Hopkins e-News

HOPKINS MEDICINE e-NEWS (August-September 2005)
A round-up of news from Johns Hopkins Medicine for busy executives.

IN KATRINA'S WAKE HOPKINS RESPONDS 

We are proud that when disaster strikes, Hopkins' personnel rush to lend their medical assistance and expertise. The terrible aftermath of Hurricane Katrina found over 500 of our professional staff volunteering their services to aid victims of that Gulf Coast tragedy. You can read about the Hopkins effort in this issue, as well as articles on big construction projects at our East Baltimore campus and in Howard County, and a foundation grant on workforce health.

Research reports highlight a dual-drug therapy that includes interferon to target colon cancer cells; risk factors that predict lethal prostate cancers; potentially deleterious changes in embryonic stem cells, and the beginning of clinical trials to treat heart attacks with stem cell therapy.
 
We welcome your suggestions and hope you enjoy reading these reports.
 
-- Edward D. Miller, M.D., Dean of the Medical Faculty, CEO, Johns Hopkins Medicine
 -- Ronald R. Peterson, President, Johns Hopkins Health System, The Johns Hopkins Hospital  

HOPKINS MOBILIZES ASSISTANCE TO KATRINA VICTIMS
Groups of Hopkins Medicine volunteers provide medical support in Gulf Coast areas hard hit by Hurricane Katrina. 
 
LARGEST HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN U.S. COMMENCES SOON
The most significant hospital building project in the country - two connecting towers on a five-acre site at the southeast corner of Hopkins' East Baltimore medical campus - soon will get underway after year's of planning.  
 
Related article: DETAILS ON THE TWO TOWERS AND FUTURE BUILDINGS 
 
FIVE-STORY EXPANSION IN HOWARD COUNTY
Strong demand and expectations of future growth as the military beefs up nearby Fort Meade led officials at Howard County General Hospital to seek approval for a $73 million expansion that will add 90 private patient rooms and two operating rooms. 
 
FOUNDATION GRANT FOCUSES ON WORKFORCE HEALTH 
The Andrew Family Charitable Foundation awards Hopkins $150,000 to study ways to reduce illnesses and injuries among health care workers and patients, such as replacing latex gloves that can trigger allergic reactions or improving air-handling systems. 
 
LENOX BAKER LEADS HOPKINS MEDICINE BOARD OF VISITORS
Lenox D. Baker Jr., a steadfast supporter of Hopkins Medicine and immediate past chairman of its Board of Trustees, becomes chairman of a key advisory council focusing on ways to enhance future development.

INTERFERON TARGETS COLON CANCER CELLS
Interferon, used for decades to treat blood cancers, multiple sclerosis and hepatitis, selectively kills colon cancer cells when combined with another standard chemotherapy agent, researchers find. The combined therapy also has fewer side effects. 

RISK FACTORS PREDICT LETHAL PROSTATE CANCERS
Researchers can predict who is at high risk of death after prostate cancer recurrence following surgery, and thus need more aggressive treatment.
 
STEM CELLS ACCRUE GENETIC CHANGES
Human embryonic stem cell lines can accumulate potentially deleterious changes over time, an international team of researchers find. 
 
CELL THERAPY SUCCESS IN ANIMALS LEADS TO HEART CLINICAL TRIALS
Phase I clinical trials begin after final results of an animal study show stem cell therapy can effectively treat heart attacks, restoring heart function and repairing 50 percent to 75 percent of damaged heart muscle.  

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