Recent Research Earns UC First-Rate Global Headlines

Earlier this month, state leaders participated in interactive, hands-on exhibits of UC research at the Columbus Statehouse – research specifically aimed at helping Ohio’s economy through economic development and job creation.

However, these Ohio’s legislators were not the only ones to take note of UC’s remarkable research record. Throughout February 2009, the nation’s and globe’s most prestigious media outlets from throughout Asia, Europe and North America have repeatedly headlined UC’s research findings. These include

• American Medical News
• Bloomberg News
• BBC
• Canadian Broadcasting Center
• EuroNews
• Forbes
• HealthDay News
• Modern Medicine 
• Reuters Health
• Reuters India
• Science News
• United Press International
• U.S. News & World Report
• Yahoo! News

And the research behind these headlines includes

• Reuters Health covered UC research showing that diabetics can choose among options for reduced-calorie diets and still obtain similar results for weight loss.

• Worldwide media, from United Press International to eMaxHealth and the Times of India, reported on how UC researchers found a link (in mice) between high-fat diets – even short-term ones of only two weeks – to inflammation of fat tissues around blood vessels, contributing to heart disease.

• Global media throughout the United States, Asia and Europe – including outlets in Australia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Ireland and more – provided coverage of joint research by UC and Columbia University showing that children born in congested, high-traffic cities (with more pollution) are at greater risk of developing asthma due to genetic changes experienced while they are still in the womb. Media headlining this research included the BBC, HealthDay News, Irish Health, LiveScience.com, Science News, PhysOrg.com, the Times of India, United Press International and U.S. News & World Report.

• News media in Asia and throughout North America featured UC research demonstrating that cleaning house may be risky for women with asthma since women with asthma are more prone to respiratory infections, even if they use what are considered to be mild household cleaning products. Outlets providing coverage of these research results included Forbes, U.S. News & World Report and WebMD.

• News media from Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Germany, India and Switzerland, as well as outlets throughout the U.S., ran coverage of a new UC study showing that cigarette smoke may result in the lung-immune system attacking already damaged tissue in the body. So the body’s own defenses may actually worsen chronic lung diseases in smokers. The outlets headlining this research included media like Innovations Report in Europe and United Press International.

• Bloomberg News reported on a controversy among epilepsy patients, who contend that generic versions of two anti-seizure drugs may be less effective than their brand-name counterparts. The coverage included information that a National Institutes of Health study of the issue will be conducted at UC, led by the university’s Epilepsy Center.

• Canadian Broadcasting, EuroNews, Forbes, HealthDay News, News-Medical.net, Science News, Yahoo! News and other media in India, Switzerland and the United Kingdom reported on research led by a UC senior researcher wherein scientists located a group of cancer stem cells or “tumor-initiating cells” which, when targeted with a reprogrammed herpes virus, are prevented from turning malignant. The new treatment targets a cancer’s own stem cells to fight recurrence.

• American Medical News reported on a research study, originally published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, showing that genetic testing used to guide initial dosing of warfarin may not be cost-effective for typical patients with an irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation), but may be for patients at higher risk for major bleeding.

• The Canadian Broadcasting Center reported on UC-led research showing the potential risks (diabetes and heart attack) related to the chemical bisphenol A, which is found in the hard plastics that have become common in making plastic bottles and plastic food containers (including baby bottles). The first large study of “average” human exposure to this chemical suggests it might double the risk for diabetes and heart attack.

• U.S. News & World Report and HealthDay News featured UC research that showed a powerful, clot-busting drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in stroke patients in 1996 is still rarely used in the treatment of Medicare patients.

• View headlines earned by UC research in January 2009. 
• View UC’s research funding report released in November 2008, when the university announced an all-time high in terms of research funding at $353 million. 
• Visit UC’s research page and news page.