medicine.

UNC Hospitals performs second U.S. implant of new hearing improvement device

Surgeons at UNC Hospitals performed the second implantation in the United States of the Vibrant Soundbridge® (VSB) device as a treatment for conductive and mixed hearing loss using direct round window cochlear stimulation.

Cancer researcher, pharmacologist receives UNC's Thomas Jefferson Award

Dr. H. Shelton Earp, professor of pharmacology and medicine, Lineberger Professor of Cancer Research and director of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been honored by his peers with the 2008 Thomas Jefferson Award.

UNC medical geneticist cautions against rushing into genetic testing

CHAPEL HILL – Just because scientific advances now allow individuals to learn their genetic make-up doesn’t mean they should rush into genetic testing in hopes of making revolutionary improvements to their health, cautions a geneticist and practicing physician at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Charles B. Cairns appointed UNC School of Medicine chair of emergency medicine

Dr. Charles B. Cairns has been appointed professor and chair of the department of emergency medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. He replaces Dr. Judith Tintinalli, who is stepping down after 17 years as chair.

UNC Health Care is first in the Triangle to offer new system for stopping strokes

UNC Health Care has a new tool for stopping a stroke that is already under way, by removing a blood clot in the brain blood vessel that caused the stroke to begin.