TED - Why Do Some Bodies Respond Differently to Disease? | Erika Moore | TED
Dr. Erica Moore, an equity bioengineer, shares her personal experiences with healing and medication responses, which led her to question biological differences. She studies immune cells and their behavior in different environments and bodies, focusing on diseases with health disparities. Her research highlights the importance of considering patient backgrounds, especially in diseases like lupus, which predominantly affects women of color. Moore's work involves creating tissue models to study how different backgrounds affect inflammation and disease progression. Her findings show significant differences in blood vessel interactions based on patient backgrounds, emphasizing the need for personalized approaches in healthcare. Moore advocates for more attention to detail in research to build a more equitable healthcare system.
Key Points:
- Dr. Erica Moore focuses on health disparities in diseases, particularly lupus, affecting women of color.
- Her research uses tissue models to study immune cell interactions and disease progression based on patient backgrounds.
- Findings indicate significant differences in inflammation and blood vessel interactions between different racial backgrounds.
- Moore emphasizes the importance of considering patient backgrounds in medical research and treatment.
- She advocates for personalized healthcare approaches to improve health equity.
Details:
1. 🧬 Personal Healing Challenges and Realizations
- The individual experienced slower healing compared to siblings, with scabs taking significantly longer to close, highlighting a unique healing process.
- They required more Ibuprofen than siblings with no noticeable relief, suggesting a distinct physiological response to medication.
- This led to frustration due to the lack of understanding of the differing responses to medications and injuries.
- The individual realized that biological differences inherently affect how their body responds to healing and medication, providing a deeper understanding of their unique physiological needs.
2. 🔬 Role of Macrophages and Research Focus
2.1. Role of Macrophages in the Body
2.2. Research Focus on Health Disparities
3. 👩🏾🔬 Addressing Health Disparities in Lupus
- Lupus disproportionately affects women, with 90% of patients being female, highlighting a gender disparity.
- Approximately 70% of female lupus patients are women of color, underscoring significant racial and ethnic disparities.
- There is a critical lack of representation of women of color in academia, particularly in positions such as assistant professors who lead research programs, impacting research diversity and focus.
- The personal impact is significant, with many women of color, known to the speaker, having died from lupus, reflecting both a community and systemic health challenge.
- Increasing representation and targeted research funding are necessary to address these disparities effectively.
4. 🧪 Innovative Research on Inflammation and Autoimmune Diseases
- Research reveals variability in lupus flares among women, with some experiencing frequent flares leading to early cardiovascular disease, while others do not.
- The study uses patient cell interactions with blood vessels in a mini tissue model to understand inflammation propagation.
- Significant differences were found based on patient backgrounds; African-American women's cells showed increased interactions with blood vessels compared to European women's cells.
- These findings aim to understand individual inflammation variability and explore potential cures for autoimmune diseases by considering genetic and background differences.
- The research methodology involves detailed analysis of blood vessel interactions to identify specific inflammatory pathways influenced by genetic variations.
5. 🌍 Vision for an Equitable Healthcare Future
- Innovative approaches, such as preventing excessive fibrosis by tailoring responses to injuries, can lead to more personalized healthcare solutions, improving outcomes for diverse populations.
- Redefining healthcare standards requires attention to detail and a commitment to equity, ensuring that innovations are accessible and beneficial to all communities.
- Continuous exploration and willingness to try new methodologies are essential for driving innovation and building an equitable healthcare system.
- Examples of successful equitable healthcare initiatives include community-based health programs and the integration of AI to address disparities in treatment efficacy.