Emory Technology Transfer Blog

Parkinson’s disease (PD), one of the most common neurological conditions, afflicts around 1.5 million people in the United States alone. More globally, it is estimated that that number grows to around 5 million people. Parkinson’s disease is a slowly progressing neurodegenerative disorder. It impacts the nervous system and can seriously influence one’s ability to walk and talk. Additionally, those with PD often exhibit behavioral and mental changes, sleeping problems, memory difficulties, and fatigue. The disease is usually seen in those aged 60 and older, and cases of PD are more commonly observed in men than women. The symptoms of PD Read More …

With the rise of products like vapes and e-cigarettes, the warning of lung cancer is not unheard of to most teenagers. Lung cancer is the most common cancer across the world, and the third most common cancer in the United States after skin cancer and breast cancer. In a normal, healthy lung, air enters through the bronchi that divide into bronchioles that ultimately lead to tiny air sacs known as alveoli. The alveoli are the site for gas exchange where oxygen is absorbed, and carbon dioxide is removed. Different types of lung cancer affect different parts of the lungs, but Read More …

Skin cancer is the unmanageable growth of abnormal cells in the epidermis, the skins’ surface layer. Mutations in DNA lead skin cells to quickly multiply and form malignant groups of tissue, creating tumors within the skin. While skin cancer is a relatively common illness, it has the potential to be deadly, especially when left undetected. Overall, more people are diagnosed with skin cancer in the United States than all other cancers combined, yet nearly two people die of the disease every hour. The only way to detect skin cancer is through examination of the skin, so it is essential to Read More …

Most of us perceive sleep as the one period of our day where our bodies, as well as our minds, are completely still and unmoving. When we sleep, we assume our bodies are completely at rest. This is partially true, as healthy sleep is an essential aspect of our rest and restoration processes. However, our brains remain active throughout our sleeping state. This active state is equally essential for brain function, to allow it to carry out the restorative and important processes that promote our overall health and wellbeing. Sleep impacts our mental and physical functions, our metabolism, and even Read More …

One of the leading causes of irreversible blindness, Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage a nerve in the back of your eye called the optic nerve. Glaucoma can occur in both eyes or just one eye. Most people with glaucoma do not even know they have it because symptoms are slow to appear. However, if treated properly, most people with glaucoma are able to keep their vision. Glaucoma is caused by increased pressure inside the eye. Normally, the fluid inside your eye, aqueous humor, drains out of the eye through a spongy tissue called the trabecular meshwork. Read More …

Certain types of cancer, such as breast and prostate cancer, rely on hormones to grow and develop. These types of cancerous cells have receptors that attach to hormones, allowing them to divide and spread. The growth of these cancers can be halted if the hormones are blocked or modified. Hormone cancer therapy accomplishes this by blocking specific hormones as well as changing how they behave. Especially when combined with other cancer therapies, hormone therapy can successfully eradicate specific types of cancers. The idea behind hormone therapy arose in 1874 when English doctor Thomas Beatson discovered that by removing the ovaries Read More …

Movie theater attendees are probably familiar with the “flash” and “strobe lights” warnings for children or adults that occasionally accompany films. These warnings are put in place to protect those with epilepsy and other health issues since photosensitive epilepsy seizures can be triggered by flashing lights or contrasting light and dark patterns. These warnings can help ensure the health and safety of those living with epilepsy. However, an accurate and a fuller understanding of epilepsy can help further protect those with epilepsy that live amongst us, even beyond the movie theater. Epilepsy is a chronic central nervous system disorder that Read More …

The thyroid gland is one of the most essential glands in our bodies. In fact, the thyroid was named after a Greek shield at the time of its discovery. This butterfly shaped gland is responsible for regulating the metabolic rate, which controls heart, muscle, and digestive function, as well as brain development and bone maintenance. The thyroid gland relies on a sufficient supply of iodine to function correctly. See Image 1. The thyroid gland releases three hormones: T3 (Triiodothyronine), T4 (Tetraiodothyronine), and Calcitonin. These hormones are essential for growth, neuronal development, reproduction, regulation of energy, and metabolism. In fact, our Read More …