The use of huge amounts of data for research hinges on a key premise: that the privacy of the individuals involved will be protected. But, as …
Month: May 2016
Stanford scientist’s mission to help solve the mystery of CFS brings hope to patients
In writing my story, "The puzzle solver," on Stanford scientist Ron Davis, PhD, and his race to solve the biochemical puzzle of chronic fatigue syndrome …
Stanford Medicine’s community day, Health Matters, in pictures
Health Matters, a community event designed to showcase the best of Stanford Medicine, drew more than 1,300 attendees this year. Campus visitors last weekend enjoyed talks on …
Stanford microbiologist Stanley Falkow receives his National Medal of Science
Last December, Stanford microbiologist Stanley Falkow, PhD, learned he had been awarded the 2015 National Medal of Science -- which he called at the time …
Emergency room efficiency could rise by empowering doctors, new study finds
Billboards nationwide boast emergency room wait times — an oft-cited statistic of efficiency. But one way to boost efficiency, without increasing cost, may be to …
Tracking autism: a social neuroscientist’s hunt for autism biomarkers
Karen Parker, PhD, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford, explores the biological underpinnings of how animals and people behave in social …
Healthiness of school and daycare meals affected by federal policy changes
Over at Food Politics earlier this week, New York University nutrition expert Marion Nestle, PhD, gave a good update on two policy changes that affect the health …
Exploring how social support aids physical health
"Hey! I don't think I authorized this!" Regular readers of mine know that I'm not above using my own life or personal experiences to illustrate …
Immunotherapy: New hope in treating cancer
There's a new kid on the block in cancer treatment. Actually it's an old kid who's been around for awhile but is being heralded …
New Stanford study raises questions about effect of folic acid supplementation on birth defects
For nearly two decades, the U.S. food supply has been fortified with folic acid to try to prevent birth defects that affect babies' brains and …
Well check: Rethinking what it means to be “well”
Note: Certain details in this entry have been omitted or changed to protect the identity of those involved. During my pediatrics rotation, the thing that …
A look at how social media helps connect patients with rare diseases
If you suffer from a very rare disease, getting the proper diagnosis can be an arduous journey. But a bigger challenge may be the feeling …
Profile of Danish researcher tackles the ethics of studying ancient DNA
I read with interest today this fantastic profile of Danish researcher Eske Willerslev, PhD, by the always-awesome Carl Zimmer in today's New York Times. I …
Promoting fearlessness: Domestic violence hotline reaches women in India
Women in India have one of the highest rates of domestic violence in the world. And yet, according to studies, they're among the least likely …
Countdown to Big Data in Biomedicine: Building bridges for massive amounts of information
It’s not often in science that a doctoral dissertation becomes the basis for a lifetime of work, the infrastructure for international efforts to build effective …
Researchers create home urine test involving black box and smartphone
A smartphone-powered urine test? Yes, says a group of Stanford engineers, who have created an experimental urinalysis testing system involving a black box and a smartphone. From a Stanford …