Featured Spotlights

Bringing a new dermatology discipline to Tucson

Dermatology’s Dr. Daniel Butler helped define a new specialty in medicine — geriatric dermatology — and has returned to his hometown to launch a research program devoted to aging skin.


New SSWIMS fellowship aims to elevate women in academic medicine

Tapping into nearly a quarter-century of history, the Women in Medicine and Science Program takes its biggest step yet in preparing women for leadership positions. Among DOM participants are Drs. Mindy Fain, Indu Partha, Salma Patel and Olivia Hung – the last two among the inaugural SSWIMS fellows.


Pulmonary’s Dr. Christian Bime motivated by mission doctor’s devotion

The critical care specialist is working to build a global health care coalition to bridge the gaps in underserved nations, such as his native Cameroon, and help people receive needed chronic illness care.


Revolutionizing skin cancer care through data

University of Arizona Health Sciences researchers, including Division of Dermatology Chief Dr. Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski, in the College of Medicine – Tucson's Department of Medicine, are filling a knowledge gap by building a powerful tool to accelerate the development of diagnostic and prognostic technologies.


Cardiology’s Dr. Marvin Slepian follows where inspiration leads

Curiosity guides the Regents Professor to bridge medicine, engineering and now the law to address unmet needs in medical research and mentorship.


Sky’s the Limit for Research at New Sleep Facility

New world-class University of Arizona Health Sciences Center for Sleep, Circadian Rhythm and Neuroscience Research greatly expands research capabilities.


Key to healthier employees could be a quieter – or louder – office space

A new study led by Department of Medicine professor Dr. Esther Sternberg, with the Center for Integrative Medicine and Institute for Place, Wellbeing & Performance, suggests too much – or too little – office noise has a negative effect on employee well-being. The sweet spot? About 50 decibels, comparable to moderate rain or birdsong.


Center for Sleep and Circadian Sciences Construction Underway

A new location will give investigators, led by Pulmonary division chief Dr. Sai Parthasarathy, access to state-of-the-art technology to conduct sleep and circadian rhythm research.


Dr. Juanita Merchant Recognized as Inspiring Black Scientist

The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson’s Juanita Merchant, MD, PhD, has been named one of 1,000 Inspiring Black Scientists in America by Cell Mentor, an online resource from Cell Press and Cell Signaling Technology that provides early-career researchers with career insights, publishing advice, and techniques on experimental processes and procedures.


Thomas D. Boyer Liver Institute at University of Arizona receives special designation to support Hep C patients

The Thomas B. Boyer Liver Institute's Hepatitis C Treatment Program (HCTP), led by Juanita Merchant, MD, PhD and Geoffrey Block, MD, pursued the 340B designation, filling a desperate need in the community by offering patients discounted prescription drugs and other services.


University of Arizona Startup, ElectroSonix Sees Future for Heart Imaging Technology

ElectroSonix has licensed the University of Arizona patents for acoustoelectric imaging, a technology that has the potential to improve the accuracy of cardiac ablation procedures in treating cardiac arrhythmias—with other applications in neuroimaging of the brain as well. The firm’s chief science officer is UArizona Sarver Heart Center member and College of Medicine – Tucson medical imaging professor Dr. Russell Witte…


Dr. Lisa O’Neill Picked Among a Dozen National Health and Aging Policy Fellows

University of Arizona Geriatrics faculty member Dr. Lisa O’Neill was named a 2019-20 Health and Aging Policy Fellow with Columbia University’s National Program Office and travels to Washington, DC, in September for orientation on the year-long program.


284 Inventions Disclosed in FY19 Sets Record for UA, Says Tech Launch Arizona

University of Arizona employees disclosed 284 inventions in fiscal year 2019 – more than any other year in the university's history. The record-setting number is included in annual numbers just released by Tech Launch Arizona, the UA office that commercializes inventions stemming from research. Among the startups assisted by TLA this past year was Fibronox, which is working to treat fibrotic disorders with Nox4 small molecular inhibitors invented by Dr. Louise Hecker…


Banner Sponsors New Murals by Local Artists to Brighten Tucson Streets

The artwork of four local artists is being celebrated in five murals at locations around Tucson commissioned by Banner – University Medicine. “The city’s vibrant arts scene and colorful murals are part of what makes Tucson special,” said Dr. Chad Whelan, CEO of Banner Health’s academic division and an internist in the University of Arizona Department of Medicine. “We were looking for relaxing artwork that speaks to health, healing and togetherness”…


UA Startup to Commercialize Blood Test for Most Major Cancers

Researchers with the University of Arizona Cancer Center and UA College of Pharmacy have developed a new blood test that can detect most major cancers and have launched a startup, DesertDx, to bring the invention to doctors and their patients. Collaborators with company principals Dr. Mark Nelson, Dr. Bernard Futscher and Lukas Vrba include Drs. Linda Garland, Samuel Kim and Daruka Mahadevan, of the lung cancer research and phase 1 clinical trials teams…


Detecting Dementia's Damaging Effects on the Brain Before the Point of No Return

By studying a rare form of dementia, researchers—led by assistant professor in the UA Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Dr. Aneta Kielar—might have found a way to detect neurodegeneration before brain cells are lost for good. Earlier detection could provide therapeutic drug treatments a chance to work…


Dr. Louise Hecker Named ‘Inventor of the Year’ at Tech Launch Arizona’s I-Squared Awards

At its 6th Annual I-Squared (I²) Expo & Awards, Tech Launch Arizona recognized the greatest contributors to the local ecosystem of invention and commercialization from both inside and outside the University of Arizona. Dr. Louise Hecker, a respiratory researcher with the UA Department of Medicine whose BIO5 lab invented the first highly selective Nox4 small molecule inhibitors for the treatment of fibrotic disorders, including those affecting the lungs, was named the 2019 I-Squared Inventor of the Year…


Fibronox Licenses UA-Developed Small Molecule Inhibitor to Treat Life-Threatening Scarring

For many, time does not heal all wounds. That may be about to change. In the UA BIO5 Institute lab of Louise Hecker, PhD, researchers have developed the first highly selective Nox4 small molecule inhibitors for the treatment of fibrotic diseases. Her work has been funded by BIO5, the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. The UA has licensed the technology to startup Fibronox to bring the invention to the public…


Keys Internships Lead to Scientific Publication for High School Students

Summer internships in the UA Health Sciences Center for Biomedical Informatics and Biostatistics laboratory of Dr. Yves Lussier at the BIO5 Institute led to realization of a prestigious scientific goal for three local students. The students participated in the KEYS Research Internship program this past summer working with both Drs. Lussier and Haiquan Li and helping to validate findings of a study that analyzed "junk DNA," the area of the DNA that does not code for proteins, and disease comorbidities…


UA Collaboration Aims at Stopping Cancer with a Smartphone

Using an affordable, portable device that attaches to a smartphone, a University of Arizona researcher in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and College of Optical Sciences, Dr. Dongkyun “DK” Kang and his collaborators in Boston and Uganda hope to save lives in rural Africa. With these confocal microscope attachments on a smartphone, they’re able to diagnose skin cancers and cervical cancers…


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