91ɫƵ

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Discoveries

91ɫƵ Discoveries

Healing, and improving the overall health of society, begins with discovery. The pursuit of new knowledge advances the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the diseases and injuries of the community. Throughout our history, the pioneering students, faculty, scientists and physicians at the 91ɫƵ have spearheaded groundbreaking research, and helped 91ɫƵ grow into a major national research center, and the largest private research institution in Wisconsin. Every discovery translates into advances in academic medicine and patient care, and helps improve the vitality of our communities, and our future.   LEARN MORE
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Major Discoveries from the 91ɫƵ

all
1930s-1970s

1932
The Quick Test, the first standardized assay for the measurement of coagulation other than whole blood clotting time, was discovered. (Armand Quick, PhD, Biochemistry)

1939
Developed the first self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) devices used by deep-sea divers to prevent “the bends.” (Edgar End, PhD, Physiology)

Discovered that hyperbaric oxygenation dramatically reduces red cell agglutination, a significant advance in the prevention of “the bends” during rapid decompression. (Edgar End, PhD, Physiology)

1947
Developed the Milwaukee Brace, considered in the past to be the gold standard worldwide for the conservative treatment of scoliosis. (Walter Blount, MD, Orthopaedic Surgery)

1958
Discovered Hemoglobin-M, which has led to a better understanding of the mechanisms by which hemoglobin transports oxygen in the blood. (Anthony Pisciotta, MD, Robert A. Uihlein Jr. Professor in Hematologic Research, Medicine – Hematology/Oncology)

1970
First in America to document Lyme Disease in a patient and pioneer treatment. (Rudolph Scrimenti, MD, Dermatology)

1972
Developed the first rapid, accurate blood screening test to detect lead poisoning. (Frederic Blodgett, MD, Pediatrics)

1975
Demonstrated in a preclinical model that graft versus host and graft versus leukemia effects could be separated. (Mortimer M. Bortin, MD and Robert Truitt, PhD, Pediatrics and Biostatistics)

1976
Developed the model for exchange transfusions for the treatment of Reye’s Syndrome. (Richard Aster, MD, Hematology/Oncology)

1977
First to identify Pseudogout, a form of arthritis in which crystal (as opposed to calcium, which is associated with gout) deposits in large joints (knees, ankles, wrists). (Daniel McCarty, MD, Will & Cava Ross Professor in Medicine, Medicine – Rheumatology)

1980s

1981
Developed cervicography – a diagnostic medical procedure that allows non-physicians to take pictures of the cervix and submit them to a physician for interpretation. (Adolf Stafl, MD, Obstetrics/ Gynecology)

1983
First to characterize immunologic abnormalities (later found to be associated with HIV) in patients with hemophilia transfused with commercial anti-hemophilic factor products. (Joan Gill, MD, and Robert Montgomery, MD, Pediatrics)

1984
Identified the connection between pituitary gland imbalances and female infertility. (Joseph Cusick, MD, Neurosurgery)

1985
Developed surface coils used to improve Magnetic Resonance Imaging diagnosis. (James Hyde, PhD, James S. Hyde Professor in Biophysics, Biophysics)

1986
Identified variances in body fat distribution in women that create increased risks for diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. (Ahmed Kissebah, MD, PhD, Medicine – Endocrinology)

First to use a light-activated dye (Merocyanine 540) to eliminate tumor cells from the bone marrow of a leukemia patient. (Fritz Sieber, PhD, Pediatrics)

1987
Developed a systematic approach for the evaluation and treatment of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome through observing nine cases of NMS. (Harold H. Harsch, MD, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine)

Devised a monitoring system for myocardial ischemia during cardiovascular surgery. (John P. Kampine MD, PhD, John P. Kampine Professor of Anesthesiology, Anesthesiology)

1988
First time epidemiology and pathogenesis of late-onset vascular graft infections characterized. (Charles E. Edmiston, Jr., PhD, D.D. Schmitt MD, Gary R. Seabrook, MD, Surgery)

First to show protection against myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury by isoflurane and halothane. (David C. Warltier, MD, PhD, John P. Kampine Professor in Anesthesiology, Anesthesiology)

First identified that anaerobic bacteria played a major role in recurrent non-puerperal breast abscess, necessitating changes in antimicrobial therapy. (Alonzo P. Walker, MD, Ruth Teske Professor in Surgical Oncology, Charles E. Edmiston, Jr., MD, C.J. Krepel, and Robert E. Condon, MD, Donald C. Ausman Family Foundation Professor of Surgery, Surgery)

1990s

1990
Conducted the pioneering work on T-cell depletion for use in unrelated bone marrow transplantation. (Robert Ash, MD, Medicine - Hematology/Oncology)

In collaboration with investigators at National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (Bethesda, MD), discovered that treatment of blood with photosensitizing dye and light can prevent the transmission of malaria parasites by blood transfusions. (Fritz Sieber, PhD, Pediatrics)

Discovered a treatment for cytomegalovirus pneumonia which was a nearly uniformly fatal infectious complication in bone marrow transplant recipients. (Robert Ash, MD, Medicine – Hematology/Oncology)

Provided convincing clinical evidence for the role of graft-versus-leukemia (even in the absence of graft-versus-host disease) in the efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in eradicating leukemia. (Mary M. Horowitz, MD, MS, Robert A. Uihlein, Jr. Professor in Hematologic Research, Medicine – Hematology/Oncology)

1991
First characterization of the role of Peptostreptococcus collagenase activity in the pathogenesis of non-puerperal breast infections. (C.J. Krepel, C.M. Gohr, Charles E. Edmiston, Jr., PhD, Surgery and Silas G. Farmer, PhD, Pathology.)

First observation that small bowel transplantation promotes bacterial overgrowth and translocation. (B.J. Browne, Christopher P. Johnson, MD, Charles E. Edmiston, Jr., PhD, MA, Hlava, G.H. Moore, Allen M. Roza, MD, Gordon L. Telford, MD, and Mark B. Adams, MD, Donald C. Ausman Family Foundation Professor of Surgery, Surgery)

First detailed description of undisturbed spinal epidural space anatomy in humans. (Quinn Hogan, MD, Anesthesiology)

1992
First in utero fetoscopic placental laser surgery in an identical triplet pregnancy affected by twin-twin transfusion syndrome. (Julian De Lia, MD and Dwight Cruikshank, MD, Jack A. & Elaine D. Klieger Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics/Gynecology)

With investigators at Harvard University and the University of Minnesota, developed a new technology, Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), which allows for the non-invasive assessment of brain function and the observation of blood flow in the brain in real time. (James Hyde, PhD, James S. Hyde Professor in Biophysics, Biophysics)

Discovered that ATP, a sensitive potassium channel, was a key component of ischemic preconditioning in the heart. The discovery has resulted in new drugs, currently in development, focused on reducing injury in patients with coronary artery disease. (Garrett Gross, PhD, and John Auchampach, PhD, Pharmacology and Toxicology)

Discovery that ACE inhibitors could be used post-irradiation to decrease experimental radiation-induced normal tissue injuries. (John E. Moulder, PhD, Radiation Oncology; Eric P Cohen, MD, Medicine)

Discovered that although domestic violence and abuse is commonplace (38.8% of participants had experienced abuse in lifetime), physicians rarely ask patients about it. (L. Kevin Hamberger, PhD, D. G. Saunders, and M. Hovey, Family and Community Medicine)

Discovered that untreated diabetes promotes intestinal bacterial overgrowth. (Allen M. Rosa, MD, Charles E. Edmiston, Jr. PhD, Constantine T. Frantzides, MD; G.H. Moore, Christopher P. Johnson, MD, and Mark B. Adams, MD, Donald C. Ausman Family Foundation Professor of Surgery, Surgery; and T.V. Nowak, Medicine)

1993
First demonstration in North America that infusion of T lymphocytes obtained from the original bone marrow donor could re-induce durable remissions in patients who had relapsed from their disease after bone marrow transplantation. (William Drobyski, MD, Medicine-Hematology/Oncology)

Invented new compounds that inhibit thiol synthesis for use in treating asthma. (Owen Griffith, PhD, Biochemistry)

1994
Identified latex hypersensitivity due to environmental exposure as a potentially lethal threat to health care workers and chronically exposed children. (Kevin J. Kelly, MD, Pediatrics & Medicine)

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