https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from Georgetown University Medical Center Early-stage drug development worldwide has nearly doubled over the past decade and shifted from a U.S.-dominated model to a dual hub centered in the United States and China, according to new research described by Georgetown University health policy experts. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-decade-early-stage-drug-shifted.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:00:03 EDT news693738783 Scientists at Georgetown University's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center have uncovered a new dual function for a well-known cancer-related protein called ezrin. This finding could potentially open the door to new treatments for osteosarcoma, the most common bone cancer in children and young adults, as well as other cancers that are ezrin-dependent. The finding appears in the journal Science Signaling. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-uncovers-dual-role-ezrin-protein.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:00:01 EDT news692960882 An updated systematic review of dozens of studies finds that Ginkgo biloba may offer modest short-term improvements for people with dementia, but shows little to no benefit for individuals with subjective memory complaints, mild cognitive impairment, or multiple sclerosis-related cognitive problems. Across conditions, the supplement was not associated with an increased risk of serious harm compared to placebo. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-ginkgo-memory-limited-gains-dementia.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 13:20:02 EDT news692362722 Georgetown University researchers have discovered a new class of strong magnets that do not rely on rare-earth or precious metals—a breakthrough that could significantly advance clean energy technologies and consumer electronics such as motors, robotics, MRI machines, data storage and smart phones. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-class-strong-magnets-earth-abundant.html Condensed Matter Sun, 18 Jan 2026 12:33:11 EST news687961950 In a unique finding, researchers at Georgetown's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center discovered that when pancreatic cancer cells send out tiny particles that are packed with certain microRNA molecules, nearby immune cells called macrophages are reprogrammed to help the tumor grow instead of engaging in their regular role of fighting the tumor. This insight from cell and mouse experiments helped the scientists outline a potential way to reverse the process and possibly improve outcomes in pancreatic cancer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-reversing-immune-suppression-pancreatic-cancer.html Oncology & Cancer Fri, 16 Jan 2026 13:10:01 EST news687787694 Georgetown University's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers have identified a new way to reprogram T cells, which are infection and tumor-fighting white blood cells, so that they have a superior memory, thereby making them more effective in killing cancer cells. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-cells-gain-superior-memory-reprogramming.html Oncology & Cancer Mon, 12 Jan 2026 15:09:00 EST news687452882 Researchers have developed a new computational approach that uncovers possible drugs for specific cellular targets for treating glioblastoma, a lethal brain tumor. This approach enabled them to predict more effective treatment combinations to fight the disease on an individualized basis. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-algorithm-drugs-glioblastoma-diverse-cell.html Oncology & Cancer Wed, 07 Jan 2026 05:00:03 EST news686853362 Temporal lobe epilepsy, which results in recurring seizures and cognitive dysfunction, is associated with premature aging of brain cells. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-brain-aging-cells-aid-epilepsy.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 22 Dec 2025 16:00:02 EST news685365661 A new finding from researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center shows that the learning process of associating cues with rewards can be altered by increased or decreased activity of a specific protein in the brain. Knowing when to respond positively to cues that result in beneficial outcomes or rewards vs. ignoring cues that result in bad habits, such as smoking addiction, is an essential part of learned behaviors. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-key-protein-brain-links-cues.html Psychology & Psychiatry Tue, 09 Dec 2025 05:00:04 EST news684415201 A new analysis of research into the most common type of breast cancer has zeroed in on an overlooked hormone that may be responsible for the increased risk of breast cancer death in postmenopausal women with obesity. It also raises the possibility that treatment of these aggressive breast cancers could be improved with the addition of weight-loss drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-overlooked-hormone-deadly-driver-postmenopausal.html Oncology & Cancer Tue, 02 Dec 2025 09:00:02 EST news683809802 A new study analyzing dozens of published papers over five decades focusing on health care disparities in Washington, DC, found that those that employed medical humanities approaches identified crucial barriers and opportunities for intervention that quantitative studies often miss. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-medical-humanities-reveal-overlooked-barriers.html Health Tue, 02 Dec 2025 05:00:13 EST news683801375 As the world marks World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci, MD, and his colleague Greg Folkers, MS, MPH, highlight advances made in the treatment and prevention of HIV that could finally end the pandemic, but caution, "History will judge us harshly should we squander this opportunity." https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-11-treatment-hivaids-unfinished-business.html HIV & AIDS Mon, 01 Dec 2025 14:00:02 EST news683543775 Veterans with Gulf War Illness experienced significant improvement in migraine symptoms after following a diet low in glutamate, a component of flavor-enhancing food additives commonly found in processed foods, according to new research presented by Georgetown University and American University scientists. Brain scans also revealed decreased cortical thickness in patients on the diet—providing evidence, for the first time, that the improvement in symptoms was linked to measurable changes in the brain. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-11-glutamate-diet-linked-brain-migraine.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Sat, 15 Nov 2025 15:00:01 EST news682272721 People with operable diffuse pleural mesothelioma may benefit from immunotherapy before and after surgery, based on results of a clinical trial exploring the sequence of treatment and the role of surgery for this difficult to treat cancer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-clinical-deepens-mesothelioma-door-potential.html Oncology & Cancer Mon, 08 Sep 2025 12:22:05 EDT news676552922 Conventional wisdom among neuroscientists suggests that the brain's motor functions are organized around the body, meaning certain brain areas control the hand; others the foot. An emerging alternative theory is that parts of the brain may be organized by the types of action, like reaching or using tools, no matter which body part is used to complete the task. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-brain-scans-reveal-action-based.html Neuroscience Wed, 20 Aug 2025 02:02:03 EDT news674874117 It's long been known that people who experience a stroke can struggle with reading, but researchers weren't clear exactly why. Now, a new study, led by researchers at Georgetown University, reveals that strokes can limit a person's ability to use the meaning of words to help them recognize the words when reading. The finding presents a possible opportunity for new therapeutic strategies to help people recover one of the most important life skills. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-impacts.html Neuroscience Wed, 13 Aug 2025 16:00:01 EDT news674300042 Liver transplant is a lifesaving surgery, but a significant number of patients experience organ rejection or other complications. Now a study by scientists from Georgetown University and MedStar Health describes how a single blood sample can be used to catch problems at the earliest stages, allowing tailored treatment to prevent the organ's failure. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-blood-early-liver-transplant-issues.html Surgery Tue, 17 Jun 2025 05:00:04 EDT news669283802 A new study uncovers how fine-tuning the interactions between two distinct network-forming species within a soft gel enables programmable control over its structure and mechanical properties. The findings reveal a powerful framework for engineering next-generation soft materials with customizable behaviors, inspired by the complexity of biological tissues. https://phys.org/news/2025-05-programmable-network-gels-interspecies-interactions.html Soft Matter Tue, 06 May 2025 16:56:02 EDT news665769361 Both the use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing for cancer and the rate of claim denials for such testing increased between 2016 and 2021, despite implementation of a recent Medicare national coverage determination that established coverage standards for NGS testing. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-04-analysis-reveals-denial-cancer-advanced.html Genetics Fri, 18 Apr 2025 11:00:02 EDT news664098181 A new analysis finds a significant uptick in the number of people dying at home due to ischemic stroke compared to inpatient medical facilities, and when not at home, individuals in rural communities and Black Americans were more likely to die in less specialized care environments. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-04-people-die-home-medical-facilities.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Wed, 09 Apr 2025 14:00:04 EDT news663414250 A new Georgetown University Medical Center study exploring a new brain imaging technique is bringing stroke experts a step closer to better tailoring rehabilitation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-03-advanced-brain-imaging-technique-tailor.html Neuroscience Tue, 04 Mar 2025 04:21:43 EST news660284495 A new study published in Biochemistry sheds light on how bacteria regulate their genes, challenging long-held assumptions about protein behavior. The research compares how two bacterial species—Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium tuberculosis—use a signaling molecule called cyclic AMP (cAMP) to control important cellular functions. https://phys.org/news/2025-02-bacterial-species-assumption-similarity-protein.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 07 Feb 2025 13:38:03 EST news658157881 White people in rural America have unique factors that drive worse health outcomes than their urban counterparts, prompting a team of public health researchers to label whiteness as a fundamental determinant of health. They say while the health and well-being of racially minoritized populations should continue to be a research priority they urge researchers to consider factors that influence the health of majoritized populations. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-12-whiteness-fundamental-health-rural-america.html Health Thu, 05 Dec 2024 16:30:51 EST news652638643 After a stroke, many people develop depression that is driven by factors including cognitive difficulties, a lack of social participation, and self-perceived poor recovery. This depression can persist for months or years, according to a new study from Georgetown University Medical Center and MedStar Health researchers. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-10-uncovering-factors-depression.html Neuroscience Mon, 21 Oct 2024 12:17:32 EDT news648731846 As the global threat of H5N1 influenza looms with outbreaks across species and continents including the U.S., three international vaccine and public health experts say it is time to fully resource and support a robust strategy to address this and future potential pandemic influenza threats, including to consider voluntary vaccination for those now at exposure risk. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-09-h5-influenza-vaccines-pandemic.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Wed, 04 Sep 2024 11:00:01 EDT news644657740 Three high-impact steps could be taken by global health leaders to reshape the global regulatory framework and help address the pressing need for equitable access to diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines during public health emergencies, according to a Georgetown global health law expert and a medical student. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-global-regulatory-capacity-equitable-access.html Medical economics Sat, 03 Aug 2024 07:30:01 EDT news641823610 A study led by Georgetown University neuroscientists reveals that the part of the brain that receives and processes visual information in sighted people develops a unique connectivity pattern in people born blind. They say this pattern in the primary visual cortex is unique to each person—akin to a fingerprint. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-07-uncovers-unique-brain-plasticity-people.html Neuroscience Wed, 31 Jul 2024 06:27:43 EDT news641626042 A rigorous, comprehensive synthesis of evidence from 62 studies related to the use of oral nicotine pouches by Georgetown University's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center scientists and colleagues provides a much-needed assessment of how these products could lead to potential harmful consequences if used by young people. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-06-awareness-oral-nicotine-pouches.html Addiction Sun, 16 Jun 2024 20:10:01 EDT news637573861 A study has revealed insights into the cancer screening behaviors of Muslims in the Washington, D.C., area, highlighting the influence of cultural and religious beliefs on health practices. The study, conducted in collaboration with key faith leaders from four mosques in the region, underscores the need for culturally and religiously sensitive health initiatives to improve cancer screening rates among Muslims. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-06-cancer-screening-behaviors-muslim-community.html Oncology & Cancer Fri, 14 Jun 2024 14:16:03 EDT news637593361 A new detailed analysis of a patient's second cancer after receiving CAR-T therapy for the initial cancer provides rare but important insights intended to offer helpful guidance for oncologists and pathologists about the clinical presentation and pathologic features involved in a CAR-T related second cancer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-06-case-reveals-important-rare-cancers.html Oncology & Cancer Wed, 12 Jun 2024 17:00:01 EDT news637422160