Jefferson Research

🚩Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in American men. And non-Hispanic Blacks are more likely to die from it than their non-Hispanic white counterparts. If a patient has certain risk factors for cancer, a biopsy sample is taken, with physicians using either ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to guide the procedure. 🔎A recent study by researchers at Thomas Jefferson University, led by Grace Lu-Yao, PhD, Christiane El Khoury, PharmD, MSc, and their colleagues at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Jefferson, examined the use of MRI in diagnosing prostate cancer from 2012 to 2019, utilizing one of the largest cancer databases. They also wanted to see if this choice contributes to disparities in cancer care. 📉Their findings reveal that while disparities in MRI usage persist, the gap between Black and white patients has notably decreased: from 43% in 2012 to 20% in 2019. 🔬To learn more about the drivers of these disparities (like cost and geographic location) and the potential for improved prostate cancer outcomes with increased access to MRI, read the full article by Jill Adams on Thomas Jefferson University News: https://lnkd.in/eWNr7vXt

🌟🏆In February, Makarand Risbud, PhD, the James J. Maguire Jr. Professor of Spine Research and Orthopaedic Surgery Division Director at Thomas Jefferson University, was inducted as a Fellow of the Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS). ORS Fellows are individuals who have demonstrated service, leadership, substantial achievement, expert knowledge, and significant contributions to the field of musculoskeletal research and to the Orthopaedic Research Society. 👏Join us in celebrating this achievement and click here to learn more about ORS: https://lnkd.in/et8nuiYZ

🤰How important is the emotional bond between a mother and her child during pregnancy? A recent study by Thomas Jefferson University and University of Chicago researchers highlighted the importance of this crucial bond. The study team, led by Nora Medina, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher of family and community medicine, followed 160 young, low-income, racially diverse mothers from pregnancy until the children were two and a half years old. 🤱Mothers who felt more connected to their babies during pregnancy are more likely to have a healthier, positive relationship with their children later. Mothers who had more challenging relationships with their own parents had weaker prenatal connections and negative feelings towards their infants. The vast majority of mothers in this study, however, had strong prenatal connections to their infants and positive relationships with their toddlers. 🔬Read more about how mothers can have healthy attachments with their children regardless of socioeconomic background in Thomas Jefferson University News written by Queen Muse: https://lnkd.in/edPyZc_D

For #WomensHistoryMonth, we’re featuring Grace Ong Yan, Ph.D., associate professor of interior design at Thomas Jefferson University. As a contributor and published author of several publications, including the book “Building Brands: Corporations and Modern Architecture” and an upcoming book titled “The Graphic Turn: Late Modern Flatness in Architecture and Interior Design,” Dr. Ong Yan continues to explore cross-disciplinary design practices and the role of graphics in shaping space. We recently asked her what advice she has for women pursuing her field, and this is what she told us: 👇 🏛As a woman in architectural and interior design history, I’ve learned this field requires both intellectual rigor and resilience. Here’s what I wish I knew earlier:    🔹Embrace Interdisciplinary Thinking Architectural history isn’t just about buildings—it’s about power, labor, race, and representation. My work on graphics, capitalism, and space has shown me that drawing from urban studies, design theory, and intersectional race theory makes for more meaningful scholarship.    🔹Find Mentors, but Chart Your Own Course  Seek guidance from women in the field, but know that your path may not be traditional. My career has balanced design practice, research, academia, and nonprofit work—this mix has been an asset, not a limitation.    🔹Keep Researching, Writing & Publishing I spent years revising my dissertation for book publication while teaching as an adjunct and searching for a tenure-track job. When I finally landed that position at Jefferson, my manuscript was nearly ready for publication—this was key to my academic success and achieving tenure.    🔹Fieldwork & Archives Matter—Find Funding First-hand research is essential—whether on race and the built environment, historical interiors, or preservation.  Grants and fellowships enable more impactful work—apply for them!    🔹Push for Inclusive Narratives Who has been left out of architectural history? My research challenges how capitalism and race shape space—we need to expand the canon. Public art, preservation and policy also need historians!    🔹Be Open to Multiple Career Paths Architectural history can lead to museums, preservation, cultural institutions, publishing, and beyond. Academia is just one route!    🔹Final Thought: You Belong Here Women have always shaped architectural history—even when their contributions were erased. By bringing new voices and perspectives, we’re not just studying history—we’re reshaping it.    How do you see the future of architectural history and design research evolving? 👉Read about Dr. Ong Yan’s research here: https://lnkd.in/e6Zcq8QU 👉And swipe through to look at photos of Philly landmarks (the PSFS building sign and the Mural Arts project Philly Painting) that Dr. Ong Yan has analyzed in her writings.

🔬In March’s research roundup, Thomas Jefferson University investigators explore the emotional impact of a mother’s prenatal connection, identify the disparities in the use of MRI to diagnose prostate cancer, and discover the separate pathways used for platelet spreading and clotting. 👉Click to read more: https://lnkd.in/eYSuixjH

In honor of Women’s History Month and to celebrate #DoctorsWeek, we remember Edith Peterson Mitchell, Brigadier General USAF (Retired), MD, who passed away on January 21, 2024. Dr. Mitchell was a prolific cancer researcher and advocate for minority healthcare workers and medically underserved communities. She has served in many capacities, including as a clinical professor and director of the Center to Eliminate Cancer Disparities at Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Jefferson. Her work in breast, colorectal, prostate and pancreatic cancers has profoundly impacted the medical field. Her contributions to her community continue to inspire and pave the way for future generations of women in healthcare and research. One of the women she positively impacted was Moriah Cunningham, a doctoral student at Thomas Jefferson University studying PARP-1, a DNA damage repair protein. Her studies might hold the key to better understanding PARP inhibitor cancer treatments in African American #prostatecancer patients. Here’s what Moriah had to say about Dr. Mitchell’s impact on her work: “Dr. Mitchell always said my research on PARP inhibitors was important because clinicians don't fully understand why these inhibitors work well in some patients and not others, which my work focuses on. She was also invested in community outreach and encouraged me to continue pursuing it because it was ‘necessary and important work.’ She would be so happy to speak with me about my research and community service, continually taking time out to be at my committee meetings, no matter how crazy her schedule was. She was honestly a blessing to have met & gotten project guidance from.” 👩⚕️Learn more about Dr. Mitchell’s legacy here: https://lnkd.in/ed_mKfmw 🔬Here are links to some papers related to her work in breast and prostate cancer research: 🔹https://lnkd.in/e3e_8KHu 🔹https://lnkd.in/ek2QNZQT 🔬And click here to learn more about Moriah’s work to address #racialdisparities in cancer: https://lnkd.in/et7xFJ5v #WomensHistoryMonth

We're excited to share that Dr. Dylan Edwards recently delivered a workshop at the USP - Universidade de São Paulo with colleagues Dr. Taiza G. S. Edwards (USP - Universidade de São Paulo) and Dr. Steve Cramer (UCLA). This workshop represents an important step in their ongoing collaborative research using an intensive telerehabilitation program to enhance motor recover after stroke. They can now evaluate and adapt their telerehabilitation program for a population of individuals with stroke who are outside of the US. Jefferson Research, Thomas Jefferson University #neurorehabilitation #rehabilitation #telerehabilitation #motorplasticity #biomarkers #stroke

For Women’s History Month we’re continuing to celebrate women who are making an impact in research. Today we’re highlighting Mandeep Kaur, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at Thomas Jefferson University. 🧠Her work “Fractured Connections: An Invisible Battle and Cellular Struggles in ALS” was recently featured in last year’s Research as Art Competition at Jefferson. 🐁The image vividly illustrates the lumbar region in a mouse model of ALS where astrocytes (green) and microglia (red) work together trying to manage neuronal damage and mount an immune response to injury. 🔬Here’s how she describes her research and the impact of being a woman in science: “At present, I am focused on the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as a therapeutic tool in the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders and traumatic injuries. These vesicles hold great promise for advancing treatments by promoting neuroprotection, reducing inflammation, and facilitating tissue repair. Being a woman in science has come with its challenges, but it has also been incredibly rewarding. I am proud to be part of a growing community of women who are breaking down those walls. I learned to trust in my work and keep pushing forward. I’m excited to see how the next generation of women will continue to reshape the scientific landscape, and I am honored to be part of that transformation. The support from other women in science has been invaluable. However, I also firmly believe that women in science can thrive even more when supported by men in the field, and I’m incredibly grateful for my mentor, Dr. Amit Srivastava, who has been a constant source of encouragement and guidance. His support has been instrumental in my growth.” 🎨Click here to look at other research as art submissions from 2024: https://lnkd.in/eE5_WSCD #WomensHistoryMonth

🌟 🧪 Congratulations to Charles J Yeo, MD FACS - Jefferson Health who worked in collaboration with colleagues at Jefferson Health Einstein to conduct one of the largest single-enterprise analyses of laparoscopic (LC) and robotic cholecystectomy (RC) procedures, focusing on costs. Read the Elsevier Surgery article here: https://lnkd.in/ezd8WujX