Every day, medical breakthroughs lengthen and improve lives. Whether it’s an antibiotic, surgical technique or new treatment for addiction, twenty-first century technologies are rethinking healthcare and transforming health care for better patient, clinician and community experiences.
One of the most important medical breakthroughs was Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin in 1928, which revolutionized the treatment of bacterial infections. His discovery paved the way for many antibiotics, and sparked an antibiotic “golden era” that saved millions of lives during World War II.
In 1967, Dr. Rene Favaloro used a vein from a patient’s leg to bypass a blocked coronary artery, creating the first coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). This procedure dramatically decreased blood pressure in patients and reduced the chance of heart attack and stroke.
Physicians can now safely see inside the body thanks to medical imaging technologies such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These non-invasive tools allow physicians to confidently diagnose conditions such as cysts and tumors without removing them or needing to open the patient’s skin.
Dana-Farber researchers, led by Bruce Spiegelman, use a drug to trigger the development of beneficial brown fat cells in mice. These cells generate heat and counteract obesity, and may have the potential to treat other diseases such as ALS and Alzheimer’s disease. HMS geneticist Jack Szostak, the Alexander Rich Distinguished Investigator and professor of medicine, co-discovers telomeres, regions of repetitive DNA that protect chromosomes but shorten each time a cell divides. His work has helped scientists understand aging and stem cells, and earned him the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.