Kansas City, KS – From the polio vaccine to groundbreaking treatments for cystic fibrosis, medical research has transformed healthcare and saved countless lives. But the way scientific discoveries are funded has changed dramatically over the past century. On Open Mics, Dr. Steve Stites and medical historian Dr. Chris Crenner discuss how America became a leader in medical research, the investments that made it possible and what's at stake for the next generation of discoveries.
Dr. Steve Stites, Chief Medical Officer, The University of Kansas Health System; Executive Vice Chancellor, The University of Kansas Medical Center
- Dr. Stites discusses why medical research is essential to improving patient care and advancing new treatments.
- He shares how research transformed outcomes for patients with cystic fibrosis, including the development of medications such as Trikafta.
- He highlights the role The University of Kansas Medical Center has played in cystic fibrosis research.
- He discusses the importance of continued research for patients who do not benefit from existing therapies.
Dr. Chris Crenner, Internal Medicine Physician, The University of Kansas Health System; Chair, Department of History and Philosophy of Medicine, The University of Kansas Medical Center
- Dr. Crenner explores how philanthropists Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller helped shape modern medical education and scientific research.
- He discusses the 1910 Flexner Report and its role in transforming medical education.
- He explains how the March of Dimes demonstrated the power of public fundraising to support polio research and patient care.
- He examines how World War II and the Manhattan Project helped establish the model for large-scale federal investment in scientific research.
- He explores the origins of Genentech and how private investment helped accelerate the development of new treatments.
