OHSU and Oregon State University researchers are developing a new approach to gene therapy for inherited forms of blindness that uses lipid nanoparticles to deliver gene-altering mRNA. Renee Ryals, Ph.D., says: “Improving the technologies used for gene therapy can provide more treatment options to prevent blindness. Our study’s findings show that lipid nanoparticles could help us do just that.”

News briefing held by Oregon Health Authority cites Jan. 6 statewide forecast by Peter Graven, Ph.D., predicting a small increase in the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 due to the XBB.1.5 variant.

The latest OHSU statewide forecast reveals that RSV and flu have peaked but to expect a bump in hospitalizations over the next few weeks due to the highly contagious XBB.1.5 variant. Bill Messer, M.D., Ph.D., says, “People can still get deathly ill and die from COVID. It’s understandable that people want to relax precautions, but we should not lose track of the fact that this is a dangerous virus, particularly in vulnerable people, and probably always will be.”

Peter G. Jacobs, Ph.D., and Leah M. Wilson, M.D., are organizing a clinical trial to evaluate how well patients can better manage their type 1 diabetes with the help of their artificial intelligence-powered app and the support of human experts in diabetes and behavioral health.

Becker’s Hospital Review includes Durinda Haukap, M.S., R.D., the new director of the CMH-OHSU Knight Cancer Collaborative, in its list of top oncology leaders “on the move” in 2022.

In an HCP Hospitalist story about hospitalists improving screening for Hepatitis C among inpatients, Cara Varley, M.D., says, “Most of the cases we’re seeing now are occurring in those under 30 years.”

The Portland Tribune features first-generation women’s basketball players at Portland State University, including sophomore guard Esmeralda Morales, who is studying applied health and fitness and says she appreciates the partnership between PSU and OHSU: “I love how when I go to labs, I see people in scrubs and just really see the real life. I really like how the hospital is connected and the science is huge here.”

Lund shares specifics on OHA-ordered temporary health care workers, who began to arrive at OHSU in mid-December. Contract nurses and respiratory therapists have been essential to in managing the surge of patients with respiratory illnesses and other medical issues over the past several months.

Results from a phase 3 trial led by Genescopy find a stool-based, non-invasive, at-home test aimed at detecting colorectal cancer and advanced adenomas yielded high sensitivity and specificity results. David Lieberman, M.D., says: “Geneoscopy’s test and the positive clinical trial results are promising because patients need additional convenient options that will accurately detect colon cancer, as well as advanced adenomas, before patients have cancer. If we can identify patients with advanced adenomas and remove those lesions, many cancers can be prevented.”

Becker’s Hospital Review lists the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute among “60 hospitals and health systems with great oncology programs headed into 2023.” The article says the institute’s research has led to “advances in ways to fight cancer, aiding the goals to free the world from the burden of the disease.”