Profile
Research
The University of Maryland School of Medicine is one of the country's fastest growing research institutions, with total awards of $281.2 million in FY04. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (2002-2003) reporting research expenditures, the School of Medicine ranks 9th among public medical schools, and 20th among all medical schools. Our clinical faculty continue to rank 4th in research expenditures per faculty in public medical schools. And, we rank 6th among all 125 medical schools in the nation.
That funding, combined with our faculty's expertise and cutting-edge research, has produced some remarkable breakthroughs:
2004 Discovered the precise timing code used by brain cells to process sensory information. This information about brain language can be used to develop new interventions for neurologic diseases and injuries.
2004 Established the mechanism of masculinization of the brain, whereby signaling that molecules called protaglandins are necessary just before and after birth to hard wire the brain so that there is responsiveness to testosterone as adults.
2004 Showed that a special kind of heart pacemaker combined with a defibrillator significantly reduced the risk of death and hospitalization in patients with severe heart failure.
2004 Described the structure of anti-proliferative factor, a protein found in the urine of 95 percent of interstitial cystitis patients, and which may cause the disease. The disease affects about 1 million people in the United States and causes bladder pain, frequent urination and other urinary tract symptoms.
2004 Uncovered the mechanism whereby excess salt stimulates high blood pressure. The excess salt stimulates the hormone ouabain which disables the sodium pump, causing sodium to accumulate in blood artery cells.
2003 Discovered that celiac disease is much more common than previously thought and affects 1 in 133 Americans. Affected individuals make an autoimmune response to the protein gluten which in turn causes gastrointestinal symptoms and nutritional problems.
2003 Identified the molecular mechanism of the inherited human cardiac arrhythmia disease called long Q-T Syndrome Type 4.
2003 Showed that 30-year old smallpox vaccine can be diluted many fold and still be effective, providing an immediate supply to be used in case of bioterrorist attack(s).
2003 Determined that blood levels of the proteins troponin T and C-reactive protein measure the risk of silent heart disease in patients on kidney dialysis awaiting kidney transplantation.
2003 Advocated the safety of a new genetically engineered vaccine for anthrax-first in the nation.
2003 Performed a new procedure involving a stent to treat brain aneurysms.
2002 Confirmed the effectiveness of existing supply of smallpox vaccine, assuring protection for millions.
2001 Received a $20 million grant from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a safe and effective measles vaccine for children in developing nations.
2001 Used sophisticated video and computer technology to assess a stroke patient in real time during an ambulance ride-a first in the U.S.
2000 Discovered genetic biomarker for earlier diagnosis of esophageal cancer that may lead to better, more effective treatment.
2000 Introduced Intensity Modulated Arc Therapy (IMAT), which delivers a higher, more uniform concentration of radiation that attacks tumors while sparing surrounding organs and tissues.
2000 Offered new treatment for inoperable liver cancer, TheraSphere, a therapy that uses microscopic glass beads to deliver radiation directly to tumors-first in the U.S.
2000 Discovered receptor in the brain that is key to understanding the blood-brain barrier-the nearly impenetrable interface between the bloodstream and the brain.
1999 Performed more kidney transplants than any other medical center in the U.S., and became the second largest center for pancreas transplants.
1996-2000 Performed the most laparoscopic kidney removals from living kidney donors in the world.
1999 Developed first blood test to detect the enzyme telomerase, which can indicate the early spread of lung cancer.
1999 Developed a successful blood cleansing procedure to enable people on kidney dialysis to receive a kidney transplant without fear of immediate rejection.
1999 Discovered first clear link between autism and gastrointestinal disorders.
In the last seven years the School of Medicine has consistently produced more than 50 invention disclosures annually and over 115 patents since 1999, establishing Maryland as a hub for life sciences activity in the region. Technologies developed at the School of Medicine have formed the basis for at least five Baltimore-area companies.
Community Service
One of the School of Medicine's most important goals continues to remain the same after nearly two centuries: that of educating physicians to meet the health care needs of the people of Maryland and beyond. The School of Medicine is a vital part of the West Baltimore neighborhood in which it resides, and its faculty, staff and students are increasingly involved in activities that bring a better quality of life to its neighbors.
Each year, School of Medicine students provide hundreds of thousands of hours of service in hospitals, clinics, homeless shelters and schools throughout the state.
Program Involvement Includes:
- S.T.O.P. AIDS-Student/Teacher Outreach Program-sends volunteer students into Baltimore City Public Schools to discuss HIV prevention. Through this program thousands of West Baltimore elementary and middle school students have been taught about the disease's medical and social implications.
- Domestic Violence Workshop-student volunteers sponsor a workshop that creates a heightened awareness of this complex problem and teaches future physicians how to spot the sometimes subtle signs of abuse.
- Health Care and the Homeless Project-allows students to spend time at shelters such as South Baltimore Station, providing health care screening and education.
Faculty members provide countless uncompensated hours of primary and preventive care to the residents of Baltimore through programs such as:
- Baltimore Alliance for the Prevention and Control of Hypertension and Diabetes-brings all of the resources of the University of Maryland physician community together to promote accessible, comprehensive hypertension and diabetes education, prevention and treatment strategies within the Baltimore community, with emphasis on the underserved.
- Focus on Kids-a community/university partnership that addresses the many issues, including HIV, drug use and violence, facing pre-adolescents and adolescents.
- Paquin Family Health Center-a school-based health center at Paquin High School, Baltimore City's school for pregnant young women and teen mothers. Primary, pre- and post-natal care and psychosocial support are provided for mother and child.
The Campus and Beyond
The School of Medicine is an integral part of one of the country's first centers for professional education and research. Its urban campus, shared with six other professional schools and the Health Sciences and Human Services Library, the University of Maryland Medical Center, the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute's Medical Biotechnology Center and the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center, also hosts the Hope Lodge and Baltimore Ronald McDonald House, both offering low cost housing and a home-atmosphere for adult and pediatric outpatients (and their families) receiving medical treatment in the Baltimore area.
Opportunities abound for faculty and students to join with other health and human service professionals in interdisciplinary study, informal discourse and collaborative clinical practice and research, offering students a wide selection of field experiences.
In addition to professional opportunities, Baltimore offers a stimulating environment in which to live and study. Baltimore residents enjoy the sophistication of a large metropolitan city combined with easy accessibility to surrounding beaches, mountains and rural areas. The many attractions and resources of Washington, D.C., are less than an hour's drive from Baltimore.
The setting for significant events in the history of our country and a renowned foreign-commerce seaport, Baltimore maintains a strong sense of the past, typified by the many charming neighborhoods of restored houses and an abundance of historic monuments and buildings. Within easy walking distance of the campus is the nationally acclaimed Inner Harbor area where Harborplace, the National Aquarium, Maryland Science Center, and the Pier 6 Pavilion share the festival atmosphere of the harbor with hotels, shops and restaurants, water taxis, and pleasure and tour boats. Both restored and newly constructed townhouses and condominium complexes share the waterviews, excitement and atmosphere of downtown living.
Warm weather months signal festival time in Baltimore with such annual offerings as Preakness Festival Week, Artscape, the Baltimore City Fair, the Flower Mart and the many ethnic festivals that celebrate the city's diverse populations. As a cultural center, Baltimore has offerings to please the most discriminating tastes, including a world-class symphony orchestra, excellent museums and libraries, professional theater, ballet and opera.
For sports fans Baltimore boasts a varied menu. Offerings include American League Baseball with the Orioles, professional football with the NFL Ravens, indoor soccer and ice hockey, NCAA and club lacrosse, horseracing, steeplechase and polo in the suburban counties. Oriole Park at Camden Yards is but a two-block stroll from our campus, and the M & T Bank Stadium, home of the Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens, is immediately adjacent to Camden Yards. There are numerous public golf courses in the city and surrounding counties, and the Baltimore harbor and nearby Chesapeake Bay offer unparalleled opportunities for boating, fishing and water sports. Gastronomy aficionados will delight in experiencing the seafood for which the region is famous.
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