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Big ideas. Discoveries. Controversies. Social issues. The health headlines of 2018 captured our attention and impacted our lives in myriad ways.
So what's next in 2019, for UCSF and beyond? You tell us.
We asked the Twittersphere to let us know what they're keeping tabs on in the year ahead: How will the CRISPR babies case impact the future of gene editing? What research area is heating up, or woefully overlooked? What diseases are on the cusp of a treatment breakthough, or even a cure? Where in public policy do we need to push harder, to ensure equal health access for all?
Read some of the great responses we got from leaders, researchers and clinicians throughout the UCSF community. And don't forget to keep the conversation going!
From CRISPR-ed babies to doctors against gun violence, 2018 was a remarkable year for health and life sciences. Tell us: What are you watching out for in 2019? Pls RT & reply, your thoughts will inform a story for our website! #sciencetwitter #hcsm #scicomm #stem
— UC San Francisco (@UCSF) December 12, 2018
Can we reverse the three year decline in US life expectancy? How do we use our data to understand & intervene on causes, as well as address variation #pophealth #populationhealth #equity https://t.co/E1vh2aV0Lr pic.twitter.com/MtkNKACJyv
— Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo (@KBibbinsDomingo) December 12, 2018
Surgeons who care for victims of gunshot wounds can make a difference by speaking out about this public health epidemic in the US. Over 330 mass shooting 13000 homicides this year. @UCSFSurgery, @ucsf, @UCSFMedicine, @ACSTrauma, #thisisourlane, #thisismylane. https://t.co/JBL3n2EB4J
— Dr. Andre Campbell (@TraumaDocSF) December 12, 2018
The "#exposome" is the hottest -ome. Given EPA pullbacks on environmental oversight, the medical community should trumpet the role of exposures on our health. CA wildfires burned more than trees. From BPS to cleaning fluids, determining their role in disease will be paramount.
— Robert Lustig MD (@RobertLustigMD) December 12, 2018
2018 was the year #Apple, @amazon, @Google etc & oodles of VC $s flowed into health. Improving healthcare value through smart use of digital tools and data is, to me, the big issue for '19. My & @mdhowellmd's @JAMA_current musings on why to be optimistic: https://t.co/IrelozlqLs
— Bob Wachter (@Bob_Wachter) December 12, 2018
I'm hoping for #progress in using engineered cells as living drugs. We can instruct them where to go and what to do once there. We were off to a good start w/ 2 CAR T #cell therapies approved for #leukemia in 2017, yet no new approvals in 2018...Here's to 2019! #immunologymatters
— Leonardo Ferreira (@enhancerleo) December 12, 2018
For 2019, see growing acceptance of the basic science of addiction, which increasing describes this disorder as a chronic brain disease with personal, social, cultural, etc. manifestations.
— Dan Ciccarone (@DanCiccarone) December 12, 2018
Further advancements in medical application of machine learning/AI for visual inspection – e.g. interpreting imaging studies, pathology specimens, more
— Dan Lowenstein (@LowensteinMD) December 12, 2018
For me, continuing to advance our mission of improving health equity and making progress in Mental Health awareness and program building will be key @UCSFChildrens @UCSFBenioffOAK
— Michael Anderson MD MBA FAAP (@MikeAndersonMD) December 12, 2018
Psilocyibin- intriguing evidence shows promise for promoting well being near the end of life. We @UCSF will do more research to understand its role
— Steve Pantilat (@stevepantilat) December 13, 2018
The next generation of health science research will be co-created and led by patients, families, and the clinicians on the front lines to ensure bench to bedside isn't just a tagline- it is a reality. @UCSF @UCSFPTBI @UCSFChildrens https://t.co/AdIQTGIaXf
— Elizabeth Rogers (@eerogersmd) December 12, 2018
I'm excited about the promise of integrating health data analytics with clinical decision making (e.g. the infrastructure @atulbutte is building here @UCSF). Also, excited to see a number of technologies mature: single cell technologies and Cas9-based synthetic biology toolkits.
— Hani Goodarzi (@genophoria) December 12, 2018
For #2019, it will be interesting to see the development of more tools that leverage the health system #EHR #data to enable clinicians to improve clinical decision support. https://t.co/V94xRNOAab @ucsfpharmacy #nursery @UCSFChildrens @pedseducation pic.twitter.com/VCw8r93LZP
— Michael Cabana, MD (@cabanam) December 12, 2018
In 2019, we're watching out for how the groundswell of interest and advocacy surrounding California and the SF Bay Area's #homelessness crisis will coalesce into action on-the-ground and at the policy level. @MKushel @UCSF @UCSFMedicine #sciencetwitter #hcsm #scicomm #stem https://t.co/Ob26zfgzh2
— UCSF CVP at ZSFG (@ucsfcvp) December 12, 2018