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Mass General Scientists Predict Big ‘Breakthroughs’ In Medicine For 2024

By Marcela Quintanilla-Dieck | Communicating Science, Medicine | 0 comment | 18 December, 2023 | 0

Mass General Scientists Predict Big ‘Breakthroughs’ in Medicine for 2024

As we eagerly wait for the arrival of the new year, our curiosity turns to the groundbreaking advancements and breakthroughs in medicine that we can expect in 2024.

Emerging technologies and treatments such as CAR-T and CRISPR leave us wondering: What novel breakthroughs will emerge?

We tapped into the (very clever) minds of Massachusetts General Hospital researchers and clinicians, asking them about the breakthroughs in medicine they anticipate happening in the coming year.

Take a peek at their predictions below.

P.S. Don't forget to check back throughout the year to see which of these predictions come true!

Predictions headshots

Allan Goldstein, MD
Chief, Pediatric Surgery
Massachusetts General Hospital

“While the field of cell therapy is advancing and the therapeutic need is great, current approaches are limited by the safety, consistency, and reliability of the cells used, and the time needed for their differentiation and expansion. Universal donor induced pluripotent stem cells will be a game-changer, offering an off-the-shelf and ready-to-use solution.”

More on Dr. Goldstein's research

Shawn

Shawn Demehri, MD, PhD
Physician Investigator
Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research
Bob and Rita Davis Family MGH Research Scholar 2023-2028

“With a recently announced initiative at NIH to support comprehensive human virome research, I anticipate that in 2024, we will see breakthroughs in the understanding of interactions between ubiquitous viruses and hosts and how these interactions impact human health and disease.”

More on Dr. Demehri's research

Boland

Genevieve Boland, MD, PhD
Vice Chair of Research
Department of Surgery
Emma and Bill Roberts MGH Research Scholar 2023-2028

“For 2024, I foresee the FDA approval of adoptive T cell therapy in cancer (melanoma), which will open up an entirely new approach to cancer immunotherapy, allowing a patient's own T cells to be used as a 'living drug' to treat their cancer. Additionally, I predict personalized mRNA vaccines in cancer (e.g. melanoma, pancreas, other) will be an emerging therapy given prior to or after surgery to augment immune responses against cancer.”

More on Dr. Boland's research

Predictions headshots

Benjamin Kleinstiver, PhD
Investigator
Department of Pathology
Kayden-Lambert MGH Research Scholar 2023-2028

“There are a wave of anticipated FDA approvals for CRISPR-based genetic therapies, which have shown tremendous progress in the clinic. In 2024, we anticipate other clinical updates that will provide more data about the safety and durability of these 'one-and-done' permanent genetic treatments. Continued development of genome engineering technologies and their successful application to treat disease will continue to change medicine.”

More on Dr. Kleinstiver's research

Predictions headshots (1)

Andrea McClatchey, PhD
Director of Academic Affairs
Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research
Patricia and Scott Eston MGH Research Scholar 2011-2016

“The coming year should see the application of cutting edge imaging and -omics technologies to the study of rare inherited tumor syndromes like neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) in which patients develop multiple tumors. This will not only set the stage, for the first time, for tumor-specific therapeutic approaches for these devastating diseases, but will also yield fundamental insight into how tumor heterogeneity evolves in more common genetically complicated cancers.”

More on Dr. McClatchey's research

ManishaBahl

Manisha Bahl, MD
Physician Investigator
Department of Radiology

“For 2024, I predict several medical and scientific advances. First, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into radiology practices will revolutionize diagnostic precision and streamline efficiency. Second, the evolution of theranostics, a field merging diagnostic procedures with therapeutic applications, will continue to further advance. Third, liquid biopsies will be used to non-invasively detect disease biomarkers in blood, urine and sputum.”

More on Dr. Bahl's research

Predictions headshots (1)

Shannon Stott, PhD
Investigator
Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research
d’Arbeloff MGH Research Scholar 2022-2027

“As an engineer, I'm very interested in the application of digital twins in healthcare. In 2024, I anticipate the robustness of the technology to be matched by the openness of the medical community to explore the potential of these models. These digital twins use engineering and big data to simulate multiple scenarios and outcomes to study disease development, creating the opportunity to have more precise diagnoses and better overall patient care.”

More on Dr. Stott's research

Predictions headshots (1)

James Januzzi, MD
Physician Investigator
Division of Cardiology

“For 2024, I foresee the widening application of 'diabetes drugs,' such as SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists to extend beyond their initial designation as treatments solely for diabetes, now positioning them as promising 'cardio-renal drugs' utilized in the management of obesity, heart failure, and other diseases involving the cardiovascular system and kidneys.”

More on Dr. Januzzi's research

Predictions headshots (1)

David Sykes, MD, PhD
Physician Investigator
Center for Regenerative Medicine

“The use of CAR-T cell therapy to treat cancer has been remarkably successful in the treatment of blood cancers (leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma). In 2024, I anticipate that we will see CAR-T cell treatment successes in advanced solid tumor malignancies like colon cancer and ovarian cancer. It will be fascinating to see how far scientists and doctors can push these cellular therapies (CAR-T, CAR-Macrophages, CAR-NK-cells, CAR-Neutrophils) for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune disease.”

More on Dr. Sykes' research

2024, we're ready for you!

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Oh, while you are still here – we sure love a good crossover, so check out the predicitions of breakthroughs in medicine from our friends over at the Brigham and Women's Hospital!

Take me to the Longwood Medical Area!

Curious about what lies ahead for you in 2024?

It seems you'll be spending a lot of time reading the fascinating research content from the Mass General Research Institute. And who knows, you might even enjoy one or perhaps three lob(stah) rolls and visit the Cape!

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