College News

The University of Oklahoma recently hosted its inaugural Real-World Data and Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics training workshop through the Office of Clinical Research Informatics and the Biomedical and Behavioral Methodology Core, bringing together a multidisciplinary group of clinical and data scientists from across the university's three major campuses in Norman, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The workshop was designed to build institutional capacity for conducting large-scale real-world evidence research using the international OHDSI network.

Beginning July 1, physicians from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine Department of Emergency Medicine will provide medical direction to the Oklahoma Poison Center, a free, 24/7 helpline administered by the OU College of Pharmacy. The physicians, who have specialty training in medical toxicology, will be available to consult with the pharmacists and registered nurses who staff the helpline, as well as participate in educational, research and administrative activities.

Muhammad Furqan, M.D., professor of hematology-oncology at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and Associate Director of Clinical Research at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, is leading a national clinical trial evaluating whether immunotherapy can improve outcomes for patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following surgery.

Scientists at the University of Oklahoma have identified a previously unrecognized immune system pathway that helps explain how cigarette smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. The findings, published in Circulation Research, show that cigarette smoke activates immune cells that trigger widespread inflammation throughout the body, accelerating the buildup of plaque in arteries.

An experimental treatment strategy for metastatic pancreatic cancer may help patients live longer by making tumors more visible to the immune system, according to a study published in Nature Medicine. OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center enrolled patients on the clinical trial, which studied a new drug called quemliclustat.