GVHD

Computer eyeballs graft-vs-host disease

A machine learning algorithm identified areas of skin affected by chronic graft-versus-host disease on par with clinicians, opening the door to streamlining and standardizing this measure of patient response to therapy.

Treatment approved for patients with acute graft-versus-host disease

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved ruxolitinib, the first drug for patients with acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) who have an inadequate response to steroid treatment. VUMC’s Madan Jagasia, MBBS, MS, MMHC, was a lead investigator of the REACH1 trial that was the basis for the FDA approval.

Skin diseases study uses crowdsourcing to gather data

In 1906, English statistician Francis Galton happened to visit a livestock fair where fairgoers were invited to guess the dressed weight of an ox scheduled for imminent slaughter. Some 800 attendees took part and afterwards Galton got hold of the contest data.

Using light to fight GVHD

Extracorporeal photopheresis treatment for stem cell transplant-related complications produces a response in up to 60 percent of patients.

Targeting post-transplant diabetes

Targeting diabetes that develops after a stem cell transplant may help moderate graft-vs.-host disease, an adverse effect of the procedure, and improve outcomes.