"We are incredibly proud to celebrate these 15 companies. Their dedication and accomplishments have raised the bar, and we look forward to continuing to support their efforts as they make strides in advancing patient care worldwide,” says Jamie Sundsbak, senior manager of Mayo Clinic Platform_Accelerate.

Using Mayo Clinic Platform’s global, de-identified data network, Mayo Clinic Platform_Accelerate helps startups validate and prepare their artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solutions for clinical and administrative deployment, in line with healthcare industry standards. The program provides participants access to Mayo Clinic experts in regulatory, clinical, technology, and business domains.

Learn more about each company in the Showcase:

• Bloom Standard’s RAPIDscan is a one-minute, easy-to-use ultrasound device that helps detect and monitor heart and lung conditions, providing quick assessments and supporting healthcare staff at all levels with AI-driven guidance for diagnosis and patient referrals.

• Ethos is an AI-powered platform that detects and monitors alcohol use, helping healthcare providers identify and treat individuals at risk for Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease.

• Hope AI uses clinical evidence, advanced statistics, and AI technology to address challenges in clinical trials, such as long durations, large sample sizes, slow patient recruitment, and high costs, by optimizing trial design and accelerating development timelines.

• Lasa Health uses AI and machine learning (ML) to help diagnose and manage pelvic pain disorders.

• OPTT is a digital mental health platform that helps clinicians deliver data-driven, measurement-based care by providing clinically validated content and AI-powered insights to improve patient evaluations and treatment decisions.

• PEP’s AI persona, Addie, helps hospitals identify post-acute care candidates and streamline the recovery process, ensuring smooth handoffs between acute and post-acute providers for better patient outcomes.

• PONS uses AI to enhance ultrasound imaging, providing deeper insights into disease progression with improved scan resolution, tissue contrast, and noise reduction, all without the need for costly new hardware.

• Respiree™ uses AI and ML to track and manage disease progression across the care continuum, providing clinically validated insights based on data in electronic health records.

• Smart Opinion, Inc. uses AI to enhance ultrasound accuracy for early breast cancer detection, particularly in women with dense breast tissue, offering real-time support to improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce false positives and negatives.

• Splink, Inc. specializes in AI-driven early diagnosis and behavior change solutions for brain disorders like dementia, depression, and schizophrenia, addressing both prevention and post-onset stages, with a focus on dementia in aging populations.

• Ubie- Home uses its AI-powered symptom checker to guide 12 million patients to appropriate care, supporting 1,800 hospitals and clinics worldwide to improve clinical outcomes for consumers, healthcare providers, and pharmaceutical companies.

• Voythos is developing a machine-learning platform that predicts life-threatening complications in patients with complex aortic disease, helping surgeons intervene precisely to reduce morbidity and mortality with advanced data integration and predictive modeling.

• Whyze Health uses AI to integrate clinical and patient data from both hospital and home settings, enabling continuous monitoring of treatment efficacy and safety while providing insights to improve patient care and outcomes.

• Ystory uses an AI-driven app to provide personalized, evidence-based support for women over 35, providing guidance on menopause awareness, diagnosis, and treatment.

• Yuimedi is a health-tech company transforming medical data management with YuiQuery, an AI-powered solution that simplifies SQL query generation, helping healthcare teams efficiently analyze data and make faster data-driven decisions.

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About Mayo Clinic Platform
Founded on Mayo Clinic's dedication to patient-centered care, Mayo Clinic Platform enables new knowledge, new solutions, and new technologies through collaborations with health technology innovators to create a healthier world. To learn more, visit Mayo Clinic Platform at www.mayoclinicplatform.org.

About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to supporting innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact:

• Kaitlin Haar, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Mayo Clinic Platform_Accelerate Showcase celebrates promise of health tech innovation for improving patient care appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Explore the latest in artificial intelligence (AI) and its applications in healthcare at Mayo Clinic's 2025 AI Summit: Generative AI, Information Retrieval and Evidence-Based Medicine. The event will take place July 7–8 in Rochester, Minnesota. A virtual attendance option will also be offered.

Mayo Clinic is now accepting abstract submissions for talks, poster presentations and workshops. The deadline to submit abstracts is May 15.

About the summit

The AI Summit will bring together AI experts and the healthcare community to discuss advances in the field and explore opportunities and challenges ahead. The event will be hosted by the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Informatics in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic AI community.

"This summit offers an exciting chance to engage with cutting-edge ideas, collaborate across disciplines and shape how AI can help bring solutions that meaningfully improve healthcare. It's not just about what's possible — it's about what's next, and how we can get there together," says Cui Tao, Ph.D., chair of Mayo Clinic's Department of Artificial Intelligence and Informatics. Dr. Tao is the Nancy Peretsman and Robert Scully Chair of AI and Informatics.

The summit is open to Mayo Clinic staff and students, as well as the public.

Keynote speakers

Attendees will hear from leading experts through keynote presentations, lightning talks, panel discussions and a poster session. Featured keynote speakers are:

• Clark Otley, M.D., chief medical officer, Mayo Clinic Platform
  "AI and Healthcare: What the World Needs."
• Jeroen van der Laak, Ph.D., professor of computational pathology at Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, The Netherlands
  "Toward Clinical Adoption of AI in Pathology."
• Yifan Peng, Ph.D., associate professor of population health sciences at Weill Cornell Medicine
  "Large Language Models for Clinical Evidence Extraction, Retrieval and Summarization."
• Greg Corrado, Ph.D., distinguished scientist and senior director at Google Research
  "Accelerating Scientific Breakthroughs With AI."
• Matthew Callstrom, M.D., Ph.D., medical director of Generative Artificial Intelligence at Mayo Clinic
  "Data-Driven Medicine: Transforming Clinical Insights with Generative AI."

Event chair Hamid Tizhoosh, Ph.D., and co-chair Fred Fan, Ph.D., of Mayo Clinic's Department of Artificial Intelligence and Informatics, will oversee the program.

View the complete agenda.

Register to attend

Early-bird registration is $375 for general attendees and $250 for students. After May 1, rates will increase to $475 for general attendees and $350 for students.

Register now to attend.

Submit an abstract or workshop proposal

Mayo Clinic invites abstract submissions from people working in AI-related fields. The conference will cover an array of topics — from how AI models can assist healthcare professionals with training, diagnostics, treatment and evidence-based care, to challenges in areas such as AI bias, ethical considerations and the translation of AI research into clinical care.

Presentation formats are:

• Lightning talk
• Poster presentation
• Workshop or tutorial

The top 10 abstracts will be published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings — Digital Health.

Submit an abstract by May 15 for consideration.

Learn more

Visit the AI Summit website for more details and the full agenda.

Explore the Mayo Clinic Cardiology and Radiology AI Summit, to be held May 8.

The post Submit abstracts and register for Mayo Clinic’s AI Summit appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

JACKSONVILLE — More than 2 million people in the United States are living with limb loss — 1.7 million of whom use a prosthetic limb. One of those people is Hamaad Khan, D.O., a first-year internal medicine resident with Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education (MCSGME). With the guidance and resources available at Mayo Clinic, Dr. Khan is developing an idea that could significantly improve outcomes for patients using prosthetics.

In December, Dr. Khan won Mayo Clinic in Florida's 2024 Alligator Tank — a "Shark Tank"-style pitch competition presented by Mayo Clinic Research Innovation — with his idea to bring sensor technology to prosthetic sockets, which are used to help fit amputees to their prosthetic limbs.

Alligator Tank is open annually to individual innovators from the Mayo Clinic in Florida campus as well as teams with at least one member based on the Florida campus. Contestants are judged by a five-member panel hailing from across the Florida campus, including researchers, consultants, engineers and business developers. (Mayo Clinic's Minnesota and Arizona campuses have similar competitions, known, respectively, as Walleye Tank and Roadrunner Sprint.)

Despite competing against more seasoned innovators, Dr. Khan came out on top, receiving $50,000 in funding, with an additional $500 for being voted the crowd favorite. His success could only be realized through MCSGME, where trainees are empowered to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset and develop groundbreaking, innovative solutions to lead the global transformation of healthcare.

Innovation a lifetime in the making

Dr. Khan was born with only a partial left arm, having experienced Amniotic Band Syndrome in the womb — a condition where parts of the amniotic sac wrapped around his forearm, hindering its development. He started using prosthetics at three months old and required a new prosthetic arm every time he outgrew the previous one. By 17, he had been through nearly 20 prostheses, each one taking several weeks of fitting and sizing prior to use.

As he got older, Dr. Khan was fitted with a cable-powered prosthesis, enabling greater functionality and giving him the confidence to complete emergency medical technician training. He volunteered as an EMT, serving several years as chief of his university's volunteer EMT service during his undergraduate education. This solidified his desire to pursue a career in medicine, where he will specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation beginning in July 2025.

Dr. Khan knows the trials and tribulations that an ill-fitting socket presents and felt strongly that the functionality and daily use of prosthetics depends almost entirely on the improvement of this core element.

"I have always been fascinated by how clinicians use a simple yet effective method to create personalized sockets for their patients, but there have been few significant advancements in this process in recent years," he says. "I figured it was time to bring in something new."

Each prosthetic socket is custom made and acts as a direct interface between the prosthesis and the patient's limb. Studies show that ill-fitted prosthetics can lead to pressure injuries, skin breakdown, hypersensitivity and other problems that may keep people from using their prosthesis daily.

The idea Dr. Khan pitched at Alligator Tank brings sensor technologies into the socket itself, identifying areas during the fitting that might lead to discomfort or injury with continued use of the prosthesis.

"The goal is to catch these problem points early in the socket creation process and provide a comfortable fit for the patient with greater time and cost effectiveness," he says.

From innovator to entrepreneur

As a patient and a physician, Dr. Khan knew that finding a way to accelerate the socket-fitting process while lowering clinician costs presented a great business opportunity.

The opportunities at Mayo Clinic allowed Dr. Khan to develop his Alligator Tank pitch. In addition to consulting with friends who have experienced limb loss and professional prosthetists who make the devices, he spoke with several Mayo physicians who regularly care for amputees and witness the effects of poor socket fit. They encouraged Dr. Khan to explore ways to improve and update the current process for prosthetic fitting.

He also worked closely with faculty within Mayo Clinic's Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation department who helped him develop his idea, Internal Medicine faculty who encouraged his interest in innovation and helped him make many connections within their Mayo Clinic network, and faculty involved with Mayo's partnership with Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital who taught him about common problems facing amputees and introduced him to patients living with limb loss.

Dr. Khan is now working with Mayo Clinic Research Innovation, Mayo Clinic Ventures and other internal resources as he continues his efforts to turn his idea into a reality.

Fostering entrepreneurial spirit in Mayo's trainees

Clinical innovation and entrepreneurship are strategic areas of importance for MCSGME. Trainees can enroll in a four-week elective course or a year-long academy, both aimed at helping develop and strengthen skill sets in clinical innovation and thinking. Additionally, Mayo Clinic in Florida was the first in the nation to create a formal innovation curriculum embedded into its Internal Medicine residency program, in which Dr. Khan is currently a trainee.

Abdallah El Sabbagh, M.D., associate program director for innovation for the Internal Medicine residency, says Dr. Khan's success is attributable in large part to the support and connections he found at Mayo Clinic, which fosters innovation and creates such opportunities for its trainees.

"For years, innovation has remained an untapped resource in medical training, despite its undeniable importance in advancing patient care and transforming healthcare delivery," he says. "We are fortunate that Mayo Clinic recognizes the immense value of innovation and has committed significant resources to making it a priority in medical education.

"Dr. Khan's story should inspire trainees across all of Mayo Clinic that anything is possible in this institution and that they should carry forward with their ideas, as creativity knows no age, hierarchy or background. What it knows is that the needs of the patients come first."

The post Resident and lifelong amputee’s prosthetic innovation wins big at Alligator Tank appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Tyler Hart's medical journey began with a series of perplexing symptoms that left him and his doctors searching for answers. For over a decade, Tyler was diagnosed with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), a condition that led to numerous treatments but no significant improvement. It wasn't until he sought a second opinion at Mayo Clinic that he finally received the correct diagnosis.

Early symptoms and misdiagnosis

Tyler's symptoms started in his teenage years with weakness in his hands and feet, and a gradual loss of motor function. Initially misdiagnosed with CIDP, Tyler underwent various treatments, including Intravenous Immunoglobulin or IVIG infusions and immunosuppressive therapies. Despite these efforts, his condition continued to worsen, leading to significant weakness and disability.

Reflecting on his journey, Tyler said, "I was realistic with my diagnosis. If I can just maintain and maybe get a little better here and there, I guess I'm happy with that."

The misdiagnosis was not due to negligence but rather the limitations of medical knowledge and testing available at the time. Div Dubey, M.B.B.S., a neurologist and co-director of the Neuroimmunology Laboratory in Mayo Clinic’s Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (DLMP) emphasized:

"Had I seen Tyler in 2013, I would have done the exact same thing that other doctors did. The advancements that DLMP and Mayo Clinic Laboratories have made in medical testing since then have been crucial in properly identifying these rare conditions."

Journey to Mayo Clinic

In March of 2023, Tyler decided to seek a second opinion at Mayo Clinic. He was referred to Dr. Dubey, a specialist in peripheral nerve disorders. Dr. Dubey's expertise and the availability of the advanced diagnostic tests performed by DLMP and Mayo Clinic Laboratories played a crucial role in identifying the true cause of Tyler's symptoms.

“Tyler’s case was complex, and the symptoms he presented made me suspect an autoimmune nodopathy,” Dr. Dubey says. “The combination of tremors, speech changes, the pattern of weakness, and the limited response to IVIG were red flags that led us to test for neurofascin 155-IgG4 antibodies."

Correct diagnosis and treatment

After meeting with and examining Tyler, Dr. Dubey ordered Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ test for neurofascin 155-IgG4 antibodies, which confirmed his diagnosis. This breakthrough allowed Tyler to switch to a more effective treatment: rituximab. Since starting this new therapy, Tyler has shown signs of improvement, with reduced symptoms and a better quality of life.

"The diagnosis was actually hopeful because I was able to stop my weekly infusions and switch to rituximab every six months," Tyler says. "It's been a good thing for me, and I haven't seen any side effects hardly at all."

Dr. Dubey added, "We are hopeful that with continued treatment, Tyler will see more improvement. The early signs are promising, and we aim to stop the progression of the disease and help him regain as much function as possible."

Understanding NF155-IgG4 autoimmune nodopathy

Neurofascin 155-IgG4 autoimmune nodopathy (NF155-IgG4 AN) is a rare autoimmune disorder affecting the peripheral nerves, leading to demyelination and neurological symptoms. A recent study from Mayo Clinic demonstrated that the pediatric patients often present with rapid progression of symptoms, including distal predominant weakness, paresthesias, and sometimes tremors or cerebellar ataxia. Sensory ataxia is less common in children compared to adults.

Impact on daily life

Receiving the correct diagnosis and treatment from Mayo Clinic has had a profound impact on Tyler's daily life. As a multi-craft maintenance technician at 3M in Alexandria, Minnesota, Tyler's work involves building and maintaining machines, a task that requires fine motor skills. The improvement he’s experienced in his condition since his diagnosis has allowed him to continue working and pursuing hobbies like working on his classic cars.

"I work with my hands quite often, both at work and in my hobbies," Tyler says. "Improving my fine motor skills is really important to me. I've got good strength, but fine motor skills are complicated."

Tyler's classic cars collection includes a 1949 Chevrolet and 1970 C10, which he enjoys restoring and maintaining. "I've always loved cars, which led me to find a career in the automotive industry,” he says. The ability to continue working and engaging in his hobbies has been a significant boost to Tyler's morale. "Being able to do what I love and not be limited by my condition is incredibly important to me," he said. "It gives me a sense of normalcy and purpose."

Support system

Throughout his diagnostic journey, Tyler has received unwavering support from his family and friends. Despite his preference for managing his condition independently, he knows that his loved ones are always there for him when needed. This support has been invaluable in helping him navigate the challenges of his condition.

"My family has been really supportive of me," Tyler said. "I try to pretend I don't have the condition because I don't really like to be treated differently. But they know if I ask for help, I probably actually need it."

Tyler's determination to maintain his independence is evident in his approach to managing his condition. "I don't let a lot of people help me," he says. "I try to manage on my own as much as possible, but it's comforting to know that my family is there for me if I need them."

Dr. Dubey also acknowledges the importance of a strong support system in managing chronic conditions. "Having a supportive network can make a significant difference in a patient's journey," he says. "It provides emotional and practical support, which is crucial for long-term management."

Tyler's support system extends beyond his immediate family. He has also received encouragement from friends and colleagues who have been understanding and accommodating of his condition. "My friends and co-workers have been great," Tyler said. "They understand what I'm going through and are always willing to lend a hand if I need it."

Future goals and dreams

Looking ahead, Tyler hopes to continue improving his fine motor skills. He remains optimistic about his progress and is grateful for the advancements in diagnostic laboratory testing that led to his correct diagnosis.

"We are hopeful that with continued treatment, Tyler will see more improvement,” Dr. Dubey adds. “The early signs are promising, and we aim to stop the progression of the disease and help him regain as much function as possible."

Tyler's goals extend beyond his physical health, as he also hopes to continue excelling in his career and pursuing his hobbies. "I want to keep working and doing what I love," he says. "Having a clear understanding of my health and a treatment plan that works gives me hope for the future."

Tyler also hopes to inspire others who may be facing similar challenges. "If my story can help someone else get the right diagnosis and treatment sooner, then it's worth sharing," he says. "I want others to know that there is hope and that they are not alone."

In addition to his personal goals, Tyler is also passionate about raising awareness for NF155-IgG4 autoimmune nodopathy.

"I want to help others understand this condition and the importance of early diagnosis," he says. "The more people know about it, the better chance they have of getting the right treatment."

Tyler's story is a testament to the importance of early and accurate diagnostic testing in managing complex medical conditions, and his journey further highlights the advancements in diagnostics testing and medical expertise available to patients at Mayo Clinic.

"Tyler's case underscores the importance of continued research and development in the field of neuroimmunology,” Dr. Dubey says. “The ability to accurately diagnose and treat rare conditions like NF155-IgG4 AN can make a significant difference in patients' lives."

This story first published on the Mayo Clinic Laboratories blog.

The post A decade-long search for answers ends at Mayo Clinic appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — A study published in Brain Communications highlights a new approach to treating drug-resistant epilepsy. Researchers at Mayo Clinic have developed an innovative deep brain stimulation (DBS) platform that was used to not only reduce seizures, but also improve memory and sleep — two common challenges for patients with epilepsy.

Epilepsy, a seizure disorder that affects about 50 million people worldwide, often disrupts memory, emotions and sleep. Many cases are drug-resistant, leaving people with limited treatment options. Researchers at Mayo Clinic found that low-frequency DBS not only reduced seizures, but it also improved memory and sleep.

"Using an implanted investigational device, the team continuously monitored brain activity with AI-driven seizure and sleep tracking," says Gregory Worrell, M.D., Ph.D., Mayo Clinic neurologist and co-lead author of the study. "A cloud-based platform simultaneously assessed participants' behavior, memory and mood at home. This real-time data enables precise tuning of stimulation settings, maximizing benefits while minimizing side effects."

"By using an implanted device that continuously monitors brain activity, we can detect seizures more accurately than patient-reported diaries in order to optimize deep brain stimulation in real-time and improve treatment," says Vaclav Kremen, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic researcher and co-lead author of the study.

The researchers monitored five patients with temporal lobe epilepsy throughout their DBS treatment. The system allowed patients to track their brain activity and symptoms remotely, providing doctors with detailed, real-world data to fine-tune treatments. This technology could lead to more effective treatments for drug-resistant epilepsy and could be expanded to treat other neurological and psychiatric disorders.

"Our study demonstrates the potential of emerging neurotechnology to treat human disease," says Jamie Van Gompel, M.D., Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon and co-author of the study.

"Combining neuroscience, engineering and artificial intelligence, our work is paving the way for more personalized and effective treatments for epilepsy and other brain disorders," says Dr. Worrell.

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health — National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and the CLARA project, which has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation program.  The implanted devices were donated by Medtronic as part of the National Institutes of Health Brain Initiative Public-Private Partnership.

Review the study for a complete list of authors, disclosures and funding. 

###

About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact: 

• Tia Ford, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu 

The post New study in Brain Communications finds personalized deep brain stimulation shows promise for drug-resistant epilepsy appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Researchers, clinicians and innovators are invited to submit their work for presentation during the Machine Learning for Healthcare Conference, which will be held Aug. 15–16.

Mayo Clinic is hosting this year's Machine Learning for Healthcare Conference Aug. 15–16. This premier event is at the intersection of machine learning, digital health technologies and clinical practices. It will be held at the Hilton Rochester Mayo Clinic.

The Machine Learning for Healthcare Conference is an annual research meeting that brings together clinicians, medical researchers and computer scientists with expertise in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and big data. The conference aims to support the advancement of data analytics, knowledge discovery and meaningful use of complex medical data by fostering collaborations and idea-sharing among attendees.

"Since its inception, the Machine Learning for Healthcare Conference has fostered groundbreaking collaboration and innovation in healthcare and machine learning," says David Vidal, J.D., vice chair of Artificial Intelligence Enablement for Mayo Clinic's Center for Digital Health and the local program co-chair for the conference. "Artificial intelligence and machine learning in healthcare are imperative in helping patients and their families connect to care in new ways, and Mayo Clinic is proud to be hosting this conference to continue advancing this important work."

Register for early bird tickets to the event.

Call for papers

Researchers, clinicians and innovators are invited to submit their work for presentation during the conference.

Papers will be accepted for the Research Track and Clinical Abstract Tracks.

Research Track (Archival): The themes for the Research Track include new methods, experimental machine learning design or validation studies integrated into the clinical practice, and studies on benchmarking and ability to reproduce the methods. The submission should be 10 to 15 pages (excluding references and appendices).

If accepted, at least one author will be expected to attend the conference. The accepted papers will be published in the Proceeding of Machine Learning Research.

Clinical Abstract Track (Nonarchival): The Clinical Abstract Track papers should focus on clinical problems that could benefit from machine learning advancements or translational achievements. The papers should be no longer than two pages. If the paper is accepted, at least one author is expected to attend the conference.

The authors of the top clinical abstracts will be invited to submit an enhanced version to Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Digital Health.

Submission guidelines

If you are interested in submitting your paper for the conference, you will need to send a letter of intent through OpenReview no later than April 10. You will need to create an account to submit your letter of intent. The final paper submission deadline is April 11.

"Researchers, clinicians, and innovators are invited to submit their work to the Machine Learning for Healthcare Conference—a premier venue to showcase cutting-edge research and real-world impact," says Shauna Overgaard, Ph.D., senior director of Artificial Intelligence Enablement for the Center for Digital Health and a local program co-chair for the conference. "This is a unique opportunity to advance the field, collaborate globally, and reinforce our shared commitment to patient-centered AI."

Click here to review the complete conference timeline.

The post Submit your innovative idea for the Machine Learning for Healthcare Conference 2025 appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Today, Mayo Clinic in Florida introduced a five-floor patient tower expansion as part of Mayo Clinic's Bold. Forward. Unbound. investments to revolutionize the healthcare experience for patients and staff. The vertical growth of the tower will enable 166 new patient beds within medical/surgical nursing units, supported by new automation and patient care technology. These new offerings will further unite the physical and digital healthcare environments.

"Mayo Clinic continues to invest in growth and healthcare transformation, including a plan to more than double our space for patient care, biomedical research and education in Florida," says Kent Thielen, M.D., CEO of Mayo Clinic in Florida. "The structures we are creating now will serve the patients of today and the patients we will care for over generations to come."  

The expansion's technology makes the rooms an extension of the care team. Patients can control every aspect of their room experience from an app on their phones. Emerging technology will monitor a sleeping patient's vital signs with fewer interruptions. Family members can drop in virtually from across the city or around the world to participate in patient care consults with Mayo experts.

For staff, the updated technology and spaces create an improved workflow and a more efficient clinical environment. This will allow them to spend more time focused on patient care and less time on administrative tasks. Added automation means that self-guided carts can deliver food and linens on command.

Other features include a top-floor indoor/outdoor lounge for staff and visitors who need respite, a breath of fresh air, nourishment, or the tranquility of coastal views.

"The expansion of our hospital is not just a new building, it is a bold reimagining and blueprint for the future of healthcare delivery, codesigned with the collective wisdom of those who live and breathe it," says Michael Maniaci, M.D., professor of medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. "By weaving together the insights of both our staff and our patients, we've created a space where innovation is not only imagined but also implemented, shaped by the very people it serves."

Throughout the planning and development process, Mayo Clinic staff input has been critical to expansion design. Staff representing different roles and functional areas joined to plan, pilot, evaluate and implement the innovative technologies that will solve unmet patient and staff needs. This collaborative approach demonstrates how Mayo Clinic continues to shape the future of healthcare.

Expansion highlights:

• Technology-enhanced patient, visitor and staff experience.
• Floor-to-ceiling windows that increase natural light by 80% in patient rooms. Studies show that natural light improves patients' moods and speeds healing. Many rooms will also offer scenic views of the coastal environment near Mayo Clinic.
• A modernized patient digital wall that engages patients with clinical information, education, communication, relaxation and entertainment.
• A digital entryway display that pulls real-time data from the electronic health record and delivers information to protect the patient as well as care team members and visitors who are entering the room.
• An ambient clinical intelligence-empowered camera that enables the consolidation of multiple sensors into a single platform, turning patient rooms into an integrated virtual care delivery hub.
• A pass-through drawer that allows staff to stock patient supplies from outside the room, with design considerations that will enable further automation.
• An updated headwall that allows the optimal placement of each clinical connection, increased access to outlets and additional med-gas and oxygen ports to improve patient care efficiency.

Mayo Clinic Hospital opened in April 2008 with six floors and 214 beds. In 2012, two additional floors and 90 beds were added. With the most recent five-floor expansion, the tower's capacity is 419 licensed beds. In addition to new patient rooms and a lounge, the expansion includes one floor for mechanical and electrical support and one floor for future growth.

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About Mayo Clinic 
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education, and research, and providing compassion, expertise, and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.  

Media contact: 

• Tia Ford, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Mayo Clinic in Florida state-of-the-art hospital expansion to enhance patient care and services appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Dr. Denise Harnois, a Mayo Clinic transplant hepatologist, explains how this innovative strategy is expanding treatment options and improving outcomes.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:13) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Learning you have advanced colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver can be scary. In some cases, a liver transplant may offer hope, providing better outcomes when other treatments aren't an option. 

"In those circumstances where patients have colon cancer that's gone to the liver that doesn't seem to be anyplace else within the body, but they're not eligible for consideration of doing a surgical resection — in those circumstances, we can consider replacing the entire liver, and that involves a liver transplant," explains Dr. Harnois.

It's a complex surgery requiring experts from multiple teams working together.

"We're working together as a team to make sure we are offering the best options for the potential for cure for these patients," she says.

Liver transplants have greatly improved survival rates. One-year survival is 80% to 100%, three-year survival is around 80%, and five-year survival is between 60% and 80%.

"Without consideration of liver transplant, their five-year survival rate would have been 15%. So we can offer a dramatic improvement in survival rates in patients that undergo liver transplant," says Dr. Harnois.

Related posts:

• Liver transplants offer new hope for colorectal cancer patients with liver metastasis
• Mayo Clinic Q and A:  Understanding colorectal cancer
• Mayo Clinic Minute: Warning signs of colorectal cancer in younger adults
• Innovative treatments for rectal cancer

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Liver transplant for patients with advanced colorectal cancer appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

The body has a built-in defense: the immune system, which consists of white blood cells, lymph system tissues and organs that work together to identify and destroy infections and abnormal cells. However, cancer cells use genetic changes to hide their abnormality or interfere with the immune system's ability to detect and destroy them. Immunotherapy helps the immune system overcome these defenses.

"We're working with what the body naturally does but has not done perfectly, as it has allowed cancer to develop. We're trying to reinforce the body's natural defenses," says Svetomir Markovic, M.D., Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center medical oncologist who researches immunotherapy for melanoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

"Immunotherapy leverages the patient's immune system to fight cancer. It activates and pushes it to find the tumors and kill them," says Haidong Dong, M.D., Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center cancer immunologist. "You can use different tools — T cells, vaccines, targeted drugs — but they all use the patient's immune cells to fight their tumors."

Dr. Markovic and Dr. Dong discuss the history of cancer immunotherapy at Mayo Clinic, how it works, its benefits and risks, and its future:

The roots of cancer immunotherapy at Mayo Clinic

In the late '90s, Dr. Dong and his colleagues at Mayo Clinic discovered that a protein called PD-L1 regulates the immune system's response to cancer cells and other threats. PD-L1 acts as a check or brake by binding to another protein in T cells called PD-1. This discovery led them to develop an antibody that blocks PD-L1's function.

"Using the antibody to block PD-L1 restores the immune system's ability to kill the tumor," says Dr. Dong, the Iris and Winston Clement Professor of Research. "This breakthrough laid the foundation for immunotherapy drugs that target the PD-L1 pathway."

In 2002, Dr. Dong and his team reported their findings, paving the way for the development of new immunotherapy drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors. In 2014, the Food and Drug Administration approved pembrolizumab as the first immune checkpoint inhibitor to treat melanoma. Today, pembrolizumab is approved to treat 18 types of cancer.

How does cancer immunotherapy work?

Cancer immunotherapy drugs don't directly target cancer cells. Instead, they enhance the body's immune cells, improving their ability to recognize and destroy cancer cells.

"Immunotherapy helps the immune system see where the tumor is in the body. The immune system can see a single cancer cell. That's powerful," says Dr. Dong.

"Immunotherapy helps the immune system see where the tumor is in the body. The immune system can see a single cancer cell. That's powerful."Dr. Haidong Dong

"It's almost like cancer therapy by proxy," says Dr. Markovic, the Charles F. Mathy Professor of Melanoma Research. "We're engaging the body to do its job in ways that make it uniquely effective."

Some of the most common immunotherapies used in cancer treatment include:

Immune checkpoint inhibitors

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are immunotherapy drugs that block checkpoint proteins, such as PD-L1, on cancer cells from binding to their partner proteins on immune cells (T cells). This allows the immune system to destroy cancer cells. Pembrolizumab is one example of an immune checkpoint inhibitor. Eleven immune checkpoint inhibitors have now been approved to treat cancer.

Most of these drugs are used for advanced cancer or cancer that has spread (metastasized). However, some immune checkpoint inhibitors are now being used in earlier stages of cancer to prevent its spread and recurrence. Clinical trials are also investigating combinations of these drugs with other treatments and new immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Learn about immune checkpoint inhibitors and related research at Mayo Clinic:

• Immune checkpoint inhibitors: Immunotherapy for people with triple-negative breast cancer
• From molecule to melanoma: A foundation of research brings new cancer immunotherapies to patients

Oncolytic viruses

Oncolytic viruses use naturally occurring or lab-made viruses to infect cancer cells, causing them to rupture. This stimulates the immune system to attack the remaining cancer cells.

Most oncolytic virus treatments for cancer are still in clinical trials. A weakened form of herpes simplex virus type 1 given by injection is approved to treat melanoma on the skin or in lymph glands.

Learn about oncolytic virus research at Mayo Clinic:

• Novel oncolytic immunotherapy shows promise for patients with bladder cancer
• Unleashing viruses aimed at killing cancer
• Mayo Clinic researchers load CAR-T cells with oncolytic virus to treat solid cancer tumors

Personalized cancer vaccines

Personalized cancer vaccines train the immune system to recognize a specific cancer-related protein from a person's tumor. As the immune system learns to recognize the protein, it can fight it. This treatment is still being studied in clinical trials.

Learn about personalized cancer vaccine research at Mayo Clinic:

• Mayo Clinic Minute: How personalized vaccines target cancer tumors
• Vaccines: The next frontier of lung cancer treatment and prevention
• Tomorrow's Cure: How personalized vaccines combat cancer
• Mayo Clinic researchers design personalized vaccines to fight cancer
• Harnessing the immune system to fight ovarian cancer

Cellular therapies

Cellular therapies involve collecting cells from blood and modifying them to attack cancer cells. These include chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy and tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy.

• CAR-T cell therapy: For this therapy, white blood cells called T cells are removed from a person's blood and genetically modified to produce chimeric antigen receptors. CARs allow T cells to recognize markers on the surface of cancer cells, activating the T cells to kill them. The modified CAR-T cells are then infused into the patient's body to identify and destroy their cancer. The FDA has approved CAR-T cell therapy to treat several types of blood cancer, and clinical trials are exploring its use for solid tumor cancers.
• TIL therapy: This therapy involves surgically removing a person's cancerous tumor, extracting immune cells (lymphocytes) from it, and enriching them. During this process, the patient receives chemotherapy to prepare to receive the enriched immune cells, which are later infused into their body to target any remaining cancer. "The first treatment the patient receives warms up the immune system — improves it to a degree ­— but not enough to kill the tumor. TIL therapy gives the immune cells more power to finish the job," says Dr. Dong. In 2024, the FDA approved the first TIL therapy, lifileucel, for people with melanoma that has spread or cannot be removed by surgery.

Learn about cellular therapy research at Mayo Clinic:

• What is CAR-T cell therapy?
• Understanding CAR-T cell therapy for cancer: Mayo Clinic expert explains how it works
• Unleashing CAR-T cell therapy to destroy solid tumors in thyroid cancer
• Using molecular scissors to improve CAR-T cell therapy
• Preparing to biomanufacture a new CAR-T cell therapy for B-cell cancers

Cytokines

Cytokines are proteins made by white blood cells that signal the immune system to either activate or slow down. Cytokines used as immunotherapy drugs include interleukins and interferons:

• Interleukins: These act as chemical signals between white blood cells. Aldesleukin is a lab-made interleukin (IL-2) that increases the growth and activity of certain white blood cells. It is used to treat melanoma and kidney cancer that has spread throughout the body.
• Interferons: These help the body resist viruses and cancer cells. Interferon alfa-2b is a type of interferon (IFN-alpha) used to treat hairy cell leukemia, melanoma, follicular lymphoma and AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma.

Bispecific antibodies

When the immune system detects cancer cells or other abnormal cells, it produces immune cells called antibodies to attack them. Bispecific antibodies are lab-made antibodies that can bind to both cancer and immune cells simultaneously, bringing them close together to enhance the immune system’s ability to destroy cancer cells.

The FDA has approved seven immunotherapy drugs that use bispecific antibodies to treat cancer.

Learn about bispecific antibody research at Mayo Clinic: "New research discovers a new combination of therapy for people with a type of leukemia, leading them to live longer."

What are the benefits and risks of immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is effective against many types of cancer because it uses the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. "We don't yet know which immunotherapy best suits all malignancies. As we learn the biology of all this, as our intervention tools become more sophisticated, the number of cancers we can treat increases," says Dr. Markovic.

"We don't yet know which immunotherapy best suits all malignancies. As we learn the biology of all this, as our intervention tools become more sophisticated, the number of cancers we can treat increases."Dr. svetomir Markovic

Immunotherapy can also produce long-lasting responses to treatment by training the immune system to recognize cancer and respond quickly if it returns.

However, immunotherapy can cause side effects. "That’s the price we pay," says Dr. Markovic. "When turned on, the immune system attacks the cancer but may also attack noncancerous tissue, producing side effects similar to autoimmune disease symptoms. They mimic allergic reactions."

Side effects vary based on the type of immunotherapy. Some can be serious, but most can be managed, treated and resolved. Common side effects include redness, itching or blistering of the skin, flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, swelling and weight gain.

Mayo Clinic scientists and colleagues worldwide are researching how to reduce immunotherapy's side effects and increase its benefits. "As we get better with cancer immunotherapy, our treatments become more effective, less toxic and help more people," says Dr. Markovic.

The future of cancer immunotherapy

Scientists are researching ways to improve immunotherapy outcomes and reduce its limitations. Dr. Dong says research is exploring these key areas:

• Understanding why the responses vary from person to person.
• Combining immunotherapy with other treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or targeted drug therapy, to produce the best outcomes.
• Reducing side effects.
• Identifying biomarkers to help predict which people will respond to immunotherapy.

Dr. Dong says this research could improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy and patients’ quality of life. It will also help care teams make more informed treatment decisions and may decrease the financial burden of cancer treatment.

"Immunotherapy has fundamentally changed cancer medicine with the possibility of a cure for cancers that have been considered completely incurable," says Dr. Markovic. "It was once unheard of for patients with metastatic, advanced melanoma to be cured of their disease. Today, a person with this diagnosis has a one in three chance of being cured. That’s a dramatic improvement in outcomes."

Learn more

Drs. Dong and Markovic encourage you to ask your care team specific questions about your treatment. Other trusted sources of information about immunotherapy include:

• American Cancer Society
• Cancer Research Institute
• National Cancer Institute
• National Comprehensive Cancer Network

Find a clinical trial at Mayo Clinic.

Join a support group on Mayo Clinic Connect, an online community moderated by Mayo Clinic for patients and caregivers.

This article first published on the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center blog.

The post What is cancer immunotherapy? appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minnesota — Dr. Eric Moore has been appointed medical director, International at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Moore will begin his new position in April.

Dr. Moore exemplifies dedication to patient care and is globally recognized as a leader in his field. He brings more than three decades of experience in clinical care, education and research to the role. He is a professor and chair of the Department of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

Dr. Moore is known for advancing care for complex ear, nose and throat conditions and leveraging research expertise to innovate therapies. He is passionate about sharing knowledge and expertise to improve global healthcare. Dr. Moore is a pioneer in minimally invasive transoral robotic surgery and has improved outcomes for patients with HPV-related cancers and oropharyngeal cancers.

As a dedicated mentor, Dr. Moore has contributed to otolaryngology education and received multiple awards for his work. He is a five-time recipient of the Mayo Fellows Teacher of the Year Award.

Before joining Mayo Clinic, Dr. Moore was a major in the U.S. Air Force. He attended medical school at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and completed residency training at Mayo and a fellowship in Austria.

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact:

• Elizabeth Baxter, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Dr. Eric Moore appointed medical director, International at Mayo Clinic appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.