UF Health Appoints Chief Data Scientist
Jiang Bian, Ph.D., has been named UF Health chief data scientist, with a goal of aiding researchers as they move into a new frontier of using biomedical informatics to improve health care policy and practice. Bian will develop and support data scientists across data types and diseases, help improve research infrastructure, and expand data science and translational science research endeavors. He will also work to develop a hub for computational health sciences with other stakeholders to advance data science and artificial intelligence research.
Targeting a Human Protein To Squash SARS-CoV-2 and Other Viruses
More than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, people are realizing that the “new normal” will probably involve learning to co-exist with SARS-CoV-2. Some treatments are available, but with new variants emerging, researchers are looking toward new strategies. In ACS Infectious Diseases, scientists now report that apratoxin S4, an anticancer drug candidate that targets a human protein, can interfere with the replication of many viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A, offering a possible pan-viral therapy.
UF Health Designated Center of Excellence for Rare Inherited Condition Involving Blood Vessels
The Cure HHT foundation this month designated UF Health as Florida’s first HHT Center of Excellence and one of just 31 centers in North America, marking the health system as a top-tier provider of HHT treatment and research.
UF Health Names Lakesha Butler as Chief Diversity Officer
Lakesha Butler, Pharm.D., a professor of pharmacy practice and director of diversity, equity and inclusion at Southern Illinois University deeply trained in facilitating diversity-related discussion and policy change, has been named UF Health’s associate vice president for inclusion, diversity and health equity and chief diversity officer. She starts Aug. 22.
UF College of Pharmacy Moves Into Top 3 of National Research Rankings
The University of Florida College of Pharmacy moved up two places to No. 3 in the nation for total research funding in the latest American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, or AACP, report released June 23. The No. 3 ranking is the highest ever achieved by the college when compared to peer institutions
UF Nursing Researcher Gets to the ‘Heart’ of Cardiac Health Disparities
According to University of Florida College of Nursing associate professor Jennifer Dungan, Ph.D., M.S.N., B.S.N, many of the current symptom profiles and lab tests for heart disease do not accurately reflect known differences in women’s heart disease. This oversight has led to increased gaps in health care equity. That said, she has identified a specific gene she believes may be responsible, named RAP1GAP2.
UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital Is Ranked No. 1 in Florida, Five Specialties Among Nation’s Best
University of Florida Health Shands Children’s Hospital continued its remarkable run as one of the Southeast’s premier pediatric medical centers as U.S. News & World Report Tuesday ranked it as Florida’s No. 1 children’s hospital, with five pediatric specialties earning the elite distinction of being rated among the nation’s best.
Jupiter Medical and UF Health Announce Plans To Shape Health System of the Future
Jupiter Medical Center and UF Health, the University of Florida’s academic health center, announced that they have entered into a letter of intent to develop plans to transform health care delivery, research, and education in Palm Beach and Martin counties and surrounding communities.
UF Researchers’ Artificial Intelligence Platform Accurately Predicts Surgical Complications
Complications after surgery can pose many challenges for both physicians and patients. Now, University of Florida researchers have confirmed their artificial intelligence system accurately helps doctors predict and manage these problems.
New Medicinal Plants Course Addresses Industry Needs
Emerging industries require a skilled workforce to function. Sometimes, the industry begins to boom before employers can hire a sufficient number of skilled employees. That was the case for many employers in the medicinal plant industry, which includes crops like hemp, kava and kratom. Faculty from two University of Florida colleges worked together to help meet that demand with a new course.
