Category: Infectious Diseases
Study: Antibody Treatment Can Help Prevent People From Contracting COVID
Myron Cohen, MD WRAL.com reports that an antibody infusion therapy designed to help coronavirus patients recover faster may prevent people from getting the virus. The clinical trial conducted by UNC, the National Institutes of Health and pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, in more than 100 nursing homes across the country, shows promising results, with the data suggesting that the … Read more
Smooth Sailing For COVID-19 Vaccine Recipients at UNC-Chapel Hill Clinic
David Wohl, MD David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, talked with CBS-17 about UNC Health’s biggest vaccine clinic, held last week at the Friday Center. The article recognizes the goal to vaccinate 10,000 people in one week, including health care workers, long-term-care staff and residents, and adults 65 years and older, and identifies who … Read more
Hosseinipour Receives Distinguished Teaching Award for Post-Baccalaureate Instruction
Mina Hosseinipour, MD, MPH Mina Hosseinipour, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, was honored with the Distinguished Teaching Award for Post-Baccalaureate Instruction, given annually to acknowledge the UNC-Chapel Hill’s commitment to outstanding teaching and mentoring. Kenya McNeal-Trice, professor in the UNC Department of Pediatrics, and Eileen Burker, … Read more
-
UNC Investigators Help Prove a Monoclonal Antibody Prevents, Treats COVID-19 in Nursing Homes
Myron Cohen, MD Eli Lilly today released results of a clinical trial that found bamlanivimab, a monoclonal antibody, significantly reduced the risk of contracting COVID-19 among residents and staff of long-term care facilities. The Phase 3 trial was conducted in partnership with the NIH”s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the COVID-19 Prevention Network (C … Read more
Providers, Health Directors Push Back On Complaints of Slow Vaccine Rollout
David Wohl, MD North Carolina Health News recently reported on UNC Health vaccination efforts and methods of distribution, recognizing how some local health officials say vaccine administration would have started faster if there had been more certainty and funding for their efforts. David Wohl, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, explained that while UNC … Read more
Nature Highlights UNC HIV Research in ‘Best of’ List from 2020
From left: David Margolis, MD, J. Victor Garcia, PhD, and Richard Dunham, PhD In an article titled, “Viruses, microscopy and fast radio bursts: 10 remarkable discoveries from 2020,” Nature featured an important HIV latency reversal discovery led by UNC School of Medicine researchers J. Victor Garcia, PhD, director of the International Center for the Advancement of Translational S … Read more
-
Many South Carolina Healthcare Workers Opting Out of Getting COVID-19 Vaccine
David Wohl, MD Officials are fighting pushback from the very people who see the coronavirus up close everyday. WSOC-TV (Channel 9) reports many healthcare workers in South Carolina are opting out of getting the vaccine. David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, told WSOC-TV that the same muddled messages from Washington, DC, that caused doubts … Read more
Need For COVID-19 Treatments Increases As NC Case Numbers Soar
David Wohl, MD Even with multiple vaccines, people will continue to get sick from COVID-19. Treatments are needed to keep infected people from getting worse and inundating our hospitals even more. David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, told CBS17 that UNC is investigating a testing treatment from Brii Bioscience, based in Durham. “The idea i … Read more
Disinfecting Surfaces to Prevent COVID-19 May Be overkill, Expert Says
Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, MS Constantly disinfecting doorknobs and other everyday surfaces to prevent the spread of COVID-19 may be overkill, according to infectious disease experts. Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, associate professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, told WTVD-11 that disinfecting all the surfaces in your house may not be a total waste of time … Read more
UK Approves Anti-inflammatory Drugs to Treat Sickest Covid-19 Patients After Strong Results in Clinical Trial
Jonathan Parr, MD The Washington Post reports two rheumatoid arthritis drugs that suppress the immune system may help critically ill patients survive covid-19, providing a benefit even on top of the steroids that have been doctors’ main tools in treating the most serious cases of illness, according to a new study released Thursday before peer review. Jonathan Parr, MD, assistant … Read more
‘Why I’m still alive’: A Patient’s Gratitude, Two Decades Later, Expressed To Dr. Becky White
From left: Shani Morgan, Becky White, MD, and Shani’s son, Shakir In the summer of 2001, Shani Morgan was a few months pregnant and in prison, where she learned that she had HIV. She’d been sent from jail to Bragg Street Women’s Prison in Raleigh for better monitoring and medical treatment. What she remembers most about being treated by her UNC doctor, Becky White, MD, MPH, for H … Read more
Gay Discusses Novavax Trials, Need For Diverse Participants
Cindy Gay, MD, MPH A WTKR-News 3 story from northeastern North Carolina reports that UNC has begun enrolling participants for the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine phase III trial. Cindy Gay, MD, associate professor in the division of infectious diseases, describes the need for a diverse participation for the trial, including people over the age of 65, Black and Latino communities, and pe … Read more