Scientists at the University of Oklahoma have identified a previously unrecognized immune system pathway that helps explain how cigarette smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. The findings, published in Circulation Research, show that cigarette smoke activates immune cells that trigger widespread inflammation throughout the body, accelerating the buildup of plaque in arteries.

An experimental treatment strategy for metastatic pancreatic cancer may help patients live longer by making tumors more visible to the immune system, according to a study published in Nature Medicine. OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center enrolled patients on the clinical trial, which studied a new drug called quemliclustat.

Microplastics – minuscule pieces of plastic broken down from larger plastic waste – are a growing concern for human health, especially for the liver. A study from the University of Oklahoma, published today in Science Advances, demonstrates that a common type of microplastics is particularly harmful to the liver under high-fat dietary conditions.

University of Oklahoma researcher Wenjing “Lily” Wu, Ph.D., who studies age-related macular degeneration (AMD), isn’t driven solely by scientific curiosity but also by vision loss that has affected generations of her family.

Amyn M. Amlani, Ph.D., a nationally recognized audiologist, researcher and health economist, has been named professor and chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Oklahoma College of Allied Health. He began the role on June 1.