Stony Brook Medicine is on a transformative journey. It’s a transformation that occurs daily in our research laboratories, in our students and in our efforts to improve the quality of care we provide as Long Island’s premier academic medical center.
In this edition of Medicine Today, you’ll learn about Stony Brook’s participation in innovative first-in-human CAR T-cell immunotherapy clinical trials for patients who are suffering from extremely difficult-to-treat T-cell lymphomas and leukemias. This type of bench-to-bedside research is building at Stony Brook due to our growing expertise, and the collaborative research environment we are creating with the upcoming opening of our Medical and Research Translation (MART) building.
Stony Brook has already been recognized for its research regarding the p53 gene. Led by Ute Moll, MD, professor and cancer biologist in the Department of Pathology at Stony Brook University School of Medicine, a team of international researchers showed that genetically manipulating and removing the most common mutant form of the p53 gene that promotes colorectal cancer in humans reduces tumor growth and tissue invasion. Their findings were recently published in Cancer Cell.
Other leading-edge research efforts at Stony Brook are aimed at using wearable technology to alert doctors about sepsis in patients before they ever show symptoms. Stony Brook’s Center for Biotechnology has been selected as one of eight national facilities to receive federal funding to help identify faculty innovators and businesses developing such new health security technology.
Another team of researchers is studying technologies that address a challenge we all face: growing older and “aging in place.” Researchers from across Stony Brook University’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, School of Medicine and School of Nursing, are studying technologies such as smart lights and indoor climate controls that can transform the environments in which we live and work.
Exciting news is also reported in this edition of Medicine Today for the Stony Brook University Heart Institute. The Cardiothoracic Surgery Division has earned the highest quality rating of three stars from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for its overall patient care and outcomes in isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures, based on the latest analysis of data for CABG surgery from January to December 2017. As of July, Stony Brook Heart Institute is also offering electrophysiology services to treat heart rhythm disorders at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital.
Stony Brook’s transformative care also extends well beyond Long Island. In this issue, we report on a Haitian teen with spina bifida and two clubbed feet who was completely unable to walk, until surgery, therapies and orthopedic devices from Stony Brook changed her life.
These stories of transformation will inspire our next generation of healthcare professionals and biomedical investigators. On Aug. 12, 136 new students officially launched their medical school journeys in Stony Brook University’s traditional White Coat Ceremony — matching the largest class in school history.
Perhaps they will be inspired by stories of the late Paul Lauterbur, PhD, whose achievements we celebrated on Sept. 5 in our beautiful new Medical and Research Translation (MART) building. A Professor of Chemistry and Radiology at Stony Brook University from 1963 to 1985, Paul was honored by the Long Island section of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for developing magnetic resonance imaging technology, which earned the 2003 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Such transformative medical discoveries and innovations are made possible only through your financial support. Thanks to your generous contributions and gifts, we are pleased to announce in this issue that we have exceeded our $600 million fundraising goal through The Campaign for Stony Brook.
Nearly 48,000 donors from all 50 states and 58 countries made this achievement possible, with 87 gifts above $1 million, resulting in 44 endowed chairs. Investments totaling more than $188 million are now fueling new research, clinical breakthroughs, medical training and the highest quality of care at Stony Brook Medicine.
Cheers,
Kenneth Kaushansky, MD
Senior Vice President, Health Sciences
Dean, School of Medicine
Stony Brook Medicine
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