News & Announcements

In July 2021, Jay Keller wasn’t feeling like himself. The Chicago-based architect, husband and father had fatigue and cold-like symptoms. “I thought maybe I had Lyme disease, COVID-19 or walking pneumonia; I just wasn’t sure,” said 48-year-old Keller. By September, he developed horrible headaches, and was admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for testing. Blood work showed Keller had endocarditis (an infected heart valve) from Streptococcus mutans (oral bacteria) that can cause cavities.

Investigators have discovered a new method to determine whether individual genetic variants in the epilepsy-associated gene SZT2 cause the neurodevelopmental disorder, according to a Northwestern Medicine study.

Ketamine is the speedster of antidepressants, working within hours compared to more common antidepressants that can take several weeks. But ketamine can only be given for a limited amount of time because of its many side effects. Now, a new Northwestern Medicine study identifies for the first time exactly how ketamine works so quickly, and how it might be adapted for use as a drug without the side effects.

New research on the experimental drug, NU-9, invented and developed by two Northwestern University scientists to treat ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), shows it is more effective than existing FDA-approved drugs for the disease.

A new Northwestern Medicine study published in GeroScience sought to determine the prevalence, risk factors and significance of persistent viral shedding in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The Northwestern Medicine Neuro COVID-19 research team discovered patients who continued to test positive more than 14 days after their initial positive test were more likely to experience delirium, longer hospital stays, were less likely to be discharged home, and had a greater six-month mortality than those without persistent viral shedding of COVID-19.

The Lou and Jean Malnati Brain Tumor Institute of Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University at Northwestern Memorial Hospital is committed to advancing the understanding and treatment of brain and spine tumors.

There are five different diseases that attack the language areas in the left hemisphere of the brain that slowly cause progressive impairments of language known as primary progressive aphasia (PPA), reports a new Northwestern Medicine study.

Decades before the world learned about Bruce Willis’ aphasia diagnosis, Dr. Marsel Mesulam was pioneering a new field of research on a similar neurological condition: primary progressive aphasia (PPA), a rare, overlooked and underserved syndrome that destroys a person’s language.

Bruce Willis — known for an iconic career in movies like “Die Hard,” “Armageddon” and “Pulp Fiction” — will retire from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, a condition that causes people to lose their ability to communicate verbally and through writing. Northwestern neurologist Borna Bonakdarpour, MD, sheds light on this disorder.

Humans need sleep to maintain a number of core physiological processes — in fact, we spend nearly one-third of our lives lying in bed. In observance of Sleep Awareness Week 2022, celebrated annually by the National Sleep Foundation, Hrayr Attarian, MD, busts some common myths about sleep.

Recent advances from Northwestern investigators have powered a new, deeper understanding of Parkinson’s disease that could pave the way to a disease-modifying treatment. 

Of the more than 20 episodes of the medical school’s Breakthroughs podcast produced in 2021, the most popular ranged across specialties from gastroenterology to nanotechnology. Listen to the top five episodes of the year and earn Continuing Medical Education credit.

Throughout the weekend of September 3-5, triathletes in Bentonville, Arkansas, and their supporters around the nation rallied around an important cause: encouraging the multiple sclerosis (MS) community. Proceeds from the Rampy MS Research Foundation’s 10^th annual triathlon, Trifest for MS, support a few select institutions that are currently conducting MS research—including Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Trifest for MS is one of the few triathlons in the country that offers a paratriathlete race class. Multiple sclerosis is a condition that falls into the paratriathlete classification.

Specifically, funds raised from this event help advance the research of Brian J. Popko, PhD, scientific director of MS and Neuroimmunology and the William Frederick Windle Professor of Neurology at Feinberg.

MS is a potentially disabling disease of the central nervous system and the most common chronic neurological disorder to affect young adults. Dr. Popko studies the myelin sheath (an insulating layer that forms around nerves), with the goal of developing new therapies for patients with MS.

The generous funding from the Rampy MS Research Foundation has facilitated all aspects of Dr. Popko’s research program, including pre-clinical studies, access to state-of-the-art technologies and equipment, and conference attendance for scientists in the Popko Laboratory.  

“The Rampy funds have been a great resource for furthering our MS research efforts. Moreover, the enthusiasm and commitment of the triathlon organizers and participants for the cause of MS research have been inspiring,” shared Dr. Popko.

Trifest for MS is hailed as one of the top five triathlons in the nation by Triathlon Business International and was initially inspired by Scott and Jo Rampy, president and CEO (chief encouragement officer) of the Rampy MS Research Foundation, respectively. The triathlon started as Mrs. Rampy’s personal ambition in 2011. To her surprise, it became a community event that has now brought together thousands of triathletes and encouragers over the years.

The event is a culmination of cause, community, corporations, and competition with a family atmosphere where participants of all ages and fitness levels (kids ages 5-18, adults ages 18-75, and para-athletes) can compete in four different events.

During the opening remarks each year, Mr. Rampy tells the triathletes: “Today all of you will cross the finish line, and we’ll celebrate with you. Our research doctors’ finish line is ahead of them and not in sight until a cure is upon them—you are helping them today to reach their finish line.”

Learn more about the Rampy MS Research Foundation at researchms.org.

For more information about supporting multiple sclerosis research at Feinberg, please contact Andrew Christopherson at 312-503-3080 or andrew.christopherson@northwestern.edu.