IgE, the molecule responsible for allergic reactions. This discovery has become the basis for many new treatments for asthma and allergies.
The T-cell receptor gene, which plays a crucial role in recognizing foreign invaders and orchestrating an immune response. It opened the door to understanding how bodies fight viruses, bacteria and cancer.
Superantigens, extremely powerful bacterial toxins associated with particularly virulent diseases, such as toxic shock syndrome and Legionnaire’s disease.
Combined chemotherapy for tuberculosis. National Jewish Health physicians were among the leaders in developing this crucial tool for fighting tuberculosis.
Culture medium for tuberculosis. A low-cost medium to grow tuberculosis organisms, which could make evaluation of drug-resistance possible in many of the hardest hit nations.
Proteins that slow the growth of cancer tumors by preventing the growth of blood vessels necessary for their growth and survival. The discovery could lead to new therapies for cancer.
Mechanisms of apoptosis. Pioneering efforts have helped understand how the body effectively removes and recycles up to two billion cells a day and resolves inflammation in the lung.
Immune response trigger. Research at National Jewish Health revealed exactly what triggers the adaptive immune response: fragments of proteins from invading organisms bound to and presented by MHC molecules.
The immunological synapse, a complex and long-lived connection between immune-system cells that greatly influences the immune response.
New family of anti-viral agents. A naturally occurring lipid fights viral infections in the lungs and the inflammation associated with them.
Methamphetamine hazards. Groundbreaking research identified hazardous chemical exposures associated with clandestine methamphetamine laboratories.
Breast cancer inhibitor. A protein known as cdk6 is low in breast cancer cells, and is being investigated as a potential tool for diagnosing breast cancer and as a therapy to fight it.
The protein CD203c, is discovered to be an effective marker for chronic urticaria (hives); National Jewish Health received a patent in 2010 for the test it developed based on this discovery.