OBGyn in the News

Incontinence and overactive bladder issues are uncomfortable topics, so much so that many primary care doctors don’t raise the issue with patients during visits, and many patients wouldn’t dream of bringing up the subject themselves.

Health & Tech, a regular feature highlighting life sciences and high-tech companies throughout the region, reports on Cytocybernetics, a company founded by Glenna C. Bett, PhD, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and Randall L. Rasmusson, PhD, professor of physiology and biophysics, that has developed a technology they say can cut the time and money needed to bring new drugs to market.

University at Buffalo spinoff company Cytocybernetics has won $500,000 in the 43North business idea competition. The company — created by Glenna C. Bett, PhD, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and Randall L. Rasmusson, PhD, professor of physiology and biophysics — is developing biotechnology that could halve the time and money needed to bring new drugs to the market.

Judges at the 43North business plan competition were impressed with the science behind Cytocybernetics, one of the winners of $500,000 in the competition for startups. The company — created by Glenna C. Bett, PhD, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and Randall L. Rasmusson, PhD, professor of physiology and biophysics — is developing biotechnology that could halve the time and money needed to bring new drugs to the market.

Cytocybernetics, a spinoff compancy of UB, is testing a new biotechnology to enhance drug safety screening.

Cytocybernetics, a company founded by Glenna C. Bett, PhD, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and Randall L. Rasmusson, PhD, professor of physiology and biophysics, has created new technology that could cut the amount of money and time needed for preclinical drug trials in half. The company has attracted approximately $291,000 in funding.

Addyi, the first pill to boost women's sexual desire, requires abstinence from alcohol or patients could suffer from fainting as a side effect. “In real life, women are not going to be compliant like they are in clinical trials. They're going to say, ‘I feel OK. I'm going to have a drink,’ and boom, they go down,” said Vanessa M. Barnabei, MD, PhD, professor and chair of obstetrics and gynecology. 

Jeffrey P. Johnson, MD, division director of obstetrics and gynecology, and a team of doctors at Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, successfully used a novel treatment on a 32-week-old fetus with a rare congenial abnormality known as fetal hydrothorax. The condition is so rare it is unlikely a clinical trial comparing their use of doxycycline to standard therapy will ever occur.

Cytocybernetics, a company founded by Glenna C. Bett, PhD, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and Randall L. Rasmusson, PhD, professor of physiology and biophysics, has created new technology that could cut the amount of money and time needed for preclinical drug trials in half. The company has attracted approximately $291,000 in funding.

Faye E. Justicia-Linde, MD, clinical assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology, provides insight on misconceptions about hysterectomies, laparoscopic versus robotic surgery, different types of hysterectomies, hormone replacement therapy and reasons women need the surgery. 

Jeffrey R. Johnson, MD, of the Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, shares his expertise about the accuracy of prenatal tests that diagnose potential health issues by detecting chromosomal defects in unborn children.

Ulas Sunar, PhD, research assistant professor, and Jonathan Lovell, PhD, assistant professor, both in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, are developing a targeted cancer-fighting system using a novel endoscopic device and nanoballoon drug delivery.

Physicians with the UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences — including urology residents, otolaryngology faculty and an obstetrics and gynecology trainee — discuss the financial, regulatory and customer-service challenges that young physicians encounter in their practices.

Commenting on a study that links weight loss to a decrease in hot flashes, Vanessa M. Barnabei MD, PhD, chair and professor of obstetrics and gynecology, noted that a significant number of women experience hot flashes, which can affect quality of life.

Commenting on new American College of Physicians guidelines, Vanessa M. Barnabei MD, PhD, chair and professor of obstetrics and gynecology, says the pelvic exam is not a very sensitive exam for screening for abnormalities.