Brigham and Women’s Hospital Press Releases & News

BWH Surgeons Perform Nation’s Second Full Face Transplant

A plastic surgery team performed the hospital’s second full face transplant last week, less than a month after the hospital performed the first full face transplant in the country. - May 22, 2011

American Heart Association’s Paul Dudley White Award Presented to Brigham and Women's Hospital Cardiologist

Dr. Patrick T. O'Gara receives the prestigious Paul Dudley White award. - May 22, 2011

Alzheimer’s Disease Consortium Identifies Four New Genes for Alzheimer’s Disease Risk

In the largest study of its kind, researchers from a consortium of investigators have identified four new genes linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Each gene individually adds to the risk of having this common form of dementia later in life. These new genes offer a portal into what causes... - May 22, 2011

BWH Surgeons Perform Nation’s First Full Face Transplant

A Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) plastic surgery team, led by Dr. Bohdan Pomahac, performed the first full face transplant in the country last week, the second face transplant procedure to be performed at BWH. - May 02, 2011

Research Finds "Dispense as Written" Prescriptions May Add $7.7 Billion to Annual Health Care Costs

Approximately five percent of prescriptions submitted by CVS Caremark Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) members in a 30-day period during 2009 included a "dispense as written" designation, costing the health care system up to $7.7 billion annually. - April 21, 2011

Research Shows Rapid Adoption of Newer, More Expensive Prostate Cancer Treatments

New research from the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center (DF/BWCC) shows that newer, more expensive treatment options for prostate cancer were adopted rapidly and widely during 2002 - 2005 without proof of their cost-effectiveness. - April 21, 2011

Quality of Life Significantly Increases After Uterine Fibroid Treatment

Women who received one of three treatments for uterine fibroids aid found their symptoms diminished and their quality of life significantly increased. - April 09, 2011

Brigham and Women’s Hospital Researcher Named National Space Biomedical Research Institute Fellow

Christopher J. Morris, PhD, of the Division of Sleep Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, is one of four scientists selected by the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) for a postdoctoral fellowship. - April 09, 2011

Researchers Unlock the Potential for Exploring Kidney Regeneration

Researchers have identified a cell in zebrafish that can be transplanted from one fish to another to regenerate nephrons, providing the potential to improve kidney function. - March 30, 2011

Obesity and Knee Osteoarthritis Shorten Healthy Years of Life

Researchers estimate healthy years of life losses due to obesity and knee osteoarthritis in Americans 50-84 years of age. - March 30, 2011

Shift Work May be Associated with Decreased Risk of Skin Cancer

Researchers at BWH found that shift work may be associated with a reduced risk of skin cancer in women. - March 25, 2011

Delivering a Potent Cancer Drug in Its Prodrug Form with Nanoparticles Can Prevent Side Effects

The new nanoparticle also treats tumors more effectively than the unadorned drug, in mice. - March 14, 2011

Considering Your Safety in Extreme Cold Weather

Tips for avoid cold weather ailments. - March 14, 2011

Western Dietary Pattern Associated with Kidney Function Decline

A diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy and legumes may offer protection. - February 20, 2011

New Approach for Genetic Research in the US Health Care System

Electronic medical records linked to biological specimens provide resource for genetic research. - February 20, 2011

Smoking May be Associated with Increased Risk of Breast Cancer

Heavy and prolonged smoking initiated prior to menopause may be associated with a modest increase in the risk of developing breast cancer. - February 20, 2011

First Study to Look at New Potential in Infant Organ Donation

New research has resulted in the approval of Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (Kim-1) as a highly sensitive and specific marker of drug-induced kidney injury by both the FDA and EMA. - January 30, 2011

Body Fat Associated with a Higher Risk of ER-Negative Breast Cancer

Previous research has shown that body fat distribution does not play an important role in the overall incidence of premenopausal breast cancer, but new research shows correlation with estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer. - January 30, 2011

Brigham and Women’s Hospital Makes Leapfrog Top Hospitals List

BWH was named a 2010 Leapfrog Top Hospital. BWH is one of 65 hospitals recognized for delivering the highest quality of care in the nation while attaining the highest levels of efficiency. - January 22, 2011

Cutting Dietary Phosphate Does Not Save Dialysis Patients’ Lives

Doctors often ask kidney disease patients on dialysis to limit the amount of phosphate they consume in their diets, but a new study shows this does not help prolong their lives. - January 22, 2011

Women in Massachusetts Benefit from Health Reform, But Challenges Remain

In a new report from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, researchers examine lessons for national health reform from the Massachusetts experience. - July 14, 2010

Teen-Age Boys Have Greater Risk Than Girls of High Blood Pressure as Adults

A new study found that teen boys with normal blood pressure are three to four times more likely than girls to develop high blood pressure in adulthood and at different levels of body mass, prompting researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) to identify a new model to predict... - July 14, 2010

Study of South African Population Reveals the Importance of Screening and Treating for TB in Patients with HIV

A new study reveals that the toll of TB in South Africa is higher than previously thought. - July 14, 2010

Calcium/Vitamin D Supplementation Does Not Raise Coronary Artery Calcium Levels

Research from the Women's Health Initiative demonstrates that supplementation with calcium and vitamin D does not raise coronary artery calcium (CAC) levels, a strong marker for future risk of cardiovascular disease. - July 14, 2010

Simple Blood Test May Predict Who Might Develop Type 2 Diabetes Among Healthy Women - Research at Brigham and Women's Hospital

Doctors may have identified a new and simple way to predict risk for developing type 2 diabetes. - June 23, 2010

Whistleblowers Report Substantial Stresses, Limited Support When Helping Expose Health Care Fraud - Research from BWH

New research evaluates the motivations and experiences of whistleblowers responsible for the recent wave of federal health care fraud cases and finds that, despite their altruistic goals, whistleblowers experience substantial hardships. - June 21, 2010

Brigham Renal Division Research at the Center of an International Effort to Identify Next Generation Biomarkers to Screen Kidney Toxicity

New research has resulted in the approval of Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (Kim-1) as a highly sensitive and specific marker of drug-induced kidney injury by both the FDA and EMA. - June 21, 2010

Risk of Suicide, Suicide Attempt Similar Across Types of Antidepressant Medication

New research shows that among adults beginning antidepressant therapy, the risk of suicide or suicide attempts does not appear to vary by individual type or class of medication. - June 13, 2010

BWH Researchers Find That Using Bar-Code Technology with eMAR Drastically Reduces Medication Administration and Transcription Errors

Researchers found that using both bar-code technology and eMAR together substantially reduces transcription and medication adminstration errors. - June 13, 2010

Green Light Affects Circadian Rhythms

Researchers show that green light is effective in eliciting non-visual responses to light such as resetting circadian rhythms, affecting melatonin production and alerting the brain. - June 13, 2010

Brigham and Women’s Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit Earns Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence

The Beacon Awards award is specifically designated to recognize the nation’s top pediatric, progressive, and adult critical care units across a multitude of hospitals. - June 12, 2010

Researchers Study Perceived Discrimination in Relation to Risk of Death in African American Women

In a recent study, researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) and Boston University Sloan School of Epidemiology found no direct association between perceived racism and risk of death in African American Women. - June 12, 2010

Frequent Doctor Visits Help Diabetics Lower Blood Pressure More Quickly

For patients with diabetes, more frequent doctor visits helped lower their high blood pressure to a normal level more quickly than patients who waited longer between visits. - June 11, 2010

ABC News Shines Prime-Time Spotlight on Boston Hospitals

BWH is featured in a new eight-part primetime medical documentary series on ABC called “Boston Med,” airing Thursday nights at 10 p.m. beginning June 24. - June 11, 2010

American College of Radiology Accreditation Received by Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center at Milford Regional Medical Center

Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center at Milford Regional Medical Center Receives American College of Radiology Accreditation. - May 14, 2010

Major Clinical Trial Finds That Team-Based Care Improves Patient Outcomes

A team-based inpatient care model was associated with a safer hospitalization and higher quality of care for patients, compared to a traditional team model. - May 14, 2010

Alcohol Consumption Associated with Increased Risk for Benign Breast Disease in Young Women - a Research at Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital found Adolescent females who drank frequently were more likely to develop benign breast disease, a predictor of increased break cancer risk. - May 14, 2010

Hispanics Live in Areas with Limited Capacity for Colorectal Cancer Screening: A Research from Brigham and Women's Hospital

New research shows that Hispanics live in areas with more limited availability of colonoscopies and sigmoidoscopies for colorectal cancer screening. - May 12, 2010

Brigham and Women’s Hospital Launches Stork Fund

Supporting healthy moms, healthy pregnancies and healthy babies - Building on 175 years of expertise in the care for mothers and infants, Brigham and Women's Hospital announces the launch of the Stork Fund, a new ePhilanthropy venture dedicated to supporting healthy moms, pregnancies and babies. - May 12, 2010