Category: Infectious Diseases
Wohl Recognizes High Demand For Vaccine and Currently Limited Supply
David Wohl, MD WTVD-11 reports UNC Health began administering COVID-19 vaccines to people 75 years of age and older under Phase 1B on Monday and that more health care providers in North Carolina are opening up vaccinations to those who qualify under Phase 1B. Already, existing appointments at UNC Health are booked, but David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infe … Read more
FDA Grants Emergency Use Authorization to Moderna Vaccine
Joseph Eron, MD Joe Eron, MD, chief of the division of infectious diseases discussed the FDA’s approval of the Moderna COVID vaccine with WGN News Nation. He talked about his role as an investigator during the trials and recognized that both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are highly effective. He also emphasized the importance of getting people engaged and interested in receivin … Read more
Department of Medicine Grants & Funding: December 1 – December 31, 2020
Division of Hematology Nigel Mackman, PhD, FAHA, received an R35 grant from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute of the NIH to fund the study “Tissue factor-dependent coagulation in thrombosis and immune responses.” Division of Infectious Diseases Jessica Lin, MD, MSCR, received an NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases R21 grant for “Plasmodium ovale hy … Read more
Study Points the Way to Boosting Immunotherapy Effectiveness Against Breast Cancer and Other Solid Tumors
Jonathan S. Serody, MD Boosting immune system T cells to effectively attack solid tumors, such as breast cancers, can be done by adding a small molecule to a treatment procedure called chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cell therapy, according to a study by researchers at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. The boost helps recruit more immune cells into battle at the … Read more
UNC Begins Enrollment for Novavax COVID-19 vaccine phase III clinical trial
Cindy Gay, MD, MPH Cindy Gay, MD, associate professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, is leading the phase III clinical trial of the promising COVID-19 vaccine candidate for the UNC School of Medicine and UNC Medical Center. Gay, who also leads the UNC Moderna vaccine phase III clinical trial, says the work behind finding COVID-19 vaccines isn’t over. Learn mo … Read more
White House Identifies Triangle Counties As Sustained Hotspots
David Wohl, MD Newly released data from the White House indicates 87 of North Carolina’s counties, including Durham, Orange and Wake counties, are “sustained hotspots” for COVID-19. David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, says there’s a limit to how many people, not only local hospitals, but also large regional medical centers, can take care … Read more
Rosengren-Hovee Receives Gilead Research Scholar Award to Study How Social Media Stigma Affect PrEP Uptake
Lina Rosengren Hovee, MD Lina Rosengren-Hovee, MD, MPH, MS, assistant professor of medicine in infectious diseases, received a 2020 Gilead Research Scholar Award for an HIV study that will yield insights into the social media ecosystem that prominently affects uptake Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) among Young Black Men who have Sex with Men (YBMSM). Types of stigma promulgated o … Read more
Fellows Match to the Department of Medicine
While the pandemic made this year particularly challenging for fellowship recruitment efforts and interviews, a series of videos showing each program’s strengths was a creative solution, introducing viewers to faculty and current fellows, with a brief glimpse into what it might be like to join the program. And although it was impossible to replicate the experience of visiting in- … Read more
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North Carolina Needs to Do More to Protect Workers From COVID-19, Civil Rights Leaders Say
David Wohl, MD A labor advocate group is asking a North Carolina court to have the state’s Department of Labor reconsider additional actions to protect frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. ABC-13 News reports the request comes after Labor Secretary Cherie Berry said the pandemic is not a workplace hazard. “We know that this virus can be transmitted from one infected pe … Read more
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Make Sure To Get Both Doses of Coronavirus Vaccine, Physicians Urge
Cindy Gay, MD, MPH The first two coronavirus vaccines seeking emergency authorization from federal regulators require two doses, and medical professionals worry that some people may be tempted to get only one dose. Experts say that could allow the virus to mutate and once again expose a danger to people. WRAL interviewed Cindy Gay, MD, associate professor in infectious diseases, … Read more
Researchers Rank Various Mask Protection, Modifications Against COVID-19
Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, MS It’s been shown that when two people wearing masks interact, the chance of COVID-19 transmission is drastically reduced. This is why public health officials have pleaded for all people to wear masks: they not only protect the wearer from expelling particles that might carry SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), but masks al … Read more
Who Is Rochelle Walensky, Biden’s Pick For CDC Director?
Adaora A. Adimora, MD, MPH Ada Adimora, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, was a guest on NPR’s “All Things Considered,” and asked about Rochelle Walensky, an infectious disease specialist chosen by president-elect Joe Biden to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Oh, my God. You know, honestly, there is no better pick for this appo … Read more