Virtually every medical therapy in use today owes its existence to animal experiments. But we can't assume what works in animals will in humans. And sometimes, the mismatch can be dangerous.
Done well, translational science can save lives.
(Flickr/kaibara87)
Systematic reviews are rarely applied to basic research. A new study shows how they could separate good data from bad, saving millions in research dollars and speeding life-saving treatments.
In many cases, the most appropriate treatment for a health condition isn't a drug. It could be a recommendation for a dietary change, a specific exercise, or even a phone app.
Scientists hope that stem cells may be able to repair nerves and other cells that support transmission of electrical impulses in the spinal cord.
binomialphoto/flickr
Claims that stem cell treatments can repair spinal injuries right now are overblown. But it's not for lack of trying, and the science is certainly progressing.
Better technologies should be adopted in sub-Saharan Africa to deal with childhood cancer.
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Better technology to diagnose, treat and manage the disease early enough is needed to improve the survival rates of childhood cancer in sub Saharan Africa.
President Barack Obama signs the 21st Century Cures Act on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016, in Washington.
Kevin Wolf/AP Images for Parker Foundation
Lowering the threshold for FDA approval and feeding the agency less rigorous information will increase the likelihood of approvals of unsafe or ineffective drugs and devices.
Despite dozens of trials internationally, the evidence on medical cannabis is unconvincing.
EPA/ABIR SULTAN
Pay-for-performance for doctors works brilliantly ... but only in theory.
So a tested medical intervention was found not to work. This should be just as big news as if it was found to be a success.
from www.shutterstock.com.au
Why didn’t you hear about a recent big study on a new heart medication? Because the drug didn’t work. But that doesn't mean the study wasn't a success – it was.
Glass sculpture representation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus structure.
LabLit/flickr
The dramatic improvements in survival for children with cancer depend on clinical trials, and these trials depend on parents understanding the possible risks and benefits involved.
Scientists are developing various products that can provide contraception and protection from sexually transmitted infections and HIV at the same time.
A new treatment for achondroplasia is helping to transform many kids’ lives.
A collaboration between research and industry has produced a promising new drug that could transform many childrens' lives. It's also a case study in innovation done right.
In most African countries, there is no oversight body for the pharmaceutical marketplace.
Reuters/Thomas Mukoya
Africa's pharmaceutical industry has mushroomed in the last ten years. But its ability to keep pace with demand is being held back by a number of factors, including a shortage of specialists.
Professor Emeritus of Health Policy and Management, York University, Emergency Physician at University Health Network, Associate Professor of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto
Professor of Bioethics & Medicine, Sydney Health Ethics, Haematologist/BMT Physician, Royal North Shore Hospital and Director, Praxis Australia, University of Sydney
Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor, AMREP Department of Medicine, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne & Senior Medical Oncologist and Palliative Care Physician, Melbourne Oncology Group, Cabrini Haematology and Oncology Centre, Wattletree Road, Malvern, Monash University
Professsor of Public Health; Co-Director Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa; Panel Member, Private Healthcare Market Inquiry, University of the Witwatersrand