Johns Hopkins University
Research Highlights and Innovations
Researchers at The Johns Hopkins University have:
 Demonstrated that a specific
enzyme is essential to production
of a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, the amyloid plaques that
collect and surround brain cells (2000).
Pinpointed areas in the brain
that may generate mice mothers'
violent response to protect their babies, an accomplishment that
could help scientists better understand aggression's origins in
humans (2000).
Restored movement to recently
paralyzed rodents by injecting
stem cells into their spinal fluid, raising hope for improved
treatment of paralyzing motor neuron diseases such as amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (2000).
Isolated and identified human
stem cells and proved them
capable of forming the fundamental tissues that give rise to
distinct human cells such as muscle, bone and nerve (2000).
Discovered a family of genes
that contributes to the process
of malignancy, shedding new light on the abnormalities that give
rise to lymphoma, leukemia and prostate, ovarian, lung and breast
cancer (2000).
Developed a modified form of
vitamin D that helps delay the
onset and reduce the number of skin cancers in lab mice without
causing vitamin D-induced loss of bone calcium (2000).
Co-developed a DNA vaccine that
protects against measles, the
most conclusive work to date demonstrating that DNA vaccines may
be useful in the fight against human disease
Dramatically improved the
accuracy of blood tests for colon
cancer predisposition, to the point where genetic mutations
associated with certain hereditary diseases can be detected
nearly 100 percent of the time (2000).
Linked the ability to "pay
attention" to one particular
occurrence among a flood of incoming sensory information to the
sudden firing of a brain cell "chorus" amidst the cacophony of
normal brain cell activity (2000).
Demonstrated that, as the
number of passengers increases in a
car driven by a teenage driver, so does the likelihood of fatal
injury to the driver (2000).
Guided the NEAR spacecraft to
the first-ever orbit around an asteroid (433 Eros), allowing
closeup scientific study of a body still composed of primitive
material from the time of the formation of the solar system
(2000).
Identified a single gene
variation that may explain some of
the key individual differences in pain sensitivity (1999).
Invented a micro-pump powered
by the repeated growth and
collapse of a single bubble (1999).
Showed that vitamin A
supplements can reduce malaria and
maternal death, and that zinc supplements reduce infant
mortality, pneumonia and diarrhea in developing countries
(1999).
Identified a drug that stops
the growth of abnormal blood
vessels in the eye, an advance that could have sight-saving
implications for millions of people with complications of
diabetes (1999).
Participated on a team that
discovered that
the first alphabet -- from which modern alphabets all evolved --
is centuries older than previously believed (from the 1900s B.C.)
and was probably invented in Egypt (1999).
Showed that children as young
as 6 months begin to comprehend
words, linking sound patterns with specific meanings (1999).
Isolated and cultivated human
embryonic stem cells, the
undifferentiated cell
from which an entire human being eventually develops (1998).
Provided the first reliable
evidence of genetic
susceptibility to schizophrenia
(1998).
Identified broccoli sprouts as
an especially rich source of
the cancer-fighting
compound sulforaphane (1997).
Identified the first genetic
mutation known to cause familial
colorectal cancer,
and invented a simple blood test to allow carriers to detect
the mutation and
take measures to guard against the disease (1997).
Led a team that was the first
ever to detect fluorine in
interstellar space
(1997).
Hopkins researchers have flown
the space probe NEAR to within
750 miles of 253 Mathilde, the closest-ever human encounter with
an asteroid (1997).
Invented the first all-plastic
battery (1996).
Mapped the first specific
prostate cancer gene to chromosome
1 (1996).
Discovered a genetic basis for
violent and excessive sexual
behavior in mice
(1995).
Helped develop the first
effective treatment for sickle cell
anemia (1995).
Identified the gene that causes
most forms of polycistic
kidney disease, the
most common inherited kidney disease (1995).
Identified a form of low blood
pressure as a probable cause
of chronic fatigue
disorder (1995).
Presented the first conclusive
physical evidence for the
existence of supermassive
black holes (1994).
Identified sulforaphane, a
chemical in broccoli and other
cruciferous vegetables
that appears to inhibit the development of cancer (1993).
Identified a gene responsible
for a widespread form of colon
cancer (1993).
Announced findings expected to
lead to simple urine test to
aid in early detection
of cancer (1991).
Synthesized a new form of
Vitamin D, with possible future
application as an
anti-cancer drug (1990).
Conducted astronomical
observations in the ultraviolet that
discredited a
widely circulated theory on the source of the missing "dark
matter" in the universe
(1990).
Induced apparently normal human
brain cells to multiply in
the test tube,
opening the possibility that such cells could be used in
treating neurological
diseases (1990).
Discovered how the brain
"hears" -- how bioelectrical signals
from the inner
ear to the brain are encoded -- findings with important
implications not only
for understanding the hearing process but also for how the
brain operates (1989).
Created a new process for
spray-painting cars, furniture, and
appliances which
reduces air pollution from that source by as much as 70 percent
(1989).
Discovered that E. coli, a
bacterium found in the human
gastrointestinal tract,
can repair its own DNA when damaged by ultraviolet light, thus
providing a method
for the investigation of DNA repair proteins in molecular and
cell biology (1987).
Invented a pill-size ingestible
electronic capsule to
telemeter deep-body
temperatures (1987).
Developed parallel processor
technology, permitting the
upgrading of existing
computer installations by providing supercomputing capabilities
at greatly reduced
costs (1987).
Established techniques whereby
the history of motion within
fault zones can
be traced and used to decide whether particular fault zones
should be considered
dangerous or inactive (1980s).
Studied the physics and
chemistry of magma, leading to an
understanding of
the dynamics of molten rock within the earth and beneath
volcanoes and advancing
knowledge of how to alleviate volcanic hazards and extract
geothermal energy
from such reservoirs (1980s).
Developed the Multisensory
Authoring Computer System which
enables teachers
to generate individualized instruction lessons for students
with moderate to
severe handicaps (1985).
Discovered that Oltipraz, a
compound found in cruciferous
vegetables (cabbage,
brussels sprouts, cauliflower) offered protection for the body
from the effects
of radiation therapy for cancer (1983).
Discovered that pennies worth
of vitamin A supplements
administered to Indonesian
children as part of a blindness prevention program were
accompanied by a dramatic
drop in infant death rates, leading to similar vitamin
treatments for thousands
of children in developing countries (1983-1986).
Developed the first
magnetometer sensor to remotely locate
regions of gas
pipeline corrosion (1982).
Developed a heat-shrinkable
polymer used as a sleeve, which
took the place
of sutures in vascular surgery (1981).
Showed how deposits of metallic
ores are formed within the
earth and under
what conditions they can be located, work that was central to
understanding
the dispersal and collection of oil (1980s).
Conducted fundamental research
on the crystal structure and
general properties
of asbestos which enabled physicians to understand why such
material is harmful
to mankind (1980s).
Identified a protein which
controls the assembly and
disassembly of the structures
responsible for the shape and movement of living cells, a major
contribution
to understanding the fundamental mechanisms of cell motility,
one of the most
important problems in cell biology (1980).
Conducted basic research on the
sea surface and problems of
air-sea interaction,
leading to an understanding of the generation of water waves,
including highly
destructive rogue waves which are a threat to ocean-going
vessels (1970s-1980s).
With an experiment aboard the
Voyager 2 spacecraft,
discovered a 400-million
degree plasma in the magnetosphere of Jupiter, a finding which
challenged conventional
understanding of some of the basic physics of planets and stars
(1979).
Developed the first successful
treatment to desensitize
people against bee
stings (1975).
Identified high rates of infant
deaths in motor vehicle
accidents, leading
to the passage of child safety restraint laws throughout the
United States (1979).
Discovered that ketoacids as a
substitute for dietary protein
were useful
in forestalling dialysis in kidney failure and in treating
protein depletion
or intolerance (1976).
Invented the first
microcomputer-controlled implantable
medication delivery
system (1975).
Provided the first successful
demonstration of the effect of
a planned health
education program in decreasing morbidity and mortality from a
chronic disease
(hypertension) (1975).
Developed the first method for
routinely visualizing the
choroidal blood vessels
of the eye (1973).
Showed that use of oral
contraceptives by women was
associated with increased
risk of thromboembolism (1969) and of breast cancer (1973).
Identified the sites where
heroin and other opiates act in
the brain, a discovery
which had important applications for the treatment of drug
addicts and for the
screening and development of new and potentially non-addictive
pain-killing
drugs (1972).
Invented the first implantable,
rechargeable pacemaker for
cardiac disorders
(1972).
Based on research with the
Framingham Heart Study, first
directed attention
to the importance of social factors in the etiology of heart
disease (1970).
Devised the "Self-Directed
Search," an inexpensive but
accurate self- administered
test providing occupational guidance for students and adults
(1970).
Developed the first clinically
useful Argon photocoagulator,
providing ophthalmologists
with a technique for repairing damaged retinal vasculature
(1969).
Took the first color photograph
of the whole earth from space
(1967).
Discovered restriction enzymes,
the so-called "biochemical
scissors," which
gave birth to the entire new field of genetic engineering
(1960s). The discoverers
were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1978 for their achievement.
Were among the first to warn of
possible dangers to women who
used oral contraceptives,
indicating the need for further study of the effects of the
pills (1965).
Developed the Limulus lysate
test, a sensitive and
inexpensive detector of
the bacterial endotoxins associated with such diseases as
meningitis and septicemia
(1963).
Synthesized luciferin, the
substance which lights the tail of
the firefly,
furthering research on ATP, the primary energy source in
biological action (1962).
Described the structure and
function of the complement
system, a complex set
of enzymes which play an important role in human immunological
defenses against
cancer, bacteria, and viruses (1961).
Conducted the first major,
large-scale research study of
conditions of inequality
in American schools, which resulted in the landmark report,
"Equality of Educational
Opportunity" (1960).
Developed oral rehydration
therapy, which replaces food and
electrolytes lost
from the body during attacks of diarrheal disease (1960s).
Invented cardiopulmonary
resuscitation, the lifesaving
first-aid technique,
thanks to a chance observation during work on the
defribillating machine (also
invented at Hopkins) that weight placed on the chest increases
blood pressure.
(1958).
Conceived and developed Transit
satellites, the first
navigation system operating
on the principle of the Doppler shift and making possible
navigational "fixes"
of unprecedented accuracy (1957-1960).
Demonstrated that the spread of
tuberculosis in hospitals
could be inhibited
by the use of ultraviolet light to kill airborne bacteria
(1957).
Showed that retrolental
fibroplasia, which causes blindness
in premature infants,
was related to high concentrations of oxygen used in babies'
incubators (1954).
First established a link
between chromates and lung cancer
among factory workers,
a pioneering step in the field of occupational health
(1950s).
Developed the Lumicon, one of
the earliest light
intensification systems,
which increased brightness as much as 50,000 times and proved
of great value
in improved fluoroscopy and x-ray therapy (1950).
Developed Hank's Solution, a
defined salt solution to meet
the needs of cells
growing in tissue culture, dramatically extending the
possibilities of in vitro
cultivation of many types of cells (1949).
Took the first photograph of
the Earth's curvature, from a
V-2 rocket (1948).
Confirmed the authenticity of
the Dead Sea Scrolls, speeding
acceptance as
genuine of these earliest biblical manuscripts (1948).
Immunized chimpanzees with
inactivated vaccines, essential to
the development
of the first widely used polio vaccine and a major step toward
the prevention
of poliomyelitis in human beings (1947-1952).
Discovered dramamine's
effectiveness in alleviating motion
sickness (1948).
Developed the first supersonic
ramjet engine (1944).
Developed the "blue baby"
operation to correct congenital
heart defects, ushering
in a new era in open heart surgery (1944).
Found the causes and developed
treatment and preventive
measures for scrub
typhus which afflicted American and Australian troops in the
South Pacific during
World War II (1943).
Produced the human serum needed
to provide 1 million doses of
yellow fever
vaccine for U.S. troops during World War II (1942).
Put the chronology of Middle
Eastern pottery on a firm
footing for the first
time, making possible the accurate dating of excavations in the
Holy Land (1938).
Invented Hopcalite, a catalyst
which converts carbon monoxide
into carbon
dioxide and reduces the danger from automobile exhaust fumes
(1930).
Identified and described the
most dangerous malaria carrier
in Latin America,
the Anopheles mosquito (1926).
Developed the system of water
purification by chlorination
which was eventually
adopted by every major municipal and industrial water supply
system in the country
and many other parts of the world (1920s).
Developed a method of growing
rickettsia in fertile egg
membranes, thereby
permitting the development of vaccines (1920s).
Discovered and developed the
absorptive agent silica gel,
which became a key
ingredient in many industrial processes (1920s).
Discovered vitamin D and its
role in preventing rickets,
vastly extending
scientific knowledge of nutrition and laying the groundwork for
food enrichment
and nutritional planning (1922).
Conducted spectroscopic
investigations which contributed to
the formulation
of the quantum theory (1920s).
Developed mercurochrome, a
widely used antiseptic (1919).
Discovered heparin, a drug used
to prevent blood coagulation,
now widely used
in the treatment of thrombosis and in cardiac surgery
(1916-1918).
Developed the first successful
renal dialysis in an animal
model (1913).
Isolated epinephrine
(adrenalin), sales of which now exceed
$6 million a year
(1897).
Published the first modern
edition of the "Gilgamesh Epic,"
making available
to the world the most significant extra-biblical work of
ancient Near Eastern
literature (1891).
Introduced the rubber glove for
use during surgery (1889).
Invented the ruling engine for
making diffraction gratings,
making possible
spectacular advances in astronomy and laying the foundation for
the modern sciences
of atomic and molecular spectroscopy (1880).
Discovered the sweetening agent
saccharine (1879).
Office of News and Information
The Johns Hopkins University
December 2000
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