Jim Heath AACR Academy Fellow

Dr. Jim Heath Named Fellow of AACR Academy Class of 2022

Dr. Jim Heath was announced as a newly elected Fellow of the American Academy for Cancer Research (AACR) Academy Class of 2022. “I am honored and humbled to be recognized as part of this renowned group of researchers who have done so much to move our understanding of cancer forward,” Heath said.

Dr. Jim Heath Named Fellow of AACR Academy Class of 2022
Dr. Jim Heath Named Fellow of AACR Academy Class of 2022
screenshot of video for Predicting ‘Long COVID’ At Initial Point of COVID-19 Diagnosis

Predicting ‘Long COVID’ At Initial Point of COVID-19 Diagnosis

Researchers have identified several factors that can be measured at the initial point of COVID-19 diagnosis that anticipate if a patient is likely to develop long COVID. They also found that mild cases of COVID-19, not just severe cases, are associated with long COVID. Their findings were published by the journal Cell.

Predicting ‘Long COVID’ At Initial Point of COVID-19 Diagnosis
Predicting ‘Long COVID’ At Initial Point of COVID-19 Diagnosis
Drs. Jim Heath, Yapeng Su and Jihoon Lee

Metabolic Changes in Plasma and Immune Cells Associated with COVID-19 Severity, May Predict Patient Survival

Researchers from Institute for Systems Biology (ISB), Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and other organizations have uncovered underlying metabolic changes that regulate how immune cells react to COVID-19. These findings are associated with COVID-19 severity and may predict patient survival. The work was published in the journal Nature Biotechnology.

Metabolic Changes in Plasma and Immune Cells Associated with COVID-19 Severity, May Predict Patient Survival
Metabolic Changes in Plasma and Immune Cells Associated with COVID-19 Severity, May Predict Patient Survival
Glioblastoma tumor slice and corresponding density map

Looking at Tumors Through a New Lens: New Research May Improve Efficacy of Glioblastoma Immunotherapy

To improve the efficacy of neoadjuvant immune checkpoint blockade against glioblastoma, researchers are looking for vulnerabilities in surgically removed tissues – a difficulty due to the vast differences within the tumor and between patients. To address this, ISB researchers and their collaborators developed a new way to study tumors.

Looking at Tumors Through a New Lens: New Research May Improve Efficacy of Glioblastoma Immunotherapy
Looking at Tumors Through a New Lens: New Research May Improve Efficacy of Glioblastoma Immunotherapy
View of the responsive recruitment website and electronic consent platform as seen on mobile phone and desktop devices.

ISB Builds Digital Platform for COVID-19 Research Study – and Beyond

In a multi-institutional study of a highly infectious disease like COVID-19, paperless consent for study participants is critical. One component of the COVID-19 Immune Response Study is a recruitment website with an IRB-approved and HIPAA-compliant electronic consent platform for enrolling patients.

ISB Builds Digital Platform for COVID-19 Research Study – and Beyond
ISB Builds Digital Platform for COVID-19 Research Study – and Beyond
Illustration of a person using a katana to slash a coronavirus in half

Merck, ISB, Swedish Collaborate In Trial to Understand, Treat COVID-19

ISB and Swedish Medical Center launched a study to follow hundreds of patients who contract COVID-19 to learn why those infected have drastically different outcomes. “Each of the COVID-19 patients has a unique lesson to teach us about how the medical and scientific community can respond most effectively to this pandemic,” said ISB President Dr. Jim Heath, who co-leads the study.

Merck, ISB, Swedish Collaborate In Trial to Understand, Treat COVID-19
Merck, ISB, Swedish Collaborate In Trial to Understand, Treat COVID-19
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