New plant-based vaccine at the forefront of more efficient, affordable HPV prevention

The Gardasil vaccine advertisement flashes across the screen – you change the channel. Maybe you are a male and don’t think you are at risk of acquiring cancer from HPV, maybe you aren’t sexually active, or maybe you don’t have the resources to get the vaccine.

But research shows that in addition to causing cervical cancer in women, certain strains have been linked to head and neck cancers in men. The Gardasil-9 vaccine protects against nine of the most cancer-associated strains of HPV, though there are over 100 strains of HPV with possible adverse effects.

In light of this, ASU is aggressively pursuing research aimed at understanding the underlying mechanisms behind the HPV infection and exploring preventative measures to stave off the virus.Continue reading

UA’s Two Medical Schools Celebrate Match Day

Forty percent of the UA College of Medicine – Tucson Class of 2019 will remain in Arizona to practice medicine and pursue their residency training. More than one-third of the class will pursue primary care — a physician specialty that is critically low in Arizona and the nation.

Of the graduating UA College of Medicine – Phoenix students, 50 percent will pursue primary care fields such as family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics. Arizona’s physician shortage is one of the worst in the nation, with the state ranking 44th of 50 states in the number of primary care physicians. Twenty-four students will stay in Arizona for their entire residency. Overall, the students will continue their studies at programs in 25 states.

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All of Us – A Conversation with NIH Director Francis Collins

The All of Us Research Program launched a Speaker Series in partnership with the National Library of Medicine on Thursday, March 14, 2019.   The inaugural talk was by National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins. Dr. Collins discusses the importance of All of Us, how far the research program has come, provide a preview of the program’s future, and takes questions from viewer.
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