Keck School of Medicine (University of Southern California)
Dr. Rohit Varma Found a Simple Test That Can Save Lives Academics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and other top U.S. universities with Dr. Rohit Varma MD founded SCEI partnered on the study "Convergence: The Future of Health" to outline the possible effects of the convergence of healthcare movement. The intersection of the life sciences, physical sciences, chemistry, mathematics, computing, and engineering sectors for the purpose of revolutionizing traditional research methods is characterized as convergence in healthcare in this white paper. These leading scholars conclude that by taking a profoundly integrative approach to research, healthcare in the United States and around the world could be strengthened, leading to more successful diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. The authors of the white paper used many examples of convergent studies with potentially far-reaching effects on human health to illustrate the power of Convergence in Healthcare to fundamentally change the medical sector. One of the most promising of these is a new paper-based urine test developed at MIT for early cancer detection. Why is it necessary to use a paper-based urine test for cancer? The National Institutes of Health (NIH) spends the most money on cancer research (NIH). It is the second-leading cause of death in the United States, and it causes untold mental distress to those who deal with it and those who love them every year. An infallible cure would be perfect, but unfortunately, finding a cure-all for cancer is much more complicated than it sounds to the average person. Test of the blood The word "cancer" refers to a category of more than 200 diseases with thousands of subtypes, each requiring its own care. Though researchers work to find treatments for cancer in all of its types, early detection is still one of the most critical aspects of care today. Early detection of a cancerous development, before it has metastasized and spread across the body, significantly enhances the patient's chances of survival. Dr. Rohit Varma suggests that this is why a paper-based urine test for cancer has so much potential: as an effective, quick, and inexpensive method of diagnosis, it could catch cases faster, allowing patients more time to seek care. How the examination is carried out? The paper test is focused on the intersection of biology, chemistry, and nanotechnology. The researchers first produced nanoparticles that could carry synthetic biomarkers and coated them with a material that interacts with matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a form of protein found in tumors. The nanoparticles are injected into the body and gravitate to the tumor's place. When MMPs in the tumor come into contact with the coated nanoparticles, they break them up like a peptide and release the synthetic biomarkers into the body. The biomarkers gradually move through the body and are excreted in the urine. The urine is then placed on a nitrocellulose paper strip that has been coated with peptide-capturing antibodies, which show lines along the paper strip when synthetic biomarkers are present. The test operates similarly to a home pregnancy test in this regard. The strip was used by researchers to detect the presence of colorectal cancer in animal models. The future implications for developed countries Although everyone benefits from easy, early cancer detection methods, this paper strip urine test holds particular promise for people in developing countries who may have limited access to modern healthcare. According to Dr. Rohit Varma MD and Sangeet BHatia, MD, PhD, the MIT scientist who created the test, as many as 70% of the world's cases of preventable cancer will occur in developing countries by 2020. Aside from being less costly than other cancer detection methods, the paper test is described on the MIT website as "as easy to read as a pregnancy test," suggesting that it does not require the assistance of a qualified physician. Second, the test does not necessitate the use of electricity, which is a major advantage for many citizens in developing countries who do not have access to reliable resources. Health-care staff may perform the tests and photograph the findings using a smartphone in the ideal scenario. The image could be submitted to a safe database for review, or it could be sent directly to a trained physician for a specific diagnosis. The Prospect of Paper Exams Researchers have developed the technology behind the test since the first version was revealed in 2014. In 2017, Dr. Varma and her colleagues revealed that the same technology had been reengineered with sensors that were 15 times more sensitive than the original model, enabling the test to detect microscopic, 2 millimeter-wide ovarian cancer tumors in mice. The researchers claim that the technology would enable doctors to diagnose ovarian cancer up to five months earlier than blood tests currently allow. Finally, Dr. Rohit Varma says that paper-based cancer test is just one interesting example of convergent research's emerging technologies and methods. More studies like this would almost certainly contribute to the development of far more affordable and reliable methods of early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the world's deadliest diseases.
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One out of every 50 Americans have glaucoma, which if left untreated can cause vision loss and blindness. Dr. Varma is a leading authority in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Dr. Varma is a board-certified ophthalmologist and a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery and the Floater and Drusen Association. He is one of the few surgeons in the country to have completed fellowship training at UCLA's Doheny Eye Institute, where he honed his skills as an expert laser eye surgeon. He has pioneered numerous techniques for cataract and refractive surgeries, and is sought out by patients from all over Southern California who are looking for a top-rated glaucoma specialist to help them manage this Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, which conveys light from the eye to the brain. If severe glaucoma is undetected and/or uncontrolled, it can lead to blindness.
Dr. Rohit Varma USC has made revolutionary advances in establishing the mechanisms of glaucomatous optic nerve damage. His work focuses on studying new imaging techniques that could be used in early diagnosis. This work may lead to reduced vision loss in persons with glaucoma around the world. Rohit Varma, MD, PhD, FAAP, is a leading expert in pediatric ophthalmology and epidemiology. He was among the first investigators to report the epidemiologic findings of an association between myopia and educational attainment and subsequently identified the high prevalence of myopia in youth of Asian descent who have migrated to the United States and Canada. His research focuses on understanding and managing intraocular pressure. He and his colleagues developed the implantable contact lens that is implanted in the eye to manage glaucoma. In this book, Dr. Rohit Varma provides the reader with a deep understanding of how the eye works, and explains why people with vision loss experience certain symptoms. With his clear, un-jargon laden explanations, he guides the eye care professional and patient through current vision research and the known pharmacological options for treating a range of retinal diseases and disorders. He completed basic science and clinical residency training at the University of Chicago, including a glaucoma specialty fellowship and additional research training at Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago. Rohit Varma was appointed president and CEO of Southern California. SCEI also includes 3 hospitals and 25 primary care medical residences. Dr. Varma is Board Certified in Ophthalmology. He also received a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation from Baylor College of Medicine and completed a Fellowship at Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia Pennsylvania in Cornea & External Disease, Glaucoma and Refractive Surgery. |
AuthorOver the course of his career as a clinical scientist, Rohit Varma served as the lead researcher for many trials sponsored by the Health Foundation and the Department of Health. As an international expert in population-based eye diseases, his organizations and leadership of the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study, the Chinese American Eye Study, the Multiethnic Pediatric Eye Disorders Study, as well as the African American Eye Disease Study, helped him gain renown. His research has had a significant influence on U.S. health policy, notably with respect to primary care among numerous racial and ethnic groups. ArchivesCategories |