A medical breakthrough is an important advancement that improves diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease. Breakthroughs may also transform how we understand disease mechanisms. Breakthroughs are usually the result of necessity (a problem which must be solved), opportunity, luck or chance, curiosity and ingenuity. They may also require a great deal of persistence and money to reach the point where they can transform health care.
Examples of major medical breakthroughs include the discovery of insulin to treat diabetes, which has significantly increased life expectancy and saved health systems billions of dollars. Another example is the use of cisplatin, which has been shown to increase survival for cancer patients with advanced disease.
In addition to enabling more effective therapies, diagnostics and treatments, such advances often reduce the need for invasive procedures or lead to new ways of managing disease. They may also make a disease more easily transmissible and spread.
Stony Brook researchers have contributed to a number of such medical innovations and breakthroughs, which improve patient outcomes and quality of life worldwide.
However, it is important to remember that medical research often takes years to develop from initial discoveries to pioneering therapies and techniques. It is important not to sensationalise early research or suggested findings, especially when the results are not tested in humans, and to only report on phase III clinical trial evidence of proven patient benefits. In this way, we can ensure that our health writing is accurate and credible.