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BRAIN TUMORS

An experimental vaccine created by scientists at Cedars-Sinai showed preliminary evidence of generating an immune response in some patients against glioblastoma. The results were published in Clinical Cancer Research.

A tumor-specific fluorescent visualization study using the Blaze fluorescent dye from a scorpion venom protein is now in Phase II trial to determine specificity in lighting up infiltrative tumors.

PARKINSON’S DISEASE

Researchers in the Center for Neural Science and Medicine at Cedars-Sinai have demonstrated that increasing production of norepinephrine could potentially help prevent motor dysfunction in Parkinson’s patients. Their study, conducted in mice, was published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS One.

STROKE

Cedars-Sinai was one of the first health systems to have made the switch to tenecteplase for stroke treatment. In addition to being safer, easier and faster to administer than alteplase, tenecteplase also better attaches to proteins involved in the clotting of blood, stays longer in a person’s bloodstream and costs several thousand dollars less per dose. (Multicenter study: Am J Health Syst Pharm [April 2022]: A practice game changer: Impact of tenecteplase for acute ischemic stroke in a multicenter quality improvement project)

High-impact publication: J Am Heart Assoc (May 2022): Sex differences in ICAD in patients with hypertension with acute ischemic stroke

NIH-funded trials: ASPIRE, CAPTIVA, DISCOVERY, MOST, Sleep SMART, WISP, LISIA

Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital received Primary Stroke Center designation from the Joint Commission and the American Stroke Association. The designation certifies the hospital’s readiness to provide evaluation and emergency care for stroke patients beyond what is available at the average hospital.

WOMEN’S HEART DISEASE AND THE BRAIN

Scientists at the Cedars-Sinai Neuroimaging Program are investigating the “heart-brain” axis in the Women’s Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) cohort and the relationship between coronary microvascular disease and cerebral small vessel disease.

MEMORY AND AGING

The Bernard and Maxine Platzer Lynn Family Memory and Healthy Aging Center (MHAC) was unveiled, offering a full-spectrum aging center for Cedars-Sinai patients from middle-aged to older persons with three subprograms: Care Coordination, a Preventive Health in Aging Program and a Brain Health Hub.

ACADEMICS

The Physician-Scientist Training Program (PSTP) at Cedars-Sinai trains physicians who have a strong commitment to academic careers as both clinicians and researchers. The first neuroscience PSTP candidate was matched in the Neurology Residency Training Program starting July 2022.