Results:

Ernest Goodpasture and the Mass Production of Vaccines   Published 04/26/04
Lisa A. DuBois

In 1796, the English doctor Edward Jenner inoculated the 8-year old son of an itinerant farm hand with the cowpox virus. Two months later, and on several subsequent occasions, he deliberately exposed the boy to fresh smallpox sores. Just as Jenner suspected, the boy never developed smallpox because his early exposure to cowpox—a related virus that does not cause disease in humans—provided lifetime protection against its more dangerous relative. Questionable ethics aside, Jenner is generally considered a medical pioneer—proving that vaccination could protect against a lethal disease.   [read more]
Polio: The Fight Continues   Published 04/26/04
Lisa A. DuBois

The near-eradication of polio is one of the most remarkable public health achievements in the history of the world. Yet, ironically, 50 years after an effective polio vaccine was first introduced, public health officials are now faced with re-fighting a battle they thought they’d already won.   [read more]
Floyd Bloom: Building a bridge to the future   Published 11/18/03
Floyd Bloom and the transformation of brain research
Lisa A. DuBois

Scientist, physician, editor, entrepreneur—all of these terms describe Floyd Bloom, chairman emeritus of the Department of Neuropharmacology at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif. Bloom is equally well-known for his ability to bridge diverse disciplines in his search for better treatments for disorders of brain function. But his vision and his drive extend much farther, and encompass all of medicine.   [read more]
A Cautionary Tale   Published 04/26/04
New diseases, social factors challenge the victories of vaccines
Lisa A. DuBois

While the global press has latched on to potential bioterrorism agents like smallpox and anthrax, experts in virology have warned that the next great pandemic, or worldwide outbreak, most likely will be a form of the flu. The recent outbreak and continuing persistence of avian influenza reinforce the need for constant vigilance and support of vaccine development.   [read more]
Sir John Vane: Improbable beginnings   Published 12/13/04
Sir John Vane and the value of blue-sky thinking
Lisa A. DuBois

Aspirin had been used to relieve pain and inflammation for more than 70 years, but no one knew how the drug worked. Then in 1971, using a generous dose of “blue-sky thinking,” British pharmacologist Sir John Vane solved the mystery. His discovery illustrates the value of basic research and the freedom to ask “Why?”   [read more]
Eugene Braunwald: Maestro Of American Cardiology   Published 10/15/07
Lisa A. DuBois

Perhaps more than any other academic physician, Eugene Braunwald, M.D., has made a huge imprint on current understanding and treatment of heart disease. But his true genius may be the ability to embrace the symphony of tones, harmonies and processes that are the beating heart.   [read more]
First, do no harm   Published 07/07/05
Physicians and drug safety
Lisa A. DuBois

Doctors are on the front line when it comes to detecting adverse drug reactions and side effects. It’s a hit-or-miss system, and efforts to improve post-marketing surveillance of approved pharmaceuticals have had only limited success. The creation of an independent drug safety board may help, but nothing can replace the vigilance, imagination and persistence of our “medical sleuths.”   [read more]
Once in a lifetime   Published 07/07/05
Finding a way to short-circuit sepsis
Lisa A. DuBois

For decades, scientists had searched unsuccessfully for a way to treat severe sepsis, a complication of bloodstream bacterial infections that kills 250,000 American adults every year. Then, in 1994, Vanderbilt sepsis researcher Gordon Bernard, M.D., was asked to lead a “long-shot” clinical trial of a promising drug. How a partnership with industry led to a “common good.”   [read more]
Uncle Sam: Scientist   Published 01/14/09
Lisa A. DuBois

During the past century, America reached the pinnacle of science and technology, thanks in no small measure to its immigrant spirit, diversity and genius for innovation. Today, however, Uncle Sam's position of strength can no longer be taken for granted, warn scientists like Vanderbilt's Ellen Wright Clayton.   [read more]

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