Latest news with #CUSchoolofMedicine
Forbes
2 days ago
- Health
- Forbes
University Of Colorado To Lead $64 Million Palliative Care Consortium
The University of Colorado School of Medicine has been selected to lead a multi-institution consortium focused on palliative care research. The initiative is being funded by a five-year, $64 million award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In addition to investigators from the CU School of Medicine, the Advancing the Science of Palliative Care Research Across the Lifespan (ASCENT) Consortium will include researchers from four other academic centers — New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing, Duke University School of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania — along with 40 personnel from more than 20 institutions. 'While palliative care as a field has advanced significantly in the last few decades, there are still a lot of unmet needs. This consortium will serve as a springboard for filling gaps and offering resources to researchers who will ultimately improve the field,' said Jean Kutner, the consortium's principal investigator, in a news release. Kutner, distinguished professor of medicine and chief academic officer of UCHealth, added that 'the goal is to have a multiplier effect, to have more investigators, stronger research, and an increase in funded palliative care science. Improving care and improving the lives of people with serious illness is what drives this work.' The award will be administered by the National Institute on Aging with funding and collaboration from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Nursing Research, and National Cancer Institute. 'We know from demographic studies that we are living longer with serious illnesses, and all Americans deserve to benefit from the latest scientific advances that can provide relief from physical and psychological symptoms and receive well-coordinated care that is aligned with their goals,' said Richard Hodes, director of the National Institute on Aging. ASCENT will pursue four major aims: According to the World Health Organization, almost 57 million people per year receive palliative care for various life-threatening illness. That care is intended to addresses pain, suffering, and both physical and psychological symptoms along with providing support for caregivers and families. But the health system often fails to deliver appropriate, effective care for persons with serious illness. The ASCENT grant is aimed at improving that care from first diagnosis throughout the trajectory of a serious illness for persons of any age, for conditions including cancer, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, advanced organ diseases (including heart, lung, liver, kidney), stroke, neuro-muscular degenerative diseases, genetic disorders and rare congenital and metabolic disorders. 'At some point we are all going to face some sort of serious illness. It's a sort of fact of life, so this is something that applies to everybody,' Kutner said. 'There's a specific focus in what we proposed being that we focus on palliative care across the lifespan because there are infants, children, adolescents and young adults that also suffer from serious illness.'
CBS News
27-01-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Denver Health unveils naloxone vending machine that offers live-saving drug free of charge
Denver Health unveiled a no-cost naloxone vending machine on its hospital campus on Monday. The vending machine distributes the life-saving drug naloxone, otherwise known as Narcan, free of charge. It's available to the community through the National Institute of Drug Abuse's VEnding machine Naloxone Distribution in Your community, or VENDY, program. "We really engaged our community members with substance use experience to help us build this program. They told us how this could work to build the program," said Nicole Wagner, PhD, Assistant Professor, CU School of Medicine. "This machine is simple and elegant and so is the message: your life matters regardless of your disease," said Sarah Christensen, MD, Medical Director of Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Treatment, at Denver Health. Those who want access to naloxone can visit the vending machine at the Denver Health Hospital Campus, outside Pavilion K, located at 667 Bannock St. There are also medication and hygiene kits available for free 24 hours a day.
