Fares Alrefai’s interest in science was born out of adversity. During his junior year at Tulsa’s Booker T. Washington High School, Alrefai’s mother was diagnosed with colon cancer. “I felt powerless, because there was nothing I could do to help cure her,” he said. “I decided soon after that I wanted to pursue a career […]
Petri Dish
Scientists seek rheumatoid arthritis study participants
OMRF is seeking volunteers who are concerned about developing rheumatoid arthritis to participate in StopRA, a prevention study for the disease. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic illness mainly characterized by inflammation of the lining of the joints. The symptoms include pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints and ultimately the disease can result in loss […]
Shake the Shingles
The commercials may seem corny, but when former NFL quarterback Terry Bradshaw says, “Shingles is like being blindsided by a linebacker,” he’s not kidding. Shingles is a painful, blistering skin rash that typically appears in one wide strip across the body. It causes intense pain and is accompanied by flu-like symptoms and can last 3-5 […]
Breathe Easy
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has awarded OMRF scientist Xiao-Hong Sun, Ph.D., a five-year, $2.76 million grant to investigate a recently discovered immune cell involved in asthma. The role of the new cell, called an innate lymphoid cell, is to protect the body from parasitic infection. However, when too much of this […]
70 Years Young
In 1946, DNA was just a collection of letters. Genes were nicknames for those with the given name Eugene. And the first biotechnology company wouldn’t be born for another three decades. But in Oklahoma, a group of physicians and business leaders saw the potential that biomedical research held. This Sunday, Aug. 28, will mark the […]
OMRF scientists make discovery that could yield new arthritis therapies
Scientists at OMRF have found a novel cellular process that contributes to the development of osteoarthritis. The discovery could lead to new treatments for the most common form of arthritis. Osteoarthritis affects roughly 27 million Americans, according to the Arthritis Foundation. It occurs when the cartilage that cushions bones at the joints breaks down and […]
